Hagrid's Curiosity About Abei

After listening to Aaron's analysis, Hermione fell silent.

She knew Aaron was right, but didn't that mean there was nothing they could do?

"But if that's what you're saying, then all we can do is sit around and wait?"

"Not necessarily. You can simply stay out of it and adapt to whatever happens."

Noticing Hermione's unfriendly look, Aaron shrugged. "All right! No more jokes. For now, all you can do is look for evidence.

Ideally, you should confirm who's behind this. As long as you have solid proof, every problem will be easily solved."

Hermione frowned slightly. "That won't be easy at all."

"No, actually, it isn't as difficult as you think.

You know someone wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, you know where it is, and you know what guards that place.

In other words, you have some initiative."

Realization dawned on Hermione, and some of the worry faded from her face. "Right. If this person wants to steal the Philosopher's Stone, they have to get past the Three-headed Dog.

Which means... Hagrid!"

Aaron snapped his fingers. "Looks like you know what to do."

"Mm! As long as Hagrid hasn't revealed how to get past the Three-headed Dog, the Philosopher's Stone is still safe.

Once he does reveal it, that means the person behind this has already started acting." Hermione nodded firmly.

"Exactly. Hermione, you're even smarter than I thought."

Hermione smiled shyly, a faint blush appearing on her face. After hesitating for a moment, she made a decision.

"Aaron, I want to ask you to help us. Is that okay?"

"Me?" Aaron's expression turned a little strange. "It's not impossible, but Harry and the others probably won't agree to let someone as close to Snape as I am join your plan."

"Then we'll keep it from them for now," Hermione said. "You're wiser than all of us. With your help, things will be much easier.

Please."

"All right!" Aaron shook his head with a wry smile. "I really am not very good at refusing requests from pretty girls."

"Hehe!" Hermione smiled awkwardly, then picked up the book. "Then I'll go find Harry and the others first. The two of them have been looking for Nicolas Flamel for so long. It's about time their wish came true."

"Wait!" Aaron suddenly called after her. "I still think I should tell you one of my guesses.

Since someone wants the Philosopher's Stone, they must know about it. That's an important clue.

In other words, they aren't some ordinary student. Do you understand?"

Hermione froze for a moment, and her pretty face grew more solemn. "You mean there's a traitor on the inside?"

"I didn't say that, but it is possible.

So aside from Hagrid and Dumbledore, you'd better not trust anyone, especially the professors at school.

If you happen to run right into the culprit, you'll be in serious trouble."

"Got it!" Hermione said. She picked up the book and left down the aisle.

"That should count as warning them." Aaron stroked Abei in his arms, then placed the dragon encyclopedia on the table and continued teaching it how to identify its own kind.

When he turned to the page on Norwegian Ridgebacks, he suddenly noticed a shadow had fallen over the desk.

Looking up, he saw the giant Hagrid smiling at them, his thick beard twitching.

"Hagrid, you actually came to the library? That's rare!

Let me guess, are you looking for a book about pets? Has that little darling in the Forbidden Forest been acting up again?"

"How could that be? They're all quite well-behaved."

"Then what are you doing in the library?"

"I'm just looking around!" Hagrid stammered, but Aaron keenly noticed that his gaze kept drifting toward the dragon encyclopedia.

"You want this encyclopedia?" Aaron asked meaningfully.

"How could I?" Hagrid laughed awkwardly. "All right! I do want to take a look.

The things recorded in your book are very detailed—habits, diet, hatching guides, and so on. It's far more detailed than any book in the library.

So, could you..."

"Um..."

Before Aaron could speak, Abei leaped straight onto the encyclopedia, pressed its white paw against it, and shook its head vigorously.

"I'm afraid not.

As you can see, our Abei is rather possessive.

If it won't agree to give it to you, there's nothing I can do."

"All right!" Hagrid nodded regretfully. "Then when will you be done reading it?

As far as I know, there's a time limit on borrowing books from the library.

Once you're done, you have to tell me right away.

How about I go have a word with Madam Pince now? Once you're finished, I'll have her save this book for me."

At those words, Abei, which had previously only shown displeasure, began baring its teeth. It angrily snapped the encyclopedia shut and squatted on top of it with its entire body.

Hagrid: ...

"Aaron, I can see that it doesn't want to part with it, but this is school property after all."

"Grrr!"

Abei let out an angry low growl that no cat could possibly make. It was quiet, but both Hagrid and Aaron, standing so close, heard it clearly.

"This is..." Hagrid's eyes lit up as he stared at the tightly wrapped-up "White Cat" before him, his gaze filled with boundless interest.

Damn! We've been exposed? Aaron cursed inwardly. He immediately pressed down on Abei's dragon head, pulled it into his arms, and covered its dragon mouth so it couldn't make another sound.

It was uncomfortable, but Abei knew it had given itself away just now, so it could only obediently cooperate with its owner.

"Aaron, your cat seems a little different!" Hagrid looked at him meaningfully as his two enormous hands slowly reached toward Abei.

He moved very slowly, as though afraid of frightening the little creature.

"What are you trying to do?" Aaron asked darkly. Hagrid looked exactly like a kidnapper trying to lure away a child, so Aaron had no choice but to be wary.

Hagrid sheepishly withdrew his hands, an awkward yet polite smile appearing on his face.

"I'm just curious. Yes, curious," Hagrid said. "My knowledge of animals is among the best in the entire Magic World, but this is the first time I've seen such a special... cat."

At that point, Hagrid suddenly paused and cautiously looked around. "Aaron, is it possible that Abei isn't actually a cat?

I'm certain that sound just now wasn't something any breed of cat could make."

"I don't know what you're talking about.

Abei is just an ordinary White Cat. It's been with me since it was born."

"I understand, I understand!" Hagrid lowered his voice and said meaningfully, "Could it be that Abei looks like a cat on the outside, but is actually another species?

What I mean is, perhaps it's a rare breed among cats.

You know, caring for rare breeds requires great care. If you need help, I'd be more than willing..."

"You don't need to worry about that," Aaron cut him off. He made it sound so nice, but wasn't he really just coveting my Holy Dragon?

"Haha! I was only saying." Hagrid laughed, then finally remembered why he had come. "Aaron, when will you be done with that encyclopedia?"

"I have no idea.

This book was sent to me by one of my uncles. It isn't school property, so you should stop thinking about it."

"This..." Hagrid froze. He had never expected that.

"Then could you lend it to me for a few days after you're finished?

I need it urgently."

Hearing that, Aaron looked the honest giant up and down with a teasing expression. "Since when were you so interested in dragons?"

"I've always been especially interested in dragons." Hagrid's eyes shifted as he explained, "There are many magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest, but no dragons.

To be honest, I've always wanted to raise a dragon, but I don't have the means, and the Ministry of Magic wouldn't allow it anyway.

So I can only learn a little by reading books, barely satisfying my wish."

"Is that so?

I don't know when I'll finish it, but I can promise you that once I do, I'll lend it to you." As he spoke, Aaron instinctively hugged Abei tighter, then picked up the encyclopedia from the table and left down the corridor.

Hagrid narrowed his eyes as he watched Aaron's departing back and murmured softly, "That definitely wasn't a cat, but what species was it? Or was it some magical creature that had never appeared before?

I'm so curious! I need to find a way to borrow it and take a look."