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Chapter 305: Poachers?
Chapter 305: Poachers?
Recently, Hagrid had been spending a lot of time wandering into the Forbidden Forest.
The three-headed dog, Fluffy, whom Dumbledore had hidden in a cave within the forest, was being cared for by Hagrid. He brought it food every day and occasionally took it out for walks. These moments were among Hagrid's happiest memories.
Fluffy was growing at an astonishing rate, already reaching up to Hagrid's elbows in height. By the end of the summer holidays, it would be fully grown, and Dumbledore would arrange for it to be sent back to Greece.
Knowing that his time with Fluffy was limited, Hagrid cherished every moment they had together.
Today, as Hagrid returned from the forest carrying an iron bucket, he noticed signs of spell damage on several tree trunks. Upon touching the marks, he immediately understood what had happened.
The Weasley twins had sneaked into the forest again to practice their spells. From the distribution of the spell marks and the evidence of their dueling, it was clear that Fred and George had been up to their mischief.
"Those little rascals," Hagrid muttered, his hand clenching into a fist. "If I catch them again, I'll make sure they spend a week in detention." He gave the tree trunk a resounding thump to emphasize his words.
Fred and George readily agreed with a chorus of "Yes, we know," but Hagrid knew that they would soon forget their promise.
Hagrid wanted to deter students from venturing into the Forbidden Forest frequently. Not only was it against school rules, but he also wanted to prevent any more rumors about monsters lurking in the forest from spreading.
He needed to make an example of someone to deter others from following suit. If students started treating the Forbidden Forest as their playground, it would reflect poorly on him as the gamekeeper.
For the next few days, Hagrid kept a sharp eye on the forest, determined to catch the Weasley twins red-handed. He even brought Fang along to aid in his mission, but time and again, the mischievous twins managed to give them the slip.
This turn of events left Hagrid feeling frustrated and suspicious that Albert might also be involved in some way.
The edges of the school grounds, bordering the forest, were littered with signs of spell practice. Each time Hagrid entered the forest, the culprits would vanish faster than he could pursue them. He began to wonder if he was being watched, but he didn't sense anything amiss, and Fang hadn't reacted as he usually would if there were intruders.
It was all rather peculiar.
After that, Hagrid stopped going into the forest to catch the students. Instead, he started carrying a pair of binoculars in his pocket and patrolled the edges of the Forbidden Forest, hoping to catch any students emerging from the trees.
However, those two troublemakers always seemed to find a way to slip away unnoticed. They even seemed to be using Disillusionment Charms on themselves, making it impossible for Hagrid to spot them from a distance. This further convinced him that Albert was somehow involved.
Once, when Albert visited Hagrid's hut, he found the gamekeeper giving him a sullen look.
Even Albert, usually thick-skinned, felt a bit uncomfortable under Hagrid's gaze.
"What's wrong?" Albert asked, unable to resist any longer. "If there's something on your mind, just say it. You're making me feel awkward with that look."
"You, of all people, are feeling awkward?" Hagrid huffed in dissatisfaction. "You ungrateful lot... Haven't you lot been sneaking into the forest lately? Humph, don't think I don't know you've been helping those two little rascals with their schemes..."
"Ahem," Albert coughed, offering a casual explanation. "We've been busy with schoolwork lately. You know, Easter is coming up, and we have mountains of homework."
"Really?" Hagrid asked, his eyes narrowing.
"Really," Albert assured him earnestly.
"Alright, I suppose I'll believe you... Not!" Hagrid grumbled. "Just you wait, if I catch anyone practicing magic in the Forbidden Forest, I'll have Professor McGonagall put them in detention for a week."
"Are you alright, Hagrid?" Albert asked, sensing that he might need to adjust his plans. There was an unusual tenacity in Hagrid's demeanor.
"Not really," Hagrid admitted, waving the rock cake in his hand. "I've been spending most of my energy trying to get those Weasley brothers out of the forest." He took a bite out of the rock-hard cake, as if that would help alleviate his frustration.
"Hagrid, you don't really want people going into the forest, do you?" Albert asked tentatively. Before Hagrid could answer, he continued, "Is Fluffy still in there?"
"You... I don't know what you're talking about!" Hagrid said, his voice dry as dust.
"Don't worry, I won't blabber about it. You know me," Albert said, nodding to indicate his understanding. The last time rumors had spread, it had been a real headache for both of them.
"I don't want you lot going into the forest because those Acromantulas haven't been very peaceful lately. I just don't want anyone taking unnecessary risks," Hagrid explained.
"Has Dumbledore mentioned when he'll be sending Fluffy away?" Albert inquired further.
"At the end of the summer holidays!" Hagrid replied irritably. He couldn't fathom how Albert knew that Fluffy was still in the forest. Had he let something slip unintentionally?
"What's going on with the Acromantulas?" Albert asked, his curiosity piqued.
"I don't know," Hagrid said, his brow furrowing. "It seems they've been attacked by someone. There's a wizard hunting Acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest."
"What? How did that happen?" Albert asked, concerned.
Hagrid hesitated, considering whether to share this information with Albert. "They said..." he began uncertainly.
"They?" Albert prompted.
"Aragog said that a wizard killed one of their own, taking their venom and spider eggs," Hagrid revealed, his fist clenching in anger. "You might not know this, but Acromantula eggs are Class A prohibited trade items, just like dragon eggs." He detested these poachers.
"For Galleons, I suppose?" Albert wasn't surprised. Some people would do anything for money, and he didn't have a high opinion of those giant spiders anyway. In his opinion, the world could do with fewer of them.
Perhaps an Acromantula farm would be a good idea? Then they could harvest them periodically.
"Most likely," Hagrid agreed. "So, Aragog's colony is quite agitated now, and even I'm not allowed to get close."
"Hagrid, you shouldn't be worried about the Acromantulas' safety," Albert said softly, offering reassurance. "You should be concerned about the wizard's safety instead. Who knows, one of these days, those big spiders might just eat him, and you know Acromantulas hold grudges."
Hagrid was left speechless by Albert's words.
"Hagrid, Acromantulas are classified as Beasts, and their dangerous nature is well-known," Albert reminded him, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "While they might not pose a threat to you, they are extremely dangerous to most wizards."
"So, you don't need to worry about the Acromantula colony being plundered by poachers," Albert continued. "If someone keeps doing this, they'll eventually get themselves killed. Besides, Acromantulas are vengeful, and I doubt they'll let these poachers get away with it."
"I suppose... you're right," Hagrid said, scratching his head. Something still felt off about the situation, but he had to admit that Albert made sense.
(End of Chapter)
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