Chapter 632 Persuading Hagrid

Behind Harry, Evan, Ron, and Hermione, also entered the cabin.

Fang ran towards them barking madly, trying to lick Evan's ears. Evan defended himself from Fang and looked around. He hadn't been here for a few days, and he could not believe it was Hagrid's familiar cabin.

The scene inside had changed so much that Ron and Hermione were equally surprised.

Harry ignored the empty bottles on the floor and the spoiled food and went straight to Hagrid.

"Hagrid, cheer up, okay?" he shouted, "how can you let yourself be brought down by something so insignificant?!"

Hagrid didn't respond. He looked at Harry, with empty eyes.

Hagrid's half-giant ancestry had been a concern for him for decades, making him less sure of himself.

Madame Maxime's reaction had made him give up completely.

Hagrid clearly knew what the giants represented. He feared that others would gradually distance themselves from him when they found out.

He just wanted to hide out here alone. He never thought Harry, Evan, Ron, and Hermione would come.

Hagrid's biggest concern was, after knowing he was half-giant, would they still want to be friends with him?!

"Harry is right, Hagrid. Don't worry about what that woman wrote," Hermione continued. "You shouldn't let her comments affect you. She's lying. No one cares about what she writes."

"She didn't lie. I truly am half-giant!" Hagrid sobbed, and two round tears slid from his black beetle-like eyes and fell slowly into his tangled beard. "My mother..."

"We don't care. Even if you are half-giant, there is nothing abnormal about you in my eyes."

"You don't understand, Harry..." Hagrid said, and many tears rolled down his cheeks and seeped into his tangled beard.

Harry was about to say something more when a voice came from the front of Hagrid's cabin.

"I hate to interrupt, but I believe Harry really understands it better than you, Hagrid. The four of them came here to show that they still want to know you, that's what matters the most!"

Everyone turned their heads in surprise to see Dumbledore standing at the door.

"Hello!" he said cheerfully, smiling at everyone.

"Professor!"

"I'm very glad to see you all here. I came to talk to Hagrid about the resignation report he just submitted," Dumbledore said as he entered. "Let's just stay here. Sit down, let's have some tea and talk as we drink!"

He waved his wand a bit, making a spinning tea tray appear in the air along with a plate of pastries. Dumbledore did magic to place the tray on the table, and everyone took a seat.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked tense and quiet for a moment. Dumbledore asked them all to have a cup of tea.

The conversation continued. Now that Dumbledore was present, there was nothing to worry about, and they didn't need to address the issue. Evan sat by the bed with his tea cup, absentmindedly watching the steam rise from the cup and looking out the window covered in white snow.

"Hagrid, in the few days after the report was published, I have received many letters about you. I want you to see them," said Dumbledore, waving his wand in the air, and a heavy package dropped to the floor. "These are all letters from countless parents who remember you from their days here, clearly telling me that if I were to dismiss you, they would have something to say about it. Take a look at them!"

On behalf of the parents of the students, Rita Skeeter urged Hogwarts to expel Hagrid coercively in the newspaper.

After seeing this report, many wizards wrote to Dumbledore to express their opinions.

It seemed they didn't like others misrepresenting their suggestions against their original intentions.

Hagrid's popularity wasn't as bad as he thought, and many people were willing to speak up for him.

Then, Harry, Evan, Ron, and Hermione began to open the letters and read them to Hagrid.

Listening to those moving words, Hagrid cried even more!

"Not everyone," Hagrid said hoarsely. "Not everyone wants me to stay."

"Really, Hagrid, if you expect universal popularity, I'm afraid you'll be in this cabin for a long time," said Dumbledore, looking earnestly over his half-moon glasses. "Not a week has passed since I became headmaster of this school without receiving at least one owl complaining about how I run it. But what should I do? Lock myself in my study and refuse to speak to anyone?"

"Yes... but you're not a half-giant!" Hagrid said gruffly.

"Hagrid, look at my relatives!" Harry said angrily. "Look at the Dursleys!"

"An excellent point," Professor Dumbledore said. "My own brother, Aberforth, was once prosecuted for practicing inappropriate enchantments on a goat. It all made the newspapers, but did Aberforth hide? No, he did not! He held his head high and carried on as if nothing had happened. Of course, I'm not entirely sure if he can read, so maybe it wasn't bravery..."

Evan's lips curled. Dumbledore's younger brother, Aberforth, did more than just practice inappropriate enchantments on the goat.

An investigation into the reports of that year revealed there was an inexplicable and intricate relationship between him and the goat.

"Teach again, Hagrid," Hermione said softly, "please come back, we really miss you."

Hagrid fought back a sob, but tears couldn't be withheld.

"The arrival of Harry, Evan, Ron, Hermione, and these letters speak for themselves," Dumbledore said, rising. "I reject your resignation, Hagrid, and I expect you back at work on Monday," he added. "You will join me for breakfast at half-past eight in the Great Hall. No excuses."

Dumbledore walked to the door, pausing only to stroke Fang's ears, and exited the cabin.

As the door closed behind him, Hagrid began to sob into hands the size of trash can lids.

Hermione continued to pat his arm, and finally, Hagrid looked up, his eyes bloodshot, and said, "Great man, Dumbledore... great man..."