As dawn breaks, the gates of Hogwarts castle open with a crisp mechanical joint sound, and fine dust mingled with threads of golden sunlight filter into the dim entrance hall. The ancient castle is slowly stirring from its tranquility.
Suddenly, the empty great hall echoed with the sound of rapid footsteps.
Hermione, looking tired and with red eyes, emerged from the shadows carrying a sleeping Cruckshanks, who had his eyes tightly shut. She looked around, ensuring no one was nearby. She then crouched down and gently rubbed Cruckshanks' head before decisively stepping out of the castle and running towards the broad lawn still shrouded in mist.
At the edge of the Forbidden Forest, beside Hagrid's cabin, after more than a month, Hagrid, who had calmed down considerably, was busy in the field. The pumpkins planted in August and September were now in October; most of the lush vines were covered with blossoms that had largely dropped clean away. In the neat countryside, pumpkins as big as basins were abundant.
Hagrid made a gesture with the pink umbrella in his hand...although he had already cleared his name, Hagrid, who had spent most of his life sneakily practicing magic, had become accustomed to hiding his wand inside an umbrella.
Looking at the fruits, Hagrid's face lit up with delight. The effects of the expansion spells he used last year were quite remarkable. He planned to use the same method to give these pumpkins some more growth over the next two days.
Buckbeak, unaware that he had caused great trouble and also disturbed Hagrid, was crawling under the shade of a tree on the other side of the house, munching on Hagrid's specially prepared breakfast for him - a large pot of weasels.
Yaya lay in front of the door, wriggling and greedily gnawing at lettuce within the wooden box like a beehive, its greedy eyes fixed on the Flooby caterpillars, each no bigger than a child's arm. However, it was clearly aware that those creatures were not its food and could only gaze longingly.
Suddenly, a thick fog several hundred feet away began to swirl, and Yaya lifted her ears immediately upon smelling the scent and barked happily.
"Don't bark, Yaya, the young wizards haven't woken up yet. Don't disturb their rest!"
Hagrid, fiddling with the pumpkin with his fingers, straightened up and said discontentedly, "Once Buckbeak finishes eating, I'll make sure he leaves the bones for you!"
Buckbeak flapped its wings a few times, looking arrogant at Yaya before picking up the bone of the snow fox on the ground with its claws and throwing it away...
"Hagrid!"
Slicked with condensation from her hair and eyebrows, like a drowned rabbit, Hermione burst out of the mist and into the arms of Hagrid, who was utterly surprised by her appearance in the pumpkin field. Unable to contain her emotions any longer, she ran into Hagrid's embrace and sobbed like a willow in the rain...
"Either make Cruckshanks not appear, or you shouldn't!"
Hagrid roared angrily, picking up a towel to wipe the dew from Hermione's hair. However, he almost pulled Hermione's head off due to his violent action.
"That little imp dares to talk like that! Hermione, don't stop me. When I see him next, I'll give him a good reminder... ask him if he even remembers how much help you've given him!"
"Don't be like that, Hagrid, Ron just worries too much about Scabbers - he hasn't done anything wrong."
Her eyes were still red, but after letting out her emotions, Hermione's mood had improved. She defended Ron and petted Cruckshanks lying on her knee.
"But I really can't keep Cruckshanks at the castle... I have so many lessons to attend, and no time to properly take care of him. I have to leave him here, Hagrid. At least Yaya can be a friend to Cruckshanks."
"That's not a problem, Hermione. I have plenty of space here for it to play around with Yaya."
Hagrid brought Hermione a steaming cup of tea, looking at the still sorrowful little witch, he hesitated and worriedly said.
"But I think that won't solve the problem, Hermione. You need to have a serious talk with Ron. People often make mistakes when it comes to pets, but blaming a friend for it is really not right."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I'll find a chance to talk to him and clear things up."
Hermione wiped the glistening tears from her lashes, forcing a smile. But both Hermione and Hagrid knew that this was just a facade.
With some time before the class started, Hagrid warmly prepared rock cakes and Bath buns for Hermione, who hadn't eaten breakfast. However, Hermione didn't touch them at all; she simply held Cruckshanks in her arms, sipping the hot tea from a small mouth.
"I've been studying several cases of magical animal attacks recently, Hagrid. I'll collect the arguments for the cases that were released and you and Buckbeak can use them when you attend the trial at the Animal Control Commission -"
"If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't know what to do, Hermione!"
Hagrid sniffled heavily, his voice filled with emotion.
"These days, I often dream about the trial results, Buckbeak will be... oh, in short, thanks to you, I still have a glimmer of hope!"
Hermione smiled, this time, her smile was much more genuine.
"By the way, Hagrid, I've always been a bit confused about--"
Cautiously patting Hagrid's arm that was about the same thickness as hers, Hermione pouted her lips, looking a bit confused.
"Why don't you go ask Professor Dumbledore for help? A wizard of his caliber, if you go to him, he won't mind helping you get the word out in the ministry."
"I don't much want to trouble him," Hagrid groaned as he sat down.
"Professor Dumbledore has so much to deal with every day. I don't want to add to his troubles."
Hermione looked like she wanted to argue, but Hagrid spoke first,
"And besides, it's something he would find difficult to interfere with..."
Of course, of course. As long as Professor Dumbledore is willing to send a formal message, the Department of Magical Animals and the Ministry would certainly give him face. But the problem is here, Hermione, Professor Dumbledore has always been trying to avoid interfering with the normal operation of the Ministry, as he knows very well that Cornelius Fudge has always been highly suspicious of him...
Even though it's laughable, Fudge has always been worried that Dumbledore might change his mind one day and want to enjoy the position of Minister for a while, then he could easily take over Fudge with his power and influence. So, to prevent Fudge from making a wrong judgment, the headmaster of Hogwarts has been holding himself back, even when he doesn't agree with the decisions made by the Ministry...I know Professor Dumbledore can help Buckbeak get out of trouble, Hermione, but I don't want to see him in a difficult situation...”
Watching Hagrid suddenly become fluent, Hermione silently opened her mouth, her eyebrows raised high.
"All of that was your own idea, Hagrid?"
Hermione asked in astonishment.
"Oh, you're not disappointed that you're the cleverest little witch at Hogwarts right now, Hermione -- wanting to avoid causing trouble for Dumbledore is indeed my thought, but the rest..."
Hagrid scratched his fluffy beard and blushed, laughing.
"Remember the morning that Lupin dropped me off on his way back? Actually, Professor Breedle picked me up and brought me to his temporary home in Hogwarts last night. He's really a kind-hearted man, isn't he? Otherwise, I would have had to spend the night in a trash can... Later, I found an opportunity to go over and thank him. While we were chatting, he casually talked to me about Buckbeak's situation. At that time, I was still hesitating about whether or not to involve Professor Dumbledore. Breedle Professor then shared these thoughts with me..."
Reading Room
