Chapter 171: Serious Hagrid
Adults often don't believe what children say.
The reason is simple: most children don't explain themselves clearly.
Just like in the original timeline, when Harry, Ron, and Hermione tried to tell Professor McGonagall about someone trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone, Harry merely blurted out that he thought someone was going to steal it.
He didn't explain why he thought so, what evidence he had, or what exactly worried him.
Of course, maybe he didn't want to reveal that Hagrid had accidentally told them about Fluffy's weakness—but Harry could at least have said that the three‑headed dog's secret was no longer a secret. After all, Snape himself had been bitten by that dog.
If Harry had said that, Professor McGonagall might have at least mentioned that they all knew about Snape's injury and that no one could break through Dumbledore's enchantments. She might even have gone to check herself or sent word for Dumbledore to return.
But Harry at that time didn't fully grasp the chain of cause and effect. He just charged in rashly.
In truth, even if Harry had done nothing, Voldemort would not have been able to take the Stone from the Mirror of Erised.
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This time, however, things were different.
Harry and Draco's questions had made Hagrid think about the suspicious origins of that dragon egg—and remember that he had revealed Fluffy's secret. But because of his blind faith in Dumbledore's defenses, Hagrid decided first to ask more questions… and then go directly to Dumbledore.
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"Hagrid, do you really think the wizard who gave you that egg was Quirrell?" Harry asked carefully.
Hagrid rubbed his thick beard. "Harry… I remember you knocking Quirrell flat in class, didn't you?"
"Yes," Harry nodded. "Professor Dumbledore said my modified Red Sparks charm can purify curses."
Hagrid's eyes narrowed. Mention of Dumbledore always made him serious.
"Everyone else in class was fine," Harry went on. "Only Quirrell fainted. I think he's under some kind of curse."
Ron's face tightened. "Exactly. It's obvious now."
"Are you lot daft?" Draco drawled, arms crossed, standing near the fireplace and glancing at the dragon egg. "How did you even get into Ravenclaw, Harry?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron snapped.
Draco ignored him. "Dumbledore is the greatest white wizard alive. He knows the effect of your charm, Harry. If Quirrell were cursed, Dumbledore would already know."
He gestured sharply. "And think for once—those protections on the Stone? Apart from Dumbledore's own enchantments, the rest are only there to stall for time. If I were the dark wizard controlling Quirrell, I'd create chaos to lure Dumbledore away from Hogwarts."
Ron muttered with forced admiration, "As expected of a Malfoy… only a Slytherin would think like that," though his tone dripped with sarcasm.
Draco smirked faintly but didn't bother replying.
"Enough, kids." Hagrid's low voice cut through the argument. "You already know far too much."
He looked at them seriously. "As young Malfoy said, Dumbledore must have his reasons. Don't tell anyone else what you've learned here. Don't ruin whatever plan he has to save Quirrell."
Hagrid hesitated, then added in a softer voice, "I'll speak to Professor Dumbledore myself."
---
In Hagrid's mind, Quirrell was trustworthy. After all, Quirrell had once been the Muggle Studies professor—unlike the cursed Defense Against the Dark Arts post, that position was permanent. A wizard had to be truly reliable to hold it. Dumbledore trusted Quirrell, so why shouldn't Hagrid?
To Hagrid, Dumbledore never made mistakes. Anyone Dumbledore trusted was trustworthy. Dumbledore saw everything, even if he seemed to do nothing. Hagrid believed it must all be part of Dumbledore's plan to save Quirrell.
If Alexander Smith had known what Hagrid was thinking at that moment, he would have been amazed. Hagrid might be clumsy and careless, but compared to Harry's impulsive choices in the original timeline, Hagrid's instinct to go to Dumbledore was actually much smarter.
Hagrid knew his own limitations—he wasn't going to meddle in things Dumbledore had arranged. And if Dumbledore still trusted him despite his mistakes, then Hagrid would simply do as told.
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"I still can't believe we're the ones who let Hagrid know about that flaw in the defenses," Ron muttered as they walked back toward the castle, his ears going red. "And then he just drove us out!"
"Ron, keep your voice down!" Harry hissed. "We promised Hagrid."
Malfoy turned with a smirk. "Come on. Harry figured it out, I pieced it together, and you—what did you contribute, Weasley?"
"You're unbearable, Malfoy!" Ron shot back. "You only figured it out because only dark wizards understand other dark wizards!"
"Harry and I are Ravenclaws," Ron went on loudly, "we represent wisdom. We didn't think of it because we don't stoop to your level."
"Please, Weasley," Draco said coolly, "are you really a Ravenclaw? Or just a shadow following Harry?"
"Harry," Ron growled, "you saw that, didn't you? Malfoy came to Hagrid before us! He must've noticed we were avoiding him yesterday—and now he knows why!"
Harry sighed, exasperated. "Ron, haven't you noticed? Draco's been focused on the dragon egg this whole time." He glanced apologetically at Draco.
Draco didn't respond. His gray eyes were still fixed on the egg.
---
Meanwhile, Hagrid was already striding through the castle toward Dumbledore's office.
He was so deep in thought that when Filch tried to pester him with some complaint, Hagrid didn't even bark back—a rare sight that left Filch scratching his head in confusion.
Hagrid soon reached the stone gargoyle on the eighth floor.
"Lemon Olaf," he said gruffly.
The gargoyle leapt aside, and the wall split open to reveal a spiraling staircase. Hagrid stepped on, rising slowly toward the tower. For the first time, he appreciated how convenient the moving stairs were—giving him time to think over what he would say.
When he finally reached the brass door knocker, Hagrid took a deep breath.
He raised his hand to knock—
—and before his knuckles touched the door, Dumbledore's calm voice floated through.
> "I was wondering when you would come to see me, Rubeus."
Hagrid froze, caught completely off guard.
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(Author's note: Updating again today. Thank you to Taishi Yumixu and Yuchi Jinyin for the monthly tickets—I see your names often!)
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