Chapter 4: An Unnerving Sadness
A/N: I've made it to the fourth chapter! Quite a feat for me, since I procrastinate often and never get around to getting things done! And just to let you know, I didn't make up Pogrebins, that actually can be found in 'Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them' authored by J.K. Rowling- I believe Pogrebins are on page 33...checks book Yep! That's where they're listed. Just to let ya know..
"Hullo everyone! Welcome to another year of Care of Magical Creatures! I'm glad ter see that everyone's still here and doing okay.." Hagrid looked at Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and winked at each of them- then continued on with his speech. "Today we'll be learning about Pogrebins! Can you spot the pogrebins about? Anyone?" Everyone looked around, nobody seeing anything.
"Eh, no one can spot one? They're all around you, if you can just look!" Hagrid said, starting to become desperate.
"What are we supposed to be seeing, air?" Someone said sarcastically. There was snickering in reply.
"Harry! Can you find one?"
"Er.."
"Now I know! We're supposed to be looking for another kind of thestral, no wonder you called on Potter! But I wouldn't trust him, there's something wrong with his head- he'll go on believing things that aren't real! He'll even believe what some house-elves will say..How low can that be?" It was the same person who had been sarcastic earlier- and Harry knew who that drawling voice could be anywhere. People started to burst out with laughter in the Slytherin crowd. Harry said nothing. He knew Malfoy was trying to get to him- but it wouldn't work. With a greater effort looked to find whatever a 'pogrebin' was. He became aware of a prickling sensation on the back of his neck, and turned around on instinct. There was nothing but a rock, but Harry knew it wasn't there before- he wouldn't fall for any trap or false disguise ever again.
"There, that rock thing." Harry said, pointing to it.
"See! I told you he was delusional all along!"
"You shut up, Malfoy!" And it wasn't Harry saying this, much to Harry's surprise- it was Ron.
"Must I really talk about you too, Weasley? Up to being a Keeper again? And you really think you will be able to block our team's goals again- on what? A Comet Two Fifty?"
"It's a Comet Two Ninety!" Ron said, angrily.
"Alrigh' that is enough! Settle down!" Hagrid averted his attention to Harry and said, "Well done, Harry! I was becoming doubtful that anyone would figure it out! Five points to Gryffindor!"
"We've been looking for a rock? If I had known that, I would've never signed up for this class- what with that raging hippogriff and those Blast-Ended Skrewts. No way! What are you trying to attempt, murder of innocent students? But you must have been getting soft in the head over the summer, whatever that 'pogrebin' is is merely a rock!" Draco said, a bit of a smirk on his face.
Harry couldn't take it anymore. He had to say something, just had to. He started to speak, but Hermione beat him to it. "And how do you know it's just a rock? It's probably something powerful, and if it had some power to devour you, to hell would I say it should!"
Silence. Draco decided not to reply on that remark now, but would surely get back to it another time. He backed off.
Hagrid cleared his throat and said, "Well, pogrebins do indeed have the potential to devour you- if you lose your guard. It will follow you in your shadow- and if you turn around, it will crouch down and resemble a rock. But it's quite easy to subdue it- with a simple hex or Stupefying Charm. "Erm, would anyone like to try? Then I will show you what they look like- and show how to tell it apart from rocks- the whole works an' all. Neville, I think you'd be a prime candidate! Why not perform a Stupefying Charm?"
Neville looked a bit nervous, but pointed his wand at one of the pogrebins and said, "Stupefy!" What seemed to be a rock had let out something of a squeak and had froze up.
"Great job Neville! Another five points to Gryffindor for Neville successfully stunning the pogrebin!"
"I've done it plenty of times before," Neville said, so quietly that no one could hear it.
"Hm, I wonder who the new Quidditch captain will be?" Ginny asked, though in particular to no one.
Harry replied, "Dunno, but it's probably someone good. We need a lot of new players now- two Beaters, though I suppose that could remain as Jack Sloper and Andrew Kirke. We also need two new Chasers, so you could take on one of those positions, Ginny! Eh, Katie, Ron, and I are the oldest players on the team now- amazing how fast these years go by."
"Yes, time does go quickly- and I'm sure I could take that position on- I could never be as great a Seeker as you anyway Harry."
Someone joined into their conversation. "I'm the new Quidditch captain."
Harry and Ginny looked up from their dinner, to see that it was Katie speaking. She looked proud of being the new captain, though also fairly nervous as well.
"That's great! You'll be a good captain, Katie!"
"Thanks," she said, and smiled. "By the way, tryouts are this Friday for two Chasers- Potter, don't land yourself in detention again! We need the whole team to be present, so we know how compatible the people trying out are with us." Harry's face slightly reddened, the previous year he had been enraged by Umbridge (the last Defense Against the Dark Arts teaching they had, though she was really working for the Ministry by making sure Dumbledore didn't cause any trouble- though he'd finally convinced them of Voldemort's return) and had gotten himself into detention. That had made the previous Quidditch captain, Angelina, very angry. Though this time, Harry had a feeling he'd just stay out of trouble for once, to avoid another scene.
"Right, I'll be there."
"Good, now I've got to go, only the first day and I've got a heap of homework!" Katie growled.
"Really? I have none! Well, see you around!"
"Oh, I really envy you, Ginny! But I've got to go now, see ya!"
Nothing was spoken for awhile, until Harry asked, "Hey, have you had the new Dark Arts teacher?"
"Yes," Ginny replied, "she's a much nicer change from Umbridge and that 'Moody' person." Ginny used more emphasis on Moody, since two years before he was their Dark Arts teacher, though that teacher was really Crouch's son, trying to kill Harry. After being in his 6th year, Harry was starting to sink in to the whole 'the Dark Arts position is cursed' thing. He'd never had one same teacher- and for some reason thought he'd never have a same teacher for over a year. Perhaps this year's teacher would be different, perhaps not. Who knew?
"What did she teach you?"
"We didn't learn anything practical," Ginny said, which made Harry cringe to remind him of Umbridge (how he hated her!), "But that's only because she just talked about what we'd be doing, and showed us a bit of the book she assigned. She introduced herself as well, but other than that- I don't remember much. I wasn't paying much attention, truthfully. I don't know why I wasn't...I'm usually pretty attentive in classes."
"Hmmm.." Harry murmured, with a thoughtful expression on his face. "Probably nothing to worry about- it's not like the lady would wipe people's memories or anything- she remembers going, doesn't she? Why am I so paranoid!"
"Hello Harry, just Ron and I saying hello...I guess." It was Hermione speaking, with Ron tagging along behind.
Harry ended an awkward silence, and simply answered, "Hey."
"What are you doing?" Hemione asked, nervously. She knew that they were in the Great Hall eating dinner- but she had nothing better to say. She just wanted to strike up some conversation.
"Eh, just eating."
"Right...Ron! Don't you have something to say?"
Harry knew what this was leading to. "Look," he said flatly, "You don't need to say sorry if you don't want to. There's no need- I shouldn't be interfering with your lives anyway. Look what you both have to look forward to! So much more than with me in the picture. Don't you want me out of it?"
"Aye, I have been a bit stubborn," Hermione gave Ron a look, which made Ron correct himself. "Alright, I've been more stubborn than I've needed to be, but why should something like that get in the way of us being friends? For all three of us to be friends? I've known you since we stepped into this castle, do you really think we should go our different ways now? Nope, you're stuck with us until the end of our days, mate!" For the first time in a long time, Harry grinned, which made Ron and Hermione grin too.
Harry said, "So that settles it? No more hanging around the past?"
"We're hoping that," Hermione said. Ron nodded his head in approval. So, reunited, the three of them talked like nothing had ever happened in the first place.
"So, how've you two been doing?"
"Okay, I s'pose," Ron answered. "How's your scar feeling?"
Harry's face slightly hardened. "Oh, it's been doing okay. I haven't felt anything since the day we left for Hogwarts."
"In speaking of which...Did you ever tell Dumbledore about it?"
"Er, well, no." Harry said, uncomfortably.
"Harry! You should tonight! EVERY tidbit counts, remember? As long as it can help to get rid of Voldemort it matters!" Hermione had finally been able to say Voldemort's name without stumbling or flinching when saying it- which greatly impressed Harry. But nonetheless, Harry had no answer to what she said. True, it'd probably be right to go see Dumbledore, but he hadn't talked to him since the talk of the prophecy...He didn't know if he could do it. Nothing else was said for a moment, but Harry could feel the pressing stare coming from Hermione.
"Okay, okay! I'll do it! I'll go see Dumbledore tomorrow, during the weekend!"
"Good, I knew you'd do it!" Hermione said, face brightened. Eh, what girls could get you to do.
"Anyway, I'd reckon it's about time we go and see Hagrid, wouldn't you?"
"Yes, a very good time. And maybe.." Harry said, "Maybe he'd tell us more about what the Order has been doing lately. I'm just glad he hasn't been sent on any other missions recently- like going to try and persuade the giants again, and bring back with him another giant." Coming around to that, Harry wondered if Grawp was still somewhere in the forest. Hopefully not, however, he didn't think he'd need to revisit Grawp anytime soon.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked across the grounds to Hagrid's. All three knocked on the door, to get barked at in return. "Quiet down, Fang!"
Hagrid opened the door, then smiled as he saw the three familiar faces. "Come on in!" He said, and stepped aside to let them in. They went in, nothing looking any different. As they sat down, Hagrid offered tea, which they kindly said no to after seeing it as a sickly foggy green color. Fang rested his head upon Harry's lap, and Harry automatically stroked his head. This made Fang's tail make a muffled thwump! onto the rug. There was a fire going in the hearth, which made the room very warm and cozy. Harry started to feel a bit drowsy.
"So, Hagrid, how've you been?"
"Great, and how 'bout you three?"
"We've been fine." Harry paused, and said, "So, what've you been doing in the Order? Anything lately?"
"Nope, not much really. Just the usual, be alert for anything suspicious, I s'pose. I've also been looking around for recruitments for the Order- even though wizards and witches alike know about his return, we still need people courageous enough to help fight him off instead of flee in terror. But it's been hard to come by, indeed..."
"That's really too bad," Hermione spoke, with pity. "Why can't people stand up to him? Don't they know that Voldemort (Ron cringed at the mention of his name still) feeds on fear? But yet people run away! We need to all stand tall, we can't let him get his way!"
"A rousing speech, Hermione." Hagrid responded, sadly. "But do you really think people will believe that if we unite against him we'll win? Certainly not! They think they can go into hiding like a rabbit in a hole, and emerge when their 'hero' kills Voldemort. Well, let me tell you- he can't be killed. He's altered his body too many times now, he can't be! But I just know that something can finish him off, if we only had the will to do it!"
"Perhaps..." Was all Harry could say, there just wasn't much you could say about it- they'd have to look towards the future for the conclusion. But who knew how long it would be for that day to happen? "The prophecy...'Either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives'...when will that happen?" Harry felt a bit sickened, for the fact that it was more than likely him that was mentioned in the prophecy, it had to be him that had a chance in winning or losing that upcoming battle. But he was only a 6th year student, how could he ever defeat him? Defying him was one thing, but defeating Voldemort? That seemed impossible.
Ron interrupted his thoughts. "Hagrid, your lesson today...it actually contained something...eh..." Ron stopped himself after the look he got from both Harry and Hermione. But, truth be told, it was a proper lesson, which greatly surprised all three.
"Yes, pogrebins are greatly boring! But I decided I need to keep a low profile now-a-days, just in case." "Shouldn't you have kept a low profile last year, when someone from the Ministry of Magic was here!" All three sighed, Ron and Hermione thinking along the lines of Harry. Hagrid just really needed better timing for things.
Cautiously, Harry asked, "Is Grawp still in the forest?"
Hagrid frowned. "No...I had to take him back. Dumbledore insisted. But of course I obeyed, but only if he could see! He's my brother, and just to think! I had to take him back to the other giants, giants who were now supporting the Dark Lord, giants who'd pick on him for bein' so small..."
"Small!" Hermione said, alarmingly. "That's what you call small!"
"Well, he was! He was only 'bout eighteen feet while the average giant is twenty!"
"Hagrid..." Hermione sighed. She was sad for him, but also relieved that Dumbledore told him that Grawp had to go.
The conversation was coming to an end. All four conversed some more about life, and Quidditch (of course!), but the three of them decided it was time to go. "I wonder how Hagrid feels about that new Dark Arts teacher?"
"Hagrid, what do you think of that new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher? Is she good, or another Death Eater in disguise?"
A sadness radiated out of Hagrid. "I really doubt that she's a Death Eater, quite on the contrary. As for how 'good' she is, you'll have to find in yer own time."
The three of them said their goodbyes to Hagrid, and departed. Nearing Hogwarts, Hermione asked, "Harry, why did you ask him that?"
Harry shrugged. "Just because he's a teacher, so maybe he'd know more about her. And he does, but he doesn't seem willing to talk about it. Wonder why?"
There was no answer to this. Harry, Ron, and Hermione could sense how Hagrid felt, the pain of it. It was disturbing, for Hagrid hardly ever was sad about much, but what he was sad about- no one knew. As the saying goes: 'It's for me to know and for you to find out.' And find out they would.