"What are you doing here?" Ron nudged Aiden.
"Heard Hagrid was in a bad mood, so I brought him some wine to cheer him up. Want to try some?"
Aiden pointed to the cherry wine on the table. The red liquid glowed in the lamplight.
Hagrid brought out a large plate of rock cakes.
"All right, I'll start!" Hermione said, seeing Harry and Ron hesitate.
"Hagrid, we're very sorry for not choosing your course, and sorry for neglecting you recently!"
Hermione apologized to Hagrid, and Harry and Ron echoed her.
The first three praised how good Hagrid's course was, then criticized Professor Grubbly-Plank a bit.
The kind-hearted Hagrid was quickly appeased.
"All right, I know you've been too busy with sixth-year courses to come. Want to try the wine Aiden brought?"
Hagrid got out cups for them and poured each a little without asking.
The three didn't object. Instead, they turned to watch Aiden munching rock cakes.
Ron, seeing him eat so happily, assumed Hagrid had improved his rock cakes.
He picked one up to try, but nearly chipped his tooth.
The other two, seeing this, quickly pulled their hands back.
After three rounds of drinks, all four were somewhat tipsy.
"All right, Hagrid, tell them the real reason you've been upset lately."
Aiden asked Hagrid. Though he already knew the reason, he needed Hagrid to reveal this to the trio.
The strong alcohol had loosened Hagrid's tongue, and he was soon sobbing at the table.
"It's Aragog. Four years ago, he was severely burned by some creature. I've tried my best. Now his injuries are getting worse. He might die soon."
Hearing this, Harry and Ron stiffened. Unpleasant memories came flooding back.
"Hagrid, I need to talk to you about this seriously. Do you realize how much damage breeding Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest has done to the ecosystem? And you're a researcher of magical creatures yourself. I shouldn't have to tell you the harm of letting the spiders multiply like this through human interference."
Aiden gestured toward the forest with his wine glass, showing no remorse despite being the one who'd caused the problem.
Harry and Ron were astounded by Aiden's audacity. He'd caused the problem, yet he could lecture Hagrid with a straight face.
"Sorry, but those are Aragog's descendants. Sometimes I really can't help it."
Hagrid curled into a ball, squirming. He looked like a large stuffed toy.
"Because you've been caring for them, some spiders that should have been eliminated by the forest survived and bred extensively. I recently received reports from the centaurs that spiders tried to hunt unicorns."
Hearing Aiden's words, Harry turned in surprise. "Centaurs?"
"For certain reasons, I reached an agreement with the centaurs. They'll help us oppose Voldemort. Only we know about this. Don't tell anyone else," Aiden emphasized.
Harry looked worriedly at Hagrid but found he'd already fallen asleep on the table.
"Okay, we'll keep it secret."
Harry nodded. Satisfied, Aiden gave a nod.
"All right, Hagrid's mood seems much better. I'll head back."
Aiden picked up his hat from the table, pushed open the door, and left.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at Hagrid sleeping on the table and exchanged glances.
"What about Hagrid?" Ron asked.
"Let's carry him to bed," Harry suggested.
The three barely managed to carry Hagrid to his bed, cursing Aiden the entire time. They continued grumbling about him as they made their way back to Gryffindor.
On the way back, they encountered Horace.
"Oh, look who it is, our Potions Prince," Horace said, spotting them and coming to chat with Harry.
"Good afternoon, Professor," Harry said politely.
"What good fortune. I wonder if I have the honor of inviting you to our evening gathering?" Horace extended an olive branch to Harry.
"Very sorry, Professor. I have detention with Professor Snape tonight," Harry declined.
"Oh, I'll speak to Severus and see if he'll excuse your detention," Horace persisted.
"All right, then I'll wait to hear from you," Harry responded.
The encounter before the castle was brief. Afterward, Horace did go find Snape to plead, but this was Snape.
Clearly, Professor Snape flatly refused Horace's request.
Meanwhile, Draco, now accustomed to the personal terminal, received his first task.
Come to the west tower.
A line of text appeared in Draco's peripheral vision during class, making him feel like he was being coerced into something he shouldn't do.
After asking Professor Flitwick for leave, Draco made his way to the west tower.
The Harry trio, having just said goodbye to Horace, spotted him.
Spotting the suspicious-looking Draco, Harry immediately perked up.
He left his two friends behind and followed.
However, Harry's tracking skills without the Invisibility Cloak left much to be desired.
Draco deliberately led him into a very long corridor and doubled back at the corner, running right into the three with nowhere to hide.
"Gryffindor sixth-year studies must be too easy if you have time to tail people, nosy Potter!"
Outnumbered three to one, Draco still didn't hold back.
Ron immediately wanted to pull out his wand to hex him, but was stopped by Hermione.
"We just happened to be passing through. Why would you think we're tailing you? Unless you joined some dangerous organization and have a guilty conscience?"
Harry shot back. At his words, Draco's right hand twitched.
Unfortunately, the Harry trio didn't catch this subtle tell.
"None of your business. Also, if you keep following me, I don't mind taking you to our Head of House."
Draco issued the threat and turned to leave.
At the west tower, Aiden sat on the top steps. Draco hurriedly pushed open the door and entered.
"What exactly do you want!" Draco glared at Aiden, though the effect was less than intimidating.
"Plans, friend. I love plans. Successful plans, failed plans, ongoing plans, plans still being prepared. And the more we scheme, the easier it is to overlook small details, so..."
Aiden delivered his lines dramatically.
So you plan to give up being human, the system quipped.
Ha, good response, Aiden thought appreciatively.