Hogwarts: Proficiency Panel

Chapter 388 389: Sean’s Forbidden Forest

Beyond the vibrant green of the Great Lawn, the Forbidden Forest loomed, dark and impenetrable. The treetops rustled in the biting wind, and the branches of the ancient beeches shivered, shedding fine white dust from the recent snow.

A small owl streaked through the plumes of grey smoke rising from the chimney of Hagrid's hut, veering sharply toward the castle and vanishing behind the high stone walls of the Owlery.

Sean looked down and spotted Hagrid in front of his hut, digging into the earth with immense gusto. He understood immediately what the gamekeeper was doing; it was time to clear a new patch for the spring vegetables.

Hagrid looked better than Sean had ever seen him. His face was flushed a deep, healthy red, and his eyes were downcast as he focused his enormous hands on the spade. A wide, joyful grin was visible even behind the tangled mass of his black beard.

Every few minutes, his gaze would drift toward a stack of newspapers sitting on his windowsill. He would drop the spade, scramble over, and pull one of the papers open, his beard trembling the moment his eyes hit the print.

HOGWARTS GAMEKEEPER EXONERATED: THE TERRIFYING TRUTH OF A WIZARD'S PAST!

This was the headline of the most daring publication in the Wizarding World. No wizard in Britain could have ignored such a bold statement. Aside from the eye-catching title, the content was unexpectedly gripping, written with a sense of high drama and mystery.

Tracing the story from the ancient legends of Hogwarts to the harrowing investigative journey of several young students, the sub-headings alone were enough to keep the readers hooked:

Ancient Secrets... Echoes in the Corridors... The Bloodied Blade... The Flight of the Spiders... The Heart-Stopping Truth...

Although the report avoided listing the students' names directly to maintain their privacy, the massive awards of House points mentioned in the text left a very clear trail for anyone paying attention.

"Hagrid," Sean called out as they approached.

"Ah!" Hagrid's head snapped up. Seeing Sean and the others, he dropped his hoe instantly. "It's you lot! Come in, come in—quickly now!"

The group followed him into the warmth of the hut.

"Blimey, thank yeh... oh, I don't even know how to say it..." Hagrid's hands were shaking slightly as he busied himself pouring mugs of steaming pumpkin juice. "That man... the one who stayed hidden in Hogwarts for so long... I never would've guessed. Only Sean, and Professor Dumbledore, knew the whole story. It's over now. It's finally over. Everyone knows. I... I always told meself it didn't matter, but..."

A look of profound, long-awaited relief washed over his face.

"It was nothing, really," Ron said, speaking up to break the heavy silence that was beginning to settle over the room.

"Hardly nothing," Hermione noted pointedly. "The greatest danger was neutralized before it could even begin."

Everyone knew exactly what she meant. If Sean hadn't discovered the Basilisk and somehow—impossibly—defeated it, there was no telling how much damage a heartless Voldemort would have inflicted on the school.

Hermione's mind raced with the possibilities: students petrified in the halls; Hagrid, framed once more, being dragged back to Azkaban; and even worse, Professor Dumbledore potentially being suspended for failing to protect the castle. Hogwarts would have been defenseless.

"Sean, could yeh... could yeh come here a moment?"

Hagrid had always been a man of rough edges and a soft heart. Sean didn't mind the man's physical expressions of affection, provided they didn't involve his ribs being rearranged. But today, there was no escaping the gamekeeper's reach.

Hagrid knelt down, and for a second, Sean felt something wet against the side of his face. The half-giant was fighting with every ounce of his will to keep his composure. Sean could feel the care in the way Hagrid pulled him into a brief, crushing hug before letting go.

"Thank yeh. Thank yeh," Hagrid whispered. After wiping his eyes with the back of a sleeve, he seemed to vibrate with a renewed, infectious energy.

He insisted they all stay for tea, then shouldered his hoe and headed back out to the garden to harvest a few late-season pumpkins for them to take back.

"Oh, and another thing," Hagrid called out over his shoulder as he reached the patch. "Professor Dumbledore gave me some grand news today... for next term. I can't even find the words for how excited I am, but yeh'll find out soon enough. It's all thanks to you lot, it really is..."

"What news?" Ron asked, his curiosity instantly piqued.

"Oh, it isn't officially settled yet, but yeh'll know by the start o' term." Hagrid began whistling a jaunty tune as he disappeared into the greenery.

"What do you reckon it is?" Harry asked, looking bewildered.

Sean, however, had a very good idea. Professor Kettleburn, the current Care of Magical Creatures teacher, was due to retire at the end of the year. According to the old man, he wanted to spend his remaining years enjoying the use of his "last few original limbs."

Dumbledore was likely planning to announce that Rubeus Hagrid would be filling the post, allowing him to combine his duties as Gamekeeper with a formal teaching position.

It was hard to overstate how much this would mean to Hagrid. His sense of belonging to Hogwarts was absolute; being named a Professor was the highest honor he could imagine receiving.

Until now, Hagrid hadn't been considered a fully qualified wizard. He had been expelled in his third year for a crime he didn't commit. Only now, with his name cleared, was the path finally open.

"Sean, could yeh give me a hand for a second?" Hagrid asked, poking his head back around the door. There was a bashful, almost timid smile on his face.

Under the curious gazes of his friends, Sean nodded and walked out into the vegetable garden.

"Blimey, I can't keep it from yeh," Hagrid whispered once they were out of earshot. "I know how hard yeh worked for this. Yeh've helped me more than anyone..."

Hagrid looked positively radiant. "Professor Dumbledore says Kettleburn's retiring before next term... and he wants me to take the job."

"Congratulations, Hagrid," Sean said with a genuine smile. "So, what did you need my help with?"

"Oh... was it that obvious?" Hagrid scratched his head sheepishly.

Sean just smiled, his eyes clearly saying, It's fine, just tell me.

To Hagrid, the boy looked more like Dumbledore than ever in that moment. As for the rumors that Sean would one day surpass the Headmaster, Hagrid was already a firm believer.

"Well, alright. It's just... being a Professor is gonna be a lot o' work," Hagrid said, a sweet, nervous smile playing on his lips. "I'm gonna be busy as anything. Look at yer parents—they're always on the move, never a moment's rest!"

At the mention of his parents, Sean's eyes flickered, but he remained a silent, attentive listener.

"So, yeh see, I can't look after the Forest all on me own anymore. A lot o' the creatures in there—they're just babies. They need mindin'. And you're the only one I trust to help me manage 'em. I won't take up too much o' yer time, mind, but when I'm tied up with classes, I was hopin' I could call on yeh—through that clever map o' yours."

Hagrid looked at the Project Map in Sean's hand with a look of sincere entreaty.

"If yeh're willing, I'll ask Professor Dumbledore to name yeh as my formal Student Assistant for Care of Magical Creatures."

The joy on the half-giant's face was unmistakable.

[End of Chapter 389]

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