"Please give me a reasonable explanation." Professor Lupin said solemnly.
Harry knew very well that he should answer Professor Lupin's question, but as he looked at Hagrid lying in bed with his fluffy face streaked with dried tears and the unpleasant smell of alcohol wafting from him, he was too angry to speak.
Why was Hagrid out drunk?
Harry would have figured this out without Hagrid explaining himself, for he knew that Hagrid has always worked diligently for Hogwarts and Dumbledore. He doesn't seek anything else but just hopes to be recognized by others. Now, with the help of Professor Brean, he has finally been cleared of the murder suspect and, with the help of Professor Dumbledore, he has become the professor of magical creatures. Before he can put his ambitions into practice, however, he encounters a setback due to Malfour's interference...
Rubeus barked anxiously as Cedric lay on Hagrid's arm, Harry tightly clenched his fists, his face ashen, wishing he could rush into the castle right now and severely beat Malfoy.
Ron clearly noticed Harry's peculiar state but in the presence of a professor's solemn gaze, he dared not make any moves. He could only lower his head and discreetly wink at Harry, hoping that Harry would remain calm.
"It's me, Professor--"
Hermione sobbed, "I saw Hagrid's strange appearance and thought he was in trouble, so..."
Professor Lupin looked at Harry with a hint of disappointment in his eyes, but before he could say anything, Harry suddenly roared in anger.
"It's all Malfoy's fault, Professor Lupin. He got injured because he wouldn't listen to advice; it was his own fault. But he also risked Hagrid losing his job, which is Hagrid's dream job to become a professor of this subject!"
Professor Lupin looked at Harry, who was filled with anger. To his surprise, he didn't further express anger but instead had a much more gentle expression. In a moment, Professor Lupin's eyes unconsciously overlapped with those of another person who was fiercely defending Hagrid.
"Mr. Malfoy might have been injured because of his reckless behavior,"
Professor Lupin said with a gentle demeanor,
"Then, Harry... since you are near the Forbidden Forest, if you were attacked because of being out of sight of people and thus endangered Ron and Hermione, who should you blame?"
Harry froze up, not knowing how to respond to this question.
"Professor... Professor Lupin, B... I mean, Headmaster Dumbledore is at the school, and, well, no one would... not in broad daylight..."
Ron stammered, his ears turning red and hot, explaining that it was very difficult for him to defend himself under the watchful gaze of a professor.
"Do you really think that's true, Ron?"
After locking eyes with Ron, Professor Lupin's tone became solemn once more.
"The dark wizards hidden in the shadows will appear in ways you couldn't imagine or expect. If the walls of Hogwarts and the Dementors cannot stop them, why do you believe that sunlight will bind their hands?"
The small cabin was silent as a whisper. Harry and Ron, Hermione and the three of them didn't try to explain anything.
Thinking of the fifth-year wizards waiting for him, Professor Lupin did not indulge in long-winded explanations. He glanced at the sniffling Hagrid, showing a hint of concern, and then turned to the three young wizards and said.
"You can take care of Hagrid here first, but I hope you can return to Sprout's class as soon as possible and apologize to her. I will know if you have done so or not."
After saying this, Professor Lupin was about to leave, but he paused as he stepped forward and looked at the three young wizards with a guilty expression.
"Hagrid is a qualified and excellent adult wizard, and you should trust him, believe in his ability to handle his own problems."
After Professor Lupin left, the small hut of Hagrid still maintained an embarrassing silence. It wasn't until Ron pursed his lips with a light tone and said,
"I guess we three are the earliest first-year wizards to get detention this school year, I'm sorry, I should say soon!"
Hermione looked at Ron, as if nothing had happened, and pursed her lips.
"I thought we had already convinced Hagrid last time."
She looked at the intoxicated Hagrid and said sadly, "He must be very worried about Buckbeak and afraid of being fired by the school board."
"Hagrid won't be fired, Hermione, you and Hagrid are overthinking it. Dumbledore wouldn't do that," Ron refuted.
"Professor Dumbledore must also follow the opinions of the school board and the Ministry of Magic. If Malfour... that Lucius Malfour, we saw him once here last semester. After that, I found out that he is close with many officials from the Ministry of Magic."
Hermione worriedly said, "If Malfoy decides to make a big deal out of this."
"In the Ministry, there are many people under Malfoy's control, Hermione!"
Ron and Hermione kept discussing one after the other, and Harry knew that they were trying to lighten his guilt feelings. This moved him, but also made him feel more guilty.
During the summer vacation, Professor Brean had given him a related warning, but every time it came down to it, he always forgot those kind warnings.
Since mentioning Professor Brean, Harry suddenly missed him a bit.
If Professor Brean were still in the school, he could easily order Draco Malfoy not to meddle.
"Speaking of..."
Harry rubbed the ear of Rubeus, took out a big, smudged handkerchief that he often used from Hagrid's pocket and wiped away Hagrid's snot.
"I may really ask for help from Professor Brean, if he is willing to give Malfour an order..."
Ron and Hermione exchanged glances, neither saying a word.
Before leaving, they three helped Hagrid take off his outerwear to allow him to rest better.
For normal-sized wizards, this is a very easy task, but to help Hagrid, whose size and weight are close to that of an elephant, take off his robe is a massive job. Harry and his two friends climbed up and down on Hagrid's bed for quite some time before finally taking off Hagrid's outerwear.
"By the way--"
After finishing the job, Ron gasped for breath and said, "Why don't we use magic to lift Hagrid up?"
"Because our magic can't move Hagrid's body type."
Hermione wiped a strand of hair that was stuck to her forehead, then glanced at the angle of sunlight outside. Her bright, clear eyes suddenly flickered with a bit of urgency. Looking at Harry and Ron, who were busy taking off Hagrid's socks, she said casually,
"Well, I'll go get some water for Hagrid to clean his face--"
Without waiting for a response, Hermione got up and ran out, also taking her backpack with her in a whisper...
