Hagrid stared at Alice like she'd grown a second head.
Five minutes ago this tiny first-year had marched straight up to his hut and demanded he take her (and Theodore Nott, of all people) into the Forbidden Forest to find Thestrals.
If he hadn't scrambled to hide his "little treasure" under a blanket real fast, today would've ended with somebody getting expelled. Or eaten.
"You didn't barge right in, lass," Hagrid muttered, wiping his brow. "You saved both our skins."
Theodore's eyes narrowed. This was his first time meeting Hagrid up close, and why did the half-giant sound like a Bond villain just now?
Hagrid caught the look, realized how that sounded, and flailed his dinner-plate hands. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that—"
Alice waved him off, practically bouncing. "Yeah, yeah, misunderstanding over. Introductions! Hagrid, this is Theodore Nott. Theodore, Hagrid. Cool, we're all friends now. Let's go Thestral-hunting."
Hagrid opened his mouth to protest (the Forest was dangerous, especially these days, and these two kids were walking red flags), but Alice cut him off at the pass.
"Professor Dumbledore already approved it. You can double-check with him later. I'm not lying."
Hagrid loomed over her, trying the intimidating giant routine. Alice just stared right back, unimpressed. After a solid five seconds he caved.
"I will be askin' the Headmaster," he grumbled. "But fine. Forbidden Forest it is."
He ducked inside to grab a lantern and a crossbow the size of a small canoe. The second the door closed, Theodore rounded on Alice.
"Why exactly do we need Thestrals?"
He was dead serious. This whole thing had come out of nowhere, and even though he trusted Dumbledore, the fact that Alice had gone straight from a private meeting with the Headmaster to "must find invisible death horses" felt… off.
Alice gave him a half-truth wrapped in a smile. "I've got a way to boost my combat power fast, but I need Thestral help to pull it off. That's why I asked Dumbledore for permission, and he told me to get Hagrid."
"So this is your plan, not his orders?"
She nodded. Theodore relaxed a fraction. Okay. Good. She wasn't being manipulated.
Alice grinned. "Relax. Dumbledore's still one of the good guys."
"'Course he is," Hagrid boomed, stepping back out with enough gear to fight a dragon. He'd only caught the tail end, but defending Dumbledore was a reflex.
Theodore rolled his eyes. Alice had warned him on the walk over: once they found the Thestrals, his job was to keep Hagrid distracted so the gamekeeper wouldn't see whatever sketchy thing she was about to do.
Looking at Hagrid's massive frame and then down at his own eleven-year-old arms, Theodore already regretted everything.
"So once we're there," Hagrid asked, stomping ahead through the underbrush, "what exactly do you need me to do, Alice?"
"Give me a little space to talk to the Thestrals. Theodore supposedly has some Potions ingredient questions, and Professor Snape told him the Forest was the best place to look."
Theodore's head snapped toward her.
Excuse me? When did I—?
He caught Hagrid glancing back and forced the world's stiffest smile. "Uh. Yep. Questions. Lots of them."
Hagrid's face lit up like Christmas. Two birds, one stone! Snape and Dumbledore would be proud.
Twenty-freezing-minutes later they reached a clearing littered with dead trees. Hagrid stopped.
"This is the spot. Off you go, lass."
Alice nodded. She could already see the Thestrals (including the same three from that night) watching her with glowing white eyes.
Theodore rubbed his own eyes. Still nothing. Great.
Hagrid noticed. "Yeh can only see 'em if you've seen death, lad."
Oh.
Theodore went very still. So that's why Alice could see them. All her casual "I'm not like you" comments suddenly hit a lot harder.
While Alice approached the herd, Hagrid clapped a hand the size of a Christmas ham on Theodore's shoulder.
"Right then! Your turn. Potions questions, yeah? Ask away. Anything safe in the Forest, I'll show yeh."
Theodore felt his soul leave his body.
Questions. He needed questions. Right now.
"Er… Mr. Hagrid, sir," he said, face turning scarlet, "you've brewed a lot of potions, right? What kinds of questions do you think a student my age usually has? I, uh… want to test you."
He wanted the ground to swallow him whole.
Hagrid stared like Theodore had suggested they go hug an Acromantula.
"You're serious?"
Theodore nodded like his life depended on it.
Hagrid scratched his beard. "Well… alright then. Follow me, I'll show yeh some decent moonstone root and fluxweed patches…"
As they walked off, Theodore caught the mutter under Hagrid's breath:
"How in Merlin's name does Snape put up with this one?"
Theodore made a silent vow to murder Alice later.
…
Meanwhile, Alice stood in front of the Thestral herd. The now-familiar heat from the Soul Banner pulsed gently around her wrist. Wisps of the artifact's aura drifted off her like smoke.
The herd shifted restlessly. Heavy hoofbeats sounded, and the big lead Thestral from that night stepped forward, skeletal head lowered.
Alice reached out with her right hand and rested her palm against its bony brow…