Chapter 66
Chapter 66
The first day of the two-week Easter holiday was peaceful and silent within the castle.
Everyone slept soundly in bed except a few tireless Ravenclaws and several bewildered messengers carrying parcels but unable to find their recipients.
Only when the sun was well into the sky did hungry students begin appearing in the Great Hall one by one.
The atmosphere felt unusual. Every seat at the staff table was occupied, and professors seldom seen at meals had all appeared.
Headmaster Dumbledore was present as well.
The extraordinary gathering immediately caught the students’ attention. Once everyone, Suer included, had finished eating, the hall fell silent by mutual understanding.
Clink, clink.
As usual, Professor McGonagall lightly tapped a golden goblet with a silver spoon.
Every pair of eyes turned towards Dumbledore, seated upon the golden chair.
“Professor McGonagall has told me of your conduct,” Dumbledore said, rising. “I am deeply pleased. Through your efforts, the castle escaped a tremendous loss.”
“I believe you should applaud yourselves.”
The students enthusiastically clapped. When the thunder of applause thinned, Dumbledore continued.
“At the same time, I must announce unhappy news.”
“Our Care of Magical Creatures professor, the respected Silvanus Kettleburn, must temporarily leave his post because of his health.”
Quiet discussion broke out among the third-years and older students who took Care of Magical Creatures.
So Professor Kettleburn truly had caused the previous night’s disaster?
Suer considered the matter in silence. He could state with certainty that nothing remotely similar had happened in the original story.
“But there is no need for alarm,” Dumbledore said, looking around. “Professor Kettleburn told me some time ago that the work had begun to exceed his strength.”
“He also recommended a successor. For the remainder of this academic year, Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank will teach the subject. Our Keeper of Keys and Grounds, Mr. Rubeus Hagrid, will serve as her teaching assistant.”
A brown-haired witch wearing a mantle made from the pelt of some unknown magical beast stood to acknowledge the students. Beside her, the enormous and universally familiar Rubeus Hagrid rose with an awkward smile.
Applause filled the hall. The Gryffindor table was particularly enthusiastic.
Oh, that was Harry. Naturally.
Dumbledore left the staff table shortly after making the announcement. He was plainly extremely busy.
The students had slept through the entire day and were now full of energy. They lingered in the Great Hall, gathering in groups to discuss the change.
Mr. Morn, “Master of Information”, gravely debated with several older students whether the curse on the Defence Against the Dark Arts post might spread from one subject to another.
Suer had no interest in their discussion. Instead, he thought about how Hagrid had looked before Dumbledore left: a man carrying a bellyful of secrets.
The honest giant might as well have written his anxiety across his forehead.
He resembled Hermione suddenly remembering unfinished homework while being forced to remain outside and complete some other task.
One bottle remained from the Christmas present Suer had prepared for Hagrid.
It was not that Suer had refused to send both bottles. Little Gray could carry only one over such a long flight.
Even the train took more than half a day to reach the Scottish Highlands. Asking an owl to make the journey with two bottles would have been cruel.
Now that Hagrid had become a teaching assistant, the remaining bottle would make an excellent congratulatory gift.
Suer could also investigate the source of Hagrid’s obvious unease.
At this point in the story, if Suer remembered correctly, Hagrid should have exchanged the secret of the three-headed dog for…
A dragon?
A dragon! A real dragon!
The thought sent Suer to his feet. He spoke briefly to his dormitory mates and left the table.
“Flint is going to wear women’s clothes in a minute. Don’t you want to watch?” Justin asked in surprise.
“No. You enjoy it. I’m not terribly interested in stockings full of leg hair.”
Once was enough for that spectacle.
At the Gryffindor table, Hermione Granger idly prodded an apple while Harry and Ron enthusiastically discussed Quidditch. They could analyse the same match forwards, backwards and sideways hundreds of times.
Utterly tedious, Hermione thought, rolling her eyes.
“Hm?” She noticed Suer hurry from the Great Hall.
“Let’s see what you’re plotting now. You dared pinch my cheek yesterday!” Her eyes turned thoughtfully, and she quietly rose to follow.
“Where are you going, Hermione?”
“No need to ask, Lavender,” Ron answered before Hermione could speak. “She’s obviously going back to do homework.”
“Yes. The professors assigned a great deal, and the holiday isn’t long. I’m worried I won’t finish by the deadline.” Hermione rolled her eyes at Ron, offered the explanation and hurried away.
Suer had already left the hall. If she wished to catch him, she had to move quickly.
Time was running out for the little lion.
Hermione moved fast, but she appeared to have lost him anyway.
Where was he?
She peered from behind one of the Entrance Hall’s enormous pillars. Just as she considered stepping out for a better look, Suer appeared at the foot of the stairs holding a box.
The girl sighed with relief and quickly drew back.
From behind the pillar, Hermione watched Suer pass her hiding place, slip through a small door and follow the path outside. He did not seem to have noticed her.
She gently patted her chest and, without thinking, poked out the tip of her tongue.
That was close. She had almost exposed herself.
For safety, Hermione waited a little longer before quietly following.
And Suer, walking along the path with the box in his arms and his back to her?
Had he truly noticed nothing?
…
Beside the black mass of the Forbidden Forest stood a small hut whose lamp burned throughout the year. It had long been Hagrid’s home.
In daylight, the school grounds offered spring sunshine and glittering water.
At night, they possessed another character altogether. Large buildings made one feel displaced in the dark, even afraid.
The road to Hagrid’s hut also passed a great willow tree that delighted in swaying through the night wind.
The farther Hermione went from the castle, the darker the world became. Soon, the only thing remaining in her sight was a blue flame drifting through the air.
She looked nervously from side to side and could not resist drawing a little closer to that flame.