It's All Malfoy's Fault

"I hate that bloody mouth of yours."

Lee Jordan stared at the Flobberworm before him, his face gradually settling into a mask of pain.

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

"Why do we have to waste our time looking after these worms? This rubbish isn't even on the O.W.L.s." Fred glared irritably at the Slytherin students huddled together and whispering, seemingly 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 we'll get through our Care of Magical Creatures O.W.L.s." George looked toward Albert, who was talking to Hagrid, placing all his hopes on their friend.

"Are you all right?" Albert looked at the dejected, bedraggled Hagrid and said softly, "I heard about what happened yesterday."

"I'm fine."

The words seemed to have been forced from Hagrid's throat. In a hoarse voice, he said, "I should've listened to your advice instead of messing up my first lesson like this."

"Come on, pull yourself together. It's only a small setback since becoming the Care of Magical Creatures professor." Albert comforted him gently.

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

Albert looked at the dejected big man and sighed quietly, helpless over Hagrid's fragile heart. Then he asked, "Harry should have passed my message on to you yesterday, right?"

"Last night, I had a bit to drink. After Harry came over... well, I hurriedly took him back to the castle." Hagrid's memories of the previous night