Chapter 1039 - 431: Reliable Harry (2)

Chapter 1039: Chapter 431: Reliable Harry (2)

Hermione’s eyes grew brighter the more she listened.

Yeah, this definitely sounds interesting.

It’s much better than what she had prepared before—even she admitted it might not attract anyone.

Doubting oneself really does take away confidence.

Have to admit, Harry really is quite reliable; his suggestions are very constructive.

Hermione immediately dove into a state of rewriting, completely forgetting about Ron.

"Sometimes I feel like I’m just extra," Ron shrugged, then looked at Hermione with indulgence, "But then again, what can I say? I actually think she’s quite cute like this, rarely do you see someone so dedicated to their research, isn’t she adorable?"

Harry couldn’t find any reason in Ron’s words no matter how he looked, but he just awkwardly smiled and nodded in agreement.

What else could he say? Should he lie?

Or directly tell Ron, yeah, your girlfriend is quite cute.

How harsh that sounds...

Just like saying someone’s girlfriend is charming.

"Let’s find something else to do," Ron suggested, "Let Hermione work on her article by herself here..."

"I also have some other things to do," Harry waved his phone; it was ringing.

It was Hagrid.

Answering the call, he heard Hagrid sobbing uncontrollably, saying Aragog had died.

Aragog, Harry knew, was Hagrid’s Eight-eyed Giant Spider.

"Can you come to its funeral?" Hagrid tentatively asked.

"Of course," Harry said with a smile, "No problem, Hagrid—you know Ron is still a bit... I won’t call him."

"What’s about Hermione then?" Hagrid asked again.

"Hermione also has some things to do; she’s making a video," Harry comforted Hagrid. "Don’t worry, I’ll head over to you now... hold on for a bit."

Harry pocketed his phone and explained briefly to Ron... As expected, upon hearing about the spider, Ron shook his head repeatedly in refusal.

"No way, I’m not going." Ron thought to himself.

Arriving at the agreed place with Hagrid, Harry found Hagrid weeping.

"You’ve finally arrived, Harry." Hagrid sobbed.

"Yeah—Ron and Hermione can’t make it, they’re really sorry." Harry shrugged.

"No—it’s okay... but your presence will mean a lot to him, Harry..."

Hagrid sobbed loudly again. He had made a black armband for himself, seemingly crafted from torn cloth dipped in shoe polish. His eyes were red and swollen. Harry comfortingly patted his elbow, the highest part he could easily reach.

"Where will he be buried? In the woods?"

"Oh heavens, not possible," Hagrid said as he wiped his teary eyes with his shirt sleeve, "With Aragog dead, the other spiders won’t let me near their webs anymore. Guess they didn’t eat me only because of his command! Can you believe it, Harry?"

The honest answer was "believe," Harry knew Eight-eyed Giant Spiders were ferocious creatures.

"There was never a place in the forest I couldn’t go!" Hagrid shook his head, "It’s not easy, moving Aragog’s body out. Let me tell you—they usually eat the body... but I wanted to give him a decent funeral... a proper farewell..."

What Harry didn’t expect was the sudden arrival of an uninvited guest.

It was Professor Slughorn.

"Clearly, today is a sad day, Hagrid." Professor Slughorn walked to Hagrid’s side, patting his shoulder.

Of course, he tiptoed.

"You finally arrived, Professor." Hagrid blew his nose vigorously. "A kind wizard like you, Aragog definitely would have liked you."

Harry mused that Aragog might have liked Slughorn’s plump body the most. He walked to the back window, witnessing a rather eerie scene outside—a giant dead spider lying belly-up, its legs twisted.

"Will he be buried here, Hagrid, in your garden?"

"Behind the pumpkin patch, I think." Hagrid choked up, "I’ve already dug—the grave. Just thought we should say something—good memories."

"Condolences, Hagrid." Slughorn comforted, "Sad night, sad night... where’s the poor creature?"

"Outside," Hagrid said with a trembling voice, "Should we—should we start?"

The three walked into the backyard garden, the moonlight peeking through tree branches, blending with the light from Hagrid’s window, illuminating Aragog’s body lying by the edge of a large pit, next to a ten-foot-high mound of fresh soil.

"Truly beautiful." Slughorn said, moving closer to the spider’s head, where eight milky-white eyes stared blankly at the sky, two curved pincers motionless in the moonlight.

Slughorn bent down in front of the pincers, seemingly examining the hairy big head.

"Not everyone can appreciate their beauty." Hagrid said to Slughorn’s back, tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks. (Occupy for a moment, will modify soon)

Memories."

"Condolences, Hagrid." Slughorn comforted, "Sad night, sad night... where’s the poor creature?"

"Outside," Hagrid said with a trembling voice, "Should we—should we start?"

The three walked into the backyard garden, the moonlight peeking through tree branches, blending with the light from Hagrid’s window, illuminating Aragog’s body lying by the edge of a large pit, next to a ten-foot-high mound of fresh soil.

"Truly beautiful." Slughorn said, moving closer to the spider’s head, where eight milky-white eyes stared blankly at the sky, two curved pincers motionless in the moonlight.

Slughorn bent down in front of the pincers, seemingly examining the hairy big head.

"Not everyone can appreciate their beauty." Hagrid said to Slughorn’s back, tears streaming down his wrinkled cheeks. Memories."