bioinnovel Chapter 330 Hagrid's Heartbreak
Chapter 330 Hagrid's Heartbreak
Chapter 330 Hagrid's Heartbreak
With the mystery hidden in the golden egg solved, Harry and Cedric felt much more relaxed.
They no longer had to worry about the golden egg, nor did they have to carry it around. They only had one problem left.
The problem was the timing. As 1995 approached, the date of the second event seemed much closer. The sense of urgency, as if the competition were to take place the very next day, enveloped the two warriors, making it difficult for them to concentrate on anything else. Their eyes were constantly drawn to the great lake.
The cold, iron-gray lake surface, the pitch-black, directionless lake bottom, the lake creatures hidden in the shadows, and the mermaid settlement—all of them ceaselessly calling to the two warriors, seemingly within reach yet impossibly far away.
After a period of agonizing torment, it was mid-January, another Hogsmeade weekend.
On Saturday morning, Belvina and Bassheda arranged to spend some time together in the village.
As they passed through the foyer, they saw Harry looking sullen in the crowd, and Cedric and Cho Chang arm in arm.
Belvina and Bassheda left the castle without stopping, walked across the cold, damp ground, and headed towards the school gate.
While passing Black Lake, they also saw Viktor Krum, who was standing on the gunwale wearing swimming trunks and jumping into the water with his arms outstretched.
"He's really resistant to the cold," Bassheda said. "It's January, the lake must be freezing."
She exclaimed in amazement as she watched Krum swimming in the lake.
"If he himself doesn't like winter swimming, then it must have been Karkarov's arrangement," Belvina said. "Accustoming to the temperature of the Black Lake beforehand might be an advantage for him."
Although the second competition is scheduled for the end of February, February at Hogwarts is not springtime, and the lake water is still icy cold.
If the warriors can't even withstand the icy cold lake water, they shouldn't bother diving to the bottom of the lake to find the mermaid settlement; they should just forfeit.
"I really want to know how you made the decision to set the second project underwater in Black Lake, especially in February," said Bassheda. "The person who made the decision should have jumped in and swam around a couple of times too."
As she spoke, Bassheda looked at Belvina with ill intent, seemingly considering the feasibility of throwing Belvina into the lake.
"They should thank me. If I hadn't decided to let them jump into the Black Lake, they don't know what kind of monsters they would have faced," Belvina said. "Although the lake water is cold, the mermaids in the lake are still very gentle."
"Are you sure?" Bassheda asked. "I had no idea there were mermaids in the Black Lake."
Belvina thought for a moment and replied, "Mermaid communities living in freshwater are relatively less aggressive and easier to communicate with."
Mermaids are divided into different subspecies or races based on their habitats.
Mermaids living in brackish water tend to be more aggressive, while those living in freshwater tend to be more gentle.
Mermaids living in warm waters usually have a more beautiful appearance, while mermaids living in cold water are ugly in all sorts of ways.
The mermaid community that inhabits the Black Lake at Hogwarts belongs to a cold freshwater region. They are ugly, but relatively gentle.
"Don't have any expectations of the mermaids in the Black Lake," Belvina continued. "To be honest, they're not very good-looking."
"Is that so?" Bassheda said. "I remember there was a witch who fell in love with a mermaid, but her family disapproved, so she eloped with the mermaid. I can't remember exactly where I read it."
This is a true story about Mirabella Plunkett, a witch born in 1839.
On one occasion, Plunkett went on holiday to Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest lake. She fell in love with the scenery and the mermaids who lived there.
However, Prenkitt's family disapproved of her marrying a mermaid, so she transformed herself into a haddock and disappeared without a trace.
Because of this, Mirabella Plunkett even appeared in a Chocolate Frog poster.
"All I can say is that this witch has truly unique tastes," Belvina said. "She and that mermaid must be in true love, absolutely."
The two professors chatted casually as they walked quickly out of the school gate and onto the path leading to Hogsmeade.
Hogsmeade was as crowded as ever, with wizards visiting everywhere and the shops lining the streets packed with people.
Belvina and Bassheda made their way through the still festive main road to the Three Brooms Tavern.
The warm and bright tavern was bustling with activity. A group of male wizards crowded around the bar, talking loudly, while Mrs. Rosmerta was busy and sweating profusely.
Belvina quickly glanced around the pub and found Sirius and Lupin in their usual spot by the window. They had come to visit Harry and were also there to see Belvina.
However, the person sitting opposite Sirius and Lupin at this moment was not Harry, but the burly Hagrid.
Hagrid seemed very down, making one wonder if all the blasting snails he had cultivated had been wiped out.
If that were the case, that would be wonderful; all the students taking the Conservation of Magical Creatures course would raise a glass in celebration.
Belvina and Bassheda went to the bar and bought some mead and fried pork rinds from Ms. Rosmerta before walking over to Sirius and his two companions.
As soon as they got closer, they heard Hagrid grumbling.
"Why won't she admit what she has to be afraid of?" Hagrid said. "Why does she insist she's just big-boned...?"
Upon seeing Belvina and Bassheda approach, Sirius quickly invited them to sit down, while Lupin got up and sat down next to Hagrid.
"You've come at the right time. We're listening to Hagrid's heartbreaking love story," Sirius said. "No, it's not really a love story yet; it only happened a few days ago."
Upon hearing this, Hagrid picked up a glass the size of a bucket and gulped down a large mouthful of brandy.
Belvina and Bassheda exchanged a glance. As expected, Hagrid's love life was indeed exceptionally bumpy.
"You and that woman had a fight?" Belvina asked. "You didn't say anything you shouldn't have, did you?"
"Why shouldn't I mention it? Why can't I mention it!" Hagrid said hoarsely. "My dad said, 'Some people might discriminate against you because of this, but they're not worth your trouble.' He was right!"
After downing another large gulp of brandy, Hagrid recounted the entire conflict between him and Mrs. Maxime.
On the night of the Christmas ball, Hagrid and Mrs. Maxim went to the grotto outside the castle.
Perhaps it was the sweetness of their relationship, or perhaps it was the intoxication of the alcohol, but Hagrid told Mrs. Maxim about his origins: his father was an ordinary wizard, and his mother was a giant.
Hagrid not only admitted that he was a half-giant, but also believed that Madam Maxim's situation was the same as his, and even wanted to find out more about where Madam Maxim's giant blood came from.
As expected, Mrs. Maxim flew into a rage and stormed off.
Since Christmas Day, Mrs. Maxim has ignored Hagrid completely, as if all the previous affection had been an illusion.
After listening to Hagrid's story, Belvina was filled with respect and admiration for old Mr. Hagrid.
Belvina admired old Mr. Hagrid's wisdom and magnanimity. "Some people may discriminate against you because of this, but they are not worth your trouble," she said.
At the same time, Belvina also admired old Hagrid's courage. He actually married the giantess and had children. That was beyond the level of a toothpick stirring a vat!
While Belvina remained silent, her mind raced with thoughts of her inner train, while Bassheda launched into a serious analysis for Hagrid.
“Of course we shouldn’t be ashamed of our origins, what’s there to be ashamed of!” Bassheda said. “But Hagrid, just because we think this way doesn’t mean that woman thinks the same way.”
For Basilda, who has a clear sense of right and wrong, Madame Maxime has been demoted to "that woman".
"She may have experienced discrimination or even worse bullying in the past, which is why she's afraid to face her true self," Bassheda continued. "It's not your fault, Hagrid."
It wasn't Hagrid's fault, but who told him to say something so foolish in front of Mrs. Maxime?
"I know, I was so stupid. I'll never bother that woman again," Hagrid muttered. "Remus and Sirius just told me a lot too. I was so stupid."
As he spoke, Hagrid took another large gulp of brandy.
He continued, "That woman simply hadn't met someone as respectable as Dumbledore. Dumbledore knew that even someone from humble beginnings could achieve great things."
This is something that many people cannot understand, nor are they willing to understand.
"I'm lucky, Dumbledore has always protected me," Hagrid continued. "He found me a job as a gamekeeper and made me the professor of Conservation of Magical Creatures. He's always been helping me."
The conversation gradually shifted from Hagrid's sad story to the admirable Dumbledore.
Hagrid did most of the talking while the other four listened, with Lupin occasionally chiming in.
Hagrid was a half-blood giant, and Lupin was a werewolf. Dumbledore gave them respect and opportunities.
Without Dumbledore, Hagrid, who was expelled from Hogwarts, might not even have been able to secure a basic living.
Without Dumbledore, Lupin wouldn't even have had the chance to study at Hogwarts, let alone meet Sirius Black and James.
It's fair to say that without Dumbledore, there would be no Lupin and Hagrid as we know them today.
Therefore, Lupin and Hagrid were willing to give everything for Dumbledore, even their lives.
Belvina's mind was no longer filled with the sound of the little train whistling; instead, she began to ponder whether Dumbledore was a schemer.
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