With a few minutes to go before midnight, Harry, Ron, and Hermione arrived outside Hagrid's Hut together.
Hagrid was already waiting there.
Since the Halloween feast, Hagrid's dress habits had changed considerably. Harry and the others had hardly seen his once-favorite moleskin overcoat again.
In its place was an oversized wool trench coat, definitely custom-made. His hair and beard were always neatly groomed too, a complete departure from his former scruffy appearance.
If his slightly large belly had not spoiled the effect a little, Hagrid could now have passed for a supersized stylish hunk! With his height of over three meters and his burly build, he had both masculinity and a reassuring presence in spades.
Still, even for Hagrid, whose appearance had changed so much, holding a bouquet of flowers seemed rather unusual.
"Hagrid, what's this supposed to mean?" Harry was the first to emerge from concealment.
He had not used a Disillusionment Charm or any similar magic. His Invisibility Cloak was still gathered in his left hand, far more convenient than any spell and much more effective.
After he appeared, Ron and Hermione revealed themselves in turn.
Their sudden appearance startled Fang, who was beside Hagrid. He whined twice, then hid behind Hagrid. Well, this enormous dog, whose size rivaled Sirius-no, the enormous dog Sirius turned into-was still as timid as ever.
But he knew Harry and the others very well. Once he was sure it was them, he immediately bounded out again, wagging his tail.
Ron slipped an arm around his neck with practiced ease and gave him a good scratch. Fang rolled belly-up in pleasure, kicking his legs and letting out a string of snuffling noises through his nose.
"Er, you've all learned the Disillusionment Charm? Well, considering the Triwizard Tournament's about to start, I suppose that's