It's All Malfoy's Fault

"I hate your big mouth."

Lee Jordan stared at the Flobberworm before him, his face gradually taking on a mask of misery.

Just as Albert had said, that little idiot Malfoy had successfully destroyed Hagrid's confidence in teaching—and ruined Care of Magical Creatures class in the process. Aside from the first lesson of term, all of Hagrid's other classes had become terribly dull. Every student had to learn how to care for Flobberworms!

"Why do we have to waste our time looking after these worms? O.W.L.s don't even test this stuff." Fred glared irritably at the Slytherin students huddled together and whispering, apparently considering how to cause trouble for the person who had ruined their class.

"I hope Albert can get Hagrid back on his feet. Otherwise, I seriously doubt our Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L.s will amount to anything." George looked toward Albert, who was speaking with Hagrid, placing all his hopes on their friend.

"You all right?" Albert looked at the dejected and disheveled Hagrid before him and said softly, "I heard about what happened yesterday."

"All right."

The words seemed to have been painfully forced from Hagrid's throat. He said hoarsely, "I should've listened to your advice instead of messing up the first lesson like this."

"Come on, pull yourself together. This is only a small setback since becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor," Albert comforted him softly.

"...A small setback. Easy for you to say. It's not you..."

Albert looked at the dejected big man and could not help sighing softly, helpless in the face of Hagrid's fragile heart. "Harry should have passed my message on to you yesterday, right?"

"Last night, I had a bit to drink. When Harry came by... well, I hurriedly took him back to the castle." Hagrid's memory of the