Encouraging Hagrid

The screams from the Forbidden Forest made the creatures within it sense malice.

They were wretched, despairing cries filled with evil, enough to make anyone tremble.

Yet when powerful beings such as Hagrid, the centaurs, and Aragog followed the sound, it vanished, and the person was gone as well.

Other than traces of magical combat, there was no damage to the surroundings. They could not determine what had happened there, nor who had let out those screams.

Hagrid reported the matter to Dumbledore. Dumbledore's response was rather calm, and Hagrid was sent away.

Of course, Hagrid still believed in Dumbledore, just as Dumbledore trusted Hagrid without reservation.

Their relationship was somewhat special. Perhaps it had something to do with Hagrid's kindness.

"Good morning, Professor Kate. Are you heading to the Great Hall for breakfast too?" Hagrid greeted Katelyle with a smile when he saw him approaching from the side on his way to breakfast.

Hagrid truly lived up to being part of the Giant Tribe. He was incredibly robust, and Katelyle looked small standing beside him.

"Yes, Hagrid!" Katelyle replied with a smile.

"Something happened in the Forbidden Forest last night. Did you hear those terrifying screams?" Hagrid lowered his head mysteriously, glanced around, and spoke with an oddly adorable air.

Katelyle's little Western-style house was the closest residence to the Forbidden Forest apart from Hagrid's hut.

So, in Hagrid's view, Katelyle should have heard the sound as well.

Katelyle smiled at that. "I heard it, but I don't really want to enter the Forbidden Forest, so I don't know what happened inside."

Hagrid smiled and said, "I don't know either. I went in to take a look, but I didn't find anything."

Katelyle smiled faintly, then looked Hagrid over. "Hagrid, do you want to become stronger?"

"Only strength can better protect what you wish to protect and earn the respect of others. Perhaps this could even help you find a woman who loves you!"

Katelyle was quite friendly toward Hagrid.

Hagrid was a kind person. His upbringing had merely been somewhat troubled, and he had devoted his life to the study of magical creatures, keeping all manner of creatures as companions.

Just the pets Hagrid kept were enough to make that obvious.

For example, there was Fluffy, the Three-Headed Dog from hell; Fang, the boarhound currently at his side; Aragog, the giant spider in the Forbidden Forest; and the Norwegian Ridgeback Norbert, whom he would soon adopt.

When it came to keeping pets, Hagrid was absolutely a genius.

However, although he had the ability to raise them, he did not have sufficient ability to keep them under control.

Furthermore, Hagrid's father had been a wizard, while his mother had been a giant.

Don't ask how they managed to have sex. That was a worldwide unsolved mystery. At the very least, Katelyle swore he had never researched it.

If he absolutely had to research it, he thought he should bring Hagrid along.

Katelyle vaguely remembered that in the Harry Potter setting, although Giants could not be classified as humans, they were considered humanity's "close relatives." Therefore, humans and Giants could still marry.

However, such "cross-species pairings" generally involved human men and female Giants, because a human mother's body could hardly endure a child with giant blood, let alone carry one through pregnancy.

Just imagine: how large would a giant baby be?

It would definitely be taller than its mother.

Considering that outcome, it would no longer be a matter of difficult childbirth, but of having one's belly burst open.

As for the topic of male Giants pairing with human women, Katelyle trembled just thinking about it...

Once, Katelyle had come across a website created by a group of Harry Potter fans, filled with all sorts of discussion topics, including one about humans and Giants getting together.

They argued fiercely, building post after post of lengthy essays. The discussion had reached well over ten thousand pages, yet they remained utterly enthusiastic.

It was definitely a topic full of fun and imagination.

Back to the normal topic.

Hogwarts' groundskeeper, Rubeus Hagrid, was a towering half-giant.

But half-giants had once been despised by the wizarding world. Like Werewolves, they were even regarded as evil "monsters."

Yet these very "monsters" had been "magical brothers" both sides desperately sought to win over during the two wizarding wars started by Voldemort.

Thanks to their enormous bodies, Giants possessed immense attack power and resilience. Aside from being somewhat slow to react, they had almost no weaknesses on the battlefield. They were born warriors.

And in Katelyle's eyes, this also meant Hagrid's body could store far greater amounts of magical power.

Just imagine a giant warrior with magical power, capable of casting powerful spells. How terrifying would that be?

Hagrid grinned after hearing this and said somewhat bashfully, "Professor Kate, you've given me a difficult question."

"I don't know how to answer you!"

"Perhaps you don't know, but I've been forbidden from using magic. Otherwise, I'll be expelled from the school."

"As for finding me a woman, that's very difficult. Giants like me are extremely rare."

Hagrid had always been rather open-minded.

He had a clear understanding of his own background. Perhaps that was why he had never married or had children.

"Hagrid, you need to change that way of thinking."

"Did Dumbledore really forbid you from using magic?"

"When you were helping Dumbledore with his affairs, did you truly never use magic?"

"You should understand Dumbledore's tolerance deeply. Besides, the truth will eventually be revealed."

"You can learn magic now and become stronger. Once the truth comes to light, stand before everyone as a powerful man and tell them that you are strong."

"You should make the most of the trust Dumbledore has given you, and do not betray it. When he is in danger, you need to bravely protect him."

After hearing Katelyle's words, Hagrid fell silent at once.

What had happened many years ago had made Hagrid a suspect. If not for Dumbledore's support and pleas on his behalf, he would have been stripped of his magic and locked in Azkaban for the rest of his life.

Therefore, Hagrid knew very well who had given him a new life.

And so, after a moment of silence, Hagrid looked at Katelyle and said, "Thank you, Professor Kate!"

"You are absolutely right. I should become stronger."

"So, are you willing to teach me Elemental Magic?"

"My instincts tell me that you said all this because you possess the power to make me stronger."

Katelyle smiled faintly. "Hagrid, you may look burly, but you have a delicate heart."

"However, I made an appointment with Severus Snape this morning to teach the children, so if possible, I will come find you this afternoon."

Hagrid smiled at that. "That would be wonderful. I look forward to your visit."