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Many people flinched once again as the boom echoed, immediately flipping to the next chapter.
"Merlin's beard ..." Slughorn whispered clutching his hear, "I'm too old for this."
BOOM. They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake in fright. There was a crash behind them and Uncle Vernon came skidding into the room holding a rifle in his hands – now they knew what had been in the long, thin package he had brought with them.
"Is he mad!?" Several muggleborns and half bloods aware of the muggle world shouted.
"What's a rifle?" James, Peter and Sirius echoed looking to Remus.
"It - ..." Remus furrowed his brow, trying to think of how to explain it in terms that his friends would understand. "It's a sort of ... metal wand," he began slowly, "but instead of spells, it shoots tiny pieces of metal really fast. And it can be very dangerous. Even kill someone."
James, Peter, and Sirius looked at each other, their eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.
Peter shuddered at the thought. "Blimey, that sounds terrifying."
'Who's there?' he shouted. 'I warn you – I'm armed!' There was a pause. Then – SMASH!
The younger years all flinched and screamed, clutching to one another. The older years and adults tensed up as they silently stared at the screen on the edge of their seats, warily.
The door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat on the floor. Adhara quickly pulled Dudley behind her.
"Looks like she's got your courage too," Remus added, admiration in his voice as they watched Adhara protect Dudley.
Marlene looked confused. "Why's she protecting that big lump? He's been nothing but trouble."
"Doesn't matter," James replied, his voice firm. "Family looks out for each other, even if they don't deserve it."
Sirius leaned forward, eyes wide with excitement. "This is mental! Who's breaking down the door?"
A giant of a man was standing in the doorway.
"HAGRID!!" The hall cheered relieved.
Hagrid blushed from his seat.
The Slytherin's though they didn't cheer, silently untensed as they released their held breaths and tried to maintain their mask of indifference.
His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair. The giant squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, picked up the door and fitted it easily back into its frame before turning to look at them all.
