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Chapter 530: Rolling in the Snow
Chapter 530: Rolling in the Snow
When Kyle and Sirius returned to Hogwarts via the fireplace in the Cauldron Club, Dumbledore and the others were no longer in the Headmaster's office.
The fox on the branch lazily lifted its head to glance at them before burying its head back into its wings.
The phoenix, however, greeted them with a showy gesture, but Sirius paid no heed and was met with a tirade of curses from within the portrait.
However, at this moment, Kyle and Sirius had already left the office and didn't hear a word of what was said.
As they reached the Entrance Hall, a group of students engaged in a tense standoff caught Sirius's attention. As a professor, he had to stay and deal with the issue.
Kyle nodded in understanding and proceeded to walk out of the castle alone.
The snow outside the castle had not yet melted, covering the ground in a blanket of white. There were several long footprints in the snow, likely left by the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students.
Kyle followed the trail to Hagrid's hut on the edge of the Forbidden Forest.
Usually, at this time, Hagrid would have kept the area in front of his door clean, but now, the snow had almost reached the stone steps, and there was a set of messy footprints on them.
Clearly, someone had already been there.
"Listen, Hagrid..." a voice from inside the house spoke, it was Hermione.
"You don't have to be so sensitive about your half-giant heritage. I've always believed it's a prejudice, just like people's attitudes towards werewolves... It's just a preconceived notion, and the reality isn't as bad as the reports make it out to be, right?"
"Hermione's right, Hagrid," Ron added.
"Don't listen to those Slytherins, everyone knows you're not brutal, and many people like you."
"You don't have to comfort me," Hagrid said, his voice breaking, "Last year, Professor Lupin had to leave Hogwarts because of his werewolf identity. I think it's my turn this year. No one will like me, I'm sure."
"Impossible," Harry said loudly, "We like you, and so does Angelina. She just had a heated argument with the Slytherins because they spoke ill of you. It happened just now, in the Entrance Hall."
Upon hearing this, Kyle seemed to understand who the students in the standoff were.
But with Sirius present, Angelina was there, too.
Kyle knocked on the door.
"It must be Dumbledore, he must be here to make me leave Hogwarts..."
Then, the door opened.
Hagrid looked disheveled, as if he had just been crying. His eyes were red and swollen, and his hair was tangled, resembling a clump of tumbleweed on his head.
"Sorry to disappoint you," Kyle said, "The Headmaster is with Karkaroff and Maxime, probably too busy to come here."
"Kyle, you..."
"May I come in? It's too cold outside."
As he spoke, Kyle had already squeezed past Hagrid and entered the house.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked at him tensely, but upon seeing Kyle, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"Kyle, did you come here after reading that article too?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Kyle nodded, "I guessed Hagrid might be in trouble, so I came to see if I could help."
"It's all because of Rita Skeeter," Harry said angrily, "That despicable person just stirs up trouble."
"Do you know her?" Kyle asked.
"I met her once after the first task."
Harry spoke with some frustration, "She asked me a few questions, and within a few days, she wrote in the newspaper that I resented not being chosen as a champion and slandered me for calling Professor Dumbledore an old fool.
"But I never said that, I would never insult Professor Dumbledore, and I've never thought of becoming a champion.
"Let's take a look at the first task, a Sphynx, a dragon... I must be crazy to even consider becoming a champion... Oh, sorry, Kyle. I didn't mean it that way."
"I know," Kyle shook his head, unbothered.
"Speaking of which," Hermione asked, "Hagrid, how did that woman know you're a half-giant?"
"I don't know," Hagrid replied, "I didn't tell anyone except Professor Maxime..."
"Professor Maxime?" Ron asked, "Isn't she also a half-giant?"
"I thought so at first, but she got angry with me and said she just had a large build," Hagrid covered his face and whimpered as if remembering something.
"She must be too afraid to admit it," Harry said angrily, "Large build... Who does she think she's fooling?"
"But it's useful, isn't it? The newspaper only mentioned Hagrid's name."
"That's true," Kyle chimed in, "Half-giants aren't werewolves, and they don't transform. As long as she doesn't admit it, it's just a large build... There are many mysterious things in the Wizarding World, and it's not unusual to have a few unusually-sized wizards."
"Wait, the newspaper?" Hermione asked, "Kyle, do you think that Rita Skeeter, the one we heard last night, got this information? But outsiders aren't allowed in Hogwarts, right? Hagrid, did you see her?"
"I don't remember," Hagrid said, "...but I don't think so."
"Rita Skeeter isn't a Muggle," Kyle shrugged, "It would be too easy for her to hide herself with magic."
Everyone suddenly realized the truth.
Now it made sense why Rita Skeeter was so certain about Hagrid's identity as a half-giant—because he had revealed it himself.
"I think I know," Hermione said after a moment of thought, "She must have used a Disillusionment Charm to eavesdrop from the side."
"Or maybe it was an Invisibility Cloak," Ron suggested.
"It could also be an Animagus," Harry said, "Like Peter Pettigrew, who transformed into a small animal. After all, no one would pay attention to a rat or a squirrel, right?"
"That's not possible," Hermione frowned, "I've seen the list of Animagi registered this century, and Rita Skeeter's name isn't on it."
"Not everyone registers," Harry said, "Don't forget that Peter Pettigrew's name isn't on the list either."
He had wanted to say Sirius, but upon recalling Hagrid's experience, he quickly changed his words.
The three of them eagerly discussed how Rita Skeeter had discovered Hagrid's identity, but Hagrid himself didn't seem interested.
He just sat there, staring blankly at the teapot on the stove, as thick white smoke billowed from its spout. He didn't move a muscle.
"Can I have a cup of hot tea?" Kyle asked, "Someone insisted on having ice cream in this freezing weather, so I need to warm up with some hot tea."
"Oh, sure..." Hagrid finally reacted, taking the teapot and pouring a cup of steaming hot pine nut tea for Kyle.
Harry glanced at the thick snow outside and shivered involuntarily, "Honestly, even if someone offered me ice cream, I wouldn't eat it."
Although he liked ice cream, he certainly wouldn't choose to eat it in this weather; it was too cold.
"There's no choice," Kyle said, "Who knows how much cold resistance he has? He's the type who would roll around in the snow without a second thought."
Kyle took the teacup from Hagrid's hand, "I don't want to eat it either, but since we've bought it, we can't waste it..."
(End of Chapter)
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