The Potter Timeline
Chapter 35 - The Redemption of Rubeus Hagrid
The following morning, Harry, Hermione, and their fellow Gryffindors were heading through the first-floor corridor to their Transfiguration class when they came across a group of students staring at something and whispering to one another. When the second-years approached, they saw Professor Dumbledore with his hands clasped behind his back, observing as Professor Flitwick levitated several limestone blocks with his wand. The tiny man directed the stones and placed them one on top of the other across the doorway of the off-limits girls' restroom. As he did, Hagrid, standing nearby, would remove more blocks from an old wooden wheelbarrow and place them on the floor for the professor.
Next to Dumbledore stood the Aurors, James and Tonks, with two other Aurors beside them. Dumbledore quietly mentioned something to James who nodded in return. Tonks turned and waved at Harry and Hermione who waved back at the eccentric, violet-haired witch. After a few moments, Dean, Neville, and Seamus leaned in toward the two.
"What are they doing?" Dean asked with a scrunched-up face. Harry glanced at Hermione, and she nodded at him. Harry looked at his friends.
"I guess it won't hurt to say, as I'm sure Dumbledore will announce it soon enough," he told them quietly, "but they're sealing up the entrance to the Chamber of Secrets."
The Gryffindors were stunned. A few others heard this and turned to join the conversation, Mandy Brocklehurst and Terry Boot among them.
"So, it's real? The Chamber is actually...real?" Terry asked wide-eyed.
"Yes," Hermione answered, "it appears so."
Everyone stared slack-jawed at the best friends. Then, Dean and Seamus chuckled.
"Let's see what Professor Binns has to say now!" Dean uttered with amusement.
"Yeah, this will flip the old ghost's lid!" Seamus let out.
Everyone snickered. But as they watched Flitwick insert the final stone block into the doorway, Harry noticed Hermione's face sadden.
"What's wrong?" he asked her quietly. The girl looked at him with a frown.
"Poor Myrtle. They're sealing her up inside too, you know," she muttered.
Harry chuckled.
"Yeah, but she's a ghost. She can come through the wall anytime she wants. She never liked anyone going into her restroom anyway, right?"
"I know. But it's still sad."
Flitwick backed up and lowered his wand. All conversation ceased when Professor Dumbledore raised his own wand at the hidden doorway. He whispered a spell and waved the wand in a zigzag pattern. The loose blocks of stone shifted slightly then seemed to bind together and become so much a part of the wall around them, the doorway disappeared completely. The students were amazed.
The headmaster turned and smiled at them.
"I believe that's enough light entertainment for this morning. Everyone, please head to your classes," he commanded pleasantly.
The crowd dispersed, more whispers and hushed conversation breaking out among the pupils.
"I guess that means the monster is real as well?" Mandy asked as the two Ravenclaws walked with the lions.
"From what we've learned, yes," Hermione answered her, "and Professor Dumbledore wants to make sure it's trapped and can't attack anyone else until they've apprehended it."
As they continued down the corridor, Harry looked over at a group of Hufflepuffs who were among those watching the spectacle. Justin Finch-Fletchley, who was released from the hospital wing the previous evening, glared back at him. And joining his glare was Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott. Harry swallowed hard. The Hufflepuffs then huddled together, whispering to one another - no doubt about him. Harry looked away.
He wanted to apologize to Justin for what happened but didn't exactly know how. To tell him something like "I'm sorry for tackling you, Justin, I thought you were Tom Riddle" seemed ridiculous, even if it was the truth. So, Harry found himself in a quandary. Without some proof he wasn't simply imagining things at the match, he knew he'd come across as a complete nutter. But no sooner had Harry thought this, than potential proof arrived.
"Harry!" the voice of Colin Creevey piped at the second-year from behind.
Harry grimaced, annoyed at the thought Colin wanted to take yet another picture of the famous Boy Who Lived. The Gryffindors stopped and turned to find the mousy-faced kid skid to a halt in front of them. His cheeks flush and trying to catch his breath, the boy looked at Harry.
"I'm really late for class, but I had to find you!" he exclaimed.
"Good morning, Colin. What can I do for you?" Harry replied with exasperation.
"You know that really nice third-year girl in our House, Melissa Shane?"
"Yes," he replied.
"Well, she taught me how to enchant my camera to take those cool moving pictures! You should see some of the things I can do with it!"
Harry's brow furrowed.
"Why is this so important to tell me now?"
"Well, I'd thought you'd like to know...I took pictures of the match on Saturday, and I have one with you jumping off your broom!"
Creevey produced a photograph from his pocket, eager to show it to the twelve-year-old.
Harry frowned, not wanting to be reminded of the incident, let alone have a picture of it.
"That's okay, Colin. You can keep it. I really don't care to see it, honestly."
"But Harry, look! There's something weird about it!"
At this, the five Gryffindors huddled around the first-year and stared at the photo.
From Colin's vantage point in the stands, Harry was a blur as he swooped toward the picture-taker on his Nimbus. In the next moment, Harry leapt from the broom behind an astonished Hermione. But instead of Justin Finch-Fletchley standing behind the girl, there was a bizarre light of some kind in the form of a person which seemed to block the Hufflepuff kid, like the film had been overexposed in only one place. The light appeared ghost-like with fiery shards radiating out from it. A fraction of a second later, Harry was sailing through the air at the form and just before hitting it, the light vanished, leaving only Finch-Fletchley staring up wide-eyed at the moment of impact.
Harry's jaw dropped. He glanced at Hermione to find equal surprise. Colin went on.
"When I took the photo, I only saw that second-year standing behind you, Hermione! I don't know how it came out like that!"
Harry looked at the boy in astonishment.
"Colin! This is great! Can I borrow this?!" he asked eagerly.
Creevey's face lit up like he'd just won Witch Weekly's Mega-Galleon Sweepstakes.
"Sure, Harry! You can have it, if you'd like!" he uttered excitedly, thrilled to have made the famous Harry Potter happy over something.
"Thanks!" Harry responded, patting the kid on the shoulder, "great work! We're late for our own class, so, see you later!"
The Gryffindors hurried off.
"See ya, Harry! Any time!" Colin exclaimed before fading into the distance.
As they marched briskly down the corridor, Harry watched the moving images in the photo intently as he held the photograph with his free hand. Hermione and the others were watching it as well, though the three boys weren't sure what they were looking at.
"What is it, Harry? What's that in the picture?" Seamus asked. Dean and Neville leaned in closer with him.
"That, Seamus, is the reason I leapt from my broom!" Harry replied, "I wasn't seeing things, and this is the proof!"
"Proof of what?" Neville asked.
"Proof, Neville, that someone else was indeed behind Hermione," Harry uttered and looked at his best friend, "someone by the name of Tom Riddle!"
Hermione smiled back...though with a hint of concern.
The Gryffindors received a stern glare from Professor McGonagall when they entered her classroom. But since several second-years from other Houses also arrived late, the woman didn't deduct any House points, especially when Mandy explained everyone had been watching the professors seal up the girls' restroom. Nevertheless, the witch in green started class in a perturbed mood which didn't bode well. But things seemed to normalize as she went into a lecture on the basics of transfiguring an object in motion.
She then had them pair up and attempt to transfigure a rubber ball into a stone before the ball rolled across a specific point on the floor. At first, it was hit and miss as some students failed to transfigure the ball correctly - accidentally turning it into a puddle of goo - or their partners rolled the ball too fast, causing balls from different groups to crash into each other. But after several chaotic minutes, the students got the hang of it and at the end, everyone performed the task well. McGonagall's perturbed mood had changed to pleased by the time she dismissed the class.
As students left the room, Harry and Hermione made their way to her desk. The woman was just about to go through some parchments and looked up at them.
"Well, you two. You saw Professor Dumbledore sealing the girls' restroom, then."
"Yes, ma'am," they replied.
"And no doubt this news about the Chamber of Secrets is going to spread through the school like wildfire. But the headmaster is making sure to be above board, unlike his predecessor. He wants to give no cause to the Ministry or its governors to shut Hogwarts down."
"So that why he's involved the Aurors in searching for Slytherin's monster," Hermione said.
"Yes. And the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures. A representative from that department should be arriving here today and the plan is to engage with the Aurors to search for Slytherin's chamber and either capture his monster or destroy it."
The second-years nodded.
"In the meantime, expect a mandatory meeting in the Great Hall as Professor Dumbledore has some important announcements to make, some of which you are already familiar with."
Harry and Hermione grinned at one another, knowingly. McGonagall crossed her arms and leaned on the desk.
"Was there something else you wished to talk to me about?" she inquired.
Harry's face lit up.
"Yes, ma'am. I wanted to show you this..."
He produced Colin's moving picture from his robes and handed it to her. After gazing at it a few moments, the woman's eyes went wide, and she looked at Harry.
"Who took this picture?"
"The first-year, Colin Creevey. He was standing beside Hermione when I leapt from my broom and happened to capture what I did as well as that...figure standing behind her. It was Tom Riddle I saw, professor. That's why I jumped at him."
The professor watched the images unfold once more.
"You're saying that this 'light' is Tom Riddle?"
"Yes, ma'am. And that wasn't the first time he appeared to me. He did twice before inside the Great Hall. But until Hermione confirmed my description of him, I didn't know it was Tom. Now everything fits!"
"And how do you know this 'image' is indeed Tom and not simply a photographic trick?"
Hermione was bursting at the seams to answer.
"If you look carefully, professor, you can see Harry clearly in front of the light and not burned out by it as might be the case if someone tried to fake the photo or made an error in developing it."
McGonagall watched it again. She then frowned, placed it on the desk, and looked up at the pair.
"Considering what you've told us about Riddle's diary, Harry, and the strange things that have been happening to you, I believe you, young man."
Harry and Hermione beamed at one another. The professor continued.
"However, be that as it may, whether this photograph proves your assertion or not, your response to what you saw was on display for the entire school. You were seen attacking a student even if it was a case of mistaken identity. And keep in mind, Harry, that the rest of your fellow pupils do not know who Tom Riddle is. Therefore, I can neither give back the House points nor release you from detention duty, though I'm sure you were hoping for that."
Harry frowned and slowly nodded at the woman, disappointed at this news. She went on.
"And speaking of your detention, Mr. Lockhart requested and was granted that you serve your time with him."
"What?!" Harry exclaimed with a look of shock. She grimaced at the boy.
"You heard me, Harry. He has some special assignment for you that only you can help him with, apparently."
Harry threw Hermione a sour look and she frowned back. Harry would rather hand-clean all the boys' restrooms under the sneering gaze of Filch or serve detention in the most dangerous part of the Forbidden Forest with Hagrid than spend five minutes in Lockhart's company. This news was horrific.
"Now then, is there anything else?" McGonagall asked the pair.
They shook their heads.
"Very well. Move along now so you're not late for your next class."
"Yes, ma'am," they both uttered before leaving her desk and exiting the classroom.
As they walked the first-floor corridor in the direction of Binns' class, Harry stared at the floor with a frown. He hoped to leave McGonagall's class with the good news she'd cleared him of what happened on the pitch. Instead, not only did that not happen but he now had a nightmare on his hands having to serve detention with Gilderoy Lockhart.
"Harry, I'm sorry you couldn't get out of your punishment," Hermione said sadly, "I know you were trying to do the right thing and...protect me."
He smiled weakly at her.
"That's okay, Hermione. At least Professor McGonagall knows the truth now. I'll just deal with it the best I can."
The thirteen-year-old took his free hand in hers and smiled at him. He smiled back, squeezing her hand gently.
They were the last to arrive in Binns' History of Magic and took their seats behind Neville, Seamus, and Dean. The ghost hadn't started his lecture yet and was floating back and forth on the other side of his desk, his face showing deep, disturbed thought.
The three boys turned around.
"He's been like this for five solid minutes," Seamus informed Harry and Hermione quietly.
"Yeah, no doubt this news about the Chamber has him rattled," Dean added.
The three snickered before Binns loudly cleared his throat. They turned back to face the front and the entire class was on pins and needles as to what the professor was going to say.
"Before any or all of you raises your hand to ask about the supposed Chamber of Secrets, let me disabuse you of the notion that I am now convinced of its existence. I am not! Though I highly respect Professor Dumbledore and believe the man is in earnest, I still hold to the position that the Chamber is a myth, and whatever chamber or dungeon was supposedly discovered from his 'evidence', I believe in the end will be revealed to have been nothing but a misunderstanding. Once the Aurors and the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures finishes its investigation into the so-called 'monster of Slytherin', then and only then will my mind be convinced - if they confirm it, that is!"
The pupils were wide-eyed in astonishment, and several raised their hands which then drew forth a severe stare from the old ghost.
"Now, if any one of you so much as utters the words 'Chamber of Secrets', 'Heir of Slytherin', or 'Slytherin's monster' in either statement or question form..."
At this, the students lowered their hands.
"...it will be an automatic ten points deducted from your respective Houses! Do I make myself clear?!"
The sullen class attendees somberly nodded.
"Very well. On to today's lecture concerning the Wizengamot's barbaric, Medieval trial process..."
Groans erupted from everyone, and the class got under way.
~HP~
For the next two days, no word was given concerning the mandatory meeting McGonagall spoke of and the second-years followed their usual routine of classes and at least one evening's practice in the Spellroom. But then, on Thursday, Percy informed his Gryffindor charges that the meeting was indeed to take place that Friday night. Questions and rumors spread instantly over what might be announced and what the headmaster had to say about the Chamber.
When that Friday evening came, the Great Hall was once more abuzz with conversation as every table was filled to the brim with curious students, and the entirety of Hogwarts staff occupied the High Table. As Harry and Hermione waited eagerly with their fellow Gryffindors, Harry glanced at the Ministry Aurors standing along the edges of the hall as though guarding it. James and Tonks stood to the side of the High Table along with a thin, but tall wizard wearing a blue suit and red tie. The man also sported a thin brown beard and a blue bowler hat on top of his brown, wavy hair. The wizard's face looked familiar to Harry, though he was certain he'd never seen him before.
Dumbledore and McGonagall were conversing together quietly while seated at the High Table before the latter nodded at the former and the headmaster rose. Every conversation ceased.
"Good evening students and staff. I thank you all for coming to this meeting as I wish to update you on our current situation and make a few important announcements."
The wizard clasped his hands behind his back and gazed across the tables.
"First of all, some of you observed Professor Flitwick and myself sealing the doorway to the abandoned First-floor Girls' Restroom. And I've no doubt that those who did not have been apprised by their fellow pupils of this sealing and are curious as to its purpose. Evidence was recently discovered that the legendary Chamber of Secrets is in fact...real."
Hushed conversations broke out everywhere inside the hall. Dumbledore raised his hand, and everyone quieted.
"This evidence also indicates that the way to the Chamber was concealed inside the girls' restroom, hence its closing. As for the exact location of the Chamber itself, that has yet to be determined. In addition, it is now suspected by myself, as well as the Ministry Aurors, that whatever creature is supposed to dwell in said Chamber was responsible either directly or indirectly with the death of our late caretaker and the petrification of his cat."
Even louder whispers erupted among everyone.
"Silence!" Dumbledore intoned. The hall quieted once more. He went on.
"With the sealing off of the restroom, our hope is that the creature remains in the Chamber until the Aurors find and deal with it accordingly. To aid them in this effort, we have been joined by Mr. Amos Diggory, chairman of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, Beast Division of the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, of which department Mr. Diggory is also head."
Dumbledore extended a hand toward the man in the blue suit who smiled at the students and nodded. Now Harry knew why he recognized the man. This was Cedric Diggory's father! Harry briefly glanced at his fellow Seeker at the Hufflepuff table and noted the resemblance. The headmaster continued.
"Rest assured, students, that your safety and well-being is the primary concern of Hogwarts staff, and we, as well as the Ministry of Magic, will do everything in our power to prevent another attack."
The wizard nodded at James, Tonks, and Diggory who responded in kind. Dumbledore continued.
"Now, I have another very important piece of news I wish to relay to all of you. The evidence which has come forward relating to the existence of the Chamber of Secrets and its creature has also solved a dilemma which has haunted me and others for some fifty years."
Dumbledore stepped away from his place at the High Table and walked around it to stand in the open space between the staff and students.
"Some of you are aware that many years ago, the same Chamber was opened here at Hogwarts and several students were attacked and one actually killed - all in a fashion similar to what's happening today. Though at that time, it was not known the Chamber of Secrets actually existed. But in the process of trying to put a stop to the mysterious attacks, a young student was falsely accused of being the culprit behind them. In a series of rather rash, and unfortunate decisions, this student was deemed guilty, without a proper trial, simply because he was harboring a pet in his dorm, one that could be considered dangerous to the student population at large. The verdict handed down by the Wizengamot was said student's expulsion from Hogwarts and the snapping in two of his wand. I pleaded strongly for the young man and was able to not only prevent him spending time in Azkaban, but also grant him a place of usefulness here at the school which would not require magic, as he was now forbidden to use it."
Harry and Hermione glanced at Hagrid sitting at the High Table. The big man seemed to sink down in his seat, if that was possible, and his cheeks turned pink, despite that thick beard of his. The kids grinned at one another. Dumbledore went on.
"But with this recently acquired evidence, I reopened the case against this former student before the Wizengamot a few days ago and have the pleasure of informing you...he was unanimously acquitted."
The students looked at each other, most curious as to who he was referring to. Harry and Hermione both beamed, among the few who did know.
"I have here an official document from the Ministry of Magic..." Dumbledore said while producing a parchment from within his robes, "...acknowledging this former student's innocence of the crimes he was accused of fifty years ago, and the Ministry's sincere apology, signed by Mr. Cornelius Fudge, our current Minister of Magic. For those of you who do not know, this student is none other than our own...Rubeus Hagrid."
Whispers broke out among the astonished students and Hagrid seemed to sink even lower in his seat, his face showing deep emotion. The headmaster turned and looked at him.
"Hagrid, as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, and Chief Administrator of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I would like to extend to you an official apology on behalf of both institutions. And as a good friend for these many years, I wish to say...congratulations! You are hereby exonerated!"
Nearly the entire student body erupted in cheers and applause. Dumbledore clapped and the staff at the High Table joined him, McGonagall and Sprout gazing at the big giant with tears in their eyes. Lockhart patted the man on the back with a shiny, toothy grin, and even Professor Snape seemed pleased. Harry and Hermione stood from their seats, vigorously clapping while beaming at the great man. The rest of the students joined them. The headmaster motioned to Hagrid to stand, which he did with some embarrassment. As the hall became deafeningly loud with applause, Harry and Hermione chuckled at seeing their giant friend wipe tears from his eyes, gazing at everyone with an expression of gratitude. The second-years were very happy for him. Then, the applause died down and the hall went silent. Everyone took their seats again and Dumbledore continued.
"For those of you who have known Hagrid, his performance as Keeper of Keys and Grounds, as well as official Gamekeeper here at Hogwarts, has been exemplary all these many years. And now that his legal status as a magic-wielding citizen, with all of its rights and duties, has been restored, I have the pleasure of informing you that he has been offered and has accepted the position of...Hogwarts Caretaker in place of our late Mr. Filch."
The students were stunned again, and more whispers ensued. Dumbledore went on regardless.
"He will of course retain his duties as Keeper of Keys and Grounds, as well as Gamekeeper, as I have consolidated all three positions into one. However, we will most likely hire a few new faces to help Hagrid with these duties over which he will be manager. This is a heavy responsibility indeed, though I have no doubt he will excel at it."
The hall was filled with applause once more. Dumbledore smiled at the giant and Hagrid nodded with his own humble smile.
"And finally, in consideration of his new role as caretaker, Hagrid has expressed the desire to receive magic lessons once more as he has been deprived of it for all these years. You may therefore, students, find him in some of your classes. I and my staff wish him the best of luck in whatever studies he chooses to pursue."
More cheers and applause followed this. But Fred and George stared wide-eyed at each other on opposite sides of the Gryffindor table, then dropped their heads with sour faces. Harry, Hermione, and their friends were puzzled.
"What's wrong with you two?" Dean asked while still clapping.
The twins looked despondently at the second-years.
"Hagrid as the new caretaker?" Fred said.
"And using magic too?" George echoed him.
"So much for getting away with pranks," Fred stated while looking at his brother.
"Or sneaking into forbidden areas of the castle," George added.
"Why is that?" Neville asked.
"Because it was easy under Filch. He was a Squib!" Fred answered.
Harry's brow furrowed.
"What's a 'Squib'?" he asked.
"A person with no natural magical abilities who was born to wizarding parents," Hermione informed him.
"Yeah, the exact opposite of a muggleborn," Seamus added.
Harry nodded. No wonder Filch was in a perpetual bad mood - he had to clean or move everything with no magical ability. And trying to catch wizarding pranksters, like the twins, was no doubt a nightmare without magic. He chuckled at the thought of Hagrid freezing the twins with a body-bind spell, or even confiscating their wands under threat of his own. Poor Fred and George. Nevertheless, the two redheads smiled at each other anyway then joined in with the cheers and applause.
"Way to go, Hagrid!" they shouted together, and the giant winked back at them. Dumbledore then raised his hand one last time to quiet the hall.
"Now, as my official announcements are at an end, we've provided everyone a special feast for this happy occasion."
He clapped his hands twice and more food appeared on the tables than Harry could recall since entering the school over a year earlier. He and his fellow pupils enjoyed a hearty dinner with cheer.
And Rubeus Hagrid enjoyed it more than any of them.