Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [4]

⚡️ Chapter 48 ⚡️

Debating about what relations there possibly were between Snape and Karkaroff – which Vega suspected strongly of the foulest kind – the three of them had reached a large stone reindeer, over which they could see the sparkling jets of a tall fountain that had been the source of the sound earlier. But before Vega could marvel over it for long, she noticed the presence of more people.

There were the shadowy outlines of two enormous people, visible sitting on a stone bench, who were watching dancing fountain water glitter in the moonlight that was sweeping over the long Hogwarts grounds, and shrouding it all in a beautiful silvery glow. And then, they heard Hagrid –

"Momen' I saw yeh, I knew," Hagrid was saying, in an oddly husky voice which caused Vega, Harry and Ron to freeze in their place, their wide colourful eyes turning around to meet each other's.

This didn't sound like the sort of scene
they ought to walk in on, somehow...

Trying to pitch down the awkwardness of the situation, Vega looked around to see if there was anyone else but saw no one but Fleur Delacour and Roger Davies, who were both standing half-concealed in a rosebush nearby. She didn't want to have to dwell on what they were up to now.

Ah, I'm really, really grateful that Fred isn't so pushy...

Harry seemed to have noticed them too for he patted Vega's and Ron's shoulders before jerking his head towards them, meaning that they could easily sneak off that way without being noticed (Fleur and Davies looked very busy), but Ron, eyes widening in horror at the sight of Fleur, shook his head vigorously, and pulled the two Hogwarts Champions deeper into the shadows behind the reindeer.

"What did you know, 'Agrid?" Madame Maxime replied to Hagrid, a purr in her low voice.

Now, this was a conversation that Vega didn't want to listen to. She was also quite sure that Hagrid didn't want them to listen to this, either. She herself wouldn't wish to be caught flirting by friends.

It was difficult to find a spot to stare at – as Hagrid and Madame Maxime were in front of them, and Fleur and Davies were behind them – so Vega focused on the stone reindeer, noticing a beetle crawling along the length of the reindeer. She was about to pick it up but winced as Hagrid spoke –

"I jus' knew..." Hagrid said, and Vega wondered what he was talking about but she didn't want to focus on it. "Knew you were like me... was it yer mother or yer father?"

"I – I don't know what you mean, 'Agrid..." Madame Maxime replied.

"It was my mother," Hagrid said quietly. "She was one o' the las' ones in Britain. 'Course, I can' remember her too well... she left, see. When I was abou' three. She wasn' really the maternal sort. Well... It's not in their natures, is it? Dunno what happened to her... Might be dead fer all I know..."

Madame Maxime didn't say anything.

"Me dad was broken-hearted when she wen'," Hagrid continued onward anyway. "Tiny little bloke, my dad was. By the time I was six I could lift him up an' put him on top o' the dresser if he annoyed me. Used ter make him laugh. ..." His deep voice broke, and Vega frowned.

But Madame Maxime was only listening, motionless, apparently staring at the silvery fountain.

"Dad raised me..." Hagrid went on. "But he died, o' course, jus' after I started school. Sorta had ter make me own way after that. Dumbledore was a real help, mind. Very kind ter me, he was..." Hagrid pulled out a large spotted silk handkerchief and blew his nose heavily. "So... anyway... enough abou' me. What about you? Which side you got it on?"