Hogwarts' gates.
Hagrid clutched a pocket watch, staring at the time.
Not long ago, Hagrid had received a letter from Albert saying that he was coming to Hogwarts and would stop by to visit him on the way.
It had greatly surprised Hagrid, but he had happily come to meet his old friend.
When he heard the sharp crack of Apparition, Hagrid immediately craned his neck and looked around, yet he still did not see Albert.
"Good afternoon, Hagrid!"
A gentle voice suddenly rang out beside him. Hagrid abruptly turned his head and saw Albert appear at his side without warning, smiling as he waved in greeting.
"You're liable to give people a fright like that," Hagrid complained, though he still smiled and gave Albert a hug.
"Sorry, I needed to make sure no one was lying in wait for me," Albert explained helplessly. "You know how it is. The Dark Lord and the Death Eaters both want to get rid of me now, so I have to be careful."
Though he said that, Albert had not really taken the matter to heart. He was merely maintaining his vigilance out of habit.
In the current dreadful situation, it was still necessary to remain alert at all times.
"Don't worry, Hogwarts is very safe."
Hagrid instinctively raised a hand as if to thump his chest in assurance, but quickly realized something and changed his words. "At least, it's safe for now."
After losing Dumbledore, Hogwarts had become no safer than anywhere else in England.
"You don't seem to have been doing very well these past few days."
Albert glanced at the restored iron gates and the winged boar statues on either side, then entered the school beside Hagrid.
At this time in the past, Hogwarts would still have been holding classes.