The journey from Gryffindor Tower to Hagrid's Hut was not an easy one. Everywhere they turned there were teachers, prefects and ghosts monitoring the corridors. The Invisibility Cloak didn't stop them being heard and Bella thought they were done for when, just metres from Snape, she stood on Ron's foot. Thankfully, Snape chose that exact moment to sneeze as Ron swore. It felt like an age but they finally reached the oak front doors and Bella breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped out into the cool night air. They rushed towards Hagrid's hut and only removed the cloak when they were stood right outside his large front door. Harry had only just pulled his hard from knocking on the large door when Hagrid flung it open. They came face to face with a large crossbow and Fang the boar hound barking madly behind Hagrid.
"Oh." Hagrid stammered, lowering the crossbow. "Wha are you doin here?"
"Why do you have a crossbow, Hagrid?" Bella asked as they stepped into the warmth of his hut.
"Nothin... I bin expectin... doesn' matter. Sit down." Hagrid replied.
The trio took a seat around Hagrid's large table and watched curiously as Hagrid fumbled around with the boiling kettle. He spilled some kettle water on the fire, near extinguishing it and dropped the teapot from the side cabinet with a loud clatter.
"Are you okay, Hagrid?" Ron asked.
"Did you hear about Hermione?" Ron asked.
"Oh I heard alrigh'." Hagrid replied.
He poured them a large cup of boiling water, tea bags missing and made to cut some fruitcake when there was a loud knock at the door. Hagrid dropped the fruitcake onto the plate with a thud and Harry, Ron and Bella all shared panic looks as they dove under the cloak, pushing themselves against the far wall and down onto the floor. Harry and Ron were flush against the wall as Bella sat just in front of them, her knees pulled up to her chest. Once Hagrid was certain they were hidden he grabbed his crossbow and flung open the door.
"Good evening Hagrid."
Dumbledore was stood outside Hagrid's Hut and Bella's heart rate increased as he stepped inside. She covered her mouth to stop her gasp as a second figure followed behind Professor Dumbledore. The man was recognisable anywhere with his plump figure and strange attire; Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic and Arthur Weasley's boss. Hagrid had gone a pale green colour and dropped into one of the chairs, looking from Dumbledore to Fudge.
"Terrible events, Hagrid. Knew I had to come." Fudge commented in a rather serious tone. "Four muggle-borns attacked. The Ministry's got to do something."
"I didn'." Hagrid stammered, turning to Professor Dumbledore. "Professor, you know I didn'."
"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full backing." Dumblefore spoke in a tone that sounded foreign coming from the usually calm old man.
"Albus, please." Fudge shifted uncomfortably. "It doesn't look good for Hagrid. I need to do something, the governors are on my back."
"I'll say it again, removing Hagrid from Hogwarts will not help the situation." Dumbledore insisted, fire dancing in his eyes.
"What else am I supposed to do?" Fudge cried. "If it turns out that it's not Hagrid then he will be released back to Hogwarts but as it stands I must take him, I don't have much choice."
"Take me? Take me where? Not Azkaban!" Hagrid's face paled as his fate was realised.
"You must know Hagrid, you're not being punished. If the culprit is apprehended you will be released with a full apology immediately." Fudge said quickly.
Before Hagrid could reply there was another loud knock on the front door. Bella shifted back against Ron's legs uncomfortably as Dumbledore pulled open the door to admit someone Bella didn't imagine she'd ever see in Hagrid's Hut; Lucius Malfoy. Bella fumbled behind her and grabbed Ron's hand, squeezing it tightly.
"Oh, good, you're already here Fudge." He drawled, sneering down his nose at Hagrid as Fang began to growl.
"You, you get out of my house!" Hagrid yelled, pointing his large finger in Malfoy's direction.
"I can assure you I take no pleasure being in this - did you call this a house? - I only happened to arrive at the school and was told I would find the Headmaster here." Lucius drawled.
"And what did you need from me?" Dumbledore asked. He spoke with his usual polite tone but Bella could tell he was still as furious as he had been moments ago.
"With these attacks being so frequent and no culprit yet apprehended -" Malfoy looked Hagrid up and down at his statement.
"The governors feel Hogwarts would be of more benefit if you step down. This is an Order of Suspension - you'll find all twelve signatures on it." Malfoy lazily handed a roll of parchment to Dumbledore. "We feel that there have been too many attacks to ignore now. At this rate there will be no more muggle-borns left at Hogwarts and what a tragedy that would be."
"Oh, now Lucius, we shouldn't be so hasty." Fudge spluttered. "Last thing we need -"
"Any business involving the Headmaster is the business of the governors, Fudge." Malfoy replied smoothly. "And since Dumbledore failed to stop these attacks -"
"Now, now Lucius. Well, if Dumbledore can't stop them, who can?" Fudge questioned imploringly.
"That remains to be seen." Malfoy replied dryly.
Hagrid leapt to his feet in a fury, his shaggy black hair and beard swinging violently as the hut shook slightly.
"An' jus' how many governors did ye have to blackmail, eh Malfoy?!" Hagrid yelled.
"My, my, Hagrid that's some temper you have. I would advise you not to yell like that at the Azkaban guards, they won't like that very much." Malfoy smirked.
"You're no' protectin' the school by taking Dumbledore, wha' good's that gonna do! The muggle-borns won' stand a chance if Dumbledore's no' there to protec' them!" Hagrid yelled thunderously, making Bella genuinely fear he would hurt Lucius Malfoy.
"Hagrid, please." Dumbledore said sharply. He hadn't removed his sparkling blue eyes from Malfoy's cold grey ones.
"If the governors want me to leave, Lucius, then that's what I shall do."
"Albus." Fudge gasped.
"No!" Hagrid cried.
"However," Dumbledore spoke clearly and precisely, making sure they didn't miss a word. "You will find that I will only have truly left Hogwarts when none here are loyal to me. And you will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those ask for it."
Bella squeezed Ron's hand tighter and her other hand found it's way to Harry's as she swore Dumbledore's eyes flickered in the direction they were huddled in.
"Lovely parting statement, truly." said Malfoy. "We will all surely miss your... unique way of running things and hope your successor can prevent any more incidents."
Malfoy strode purposefully to the front door and pushed it open, bowing Dumbledore out. Fudge fidgeted awkwardly with his fingers as he waited for Hagrid to follow on after them but Hagrid didn't move an inch.
"All I have to say is if anyone would wan' to find out some stuff, all they'd have to do is follow the spiders, jus' follow the spiders."
Fudge looked at Hagrid with a curious expression on his face.
"Alrigh' I'm comin'" Hagrid pulled his large moleskin overcoat over his shoulders but stopped abruptly in the doorway and spoke loudly; "Someone'll need to feed Fang when I'm away."
With those parting words, Hagrid followed on after Malfoy and Dumbledore and Fudge pulled the door shut behind him. The remaining inhabitants waited a few seconds before throwing the cloak from over them.
"Why are all Malfoy's such gits? Who does he think he is?" Ron growled.
"He's a pompous arse." Bella replied.
"He always shows up at the wrong time." Harry added.
"Follow the spiders? What does that mean?" Bella asked.
"I dunno, but I don't like it." Ron replied.
"What are we going to do? Now Dumbledore isn't here, no ones safe." Harry said ominously.
"They might as well just offer up the muggle-borns as live bait at this rate." Ron added which earned him a slap on the arm from Bella.
"What? It's the truth. There'll be an attack a day now Dumbledore's gone." Ron hissed.
"Follow the spiders? What an odd request." Bella said aloud to no one in particular.
"Dumbledore's gone and Hagrid's being taken to Azkaban and all you're worried about is spiders?" Ron groaned.
"No, she's right. Hagrid wouldn't say it if it didn't mean something." Harry replied.
"I don't like spiders." Ron whispered.
Fang began to whimper and scratch at the front door as the second-years shared a look. Whatever they had to do, it wasn't looking promising.
