Chapter 64: Hagrid, your snacks are terrible!

"Don't worry, Hermione, you'll definitely be top of the class!" said Irina, holding a bag of crisps as she tried to persuade Hermione, who was sorting through her revision materials.

To be honest, there weren't many courses in the first year at Hogwarts, and the theoretical knowledge was at most the amount covered in one week at Irina's previous high school. 

Although the homework assigned by the various professors had gradually increased, it was nothing to the academic masters Irina and Hermione. They had completed it long ago.

However, their attitudes differed completely once their homework was finished. Irina, enjoying life in the moment, ate snacks while watching Harry and Ron play wizard's chess, while Hermione studied hard with a pile of textbooks.

"Irina, please!" Hermione looked at her helplessly. The crunching sound as Irina ate her crisps was terribly tempting.

Irina took out a crisp. "There are so many little wizards at Hogwarts. If even you can't pass the final exams, Hermione, they may all be kicked out and have to go home in disgrace. Come, have some crisps!"

Hermione obediently opened her mouth and let Irina feed her the crisp.

Just then, the two heard Ron's voice not far away. "Hagrid! What are you doing in the library?"

Ron looked a little surprised. "You know, Hagrid, as gamekeeper, never comes to the library!"

Hagrid's eyes shifted guiltily, and there seemed to be something hidden behind his back. "I'm jus' lookin' around..."

Harry stood up. "Wait, Hagrid, can you tell us what other protections there are for the Philosopher's Stone besides Fluffy?"

"How d'yeh know?!" Hagrid exclaimed, but then hung his head. "Listen, come ter me later...Remember, I didn' promise yeh anything, don' go blabbin' here, there're some things students shouldn' know, they'll think I told yeh..."

"We'll see you later then, Hagrid," said Harry, suppressing his excitement.

After watching the exchange, Irina felt excited too. If she hadn't seen wrong just now, the books behind Hagrid were all related to dragons, such as Dragon Species of Great Britain and Ireland, From Egg to Inferno, A Dragon-Keeper's Guide, and so on.

Hey, was there something strange going on?

An hour later, the four knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut. When they arrived, they found all the curtains were tightly drawn, and nothing could be seen inside, as if Hagrid was hiding something unspeakable. 

Hagrid, you're being too obvious! Irina thought, looking at the hut in mild embarrassment.

"Who's there?" Hagrid didn't open the door but called out.

After learning it was Irina and the others, Hagrid let them in, immediately closing the door behind the four.

The heat in the hut was almost suffocating. Though it was a warm, sunny day, there was still a blazing fire in the grate. 

Hagrid made tea for Irina and the others, and brought out rock cakes to entertain them.

Irina glanced at the three, who were trying to stomach the rock cakes with pained expressions. When Hagrid wasn't looking, she slipped hers into her pocket, pretending to have finished eating.

Harry and the other two hurriedly followed suit.

"Oh? Finished already? No problem, I've got more!" Hagrid saw this and was about to bring another plate of rock cakes.

Hearing this, the four quickly declined in alarm.

Other people's snacks cost money, but Hagrid, your snacks could cost their lives!

To prevent Hagrid from bringing out more rock cakes, Irina quickly changed the subject. "Hagrid, I know you don't want to tell us about the protections for the Philosopher's Stone, but we just want to confirm who designed those protections."

Hermione nodded repeatedly, complimenting Hagrid. "We want to know, who else can Dumbledore trust besides you?"

Flattered by Hermione's words, Hagrid puffed out his chest, and Harry and Ron smiled.

"Well, I can tell yeh...He borrowed Fluffy from me, an' then asked a few o' the other professors ter cast their enchantments...Let me think...Professor Sprout, Professor Flitwick, Professor McGonagall, Professor Quirrell, um, Professor Dumbledore himself cast some too, oh an' I ferget one, Professor Snape!"

Hearing this, Harry, Ron and Hermione exchanged looks. 

The truth matched exactly what Irina had guessed before, shocking the three of them.

"Irina, you're really amazing!" said Harry in disbelief.

Ron nodded vigorously. "Yeah, exactly what Hagrid said! You're worthy of being the big sister!"

At this, Hermione looked at Hagrid. "Hagrid, you're the only one who knows how to get past Fluffy, right? You won't tell anyone, and the other professors don't know either?"

"'Cept me an' Dumbledore, nobody else knows how!" Hagrid said proudly.

Excuse me, this gentleman raised on Veritaserum, what are you proud of?! 

When Irina thought Hagrid would just drink and brag, then reveal how to get past Fluffy, she couldn't help wanting to complain.

"That's good! Hagrid, can we open a window? I'm so hot!" Harry said to Hagrid.

But Hagrid refused. "No, Harry, I'm sorry..."

At this, Harry noticed Hagrid's eyes flick towards the fire, and he looked over too.

"Hagrid, what's that?!" Harry asked in disbelief. 

In the middle of the flames was a large black egg.

"Is that a dragon egg? Hagrid!" 

Irina walked over excitedly, gazing at the huge black egg.

"Oh," Hagrid looked uneasy, "I won it. I was drinkin' down in the village, played a game o' cards with a stranger...Ter be honest, he prob'ly couldn' wait ter get rid of it!" 

Irina's eyes sparkled. She looked at Hagrid. "Hagrid, can I witness it hatching? You know I especially like cute little creatures!"

Although fire dragons were definitely not cute when fully-grown, at least they were when babies!

(End of this chapter)