chapter 9

                                    

                                          

I stood there, frozen in shock in the doorway. He was sitting on a stool, the other girl straddling him on his lap. Not even 24 hours since we kissed, and he's off snogging someone else. Not even twenty four hours. My mouth slightly agape, I blinked a few tears out of my eyes, shut the door with a loud bang and ran off. They didn't even hear. I went into my dorm, locked the door so that not even Alohomora could unlock it. I slammed my face onto my bed, and started sobbing uncontrollably. I simply lay there, my face in my pillow, sobbing my eyes out. 
An hour or so later, I unlocked my dorm door and headed to the courtyard. I checked the clock; 3:30. It wasn't too late to go visit Hagrid with the other three. I fastened my cloak and went over to Hermione, who was reading a book. "'Mione, d'you want to go visit Hagrid with the other two?"
"Yes, I do, actually. I'll go get them." She got up, leaving her book on the armchair. A minute later, they all came back. I grabbed my small pearl bag and exited the portrait hole with them. 
The great grey Hippogriff, Buckbeak, was tethered in front of Hagrid's cabin. He clicked his razor-sharp beak at our approach and turned his huge head towards us. 
"Oh dear." said Hermione nervously. "He's still a bit scary, isn't he?"
"Come off it, you've ridden him, haven't you?" said Ron. 
Harry stepped forwards and bowed low without breaking eye contact or blinking. I did the same. A few seconds later, he bowed his head too. We both went up to pat his beak. "How are you?" asked Harry in a low voice, stroking his feathery head. "Missing him? But you're okay here with Hagrid, aren't you?"
"Oi!" said a loud voice. 
Hagrid had come striding round the corner of his cabin wearing a large flowery apron and carrying a sack of potatoes. Fang gave a booming bark and bounded forward. 
"Git away from him! He'll have yer fingers- oh. It's yeh lot."
Fang was jumping at me and Ron, attempting to lick our ears. Hagrid stood and looked at all of us for a split second, then turned and strode into his cabin, slamming the door behind him. 
"Oh dear!" said Hermione. 
"It's okay," said Harry, and he went up to the door, banging on it. 
"Hagrid! Open up! We want to talk to you!"
There was no sound from within. 
"If you don't open the door, we'll blast it open!" said Harry, pulling out his wand. 
"Harry, you can't possibly-" I began, but Harry cut me off. 
"Yeah, I can. Stand back-"
Suddenly, the door slammed open. 
"I'm a teacher! A teacher, Potter! How dare yeh threaten ter break down my door!"
"I'm sorry, sir." He emphasised the last word before putting his wand back into his robe. 
"Since when have yeh called me sir?" Hagrid said, looking puzzled. 
"Since when have you called me 'Potter'?"
He mumbled something about being outsmarted, and pushed us in. He started making tea, banging the kettle on every surface. He pushed some mahogany brown tea in front of us, and as I took a sip, Hermione pointed to a large barrel. "What are they, Hagrid?"
"Jus' some grubs."
"And they grow into?" questioned Ron, looking disgusted and impressed at the same time. 
"They won' grow inter' nuthin'. I got them ter feed Aragog." Then, without warning, he burst into tears. "Hagrid!" said Hermione, going around the table the long way to avoid the barrel of grubs. 
"It's him..Aragog..he's bin' gettin' ill over the summer and he isn' gettin' better..I think he's dyin'.."
After a few words of comfort, and lying that Professor Grubblyplank was a terrible teacher, Hagrid looked much more cheery as he waved us goodbye right before sunset. We arrived just in time for dinner, taking our spots at the table. I immediately began to eat, Hagrid's rock cakes were probably going to break my teeth. I took a bite of steak, as Ron stuffed five different types of food into his mouth at once. I looked at him, disgusted. I finished my food as fast as possible and headed upstairs, when suddenly, a blonde haired, tall figure bumped into me.