Chapter 574: Hagrid's Makeover Operation 2
“Haha…” Michael chuckled. “Wade’s really skilled with that spell. He even got Ministry of Magic approval for it.”
“Jealous…” Astoria gazed longingly. “Will the Spell Study Society teach it someday?”
“Maybe, if the chance comes,” Wade said. “So… shall we get started?”
On the other side of the room, Hagrid frantically clutched his beard. “Wait, wait! This beard’s been growing since I was eighteen! At least leave me a little!”
“Keep it for what?” Daphne said coldly. “To raise lizards?”
“No…” Hagrid weakly protested. “Don’t you think my beard looks good? Dumbledore has one too!”
“White beards look clean,” Daphne held up her scissors. “Yours… I can’t help but doubt the soup stains in it would go moldy.”
“How could there be soup stains?” Hagrid argued. “I wash it every day!”
Daphne’s eyes narrowed as she scanned him skeptically. “Really?”
“Um… at least three days… sometimes five… I do clean it… I swear…” Hagrid stammered.
Daphne’s hair nearly stood on end. Without a word, she raised her wand—and the scissors sliced swiftly past Hagrid’s chin.
“Ow—!” Hagrid yelped in pain, as if he’d been cut himself.
Wade flicked his wand. The room’s clutter—broken-legged chairs, cracked bowls, a broom tied together with straw and vines, a fur coat riddled with holes, and a chaotic mess of animal specimens—flew out in a whirlwind.
Hagrid had stuffed every item he thought might be useful—or might come in handy someday—into his hut. He was a scatterbrain, often forgetting where he’d left things, and rarely cleaned.
In fact, Wade doubted some corners had seen a proper sweep in fifty years—enough time, he thought, for a whole nest of fox spirits to take root.
The others pitched in. Scourgify was familiar to all, even Astoria, the youngest. For tougher spots, they used Cleaning Agent—a magical potion that not only cleaned but also made animal fur silky and smooth. After a thorough cleaning, the place looked brand new.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the room, Hagrid kept letting out pained yelps under Daphne’s steady hand:
“My hair!”
“Don’t! Put the scissors down—wait, are you going to trim my eyebrows too?”
“This is my new coat, Miss Greengrass!”
“This is my special hair oil, not shoe polish… it’s effective, please leave it alone!”
While others wiped down the tea set, tidied the closet, and repaired furniture, Wade stroked his chin, surveying the now-spacious room—empty of most of its old clutter.
With Hagrid and the rest of them, plus Fang, the dog gnawing on a bone in his kennel, the space was packed. Moving around often meant bumping into someone.
If Hagrid ever invited Madam Maxime over for a visit…
Wade pictured the two towering figures sitting by the fireplace—suddenly, the room felt suffocatingly small.
Recalling how generously Hagrid had once given him raw materials, Wade waved his wand and cast a few Invisible Expansion Charms on the hut.
Hermione lifted the tray, carrying a clean teapot and cups, aiming to place them in the cabinet. As she turned, she instinctively pulled her arms in—only to realize everyone had backed away at least two feet.
“Huh?”
The girl felt a strange oddness. But when Astoria lifted her hat to place it on a shelf, Hermione forgot the odd feeling and set the tray down to help.
Harry and the others were too distracted to notice. When they realized the space had suddenly felt wider, they burst with pride.
“Whoa—just tidying up, and the whole house feels bigger!” Ron called to Hagrid. “Don’t go collecting more trash, okay? Though, if you see a unicorn tail hair, don’t miss it.”
He carefully cleaned a bundle of tail hairs and hung them by the window. Sunlight streaming in seemed suddenly brighter, cleaner.
“Ow…” Hagrid winced, watching his fallen hair and beard litter the floor. “If you like it, take them all. I’ll go find more later.”
“Really?” Ron beamed. He reached in, plucked out a few strands, handed one to each of them, and kept one for himself.
“This is our payment for today,” Ron grinned. “The rest, you can sell. Buy Madam Maxime a Christmas gift.”
Wade glanced at him, surprised. Suddenly, he realized something—Ron, once so often plagued by low self-esteem, had grown.
Maybe Fred and George had given him some financial help, easing the constant anxiety of poverty?
Whatever the reason, Ron now held a brand-new wand, his cloak was no longer faded from washing, and his smile was open and relaxed.
“Christmas gift…” Hagrid frowned, deep in thought—so much so he didn’t even notice Daphne tossing his trimmed beard and hair into the fireplace.
The room instantly filled with the sharp smell of burning kerosene. Michael hurried to open the window. Wade summoned a spiral wind, whisking the strange odor away.
…
Two hours later.
Hagrid stood in what felt like a completely new home, fidgeting, touching his hair, then his chin.
“It’s like I’m not wearing clothes,” he muttered, uneasy.
His long shoulder-length hair had been cut to just an inch, and Daphne had even had Wade raise the temperature of the Warm Wind Charm, curling the short strands into soft waves.
His beard was nearly gone—just a faint trim left to shape his face. Harry stared in astonishment.
“Hagrid… I never knew you looked like this!”
“Tell me about it,” Michael said, stroking his chin. “Looks like you’ve aged thirty years backwards!”
“Really?” Hagrid lowered his hand, then eagerly grabbed the mirror. He stared at his reflection, touched his face, then his neck—finally seeing sunlight for the first time in years.
Without the wild tangle of hair, Hagrid’s features looked softer, younger. His strong jawline was clear, his black beetle-black eyes bright and clear, glowing with a pure, childlike innocence.
“Honestly, you look amazing!” Hermione said. “Before, you kind of looked… like… um…”
She waved her arms helplessly, struggling to find the right words.
“—like a wild man?” Hagrid asked casually. He knew students sometimes called him that behind his back.
“No,” Hermione laughed. “I was thinking… a pinecone.”
The others burst into laughter. Hagrid joined in, his smile finally visible—no longer hidden behind a beard.
Daphne pulled out a set from the closet: a deep blue suit, a white linen shirt, a house tie, short boots, and a belt. “Change into these,” she urged. “I promise—you’ll shock Madam Maxime.”
“If she doesn’t see your height, she’ll think the school got a new Gamekeeper.”
This time, Hagrid took the clothes without protest. He didn’t argue with their taste anymore. With a small, reluctant tug, he changed.
When he emerged, awkwardly adjusting the tie, Daphne exhaled deeply—as if a long-held weight had finally lifted.
“I should’ve done this ages ago,” she whispered to her sister. “You know, every time I see Professor Hagrid in Care of Magical Creatures class, his appearance gives me the creeps—like ants crawling up my feet.”
Astoria giggled, leaning sideways on the couch.
Later, it was said—just rumored—that when Madam Maxime came to check on her own sigil horse by the Black Lake, she saw Hagrid transformed. Without thinking, she wound the reins tighter around her hand.
A few days later, everyone noticed: the two of them started walking together by the lake.
(End of Chapter)
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