Hogwarts: Nagini captured at the start

Chapter 91 The Imagination of Strangers

"Oh, the exams are over. Don't dwell on which questions you got wrong or which knowledge points you memorized weren't tested. You can be sad and anxious after the results are released in a week. Come on, let's catch up with the group and go skip stones at the lake."

Ron looked out the window, eager to try it out.

"Um, I remember saying a week ago that after the exams I wanted you guys to come with me to find Hagrid."

"We can play today and look for it again tomorrow, that's not a bad idea."

Clearly, a week of constant tension had Ron about to explode.

Luo Bin: →_→, by tomorrow, the daylilies will be too cold.

"Robin, at lunchtime Lee Jordan told me that Fred and George got their hands on a giant squid, and they're planning to release it into the Black Lake this afternoon. I've never seen a release ceremony before," Harry said.

"After being cooped up in the castle for a week, it's definitely time to get some fresh air."

Currently, the score is 3:1 between going to the lake and going to the hunting grounds. Luo Bin sighed and pulled the three of them into an empty classroom.

"Don't you think there are too many coincidences in the things related to Norbert?" Robin asked after closing the door.

"I don't think so! Malfoy overheard our conversation, followed us to the hunting lodge, and witnessed Norbert hatching. Later, when he went to the school hospital to mock me, he stole 'The Silly Wizard's Anecdotes,' which contained Roland Grant's reply. Then, he took the letter to complain, but Professor McGonagall didn't believe him, deducted his points, and put him in solitary confinement. The whole storyline is pretty smooth," Ron retorted, shrugging.

That's not what I meant.

"Imagine you've always wanted something rare, expensive, and illegal, like something that violates wizarding laws. You're dining at a place you frequent, and a stranger comes over to share your table. As you talk, you discover that the stranger is carrying around the very thing you've been dreaming of."

"And you, the price you paid for it was merely eating a few more bowls of rice and winning a few more games of Wizard Chess. Was this just pure luck, or is this stranger plotting something else against you?"

Upon hearing these words, all three showed expressions of fear.

"Robin, your idea is too terrifying. We need to get to the hunting lodge right away and find Hagrid to get some answers."

Hermione exclaimed in shock.

"Let's go now."

Harry said anxiously.

"Well, okay! I really want to go to the lake, but Robin's concerns aren't entirely unfounded. Hagrid, he's too easily influenced."

The four exchanged a glance, opened the wooden door of the empty classroom, and quickly went downstairs.

The hunting grounds, the yard in front of the cabin!

Hagrid sat on an apple crate, sleeves rolled up, busy shelling large, plump pea pods in front of an aluminum basin.

He glanced at the four people running breathlessly into the yard and said with a smile, "Hey, the exam's over? The peas in the garden have had a bumper harvest. Stay for dinner tonight!"

"No, thank you! Hagrid, we're here because we have something urgent to ask you. Do you remember what that stranger who gambled Norbert with you looked like?"

Harry got straight to the point and asked.

As Hagrid shelled peas, he answered casually, "I don't know. He wore a cloak, a hood, and a mask with a large slit in the middle. When he was drinking and playing cards, he kept his head down the whole time."

"Hagrid, don't you find it strange that he dresses like this?" Robin asked.

"What's so strange about that? Pighead Bar loves to cater to oddballs and strangely dressed guys. I've even had drinking contests with people who wore dog head masks, tutus, and clown makeup. Besides, they explained that he was covering up so much because he had a chronic rash."

Luo Bin: Uh, got a rash, still covered it up, and still drank heavily, 666!

thump!

(Harry was so shocked that he fell down and sat on the edge of the aluminum basin)

"Harry, don't rush. Let me finish peeling this basket, then we'll chop wood and cook beans." Clearly, Hagrid had misunderstood why Harry had fallen.

"What did you two talk about? Did you mention anything about guarding the hunting grounds?"

Luo Bin asked provocatively.

"I think so! It's been too long, I don't remember very clearly."

"Hagrid, think carefully about what you talked about with that stranger that day. Don't miss any details; it's very important for our next judgment," Hermione pleaded.

"All right!"

Hagrid put down the pea pod in his hand, frowned, and tried hard to recall the events of that day. "Well, he bought me a drink and asked what I did for a living. I said I was a gamekeeper and key keeper. He bought me a few more drinks and asked what animals I looked after. I mentioned tusks, horses, roosters, rabbits, owls, and things like that. He then bought me a few glasses of mead and asked what animal I most wanted to keep. I said a dragon. And then... I don't remember much. He kept calling the bartender to refill my drinks. Mmm, mead, it really is the best drink in the world."

"Hagrid, be serious," Harry reminded him.

"Give me some time, let me think about it some more. Oh, right, then he patted the large cloth bag tied to his waist and said there was a dragon egg inside. If I wanted it, I could play cards with him. If I won, the dragon egg was mine; if I lost, I'd buy him a glass of brandy. I was so excited! But he said before the bet started, he needed to find out if I was capable of handling a dragon. He said he didn't want Hogwarts to be thrown into chaos by a dragon. I wanted that egg so badly. To convince him I was capable, I patted my chest and used Fluffy as an example. Heh heh, even a three-headed hound like Fluffy is under my control. What are the others compared to that?"

Hagrid became more and more excited as he spoke, as if using Lou Williams as an example was very clever.

"So...is he... really interested in Lou Williams with his three heads?" Robin asked speechlessly.

Hagrid nodded proudly. "Yes, that's right. A three-headed behemoth is a rare sight anywhere. However, he seemed frightened by my description of Louie's fierce appearance; he could barely hold his glass, and his voice was trembling. So I kindly comforted him, saying that Cerberus is easy to deal with. Just play some pleasant music for it, and it will immediately close its six big eyes and start purring softly."

Hagrid jumped to his feet, a look of terror on his face. "I can't say that. Forget everything you just heard. A little wizard shouldn't know top secrets. Hey, where are you all going?"

The four ignored Hagrid and didn't exchange any information about what they were looking for; they ran straight back to the castle.

Castle, entrance hall!

"Quirk gets shaky and his voice trembles when he gets excited. It must be Quirrell trying to get Hagrid to talk through alcohol. Things are much more serious than we think. We have to go to the headmaster and ask him to stop it. If he doesn't believe us, then..."

Before Harry could finish speaking, a stern voice suddenly rang out from the other end of the hallway.

"What are you four whispering about here?"

The speaker was Professor McGonagall, who wore a tall hat at an angle and was carrying a large stack of books.

"Professor, could you take us to see Headmaster Dumbledore? We have something important to report to him."

Hermione pleaded.

(End of this chapter)