Chapter 84. "Pervert" Hagrid
When they reached the area inside the case prepared especially for the Acromantulas, Duncan opened the cage and let the spiders out.
He instructed, "From now on, live here.
Remember not to go beyond the canvas-fenced area.
You can't beat the animals outside, and if they bully you, I won't be able to help you."
"Got it."
Several Acromantulas answered in unison and scrambled towards the pit beneath the big tree, spitting white webbing along the way to mark the place as their territory.
Duncan stood by and watched for a while.
Seeing that the giant spiders were adapting well enough, he walked towards the adjoining area to look for Hagrid.
"Wait for me, wait for me!"
No sooner had Duncan stepped onto the broad grassland than he heard urgent shouts.
He looked towards the sound.
Two Erumpents were charging headlong across the plain, and Hagrid was waving his arms and running hard after them.
And Hagrid's face was full of excitement and obsession, making one suspect he was something of a "pervert"?
"Hagrid!" Duncan shouted.
"Stop chasing them.
Time's up, we need to head out!"
"Wait, just a few more minutes.
I'll just give them a pat—one pat and we'll go!" Hagrid bellowed back, his voice full of urgency.
He loved magical creatures of this size, but Dumbledore wouldn't let him keep them at school.
Now that he finally saw two Erumpents, he had to get his hands on them.
Duncan pressed a hand to his forehead and sighed helplessly, then called to the Erumpents Ari and Charlie, "Do me a favour and let him touch you, or he might chase you all night."
"But…" Ari said reluctantly.
"He's really annoying!"
"Just one pat, then I'll drag him off, and I won't let him in here again," Duncan bargained.
Ari and Charlie looked at each other and agreed, though grudgingly, "All right…"
They trotted to a stop in front of Duncan and, steeling themselves, shut their eyes in despair.
"Hagrid, make it quick.
I've got class in the morning and need to get back to sleep," Duncan urged.
"Right, right!" Hagrid nodded excitedly, rubbing his hands as he walked up to the two Erumpents.
He reached out his big hands to stroke the rough plates of their faces, wearing a look of bliss and muttering under his breath, "Oh, those sturdy thighs, that solid back…"
Seeing that Ari and Charlie were at the end of their patience and about to charge him with their horns, Duncan hurriedly tugged Hagrid's clothes.
"That's enough, that's enough.
We need to go!"
"Let me pet them a bit longer, just a little…" Hagrid said, unwilling to stop.
Duncan raised an eyebrow, drew his wand and swished it.
Hagrid's clothes lengthened into ropes that bound his hands and feet, turning him into a human rice-dumpling.
Then Duncan pointed the wand towards the exit.
With a whoosh, Hagrid, shouting, skidded away along the ground.
Duncan patted the two Erumpents and soothed them, "You've had a rough day.
I'll give you an extra meal tomorrow!"
"Mm!"
Ari and Charlie nodded vigorously, eyes brimming.
For food earned at the cost of their dignity, they decided they had to eat more tomorrow—even if their bellies couldn't hold it, they would stuff it in!
After bidding the Erumpents farewell, Duncan went to say hello to the Thunderbird, Kray, then headed for the work shed.
"That big fellow is really scary…" Pro said, clinging to the edge of Duncan's pocket, still shaken.
Hagrid's wild behaviour just now had dealt Pro's young heart a terrible blow.
"Don't worry, Hagrid has no designs on you," Duncan said with a smile.
"Why?" said Pro.
Though Duncan was saying something good, it made this Niffler rather displeased to hear it.
Was this Niffler less popular than those two brawny, simple-minded, ugly Erumpents?
"Because Hagrid is obsessed with magical creatures that are big or powerful, and you're neither," Duncan said.
"Shallow!" Pro sniffed disdainfully, then withdrew to the bottom of the pocket.
Back in the work shed, Hagrid lay on the ground bound by ropes, with grass blades all over his hair, face and mouth, and the smell of grass all over him.
"Have you cooled off yet?" Duncan asked with a smile as he walked over.
"Duncan, let me loose, will you?
Being tied up is too uncomfortable," Hagrid pleaded.
Duncan undid the ropes and strode towards the stairs leading out.
"All right, let's go."
Hagrid scrambled up, brushed the grass from himself, and followed behind Duncan.
"Duncan, why don't you leave the case with me?
I promise I can take good care of the magical creatures inside—have them put on three pounds in a week!"
"No way," Duncan refused with a shake of his head.
"If I hadn't been here today, those two Erumpents would've skewered you full of holes.
Why would I let you chase them?
Drop that foolish idea."
"Oh…" Hagrid sighed regretfully, then asked hopefully, "Then when will you bring the case again?
I can prepare some food for them and give them a feed."
"Just wait.
I'll let you know when the time comes," Duncan replied perfunctorily.
But thinking of Hagrid's antics just now, Duncan felt that, for the animals' mental wellbeing, he'd better not bring the case again.
"All right…" Hagrid nodded.
Duncan climbed out of the case, then grabbed Hagrid and hauled him out, shut the case and picked it up.
"I'm off.
See you another day," Duncan said with a wave, heading for the door.
"Mm…" Hagrid nodded reluctantly and trailed after him.
But as the door was pulled open, Duncan suddenly vanished, and only the dark little path outside the house was visible.
Hagrid was blank for a moment, then remembered that Duncan could turn invisible.
He called Duncan's name twice in a low voice, heard no reply, and cautiously waved a hand in front of him.
Once he was sure Duncan had gone, he closed the door.
Meanwhile, Duncan had left Hagrid's hut and jogged all the way to the entrance of the castle.
He recalled that, when he left, Ron and Harry seemed to be being chased by Filch.
He wondered whether the two had been caught.
While the effects of the Invisibility Potion hadn't worn off, he wanted to hurry over and see the fun, to find out what they'd come out for.
Step by cautious step he felt his way to Filch's office, only to find the door locked and no one inside.
"Those two can really run?" Duncan raised his eyebrows in surprise, turned towards the nearby stairs, and prepared to look elsewhere.
When he reached the third floor, he suddenly saw a sneaky figure coming along the far side of the corridor.
Duncan quickly moved into a corner and peered.
Judging by the figure, the person seemed to be Quirrell.
He looked all around in a fluster, muttering to himself constantly.
Only when Quirrell drew near did Duncan make out the words he kept repeating.
"Master, rest assured, I'll definitely help you get the Philosopher's Stone, definitely…"
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