Chapter Twenty Eight
The next few weeks, Harry felt lighter than he had in months. He kept his coin close to him at all times, normally keeping it in his shirt pocket, it's gentle weight strangely comforting to him.
Umbridge never stopped looking for any excuse to send Harry back to detention, deepening the cuts on his hand which he was still some how managing to hide from Severus, with a lot of help from his friends.
The DA meeting were going better and better, Pavati Patil had managed such a successful Reductor Curse she'd reduced the table, covered in Sneakoscopes, to dust.
It had been impossible to fix a regular night for the DA lessons between study groups and all four houses having Quidditch practice that frequently moved due to the weather. Harry however thought that it was probably for the best, no routine that Umbridge or Filch could spot and catch them out with.
October brought with it the first Quidditch match of the season which didn't bring Harry much happiness, as he knew he wouldn't be playing.
Miles Bletchley had apologised to Harry again for having to drop him from the team, but Umbridge glaring down at him from the teachers table every time he was in the Great Hall let Harry know Miles had made the correct decision.
Slytherin won, not only had Ron taken to dropping the quaffle more than normal Draco had managed to grab the snitch within quarter of an hour, beating the school record.
The Slytherin common room was, unsurprisingly, full of celebrations that evening. Harry drank his butterbeer and smiled but he felt strangely separate from it all.
It was late that night when he felt his bracelet warm up. He snuck up to the dorm and grabbed his invisibility cloak and the went up to the Gryffindor common room.
Neville was sitting outside, reading a book and keeping an eye on the corridor. Harry tapped him on the knee.
"It's me" Harry whispered.
"Hagrid's back." Neville said.
Harry whipped off the invisibility cloak, "Are you sure?"
Neville nodded quickly, "Pretty sure. His hut has lights on and there's smoke coming from the chimney."
Harry felt his heart leap, Hagrid coming home had to be a good sign, and with Hagrid being known for letting things slip they might actually have a chance at getting some answers.
"Do you guys want to come?" Harry asked.
Neville nodded, "Yeah. I'll go and get Hermione. The common room is dead this evening, unsurprisingly. Will we all fit under your cloak?"
Harry nodded, "If we crouch down."
Neville left Harry alone in the corridor for a minute before reappearing with a worried looking Hermione.
"There's still smoke and lights on." Hermione said, forcing a smile.
"What's up?" Harry asked.
Hermione shrugged, "It's just… well we're not meant to be out of our common rooms this late are we. What if Umbridge catches us? We could get Hagrid into trouble as well."
Harry couldn't argue there, this was a risk but it also felt like a risk he needed to take.
"We'll be careful." Neville shrugged, "I mean you can stay here if you'd rather."
Hermione shook her head firmly and tucked herself under the invisibility cloak. Harry was very grateful that they wanted to go with him, as they slowly made their way through the long winding corridors to the front door. It wasn't locked so they were able to slip out into the cool nights air.
Harry didn't risk taking the invisibility cloak off until they were right at Hagrid's front door, despite the three of them frequently stepping on one another's feet.
Harry knocked loudly on the door and stepped back. Great, loud foot steps and the sound of Fang barking confirmed that Hagrid was home.
"Should'a expected you." Hagrid said, silhouetted against the door, "Come on in."
Harry, Neville and Hermione quickly made their way into the warm hut. Hermione looked at Hargid's face and screamed.
"Keep it down!" Hagrid hissed, using putting the kettle on the stove as an excuse to turn away.
"Hagrid… what on earth happened?" Harry asked, not wanting to point at the large black and purple bruise covering most of Hagrid's face, his hair matted with blood and his left eye reduced to little more than a slit the swelling was so bad.
Harry looked over Hagrid, it was clear that the blow to his face was not the only injury he had been subjected to, his hands were covered in cuts and bruises, many of which hadn't even stopped bleeding. He was also moving awkwardly, Harry suspected broken ribs.
"It's nuthin." Hagrid said, giving them all large mugs of tea.
"Hagrid you can't be serious!" Neville cried, "Nothing?!"
"I'll tell Mum." Harry said quickly, as Hagrid had opened his mouth to speak again.
" 'Arry-"
"I mean it." Harry said firmly, "It's clear you've been attacked and if you don't tell us what happened I'll tell Mum what a state you're in. You know as well as I do she'll be here in a second if she knew."
Hagrid sighed and flopped down in the chair opposite them, wincing slightly.
"I really will be all righ'." he told them.
Hermione shook her head, "You should go and see Madam Pomfrey."
"I'm dealing with it." Hagrid said. He pulled over a covered plate, removing the tea towel Harry could see it was a large, funny looking, slab of meat.
"You're not going to eat that are you?" Hermione asked, wrinkling her nose, "It looks… well, poisonous."
"It's dragon meat isn't it?" Harry said, "Dad needed some for a potion once and showed me and Danica. It isn't good for you though, Danica poked it and Mum made her wash her hands for ten minutes."
"I ain't goin' ta eat it." Hagrid smiled, slapping the dragon meat on his swollen eye, " 'elps with the stingin'."
Hermione got up and filled a bowl with water and grabbed a cloth from under the sink, as well as a bar of soap.
"I'll start getting some of this muck and blood out of your hair, if you like." Hermione smiled, "You've got a lot of cuts, you'll get an infection if you're not careful."
Hagrid nodded, "Thanks."
"So are you going to tell us what happened?" Neville asked.
"I can't." Hagrid said firmly, "Top secret, more'n me job's worth ter tell yeh."
Hermione rung the now bloody cloth out in the bowl of water, Harry watched as the clear water turned pink and felt a shiver run up his spine.
"Did the giants beat you up?" Hermione asked quietly.
Hagrid turned to look at her, "Giants? Who… who said anythin' abou' giants? Who yeh bin talkin' to?"
"We worked it out." Hermione said, apologetically, "No one told us anything."
"Did yeh?" Hagrid said, glaring at her, through his good eye.
"It was kind of… obvious." Harry said.
Hagrid shook his head, "I never knew kids like you lot for getting' information that you shouldna have. And I ain't complimentin' yeh neither. Nosy, some'd call it. Interferin'."
Harry grinned, he knew Hagrid well enough to know he didn't mean it. Harry was pretty sure that Hagrid was rather proud of them and their investigating skills.
"So you were looking for giants?" Harry smiled, "And I assume you found them." he gestured to the state Hagrid was in.
Hagrid shrugged, "Well they ain't exactly 'ard to find. Pretty big, see."
"Where are they?" Hermione asked.
"Mountains." Hagrid said, rather unhelpfully.
"Anything more specific?" Hermione pushed, changing the water in the bowl.
Hagrid ignored her, "So wha' abou' you guys? 'Ow'd your holidays go?"
"I'll tell you about the Dementors if you tell us about the giants?" Harry bargained.
Hagrid's eye grew wide, "Dementors?"
"You didn't know?" Harry asked, he assumed Dumbledore would of told Hagrid about what had happened.
Hagrid shook his head and winced, "No. I ain't 'ad much contact wi' anyone. So wha' happened?"
"Me and Danica were playing in a playground while Mum went shopping and then it got all cold and dark so we headed back to Mum and two Dementors swooped down out of nowhere at us." Harry told him, "I sent them off, I didn't think about who was around, the Dementors were my more pressing concern. We got home, after a very nasty smack to my head, and had a stupid letter from the Ministry that kinda said I was expelled, followed by another one from Mr Weasley saying that Dumbledore had made me un-expelled until after a hearing at the Ministry, he spoke, Umbridge glared, although I didn't know who she was at the time. And in the end Dumbledore won, Fudge got more grumpy and I came back to school. So giants?"
Hagrid took a large gulp of tea. Harry listened avidly as Hagrid told them about his and Madam Maxime's trip. It had started looking like they would be successful, the giant chief was taking warmly to their gifts. Unfortunately one night he was killed and the successor wasn't as friendly towards them and then the Death Eaters turned up.
"Anyone you recognised?" Hermione asked.
Hagrid shrugged, "There was a couple but only recognised Macnair, he was at Buckbeak's trial."
"So what took you so long? You only stayed three days but you've been gone months." Harry asked, carefully slipping his uneaten rock cake under the table for Fang to chew on.
"Well we couldna just give up." Hagrid scoffed, "Dumbledore was countin' on us. So we went round the littla caves, spoke to come o' the ones who couldna be 'round the new Gurg. They were pretty bea' up but I think we got through to a couple o' them." Hagrid shrugged.
Hermione had finished washing the blood from Hagrid's face and hair and was starting to cover the open cuts with a thin layer of the strong smelling purple cream before covering them in bandages.
"And you managed?" Hermione asked, "You got them on our side?"
Hagrid shrugged again, "Yeah, I think anyway. Weren' so worried 'bout the giants to be 'onest. It were there Death Eaters see, they were tryin' to follow us and Dumbledore 'ad said we weren' to go at 'em unless we 'ad to."
"I'm assuming that didn't go entirely to plan." Neville pointed out, gesturing to the state Hagrid was in.
"No, but that happene' later." Hagrid sighed, "Thanks Hermione, for fixin' me up."
"You're very welcome." Hermione said, putting the things away and sliding into the seat next to Neville.
"So are the giants on their way? They're coming to help?" Harry asked. He'd never seen a real giant and was curious to see one.
"No. The Gurg swept all tha caves after a couple of days. Killed 'em all off." Hagrid rubbed his head, "I figure some o' 'em that's left might get the message, remember Dumbledore was good to 'em, once…"
"You still haven't told us how you got attacked." Harry pointed out.
Hagrid shook his head, "I 'aven't bin."
Hermione picked at her nails for a few moments before leaning forward on the table, "Did… did you find your Mother? Or any sign of her?"
Hagrid looked over Hermione with his uninjured eye.
"Sorry. I shouldn't of asked." Hermione said quickly.
"She's dead." Hagrid grunted, shuffling awkwardly in his chair, wincing in pain, "Died years ago they told me."
"Oh Hagrid." Neville said, "I'm so sorry."
"No need." Hagrid sniffed, "Can't remember her much. Wasn' a great mother."
They sat nervously while the seconds ticked by.
Harry sighed, "Will you please tell us who attacked you?"
Hagrid opened his mouth to object again when there was a loud knock on the door. Harry, Hermione and Neville jumped.
"Get under yeh cloak." Hagrid hissed.
Harry pulled their mugs under the table and hid behind Fang's bed, Hagrid making sure that they were all covered before limping towards the door.
He swung it open and looked down at the squat little figure of Umbridge.
"So, you're Hagrid, are you?" Professor Umbridge sniffed, looking him up and down.
She pushed passed him, looking around the cabin with a wrinkled nose.
"Get away!" She shirked at Fang, who was jumping up to say hello.
Hagrid grabbed Fang's collar and told him to go to his bed, "I don' want ter be rude, but who the ruddy hell are you?"
"My name is Dolores Umbridge." her eyes were darting around the cabin, twice they landed on Harry before moving on.
Hagrid limped back to his chair, blocking her direct view to Harry, Neville and Hermione, "Dolores Umbridge? Weren' you one o' them Ministry lot?"
Umbridge forced a smile, "Yes. I was Senior Undersecretary to the Minister. I am now the Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher." she said, continuing to look around the cabin.
"Tha's brave of yeh." Hagrid scoffed, "Not many'd take tha' job any more."
Umbridge ignored him, "I am also, of course, Hogwarts High Inquisitor."
Hagrid shuffled painfully in his seat, "Wha's that?"
"I heard voices." Umbridge said.
"Wha' yeh mean?" Hagrid asked, frowning at her in confusion.
"Before I came in, I could hear voices while I was waiting on the step." Umbridge said tightly.
"I was talkin' ter Fang." Hagrid shrugged.
Umbridge let out an annoying tinkly laugh, "And it was talking back?"
Hagrid shrugged, "Well… I do sometimes say Fang's near enough 'uman." he looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Well that would make one of you." Umbridge muttered under her breath, "There are three sets of footprints leading up to you… house." Umbridge pointed out.
"I on'y jus' got back." Hagrid said, "Maybe someone came ter see me earlier an' I missed 'em."
Umbridge kept her painfully fake smile, "There are no foot prints leading away." she whispered.
"Well… I… erm..." Hagrid pulled at his beard.
Umbridge dumped her handbag down, loudly on the table, and stomping around the cabin, she even went as far as to look in the kitchen cupboards and under Hagrid's bed. Hermione had her hand clamped over her mouth to stop herself from breathing too loudly.
"How did you come by those injuries?" Umbridge demanded, turning back to Hagrid.
"I tripped." Hagrid said flatly.
"You tripped?" Umbridge said coolly, "So… it was… an accident?"
Hagrid nodded, wincing as he bent his neck.
"I see." Umbridge smiled.
"Yeah. I tripped over a friend's broomstick. I don' fly meself. Well, look at the size o' me, o don' reckon there's a broom that'd hold me. Friend o' mine breeds Abraxan horses, I donno if you've ever seen 'em, big beasts, winged, yeh know, I've had a bit o' a ride one one 'o 'em an' it was-"
Umbridge cut across him, "Where have you been?" she asked.
"Where've I..." Hagrid stuttered.
"Been, yes." Umbridge said, "The current term started two months ago, another teacher has had to cover your classes. None of your colleagues have been… willing to give me any information as to your whereabouts. You left no address, so where have you been?"
Hagrid glared at her, Harry was silently praying that Hagrid would be able to come up with a good excuse.
"I… I've been away for me health." Hagrid said.
Professor Umbridge looked over Hagrid's bloody and swollen face, "For your health?" she repeated, "I see."
Hagrid nodded, "Yeh, bit o' fresh air, yeh know?"
Umbridge let out another tinkly laugh, "Yes, well as gamekeeper, fresh air must be so difficult to come by." She said sweetly.
"Well… I mean' change o' scenery." Hagrid covered quickly.
"Mountain scenery?" Umbridge asked.
Harry stiffened, she knows, he thought, how can she know?
"Mountains?" Hagrid asked, thinking fast, "Nope. South o' France fer me. Bit o' sun an' sea."
"You don't have much of a tan." Umbridge sniffed.
"Sensitive skin," Hagrid said, forcing a smile.
Umbridge looked over him coldly, "I see." She picked up her handbag and tucked it safely in the crook of her arm, "I will of course be forced to inform the Minister of you very late return."
"Righ'." Hagrid nodded.
"You ought to know, too, that as High Inquisitor, it is my unfortunate but necessary duty to inspect my fellow teachers. So I dare say we shall meet again soon enough."
She didn't bother waiting for Hagrid to respond but turned on her heels and click clacked her way out of the cabin. Hagrid waited until she was well clear before bolting the door and pulling the cloak off them.
"She's inspectin' people?" Hagrid asked, double checking out the window that she was really gone.
Harry nodded, "Yeah she's 'pruning what ought to be prohibited'."
"Umm, what sort of thing are you planning to do with us in class?" Hermione asked, "It's just she can be very… she has a very strict idea of teaching."
Hagrid waved his hand dismissively, "I got a great load o' lessons planned out. Don' you worry."
Hermione decided it would be best not to push the issue, Hagrid was clearly tired and could do with a good nights sleep.
"We should head off." Hermione said, "Just try and stick to boring stuff that should come up in our O.W.L. Umbridge is determined to get rid of any teacher who likes Dumbledore."
Hagrid smiled and gave her a gentle hug, "Don't worry 'bout it. Make sure you wipe away your footprints as you go."
Harry nodded and said goodbye before heading back up to the castle, hidden under the invisibility cloak with Hermione magically wiping away their footprints; the snow was starting to fall again anyway though, so the trail would be completely covered in an hour.
Harry dropped them off at the Gryffindor common room before, sadly, walking back alone to the Slytherin dorm. He thought Hagrid being back would make him feel better but now it was just another thing he was sure Umbridge was going to ruin.