46 Saturday November 9th

It had been another week of classes and of catching up on her studies. She had made a point of finding Professor Slughorn and apologizing for missing that week's dinner, using her originally planned excuse of "feeling sick." He had stuttered and twittered awkwardly as he usually did, but on seeing her face, he had clamped his mouth shut, nodded, and agreed to let her know when the next dinner was.

Now, she was helping Hagrid once again in taking care of his creatures. In her arms she carried a large bucket of feed for the spiders, the worst part of helping the half-giant she thought. They had just finished feeding the Fwoopers, brightly colored birds whose faces resembled small owls.

"So Hagrid, I thought Fwoopers had a song known to drive people insane? At least, that's what I remember you teaching." She began.

He nodded, carrying four buckets of the same size to her one. "Yup. That's true enough."

"So then, why were yours docile?"

"Not docile Ms. Lestrange. Fwoopers can be sold or given to wizards, but they must have a silencing spell placed on 'em monthly. The wizard also has to be licensed to keep one. Their feathers fetch a pretty penny they do too." He shifted the buckets.

"That makes sense… So then, you're licensed to keep them?" She stumbled on a root, but managed to right herself before the meat inside her bucket sloshed over the sides.

He glanced at her and shook his head. "I shouldn't have said that. I should not have said that."

She giggled and looked away, feigning interest in the trees. The half-giant would have no trouble keeping the Fwoopers, nor any other creature. She didn't worry about the paperwork with him. She had only asked out of curiosity.

Another thought hit her and she looked at him askance. "Hey Hagrid?"

"Yes?"

"I don't mean to pry… But you dated Madame Olympe Maxime a couple of years ago, didn't you?" She saw the man pale and hurried on. "It's just, I have this…" She paused and thought, "I don't know what she is." "Friend I guess. She likes this boy, but he's dating another girl and… I guess I'm just wondering, is love always this hard?"

Hagrid sucked in a breath, looking like he'd rather be anywhere but there at that moment. He was probably thinking longingly that a group of death eaters would swoop in and save him from speaking any further. "Yes… I imagine it is. But, you know what they say. The best things in life are often the hardest to work for and the most sought after."

"Do you think…" She looked down as she walked and then up at the man earnestly. "Do you think it'll work out for them?"

"I think…" He peered at her. "You know what I think? I think if it's meant to be, then they'll work it out. Now, don't you waste time worrying about it, Noelle. Don't you worry for one minute. Oh look, the spiders!" He hurried ahead into the hollow.

Noelle stopped a moment, watching him go. Though the man certainly didn't want to talk on the subject, and he wasn't exactly an expert either, he had eased her mind somewhat. Hagrid was good at saying what she needed to hear. She smiled and followed after him.

She still felt uneasy about being near the spiders, however, with Hagrid there, she knew no harm would come to her. Together they dumped the meal out for the smaller spiders, and then she walked forwards with him as he went to see Aragog, the largest of them.

Noelle watched as Hagrid pulled a jar from his inner pocket. Inside she could see a sticky liquid-like plant substance. "What's that Hagrid?" He unstoppered the lid and immediately she gagged, covering her nose.

"That, Ms. Lestrange, is stinksap. It's for Aragog here." He stepped towards the beast and the spider leaned forward silently, its eyes taking in everything at once.

"Oh yeah…" She gagged again. "I remember learning about that in our third year studies."

"I'm hoping it'll help him ah... " The man sniffled, "feel better. Eat up old man." He put a hand to the side of the spider's face and poured the liquid on Aragog's jaws, where the spider proceeded to pull the liquid in with a prolonged sigh.

Noelle watched the two of them with conflicting feelings of horror and sadness. She couldn't imagine being friends with a spider, but she knew Hagrid had cared for the creature since it was born, and to him, it was family.