https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-339-Isn-t-Memorizing-the-Entire-Book-a-Bit-Much-/12946231/
Chapter 340: Hagrid's Realization
Chapter 340: Hagrid's Realization
Hagrid was also taken aback and stammered, "He was injured..."
He explained the whole situation, and in the meantime, Madam Rosmerta brought over the honey wine he had ordered.
After listening to the entire story, Lupin sighed deeply, feeling both proud and worried, "Harry is much better than we were back then. He even risks his life to save his enemies... Just like James and Lily..."
"Yeah," Hagrid nodded vigorously and took a big gulp of his drink, "It's all thanks to Vold and Harry. Otherwise, I might have even lost my job as a gamekeeper."
Lupin shook his head, "Malfoy's power isn't that great. If he wants to get rid of you, he'd have to get rid of Dumbledore first."
"That's right. Professor Dumbledore has always trusted me... If I had messed up on the first day, I wouldn't know how to face him... Luckily, today's class went well, and the students helped me a lot."
Hagrid sighed with emotion.
When he was first hired as a professor, he was overjoyed. But as he started working, Hagrid realized that being a professor was vastly different from being a gamekeeper.
Before, he only needed to patrol once or twice a day to ensure that the students didn't sneak into the Forbidden Forest and get hurt.
During his free time, he could grow vegetables, raise pets, or tend to livestock, with little responsibility and few worries on his mind.
He enjoyed being a maze judge, and the students trusted him more and more. However, there were also some students who didn't respect him, seeing him as just a school handyman, which made Hagrid feel uncomfortable.
Hagrid thought that becoming a professor would earn him the students' respect and admiration, but in reality, the responsibilities of a professor, the scrutiny of the students, and the opinions of the outside world all became sources of pressure for Hagrid.
How should he prepare lessons? How should he assign homework? How could he make those unruly students follow classroom rules? Hagrid had too much to learn, and he wanted to tell Dumbledore that he wanted to give up several times, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Instead, he gritted his teeth and continued to work hard.
Luckily, today's class was a success, and the students' positive response gave Hagrid a boost of confidence. He began to feel that his efforts were worthwhile...
Hagrid, under the influence of alcohol, poured out all his pent-up worries to Lupin, who listened attentively and offered him advice from time to time.
"The Flobberworm is too outrageous; no student will like it. The Fire Crab is not bad, but you still need to be careful with safety."
"As for homework, don't make it too complicated. Assigning a paper each week will do... You can start with something simple, just a few inches will do..."
"If you don't know how to do it, why not go and consult Professor Kettleburn? He lives in Hogsmeade, not far from here."
"Professor Kettleburn has been teaching this subject for decades. He must have encountered all sorts of situations and has extremely rich experience... He also knows exactly what will be tested in the Ordinary Wizarding Level Exams and the Ultimate Wizarding Level Exams..."
"You're right!" Hagrid agreed, "I'll go see Professor Kettleburn tomorrow morning... No, I have a class in the morning... I'll go see him at noon tomorrow. He loves Norberta, and as long as I bring him some of Norberta's scales..."
Hagrid suddenly remembered that he had given all the dragon scales to Vold.
However, this wasn't a problem. He could go find Norberta first—and take young Malfoy along to fulfill their deal—pick up a few dragon scales, and then visit Professor Kettleburn.
Hagrid mentally organized the tasks he needed to accomplish, feeling that the originally daunting tasks had suddenly become clear and simple, all thanks to Remus's suggestion...
Then, he belatedly recalled that Lupin had invited him for a reason.
"Oh, right, Remus, what did you want to ask?" Hagrid inquired.
"It's like this—"
Lupin set down his barely touched pear soda, hesitated for a moment, and asked, "I'd like to know who was at school during this summer vacation?"
Hagrid put down his glass and pondered for a long time before replying, "There were too many people, more than usual."
"Dumbledore, me, Filch, we've always been here."
"There were also reporters from the Daily Prophet who came to interview and take photos of the Chamber of Secrets and the snake shed. Professor McGonagall accompanied them... I think it was because of the basilisk's corpse being in Snape's possession. There were also interviews with Snape, and he was at school during those days..."
"Professors from Ilvermorny in America, Beauxbatons in France, and Durmstrang all came to the school, as if there was something important to discuss. Most of the professors were at school during those days."
"Did Ilvermorny send people too?" Lupin asked.
If it were the other two schools, he would have thought of the Triwizard Tournament, which had been discontinued for centuries. But with the addition of Ilvermorny, Lupin wasn't sure.
"Yes, Ilvermorny," Hagrid replied unhappily. "These people were wandering around the maze, and someone even tried to take our Niffler away. I stopped them... a bunch of thieves!"
"Then... who came to Hogwarts from July 16th to July 19th?" Lupin asked.
Hagrid was stunned. He opened his mouth, racked his brains, and after a long time, he asked, "What dates did you just mention?"
Lupin: "..."
He patiently asked again, "From July 16th to July 19th, during that time, the FlowMirror had just started selling in Diagon Alley, do you remember? The footage of Harry and the others defeating the Bowtruckle in the maze was also broadcast, and there were definitely discussions in Hogsmeade. It was just a few days before that—you should have an impression of it."
"Ah—no wonder there was a period when there were so many owls flying in every day! I was wondering—during the holidays, the students weren't at school, who were those owls delivering things to?"
Hagrid suddenly realized.
After that, he closed his mouth, his eyebrows furrowed into a knot, deep in thought.
Time passed by, and after a long while, Hagrid shook his head apologetically, "Sorry, Remus, I really can't remember."
"I only remember a time when Aragog had a poor appetite, and I was preoccupied with that, not paying much attention to anything else."
Aragog was the giant spider that Hagrid had raised. When Lupin and the others were still at school, they had encountered the spider during their night excursions in the Forbidden Forest.
Lupin had already guessed from Hagrid's reaction, and he sighed, saying, "Never mind then."
He had originally thought that there would be few people who had access to the snake shed during the vacation, and the suspect's range would be easily narrowed down. But upon hearing Hagrid say that Hogwarts was also busy during the summer vacation, Lupin didn't hold out much hope.
Even if Hagrid remembered who had come and gone, what difference would it make?
Hagrid also needed to eat, rest, and patrol, and perhaps the person who commissioned Will to enter and exit the school wasn't seen by Hagrid at all.
The investigation had reached a stalemate... But no news might also be good news.
Lupin tried to think positively, but his heart couldn't help but feel less optimistic.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
