Chapter 49
Chapter : Trunks, Creatures, and Deals with Hagrid
Alex McKinnon’s POV
After a week of intense spell research and classes, I felt the need to unwind. Nothing helped more than spending time with my friends and sneaking into the Hogwarts kitchens. The house-elves there absolutely adored me. I had introduced them to several new recipes from a book I found in the Room of Requirement, filled with both magical and non-magical cooking techniques. The elves were more than eager to experiment, and now the kitchen had a whole section dedicated to "Alex's Specials."
As usual, I made my way through the hidden entrance to the kitchens, greeted warmly by Dobby and the other elves. They had prepared some of my favorites—roast chicken, buttery mashed potatoes, and a dessert I had introduced them to: chocolate mousse. The atmosphere in the kitchens was always one of joy and bustling energy, and I could tell the elves genuinely loved the freedom they had to experiment with the new recipes.
After a hearty meal, I decided to visit Hagrid’s hut. I hadn't seen him in a while, and with everything going on, I thought it was time for a chat. Plus, Hagrid always had interesting stories about magical creatures, and today I had something big to discuss with him.
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"‘Lo, Alex!" Hagrid boomed as I knocked on the door. Fang, his boarhound, immediately bounded over, tail wagging.
"Hagrid! Mind if I come in?" I asked, smiling at the giant of a man, who gestured me inside. His hut was warm, the fire crackling away, and there was the usual smell of tea and rock cakes in the air.
"Course not, come in, come in! How’ve yeh been?"
I sat down and sipped the tea he offered. "Busy, but good. Working on some new spells. You know how it is," I replied, though my mind was on what I had planned next.
After a bit of small talk, I steered the conversation to what I really wanted to discuss. “Hagrid, I’ve been thinking. You’ve always said that certain magical creatures, even those rated ‘XXXXX’ by the Ministry, are just misunderstood. But don’t you think keeping some of them around here could be dangerous?”
Hagrid’s eyes twinkled with excitement, but there was a hint of hesitation in his tone. "Well, I do think they get a bad rap. Take Acromantulas, fer instance. Sure, they’re big an’ a bit dangerous, but they ain’t evil. Just misunderstood, yeh see."
I nodded thoughtfully. "Right, and that’s exactly why I wanted to offer you something." I paused for effect. "What if I got you a high-class, Newt Scamander-style trunk to store your creatures in? A pocket dimension inside the trunk—just like Newt’s—where they could live comfortably, and safely, away from the school."
Hagrid’s eyes went wide. "A trunk like Newt’s? Nah, can’t do that. Too expensive, and besides, I like keepin’ my creatures close."
I smiled. "Hear me out. You could keep your Acromantula friend, Aragog, in the trunk with other dangerous creatures, like the XXXXX-rated ones you love so much. You could even sell their parts—like Acromantula silk and venom. Hogwarts could use the money, and if you donate the proceeds under the Black family name, it might even help improve school security."
Hagrid scratched his beard, considering my offer. "I dunno, Alex. Sounds like a lot of trouble. But helpin’ Hogwarts... that’s a different story. I’ll think about it."
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A few days later, I ran into Hagrid again. This time, he was ready.
"Alright, I’ll do it," Hagrid said, his voice firm but filled with excitement. "If we can transfer Aragog safely into the trunk, I’ll go along with yer plan."
That was the signal I needed. I immediately reached out to Newt Scamander via letter, explaining the situation—about Hagrid’s dangerous creatures, the potential for profit through Acromantula silk, and the need for a safe space to house them.
Newt’s reply came within a week, faster than I expected. He explained that he had made his own trunk, but he understood the urgency of the situation and offered to personally come to Hogwarts to create a similar one for Hagrid. The idea of helping someone who cared so deeply for magical creatures clearly resonated with him.
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A few weeks later, Newt Scamander arrived at Hogwarts, a little older but just as enthusiastic about magical creatures as the stories described him. After a thorough inspection of Hagrid’s hut and creatures, he crafted a custom trunk with an expansive pocket dimension. It was magnificent—sprawling landscapes within, complete with ecosystems tailored to each creature’s needs. The transfer of Aragog and Hagrid’s other creatures went off without a hitch, and Hagrid couldn’t stop beaming.
"I can’t thank yeh enough, Alex. Newt, too," Hagrid said, his voice choked with emotion. "This’ll make takin’ care of ‘em so much easier."
I smiled. "You’ve got the right heart for it, Hagrid. Just promise me you’ll be careful with the creatures, alright?"
"Course I will!"
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The price for the trunk and the specialized Acromantula food came out to a staggering 30,000 Galleons—not a small sum by any means. But I knew the returns from selling the silk and venom would more than make up for it, and the fact that all profits would go to Hogwarts under the Black family name was a win for everyone.
With Aragog and his colony safely relocated, I knew the school would be a little safer, and Hagrid could keep indulging his love for misunderstood creatures without putting students in danger.
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As news of the Acromantula silk and venom sales spread, gossip among the students ran wild. Word had gotten out that the Black family had donated a large sum of money to the school, and everyone was speculating about the reasons behind it.
“Did you hear? Hagrid’s keeping Acromantulas in a trunk now. And it’s all thanks to Alex McKinnon!”
“Wait, isn’t the Black family involved? I thought they were all Slytherins.”
“Nah, Alex is from Ravenclaw. I heard the donation’s helping Hogwarts get more staff.”
“And security too! Thank Merlin. We could use it with all the things that happen around here.”
The gossip never ceased, but I didn’t mind. As long as the school was safer, and as long as Hagrid was happy, I considered it a job well done.
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That evening, as I sat down in the Great Hall for dinner, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. I had helped Hagrid, secured a new source of funds for Hogwarts, and even caught the attention of people who could make a difference in the future of the school.
Plus, the food was better now, thanks to the recipes I’d introduced to the house-elves. Everything was falling into place—slowly but surely.
But as I looked across the room at Harry, deep in conversation with Ron and Hermione, I couldn’t help but think about the darker forces at work. Quirrellmort was still out there, and while I had my suspicions, I needed to be patient. There was no proof yet, but I knew that day would come.
For now, I’d continue my work in the shadows, preparing for whatever dangers might come next.