"Hagrid, we hadn't heard any wild magical species had turned up in the Hunting Grounds!"
Kindhearted Hermione gave Hagrid a way to save face.
"I... I thought... Ah... I can't tell you about that. Find somewhere to sit first. Want something to drink? Coffee, or tea?"
Hagrid spoke awkwardly.
"No, we're fine!"
Hagrid seemed rather distracted. Ignoring Luo Bin's refusal, he went straight over to the fire and picked up the teapot.
Only when the scalding tea overflowed the cup and burned the back of his hand did he come to his senses.
He took the wet towel Fang brought him in his mouth and quickly cooled his hand.
"Hagrid, what's wrong?"
Hermione asked worriedly.
"Oh, nothing. It's dark, and I'm just a bit sleepy. Here, try the fresh tea. I added some orange powder."
Luo Bin took a small sip. Bitter, astringent, and sour, it was a masterpiece of culinary disaster.
"Hagrid, have you heard about what happened yesterday?"
Harry stared at Hagrid's face, afraid of missing even the slightest change in his expression.
At that, Hagrid turned his head away from the window. He had been tense all along, as though worried about unwelcome visitors.
"Oh, I heard. A girl, a fourth-year Gryffindor. Poor child. I really hope Sprout and Snape get the antidote ready soon."
"Hagrid, is that really what you think?"
At Ron's words, Hagrid reacted like a short-nosed cat whose tail had been stepped on. Anger mingled with his stern expression. "What do you mean by that?"
Hagrid's reaction made Harry, Hermione, and Ron even more certain he was connected to the Chamber Monster attacks fifty years ago.
While Harry was still trying to find the right words, Luo Bin spoke first. "Hagrid, Harry, Hermione, Ron, and I met someone. To be precise, an apparition