Chapter 577 Death Does Not Admit It!!
Harry and the others knew why Umbridge had come at night. They saw Hagrid standing there in a daze and were afraid that he might let something slip.
Fortunately, Hagrid also knew that death could not be admitted.
He said slyly, "I don't know. I haven't seen any students come here."
"Yes?"
Umbridge squeezed past Hagrid.
She rummaged through Hagrid's hut.
She didn't even spare Hagrid's cauldron, as if she suspected someone was hiding inside. When she still couldn't find anything, Umbridge finally gave up.
She then looked at Hagrid and asked, "What did you do during the summer? Why did you only come back now?"
"I went sightseeing!"
Hagrid covered his face.
His face twitched as he spoke. Umbridge showed a mocking expression.
"Sightseeing? What kind of scenery was it?"
She pointed at Hagrid's face.
"Well, I fell…"
Hagrid said with an unconvincing lie. Umbridge curled her lips.
Then she mocked him with a string of words. Finally, before leaving, she warned Hagrid.
She said that she was a Senior Inquisitor and wanted Hagrid to prepare his lessons properly, because she would definitely come to inspect them.
Hagrid also politely welcomed her.
After Umbridge left, Hermione anxiously told Hagrid what Umbridge had done earlier.
She told Hagrid to prepare his classes carefully, but Hagrid ignored her.
He said he was sleepy and told Hermione to hurry back. Hermione left angrily.
Of course, she took Darren and the others with her.
...
Sunday morning.
Hermione trudged through the thick snow back to the castle.
She went to Hagrid's early in the morning to help him prepare for class.
But Hagrid once again told her that it was a secret and that he had prepared some especially interesting things for them.
He also refused Hermione's offer to help.
"He probably thinks Umbridge is at most like Malfoy, someone who can be blocked by Headmaster Dumbledore."
Hermione said angrily to them.
Darren wore a worried expression.
He said anxiously, "I'll go find him—"
"Don't go, he's already out!"
Hermione grabbed Darren.
She felt the cold on Darren's hand.
"It's so cold, and the snow is so heavy. You'd better stay in the castle."
Hermione said helplessly.
Darren sighed and wrapped himself tighter.
He hated winter.
Even with magic, he hated winter.
But it was fine.
It was Sunday, and he could stay in the common room and enjoy the fireplace.
However, the next day, when he had to walk through the snow to attend Care of Magical Creatures, Darren began to wonder if he should pretend to be sick and go sleep in the hospital wing.
In the end, he gave up.
After all, it was Hagrid's first class since returning, and he had to show some support.
So he shivered, trying to keep himself warm, while Harry and the others helped each other as they made their way to Hagrid's hut.
There were already many students there.
They weren't very happy about Hagrid's return.
To be fair, what Professor Grubbly-Plank taught could truly be called a class. At the very least, her lessons were safe.
Unlike Hagrid, who always wanted to find thrilling creatures for them to raise and expected them to approve wholeheartedly.
"All right, everyone's here. Quickly! Follow me!"
Hagrid had somehow obtained a dead cow and was carrying it on his back.
It looked like he was going to show them something exciting. Darren saw the horror on his Slytherin classmates' faces.
They were genuinely frightened of Hagrid.
Hagrid didn't notice at all and led them enthusiastically into the Forbidden Forest.
Darren saw Malfoy's hands and legs trembling.
After all, the first time Malfoy had come here, he had nearly been killed by Buckbeak.
This made Harry burst out laughing.
But Hagrid's mystery didn't last long.
After he solemnly placed the dead cow on the ground, a Thestral appeared.
Darren looked at the Thestral and sighed softly.
"Of course you can see them."
Hagrid said quietly.
Darren looked at Harry with a bitter smile.
He said with a slight choke in his voice, "I originally thought I could protect my brother so that he would never have to see this creature for the rest of his life."
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Hagrid lowered his head and sighed.
"No one can avoid seeing this creature forever. If someone can, then they must be a very happy person."
"I was too useless. If I hadn't given my brother the trophy…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
He didn't finish speaking, but everyone seemed to understand his pain.
He was regretting it.
Regretting why he gave the trophy to Harry. Regretting why he was too weak. Regretting why he could only watch Mr. Diggory die.
"I'm sorry. I'm probably too tired and keep getting emotional…"
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding, Father +100]
[Ding…]
Darren sensed the heavy atmosphere over the class and finally apologized, somewhat guiltily—though perhaps his true goal was still Holy Father points.
"Ahem! Cough! Sorry to interrupt, but Hagrid, I think you've already received it. I'm here to observe your lesson, file 343, right?"
It was Umbridge.
She looked around with contempt.
Then she continued, "What magical creatures are you teaching today?"
Hagrid was delighted to be asked and answered happily, "Thestrals. They're Thestrals. They feed on—"
"What did you say? Louder?"
"Thestrals!"
Hagrid shouted directly into Umbridge's ear.
Umbridge glared at him, then wrote in her notebook.
"Manic, erratic behavior, sometimes expressed through exaggerated body language."
Hagrid stood there helplessly.
Only then did he fully realize Umbridge's malice. But Umbridge had no intention of stopping.
She asked coldly, "Don't you know that the Ministry of Magic has classified Thestrals as dangerous creatures?"
"But they're not dangerous. I mean… dogs bite too, don't they?"
Umbridge sneered.
"Displays abnormal affection for dangerous creatures and may have violent tendencies."
Hagrid froze in place.
Then Umbridge walked over to Malfoy and Pansy.
With a smile, she asked, "Children, what do you think of Hagrid's lesson?"
Pansy and Malfoy glanced bitterly toward Umbridge, then toward Darren, who was watching them closely.
"Cough… maybe you should wait until next class to ask?"