Chương 48: Chapter 48 - Hagrid's Secret (2)
A few weeks had passed since Amelia Bones, had met with the Youkai representative regarding the attack on Thomas Grayson, a first-year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Amelia had been tirelessly working to gather information and investigate the incident, trying to find clues about the involvement of the Astaroth family, one of the prominent devil families in the underworld.
After numerous attempts to contact the underworld and arrange a meeting with the devils, Amelia finally received a response. She had managed to secure a meeting with Serafall Leviathan, one of the Satans and the one responsible for overseeing relations between the underworld with various factions and communities. It was a significant breakthrough in the ministry investigation, and Amelia was eager to discuss the matter with someone of Serafall's authority and knowledge, mostly because of the delicate situation of this investigation.
And so, when the day of the meeting arrived, Amelia walk to the designated meeting place, a private chamber within the Ministry of Magic, ready to face one of the satans. She knew that dealing with devils required tact and careful negotiation, but it was not like she hadn't dealt with such things in her life.
As the doors creaked open, Serafall Leviathan, a stunning devil with long black hair and a vibrant aura, entered the room. She wore a simple suit, tailored to perfection but without any hint of pompousness befitting her position.
"Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement," Serafall spoke with a calm yet cheerful tone, extending a hand in greeting. "I'm sorry we have to meet in such circumstances."
Amelia nodded politely and shook Serafall's hand before taking a seat opposite her. "Thank you, Satan Leviathan. I appreciate you taking the time to meet with me, especially considering the pressing matters at hand."
Serafall dismissed the formality with a wave of her hand and a warm smile. "Oh, let's not dwell on formalities, Madam Bones. We're here to work together, after all. Now, please, tell me what I can do to assist you in this troublesome situation."
Amelia admired Serafall's ability to maintain a cheerful disposition even in the face of seriousness. She wasted no time and began detailing the incident involving Thomas Grayson, the Youkai attack, and the suspicions surrounding the Astaroth main family. She presented the evidence she had gathered, laying out the facts clearly and concisely.
Serafall listened attentively, her eyes widening with interest and her head occasionally tilting in a childlike manner. Once Amelia finished, there was a brief silence before Serafall spoke, her tone turning slightly more serious. "Ah, the Astaroth family... It's true that not all devils share the same perspective on peaceful coexistence. While I can vouch for Ajuka's character, some individuals may act against our collective interests. Sadly that's a trait we all share."
Serafall's expression turned pensive as she tapped her finger against her chin. "You mentioned Leif Astaroth, a devil from the Astaroth branch family. This connection between Leif, Thomas Grayson, and the suspicious events piques my curiosity. What do you know about their relationship, Madam Bones?"
Amelia took a moment to gather her thoughts before responding, appreciating Serafall's childlike wonder blended with a sense of responsibility. "Thomas and Leif's connection date from a few years ago. Two years ago, Thomas accidentally summoned Latia, Leif's daughter, using a magical circle. Initially, it was a mistake, but Latia sensed Thomas's genuine desire to learn about the magical world. Instead of dismissing him, she decided to help him. From that night onward, they become friends, helping each other. At least from what I managed to learn from Thomas."
Serafall's eyes widened in surprise, "Oh my, that's quite an interesting story, isn't it? It's not every day that a human summons a devil's daughter by mistake." She paused for a moment, contemplating the situation. "But I can understand your concern, Madam Bones. It is not advisable for someone so young to be exposed to our community so early in life. However, it seems like this connection was formed out of a genuine desire to learn, before turning into one of friendship which is admirable."
Amelia nodded in agreement. "Yes, that is true. But still, the Astaroth family's involvement in this matter is worrying, especially when from what Thomas and Leif told me. Apparently, the youkai that attacked him was doing this under the orders of the main head of the main family. As a witch myself that has a young daughter, I want to make sure that Thomas is safe and that no harm will come to him or any other student at Hogwarts."
Serafall's expression turned serious, "I understand your concern, Madam Bones. As one of the Satans, it is my duty to ensure the safety and security of all parties involved. Rest assured, I will investigate this matter thoroughly and take the necessary actions to prevent any harm from coming to anyone."
Amelia felt a sense of relief hearing Serafall's words. It was comforting to know that someone with such authority and responsibility was on the case. "Thank you, Satan Leviathan. I appreciate your help in this matter. If there's anything else you need from me, please don't hesitate to ask."
Serafall smiled warmly, her childlike demeanor returning. "Of course, Madam Bones. It was a pleasure to meet with you. I hope we can work together to resolve this matter and strengthen our relationship between our communities. Though if it's not too much to ask for, would it be possible for me to meet this boy?"
Amelia paused for a moment, considering Serafall's request. She understood the devil's curiosity and genuine interest in meeting Thomas. However, she also had to prioritize the safety and well-being of the young student. After a brief moment of contemplation, she responded, "Satan Leviathan, while I appreciate your desire to meet Thomas, I must prioritize his safety and well-being. He is still a young student, and I believe it would be best for him to continue his studies without any additional distractions or potential risks."
Serafall's expression turned slightly disappointed, but she quickly regained her cheerful demeanor. "I understand, Madam Bones. The safety of the students is of utmost importance. I respect your decision." She paused for a moment before continuing, "However, if there comes a time when it is deemed appropriate and safe, I would still love the opportunity to meet Thomas and perhaps have a friendly conversation. I'm truly curious of seeing for myself who this young boy is ."
Amelia nodded, appreciating Serafall's understanding. "I will keep your request in mind, Satan Leviathan. Should the circumstances allow for it, I will consider arranging a meeting between you and Thomas. But until then, I believe it is best to focus on ensuring his safety and resolving the matter at hand."
Serafall's smile brightened once again. "Thank you, Madam Bones. I appreciate your consideration. If there is anything else you need or any updates regarding the situation, please do not hesitate to contact me."
Amelia stood up from her chair, extending her hand towards Serafall. "Thank you for your time and assistance, Satan Leviathan. I am grateful for your willingness to cooperate and work towards a resolution. Let us continue to strengthen our relationship and promote understanding between our communities."
Serafall gladly shook Amelia's hand, her cheerful nature shining through. "Absolutely, Madam Bones. It has been a pleasure to meet with you and discuss these matters. I look forward to our future collaborations. Please take care, and may our efforts bring about a safer and harmonious environment for everyone."
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Thomas and his friends made their way towards Hagrid's hut, as they were walking closer to it, they couldn't help but notice the peculiar atmosphere surrounding it. The curtains were tightly closed, shrouding the hut in darkness despite the warm daylight outside. When they knocked on the door, Hagrid's voice called out from within, asking who it was before allowing them entry.
Stepping into the hut, they were hit by an intense wave of heat. The temperature inside was stifling, even though the weather outside was already warm. They could feel the blazing fire crackling in the grate, casting dancing shadows across the room. It seemed unusual to have such a roaring fire on such a hot day.
Hagrid, his large frame towering over them, welcomed them inside and quickly closed the door behind them. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead as he busied himself with preparing tea. The scent of brewing leaves filled the air, mingling with the smoky aroma of the fire.
"Take a seat, lads," Hagrid said, gesturing toward the chairs around the wooden table. "I've got some tea ready. And I've made stoat sandwiches if yeh hungry."
The mention of stoat sandwiches caused a collective grimace among the group. They politely declined, their appetites faltering at the thought of such an unusual choice of snack.
"So , yeh wanted to ask me somethin'?"
"Yes," said Harry. There was no point beating about the bush. "We were wondering if you could tell us what's guarding the Philosopher's Stone apart from Fluffy."
Hagrid frowned at him.
"O' course I can't," he said. "Number one, I don' know meself. Number two, yeh know too much already, so I wouldn' tell yeh if I could. That Stone's here fer a good reason. It was almost stolen outta Gringotts , I s'ppose yeh've worked that out an' all? Beats me how yeh even know abou' Fluffy."
Thomas, James, Adam, Michael, and Hermione exchanged glances, feeling a mixture of disappointment and frustration at Hagrid's evasive response. They had hoped that their friendship with him would grant them some insight into the mysterious guardians of the Philosopher's Stone.
"But Hagrid," James interjected, his voice filled with genuine curiosity, as he tried to get something out of Hagrid, "we're not asking to steal it or anything. We just want to understand what we're up against. We're facing final exams soon, and knowing more about the Stone could help us prepare."
Hagrid scratched his bushy beard thoughtfully, his eyes shifting from one concerned face to another. He seemed torn between his loyalty to the secret and his affection for the group of students standing before him.
"I know yeh lot are curious, and I don' blame yeh," Hagrid admitted reluctantly. "But trust me, it's better if yeh don' know. Dumbledore's got everythin' under control, and he's keepin' it a secret for a reason."
Hermione, unable to contain her inquisitive nature, leaned forward earnestly. "Hagrid, we respect Dumbledore and his decisions, but we're not ordinary students. We've faced dangers before, and we've proven ourselves to be responsible. We just want to be prepared for whatever lies ahead."
Hagrid sighed, clearly conflicted. "I understand yer eagerness, but there's things yeh can't understand, things yeh shouldn' meddle with. This Stone, it's powerful, and it's best left alone."
Thomas, realizing that their direct approach wasn't yielding the desired results, decided to take a different approach. He softened his voice and spoke with sincerity. "Hagrid, we're not asking you to betray anyone's trust. We're just seeking knowledge, to grow and learn. We believe in the importance of understanding the magical world and the challenges that lie within it."
Hagrid's gaze softened, touched by Thomas's heartfelt words. He nodded slowly, a mix of fondness and concern etched across his weathered face. "I know yeh lot have a thirst for knowledge, and that's a good thing. But this time, it's best if yeh trust Dumbledore and let things unfold as they're meant to."
"Oh, come on, Hagrid, you might not want to tell us, but you do know, you know everything that goes on round here," said Hermione in a warm, flattering voice. Hagrid's beard twitched and they could tell he was smiling. "We only wondered who had done the guarding, really." Hermione went on. "We wondered who Dumbledore had trusted enough to help him, apart from you."
Hagrid's chest swelled at these last words. Harry and Ron beamed at Hermione. While Thomas, James, Adam and Michael shook their heads impressed that their not so mischievous friend lied with such a straight face.
"Well, I don' s'pose it could hurt ter tell yeh that … let's see … he borrowed Fluffy from me … then some o' the teachers did enchantments … Professor Sprout , Professor Flitwick , Professor McGonagall …" he ticked them off on his fingers, "Professor Quirrell – an' Dumbledore himself did somethin', o' course. Hang on, I've forgotten someone. Oh yeah, Professor Snape."
As Hagrid revealed that Snape had been involved in guarding the Philosopher's Stone, a wave of mixed reactions swept through the group of friends. Harry and Ron exchanged glances, their eyes widening at the unexpected revelation. Hermione, on the other hand, seemed to have anticipated this, mostly because in the past days, they have found little to no evidence that Snape was actually even thinking about stealing the stone.
Thomas, James, Adam, and Michael shared a collective moment of disbelief. They had always viewed Snape with skepticism, given his strict demeanor and his obvious disdain for Harry,not to mention how the caught him red handed trying to harm Harry. The revelation that he had played a role in protecting the Stone caught them off guard, challenging their preconceived notions.
"Snape?" James repeated, his voice laced with astonishment.
Adam chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief. "I never thought I'd hear Snape's name in the same sentence as 'protecting' anything. This is wild."
Thomas looked at Hagrid as if he was seeing a ghost. "I mean, Snape is one of the last people I would have expected to be involved in protecting the stone. It's hard to believe. I mean yeah sure we saw him cursing Harry's broom, but still that doesn't give us all too much evidence…"
Michael, the more observant among them, frowned, his mind working to make sense of the information. "Maybe Snape isn't as bad as we thought. I mean, he may not be the friendliest professor, nor the most unsuspicious man, but if he's willing to help protect the Stone, there must be more to him than meets the eye. Besides, as Thomas just pointed out, we blamed him quite easily for something that he might have never done. Now that I think about, didn't you said something about this when you meet Snape after the game?"
Thomas nodded his head in response, remembering how Snape told him that he was casting a counter curse, which at that time he didn't believed.
Hagrid's face took on a serious expression, his eyes filled with a mix of sadness and understanding. "Well, kids, it's a tricky situation, it is. Snape's got reasons, ya see? Reasons that not many folks grasp. He's got his own battles to fight, but deep down, he's fiercely loyal to Hogwarts and Dumbledore. It might be hard to see right now, but people can be full of surprises, they can."
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