Chapter 336. Professor Hagrid's Progress
The incident in which Malfoy and Harry were injured by the Hippogriff was ultimately treated as an ordinary classroom accident. Once Malfoy ceased pressing charges, such a minor mishap barely registered at Hogwarts. Still, Professor McGonagall reprimanded Hagrid for being overly ambitious—she insisted he shouldn’t have introduced such a dangerous creature so early in the course.
“So I thought… maybe Flobberworms would be a good idea,” Hagrid said, reflecting deeply. “I actually found a whole nest recently. I was planning to use them as snacks for Aragog… before I decided to save them for class.”
“Pfft—” Liam choked on his tea, spraying it across the table. “What? Did you just say—what?”
“Flobberworms!” Hagrid said, genuinely puzzled by Liam’s reaction. “They’re toothless little worms—completely harmless trinkets. No danger at all.”
“I know… but…!” Liam glanced at Wade, who raised an eyebrow at him, then said calmly, “We’d like to continue with the Hippogriff lesson, Professor Hagrid. Gryffindor and Slytherin have already had it. It wouldn’t be fair if we didn’t.”
“But it’s dangerous…” Hagrid hesitated.
“Didn’t you already figure out how to ensure safety?” Michael cut in bluntly. “And besides, no one wants to see Flobberworms. You’d end up making every student hate you.”
Michael wasn’t usually so direct—normally he was smooth and diplomatic—but he’d learned that with this new professor, blunt honesty was the only way to get through. Hagrid still looked uncertain. “What if a student gets scared of Buckbeak and provokes him?”
“Why not prepare some harmless creatures instead?” Wade suggested. “Like Tree Guardians? Those who want adventure can handle the danger. Those who don’t can stay behind and play with the little ones.”
“Would that… really work?” Hagrid asked, still unsure.
“Of course it would!” Michael declared with conviction. “Everyone would love it!”
Hagrid was still new to the role, and still shaken by his earlier mistake. His confidence was fragile, making him easy to persuade.
“O… okay… I’ll try it your way…” Hagrid said, reluctantly.
The group erupted in cheers. Wade smiled.
Care of Magical Creatures was a three-year course. To avoid having to endure endless lessons on worms and exploding toads for the next three years, Wade had actively helped resolve this incident.
Fortunately, Hagrid didn’t let his age or experience make him stubborn. He accepted the students’ advice with humility.
Later, after Michael and the others had left, Hagrid even sought out Wade again, inviting him to visit his hut.
“Thank you, Wade,” Hagrid said. “I know Malfoy wasn’t going to let me or Buckbeak off the hook. His father has influence—enough to make the Ministry of Magic listen. But you convinced him… You saved me. Really.”
Hagrid sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.
“Don’t say that, Hagrid,” Wade replied. “If Malfoy had been injured in Transfiguration or Potions, he wouldn’t have dared complain. And he was in the wrong to begin with. I just didn’t want him using underhanded tactics to get rid of a good teacher.”
Hagrid looked down, ashamed. “I… I’m not even a good teacher. I injured students in my first class…”
“Have some confidence,” Wade said, patting his arm. “You’re not the only one. Neville broke his arm in his first Flying lesson, and in his first Potions class, he ended up covered in boils. Neither Madam Hooch nor Professor Snape lost their self-worth over it!”
Hagrid couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t let them know you said that… heh… but I do feel better now. Oh—by the way, I have something for you.”
He stood up, adjusted the oil lamp he’d accidentally bumped with his head, then reached down and pulled a dusty, old wooden box from the cabinet beside him. He wiped off the grime with his sleeve and handed it to Wade.
“What’s this?” Wade asked, curious.
“It’s something I found while patrolling the Forbidden Forest,” Hagrid said, settling back into his seat. He poked at the fire with an old iron tongs, where a tin pot simmered over the flames. “It has a scale from a Nobeta, a strand of Unicorn tail hair, and some venomous horn from a Toxic Horned Beast. I remember these are all useful for alchemy, so I collected them—planning to give them to you later, maybe at Christmas.”
He’d originally intended it as a gift. But now, overcome with emotion, he’d brought it out early.
Wade opened the box. Inside, the materials were neatly arranged. He pressed his lips together slightly.
These weren’t easy to collect—even Hagrid had had to hunt for them. The Toxic Horned Beast was a massive, rhino-sized predator, its horn storing a volatile, explosive fluid. And Unicorn hair—especially when taken by force—was never as pure as when given willingly. Though it wouldn’t carry a curse, it often compromised effectiveness in potions or alchemical work.
The best materials came from Unicorns who offered them freely. But commercially available hair? Impossible to verify.
Hagrid may have seemed rough around the edges, careless and unthinking—but when he cared, he could be the most thoughtful person you’d ever meet.
Like during his first year, when he’d scoured the castle and beyond, gathering old photos of James and Lily Potter, compiling them into a scrapbook to give to Harry.
Wade took the box without a word of repayment. “Thank you, Hagrid. I really like it.”
Hagrid beamed.
On Tuesday afternoon, Wade stopped by the staff lounge to ask a question. He found Hagrid sitting with a thick, hand-bound parchment notebook, asking Professor McGonagall how to be a good professor.
“Sometimes, listening to students isn’t a bad thing,” she said. “They know what they want. But you need to come up with concrete, workable plans. Be confident, Hagrid. Your knowledge is solid—you just need to learn how to pass it on.”
Hagrid nodded seriously, jotting down her words carefully.
Seeing Wade, Professor McGonagall smiled. “If you’re unsure what to do, ask Wade and Hermione. They’re both excellent students. They’ll give you the best advice.”
Hagrid nodded again. “I will.”
After that emotional turning point, Hagrid was clearly making an effort to become a better professor.
He stumbled through areas he wasn’t skilled in. His handwriting on parchment was messy, full of spelling errors. But every time he felt like giving up—like just going through the motions, even if it meant angering Malfoy—images of Wade, who had fought hard to help him; Michael, who was already excited for the next class; and Harry, who had stayed loyal even after being injured—would flash in his mind.
He knew he had to try. He had to do better.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
