Outside Hagrid's Hut, Harry knocked frantically, but Hagrid gave no answer. All they could hear was Fang scratching restlessly at the door and whining low in his throat.
Ron even went around to tap on a window, but Hagrid still did not respond.
"Why won't he talk to us?" Harry muttered, his brow furrowed in bewilderment. "Does he really think we'd hold it against him for being half-giant?"
Yet that seemed to be exactly the case. For an entire week, Hagrid vanished from Hogwarts.
Malfoy took the opportunity to kick him while he was down. Whenever a professor was present and he was certain Harry would not dare hit him, he would lower his voice and ask with spiteful glee, "What, missing your half-giant friend?"
Every time, Harry was furious, but all he could do was grit his teeth. There was nothing he could do about Malfoy!
It was not until mid-January that Harry suddenly remembered he still had a tournament to compete in.
"Don't tell me you still haven't solved the Golden Egg's riddle?" Jerry asked, looking at him in disbelief.
"I... I've been so busy trying to find Hagrid. He keeps avoiding me, and I forgot all about the tournament!" Harry sounded flustered. "Jerry, have you already figured out the Golden Egg's secret?"
"I think you're the only one of the five champions who hasn't!" Jerry was at a loss for words. "Haven't you had any hints at all?"
In fact, grateful for Harry's help in the previous task, Cedric had already given him a few clues in private. But Harry was hardly feeling kindly toward Cedric these days. He did not want help from someone who was always strolling through the corridors arm in arm with Cho Chang.
"To be honest, Jerry, Cedric did give me a