HP/LOTM: Hogwart's Mind Dragon

In Gryffindor Tower, Harry and Ron finally couldn't bear the oppressive dullness of the school. They resolved to confront Hagrid.

"I don't believe it's him," Harry insisted. "But if he opened the Chamber of Secrets last time, he must know something. He's our key to the truth."

"But Professor McGonagall said we have to stay in the tower unless we have classes," Ron said, gesturing vaguely at the window.

"I think..." Harry said, a more confident tone entering his voice, "we still have an Invisibility Cloak we can use."

Harry rummaged through his trunk until he found the cloak. When their roommates finally fell asleep, he and Ron got up, dressed quickly, and slipped out of the dormitory under the magical fabric. Traversing the dark, silent corridors of the castle was not a pleasant experience. Even Harry and Ron, who had done it many times, found Hogwarts unusually crowded. Professors, prefects, and ghosts patrolled vigilantly, searching for any potential danger.

Although the Invisibility Cloak made them difficult to spot, it couldn't conceal their voices. Suddenly, Snape appeared from around a corner. Remembering Aiden's teachings, Harry quickly covered Ron's mouth and eyes. After a tense moment, Snape's footsteps faded away, and Harry released Ron.

"What are you doing?" Ron complained, rubbing his eyes. "You scared me to death!"

"Aiden said that powerful wizards don't rely solely on sight," Harry explained. "The last time I approached him under the Invisibility Cloak, he still found me."

"Alright, let's just get to Hagrid's," Ron said, pulling Harry through the castle gates and toward the edge of the Forbidden Forest. They stopped outside Hagrid's hut. It was a rare clear night in England, and the stars shone with incredible brilliance.

"It's a nice night, isn't it?" a clear, youthful voice suddenly sounded behind them.

"Ah!" Harry yelped in surprise, while Ron instinctively pointed the glowing ring on his hand in the direction of the voice.

"Aiden!" Ron exclaimed, then began to complain loudly. "Why is it that every time—"

"I'll pay attention next time," Aiden cooed, like a pigeon. "I promise."

Inside the hut, Hagrid, hearing the commotion, rushed out with a crossbow. The sharp arrowheads pointed at the three boys.

"Oh, Hagrid, what are you doing with that?" Harry asked, startled by Hagrid's posture.

"Come in, I've just made tea," Hagrid said, inviting them inside.

Inside the hut, Aiden rolled around on Hagrid's sofa, stretching contentedly, and reached out to scratch Fang behind the ears. Hagrid poured each of them a cup of boiling water, but without a teabag. The scalding temperature was nothing to Aiden. He glanced at the visibly distracted Hagrid, picked up his cup, and drank it all.

"Drinking hot water is good for your health," Aiden said, his eyes on Harry and Ron, who were staring at him in wide-eyed amazement.

Harry put down his cup. "Hagrid, have you heard about Hermione?"

"Oh, I've heard," Hagrid replied, his voice heavy. "I'm very sorry."

"Listen, Hagrid, we need to ask you something," Harry said, his voice dropping. "Do you know who opened the Chamber of Secrets?"

Hagrid was about to speak, but a loud knock on the door interrupted him. "Quick! Hide under the Invisibility Cloak, and remember to be quiet!" he urged the boys.

"No, I don't need to," Aiden said, shaking his head. "I came for this anyway."

Hagrid couldn't persuade Aiden and went to open the door. Standing outside were Dumbledore and Cornelius Fudge. Ron, hidden beneath the Invisibility Cloak, whispered to Harry, "That's my dad's boss, the Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge."

"Oh, Aiden is here too," Dumbledore said, clearly aware of Aiden's purpose but deliberately sending him away. "It's too late today, young wizard. Go back to sleep."

'Okay, you,' Aiden thought, casting a threatening glare at Dumbledore, who pretended not to see it.

"Mr. Prewett," Fudge began, putting on his most charming smile. "Young wizards should be resting early. Why, when I was at Hogwarts back then..." He was a politician through and through. Despite the public humiliation Aiden had inflicted on him, he could still face him with a warm smile.

"Dear Minister," Aiden replied, "after all, Hagrid is my friend. My presence as his defender during your ruling should comply with the requirements of the 'law,' right?" Aiden had found a perfectly legitimate excuse, and Fudge, unable to object, could only change the subject.

"Honestly, Hagrid, this task is very tricky. I had to come," Fudge said, wiping sweat from his brow, feigning helplessness. "Three Muggle-born students have been attacked, and the matter has grown too large. The Ministry of Magic must take action."

"But you know it wasn't me, Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid pleaded.

Dumbledore remained calm as ever. "I believe in Hagrid one hundred percent. Absolute trust."

"Albus, you know, Hagrid's record is very unfavorable to him. We have to take him away," Fudge said, a smug smile spreading across his face.

"Take me to—" Hagrid began, but Aiden subtly patted his arm, signaling him to be quiet.

"I'm afraid that won't work, Minister," Aiden said, casually sitting on the sofa and crossing his legs, revealing his charming figure. "Azkaban is a place to detain convicted prisoners. Citing Article 12 of the 'Magical Law,' no one can be defined as a criminal before being tried by the Wizengamot."

"Oh, perhaps this is a matter for us adults—" Fudge began, but Aiden interrupted him before he could finish.

"Oh, are you planning to question the authority of the law, Minister? Perhaps your Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Amelia Bones, would have a different view."

'Damn, damn, damn Prewett,' Fudge thought, his teeth almost grinding to dust, his fists clenched. Yet, the smile on his face became even more "amiable." Dumbledore, meanwhile, continued to remain aloof, though a flicker of barely concealed amusement danced in his eyes.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door, and Lucius Malfoy walked in, his platinum hair gleaming. "Oh, you're already here, Fudge."

"What are you doing here?" Hagrid couldn't help but bellow. "Get out of my house!"

"Believe me, I have no desire to step into this... can this even be called a house?" Lucius said, looking around disdainfully, almost bumping into Harry and Ron, who were still hidden under the Invisibility Cloak. "I came here only because someone told me the headmaster was here." He turned and walked toward Dumbledore.

"Then, what can I do for you?" Dumbledore still feigned an air of innocence.

"The other governors and I believe that it is you who should leave," Lucius said, handing a roll of parchment to Dumbledore. "This is your suspension order, with the signatures of all the governors on it." He looked at Fudge, and the two exchanged triumphant smiles.

"That's not necessarily true, Lord Malfoy," Aiden said, standing up. He took out the ring engraved with the Prewett family crest and put it on. "I bet there's no Prewett signature on it, is there?" He took the suspension order and spread it out.

"It's useless," Lucius snatched the parchment back. "Eleven governors have already voted in favor."

Dumbledore cast a look at Aiden that clearly said, 'Save me.' Aiden returned a helpless shrug.

"You can't fire Dumbledore!" Hagrid stepped forward, agitated. "If he leaves, the Muggle-born students will be completely hopeless!"

"Oh, your own problem hasn't been dealt with yet," Fudge interjected, turning to Hagrid. "Since there's no way to send you to Azkaban, the Ministry of Magic will detain you first. No objections, Mr. Prewett?" He still looked at Aiden with an "amiable" smile, but his tone was far from friendly.

"Okay," Aiden replied. "But I demand that the detainee receive normal treatment guarantees. The right to rest and the right to food must be normal, and there must be no torture to extract a confession. Otherwise, the major and minor media in the wizarding world would be very much looking forward to a major news scoop from the Ministry of Magic, wouldn't they?" Aiden's beautiful eyes curved, shining like two mischievous gems.

"You... hmph!" Fudge choked on his words, turned, and stormed out of Hagrid's hut.

[Chapter Complete]

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