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Chapter 253: Three Suggestions
Chapter 253: Three Suggestions
Hermione returned to the Gryffindor Common Room, feeling a bit dazed. Even after seeing Harry and Ron idly fiddling with a set of Gobstones, she still couldn't decide which of Professor Hup's three suggestions was the most reliable.
'Maybe the professor was just joking?' she thought to herself.
Ron pressed his face against the table, his fingers constantly moving the stones. "I think this one will work. Dean told me a Muggle marble trick—” He flicked his finger, sending the stone flying in a straight line through the air.
Harry's stone suddenly expanded, spraying a foul, sticky liquid that coated Ron's face.
"Damn it!" Ron wiped his face, his eyes completely covered.
"Boys, can't you act your age!" Hermione said irritably. She drew her wand and cast a spell: "Scouring Charm!" The sticky substance on Ron's face vanished instantly.
"Wanna play a round, Hermione?" Ron asked with a grin.
Hermione's face remained stern. "I won't waste my time on children's games."
Ron countered, "This isn't a children's game. My dad told me there's an official Gobstones club on the seventh floor of the Ministry of Magic. They win honors internationally. Hogwarts has a Gobstones club too, but you never pay attention..."
He fell silent when he saw Hermione's expression.
Harry changed the subject. "What did Professor Hup say about Buckbeak?"
"He gave me three suggestions", Hermione said, ticking them off on her fingers. "First, delay the hearing on the grounds of improper procedure and try to get the case transferred to the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures."
"Sounds good. What exactly do we need to do? Write a letter to the Ministry of Magic?" Harry asked, feeling relieved. This seemed much easier than digging through countless tedious court cases in the library.
"Not just anyone can do that. The Ministry of Magic probably won't listen to us", Hermione replied. "Professor Hup's suggestion is to gain the support of a powerful individual who isn't afraid of the Malfoys, preferably someone familiar with the laws related to magical creatures."
"How are we supposed to know such a person?" Ron said, deflated, picking up the Gobstone from the floor.
Harry thought hard. Among those familiar with magical creatures, he only knew Hagrid.
"The second option is to secretly release Buckbeak", Hermione said, raising her second finger.
Harry was very tempted by this idea, but he quickly shook his head. "The Ministry's letter said Hagrid must keep an eye on Buckbeak. If he escapes, Hagrid will be in trouble. Malfoy is counting on Hagrid doing this so he can have him thrown in prison."
He hadn't fully understood Hagrid's fear of wizarding prisons before, but after encountering Dementors a few times, he now fully grasped Hagrid's concerns.
Hermione remained neutral as she stated the final suggestion: "The third option is to get Lucius Malfoy to withdraw his complaint." She hesitated for a moment before relaying Professor Hup's words in full: "The professor might have been joking, but he suggested that Hagrid invite Malfoy out and force him to comply. He said that if we want to try this method, he can provide limited support..."
Ron's eyes lit up. "That's a great idea. I can already picture it." He had seen his father fight Malfoy last year, and now he just needed to imagine his father as the tall, burly Hagrid. He muttered, "Chicken-livered..."
Harry magically understood what he meant—compared to Hagrid, Lucius Malfoy was indeed like an underdeveloped chick.
Hermione sharply said, "Professor must be joking!" As she spoke, she herself began to doubt, "It must be a joke, right? But regardless, this method is far too dangerous."
"Professor Hup must be pulling our leg, knowing full well that you would never agree to this plan", Harry said gloomily. "So it looks like, aside from checking the Library, the only truly feasible suggestion is the first one—"
"But where do we find the right influential people?"
"Maybe we could ask Hagrid?" Ron suggested. "He must know a friend or two with similar interests, being the Care of Magical Creatures professor."
"Hold on—" Harry suddenly stared at Ron. "You just said, the Care of Magical Creatures professor?" He lowered his voice, "Hagrid only got this position this year, do you remember who the previous professor was?"
"Professor Silvanus Kettleburn", Hermione said without hesitation. "I heard he retired because he needed more time with his mischievous creatures."
She paused, then realized, "Of course, how could I forget? Hagrid must know Professor Kettleburn!"
...
In the Hogwarts kitchen.
Felix gently said to a house-elf, "I heard from Professor Mcgonagall that you can help with sending Christmas gifts?"
"Yes, sir", a house-elf in a uniform made from a tea towel said, bowing deeply. "But only within Hogwarts; we are bound by our duties and cannot leave easily."
"That's fine, the gifts for outside the school have already been sent", Felix said casually. "Could you please take care of it then?"
"It is our honor, sir", the house-elf said.
Felix led the little elf back to his office and pointed to a small stack of gift boxes in the corner. "They're all here. Each has a name, and there aren't many... but I'm not sure if you know the exact locations."
"Please don't worry, sir. We clean the castle's rooms every day and are very familiar with the names of the wizards."
Felix nodded and smiled. "Thank you."
The little elf got to work, his figure disappearing and reappearing several times. After about ten rounds, he returned empty-handed. "It's all done, sir."
Felix looked at him curiously. "Where did you put them? Under the beds?"
The elf replied, "I placed the students' gifts at the foot of their beds, so they will see them as soon as they wake up. However, we are not allowed in the professors' bedrooms, so I put their gifts under the small Christmas trees in their offices or at the door of their bedrooms."
Felix nodded; this was the same way he had received his gifts last year.
The elf said, "If there's nothing else, Winky will take her leave."
"Winky is your name?"
"Yes, sir."
Felix took a book from his ring and some colorful paper and ribbons flew from the corner, wrapping the book and tying a beautiful bow.
"This is your Christmas gift, Winky."
"This... Winky can't accept—"
"Take it, it's just a cookbook from around the world. I've been looking for an opportunity to recommend it to you."
Winky bent down to take the gift, her large eyes looking at him. "Thank you, sir." She bowed deeply and suddenly disappeared.
Felix looked at the gifts in the corner, nearly half of them still unopened. He decided to leave the surprises for the next day.
Before going to bed, he left the window open so the owls could come and go freely. Then he turned and walked into his bedroom, looking forward to the arrival of Christmas the next day.
(End of Chapter)
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