Chapter Thirty Nine

Harry and Draco pulled on their white robes and made sure that they looked at least half way presentable.

It was several days since Seamus had openly challenged Severus's loyalty and it was still playing on Harry's mind.

"We should hurry," Draco said, checking his watch, "Or we're going to be late."

Harry nodded. They were off to Hagrid's for the funeral of Aragog, Hagrid's awful giant spider that had once tried to eat them. Hermione and Neville were meeting them in the Entrance Hall. Hagrid had originally asked them to slip out under the cloak as they shouldn't really be out of the school after dark but as Daphne had pointed out, Hagrid was a teacher and could therefore simply give them permission slips.

Harry and Draco wondered down to the common room where Daphne and Pansy were also waiting for them, getting several strange looks wearing their white robes.

"You know, it's bad enough that some of the 'best' families in the country still follow those stupid old superstitions," Gemini mused, not looking up from her group, "but to use them for a disgusting half breed?!" she let out a loud scoff.

Harry was about to say something when Pansy caught his arm and shook her head, "You are on your last warning with them Harry, she's baiting you."

Harry took a deep breath and nodded. Gemini flashed him a grin before turning back to her friend group. She was making two of her so called friends play wizards chess, neither of them seemed to have the slightest clue what they were doing, Gemini mocking and laughing at them horribly every time they got confused or made a bad move. The whole scene made Harry feel rather sick.

The four of them left the common room as soon as they could into the quiet and refreshing hallway. It wasn't a long walk to the Entrance Hall, Hermione and Neville were standing there as expected, but so were two other girls, wrapped in travelling cloaks and next to their hastily packed trunks. Both girls had clearly been crying and now looked to be in a state of shock.

"What's going on?" Harry asked Hermione quietly.

"It's the Montgomery sisters isn't it?" Draco said, "Courtney and Louise I think?"

Hermione nodded and pulled them in a little closer, "Yes, first year Hufflepuff and Gryffindor. They're going home."

"Their little brother died in St Mungo's this morning." Neville whispered, "He was only five."

"What on earth happened?" Pansy gasped.

"Rumour has it their mother was approached by death eaters but she refused them so they had Fenrir Greyback attack him." Hermione said, her own eyes brimming with tears, "They tried for hours to save him but the damage was too severe. Apparently he was torn up really badly."

Harry felt sick, anger rising in his chest, "Doesn't surprise me with him, the guy is a sicko, loves to attack kids."

Neville wrapped his arms tightly around himself, "Well, needless to say their parents have called them home."

"We should go." Daphne said, "We can't miss the funeral because we were here gossiping."

Harry nodded and gave two girls a sad smile as they walked passed.

Hagrid was standing by his hut, in his best suit with Fang by his side. His eyes were red and puffy but he gave the six of them a friendly smile as they walked down.

"I'm so glad tha' you could all make it." Hagrid said with a sniffle, "Bin… bin a rough few days."

"How are you holding up, Hagrid?" Pansy asked softly, although she couldn't bring herself to say she was sorry for his loss.

Hagrid let out a loud sob and wiped his eyes with a large, bright red handkerchief.

"Are… are we burying him in the forest?" Harry asked carefully.

Hagrid shook his large head, "No. None o' the other spiders will let me near 'em now Aragog is gone. Turns out it was only on his orders that they hadn' already eaten me! Can you believe it?"

Harry, Draco and Pansy gave each other a quick look. Having met Aragog and his family they could well believe it but they also knew it would not be a kind thing to point out.

" 'Nd look at yea, all dressed up as well." Hagrid sniffed, "It really does mean a lot ta me."

Neville was also dressed in his white robes, leaving Hermione feeling rather out of place dressed in black, although she looked perfectly neat.

"Where do you think we should lay him to rest?" Neville asked, very thankful they weren't going to have to face the forest.

"Jus' the other side o' the pumpkin patch I though'." Hagrid said, pointing to where a large hole had already been dug out, and sitting next to it was the large spider.

Harry and his friends moved slowly over to the pit, following Hagrid at a respectful distance. Hagrid managed to walk over, still letting out loud sobs with every other step.

Harry, Draco, Hermione, Daphne, Pansy and Neville positioned themselves around the burial pit so that it was completely surrounded, except for where the large pile of dirt stood and a space for Hagrid.

"I jus'… I jus' don' wanna say goodbye." Hagrid sobbed.

Hermione and Pansy, who were standing nearest to him, placed comforting hands on his shoulders.

"Just take all the time you need." Harry said with a kind smile. He hated the spider, that couldn't be denied, but Hagrid's pain was real, very real and that couldn't be denied either and was certainly the more important currently.

Hagrid wiped his nose on his sleeve and smiled at them, "You're a good bunch o' kids, that's for sure."

It was only a few more minutes before Hagrid heaved the lifeless, curled body of Aragog into his arms and sent him crashing into the pit.

"Should… should we say a few words?" Hermione asked.

Harry and the others nodded, it was clear that Hagrid was in no state to say anything as he was currently sobbing on his knees. Harry looked to Hermione and hinted that she should be the one to step forward.

Hermione went white for a second, her heart pounding loudly in her chest before she took a deep breath and stepped forward slightly, "Umm… dear… dear Aragog, I never got to meet you, to say hello, but here we stand to say goodbye. You were, a dear friend of Hagrid's and will be forever missed in his heart. You were king of your family, who I am sure, will also morn your… departing, most keenly. Run free dear… one."

"You and Hagrid will meet again, one day, over the rainbow bridge." Draco added, giving Hermione a smile and a nod, "So rest in peace until that day when you can run free with your friend, once more."

"That was… was really sweet." Hagrid sobbed.

Harry, Draco, Hermione, Pansy, Neville and Daphne all raised their wands and slowly trickled the dirt back into place, covering the spider from view.

Hagrid was still sobbing on the ground, clutching at those nearest to him.

Pansy slipped her arm under Hagrid's elbow and guided him, with some difficulty, to his feet, "Come on, I think we could all do with a cup of tea."

Harry followed them into Hagrid's hut and found the kettle, filling it with water before lighting the stove.

Hagrid had managed to compose himself to an extent and was drying his face, "I'm sorry I let me self go a bit. I jus'… I 'ad 'im all the way through school. He stood by me when no one else would."

Harry felt a wave of guilt for ever feeling bad about Aragog; he'd almost forgotten how hard it had been for Hagrid, being expelled and accused of murder, it made sense that he'd clung to his pet.

Draco quickly made up the tea, making sure to put a couple of extra large sugars into Hagrid's mug before bringing them over. Daphne even managed to pull out a packet of shop bought biscuits from a cupboard for them to nibble on.

Hagrid drank his mug in three quick glups, refilling it quickly, "You's were right, I needed that!"

"Tea makes everything better." Hermione smiled, "How are you feeling?"

Hagrid looked into the fresh milky tea swirling in his mug and shrugged, "Betta, I think. Little bit anyway."

"It'll make sense for it to take a while." Harry said softly.

Hagrid nodded glumly, "Makes it worse I can't even be wi' the others."

Fang slunk over and placed his large head in Hagrid's lap, looking up at him with large puppy eyes; Hagrid grinned and rubbed his ears.

"Daft dog." Hagrid smirked, "Well, enough being all mopey, what you guys been up to? Not seen you in so long!"

Harry looked around nervously, "We don't mind if you want to be 'mopey' for a bit longer."

Hagrid smiled wetly at him, "You're a good lad, you all are. I know, I know I keep sayin' it but it's true!"

"Well currently, right this moment, for me, I'm wishing I'd remembered to wear white." Hermione said, "Black is what muggles wear you see."

" 'Ow I was brought up as well." Hagrid smiled, "Not totally out o' place. Your apparition test must be comin' up soon."

"For some of us." Draco said glumly.

Hermione rolled her eyes, "Yes, tomorrow in fact. Well, for Daphne and I anyway, the others are all too young still."

"That's a shame." Hagrid said, more to himself than to the others, "When will yea get to do it?"

"Beginning of June." Neville told him.

"No too long ta wait then." Hagrid smiled, "Jus' make sure yea practice lots. So wha' 'bout your other lessons?"

Draco smirked, "DA went well, you should have seen Hermione."

Hermione shot him an evil look.

"We even have a picture! Draco continued, "Colin Creevey took one for us."

He handed over the picture of Hermione looking very unimpressed, dressed as a strange cross between a triceratops and a ballet dancer. She wore a headdress with three horns, a large collar that stuck out from her shoulders with a green top and matching tutu.

"Wha' did you wear tha' for?" Hagrid said with a laugh.

"It was a bet." Hermione explained, blushing madly, "I lost. But if I'd won it would have been so worth it! Picture Draco in baggy jeans and over sized hoodie!" she laughed.

Hagrid, wiped his eyes again, "I needed tha'. So wha' else you been up to?"

They filled him in on them roughly, the annoyance of exams being so far away still while they drowned in homework. Harry also filled Hagrid in on a little of what his had been doing with Dumbledore in his private lessons.

Hagrid ran a hand, with some difficulty, through his beard and nodded, "Remember 'im from school. Always was a bit weird. He were the one who turned me in, but when it happened I coulda sworn he honestly though' I was the one who killed tha' girl."

"Hardly surprising he was a good liar." Neville sighed, "Still think it was totally unfair that you got expelled for that."

Hagrid shrugged, "Years back now 'nd I'm 'appy workin' here, dream job really."

He let out another loud sob, a tear rolling from his nose and splashing into his mug. Harry reached over and gave him a somewhat awkward, one armed hug.

"I'm such a mess righ' now." Hagrid said, blowing his nose, "You lot don' 'ave to stay."

"Of course we'll stay." Hermione insisted, "As long as it takes."

It ended up taking several more cups of tea and all of the biscuits but by the time they trudged back up to the castle Hagrid was looking a little better. He'd promised to get himself off to bed to try and get some sleep as soon as they'd left.

Harry was exhausted by the time he was changed and able to fall into bed. The dorm room was dark when they arrived.

Harry had tried to light a candle which had only resulted in Crabbe throwing a dirty pair of balled up socks at him. Draco and he had decided it would be better to just get changed in the dark.

Harry flopped back onto his pillow and felt something rough rustle against his ear, he shoved his glasses back on and felt around his pillow, finding a scroll of parchment. It was either an invitation from Slughorn which could wait, or the date of his next lesson with Dumbledore, which possibly couldn't.

Harry pulled the covers over his head and lit his wand wordlessly, no purple ribbon, it was from Dumbledore then.

He opened the scroll and scanned over it,

Harry,

I am most sorry for the delay between lessons, I have been most busy as of late. I am happy to inform you, however, that I hope to see you in my office tomorrow evening at eight o'clock. As you know this may be the most important lesson to date. I am still very proud of you for getting the memory so quickly.

Professor Dumbledore.

P.S. The new password is Butterscotch.

Harry wasn't sure if the next lesson arriving was a good thing or a bad thing, even now, at least once a week he wondered if he's made the right call. He just couldn't seem to figure Dumbledore out and that both worried and annoyed him.

Draco was already asleep, he could hear him breathing softly as he always did when he slept. Harry sorted out the blanket and duvet and wiggled his head onto the pillow, placing his glasses carefully back in the bedside table.

He was very grateful that he felt sleep quickly closing in around him.