Chapter Thirteen: A Trip to Hagrid Always Brings New Information

Erin was quick to make up an excuse at breakfast the following morning about her visit to Dippet.

"I don't get why he hasn't called me to ask how I'm adjusting," Evan sulked in between bites. "I'm a Muggle-born too!"

"I suppose he'll call you soon enough," Erin said, waving it off. "He hasn't got enough time to talk to all of us in one shot."

"Mail's here," a Gryffindor fourth year called as a wave of owls swept through the high-arced windows and to their respective owners. A large tawny owl dropped a thick letter into James Potter's lap, amidst the jeering of his friends ("Your mum can't go a day without writing to you!") and then dropped a second envelope right on Albus' breakfast plate. He groaned but Erin noticed he tore it open rather happily. "Mum and Dad are pleased I'm in Gryffindor," he said. "Wonder how they could have known already?"

Evan's parents had placed stamps on his envelope; Scarlet was snickering beside him and Evan flushed, saying, "It's not their fault… they don't know…."

Erin noticed that of all the inhabitants of the Gryffindor table, she, Nick, and Charlie had been the only students not to receive a letter. However, Nick and Charlie were both busy scribbling their own. Erin, not feeling very hungry anymore, pushed aside her plate. Sapphira came swooping down, empty-handed of course, and stole a few bites off Erin's unfinished toast.

A second owl, this one considerably smaller than the first, swept before Albus with a rather hastily attached letter tied to its leg. "Blimey!" Albus cried, reading the note. "I'd nearly forgotten Hagrid invited me and Rose for tea." He looked expectantly at Erin and Nick. "Would you guys like to join?"

"Er…."

"C'mon, it'll be fun," Albus said, grinning. "Hagrid's real nice once you get to know him."

Hagrid, in fact, was very nice, although Erin couldn't help but feel wary around him. He was just so big. But it was with a surprising elegance that he prepared their tea and biscuits and delicately set the china mugs before them with a clink.

Rose Weasley had arrived before they had; when they entered the hut (for that's what it appeared to be) she had a newspaper spread out before her, her face so close her nose was nearly touching it. Her eyes narrowed when Albus introduced Nick, and even Hagrid gave a startle of surprise but then greeted him warmly.

"How did y'all like yer firs' day o' Hogwarts?" Hagrid asked as Erin took her first sip of the tea. It was scalding; she felt as though her mouth was blistering. Spluttering, she managed to choke out, "It was alright."

"Alright?" Albus' eyes widened. "Hagrid, it's incredible! I knew my dad loved it here but I never understood why until now."

"Yeah," said Hagrid, nodding reminiscently. "Yer dad sure loved this place. But that's not ter say he did't get 'imself into a spot o' trouble whenever he could!" Hagrid barked, chuckling. "'N yer parents too, Rose," he added, a twinkle in his eye.

Rose looked doubtful. "My mum?" she asked.

"That's right," Hagrid nodded, "Harry was always doin' some'in' or other whenever Ron 'n Hermione were 'round."

"Hey, listen to this," Rose said suddenly from behind her paper. "It says here in the Daily Prophet that Seamus Finnigan, the Auror in charge of blah, blah… has gone missing." She and Albus exchanged darkly significant looks.

"What?" Erin and Nick asked.

"Seamus Finnigan…" said Hagrid frowning. He turned to Albus. "Was't he a friend o' yer dad's from school?"

"He was," Albus said, nodding. "Dad's had him around for dinner a few times. They would always go to his study to talk about something. Top secret."

"Dad doesn't like him very much," Rose said. "I don't think they got along very well in school."

"Yer dad did't get along with too many people, Rose," Hagrid said, his beard twitching.

Rose, skimming the paper called the Dailly Prophet again, let out a little "tut". "You're mentioned here," she said to Nick. He looked startled. "I am?"

"Well, not you, but the name Grindelwald is. Here, listen:

"Two weeks ago, Seamus Finnigan, an Auror for the Ministry of Magic, was reported missing.

Seamus Finnigan was the Auror in charge of the Death Eaters final round up (now terminated), the case concerning the illegal experimentations of Malvus France (deceased) and Aristor Grindelwald, and the murder of Emelyn France (deceased)."

She paused reading to look up at Nick, questions swimming in her eyes.

"Aristor Grindelwald?' Albus asked.

"Illegal experimentations?" asked Rose.

Erin watched as Nick's face seemed to pale. "Never heard of him," he said abruptly. "Lots of people have got the surname Grindelwald."

Form the dubious looks on the others' faces, Erin knew this wasn't true.

"Did- did y'all hear abou' what happened with the Headmaster two nights ago?" Hagrid said in an effort to break the tension. It worked.

"No, what happened?" Rose asked, folding the Daily Prophet closed to peer at Hagrid.

"It musta been one o' the older kids, thinkin' it ter be funny…. But someone set one o' 'em critter decoys in Dippet's office. On'y this one was defected summat, 'cause it went all haywire 'n nearly killed Dippet."

Erin had a sudden vision of a metal bug with pincers and icy, blue eyes. "I saw it!" she cried excitedly. "When I was in Dippet's office. It was creepy," she said, describing the bug-like decoy.

Rose was frowning. "Hagrid, you said it nearly killed Professor Dippet?"

Hagrid nodded, but then stopped at the look on Rose's face. "But he's alive, ain't he? Can't have been nothin' too serious, don' yeh worry, Rose…."

"Don't you think it's strange," Rose said, eyeing Albus, Erin, and Nick, "that a head Auror goes missing and someone's trying to kill the Headmaster?"

"Now look here!" Hagrid began heatedly. "No one is tryin' ter kill the Headmaster! I told yeh, it was jus' a prank gone bad…."

Erin could see that Hagrid regretted ever telling them.

"A'right, yeh four, don' wanna be late for class now, s'only yer second day," Hagrid said, ushering them out of the cabin. "T'was nice metin' yeh, Erin 'n Nick," he said, smiling at them. "'N Albus! Don' ferget ter tell James ter pass by later when he's got the chance."

As soon as they were out of earshot, Albus rounded on Nick. "Who's Aristor Grindelwald?"