Chapter 151: Hagrid Revealed 2
Friday afternoon, during Potions class break.
Professor Snape noticed Harry's lingering gaze but didn't say anything. With a stiff expression, he adjusted his robes to cover his leg and limped away.
"Harry, what's wrong with Professor Snape?" Ron asked, rubbing his hands together in the biting wind. He leaned close to the jar of bluebell flames Harry carried. "That looked like a magical creature's bite. From the Forbidden Forest maybe? He looked perfectly fine earlier in Potions."
"I don't know," Harry murmured. "But could it be connected to the troll incident? There are dangerous creatures in the Forbidden Forest—centaurs, werewolves. Maybe something went wrong."
"That was a bite from Cerberus, a three-headed dog," Alexander Smith said calmly as he stepped out from the shadow of a nearby archway. "Its magical resistance is even higher than a troll's. And since it has three heads, it's very hard to confuse with ordinary spells. Its bite is particularly nasty—almost like magical gangrene. Even if temporarily healed with potions or cleansing spells, the wound reopens every few weeks."
"Cerberus? As in the Cerberus?" Ron blinked.
"In Muggle mythology, they called it the watchdog of the underworld," Alexander continued. "And yes—it's so rare that the Ministry hasn't even officially classified it under their standard magical creature categories."
Harry's eyes widened. "Then… Professor Snape must have been bitten in October."
"Halloween," he and Ron said at once, snapping their heads toward each other.
As for Alexander's sudden appearance, they barely reacted. After all, they were used to their quiet roommate showing up at odd times with helpful facts.
Before they could discuss more, class resumed and they had to shelve their theories for the time being.
---
Later that evening, as dusk settled over the castle, Harry spoke in a low voice.
"There's definitely something wrong in the Forbidden Forest. First the troll, now a three-headed dog. We have to find out what's going on."
"Let's go see Hagrid," Ron said immediately. "He's the Keeper of Keys and Grounds—he'd know."
So after dinner, the two of them walked out past the castle gates, heading for Hagrid's hut at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. When they arrived, they were surprised to find Alexander already there, sipping tea with the half-giant.
Hagrid was busy frying sausages in a small iron pan, the door to his hut still ajar. As Harry and Ron stepped inside, Fang the boarhound bounded toward them.
Harry neatly sidestepped him.
Ron, unfortunately, did not—and ended up with drool all over his robe. Again.
"Ah, Harry! Ron!" Hagrid greeted them cheerfully. "If Alexander hadn't dropped by, I would've already left for my forest patrol."
Harry and Ron exchanged a meaningful glance. It was time.
"Hagrid," Harry began cautiously, "we wanted to ask you about the three-headed dog—"
The pan clanged down hard on the stove. Hagrid looked at them with wide eyes.
"Harry—don't tell me you've been to the fourth floor! Filch told me he caught students sneaking around up there. Seems like he wasn't just making trouble this time."
"Snape was bitten by it," Harry said calmly, raising a hand to stop Ron from interrupting. "We saw the wound today."
"That's none of your business!" Hagrid said gruffly. "That's top-secret stuff, that is. That dog—Fluffy—is extremely dangerous, and only listens to me. You kids are lucky your heads are still on your shoulders!"
Even Hagrid, who often downplayed the danger of magical creatures, sounded serious. For him to describe Fluffy as dangerous was no small thing.
No wonder Quirrell—backed by Voldemort—had tried to subtly question Hagrid about Fluffy's weaknesses. Otherwise, he wouldn't have the strength to get past the beast and tackle the enchantments beyond.
"Wait," Harry said, eyes narrowing. "You mean Fluffy? And only you can control him?"
"Yeah—he's mine," Hagrid admitted. "Bought him off a Greek chap in a pub last year. Lent him to Dumbledore for protection."
"What?" Harry and Ron exclaimed in unison.
"That's enough questions!" Hagrid barked, flipping the sausages angrily. "I've said too much already. That's top-secret stuff, that is! The dog, what it's guarding—it's between Professor Dumbledore and Nicolas Flamel—"
"Aha!" Harry said triumphantly. "So it does involve Nicolas Flamel!"
Hagrid's face turned beet red with frustration.
Realizing he had given away too much, he didn't even offer them dinner. With an annoyed growl, he shoved them all out of his hut.
---
As they made their way back to the castle in the chilly evening air, Harry couldn't contain his excitement.
"So, the small package from Gringotts—that has to be the Philosopher's Stone!"
"And someone's trying to steal it!" Ron added.
"Yes—and I think it's the same person who broke into Gringotts on my birthday," Harry said quickly. "Snape must've tried to stop them—but Fluffy doesn't listen to anyone except Hagrid. That's why he was bitten."
"And the troll—on Halloween! It was a distraction, wasn't it? To sneak past the dog!" Ron gasped.
Harry nodded, speaking in a rush. "And now that I know Dumbledore's already hiding the Stone at Hogwarts, I feel better. That must be why he borrowed my Invisibility Cloak. He's on our side. He's protecting the Stone."
Ron looked dazed. "Wait… Philosopher's Stone? Invisibility Cloak? You never said anything about Dumbledore being suspicious."
Harry realized he'd said too much and quickly changed the subject.
"The Philosopher's Stone was created by Nicolas Flamel," Harry explained, "and he's over six hundred years old. The Stone can turn any material into gold—and produce the Elixir of Life."
Ron gaped. "Turn anything into gold? And make you immortal? No wonder someone broke into Gringotts and is now trying to get past that three-headed monster!"
Harry nodded. "Flamel must have asked Dumbledore to guard it because they're friends—and someone dangerous is trying to take it."
---
Ron shook his head in amazement.
"A stone that gives you gold and eternal life? That's worth breaking into Gringotts and Hogwarts for."
Harry looked up at the stars, determination in his eyes.
"Whoever it is… they won't get past us."
(End of Chapter 151)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you like the story please give it some power stones and reviews. And if you want to read 30+ advance chapters or just want to support me please join my patreon at p@treon.com/Translatingfanfics