Everywhere, Everything

xiii. Hagrid Spills The Tea

Following the announcement of Gryffindor's success, Tigerlily and her friends rushed down to the field to congratulate their House team. Tigerlily squeezed Oliver into the tightest hug she could manage and gave Hallie a few gentle pats on her shoulder since Madam Pomfrey was still tending her after receiving that Bludger. Despite a minor concussion, the captain's spirits were not dampened, as she initiated the chanting all over again, rousing every Gryffindor fan into a chorus of cheers and awful singing.

It took a while, but when the team finally let Harry go after carrying him on their shoulders for everyone to see their star player and his freshly caught Snitch, he, Ron, Hermione, and Tigerlily headed to Hagrid's for a good cup of tea.

Hermione declined, while Tigerlily sipped happily from a big cup. It was very strong and herbal, just the way she liked it. Ron grimaced when he first tried it, but had to keep drinking so Hagrid wouldn't think he was a prick. Harry licked his lips a couple times but then had no trouble with the brew.

"It was Snape," Ron was explaining, finding it as the perfect excuse to set down his cup. Unfortunately for him, Hagrid seemed to have served him in a particularly large one, that looked more like a bowl with a handle than a mug. "Hermione and I saw him. He was cursing your broomstick, muttering, and he wouldn't take his eyes off you."

"Is that why you disappeared?" Tigerlily asked Hermione, separating her own mug from her lips only to speak.

Hermione nodded in response as Hagrid said, "Rubbish, why would Snape do something like that?"

The kids exchanged looks with each other, all of them wondering how they'd explain what they knew to Hagrid. Finally, Harry decided to just tell him the truth.

"I found out something about him. He tried to get past that three-headed dog on Halloween. It bit him. We think he was trying to steal whatever it's guarding."

Hagrid dropped his teapot. Tigerlily was quick to pick it up for him and put it down on the table, set on saving as much of the delicious tea Hagrid had made for them as possible.

"How do you know about Fluffy?" Hagrid said, still too stunned to even register the fact that Tigerlily was now topping off her mug behind his back.

"Fluffy?" Harry said, his dark brows furrowing.

"Yeah, he's mine — bought him off a Greek chap I met in a pub. I lent him to Dumbledore to guard the..." He faltered, his lips pursing.

"Yes?" Harry pushed, sitting up straighter in his chair.

"Now, don't ask me any more," said Hagrid, shaking his head and looking for his teapot, which Tigerlily promptly returned, trying to act natural as she put the mug to her lips and spilled a bit on her jumper. "That's top secret, that is."

"But Snape's trying to steal it."

"Rubbish," Hagrid said again. "Snape's a Hogwarts teacher, he'd do nothing of the sort."

"So why did he just try and kill Harry?" Hermione protested, her eyes widening like they always did when she felt frustrated. Her friends were surprised to hear her sudden change of heart in regards to Snape.  "I know a jinx when I see one, Hagrid, I've read all about them! You've got to keep eye contact, and Snape wasn't blinking at all, I saw him!"

"I'm telling you, you're wrong!" said Hagrid, waving his hands and nearly dropping the teapot again. "I don't know why Harry's broom acted like that, but Snape wouldn't try and kill a student! Now, listen to me, all of you — you're meddling in things that don't concern you. It's dangerous. You forget that dog, and you forget what it's guarding, that's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel — "