A trip into the Forbidden Forest, an encounter with Mooncalves

Filch charged toward Argus with a roar, but the instant he saw Mrs. Norris...

He froze!

"My Mrs. Norris has become so beautiful!"

He could hardly believe it. The cat who had been with him for so many years seemed to have changed bodies after just a few minutes out of his sight.

If not for Mrs. Norris's deep green eyes, Filch would almost have thought she was a pet Argus had brought in from outside.

"Mr. Filch, Mrs. Norris really is a beautiful cat."

"What... what did you call me?"

Filch wondered whether his ears were playing tricks on him.

In all his years at Hogwarts, he had never heard a young wizard address him with anything other than all sorts of bizarre, nasty nicknames!

Even when the professors addressed him, it was merely a formality.

It never came from the heart!

But Argus was different. There was no annoyance or contempt in the way he looked at him!

He looked at him exactly as he would any other wizard!

It made him feel a respect he had never experienced before, yet had always dreamed of.

"Mr. Filch, if that form of address bothers you, I can use another."

"No, no! That one's fine!"

Afraid Argus would start giving him nicknames like the other young wizards, Filch hastily shook his head.

"That's good. About Mrs. Norris, I'd suggest paying some attention to her hygiene."

"If possible, try giving her more fruit."

Argus had kept a cat for a while in his previous life, so he had some experience with them.

He had wanted to suggest getting Mrs. Norris vaccinated and feeding her some nutritious cat food.

Then he remembered this was the wizarding world and changed what he was going to say.

Filch fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"I'll keep that in mind."

He took an oil lamp from his office and picked up Mrs. Norris.

"Come on. I'll take you to the Forbidden Forest."

Seeing Argus's thin wizarding robes, he hesitated for a moment.

He spoke stiffly.

"The Forbidden Forest isn't like the castle. You'd better go back and put on a few more layers."

"Hagrid is an experienced keeper. As long as you stay close to him, you won't be in danger."

"Thank you for the reminder, Mr. Filch. I've already put on extra clothes under my robes."

Argus did not reject his kindness, acknowledging it with a smile.

Filch escorted Argus all the way to the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

Hagrid was already waiting there.

Seeing the two arrive, he waved the lamp in his hand.

"Hey, Argus! Over here!"

"Off you go!" Filch did not leave after speaking. Only when he saw Argus reach Hagrid's side did he head back with Mrs. Norris.

A thick, heavy mist shrouded the Forbidden Forest at night.

Twisted trees wound and sprawled, with strange noises sounding from time to time.

The roars from deep within the Forbidden Forest were even more chilling.

"Woof, woof!"

Only when Argus heard the barking did he notice a little dog sniffing around him.

"Don't be scared. This is Fang! He may not be big, but he's a good helper!"

"Come on. We only need to look around the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest. The little creatures inside don't like being disturbed."

Hagrid walked ahead with his lamp, his enormous body completely blocking the view.

Argus was happy to be spared the trouble.

Judging from Hagrid's words, no unicorns had been injured in the Forbidden Forest yet.

That indirectly confirmed that Voldemort's target was still the Philosopher's Stone.

Without Old Voldy, this trip into the Forbidden Forest could be considered mostly safe.

"Watch your step, Argus!"

"The path here isn't easy going."

He had barely finished speaking when a strange rustling came from beneath a tree on the left.

Fang, who had been scouting ahead just a moment earlier, whimpered a few times and scurried behind Hagrid.

The atmosphere grew a little strange.

Hagrid had just praised Fang as a good helper, only for this to happen...

"Fang's just a little timid."

Hagrid offered an awkward explanation and walked toward the tree where the sound had come from.

Argus drew his wand, his face full of wariness.

"Argus, come and look!"

"They're Mooncalves!"

"You're really lucky!"

As soon as Hagrid reached the spot, he waved excitedly for Argus to come over.

Mooncalves!

The Forbidden Forest even had something this good!

Argus hurried forward a few steps.

Several pairs of large, pale green eyes blinked as they stared timidly at Argus and Hagrid.

"Look, what beautiful little creatures!"

"Shame I didn't bring any tools. If their dung is collected before sunrise, it can make plants grow tall and large."

At the mention of Fantastic Beasts, Hagrid immediately grew enthusiastic and patiently explained things to Argus.

"They're very shy. They only ever come out during a full moon."

"Let's not disturb them. Once we've finished our patrol, I'll take you back to your common room."

Hagrid brushed the dirt off himself and continued patrolling the Forbidden Forest with Argus.

With Hagrid shielding him ahead and Fang leading the way...

Their path was clear the whole way.

"Hagrid, don't you get bored patrolling the Forbidden Forest alone all the time?"

Not wanting the atmosphere between them to become too awkward, Argus struck up a conversation.

"A little, when I first started."

"Then I gradually got used to it. Besides, there are so many lovely little creatures in the Forbidden Forest to keep me company."

Hagrid answered casually, quite unconcerned.

Sometimes, Argus felt Hagrid had a rather hard life.

As a half-blood giant, he could not fit in with giants, and wizards were unwilling to accept him either.

He had finally met Dumbledore and been admitted to Hogwarts.

Only to be framed by Voldemort.

His parents' whereabouts were unknown, and his only younger brother, Grawp, could not even communicate with him.

He watched over the grounds all day, sometimes going days without anyone coming to chat with him.

No wonder Argus's visit had made him so happy.

Time flew by.

Before they knew it, the two had finished that night's trip through the Forbidden Forest and started back.

"I really wish you could come and keep me company every day!"

As they neared the edge of the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid sighed.

Argus smiled. "If I got detention every day, Professor Snape would be after me."

"That's not what I meant!"

"I know. I'll come and keep you company more often when I have time."

Just as the two were about to leave, footsteps suddenly sounded behind them.

They were rapid, and did not sound like those of an ordinary creature!

Hagrid shielded Argus behind him almost instantly, while Argus took out his wand and braced himself.

A figure gradually emerged.

It had a human upper body, but four horse's hooves.

"Oh, it's you, Firenze."

Hagrid breathed a sigh of relief and patted Argus on the shoulder, signaling him to relax.

"Let me introduce you. This is Argus, Argus Grindelwald, my friend."

"Hello, young wizard."

Firenze was one of the few centaurs with a rational attitude toward wizards. He lowered the bow and arrow in his hands and greeted Argus.

"By the way, Firenze, what brings you here?"

"Aren't you usually patrolling deeper in at this hour?"

Firenze's sapphire-blue eyes stared straight at Argus.

"For him!"