Betrayal? Dumbledore Was No Saint Either (5)

Ron moved before him. He pulled a bulging cloth bag from inside his robes.

The bag did not look large, but when he reached inside, his entire forearm disappeared into it. He rummaged around for a while and pulled out a paper packet still steaming with heat. Inside were four neatly stacked, golden-brown pies.

He did not stop. He reached in again, rummaged again, and pulled out more—two dozen piping-hot beef pies, an entire uncut loaf of bread, a large block of cheese, half a roast chicken, a jug of pumpkin juice, and even a small bottle of Butterbeer.

Harry and Hermione stared at him wide-eyed.

"W-what?" Ron's face flushed bright red. "I was just worried Hagrid hadn't eaten, so I grabbed a few things."

Hermione looked at the cloth bag in his hand, which was still producing food, and raised her eyebrows high. "Is that an Undetectable Extension Charm?"

"Yeah." Ron answered vaguely as he continued taking things out. "George gave it to me. He told me not to tell Mum."

Harry could not help laughing. It was the kind of laugh that burst out when something suddenly poked at you in the depths of overwhelming sadness. Hagrid laughed too. The sound squeezed out of his throat, as if something that had been pressed down for far too long had finally loosened.

The chains rattled as his body leaned forward slightly, the muscles in his shoulders taut.

Ron pulled the last apple pie from the bag, tied it shut, and stuffed it back into his robes. He looked at Hagrid, his voice a little hoarse. "Eat."

Hagrid reached out, grabbed a beef pie, and stuffed it into his mouth. After chewing twice, he grabbed another. He ate quickly; it was obvious he was starving. Pie crumbs fell onto the