Chapter 204: Hagrid's Self-reproach
Chapter 204: Hagrid's Self-reproach
The next day, as Hogwarts returned to its usual calm, Kyle made his way to the school hospital without delay.
Along the way, almost everyone he encountered was discussing the previous day's events, and the rumors were getting more and more outlandish.
"A Dark Wizard attacked Hogwarts..."
"The Death Eaters are back..."
"Magical creatures ran amok..."
"Dumbledore's long-lost illegitimate child sought revenge..."
"Snape's abandoned offspring sought justice..."
...
By the time Kyle made his way from the common room to the Great Hall, he had already heard half a dozen different versions of the story, each more outrageous than the last.
To be honest, if Gilderoy Lockhart had come to Hogwarts sooner, he probably wouldn't have had to borrow stories for his books.
When Kyle arrived in the courtyard, he finally found some peace and quiet.
There wasn't a soul in sight near the hospital entrance.
Due to the Quidditch match, most of the students had gone to the pitch, so Hagrid's arrival at the hospital had gone unnoticed by the younger students, and naturally, no one knew that he had been attacked.
Kyle knocked on the door apprehensively, unsure if Madam Pomfrey would allow him entry. He had even prepared himself for the possibility of being turned away.
But, to his surprise, Madam Pomfrey said nothing and simply stepped aside to let him in.
"You'd best try to cheer him up," she said. "We don't have any potions for treating depression here."
Madam Pomfrey led Kyle to the very last bed in the hospital wing and pulled back the curtain.
Hagrid lay there, his eyes vacant and unfocused. Kyle called his name several times, but there was no response.
"Is it that serious?" Kyle frowned.
"No!" Madam Pomfrey shook her head. "Last night, the Headmaster brought a special potion containing phoenix tears, and after he drank it, his injuries were almost completely healed."
"So what's Hagrid's condition now?"
"That's what I was telling you," she replied. "He's extremely despondent, and this won't do."
Madam Pomfrey sighed. "I'll leave him in your care, then. I'm going to prepare a Cheering Charm... hopefully, it won't be necessary." With that, she left Kyle alone with Hagrid.
Kyle tried calling Hagrid's name a few more times, but to no avail.
Finally, he took a deep breath and shouted, "Wake up, Hagrid! Two fire-breathing dragons are fighting over a nest of dragon eggs in the Forbidden Forest!"
"Hmm..." This time, Hagrid stirred.
He moved his eyes slightly and mumbled incoherently, "No... can't let them fight... the eggs will break..."
"You don't have to worry about a thing," Kyle assured him. "There aren't any dragons or dragon eggs in Hogwarts!"
Hagrid turned his head, as if noticing Kyle for the first time.
"Kyle, what are ye doin' here?" he asked.
"I heard you were hurt, so I came to see you," Kyle said, handing him a large box of chocolates. "Have some, it'll do you good."
"I can't eat..." Hagrid said, his voice filled with grief. "It's all my fault... Druge... Lula... they're dead, right before me eyes. If only I weren't so slow... if I had gotten there sooner, they wouldn't have died..."
Hagrid's sobs grew louder, and eventually, Kyle could no longer make out his words.
He remained silent and didn't attempt to comfort Hagrid, simply sitting by his side and opening packet after packet of Chocolate Frogs.
When Hagrid's sobs finally began to subside, Kyle spoke up. "I don't know how to comfort you, Hagrid, but at least you saved that unicorn."
"Selena..." Hagrid lifted his head, and for the first time, his face showed an expression other than self-reproach. His eyes lit up as he asked, "Is she alright?"
"You really met Mr. Scamander?" Hagrid asked in disbelief. "You're not pulling my leg?"
"Of course not!" Kyle nodded confidently.
Newt himself had sneaked into the Hufflepuff common room yesterday to share this news, so it was definitely true.
However, what Newt had told him next was something Kyle couldn't share with Hagrid.
Kyle was baffled as to how Dumbledore knew about the box, even though Cedric and the Weasley brothers didn't have a clue about it! How on earth did he find out?
Unless... Hermione?
But that didn't make sense either. She hadn't seen Dumbledore, so even if she wanted to snitch, she would have gone to Professor McGonagall.
This was giving him a headache!
"That's wonderful, just wonderful..."
Hagrid was crying again, but this time, they were tears of joy.
"So, the Forbidden Forest needs you."
Kyle handed over the rest of the Chocolate Frogs and said, "Don't forget, you didn't catch that Dark Wizard, and who knows, he might take advantage of your absence and return to the forest. Those unicorns are no match for an evil wizard."
"Yeah... you're right." Hagrid rubbed his face and sat up in bed. "I should go back now."
"Hold on." Kyle stopped him and handed over a small ball, about the size of a fist. "Here, take this."
"Thanks, Kyle, but I don't need it." Hagrid refused. "I've had more than enough chocolate, so you keep it for yourself."
"This isn't chocolate," Kyle explained. "It's an emergency flare I made. Just crush the shell, and it'll shoot a special firework into the sky. That way, whether it's Professor Dumbledore or any of the other teachers, as long as they're still at Hogwarts, they'll definitely see it."
Hagrid looked at the small ball in his hand and shook his head. "I won't need this."
In fact, Hagrid felt that he had been caught off guard because he was too emotional over the death of the two centaurs, and a moment of carelessness had led to the sneak attack.
If he encountered that Dark Wizard again, he'd beat him so hard that he'd vomit up everything he'd ever eaten... from either end!
And even if he was being overly cautious, if he really couldn't win, he could always use the wand hidden in his pink umbrella to shoot a red spark into the sky to call for help or alert others.
Of course, he wouldn't let anyone else know that he still had his wand.
"Take it, Hagrid," Kyle insisted, putting it in his hand. "Don't be careless. Do it for the magical creatures... The sooner we catch the Dark Wizard, the sooner the Forbidden Forest will be at peace again."
"Alright... fine." Hagrid hesitated but eventually agreed. "So, all I need to do is crush it?"
"That's right." Kyle said, "You can hold it in your hand when you're in the forest. If you need help, just crush it, it's much more convenient than casting a red spark into the sky."
"Hmm..." Hagrid turned his head away and mumbled, "I, I don't have a wand..."
(End of Chapter)
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