Hagrid's Hut

On Thursday evening, Silas looked at the crooked note he had written (his handwriting had always been a weak point) and found Hermione diligently writing in the library.

"Hey, Granger," Silas handed her the note. "Hagrid—you know, the big gamekeeper I introduced you to before—invited me to his hut for tea tomorrow afternoon. Want to come along? He said his rock cakes are... well, quite unique."

Hermione looked up from a pile of books, took the note, and her eyes lit up. "Sure! I'm quite curious about Mr. Hagrid! Plus, we don't have any classes on Friday afternoon. I can head over right after Potions Class!"

On Friday afternoon, around 2:55 PM, Silas and Hermione met at the castle entrance and walked towards Hagrid's hut together. Hermione looked a little shaken.

"Potions Class was really scary just now," Hermione said, patting her chest. "Neville somehow melted his cauldron, green goo splashed everywhere, and he got burned too. Professor Snape sent him to the Hospital Wing with a dark look on his face. I hope he's okay."

Silas shrugged upon hearing this. "Longbottom... he might not be very good at things that require precise operation and strong psychological fortitude, especially in Snape's class." He paused, his tone quite calm. "But I noticed he does very well in Herbology Class. Professor Sprout often praises him. On the other hand, I'm not good at fiddling with those plants. I always feel they grow too slowly. It seems everyone has different strengths; there's no need to force things."

Hermione glanced at Silas with some surprise. She hadn't expected this guy, who usually seemed indifferent to everything and even a bit sharp-tongued, to say something so insightful. She nodded. "You're right."

They walked and talked, and soon arrived at the small, exquisite stone cottage (exquisite by Hagrid's standards) at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A stone bow and a pair of rubber boots were placed by the door. Silas walked up familiarly and knocked.

The door opened, and Hagrid's massive figure filled the entire doorway. Seeing Silas, his face broke into a simple and enthusiastic smile. "Hello, Silas!" Then he saw Hermione beside him. "And Miss Granger! Come in, come in!"

Hagrid ushered them into the warm cottage. The room was a single space, with hams and pheasants hanging from the ceiling, a roaring fire in the hearth, and a copper kettle steaming noisily. Fang, the black hound, bounded over excitedly, but upon seeing the Niffler in the cage in Silas's arms, he immediately backed away a few steps warily, letting out a low whine.

Hagrid also saw the Niffler, and a look of fondness appeared on his huge, furry face. "Niffler! Merlin's beard, what a cute creature, though they can certainly cause trouble... Oh, Fang, don't get excited, back up, it won't hurt you!"

After calming Fang, Hagrid enthusiastically invited them to sit down, brought out enormous rock cakes (hard as stone), and a drink that looked like milk tea (but had a suspicious color). "Harry Potter will be here soon too," Hagrid said excitedly. "I can introduce you! He's a remarkable boy!"

Silas politely declined the rock cakes, only picking up his cup to sniff it before putting it down. Hearing Hagrid's words, he shook his head. "Thank you, Hagrid, but I don't have any particular interest in meeting 'The Boy Who Lived'."

He changed the subject, a smile appearing on his face. "I brought you a gift, Hagrid."

As he spoke, he raised his hand and drew a circle in the air. A golden Portal instantly opened, and on the other side, a finely decorated wine cabinet filled with various bottles was clearly visible. Silas reached in and precisely took out a bottle of amber-colored Bourbon Whiskey that looked quite valuable.

"Fine Bourbon Whiskey," Silas handed the bottle to Hagrid, whose eyes instantly widened like copper bells. "From my father's collection. A small token of appreciation for your invitation."

Hagrid took the bottle, his hands trembling slightly. He looked at the wine, then at the Portal that had just disappeared, and was so excited he couldn't speak coherently. "Merlin's Beard! Silas! This... this is too precious! And your... that door! It's so convenient!"

He rubbed the bottle lovingly, clearly overjoyed. Hermione watched from the side, stunned by Silas's "gift-giving" method.

About ten minutes later, footsteps and voices could be heard from outside the cottage. Hagrid's huge body suddenly sprang up from his chair, his face blooming into a huge smile. "Oh! Judging by the voices, it must be Harry!" He excitedly walked towards the door, then listened again. "And another Weasley lad! Ron, right? Ah, his twin brothers have caused me enough trouble! Come in, come in, children!"

The door opened, and Harry Potter and Ron Weasley walked in somewhat nervously. Harry's eyes immediately fell on Silas and Hermione sitting inside, and he looked surprised. Silas's distinctive dark blue robe and red cloak were truly eye-catching.

Seeing Harry, Silas nodded politely and greeted him in a flat tone. "Uh... Potter, good afternoon."

Harry quickly responded, "Hello, Silas." His gaze was then drawn to the rock cakes on the plate, which looked incredibly hard. Perhaps he was hungry from walking, or perhaps it was a direct response to Hagrid's enthusiasm, he picked one up and tried to take a bite.

"Crack!" A crisp sound, like stones colliding, rang out.

Harry's expression froze instantly. His teeth were severely tested, and a flicker of pain flashed across his face, but he endured it, struggling to chew the biscuit that was comparable to granite.

Silas watched Harry's struggle to endure the pain and swallow, and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, asking in a tone of disbelief, "Are... are you okay?"

Harry's mouth was full of difficult-to-chew biscuit crumbs. Hearing the question, and seeing Hagrid looking at him with those big eyes full of expectation and joy, he could only force a smile and say vaguely, though incredibly sincerely (and falsely), "Uh... Yes! It's delicious!"

Hermione, sitting next to Silas, witnessed the entire process and was deeply impressed by Harry's consideration for Hagrid's feelings. She sighed inaudibly, "Such high emotional intelligence..."

Silas heard Hermione's whisper, turned his head, and asked her in a tone of pure, curious inquiry, devoid of any malice (but sounding incredibly annoying), "Isn't it really because your emotional intelligence is too low?"

Hermione was choked by his sudden "attack," her face instantly flushed red. She glared at him, both embarrassed and annoyed, and retorted in a low voice, "Saying something like that with a straight face means your emotional intelligence is also very low!"

Ron Weasley, standing nearby, watched the strange atmosphere—Harry struggling to swallow the "weapon" rock cakes, Hagrid immersed in the joy of his "cooking being recognized," and the newly acquainted Ravenclaw and Gryffindor girls already starting a small debate about "emotional intelligence"—he shivered and muttered to himself, "Maybe I shouldn't have come... The atmosphere here feels a bit weird..."

Hagrid, completely oblivious to these minor incidents, cheerfully poured "milk tea" for Harry and Ron as well, enthusiastically inviting them to sit down. The cottage immediately felt more crowded and lively. Fang excitedly weaved between everyone's legs, while the Niffler in Silas's cage began to take a keen interest in a shiny, slightly loose button on Ron's robe. This afternoon tea was destined to continue in a chaotic yet wonderful atmosphere.

Inside the cottage, everyone drank Hagrid's uniquely flavored "milk tea" (Ron cautiously took a sip and never touched it again), and the atmosphere gradually warmed up. The conversation, somehow, turned to the most unpopular professor—Severus Snape.

Harry frowned, his tone carrying clear grievance and confusion. "I really think Professor Snape hates me. Ever since my first class, he's been targeting me, finding excuses to deduct points, and always looking at me with an expression like he wishes he could throw me into a cauldron."

Hagrid was wiping his pink umbrella with a large handkerchief. Hearing this, he immediately looked up and retorted in his booming voice, "Nonsense! Harry! Why would Snape hate you? He's a professor! Although he's a bit gloomy and his words are a bit harsh, he treats all students equally... well, probably." By the end, Hagrid's voice lacked some confidence.

Silas, who had been sitting quietly, was using his finger to tease the Niffler in the cage (to prevent it from stealing Ron's button). Hearing this, he looked up at Harry, a sly smile on his face, and said in a tone as if sharing a "secret technique":

"Potter, I'll tell you a way. Next time he unreasonably makes things difficult for you, and glares at you like that, don't dodge, don't cower. Just use your eyes... greener than the greenest paint, and stare directly into his eyes. Keep staring until he becomes uncomfortable."

Harry blinked, asking half-believingly, "Will it... will it really work?" He thought the idea sounded a bit risky, possibly even pouring fuel on the fire.

Silas nodded vigorously, his tone full of certainty. "Trust me, bro." (He was thinking: These are Lily Evans' eyes! They are Snape's deepest obsession and pain! Stare at him with those eyes, and let's see how he can resist! Let's see if he can maintain that cold, deadpan expression!)

Ron, listening from the side, felt that Silas's idea, while satisfying, was too risky to implement. He scratched his red hair and asked a question he had been holding back for a while:

"Silas, I've always wanted to ask you something," Ron said. "When you talk to us and give advice, you seem quite friendly, but why do you always address us so distantly by our surnames? Like 'Potter,' 'Granger,' and calling me 'Weasley'? It sounds quite formal."

Silas's expression didn't change when asked this. He just shrugged and answered Ron's curiosity with a very simple sentence:

"Habit."

He didn't elaborate further. This habit stemmed from his deep-seated understanding of the power of "names" (from his secret magic system), and also from a certain social distance brought from his previous life. He felt that using surnames maintained necessary politeness while preserving a distance that made him feel comfortable, saving him a lot of unnecessary pleasantries and the trouble of getting too close.

This brief answer made Ron blink, seemingly not fully understanding, but he didn't press further. Hagrid, meanwhile, laughed heartily and patted Harry's back. "Did you hear that, Harry! Try Silas's method next time! Stare back with your eyes!"

Harry looked at Silas's "trust me, it'll work" expression, then thought of Snape's cold black eyes, and still felt a bit apprehensive. But this bold suggestion had indeed planted a seed in his heart. The conversation in the cottage continued boisterously, amidst rock cakes, Nifflers, and idle chatter about various Hogwarts oddities.