The Minister for Magic
The trio had always known that Hagrid had an unfortunate liking for large and monstrous creatures, from a dragon to a three-headed dog named ‘Fluffy’. Luz remembered the two beasts that had given her so much trouble the year before.
So, to Luz at least, it was perfectly acceptable to think that, as a boy, if Hagrid had caught the whims of a monster locked somewhere in the castle for centuries, he would have gone to any length to give a chance to stretch its many legs. But there was no doubt in her mind that Hagrid didn't want to kill anyone.
Luz started to wonder, if she too had the resilience and strength of the gamekeeper, would she have the same liking as him? Maybe the only thing keeping Luz from getting a dragon for a pet was the fact that, by the time they were one year old, they would be taller than her and able to chop her head in one bite.
Time and time again the trio had the same conversation; Luz telling them exactly what she saw and what she heard, and then the same circular conversation followed, to the point that Luz was getting sick of them.
“Maybe they got the wrong person? Maybe that was another monster…” Willow said
“How many monsters do you think this place can hold?” Gus responded
“But there’s more,” Luz said while reading her copy of Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. “The attacks must have stopped after Hagrid was expelled—something we know happened, or Wittebane wouldn’t have received his award.”
“Wittebane seemed to know Hagrid had it with for a while, why do you think he didn't tell sooner?” Willow asked.
“They seemed like friends, they were even on a first-name basis, maybe Wittebane trusted Hagrid would take care of the situation, but after it killed someone and the threat of being sent to a muggle orphanage things changed… I kind of understand him” Luz said gloomily.
“You did meet him in Knockturn Alley” Gus bit his lip.
“He was buying a flesh-eating slug repellent” said Luz quickly and the three felt silent. After a moment Willow voiced the knottiest question.
“Should we… go and ask him about it?” she asked hesitantly.
“That would be a cheerful visit… ‘Hello Hagrid, have you been setting anything mad and hairy loose in the castle lately?’ don't you think?” Luz said. In the end, they decided not to tell anything to Hagrid for the moment, unless there was another attack. But the days went on without any whisper from the disembodied voice and hope grew inside them that the conversation between the four of them would never happen.
Four months had almost passed since the last attack, and nearly everyone started to think that whoever the legatee was had retired for good. Even Peeves got bored of his song. Marco Diaz quite politely asked Luz to pass a bucket of leaping toadstools in Herbology one day.
In March, several of the mandrakes threw a loud and raucous party in Greenhouse 3, which made Professor Milo very happy. “The moment they start trying to move into each other’s pots, we’ll know they’re fully mature!” Willow explained to Luz. But the second years were given something else to think about during the Easter holidays.
The time had come for them to choose the elective subjects for their third year– something that Gus and Luz took way more seriously than Willow. There were a few catches though.
“We can’t drop any of the subjects we have so far,” Luz said gloomily “So Potions and D.A.D.A need to stay, how I wish I could drop those two. The only thing I learned this year with De Plume is to never let pixies loose. At least last year Piniet’s book was interesting and taught something” Luz groaned, examining the list of subjects.
Star Butterfly had received letters from all the witches and wizards in her family, each offering different advice on what to choose. Confused and worried, she sat reading the subject lists with her tongue poking out, asking people whether they thought Arithmancy sounded more difficult than the study of Ancient Runes.
Gloria Ironsmith had the same vision as Willow in the matter “Everything here is theoretical”.
Gus didn't seem to share the thought “And?” he asked.
“What’s the point? Spending hours and hours reading books won’t help in the real world” she argued.
“What do you mean?” Gus said a bit offended.
“Practical experience is far better than theoretical knowledge” Willow concluded.
“I’m sorry? So if you want to take care of a pet you should do it by experimenting, not reading a book about it? How many will you kill before getting one of them to live?” Gus asked sharply.
“I’m not saying the theory is not important, but the experience is far more” Willow replied.
It went on and on to the point Luz got annoyed “Would you stop?! I’m trying to think” she shouted at them and they proceeded to sit frowning at each other. Not knowing what to do, Luz wrote to her mother, who sent a message the very next day.
“Hola cariño, how are you? I see you have a difficult choice in front of you. I went to Diagon Alley and talked with Parks and read a few books, and I can’t say what you should and should not do, you need to play on your strengths. And well, you should also take into consideration any possible careers you’d like to take in the future. From what I gathered: Divination is something that can’t really be taught, some people simply can see into the future so I don't know why it is even an option. Arithmancy is apparently another way of predicting the future, similar to numerology — the belief that number patterns existing could be calculated to give information regarding the future. Care of Magical Creatures is self-explanatory. Muggle Studies teaches wizards how muggles do their daily things without magic and it appears to be a soft option, they may teach the basics of science like electricity and mechanics. At last Study of Ancient Runes is a mostly theoretical subject that studies the ancient runic scripts of magic. Whatever you chose can be dropped if it becomes a burden, but you must reach your fifth year doing at least two of them, so take your time and don't get anxious if next year you regret something, love you” Luz felt a heavy burden being lifted from her.
In the end, Gus chose every one of the new subjects– something Luz thought had to be impossible since the days only have so many hours. Willow chose Care of Magical Creatures and Divination, and so did Gloria. Star chose Muggle Studies, Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. Luz took more time than her friends to choose, she really like magic as a whole and thought of choosing everything like Gus, but she ran into some problems.
She marked Care of Magical Creatures in an instant, she loved dealing with animals and hearing her mother explain how to handle them when she visited the zoo. She thought of accompanying Willow to Divination, but she then remembered the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest and how they had foreseen that she should have died there. The idea of potentially seeing her own death during class made her want give up on Divination altogether.
And there was still three mostly theoretical subjects. She liked how Ancient Studies sound so she marked it. She thought for what felt like hours about taking or not Arithmancy for some of the same reasons she didn't want to take Divination, plus the fact that she wasn't much of an exact mind. She picked Muggle Studies, halfway thinking she would drop it if it were boring.
In the end, after much thinking done, Luz decided to pick all, like Gus. “Are you sure? Even if it’s possible to pick all, don't you think is a bit much?” Willow asked.
“Maybe, but image all I can learn… I’m sure that must be a way to attend all classes right?” Luz argued. Betwen the subjects they already have and all the Quidditch practice she had to do, Willow didn't want more than the two she’d already chosen.
Gryffindor’s next Quidditch match would be against Hufflepuff. Wood was insisting on team practices every night after dinner so that Willow barely had time for anything but Quidditch and homework. However, the training sessions were getting better, or at least drier. In the evening before Saturday’s match, Luz accompanied Willow to a quick meeting to review the game strategy.
They had just arrived in the Common room and Willow was confident that the chances of Gryffindor winning the Quidditch Cup were higher than ever. But before Luz could catch the good mood from Willow, Star came down the dormitory stairs frenetically “Luz! I-I- don't know who– I just found–” Luz ran up the stairs to their dormitory.
She busted the door open and saw it. The contents of her trunk have been thrown everywhere, her tunic lay ripped on the floor, the bedclothes have been pulled off her four-poster and the drawer had been pulled out of her bedside cabinet, the contents strewn over the mattress.
“I think someone has been looking for something” Star guessed and Luz rushed towards her things, having a dreadful idea of what was the something. She tossed every book in her trunk looking for it, she noticed what looked like claw marks on her blankets and she instinctively looked at King, but he was sleeping in his cage covered by a cloth.
At last, her suspicions were right. Luz got up and eyed Willow to follow her, they met with Gus in the common room and the trio gathered in a corner.
“The diary is gone. Someone– or something took it” Luz told them the news, Willow and Gus were aghast at what they heard.
“It must be a Gryffindor girl, only they have access to your dormitory – but claw marks? Maybe a pet? But we are in a tower, how would…” Gus mumbled.
They woke the next day to brilliant sunshine and a light, refreshing breeze.
“Perfect Quidditch conditions!” said Wood enthusiastically at the Gryffindor table, loading the team’s plates with scrambled eggs. “Willow, buck up there, you need a decent breakfast.” Luz had been staring down the packed Gryffindor table, wondering if the new owner of Wittebanes' diary was right in front of her eyes.
Gus had been urging her to report the robbery, but Luz didn’t like the idea. She’d have to tell a teacher all about the diary, and how many people knew why Hagrid had been expelled fifty years ago? She didn’t want to be the one who brought it all up again.
As she left the Great Hall with Willow and Gus to go and collect Willow’s Quidditch things, another very serious worry was added to Luz’s growing list.
She had just set foot on the marble staircase when she heard it yet again. “Kill this time… let me rip… tear…” She shouted aloud and the two jumped away from her in alarm.
“The voice!” said Luz. She spun around, looking at every corner “Where can it be? How can it move around without anyone noticing it!” Gus let out a gasp.
“What?” The girls said, “I may have solved a piece of the puzzle, go on, I need to check something!” He sprinted away.
“Did you understand?” Willow asked, but Luz was too focused on trying to understand why she could hear it, but no one else could. Willow was dragged by the twins away from Luz towards the pitch before she could say anything.
Luz followed the mass of students still in a thoughtful trance. She was good at puzzles. The answer would come out if she put all the pieces together.
“Noceda” Professor Chariot brought her back from her trance when the girl was about to climb up the stands “There you are, follow me” she ordered and Luz followed.
The two entered half-running the pitch when Willow was about to mount her Palisman. Chariot spin her Palisman in her hand and wrote, with purple letters, in the air:
This match has been cancelled
There were boos and shouts. Oliver Wood, who had been making a warm-up flight, landed and ran towards the professor, looking devastated, without getting off his Palisman “But Professor– we’ve got to play– the cup!” He shouted but was ignored by Chariot who wrote more:
All students must go to their common rooms, where your head wizards shall give you more details. Go. Now.
“Park, Noceda, you better come with me” She set off towards the castle, the girls following her. But they weren’t taken to anybody’s office this time.
Some of the students swarming around them were grumbling about the match being cancelled; others looked worried.
“This will be a bit of a shock,” said Professor Chariot in a surprisingly gentle voice as they approached the infirmary. “There has been another attack… another double attack.” Luz’s insides did a horrible somersault. Professor Chariot pushed the door open and she and Willow entered.
Madam Cutburn was bending over a girl with long hair and freckles. Luz recognized her as the Ravenclaw they’d accidentally asked for directions to the Slytherin common room. And on the bed next to her was—
“Gus!” Willow groaned. Gus lay utterly still, his eyes open and glassy.
“They were found near a girl’s bathroom,” said Professor Chariot. “I don’t suppose either of you can explain why he was there” They shook their heads, both staring at Gus. He was stiff as a statue with water dripping from the sole of his shoes.
“I will escort you back to Gryffindor Tower,” said Chariot heavily. There, they met with Edalyn, who was sitting on an armchair surrounded by the Gryffindor students. She took a deep breath and started to talk when Luz and Willow joined them.
“All students will return to their House common rooms by six o’clock in the evening. No student is to leave the dormitories after that time. You will be escorted to each lesson by a teacher. No student is to use the bathroom unaccompanied by a teacher. All further Quidditch training and matches are to be postponed. There will be no more evening activities. Principal’s orders” Eda said with authority, eyeing the students like a hawk.
The Gryffindors, packed inside the common room, listened in silence. She got up and said after a deep sigh.
“I’m going to be real with you. It is likely that the school will be closed unless the culprit behind these attacks is caught. I would urge anyone who thinks they might know anything about them to come forward.” She climbed out of the portrait hole, Chariot behind her.
The Gryffindors began talking immediately.
“That’s two Gryffindors down, not counting a Gryffindor ghost, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff,” said a fourth-year, counting on his fingers. “Haven’t any of the teachers noticed that the Slytherins are all safe? Isn’t it obvious all this stuff’s coming from Slytherin? The Legatee of Slytherin, the monster of Slytherin—why don’t they just chuck all the Slytherins out?” he roared, to nods and scattered applause.
“That’s my sister you’re talking about” Emira barked, and Edric glared threateningly at everyone who had clapped. Luz noticed, half paying attention, that some Gryffindors frowned at the applause, clearly disagreeing, but were too shy to speak up. But Luz didn't really care for that.
The picture of Gus didn't leave her mind– lying on the hospital bed as though carved out of stone. It was their fault, Luz thought as her eyes met Willow’s, they had decided to not confront Hagrid and now the school was about to be closed. Without a word, they reached the same conclusion – they were going to visit Hagrid.
Neither believed Hagrid was behind it this time, but if he had set the monster loose last time he'd know how to get inside the Dead Man’s Hall and that was a start. But the students were not allowed to get out of the common room, so they needed a little bit of help.
“I guess it is time to get my dad’s old cloak out again” Luz whispered to Willow.
Later that night, when Star and Gloria finally went to sleep after staying talking about the Hall, they wore the cloak and wandered off towards the hut outside the castle. Luz had snuck around at night before, but she had never seen the castle so crowded after sunset.
Kare-Takers, teachers, prefects, head boys, head girls and ghosts, were marching the corridors in pairs, staring around for any unusual activity. Though they were invisible, they weren’t undetectable—they could still make noise.
There was a particularly tense moment when Willow stubbed her toe only yards from the spot where Lilith stood standing guard. Thankfully, Lilith sneezed at almost exactly the moment Willow swore. It was with relief that they reached the oak front doors and eased them open.
It was a clear, starry night. They hurried toward the lit windows of Hagrid’s house and pulled off the cloak only when they were right outside his front door. Seconds after they had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. They found themselves face to face with him aiming a crossbow at them. Fang, the boarhound, barked loudly behind him.
“Oh, what’re you two doin’ here?” He said, lowering the weapon and staring at them. “What’s that for?” said Luz, pointing at the crossbow as they stepped inside. “Nothin’—nothin’—” Hagrid muttered. “I’ve bin’ expectin’—doesn’ matter—Sit down—I’ll make tea—” He hardly seemed to know what he was doing.
He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand. “Are you okay, Hagrid? Did you hear about Gus?” said Luz. “Oh, I heard, all righ’,” said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice.
He kept glancing nervously at the windows. He poured them both large mugs of boiling water, he had forgotten to add tea bags and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud knock on the door.
Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Luz and Willow exchanged panic-stricken looks, then threw the Invisibility Cloak back over themselves and retreated into a corner. Hagrid checked that they were hidden, seized his crossbow, and flung open his door once more.
“Good evening, Hagrid.” It was Bump. He entered, looking deadly serious, and was followed by a second, very odd-looking man.
The stranger was bald, had big ears and tiny eyes and had an anxious expression, and was wearing a strange mixture of clothes: a pinstriped suit, a scarlet tie, a long black cloak, and pointed purple boots. Under his arm, he carried a lime green bowler. He was probably only a few centimetres taller than Luz.
“That’s Dad’s boss!” Willow breathed. “Tibblet-Tibblie, the Minister of Magic!” Luz elbowed Willow hard to make her shut up. Hagrid had gone pale and sweaty. He dropped into one of his chairs and looked from Bump to Tibblet-Tibblie.
“Bad business, Hagrid,” said Tibblie in rather clipped tones. “Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks. Things’ve gone far enough. Ministry’s got to act.”Hagrid looked imploringly at Bump. “I never, you know I never, Professor Bump, sir—” Bump frowned at the short man “I want it understood, Tibblet, that Hagrid has my full confidence,” said Bump.
“Look, Hieronymus, Hagrid’s record’s against him. Ministry’s got to do something—the school governors have been in touch—” said Tibblie, uncomfortably. “Yet again, I tell you that taking Hagrid away will not help in the slightest,” said Bump. His blue eyes were full of a fire Luz had never seen before.
“Look at it from my point of view,” said Tibblie, fidgeting with his bowler. “I’m under a lot of pressure. Got to be seen to be doing something. If it turns out it wasn’t Hagrid, he’ll be back and no more said. But I’ve got to take him. Got to. Wouldn’t be doing my duty—”.
“Take me? Take me where?” Hagrid, unable to keep it together, shouted. “For a short stretch only. As a precautionary measure only. If someone else is caught, you’ll be let out with a full apology—” said Tibblie, not meeting Hagrid’s eyes. “Not Azkaban?” croaked Hagrid.
Before Tibblet could answer, there was another loud rap on the door. Bump answered it. It was Luz’s turn for an elbow in the ribs; she’d let out an audible gasp. Mss Simone Troisoeil strode into Hagrid’s hut, swathed in a long black travelling cloak, smiling a cold and satisfied smile. Fang started to growl.
“Already here, Tibblet? Good, good…” she said approvingly. “What’re you doin’ here? Get outta my house!” said Hagrid furiously. “My dear man, please believe me, I have no pleasure at all in being inside your—er—d’you call this a house?” said Simone, sneering as she looked around the small cabin.
“I simply called at the school and was told that the principal was here.” She turned to Bump.“And what exactly did you want with me, Simone?” said Bump. He spoke politely, but the fire was still blazing in his blue eyes.
“Dreadful thing, Bump,” said Troisoeil lazily, taking out a long roll of parchment.
“But the governors feel it’s time for you to step aside. This is an Order of Suspension—you’ll find all twelve signatures on it. I’m afraid we feel you’re losing your touch. How many attacks have there been now? Two more this afternoon, wasn’t it? At this rate, there’ll be no Muggle-borns left at Hogwarts, and we all know what an awful loss that would be to the school.” Only Simone and Bump’s expressions were unchanged after the news.
“Oh, now, see here, Simone,” said Tibblie, looking alarmed, “Bump suspended—no, no—last thing we want just now…” But Simone had a quick comeback “The appointment—or suspension—of the principal is a matter for the governors, Tibbet, and as Bump has failed to stop these attacks” said Ms Troisoeil smoothly.
“Now–look, look–Simone, if Bump–can’t—can’t stop them, who can?” said Tibblie whose upper lip was sweating now. “That remains to be seen…” said Mrs Troisoeil with a nasty smile “But as all 12 of us have voted…” Hagrid leapt to his feet, his shaggy black head grazing the ceiling “An’ how many did yeh have ter threaten an’ blackmail before they agreed, Troisoeil, eh?” he roared.
“Dear, dear– you know that temper will lead you into trouble one of these days Hagrid… I wouldn't recommend shouting at the guards like that, they wouldn't like it at all” said Simone.
“Yeh can’ take Bump! Take him away, an’ the Muggle-borns–no, no one– won’ stand a chance! There’ll be killin’ next!” yelled Hagrid, making Fang cower and whimper in his basket.
“Calm yourself Hagrid” Bump said sharply “If the governors want my removal, Simone, I shall of course step aside,” he said turning to the woman. “But–” stuttered Tibblie. “No!” roared Hagrid. Bump had not taken his bright blue eyes off Simone Troisoeil’s cold grey ones.
“However,” said Bump, speaking very clearly, sounding both like advice and a warning, so that none of them could miss a word, “you will find that help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it.” For a second, Luz was almost sure Bump’s eyes flickered towards the corner where she and Willow stood hidden.
“Admirable sentiments, we shall all miss your—er—highly individual way of running things, Hieronymus, and only hope that your successor will manage to prevent any—ah—killings,” said Troisoiel bowing. She strode to the cabin door, opened it and bowed Bump out.
The Minister, fiddling with his bowler, whispered “Bad business…” and waited for Hagrid to go ahead of him, but Hagrid stood his ground, took a deep breath and said carefully, “If anyone wanted ter find out some stuff, all they’d have ter do would be ter follow the spiders. That’d lead ’em right! That’s all I’m sayin’.” Tibblie stared at him in amazement.
“All right, I’m comin’,” said Hagrid, pulling on his moleskin overcoat. But as he was about to follow Tibblie through the door, he stopped again and said loudly, “An’ someone’ll need ter feed Fang while I’m away.” The door banged shut and Willow pulled the Invisibility Cloak off.
“We’re in trouble now,” she said hoarsely. “No Bump. They might as well close the school tonight. The attacks will double with him gone.” Fang started howling, staring sadly at the closed door.