Chapter 72
Early the next morning, Harry expressed his gratitude to Albert, admitting that without him, he would not have survived the Bludger's brutal strike.
He also told Albert that Dobby had visited him in the night, insisting once again that he was only trying to save him—yet he still never explained the reason behind his so-called rescue.
Albert could only give a helpless expression. Poor Harry seemed doomed to endure Dobby's interference for a while longer.
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After lunch, Albert carried a heavy, old family tome from his private collection to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. Wolf was already waiting for him. Besides the book, a tightly sealed wooden box rested in the saddlebag on the creature's back.
"What's this?" Albert asked curiously.
"A thank-you gift for the book you gave me," Wolf said with a pure, almost childlike smile. "It's a matured mandrake root I've been cultivating. This box is enchanted—if you open it and sleep inside, a year will pass in its protective slumber."
Seeing that sincere smile, Albert knew he couldn't refuse such a gesture. The gift was far too precious to accept lightly, and his conscience would ache if he simply took it.
So instead, he reached into his pocket dimension and withdrew a finger-sized pendant, which he handed to Wolf. It was one he had crafted himself while practicing the family enchantments he'd studied weeks earlier.
"What's this? I can feel its magic," Wolf said, cradling it carefully in his claws.
"It's my gift to you, for helping me send messages to Betty and the others," Albert explained. Recently, he had been relying on Wolf to ferry items between him and Betty. His own level of mastery over the Emerald Dream was still too weak to pass real objects through it.
Recognition dawned on Wolf's face as Albert continued:
"It's a charm made from the fangs and venom of an Acromantula. It can generate a cloud of green, undetectable smoke that repels most spells within ten meters. You can use it three times a day, one minute each."
"Useful for saving one's life," Wolf said, delighted. "Thank you. I'll have the blacksmith make a chain for it, so I can wear it around my neck."
After exchanging gifts, Wolf vanished back into the dark canopy of the Forbidden Forest, leaving Albert to return toward the castle.
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As he approached Hagrid's hut, he was surprised to see Harry and Ron standing by the door.
"What are you two doing here?" Albert asked.
"We heard from some older students that there's been crying in Hagrid's hut the past couple of days," Harry explained. "We were worried, so we came to check on him."
Albert raised an eyebrow. Hagrid… crying for days? He was intrigued. "Let's go see him together. He's a good man; maybe we can help."
Harry climbed the steps and knocked several times.
The door creaked open. Hagrid stood there, eyes bloodshot, the smell of whiskey lingering on his breath.
"What are yeh doin' here?" he muttered thickly.
"We heard you weren't feeling well and wanted to check on you," Harry said.
"Ah… come in, then. Have a cup o' tea," Hagrid said, stepping aside.
The small table inside bore half an empty bottle of whiskey. Hagrid hastily stashed it away in a cupboard and set out some snacks and a pot of black tea from the hearth.
Albert accepted his cup and asked gently, "What happened, Hagrid? Maybe we can help."
At that, Hagrid's eyes brimmed with tears. "Aragog… he's dead."
The room fell silent.
"Aragog?" Harry asked, bewildered. "Who's that? We've never heard you mention him."
"He was… an Acromantula," Hagrid said softly. "I didn't want anyone knowin' he existed."
"Why not?" Albert asked, though he had a strong suspicion.
Before Hagrid could answer, Ron spoke in a strained voice: "Acromantulas are native to Southeast Asia. They eat humans. They can talk, but they're still classified as Dark creatures."
Harry blinked. "And you know that… how?"
"Because I hate spiders," Ron muttered, face pale. "So I remember every spider-related entry in Fantastic Beasts."
Albert leaned forward. "So… what happened?"
Hagrid sniffled. "I'd visit Aragog from time to time. But yesterday… he was gone. I found scorch marks in his den… and what was left of his head. A wizard killed him, I'm sure of it."
He pointed toward the mantle.
Ron recoiled instantly, while Albert and Harry approached to examine the charred remains of half a massive spider's head. The burns suggested an explosive spell. Albert suspected Betty had handled most of the carcasses before, leaving this fragment behind.
"Hagrid… why did you keep raising such dangerous creatures?" Albert asked, still staring at the grisly trophy.
"He weren't dangerous… not to me," Hagrid said stubbornly. "I even found him a mate, let him build a family in the Forest. When I first brought him to Hogwarts, he was barely the size of a door. He was gentle then…"
His voice thickened with drink and memory.
"Then… a girl died. They said it was me and Aragog. I had to set him loose. They expelled me. If it weren't for Dumbledore, I'd have been gone for good."
Albert's eyes narrowed. "The dead girl… was it Moaning Myrtle?"
Hagrid froze. "How—how'd yeh know?!"
"I attended Nearly Headless Nick's Deathday Party," Albert replied calmly. "She was the only Hogwarts-uniformed ghost there. I got curious… asked her about it."
"I didn't kill her! I swear it!" Hagrid said urgently, waving his massive hands.
Harry and Ron immediately vouched for him. They knew Hagrid couldn't kill.
Albert sighed. "I never said you did. Myrtle said she died after seeing a pair of huge, yellow eyes. Acromantulas are venomous and dangerous, yes—but they can't kill with a look. And they have four large eyes. She saw two."
He turned to Hagrid, voice quiet but firm:
"You were only there to protect Aragog, and the lack of evidence trapped you for decades. But now that Aragog is gone, you should tell Professor Dumbledore everything. Let him clear your name once and for all. Maybe then, you'll be free to use magic again."
Hagrid wiped his eyes and nodded slowly, a weight lifting from his broad shoulders.
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Author's Note:
Your kind comments and encouragement are what keep me writing this story. I have so many exciting events planned—especially for Years Four and Five—that I can't wait to share them with you. I haven't decided on the exact ending yet, but I promise it will be a satisfying one. Maybe happy, maybe not—but it will feel right.
Thank you for your support, and stay tuned.
To be continued…