They stopped some distance away, where a cluster of enormous pumpkins happened to hide them from view.
"It's quite simple once you know how!"
Lockhart was speaking loudly to Hagrid.
"If you need any help, just come and find me. You know where I am!
I'll give you a copy of one of my books-I'm astonished you haven't got one already.
I'll sign it and send it over tonight. With an autographed photograph thrown in! That's a special privilege reserved for Hogwarts staff!
Right, goodbye!" He shook out his magnificent purple robes and strode toward the castle.
They waited until Lockhart was out of sight before emerging from the pumpkin patch, walking up to the cabin, and knocking eagerly on the door.
Hagrid came out at once, looking furious, but his face broke into a broad smile when he saw who was outside.
"Been wondering when you'd come to see me-come in, come in-I thought Professor Lockhart had come back."
Hagrid busied himself making tea. His enormous boarhound, Fang, affectionately thrust his head toward Zhang Xiao, his thick tail whirling like an electric fan.
Once again, Ron was the one getting hit by it...
"What did Lockhart want, Hagrid?" Harry asked, stroking Fang's glossy black coat.
"To teach me how to keep water demons out of the well!" Hagrid said indignantly.
He removed a half-plucked rooster from the scrubbed table and set down the teapot.
"As if I didn't know. Then he started boasting about how he'd driven out a ghost. If there's a word of truth in any of it, I'll eat this teapot."
Criticizing a Hogwarts teacher was completely unlike Hagrid, and the three little ones stared at him in surprise.
Hermione tried to defend Lockhart, but his performance really hadn't been very convincing.
So, with a rare