Circle's Close

Chapter Six: Hagrid's Back!

*

The next couple of weeks to follow were some of Harry's busiest of all. Quidditch practices continued with its three days-a-week course. Classes ran as scheduled, Head Boy duties took up some of his time, whether in classes, at lunch, or when Dumbledore needed him (and/or Hermione) to run a special task for him. The rest of his time (when he wasn't running tasks, doing homework, coaching practices, and having somewhat of a social life) was taken up by the most disturbing, grueling task of all. And he kept reminding himself that he was Head Boy, and that it was his duty alone that was forcing him to the task at hand.

The Halloween Ball.

Just thinking about it made Harry shiver. Though, he had to admit he was handling it a lot better than Ron, who indeed cringed when Harry or Hermione made mention of it. The only reason for their mention of the Ball (which was coming up in two weeks time) was because Harry and Hermione had been put in charge of planning it. However, there were so many details that had to be taken care of (such as theme, music, food, etc...) that Harry and Hermione couldn't do it all on their own, due to their already full schedule.

Thankfully, Ginny had volunteered to help. And somewhere along the line, Ron became involved as well. Ron detested this upcoming Ball because every year he never failed to ruin his own date. Harry figured Ron was a complicated person, with complicated emotions, and just needed to find that one person who would just--understand him. It seemed that that person was not destined to meet Ron anytime soon, because he was still miserable with the future prospect (though he liked to compare it to raising Blast-ended Skrewts) of finding a date.

And so the planning continued, well into mid-October. The temperature had dropped a considerable amount, which allowed for the usage of the fireplaces. The fireplace aglow, with Harry and Ron concentrating on their homework, with other students in the common room either doing homework or gossiping (Lavender and Parvati more likely), Hermione and Ginny came bustling through the portrait hole, in obvious high spirits.

Ginny clutched a big folder to her chest, which contained the planning of the Ball. Since she had volunteered, and since she had so much time on her hands, she had insisted upon taking on most of the work. Likewise, she never went through with any of the details until asking permission from Harry and Hermione. They had insisted that asking them was silly, because they trusted her judgment and knew that she knew what she was doing.

Hermione was clutching her own books, and her smile brightened even more when she saw Harry and Ron sitting down to work.

"Don't give me that look," Harry said to her indignantly.

"What look?" Hermione asked innocently, sitting down next to Harry and giving him an affectionate kiss on the cheek.

"The look that suggests I don't do my homework. The look that suggests that this is the first time in the six and some years we've been here that you've actually seen me do my homework," Harry replied. From beside Ron, Ginny giggled, and grabbed their attention by slamming down the folder on the table.

Startled, Harry turned from his girlfriend to the youngest Weasley.

"I've done it. They've finally agreed," Ginny said, beaming.

"Well, don't you look proud. So spill," said Ron.

Ginny cast a worried glance to Ron, and then took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. Suddenly, she seemed reluctant.

"I, er--got the Weird Sisters signed for the Ball," she said.

As Ginny expected, Ron turned bright red with her revelation and he suddenly seemed ten-times more interested in his assignment than anything else, as he began to scribble furiously on his parchment.

"Really!" Harry exclaimed. "How'd you manage that?"

Ginny turned her half-apologetic, half-concerned gaze from Ron to Harry and her former expressions evaporated as she beamed at him.

"With my cunning and talent, of course," she bragged, perking up in her seat and puffing out her chest much like her older brother Percy would do.

Harry laughed in delight.

"But seriously, I conned them into it. One of my finer moments," Ginny said.

"But how!" exclaimed Harry.

Ginny sighed, tilting her head to the side, trying to look knowledgeable. "Oh, but Harry, if I disclosed that information to you, I would no longer be cunning, and my talent wouldn't be so unique now, would it? I'm afraid it is too much of a risk to take," she said dramatically.

Harry laughed again while Ron stayed solemn.

"Oh, Ron," comforted Hermione. "I'm sure it'll work out better this year."

Ron flinched, and Harry knew he was only remembering what he had tried so hard to forget.

Ginny placed a hand on her brother's arm, her brown eyes warm with concern.

"It's just a Ball. You don't have to go," she told him.

"Yes, I do," Ron mumbled, now hiding his face in his hands. He couldn't believe that after a year, he still felt like such a fool.

The year before, it hadn't been a Halloween Ball, but a Valentine's Day Ball. Romance was in the air, couples were happy, love was the theme of everyone's conversation. Ron, of course, didn't have anyone to love, let alone to go to the Ball with. So he went alone. And while he was there, alone, one of the Weird Sisters had approached him with love in her eyes. Disturbingly hairy, Ron turned her away. Not because he was disgusted, as he constantly denied, but because he felt uncomfortable on the dancing floor. The result of this was horrifying on Ron's part. The Slytherins taunted and teased relentlessly, and the Weird Sisters, for the remainder of the evening, refused to play any more slow songs, which made everyone bitter since it was a Valentine's Day dance, and it was an opportunity to get some one-on-one time with their loved ones.

The tormenting had stopped now. Summer had come and gone, and since school had started, Malfoy had said nothing to either Ron, Harry or Hermione. This puzzled Harry greatly, and up until now he had chosen not to reflect on its meaning. Malfoy was as complicated as Ron, but with more of an evil twist to him.

In spite of all of this, there had been many times when Malfoy could have had a perfect shot at insulting Harry. He shared his Divination class with him, where the barmy Trelawney always had something to say about Harry. But nothing. Not a smirk, not a sneer, not a gesture. Draco hadn't completely ignored him however. Even when they weren't in class, they still had Quidditch and a Pitch to share. And during these practices he seemed to be more interested in Harry's team than he was his own.

Harry didn't react to this, trying to keep as calm as a Captain could be. But he had become convinced that Draco Malfoy was spying. Though, the blond Slytherin wasn't doing a very good job of remaining inconspicuous. He showed open interest, and Harry decided that it was high time to bring this up to his team. They already seemed concerned with the fact that the Slytherins could in fact, be "stealing their moves".

It was only when Hermione headed to her own dorm that Harry approached Ron and Ginny with the plan of a future Team Meeting.

"Sure. What's up?" asked Ron curiously.

"The Slytherins," Harry replied. There was no distaste in his voice, or even open hostility. He was as cool as a cucumber.

"What for?" asked Ginny, who was bending over to collect her school work and Halloween Ball folder. Ron copied Ginny, gathering his books.

"I just have some concerns I'd like to address. Nothing really serious," he told them.

"But why the Slytherins? What have they done?" asked Ginny, her hair blocking her face as she was bent over, picking up her things.

"They've been to nearly every single practice we've had. We have to think of a way to deter them from spying on us, or-- we have to devise a plan that will throw them off. Think of new tactics, new strategies, so that when it comes to the game, they won't know what hit them," Harry explained.

"What makes you think they're spying on us?" asked Ginny, still ruffling through her books, making sure she had her quills.

"Are you trying to tell me you don't believe they are?" replied Harry, slightly puzzled by her attitude.

"Are you saying," Ginny said, still ruffling through her books, head bowed, now making sure she had her ink, "is that because they hang around our practices, practicing themselves, that means they're trying to steal our tactics?" she asked.

"Maybe. Have you got any other suggestions?" asked Harry.

She ruffled through her books, making sure she had her parchment.

"Maybe they have a thing for you Harry. I've seen the way Draco looks at you," purred Ginny. She looked up now, grinning slyly.

Harry laughed dryly.

"That's sick," was Ron's reply.

Ginny giggled. "See? It could be any reason. And I was only kidding," she added.

"Say anything like that again, and I'll have you thrown off the team," Harry finally said in his most serious tone.

Ginny gave him a sweet smile, and shook her head.

"You'd never, because you know we can't win the Quidditch cup without my superb skills as a Chaser."

Harry grinned. "Got that right. And getting back to the subject at hand--I have a feeling that something is going on with the Slytherins. Just you wait," Harry told her.

"And I'm just trying to tell you that I think you're wrong about what your instincts are telling you," she said calmly.

"I'm going upstairs!" Ron announced as he made his getaway to the dormitory stairs. "I can't take much more talk of Slytherins." He tossed the last part over his shoulder as he disappeared up the stairs.

Harry and Ginny continued talking as though they hadn't heard Ron.

"Really? I'm wrong? What makes you so sure?" he asked.

At this, Ginny faltered, as if searching for the right answer.

"I'm not sure. But--you can't just assume the worst of them, you know. They aren't all bad," she said.

Harry pondered this, and regarded Ginny curiously. Malfoy hadn't been the only one acting strange the past month and a half.

But before he could linger on these thoughts, Hermione had returned, books gone, but wearing her cloak.

"Nighttime stroll, love?" asked Harry, suddenly forgetting about his debate with Ginny.

"We're going to visit Hagrid, now that he's back from doing that special task for Dumbledore. Go get Ron," Hermione instructed.

Ginny, with her books, quill, ink, and parchment in hand, went up to her own dormitories, saying goodbye to Hermione on her way up.

"Oh, Ginny!" Hermione called after her retreating back.

"Yes?"

"Thanks," said Hermione. Ginny turned back briefly.

"For?" she asked curiously.

"You really have amazing organizational skills, you know that? It really is quite a talent," she told her.

Ginny tried to suppress a smile, but found that it was useless. She beamed, and turned back to finish climbing the stairs.

*

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood facing Hagrid's cabin. Harry knocked hard, three times, before Hagrid opened the door, first peering out cautiously, then his eyes fell upon his visitors.

"'Ello yeh three! Bin waitin' fer yer visit," exclaimed Hagrid, beaming fondly at the three of them.

"Welcome back, Hagrid," Harry greeted as Hagrid opened the door wide, stepping out of the way for them to walk through the massive doorway.

Harry scanned the little cabin, familiarizing himself with all the things he had grown used to over the years. The fireplace, Fang (Hagrid's Boarhound), the large chairs that seemed to swallow any normal sized human. He then spotted the flowery pink umbrella in the corner. The same one that had given Dudley Dursley a pig's tail so many years ago. Harry felt a warm tingle cascade over him, remembering the first feeling of leaving the Dursleys, the feeling of the newfound knowledge that he was a wizard.

"Hagrid! What happened to your arm!" exclaimed Ron, his mouth agape. They all found seats and faced Hagrid, who's bandaged arm was in a sling.

The half-giant looked slightly embarrassed, and more than reluctant to tell them what happened. "Ne'er yeh mind," he said in an attempt to avoid their prodding questions.

"We're your friends, Hagrid. You can tell us," Hermione said gently. She took her seat next to Harry, with Ron on the other side of him.

"Alrigh'. I fell," was his simple reply.

"Fell?" asked Harry, deeply concerned for his professor and friend.

"In the Forbidden Forest. Puzzlin', ter me, t'is," Hagrid said.

"You know that forest like the back of your hand! How could you possibly have fallen?" asked Ron.

Hagrid regarded the three of them with his beetle-black eyes, suddenly aware that he had no choice but to answer their questions.

"I was takin' Fang fer a walk and we--I-- stumbled into a hole in the groun'," he told them.

"What were you doing there, Hagrid?" asked Harry.

This time Hagrid didn't look embarrassed, or upset. He looked downright terrifying. Angry, almost vengeful.

But he hesitated nonetheless, not wanting to startle or worry his three students. But he had always tried to be honest with them. He also knew that nothing short of the Avada Kedavra Curse would stop them from their constant questions.

"There's been a unicorn killin'," he replied grimly, and sniffled as his eyes grew dewy. Harry instantly felt sympathetic. Not necessarily for the unicorn, but for Hagrid as well. He normally took animal killings personally. He had a real love for rare creatures, even dangerous ones.

"When did this happen, Hagrid?" asked Harry.

Hagrid stiffened, yet with a resolve that told the trio that he had no desire to reveal any more information.

"Who killed the unicorn, Hagrid?" Harry pressed with determination. Yet at the same time he was afraid to hear the answer, his mind reeling from possibilities and memories of the past.

"I dunno the answer ter that, Harry. But do yeh need one? I'm sure yeh'll draw yer own conclusions. But yeh'all have ter promise ter not go lookin' fer the source. Promise me," Hagrid demanded, his beetle-black eyes narrowing.

The three exchanged looks, and they finally nodded.

Hagrid sighed with relief, and relaxed by sitting back in his seat. "Now, don' worry 'bout me arm. It don' hurt," Hagrid assured them.

"But why don't you just go see Madam Pomfrey?" asked Hermione.

Hagrid lowered his eyes, flushing with embarrassment once again.

"I'll be righ' healed soon. I don' want ter bother the nurse," he said.

Harry knew that his real reason was that he was more ashamed than anything else, and wanted to keep his accident a secret. He'd have kept it from Harry himself, if he hadn't shown up at his door.

"Well, we don't want to keep you, Hagrid. You're tired and everything, and you've had quite the trip," Harry said. They all stood to make their leave.

"We'll come back tomorrow," Hermione promised, reaching over to give the giant a hug.

"Yeh better, or I'll grow mad wit bored'm," Hagrid replied gruffly.

"Don't you have classes to prepare?" asked Ron curiously.

Hagrid gave a loud, gruff laugh. "S'pose so. Thanks fer remindin' me."

"We'll see you later, Hagrid," Harry said.

"Remember yer promise!" Hagrid said in a booming voice which startled them. Hagrid took a deep breath and exhaled as he regarded his three students with narrowed eyes. "Yeh know the sayin'. Curiosity killed the cat, is all I'm tryin' ter tell yeh." he added more calmly.

"Yeah," Ron said, smiling slightly. "But satisfaction brought him back, Hagrid. Goodnight!" he said cheerfully as they exited the cabin.

They stepped outside, and were greeted by a cool, sweeping wind that made them pull their cloaks tighter around them.

"Anyone else besides me have the jitters?" asked Ron as they walked down the steps to the hut and walked a few small paces.

"Hagrid looked slightly worried," Harry admitted, shivering against the cool wind.

"More than usual," Hermione added softly, in a thoughtful manner that told Harry she was concerned about something.

"Do you guys see what I see?" asked Ron.

Harry and Hermione followed the direction of his eyes, and saw what he was talking about.

Large, swelling round pumpkins. About two dozen or so growing in a patch.

"They're massive," said Harry.

"Yeah, but he's grown them before, remember?" reminded Hermione.

"How is it possible that they could already be this large?" asked Ron. "I mean, he's only been back for a few days."

Hermione gave him a pointed look.

"Isn't it rather obvious?" she asked.

"Well, the thought did cross my mind that he might have used magic. But he's not allowed, is he?" asked Ron.

"I suppose every now and then Dumbledore gives him a little leeway. Just a little Engorgement Charm to do the trick," answered Hermione.

Harry smiled. Good ole Hagrid. "They'll be ready for Halloween," he said.

The three left, only to talk about what Hagrid had mentioned inside the cabin.

"Do you think...?" Ron asked, but cut himself off. First, he didn't like to mention the terrifying implications of a dead unicorn, and second, he didn't want to worry his best friend by insinuating these implications.

"There's only one way to find out for sure," was Harry's reply. Ron and Hermione knew this would be his response, and in light of the consequences (and their promise to Hagrid), they could only agree and support him.

"I'll get out my dad's cloak."

*

There was a chance that after everyone was in bed that they could still run into someone, anyone, such as professors, or students of other houses. The Gryffindor house was completely silent, however, which made sneaking out less difficult than predicted.

They also took into account that they had had lots of practice sneaking out at night under the comfort of the Invisibility Cloak. Though, as Hermione pointed out, there was no way that three grown students were going to fit under one cloak without showing some finger, nose or foot. It was then that Harry made the decision to go on ahead and pretend that he was scouring the castle for prowling students (the irony of the situation) and made his way outside, waiting for Ron and Hermione to arrive invisible.

"Harry," came Hermione's shrill whisper, after Harry had been waiting for nearly 15 minutes.

The cloak came undone, and Harry saw through the darkness the visible forms of Ron and Hermione materialize.

"Ready?" Harry asked.

They nodded, staying mute, and crossed the field with Harry, Ron clutching fast to the Invisibility Cloak.

They reached the woods, no longer under the guiding light of the stars and the moon. The three pulled out their wands and muttered "Lumos."

Instant nostalgia filled Harry as they walked deeper into the woods. The last time he had been here it had been the previous May, when the Spirit of the Ring had been released, and had destroyed Lord Voldemort on the spot.

"Where do you think Hagrid tripped?" asked Ron, visibly terrified, and struggling to look as brave as Harry.

But Harry didn't feel brave. He felt like the 11-year-old he once was, during his first time in the forest.

They circled trees, rocks, clearings, and the most exiting part of their trip through the forest was when Ron jumped after he heard scurrying to their left. But the sound disappeared quickly, and they were once again alone.

"Spiders," Ron muttered.

"There are no spiders. We aren't that far in," Harry comforted. Hermione shuddered, and moved closer to Harry, who put an arm around her waist to support her.

"Do you want to go back? We don't have to go through with this," he said to her.

Hermione shook her head firmly, and stuck by Harry's side.

Trying to keep her mind off of the terror of the forest he said, "Do you remember the last time we were here?"

Hermione smiled in remembrance. "How could I forget?"

"Oh sure," sniffed Ron. "Go ahead and leave me out of the conversation!"

The others laughed with him, feeling slightly lighter as they trudged through the dark woods. After searching for what seemed an endless amount of time, they decided to give up.

"Well, since we're here, you may as well show me where the Spirit appeared. I wasn't there for it, remember?" Ron said, after an hour of searching. They were all getting very cold, and very tired.

Harry and Hermione agreed, thinking of this particular landmark as a happy memory, even in the gloom of the forest.

"Here it is," Harry pointed. He looked all around the clearing, recognizing the trees and the bushes.

"Harry," gasped Hermione, a look of horror etched across her face. She pointed a solitary finger towards the ground, where a small version of a crater now resided.

"Remember, that's where Voldemort--"

"I know. But...look," Hermione hissed, and all three knelt down to observe the hole.

Specks of silver dotted the black depths, and a nagging voice at the back of Harry's mind told him that this was important.

"Unicorn blood, like Hagrid said," Ron voiced, and looked up to meet Harry's eyes, which were flashing with concern, curiosity, and worry. Silently they seemed to send a message to each other without Hermione's knowledge. They exchanged the long forgotten prediction in Professor Trelawney's class.

'Silver points on a field of black' was the vision that had been foretold to them on their first day of classes, over a month ago. Now with the realization that the prediction looked to be authentic, Harry shivered.

"This must be where Hagrid fell," said Hermione, oblivious to the exchange between the other two.

"Must be," agreed Harry. What did this hole mean? It hadn't been here before, that was for sure. Yet this was the exact spot that Voldemort had died. And now, there was the knowledge that a unicorn had been killed nearby.

"Well, this is puzzling," said Hermione, voicing Harry's thoughts.

They all stood up, still peering down at the hole.

"So are you guys eventually going to tell me about Professor Trelawney's prediction?" Hermione asked.

Harry's eyes widened with Ron's, more freaked that she knew about the prediction than anything else.

"Er, how'd you know?" asked Harry nervously.

"I've known for weeks now. Honestly, Harry. I expected better from you," Hermione huffed.

"Even if I did tell you, you'd only ridicule it. Besides, I never took it seriously, neither did Ron," Harry said in his defense.

"I still don't," muttered Ron, though there wasn't the usual strength in his voice. He had been thoroughly shaken by the sight of the hole. For more reasons than just the one prediction.

"You should have said something," Hermione replied stubbornly.

Harry sighed. True, he should have told her. But what would be the use? Was this even the prediction that Trelawney had foreseen?

"How'd you know about the prediction?" asked Harry.

"Who else? Lavender and Parvati practically knocked me down the stairs, so excited to hear Trelawney's first prediction of the year," she said in a mocking tone.

"And what'd you think?" Harry asked.

Hermione shrugged. "What was I supposed to think? I ridiculed it, as you said I would," she admitted.

"And now?" Harry wondered.

Hermione sighed, looking as puzzled as he felt. The girl who normally had all the answers couldn't even find comfort in her far-reaching knowledge. They all left the chilling atmosphere of the forest, eager to surrender themselves to sleep. They would think about everything later. Right now, ignorance certainly was bliss.

To Be Continued...