Capítulo 32: [Bonus Chapter] | Chapter 32. Hagrid: Four Deuces and Two Jokers

Bonus Chapter for reaching last week's goal of 200 Power Stones!

...

Early the next morning, William got up and tidied himself, dressing in formal attire. He shook off the sluggishness that had accumulated during his time cooped up for self-study, preparing for his visit to Hogwarts.

In his earlier letters, he had inquired about the best way to reach the school. Most wizards traveled to Hogwarts by first using Apparition or Floo Network to get to Hogsmeade, then making their way to the castle. Only students and certain professors used the train from Platform 9¾ for direct access.

Since William had never been to Hogsmeade and didn't want to attempt such a long-distance Apparition with his still-new skills, he decided to use the Floo Network.

"Tom, is this where the Floo Powder is kept?" Holding a small bowl by the fireplace, William called over to Tom, who was busy wiping glasses behind the bar.

"Of course. Heading out?"

"Yes, need to take care of some business at Hogwarts."

"Should I save you some lunch?"

"I assume Hogwarts has a dining hall. How was the food when you were there?"

"Pretty good, though it's been ages since I attended. The headmaster's changed several times since then."

As Tom spoke, William lit a magical fire in the hearth.

"Let's hope the kitchen hasn't burned down and the food is still decent." William shrugged, but something about his comment tickled Tom's funny bone. The barkeep burst into laughter, struggling to stop for a good while.

"Well, safe travels!"

"I hope so. This will be my first time visiting Hogwarts."

William tossed a handful of Floo Powder into the flames, called out "Hogsmeade," and stepped boldly into the fire.

A strange pressure enveloped him as he spun rapidly. I should've spent the extra money on the Knight Bus, he thought just as the spinning intensified.

The green flames whirled around him at an even faster pace, and countless fireplaces flashed before his eyes as he shot through the Floo Network.

Just when he thought he might vomit, the spinning ceased abruptly. The flames spat him out of the final fireplace, and he hurtled toward the ground.

Instinctively, William crossed his arms over his face to shield himself during the fall.

He quickly sprang to his feet, wand drawn, scanning his surroundings. Satisfied that everything was safe, he began using his wand to clean the soot off his clothes.

I should've adjusted my posture before landing. That way, I wouldn't have fallen flat on my face, he mused as he stepped out of the fireplace.

However, he soon dismissed the thought.

Traveling by Floo Network was far less comfortable than Apparition. If not for the fact that Apparition required prior familiarity with a location, William would have gladly sworn off this torturous method for life.

As soon as he stepped out of the fireplace, he knew he was in the right place.

Although he had never been to Hogsmeade before, the abundance of shops in such a small area made it obvious. Just around the public fireplace he exited, there were four or five establishments with various signs. It was hard to tell whether the shops were built to meet the students' needs or if the students' purchasing power had encouraged the villagers to open them, creating a whole community.

Before William could take in the sights of Hogsmeade, a towering figure, significantly taller than the average person, waved at him.

"Professor William?"

"That's me. Thank you for coming to meet me, Hagrid."

William had sent a letter earlier to inform the school of his arrival. Naturally, Hogwarts wouldn't let a new professor unfamiliar with the grounds find his own way. What if he got lost? Considering the precarious history of the Defense Against the Dark Arts position, the school could hardly afford another mishap. If a professor didn't even make it to the school before resigning, next year they'd struggle to find a replacement; even in Azkaban.

"No problem. I was heading this way to collect rent, so I took on the task with Professor McGonagall," Hagrid said, smiling and delivering a statement that left William stunned.

"Collect rent?"

"Yes. The entire village of Hogsmeade belongs to Hogwarts. Since the castle's founding, this land has been school property. Dumbledore trusts me, so he assigned me this job."

A village as private property? William took a deep breath.

On second thought, since Hogwarts didn't charge tuition, it made sense. The rent from the village was probably just enough to cover small expenses. The school's operations likely relied heavily on Ministry funding.

With no outsiders around and considering William as one of their own, Hagrid became much more talkative.

"I've been handling rent collection for years now. Not once has there been an issue," Hagrid proudly declared.

"That's a remarkable virtue," William said sincerely.

Judging by Hagrid's modest clothing, it was clear he wasn't well-off. Yet, despite years of handling rent collection, he had never mishandled funds. That kind of integrity was rare, especially for someone like William, who had started his journey in Azkaban surrounded by scum. By those standards, Hagrid's honesty was saintly.

William's earnest praise made Hagrid smile even more. Encouraged, Hagrid dropped a bombshell.

"Money's nothing. Dumbledore trusts me with important tasks. Just last year, I helped him move a Philosopher's Stone from Gringotts to Hogwarts."

***

Note 1: There may be some debate about this. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, the twins discussed buying a shop. However, it's likely they were renting. Given the prime location within Hogwarts' vicinity and the fact that they'd only been running their shop for a year, outright purchasing it seems unlikely. Hogsmeade was established alongside the school, and the secret passages connecting the two further suggest it's school property.

Note 2: Hogwarts doesn't charge tuition. William, unaware of the Board of Governors, speculated about the school's funding. The castle's upkeep, maintenance of antiques like armor, student meals, dormitory supplies, and professors' salaries would require substantial funding. It's plausible that the Board provides financial support in exchange for influence, while the Ministry also shoulders significant costs, given its oversight of the school.

...

New Bonus Chapter Quest: 100 Power Stones!