Warthog Ribs

"Maybe I should transplant the scallions I planted. My scallions underground never see the sun and have been wilting lately." Anduin's mood lifted upon seeing the vegetable patch, and his steps quickened as he approached the hut.

"Hagrid! Hagrid! Are you there?" Anduin shouted towards the hut.

The hut door creaked open.

Hagrid emerged, stooping low. Seeing Anduin, he greeted him warmly.

"Anduin, it's been a while. Come in, come in!" Hagrid enthusiastically welcomed Anduin into the hut. Only then did Anduin get a chance to see the full interior.

Hagrid's hut had only one room. Hams, sausages, and pheasants hung from the ceiling. Inside, there was a fireplace, with a massive wooden table and chairs in front of the hearth. In a corner of the room stood a large bed with a patchwork quilt. Coats and tools like hammers and axes hung on the adjacent wall. Next to the only sofa, a large crossbow and a pink umbrella were placed.

"Hagrid, your place may be small, but it has everything!" Anduin was in a good mood today, especially after seeing the vegetable patch next to Hagrid's hut.

"Haha, what's so great about this shabby place of mine? What brings you here today?" Hagrid scratched his head with a hint of shyness and quickly invited Anduin to sit.

"I've wanted to visit you for a while. I just started school recently, and there's a lot to get used to at Hogwarts. I'm in a good mood today, so I thought I'd come see you." Anduin grinned as he placed a large bag of seasonings on the table and climbed onto the big wooden chair inside.

"You're very welcome, Anduin. I didn't get a chance to congratulate you on starting school before." Hagrid smiled, looking at Anduin. He then took a closer look and noticed Anduin was wearing a Slytherin robe, exclaiming in surprise, "Heavens, Anduin, how did you, how did you end up in Slytherin House? I didn't even notice."

"Yes, I didn't expect it either. I was surprised when the Sorting Hat sorted me." Hearing this question always reminded Anduin of that annoying hat.

"But I remember you telling me you weren't Muggle-born? Slytherin doesn't seem to have many Muggle-born wizards, do they?" Hagrid said with an exaggerated expression.

"Yes, I've always been curious about my house choice. Hagrid, I'm only telling you this." Anduin liked the honest giant and decided to share his long-held suspicion, speaking mysteriously.

"Mmm-hmm-hmm." Hagrid nodded vigorously, his eyes wide as he looked at Anduin.

"You know, the Sorting Hat decides which house you go to. I suspect that hat was up to something. When I put it on, I clearly heard it say I'd fit in almost any house. After arguing with it for a bit, that hat put me in Slytherin. It must have seen I was Muggle-born and held a grudge!" Anduin told Hagrid his long-held suspicion.

To Anduin, denying the outcome to defend himself was a sign of weakness. Therefore, he never showed any dissatisfaction with being sorted into Slytherin in front of others. In fact, Anduin had already accepted the result. But Hagrid possessed a childlike innocence that Anduin rarely saw, so he decided to complain a little to him.

"Goodness, how could that happen? But they say the Sorting Hat has never made a mistake. Did you do something to make it particularly angry?" Hagrid handed Anduin a cup and poured him some water.

Does wanting to take it apart count? Anduin thought to himself.

"Now that you're in Slytherin, have those bad Pure-bloods caused you any trouble? I dislike them immensely. Many Dark Wizards and Death Eaters come from Slytherin. You have to be careful in the future." Hagrid continued, looking at Anduin.

Anduin wasn't sure if Hagrid was warning him about safety or about becoming a Dark Wizard, but he assured Hagrid he would be careful.

"Since entering the school, I've mostly kept to myself, only going to classes and nowhere else. So don't worry, Hagrid. Anyway, let's not talk about that. Look what I brought you." Anduin changed the subject to food.

Anduin not only liked Hagrid but also the place where Hagrid lived. The surroundings were open and beautiful, making one feel refreshed and happy. He found himself talking with Hagrid for a while longer.

"Here's chili sauce, sesame paste, bay leaves, soy sauce, and sesame seeds. I brought a lot of seasonings. I'm tired of the food in the Great Hall. I saw you have many vegetables growing outside your house. How about I cook a few dishes for you to try?" Anduin's spirits rose as he talked about food, excitedly telling Hagrid.

Hagrid knew Anduin's cooking skills. He had previously tasted Anduin's stir-fried Dragon Liver, which was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted. Because of this, Hagrid had a deep impression of Anduin and viewed him in a new light.

"That would be wonderful! I have quite a few good things here lately. You've come at the perfect time." Hagrid became very excited when Anduin mentioned food and immediately introduced him to his "collection."

"Look, Professor Kettleburn gave me this a few days ago: a pork chop and a large piece of pork leg from a Hogwarts's wild boar." Hagrid opened a large cabinet in the corner of the house, displaying the frozen ingredients, and said to Anduin.

Anduin stared, dumbfounded. It was more than just a large piece; the combined size of the chop and leg was probably bigger than a whole pig in the Muggle World. Although Hagrid's house had only one room, all the furniture, including the house itself, was giant-sized. Otherwise, it would be impossible for these two massive pieces to fit in the cabinet.

"More magical creature meat? Is it edible?" Anduin asked, looking at the giant pork chop.

"No problem, the meat is chewier than ordinary pork. I was planning to use the pork leg to cure a ham, and the pork chop was meant for feeding a Fwooper. Professor Kettleburn's Fwooper had a litter, and he's giving me one. I'll take it once it's weaned, and then I'll have a new member here."

So, you're planning to feed a whole slab of magical creature meat to a dog? Anduin almost couldn't keep up with Hagrid's train of thought. Has it reached this level of extravagance?