Chapter 38

Chapter 38

Inside a hut not far from the castle, three young wizards sat around a wooden table, arguing and gesturing at a giant more than three metres tall when standing.

Suer was the fourth young wizard.

He was studying the hut. It might have looked shabby from outside, but inside…

Well, it was shabby there too.

That was not important.

Based on the “experience” Suer had accumulated during his two months at Hogwarts, Hagrid’s little hut contained an incalculable fortune.

The silver material piled in one corner and tied with coarse rope–

Was that unicorn hair?

The rug beneath Suer’s feet was remarkably similar in colour. He bent and touched it, then felt his lips twitch.

Yes. Unicorn hair again. One hundred percent pure unicorn hair, with no irrelevant fibres added.

Then there was the cage beside the wall, stuffed with feathers of every colour. Even with Suer’s limited knowledge, he recognised feathers from Jobberknolls and Occamies.

Several horns of different shapes hung from the wall, accompanied by a large heap of hay. Though perhaps the hay deserved a question mark. It might be some herb Suer did not recognise.

If all of this were sold…

Suer’s eyes assumed the shape of gold Galleons. He was no longer looking at feathers or horns. He saw heap after heap of money.

Unicorn hair alone was sold by the individual strand.

Hagrid possessed an entire bundle.

An entire bundle!

If Suer asked for some, would Hagrid give it to him?

Do not misunderstand. Suer did not want to sell it. He wanted to make a scarf for Angel, far away in London. If there was enough material, perhaps he could make her a hat as well.

And, of course, he could not forget Hermione.

Mrs. Ellison and his future mother-in-law? He could not forget them either.

Suer was already calculating how much unicorn hair he would need.

“Enough!” Hagrid’s booming voice dragged him back to reality. “Stop asking.”

“That’s top secret!”

Secret?

What secret?

Suer stared blankly at the others.

Oh, right. The Philosopher’s Stone.

“Then why did Snape try to kill Harry?” Hermione demanded.

Another round of arguing began. Suer already knew the final answer and cared little about the details. In the end, they would discover where they had gone wrong.

Harry’s last sentence ended the discussion.

“Aha! So someone named Nicolas Flamel is involved?”

Hagrid erupted in fury and drove the three students outside.

Why only three?

Because while they argued, Suer had slipped into the corner and was staring at the bundle of Galleons.

No–the unicorn hair.

Hagrid was too angry to notice. After forcing Harry and the others out, he slammed the door and raised the teapot to his mouth for a long drink.

“Why are you still here?” Hagrid lowered the teapot and finally spotted Suer in the corner.

“Er…”

Suer stood like a thief caught by the homeowner while debating whether to steal a little unicorn hair. Confronted with Hagrid’s massive, intimidating body, he gave an awkward smile.

“Hello, Mr. Hagrid.”

“Oh, I know you. Harry introduced us. You’re from the Bones family?”

“Yes.” Suer nodded obediently.

“Old Bones was a fine lad. Nearly everyone in the Bones family went to Hufflepuff. You did too, didn’t you? I remember him.” Hagrid sighed. “He helped me a great deal when he was at Hogwarts.”

Suer knew nothing about his birth parents. He continued nodding obediently.

“If Harry brought you here, the two of you must be good friends. Could you persuade him to stop investigating whatever that three-headed dog is guarding?” Hagrid asked in frustration.

“I’ll try, Mr. Hagrid.”

Suer’s obedient manner seemed to improve Hagrid’s mood.

“Would you like one of my rock cakes? They’re good. Harry and the others took a great pile with them last time.”

Hagrid picked up a thick, ginger-yellow “biscuit” beside the stove.

“No, thank you, Mr. Hagrid.”

Suer’s smile became rigid. Hagrid bit through the cakes easily, but Hagrid was half giant.

What ordinary person would eat a “biscuit” hard enough to crack walnuts?

“I do have a request, Mr. Hagrid.” Suer carefully looked up at the large man, who was eating rock cake with his tea.

“Hm?” Hagrid’s expression changed. “Aha! You want to ask about the three-headed dog too?”

Suer shook his head like a rattle-drum.

“No, no, Mr. Hagrid. I’m not interested in any of that.”

“I wanted to ask whether you could give me a little of that…”

Suer pointed toward the bundle of silver hair in the corner.

“Unicorn hair?” Hagrid followed his finger. “Oh, of course. But I’m curious–what do you want it for?”

“Christmas is coming soon. I want to make some scarves. Only from part of it, of course. One for my little sister, one for my adoptive mother, and others for Hermione and her mother.”

Hagrid’s expression immediately became odd.

The argumentative girl was included?

Suer quickly explained.

“Hermione lives next door to us. Mrs. Granger took care of me often when I was young.”

“Oh. I forgot about old Bones and…” Hagrid’s eyes suddenly reddened. “So your Muggle foster parents raised you?”

“Yes, Mr. Hagrid.” Suer nodded.

“It sounds as though they treated you very well.”

Hagrid stood, walked to the corner, lifted the bundle of silver unicorn hair, and set it before Suer.

“Your life is the complete opposite of Harry’s. Aha, that aunt and uncle of his are truly…”

Hagrid stopped before he finished. He realised he should not swear in front of a young wizard.

He changed direction.

“Take as much as you need.”

“Every time I go into the Forbidden Forest, I pick up heaps of it!” Hagrid waved his enormous hand with heroic generosity.

At least, that was how Suer saw him.

“You are an exceptionally good man, Mr. Hagrid.”

Hagrid answered with booming laughter.

Suer carefully drew several strands from the bundle. Hagrid might be generous, but Suer could not abuse his kindness.

“Go on, take more. This stuff isn’t worth anything,” Hagrid urged amiably.

He liked this little wizard more by the moment.

“Here, let me help.”

Hagrid was far too generous. He grabbed a great handful for Suer, then thoughtfully tied it together with another lock of unicorn hair.

“Thank you, Mr. Hagrid.”

Carrying the small bundle, Suer said goodbye with heartfelt gratitude.

Now there would be enough not only for hats and scarves, but perhaps even for gloves.

Hagrid merely waved.

“If it isn’t enough, come back and take more!”

“As long as you aren’t here to ask what is inside that fourth-floor corridor.”

“All right!” Suer’s face lit up. “Goodbye, Mr. Hagrid.”