"Ezio, what do you think Hagrid took out of Gringotts back then? What could be important enough to be brought to Hogwarts for safekeeping?"
After they left Hagrid's Hut, Harry asked, puzzled.
"Obviously... something very valuable."
Ezio shrugged and gave him a mischievous answer that said nothing at all.
"You already know, don't you!" Harry said, sounding a little cross. "I'm sure I could figure it out too, but it'll take me a while."
"It's no fun if the answer's revealed the moment someone asks a question, is it? Anyway, you don't need to worry about it for now. As long as Dumbledore hasn't left Hogwarts, everything's safe."
"You mean that guy will make a move as soon as Professor Dumbledore leaves the school, right?"
Harry caught the implication in Ezio's words and congratulated himself on his cleverness.
"He wouldn't dare steal it even if he had the nerve, not with Dumbledore at school."
When they reached the castle entrance, Ezio waved goodbye to Harry. He hadn't finished the day's schedule he'd set for himself, and he needed to make up for the half hour he'd spent at Hagrid's.
Time continued to drift quietly by. After seeing the dragon egg that day and giving Hagrid some advice, Ezio hadn't spent any more time thinking about it. Harry, though, was quite invested. Once he'd finished his own studies, he began investigating every clue he could find about the mysterious object. He also started visiting Hagrid more often, since Hagrid himself was the easiest place to get information.
Hagrid was a good man, but he wasn't very good at keeping things to himself. It wasn't deliberate; he was simply rather careless by nature. Around people he knew well, or after he'd had a few drinks, anyone who knew how to draw him