Chapter - 46 : Flying Lessons and Frustrations

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I trooped across the ground to Hagrid's house a little before three, eager to see Harry and speak to Hagrid. After Potions, my fears that Harry would turn against me seemed ridiculous. In fact I was a little shocked by my own pettiness. I supposed I wasn't used to being separated from him. It took a little bit of my confidence from me to be alone.

Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door. The roof was thatched. I raised my hand and knocked on the door twice, giving the crossbow an uncertain look.

I heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. I hadn't realized Hagrid had a dog. I could hear him yelling, "Back, Fang! Back!"

Hagrid's face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door opened. He smiled when he saw me, then grunted and turned away.

"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."

He let me in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound. I stared at the dog's size. It looked like it could take Dudley down in a flying leap, and that was no joke.

There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

"Make yerselves at home, join the fun," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang. I saw Harry and Ron both sitting at the table. There was a plate of rock cakes in front of them and both of them had been supplied with teacups.

"Rena," Harry greeted.

"Hey Harry, Ron." I sat down beside Harry. Hagrid quickly set down a cup of tea in front of me and pushed a rock cake at me.

The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins. I nibbled at one uncertainly and my teeth clacked disconcertingly against it. Harry and Ron were pretending to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons.

Fang ventured over and dropped his head onto my knee, looking up at me pleadingly as he dribbled all over my robes. I smiled down at him. I'd always loved animals, and growing up I'd always wanted a pet. Of course, Aunt Petunia hadn't allowed animals into the house until she was afraid Harry and I would turn her into a toad if she didn't.

"Hey Fang," I cooed at the boarhound, rubbing behind his ear vigorously with one hand. "You're a big boy, aren't you?"

I smiled slightly as Fang whined happily, dunking my rock cake in my tea a little to try and soften it with my free hand as they complained about Filch. Hagrid, it seemed, completely understood.

"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her. Filch puts her up to it."

Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.

"But he seemed to really hate me."

"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"

I noticed Hagrid didn't quite meet Harry's eye when he said that.

"Speaking of Snape, what'd he want?" Ron asked, looking at me.

"Did he hold yeh back?" Hagrid asked.

"Yes," I nodded. "He wanted to know what I'd done with the ginger I added to the potion."

"What did you tell him?" Harry pressed. I shrugged.

"The truth. That I thought it would improve the potion."

Ron gave a commiserating smile. He seemed to have warmed up to me again, or at least seem less annoyed by my house than before. "How many points did you lose?"

"None," I replied. Harry choked on his tea.

"What?" he asked incredulously. "He wasn't mad?"

"None, I got twenty," I said, smiling proudly. "He said I was correct, that everything I added to the potion would do exactly what I thought. He said I showed promise."

"That's high praise, comin' from Snape," Hagrid said, whistling. He was clearly impressed.

"I don't get it!" Harry said in frustration. "He seemed to hate me! Why does he like you?"

I was a little offended. "Is it so odd for people to like me?" I challenged.

"Well, she is a Slytherin, mate," Ron commiserated. Harry nodded, but he still seemed upset.

"I'm sure that's it," Hagrid said, rather louder than was necessary. I narrowed my eyes at him suspiciously. Something about the subject of Snape was making him edgy. I was even more sure when he hastily changed the subject.

"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot, great with animals."

I listened with interest as Ron described his brother Charlie's work with dragons. It sounded fascinating, albeit dangerous. Apparently their mother constantly worried that Charlie was going to come home for Christmas one year missing a limb, which was apparently not uncommon in his line of work.

"Hagrid!" said Harry suddenly. "That Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"

I looked around for what could have possibly spawned that comment and saw a paper lying under the tea cozy on the table.

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day. "But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.

I remembered Ron mentioning to us on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but he hadn't mentioned the date.

Hagrid grunted and offered him another rock cake instead of replying. I scowled. He was avoiding the question again.

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