𝐈 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 [𝐇𝐨𝐠𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬]

Chapter Thirteen

𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑 𝐓𝐖𝐎
- CORNELIUS FUDGE

[𝐘/𝐍] listened as Harry and Ron told her about Hagrid's unfortunate liking for large and monstrous creatures. During their first year at Hogwarts he had tried to raise a dragon in his little wooden house, and it would be a long time before they forgot the giant, three-headed dog he'd christened "Fluffy." And from the stories they told, [y/n] could only assume that if Hagrid had heard that a monster was hidden somewhere in the castle while he was a student, he'd have gone to any lengths for a glimpse of it.

He'd probably thought it was a shame that the monster had been cooped up so long, and thought it deserved the chance to stretch its many legs; Harry said that he could just imagine the thirteen-year-old Hagrid trying to fit a leash and collar on it. But what stopped [y/n] from fully assuming that Hagrid was indeed the culprit, was due to his kind nature. She was certain that Hagrid would never have meant to kill anybody.

[y/n] watched as Harry stressed himself over founding out how to work Riddle's diary. Again and again Ron and Hermione made him recount what he'd seen, until he was heartily sick of telling them and sick of the long, circular conversations that followed.

"Riddle might have got the wrong person," said Hermione. "Maybe it was some other monster that was attacking people..."

"How many monsters d'you think this place can hold?" Ron asked dully. This caught [y/n]'s attention, briefly glancing at the book she was reading from yesterday.

"We always knew Hagrid had been expelled," said Harry miserably. "And the attacks must've stopped after Hagrid was kicked out. Otherwise, Riddle wouldn't have got his award."

Ron tried a different tack.

"Riddle does sound like Percy — who asked him to squeal on Hagrid, anyway?"

"But the monster had killed someone, Ron," said Hermione.

"And Riddle was going to go back to some Muggle orphanage if they closed Hogwarts," said Harry. "I don't blame him for wanting to stay here..."

"You met Hagrid down Knockturn Alley, didn't you, Harry?"

"He was buying a Flesh-Eating Slug Repellent," said Harry quickly.

The four of them fell silent. After a long pause, Hermione voiced the knottiest question of all in a hesitant voice. "Do you think we should go and ask Hagrid about it all?"

"That'd be a cheerful visit," said Ron. "'Hello, Hagrid. Tell us, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?'"