The Houses Competition (or THC) Round 8
Story Type: Drabble
House: Hufflepuff
Class: Muggle Studies:
Prompt: [Action] Decorating a tree
Word Count: 937 words
Thanks to my team for betaing. Nothing too heavy in this fic. A mean prank is played on a character who is temporarily upset but uninjured.
The 14-year-old assistant groundskeeper burst through the front doors, using the large fir tree he was carrying as a battering ram. Behind him, a rush of cold air entered the Great Hall.
"Hello there, Hagrid!" greeted Dumbledore as he walked past. "I'm glad to see you decorating for Christmas so soon. You were an excellent choice for a groundskeeper, if I do say so myself."
Hagrid blushed a deep red, "Thank you, Professor!" he said, nearly knocking over some fourth years with the tree as he turned to face the older man. "There'll be lights and ornaments and everything." He turned back towards the front of the hall, nearly knocking over several more students in the process.
A snicker sounded behind him. Eugene Nott, a fifth year Slytherin, didn't try to hide his smirk.
"Look at that oaf," he stage-whispered to a friend. "I heard they snapped his wand in two."
Tears began to well up in Hagrid's eyes. To make matters worse, he saw Tom Riddle leaning in an entryway, looking nonchalantly at the proceedings.
Dumbledore stopped and seemed to take stock of the situation. Hagrid shot him a pleading look and thought he saw the Transfiguration professor nod ever so slightly.
"Nott," Dumbledore interrupted, "I believe I do need to speak with you about your essay. I was rather surprised you failed to mention reverse transmutations after we covered them so thoroughly."
Nott shot a glare at Dumbledore, and Hagrid took the opportunity to compose himself and hoist the tree into its giant stand at the edge of the hall. Then he grabbed a ladder that had been set aside for the purpose and began stringing candles at the top of the tree.
Hagrid looked up at the enchanted ceiling above him. Fresh snow seemed to sprinkle down from a grey sky. Later, he would sit in the snow and feed the rabbits that scampered around the ground, watching as they nearly blended into the snow and sky as the weather cooled. Looking back down as he balanced a candle in the thick branches, he saw Nott's impatient face as Dumbledore continued to distract him with a conversation about his homework.
By the door, Tom Riddle was still leaning back and staring at him. Several of his classmates had joined him and wore ominous grins on their faces. Hagrid felt disconcerted and took a step down the ladder to look away and continue at his work.
As he moved, he didn't see Riddle take his wand from his pocket and whisper, ever so quietly, "Excita omnes."
A cacophony of hissing and clacking sounds started to emanate from the interior of the tree. Hagrid saw Dumbledore interrupt his lecturing Nott to turn to look, but as he did so a small silver snake struck out from the branch and narrowly missed Hagrid's wrist as he fell from the ladder and landed hard on his back in surprise.
Before he could recover his wits, a barrage of spiders, lizards, snakes, and frogs began to emerge from the tree and crawl over Hagrid's body.
"Pertificus Totalus," Dumbledore waved his wand and hurried over to the fallen teenager. By the door, three Slytherins were holding their stomachs as they tried to hold in gales of laughter while Riddle continued to lean against the door, only the barest hint of a smile on his face.
"Are you alright? Nothing bit you?" he asked
Hagrid shook his head and sat up, "I'm fine, can I finish decorating?"
"I think you better see Madam Pomfrey first. These are dangerous creatures; you may need an antidote."
"Please don't hurt them!" Hagrid interjected, a note of panic in his voice.
Dumbledore didn't respond but lifted an eyebrow inquisitively.
"They're not dangerous," Hagrid responded, "They're just misunderstood, is all. And if you kick them out of the castle they'll freeze, won't they? It's too cold for them out there."
"They can't live in the castle my dear boy, there's too many students about," said Dumbledore, putting a steadying hand on Hagrid's back.
Hagrid felt tears well up in his eyes and his face turned red again, but Dumbledore interrupted him before he had time to speak.
"I suppose that means we'll need to find a safe spot for them, then, won't we? There's a small supply hut out by the forest. You may care for them there if you like. I'll talk to Professor Slughorn and see if you can get any food they need from the school potions stores. I imagine you're getting old enough now to want your own space anyway." He gave a pointed glare at the Slytherins who were still standing, laughter somewhat abating now that it became clear Hagrid was uninjured and mostly unphased by the prank. As Dumbledore stared them down each turned and quickly scuttled off, save Tom Riddle who gave an unrepentant smile before turning on his heel and deliberately striding away.
"Th— Thank you, sir," Hagrid said. He scrambled to pick up the array of reptiles and amphibians slowly coming unfrozen from the floor and shuffled them into his bag.
"It is no problem at all, my boy," Dumbledore reassured him, "Now, would you mind if I helped in decorating this tree? I was always fond of popcorn strings myself, but sadly they seem to always be eaten before the holidays in school."
"I'd appreciate the help, professor," Hagrid agreed and the two set to work. When all the candles were situated and the ornaments hung, they took a step back to appreciate their handiwork. Hagrid thought it was the finest tree he had ever seen.