Chapter 148: Hagrid's Gratitude
Just before ten, voices drifted down from the stairs.
"Hurry up. We're almost at curfew, and I don't want detention," the student called out anxiously to his companion, though it was impossible to tell whether he was in Gryffindor or Ravenclaw.
"Coming, coming. We still have time. Don't worry," his companion tried to reassure him, but his anxious tone was unmistakable.
When the clock struck ten, the corridor, never bright to begin with, grew even dimmer as the flames in the torches on either side flickered lower.
With no idea where the patrolling professors or the caretaker might be, Ethan knew he had to complete his task as quickly as possible.
He pulled out his spare wand, cast the Unlocking Charm on the door, and sped toward the bookshelf in the dark. He retrieved the target book, duplicated it, and returned the original to the shelf.
Slipping the copy into his bag, he darted toward the door. After confirming the coast was clear, he slipped out and locked the door behind him in one smooth motion.
The whole mission took less than two minutes.
Before the click of the lock could alert Filch, he leaped up, clung to the ceiling, and flew toward the dungeons.
"Honor!" It was still the familiar password. Ethan removed the Disillusionment Charm in front of the dungeon door and slipped inside.
Ethan's entrance into the common room didn't attract any attention. After all, it was less than ten minutes past curfew. Even if someone came back a little later, as long as they weren't caught and didn't lose points, it wasn't a big deal.
The common room was still buzzing. Apart from a few students chatting by the warm fire, most of the others were playing Wizarding Card battles.
Small crowds of spectators gathered around each group of players, commenting on the matches and offering advice to both sides.
Nancy was still sitting in her usual spot by the window. Occasionally, someone would walk over to her, buy a few packs of cards, and hope to pull the ones they wanted.
Several of his roommates were involved in the card games, but only one was actually playing at the table while the other two watched from the sidelines.
Most of Goyle and Crabbe's allowance went toward candy and snacks, so they'd only opened a few packs of cards. Since they couldn't build a decent deck, they occasionally had to borrow Draco's unused ones to get their fix.
Ethan hurried through the lively common room, retrieved the book he was copying, and began to write furiously.
He could study Salazar's manuscripts anytime, and the content was too profound to absorb quickly anyway.
The book he'd gotten from the Restricted Section, however, was a different matter.
He couldn't just copy it whenever he wanted, and it might vanish at any moment. Naturally, he had to prioritize it.
He'd been copying for about half an hour when several of his roommates returned, excitedly discussing the brilliant combo they'd pulled off in the last game.
"Ethan, when are you going to come up with some new cards? We've practically figured out all the combinations for these hundred-plus cards."
"After Christmas. The shop in Diagon Alley will open for the holidays. Then, some more advanced cards will be released." Ethan closed the book and put it away, answering casually.
"Advanced cards?"
"Transformation Cards. The current Partner Cards rely on light and shadow effects, but by then they'll feature solid, shape-shifting partners."
"Like Wizard's Chess?"
"Yes, just like Wizard's Chess."
Draco said excitedly, "I can't wait for the holidays."
Ethan walked toward the bathroom. "Less than two weeks until Christmas. The break will be here before we know it."
True to form, compiling the list of students staying at school for Christmas began the very next day.
The prefects moved along the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, asking everyone if they planned to stay. Those who intended to stay signed the parchment.
Since few Slytherins were staying at school, the prefects finished collecting names quickly and headed down to the dungeons to give the list to their Head of House, Snape.
"We probably won't make it to the opening event at Christmas. Mom and Dad are coming to school this year," Fred said, sounding disappointed.
"Wait, really?" Ethan had never heard of parents being allowed to visit the school at Christmas.
"Dumbledore gave special permission," Fred explained. "Because of what happened to Ron, he invited our parents."
"So the whole family's staying at school for Christmas." George looked just as disappointed. They'd helped create the card game, but now they'd miss the opening.
"That's too bad. I'll take plenty of pictures for you," Ethan said. There wasn't much else he could do. He'd just have to take extra photos and recreate the scene with projection spells when he got back.
"Guess that's how it has to be," said Fred. "We'll have the shapeshifting cards finished tomorrow, though. We definitely won't hold up the opening." The twins looked slightly embarrassed as they made the promise.
The task should have been completed over the weekend, but a minor mishap had delayed it by a few days.
"I can make it. Don't worry." After chatting, Ethan walked toward the greenhouses behind the castle. He had Herbology class.
During dinner, an owl brought Ethan a note from Hagrid: "Come to my hut if you have time tonight."
Ethan didn't know what it was about, but with no homework that week, he went straight to Hagrid's hut after dinner.
Over Fang's barking, Hagrid opened the door.
"You came!" His face, visible above his beard, was flushed, and he clutched a bottle of wine.
As Ethan stepped inside, the smell of alcohol hit him immediately. Four or five empty wine bottles lay scattered across the floor. On the table sat a plate of rabbit stew, with only scraps left.
"Why are you drinking so much?" Ethan walked to the window and opened it to air out the room.
"'appy, Ethan. I'm really 'appy!" Hagrid gulped down another swig of wine, a silly smile on his face. "Fifty years. I finally got cleared of the charge I was saddled with back then."
Back when the Chamber was opened, the Basilisk was released, injuring several students and resulting in Myrtle's death.
"And I was the one accused of opening the Chamber and setting the monster loose to kill."
"They tried to kill Aragog, even though he was still tiny back then, just to make him a scapegoat."
Hagrid's eyes were misty. "But I knew Aragog was innocent, so I did my best to help him survive in the Forbidden Forest."
"Thanks to Dumbledore, I was saved from being sent to Azkaban, despite the whole mess. But I was still expelled, had my wand snapped, and was forbidden from using magic."
A look of deep gratitude washed over his face. "After that, Dumbledore persuaded Headmaster Dippet to let me stay at Hogwarts as gamekeeper."
"Not only that, but he helped me fix my wand. Because of the ban, I have to keep it hidden inside my umbrella, and I only dare use it in secret when no one's watching."
"Now, Dumbledore has done it again. He got rid of the real culprit behind Myrtle's death, the Basilisk. He fought hard against the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot to clear my name."
"And you, Ethan. You helped Dumbledore a great deal with this. Thank you for everything you did."
Hagrid pulled him into a crushing hug, leaving him breathless.
"Thank you, thank you," Hagrid murmured under his breath.
Ethan quickly patted Hagrid's back until he let go.
"Sorry, I was too excited."
Hagrid released Ethan, wiping his eyes in embarrassment, and said, "Ever since Dumbledore sent me that note last week, I've been counting the days. It took over a week and half a dozen Ministry reviews, but I finally got their letter this afternoon."
Hagrid pulled out a letter for Ethan to see. It contained a few brief sentences: "It has been determined that Rubeus Hagrid was not responsible for the death in the Hogwarts Chamber of Secrets fifty years ago. Following consultation between the Ministry of Magic and the Wizengamot, all charges against him are hereby dismissed and all punishment rescinded."
It bore the signature of Cornelius Fudge, the current Minister for Magic, and the Ministry's official seal.
Once Ethan handed the letter back, Hagrid solemnly returned it to its envelope, placed it in a wooden box, and set the box atop his cabinet.
"Come on, I'll take you to meet Aragog. He's an Acromantula, lives in the Forbidden Forest, and he's raised quite the family." Emboldened by the drink, Hagrid put Fang on his leash, grabbed his pink umbrella, and prepared to lead Ethan outside.
He certainly wasn't about to miss this opportunity. He'd wanted to explore the forest for some time, but without knowing what dangers lurked there and with other matters demanding his attention, he'd never ventured inside.
With Hagrid as his guide, he intended to make the most of the opportunity.
He followed Hagrid, watching him carry a lantern in one hand and Fang's leash in the other, his pink umbrella tucked into his belt. As they walked deeper into the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid told him stories about himself and Aragog.
Perhaps the cold wind had sobered him up. After they had walked for some time, Hagrid suddenly turned around.
"What's wrong? Is it dangerous?" Ethan immediately raised his wand defensively and looked around.
"No, what was I thinking, bringing you into the Forbidden Forest!" Hagrid looked annoyed. He shifted the lantern to the hand holding Fang and smacked his forehead.
"Let's go back. The Forbidden Forest is no place for students." He turned around, preparing to lead him back.
"No. We've come this far. I want to see exactly what the Forbidden Forest holds." Ethan refused to leave. Now that he finally had an experienced guide who knew the forest, how could he pass up this opportunity?
"No, Ethan. This is against school rules." Hagrid put an arm around Ethan's shoulders, insisting they leave.
"We've already broken the rules. Going back now won't change that." Ethan broke free from Hagrid's arm.
"We might as well finish what we came here to do," Ethan insisted. "Besides, you know what I'm capable of. I'm not in any danger."
Hagrid finally relented. "You need to stay close to me so you won't get hurt."
"Of course!"
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