HP and the Parseltongue Chronicles - Chapter - 26
Added 2025-02-09 17:05:17 +0000 UTCThe moment Hagrid walked free from Azkaban, Lucius Malfoy’s carefully laid plans crumbled before his eyes. Not only had he failed to permanently remove Hagrid from Hogwarts, but his political influence over the Ministry had taken a severe hit.
Public opinion had turned against both him and the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, who had approved the unjust arrest. The Daily Prophet, under Rita Skeeter’s pen, had published multiple articles questioning why a man was imprisoned without trial and how Malfoy’s gold had manipulated the legal system for years.
The worst part?
Hagrid didn’t just return—he came back richer, stronger, and with the legal right to use magic. The entire pure-blood elite that supported Malfoy’s ideals saw this as a humiliation, a sign that Lucius was losing his grip.
At the next Stars Club meeting, Harry, Neville, Hermione, Fred, and George gathered around, going over what had just happened.
“You just know Malfoy isn’t going to let this slide,” Neville muttered, crossing his arms. “He’s lost too much to just sit back.”
“Yeah,” Fred agreed. “We made him look like a fool.”
Hermione nodded, her brow furrowed. “And more importantly, we showed everyone that he isn’t untouchable. Malfoy’s been using his wealth and Ministry ties for years to get away with everything. But now? Everyone’s questioning him.”
Harry leaned back in his chair, running a hand through his hair. “That’s exactly why we need to be ready. He won’t just take the loss. He’s going to do something—and when he does, we can’t let him catch us off guard.”
George smirked. “So, what do we do?”
“We prepare,” Harry said firmly.
Lucius Malfoy was a man who played the long game. He had spent years cultivating power, pulling strings, and keeping himself untouchable.
He would not let children take that away from him.
Sitting in the Malfoy Manor study, his fingers drummed against the polished mahogany desk as he read yet another infuriating article about Hagrid’s release. The gold-rimmed Daily Prophet headline glared at him:
"Hagrid Cleared of All Charges – Compensation Awarded! Minister Fudge Under Scrutiny!"
Lucius clenched his jaw. He had spent a fortune ensuring that the half-breed was removed from Hogwarts. He had been certain it would work. And yet, that brat Potter and his pathetic friends had interfered again.
He needed a new plan.
A better plan.
A plan that wouldn’t just silence Hagrid, but punish Harry Potter and his little club for daring to challenge him.
Slowly, a smirk crept across Lucius’s lips.
Yes… There were other ways to make Hogwarts a nightmare for them.
And this time?
They wouldn’t see it coming.
Hagrid stood at the edge of Hogsmeade, staring at the abandoned, crumbling structure before him. The once-infamous Shrieking Shack loomed in the early morning mist, its windows shattered, its wooden frame worn down by years of weather and superstition.
“It ain’t much to look at, I admit,” Hagrid muttered, shifting nervously as he glanced at Sirius Black and Remus Lupin beside him.
Sirius smirked. “You’d be surprised how much a few repairs can change a place.”
Remus gave a small chuckle. “And for the record, it was never haunted. That was just me.”
Hagrid frowned. “Eh?”
Remus sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “Back when I was a student at Hogwarts, I had nowhere to go during my transformations. Dumbledore arranged for this place to be my sanctuary. The tunnel from the Whomping Willow led here, and every full moon, I’d stay locked inside.”
Hagrid blinked in surprise. “Blimey. All them years, people thought ghosts were screamin’ in there.”
Sirius grinned. “Nah, just Remus trying not to chew his own tail off.”
Remus gave Sirius a tired look but didn’t deny it.
Sirius clapped a hand on Hagrid’s shoulder. “But here’s the thing—because of the rumors, nobody ever comes near this place. That’s why it’s so cheap. You get all this land, a big enough area to build a proper home, and the best part? No nosy neighbors.”
Hagrid’s eyes widened as he took a step closer. The land was huge, easily three times the size of his small hut at Hogwarts. There was plenty of space to build an enormous cottage, one that could fit him comfortably—something he never had before.
“…An’ it’s all mine?” Hagrid asked, almost disbelieving.
Sirius smirked. “If you sign the papers, yeah.”
Hagrid turned to Remus. “Yeh sure I won’t be botherin’ ye by livin’ here?”
Remus chuckled. “Hagrid, I’ve got a house in London now. I don’t need this place anymore. And honestly, if there’s anyone who deserves a proper home, it’s you.”
Hagrid swallowed hard. He’d spent most of his life living in the small hut on Hogwarts’ grounds, never thinking about owning a real home. But now, with 10,000 Galleons in his pocket and the support of his friends, he realized...
This was his chance.
“…Alright,” Hagrid said finally. “Let’s do it.”
Sirius whooped and clapped him on the back so hard that Hagrid nearly toppled over.
The very next day, work began.
Sirius, ever the man of action, called in a group of wizards from Diagon Alley who specialized in restoring magical buildings. The moment they arrived, they examined the old structure and agreed that it needed to be completely rebuilt. The foundation was solid, but the rest of the shack was barely holding together.
“We’ll keep the original tunnel to Hogwarts sealed for now,” Remus told Hagrid. “No need to make Hogwarts students nervous by leaving a secret passage open.”
Hagrid nodded. “Sounds smart.”
With Sirius overseeing, the builders set to work:
The walls were reinforced to accommodate Hagrid’s large frame.
Extra-wide doors and windows were added so he wouldn’t have to squeeze through.
A massive stone fireplace was built, perfect for roasting whole creatures (Hagrid insisted on this).
The roof was raised so Hagrid wouldn’t have to duck in his own home.
A private outdoor enclosure was designed for his creatures, including a special dragon perch in case Norberta ever wanted to visit.
The final touch?
A hand-carved wooden sign over the door that read:
"Hagrid’s Haven"
The weekend of Hagrid’s housewarming arrived with great excitement in Hogsmeade. The villagers, Hogwarts professors, and even a few reporters from The Daily Prophet were in attendance. Sirius Black and Remus Lupin stood proudly beside Hagrid, acting as both hosts and unofficial security for the event.
For Hagrid, this was more than just a housewarming. It was a statement—a moment of recognition and acceptance.
However, there was one small issue.
Most of Stars Club, including Harry, Neville, and Hermione, were not legally allowed to visit Hogsmeade as they were still second years. Though they had already seen the house during construction, they couldn’t officially attend the event without raising suspicion.
But, of course, rules had never stopped them before.
The night before the housewarming, the original Stars members gathered in their clubroom, going over their options.
“We know at least three ways into Hogsmeade,” Fred said, counting off on his fingers. “One’s through the Whomping Willow tunnel—which is out because it leads straight to Hagrid’s place and might get us caught.”
“The other is through Honeydukes,” George continued. “But sneaking into a busy shop in the middle of a public event is risky.”
“That leaves the third option,” Harry concluded. “The hidden passage behind the one-eyed witch statue—it leads straight to the cellar of the Three Broomsticks.”
Neville hesitated. “But won’t Madam Rosmerta notice if a bunch of kids suddenly appear in her storage room?”
“She might,” Hermione admitted. “But we won’t be staying. We’ll slip out quickly and go to one of the side alleys to drop off our gifts.”
Harry nodded. “We’re not attending the housewarming officially—we’re just there to deliver our gifts and then leave before anyone notices.”
The plan was set.
Since they couldn’t be there openly, the Stars Club put extra effort into their gifts.
Harry gifted Hagrid a custom broom rack designed for his large-sized broomstick. “For when Norberta comes to visit,” he had written in his note.
Neville grew and potted several magical plants that could protect the house from pests and dark creatures.
Hermione put together a personalized book collection on wizarding law, mythical creatures, and home maintenance charms so Hagrid could better understand his new rights as a homeowner.
Fred and George charmed a giant mug to automatically refill with his favorite drink (tea, ale, or pumpkin juice depending on the time of day).
Many other club members—especially the first-years—also sent gifts, letters, and handmade crafts, all expressing their gratitude to Hagrid. Some of their parents even purchased high-quality tools and furniture for his new home.
The next morning, Harry, Neville, Hermione, Fred, and George snuck into the hidden passageway behind the one-eyed witch statue.
It was a tight squeeze, but after crawling through the dark, dusty tunnel for what felt like ages, they finally emerged into Honeydukes’ cellar.
George peeked through a crack in the door. “Alright, the shop’s crowded, but if we move quickly, we can blend in with the customers.”
With practiced ease, they slipped out of the cellar, moving through the crowd of Hogwarts students shopping for sweets. No one questioned them as they strolled toward the back alley, where a house-elf dressed in formal wizard attire was already waiting.
Norky had volunteered to deliver their gifts directly to Hagrid.
“Master Harry,” Norky greeted with a bow. “Norky shall ensure the gifts are given with great care and respect!”
“Thanks, Norky,” Harry said, handing over the last package. “Make sure Hagrid knows they’re from all of us.”
“Of course, Master Harry!”
With their mission complete, they quickly made their way back to Hogwarts, leaving no trace that they had ever been there.
Meanwhile, the official housewarming party went off without a hitch.
The professors, Hogsmeade villagers, and even a few Ministry officials were present. Hagrid, dressed in his best fur-lined coat, greeted everyone with a beaming smile.
“This house means a lot ter me,” Hagrid said during his speech. “I spent years workin’ at Hogwarts, livin’ in a place that weren’t really mine. But now, thanks ter my friends, I finally got somethin’ that’s truly my own.”
The crowd cheered. Even Lucius Malfoy, who was in attendance due to Ministry pressure, kept his sneer hidden behind a forced smile.
By the end of the day, Hagrid was showered with gifts, well wishes, and support from nearly everyone in attendance.
That night, as the guests left, Hagrid sat by his new fireplace, holding the many letters and gifts sent by the Stars Club.
He smiled as he read Harry’s letter, chuckled at Fred and George’s enchanted mug, and got a little misty-eyed as he flipped through Hermione’s carefully annotated books.
Then he unwrapped the last package—a beautifully potted magical plant from Neville—with a small note attached:
"To Hagrid, the best mentor we’ve ever had. Welcome home."
Tears welled up in Hagrid’s eyes.
He took a deep breath, staring into the flickering flames.
The Gryffindor common room was warm and quiet, filled with the soft crackling of the fire and the hushed voices of students winding down after a long day. Harry, Neville, and Hermione were seated near the fire, going over their notes for the next issue of Stars Chronicles. Fred and George were busy designing a prank that involved enchanted chocolate frogs leaping out of people’s pockets.
Just as Harry finished scribbling a sentence in his notebook, a loud pop! echoed through the room.
CRACK!
A small, frantic figure appeared right in front of Harry, making several Gryffindors shriek in surprise.
"Harry Potter, sir!"
It was Dobby—his oversized green eyes darting around, his thin frame trembling slightly, wearing his usual ragged pillowcase.
Harry immediately set down his quill. “Dobby? What’s wrong?”
The little house-elf wrung his hands together, his long ears twitching. "Terrible news, sir! Awful news!" He hopped from foot to foot, clearly desperate to get the words out.
Hermione and Neville leaned forward. Fred and George had stopped mid-prank, their grins fading. They all knew that Dobby’s ‘urgent reports’ were often… well, less than urgent.
“What is it this time?” Hermione asked gently.
Dobby’s eyes widened as he took a deep breath. "Master Malfoy is striking again, sir! He is planning to get kind, wonderful Hagrid thrown back into Azkaban!"
Harry’s grip on the armrest of his chair tightened.
“What?” Neville asked, his voice sharp with concern. “How?”
Dobby nodded rapidly. "Master Malfoy has found out about the Acromantula colony in the Forbidden Forest! He is saying that Hagrid is raising them, and that Acromantula breeding is illegal! If the Ministry finds out, they will arrest Hagrid, and worse—they will say that Headmaster Dumbledore allowed it to happen!"
The room went dead silent.
Fred let out a low whistle. “That’s… actually a decent plan.”
George shook his head. “Yeah, I hate to say it, but Malfoy’s got a real shot at making this stick. The Ministry loves an excuse to go after Dumbledore.”
Hermione sat up straight. "We need to stop this before it gets to the Ministry."
Harry nodded. "Dobby, did Malfoy say how he’s planning to prove it?"
Dobby fidgeted. “He is sending an anonymous letter, sir! He wants the Ministry to send Aurors to investigate Hogwarts! If they find the colony, it will be all over for Hagrid!”