"Aragog was my friend. It doesn't feel right to be like this right after he passed away," Hagrid said sadly.
"Hagrid, the dead are gone, but the living must continue on. I think Aragog would be happy in heaven knowing he helped you. Besides, I believe Dumbledore allowed you to stay at Hogwarts despite everything, but it was still a risk. Now that you've cleared your name, you won't have to worry about anyone thinking Dumbledore is covering for a criminal," Leo patted Hagrid on the back and advised him.
"You're right. I shouldn't just think about myself. Dumbledore is a good man who has helped me a lot. I can't bring him any more trouble," Hagrid said solemnly after thinking for a moment.
After drinking tea for a while, Leo and Hagrid said their goodbyes. When they left, everyone's pockets were filled with Hagrid's homemade milk candies.
"That giant spider could eat people. I really don't understand why Hagrid wanted to keep those things. At least it's dead now," Ron commented as they walked away.
"It's not good to talk like that, especially since Hagrid is our friend," Harry said, frowning.
"It's not about friendship," Leo said. "As far as I know, Ron's twin brothers went into the Forbidden Forest for an adventure when they were in second year. Some students like adventure, even if there aren't many of them. Imagine what would happen if one of them encountered those eight-eyed giant spiders? Giant spiders eat people. It's a good thing that they're gone from the Forbidden Forest."
"That makes sense," Harry said after a moment of silence. "But who do you think could have killed so many spiders at once?"
This question led to a debate among the three of them. Eventually, under Leo's persuasion, Harry and Ron agreed that a passing fire dragon must have been responsible. Hagrid had mentioned finding burn marks at the site. If it were a dark wizard, they wouldn't have wasted the expensive venom by burning the giant spider to death.
The next few days passed uneventfully, but a week before Christmas, a team from the Ministry of Magic's Department of Magical Law Enforcement arrived at Hogwarts.
They investigated Hagrid's cabin and Myrtle's bathroom, then proceeded to the headmaster's office.
Students speculated about their purpose, but no one could guess the truth until those officials left.
Two days later, a notice was posted at the school, clearing everyone's doubts. The announcement stated that Hagrid had been wrongly banned from using magic due to a false murder accusation. After an investigation, the Ministry of Magic admitted their mistake, and Hagrid was officially cleared of all charges.
The efficiency of the Ministry was impressive—completely different from the way they handled Harry's case with the Dementors in his fourth year. Leo guessed that Dumbledore had learned from his memories and Tom Riddle's diary that it was Voldemort who framed Hagrid. This time, solid evidence (the remains of the giant spider) and a key witness (Myrtle) had surfaced.
Unlike in Harry's fifth year in the original timeline, Dumbledore still had a great deal of influence, and the Ministry of Magic had to respect his authority. Additionally, the people responsible for the initial wrongful conviction were no longer in power—many had already passed away. The Ministry had nothing to lose by reversing the decision. If anything, it could help them build an image of fairness and integrity. As a result, the Ministry gave the case a green light without hesitation.
After reading the notice, Leo and Hermione went to congratulate Hagrid. Leo had always had a good relationship with him. A kind-hearted man with a simple personality, Hagrid was the sort of person everyone felt comfortable around.
Seeing Hagrid's joyful smile and how he suddenly seemed ten years younger, Leo realized that killing Aragog had been the right choice. The eight-eyed spiders had caused endless problems in the Forbidden Forest and for Hagrid. With their leader gone, all those issues were finally resolved.
A few days later, in mid-December, Professor McGonagall came to collect the list of students staying at Hogwarts for Christmas. Leo signed up to stay. His parents had planned a ski trip to the Austrian Alps for their fifteenth wedding anniversary, and he didn't want to be a third wheel.
It seemed that the treasure hunt Nick had mentioned would have to wait until summer break, which was disappointing. However, Dave had informed him that everything needed would be ready before Christmas, which meant Leo could take care of the basilisk in the Chamber of Secrets while the school was mostly empty.
Over the next few days, Leo spent time with Hagrid, helping him master some basic spells. He also showcased his cooking skills whenever he missed home-cooked food. His assassin heritage covered a wide range of skills, including cooking for survival, and his background in traditional medicine even included knowledge of medicinal cuisine.
Using the excuse of preparing dishes from his hometown, Leo managed to convince Hagrid to let him raise four or five roosters in the Myriad Realms Store.
Finally, the semester ended. A quietness as thick as the snow outside settled over the castle. Many students had stayed at Hogwarts this year. In addition to Harry, who stayed every year, the Weasley twins were also present. Their family had planned a trip to Egypt to visit Bill, but the twins had chosen to stay behind to ease the financial burden on their parents.
Christmas morning arrived with a crisp, cold air. Leo woke up early to find his dormitory nearly empty. His roommates had all gone home for the holidays.
Gifts had been placed by his bedside overnight. His parents had sent a Swarovski crystal ball and a postcard from Salzburg. Harry gifted him The Common Magic, and the Weasley twins had sent a large box of sweets. However, Leo planned to inspect them before eating—he suspected they were experimental products from their joke shop. Ron had given him 101 Spells for the Home. Did Harry and Ron see him as a bookworm? Leo wondered.
Hagrid's gift was uniquely his own—a massive block of homemade fudge. When Leo discovered that Harry and Ron had also received the same treat, he realized Hagrid must have made an enormous batch and distributed it to all his friends.
The most valuable gift came from Hermione—a collection of transfiguration notes she had copied from Professor McGonagall's personal archives. As expected, top students received special treatment from professors. Fortunately, Leo had sent her handwritten notes from Professor Sprout's herbology class in return. At least he hadn't seemed impolite.
At the Hogwarts Christmas feast, everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. With fewer students on campus, the Great Hall felt even more grand. Twelve towering Christmas trees, coated in silver frost, lined the space. Ribbons of mistletoe and holly crisscrossed above, and enchanted snowflakes, warm and dry, gently fell from the ceiling.
The professors were in high spirits. Dumbledore led them in singing a few of his favorite Christmas carols, while Hagrid grew increasingly enthusiastic with each glass of eggnog.
Percy Weasley, oblivious to the fact that Fred had enchanted his prefect badge to read "Stupid," kept asking why everyone was laughing at him.
Draco Malfoy, as usual, took the opportunity to mock Harry, only to be swiftly put in his place.
Overall, it was a joyful night.
Leo, however, focused on eating as much as he could. A physically demanding task awaited him later that night.
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