"... Fluffy, I remember now. Your three-headed dog," Professor Kettleburn said in realization. "I haven't heard you mention him in ages. Where is that lovely big fellow now?"
"He's in-" Hagrid had barely started speaking when his eyes suddenly widened. He slumped into his chair with a loud creak. "Ah... ah-"
He had clearly realized he had said something he shouldn't.
Professor Kettleburn didn't understand Hagrid's reaction and ventured a puzzled guess:
"What? Where? Amsterdam?"
Apparently, Professor Kettleburn didn't know that the three-headed dog was currently at Hogwarts.
"I'd guess Greece," Brian picked up the conversation. "After all, Cerberus is an important figure in Greek mythology, isn't he?"
"Right, right." Hagrid nodded repeatedly, agreeing with little confidence. "Fluffy's in Greece now. With a friend of mine."
Professor Kettleburn said regretfully:
"Really... what a shame. I've always wanted to publish a paper on 'Thought Synchronization Rates in Three-Headed Dogs'-oh, I remember!
"I heard you talking about your three-headed dog at the pub last time. I was going to find a chance to ask you about it, but then I got drunk, my mind went blank, and I forgot all about it."
"What? Silvanus, are you serious?" Hagrid shot to his feet again and asked anxiously, "When did I talk about Fluffy at the pub?"
Brian immediately took a wary half step back and steadied the violently rocking table.
Professor Kettleburn's words surprised him too. The last time he had asked Hagrid whether he'd talked about Fantastic Beasts while drinking, Hagrid had firmly answered no-and he had believed him.
"Calm down, Hagrid. Of course I'm serious... hmm, it was quite a while ago. I remember it was at the Hog's Head. You were utterly plastered, your eyes had practically disappeared, and you were roaring with laughter with your arm around a hooded