Chapter 1040 - 432: Harry’s Scheme

Chapter 1040: Chapter 432: Harry’s Scheme

"So you want..." Hagrid asked confusedly.

"We want to enter the Forbidden Forest to practice magic spells," Harry said with a grin. "Since Argo is already dead, and those Eight-eyed Giant Spiders no longer recognize you, so... if we cause any harm to the spiders, you shouldn’t mind, right?"

"But after all, they are Argo’s children..." Hagrid glanced at Argo with its legs curled up.

"Argo has already entered its Spider Demon Empire," Professor Slughorn patted Hagrid’s shoulder. "Don’t worry, it has ascended to spider heaven, where seventy-two wives are waiting for it... Of course, if it knew you were thinking about it, it would be happy too."

After speaking, Professor Slughorn repeated the poem he had just made for Argo.

"That was... so beautiful!" Hagrid wailed, collapsing onto the dung heap, crying even harder.

"Alright, alright," Slughorn said, waving his magic wand, and the huge pile of dirt rose and landed heavily on the dead spider, forming a smooth mound. "Let’s go inside and have a drink. Hold him from that side, Harry... Right... up you get, Hagrid... there..."

They helped Hagrid to a chair at the table, and Axew, who had been hiding in the basket during the funeral, now gently walked over, placing its heavy head onto Harry’s lap as it usually did.

With a pop, Slughorn opened a bottle of the wine he had brought.

"You’re of age to drink a little," Professor Slughorn said. "A few months early or late doesn’t matter, you are of age after all."

"One cup for Harry..." he said, pouring the second bottle into two cups, "... and one cup for me. Good," he raised his cup high, "To Argo."

The three of them raised their cups together and took a sip of wine.

Harry actually wasn’t very fond of whiskey; its taste didn’t interest him.

Compared to whiskey, he actually preferred beer, especially fruity beers.

It’s like sitting with kids at the table.

"I raised him from an egg," Hagrid said sadly, covering his face, "When he first hatched out he was so small, only the size of a pug."

"So cute." Professor Slughorn said, but as to how genuine that "so cute" was, it was hard to tell.

"Used to keep him in a cupboard at school, until... sigh..."

Hagrid’s face clouded over, and Harry knew why: instigated by Tom Riddle, the Secret Chamber incident was blamed on Hagrid, resulting in him being expelled from school. But Slughorn seemed not to be listening; he was simply staring at the ceiling, where several copper pots hung, and there was a long, beautiful, shiny white hair.

"Not unicorn hair, is it, Hagrid?"

"Oh, it is unicorn hair," Hagrid said nonchalantly. "Pulled from its tail, it got caught on a branch in the woods..."

Professor Slughorn suddenly looked at Hagrid as if he were some kind of alien.

"But, my dear friend, do you know how much that is worth?"

"When animals are hurt, I use it to bind bandages," Hagrid shrugged, "It’s especially useful... especially strong, you see."

Professor Slughorn took another deep drink, his eyes carefully scanning the hut, and Harry knew he was looking for more treasures he could trade for lots of oak-casked mead, jackfruit preserved snacks, and velvet smoking jackets.

Nonetheless, Harry didn’t mind; even without Professor Slughorn, sooner or later someone else would set their sights on Hagrid’s stash — and Professor Slughorn certainly wouldn’t cheat Hagrid too much — after all, he was here to oversee.

Professor Slughorn refilled both Hagrid’s and his own cups, asking about the creatures currently residing in the forest and how Hagrid managed to take care of them.

Under the influence of alcohol and Slughorn’s flattery, Hagrid brightened up, stopped wiping his eyes, and started enthusiastically talking about the care of Tree-Protecting Loifa, and of course, he did not forget to mention Newt Scamander... If it were someone else, Hagrid might indeed keep quiet about this person, but Professor Scamander was different, he was the man Hagrid most revered.

Professor Slughorn had lived for so many years, he was quite adept socially.

Just as they say, the older the wiser, this was the truth.

He buoyed Hagrid up with conversation all along, making the chat extremely pleasant.

As everyone knows, when people get happy in chatting, they tend to express emotions.

Hagrid got emotional, drinking fourteen barrels of grape wine — Harry’s eyes widened in astonishment.

He had imagined Hagrid could drink, but never thought Hagrid was such a heavy drinker.

At this point, Hagrid was already slumped over the table, eyes getting crossed, yet still clamoring for more wine.

Professor Slughorn was almost the same, his eyes were spinning, and he emotionally raised his cup to toast with Hagrid.

"To Dumbledore!" Hagrid shouted.

"Dumbledore!" Professor Slughorn and Hagrid clinked their cups.

After downing a cup of wine, Hagrid was silent for a moment, then shouted: "To the wine brewed by House-Elves!"

"House-Elves!" Professor Slughorn enthusiastically crashed his cup against Hagrid’s, spilling half of the wine.

"To Harry Potter!" Hagrid yelled again.

"Harry Potter!" Professor Slughorn laughed cheerfully; this time, he didn’t sell the wine but drank it down honestly.

Afterwards, he sighed somewhat wistfully.