Chapter 207: Christmas Arrangements

Hagrid's reappearance at the staff table at breakfast next day was not greeted by enthusiasm from all students. Some, like Fred, George, and Lee, roared with delight and sprinted up the aisle between the Gryffindor and Hufflepuff tables to wring Hagrid's enormous hand; others, like Parvati and Lavender, exchanged gloomy looks and shook their heads. Chris knew that many of them preferred Professor Grubbly-Plank's lessons, but again Professor Grubbly-Plank never understood the creatures like Hagrid and Chris did.

But when that evening Chris, Colin and Ginny went down for their care of magical creatures class, Hagrid's appearance didn't make Chris very happy.

"Hagrid, what the hell where you doing?" Chris whispered as soon as they went near him. "Your injuries should have been almost healed by now. But the injuries are looking new."

The bruises on Hagrid's face that had been purple on Saturday night were now tinged with green and yellow and some of his cuts still seemed to be bleeding. Some of the Slytherin girls shrieked seeing him, and some Gryffindor girls like Danielle and Lauren edged as far as possible from him.

"It's nuthin'. I have been workin' on somethin'," Hagrid grimaced. "Now let's go, we are workin' on Diricawl."

"Charming, isn't he?" Jason whispered as he passed Chris.

Chris rolled her eyes at him as she followed Hagrid into the forest.

"We'll see them in their natural habitat," Hagrid said happily. "So anyone can tell what a Diricawl is?" 

"Diricawls are fluffy-feathered, flightless bird, remarkable for its method of escaping danger. It can vanish in a puff of feathers and reappear elsewhere," Chris answered.

Everyone stared at her, their faces almost wore an expression of disbelief. They obviously were thinking about a dangerous creature rather than a fluffy little bird.

"Correct," Hagrid beamed. "Ten poin's for Gryffindor."

Chris has seen those birds before, and they were really nice to watch. As the class got busy with the birds Chris slipped towards Hagrid.

"Sorry for earlier," Chris said. "Your comeback class is great."

"Yeh are a great studen' Chris," Hagrid beamed. "It's alrigh'."

Chris smiled.

"So when Umbridge is going to inspect you?" she asked after a moment.

"Tomorro', at fifth years class," Hagrid replied. "Got a big surprise fer them tomorro'."

"What kind of surprise, Hagrid," Chris said, suddenly alarmed. "Hagrid you should know if Umbridge find anything dangerous in your class she will try to —"

"Dangerous?" said Hagrid, looking genially bemused. "Don' be silly, I wouldn' give yeh anythin' dangerous! I mean, all righ', they can look after themselves —"

"Hagrid, just tell me what are you planning to teach?" Chris said strictly.

"Er — Chris —"

"Just tell, please."

"Alrigh', Thestrals. I'm goin' ter teach them abou' Thestrals," Hagrid said dismissively.

"Oh!" Chris sighed with relief. "That isn't bad."

"See, I told yeh —"

"Wait, but half of the students can't see them," Chris said as the entire thing settled in her brain. "How are you supposed to teach about something when the students don't know what to look at?"

"But few of them —"

"A few of them isn't enough, also if Umbridge can't see them then there's no point, Hagrid," Chris muttered. "Do something easy and visible."

"But that's interestin' —"

"Hey, you haven't show them Crup, do that tomorrow," Chris suggested. "Then after Umbridge is gone bring Dragon if you want, I don't mind."

"But Chris —"

"Hagrid, Trelawney's on probation already, Umbridge will not hesitate to sack you too, especially when she knows you are close to Dumbledore and working for him. Please understand."

"But —"

"For Dumbledore, Hagrid," Chris said making a pleading face.

Hagrid sighed.

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"Alrigh', alrigh'."

"Thank you," Chris grinned.

"Yeh should join the Ministry after school," Hagrid shook her head. "Yeh are rudy good at convincin'."

"I know," Chris laughed. "But I'm not leaving Hogwarts. I will find a job here if I can. Do you think Dumbledore will allow an eighteen years old teacher, Hagrid?"

Hagrid chuckled.

"Yeh should ask him, why don' yeh?" he said.

Chris grinned.

December arrived, bringing with it more snow and a positive avalanche of homework for the fourth years. Though Chris, Ginny and Luna were coping with it fine. Harry spent most of his times with them as Ron and Hermione's prefect duties were becoming more and more onerous as Christmas approached. 

One evening two weeks before Christmas, Chris, Ginny and Colin were doing their homeworks in the common room after dinner when Harry came running towards them, almost knocking people around.

"Chris! Chris!" He called in a panicked voice.

"What's wrong?" Chris asked.

"Look!" Harry was clutching Hedwig in his hands. Chris realized that Hedwig's feathers were oddly ruffled; some were bent the wrong way, and she was holding one of her wings at an odd angle.

"Is she hurt?" Colin asked.

"I think she is," Harry said looking worried. "She turned up just a few minutes ago. I didn't know what to do, then I remembered you fixed Hagrid's face, do you reckon you can —"

"Relax Harry," Chris said firmly. "Let me see."

Harry holds Hedwig up. Hedwig was quivering; when Chris made to touch the wing she gave a little jump, all her feathers on end as though she was inflating herself, and gazed at her reproachfully.

"Sorry," Chris whispered, taking her from Harry. "You are going to be fine, alright?"

Chris looked into Hedwig's eyes intently. She gave a small hoot then curled up in Chris's palm.

"She will be fine, Harry," Ginny said then turned to Chris. "But you know what? I think she was attacked."

"Attacked?" Harry repeated blankly.

"Umbridge!" Chris hissed. "She is checking our owls."

"Who's letter she checked, Harry?" Colin asked.

"Oh, I didn't look," said Harry, who had certainly forgotten about the scroll tied to Hedwig's leg.

Chris gave the letter to Harry, then pulled out a small vial from the locket and slowly put it on Hedwig's injured wing.

"It's from Sirius," said Harry opening the scroll. "He said he's back and he invited me for Christmas."

"That's great Harry," Chris said smiling stiffly. 

Ginny, Colin and Luna all were going home for Christmas so was Hermione and Ron. Even Jason didn't want to leave her mother alone at Christmas. Only Harry was going to stay but now, he will be spending Christmas with his godfather and she have to spend the Christmas alone. More importantly, this year she hadn't had any contact with her father, for his safety. Dumbledore had arranged a few wizards in Asia to keep Mr. Norton safe but as their owls were regularly checked not only by Umbridge but probably by the death eaters too, she had to stop writing her father.

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To be continued. . .