Hagrid had not been sacked, and he would continue teaching Care of Magical Creatures. At the same time, however, Hogwarts would add another Care of Magical Creatures professor: Professor Wilhelmina Grubbly-Plank, who had taught the fourth years that day.
Two professors were needed because, starting the following school year, Care of Magical Creatures would become Magical Creature Care and Research.
It would change from an elective to a compulsory subject, and the number of lessons would increase from one a week to two.
However, this change would only apply to students currently below third year.
In other words, starting the following school year, first, second, and third years would all have to take Care of Magical Creatures, with two lessons a week.
For fourth, fifth, and seventh years, it would remain an elective. As for sixth years, Hagrid and Professor Grubbly-Plank would discuss a framework for an advanced class at the end of this school year. Only then could they decide how the advanced classes for sixth and seventh years would be taught in future.
This was clearly a good thing, but because Hagrid had forgotten about it, Harry and the others, who knew nothing about it and had suddenly found themselves faced with a new Care of Magical Creatures professor, had worried for nothing.
Harry, Ron, and the others complained to Hagrid at length, saying he had made them worry for nothing. Looking very embarrassed, Hagrid apologized repeatedly and promised that nothing like this would happen again.
Yet even Harry could not believe Hagrid's promise.
Hagrid was a good person, absolutely! That much was clear from how many young wizards still liked him even after learning of his giant ancestry.
Hagrid was a loyal friend, absolutely! That was what Harry and the others liked best about him.
Hagrid was