Hogwarts: Proficiency Panel

Chapter 389 390: Tom’s Confession

Student Assistant for Care of Magical Creatures. It was arguably the grandest title Hagrid could have ever devised.

To Hagrid, it sounded far more impressive than "Junior Gamekeeper" or "Assistant Key-Keeper." It was a bit of a strategic move on his part—after all, the boy standing before him was a "celebrity" recognized across the entire Wizarding World. He couldn't have someone of Sean's stature associated with a "lowly" past occupation. In Hagrid's eyes, Sean Green was destined to be like Dumbledore—a figure radiating light and brilliance.

"Mmm. I accept," Sean said without hesitation.

He needed a place to practice his Weather-Working and Spatial charms. Before he could fully furnish the tailored habitats within his Wizard's Tome, he needed a secure location to interact with and house magical beasts. And what place was more suitable than the Forbidden Forest?

"Thank yeh! Thank yeh! Brilliant!" Hagrid's beard practically twitched with joy.

And so, the Forbidden Forest welcomed a new guardian—or, officially, a Student Assistant.

It had to be noted that the Gamekeepers of Hogwarts seemed to have a penchant for "extraordinary exploits." The previous guardian, Hagrid, had famously attempted to raise a fire dragon in a wooden hut and kept a three-headed dog named Fluffy. His successor, Mr. Green, had already used the forest to store a Basilisk and decimate a colony of Acromantulas before he had even officially started the job.

"Have you ever heard of an Assistant Professor that young?" Ron whispered as they walked back.

"Given Sean's knowledge of magical creatures," Hermione noted, thinking of how Sean had been personally invited by Master Newt Scamander, "he could probably teach ten of you, Ron."

Ron's eyes went wide. "Don't be ridiculous, Hermione... I reckon it's more like a hundred!"

Harry let out a bark of laughter, though he quickly fell silent as he thought about it. Actually... that sounds about right.

The wind rustled through the neat hedges surrounding Hagrid's hut. The lawn swayed silently under a sky of pale blue and soft pink. As the hour for afternoon tea passed, Hogwarts Castle settled into a lazy, festive atmosphere.

As the sun dipped below the treetops, the giant wizard called out a booming farewell:

"See yeh at the feast! And mark me words—there's a surprise waitin' for yeh all!"

Hagrid's voice echoed through the empty trees.

"A surprise? Blimey, since when could Hagrid keep a secret?" Ron asked, looking genuinely surprised.

With a sense of quiet anticipation, the group returned to the castle. At this final feast of the Christmas holidays, everyone was eating with gusto—including the students who had just returned from the train. The initial melancholy of leaving home had been dispelled by gossip about recent events and several large helpings of apple pie.

The Great Hall was magnificent. A dozen frost-covered trees stood against the walls, thick garlands of holly and mistletoe were draped across the ceiling, and enchanted, warm snow fell softly from above.

Sean and the others had just taken their seats, wondering what Hagrid's surprise could be, when Professor Dumbledore arrived. The chatter in the hall died down to a respectful hum.

"Another term has passed!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Before we lose ourselves in these delectable dishes, I must trouble you to listen to the ramblings of an old man."

Every neck in the hall craned forward. Sean's circle shared a look; they knew the surprise was starting.

"Long ago, before I chose to become the Headmaster of this school, a horrifying tragedy occurred within these walls."

The Hall went deathly silent. Every student remembered the recent newspaper reports.

"Yes, exactly like the reports you have read. Imagine, if you will, the situation faced by the Headmaster of that time, Armando Dippet."

Dumbledore produced a black, tattered notebook. He tapped it with his wand, and the diary began to emit a voice—a recording of a confession:

"It was I who framed Hagrid.

Imagine what Armando Dippet saw. On one side, me—Tom Riddle. Poor but brilliant, parentless but brave, a school Prefect and a model student. On the other side was big, blundering Hagrid, getting into trouble every other week.

I must admit, even I didn't expect the plan to work so smoothly. I thought surely someone would realize that Hagrid couldn't possibly be the Heir of Slytherin. I had spent five years scouring the castle for the Chamber, finding the secret entrance... did Hagrid have that kind of mind? That kind of power?

Only the Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore, believed Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded Dippet to keep him on as Gamekeeper. Yes, I suspect Dumbledore knew. He never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers..."

The voice pulled the entire school into the shadows of the past. They were listening to the self-portrait of a murderer. Several younger students began to tremble.

"I bet Dumbledore saw right through him from day one," Harry whispered. The others nodded in grim agreement.

The voice from the diary continued—arrogant, loathsome, and chillingly detached:

"After Hagrid was expelled, Dumbledore kept a close watch on me. It was most annoying. I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school. But I didn't want my years of research to go to waste. I decided to leave behind a diary. One day, with luck, I would be able to lead another to follow in my footsteps and finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work—to purge the school of every Mudblood—"

The voice turned sinister, and a collective shudder ran through the Muggle-born students. They were listening to a death threat from the past.

"Th-that diary..." Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff stammered.

"Yes, the diary has manifested. It is here in my hand," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "And as you can guess, a grueling battle took place in a location unknown to most of us. Therefore, I have a few points to award. Let me see...

"To Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley, for bravely following the guidance of a partner and finding the means to destroy the dark magic within this book—I award one hundred points each!"

A roar of astonishment erupted. The Gryffindors finally realized where their massive surge in points had come from.

[End of Chapter 390]

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