Slytherins were far better at keeping secrets than Gryffindors ever could be.
As Louis walked through the castle, no one sensed any danger from his presence. Even the Slytherins looked at him with a calm admiration mixed with faint fanaticism.
Meanwhile, Harry had the unfortunate luck of being naturally assumed to be the Heir of Slytherin. Though nothing was proven yet, the rumor was strong enough that people whispered behind his back and avoided him in the corridors.
Harry was quite troubled by it all. He'd even tried to ask Louis for help—but really, suspect number two asking suspect number one for advice was rather absurd.
Louis, however, had no intention of getting involved. The basilisk had already been swallowed by Hastur; there was no way for it to crawl out and hurt anyone again.
And even if it did, that would mean Hastur himself had let it out—so there would be no chance for it to cause any more trouble.
It was the weekend, and with nothing else to do, Louis decided to scout around the Forbidden Forest.
And what was he "scouting" for?
Well, definitely not to do anything bad. Heh.
Since he was going that way anyway, he figured he might as well visit Hagrid—he hadn't seen the man much this term.
Even from afar, Louis could see Hagrid holding a crossbow, looking tense and alert.
"Hagrid, what are you up to?" Louis called out from a distance.
Hagrid nearly jumped out of his skin, then waved awkwardly. "I'm catchin'—well, truth be told, I dunno what I'm catchin'."
"You don't know what you're catching?" Louis walked closer. "What happened?"
"My—my chickens," Hagrid groaned. "They've been killed! Blasted thing—I don't even know who did it. A student? Or maybe some creature from the forest?"
He smacked his chest in frustration.
"Anyone strange hanging around your hut lately?" Louis asked.
"No, just Hogwarts students." Hagrid shook his head.
Louis couldn't help but chuckle. "Hagrid, anyone who comes here without a clear purpose is suspicious. Being a Hogwarts student doesn't make them innocent."
"Hogwarts students, suspicious? Nah, can't be." Hagrid shook his head again, though he added, "Well… lately, other than those twin boys trying to sneak into the forest, only their sister's been around. But she's just a little girl—no way she'd do somethin' like that."
"Maybe," Louis said lightly, not trying to convince him otherwise. "By the way, Hagrid… have you ever heard of the Chamber of Secrets?"
At that, Hagrid froze. The crossbow slipped from his hands, and the string snapped forward, ready to fire.
Quick as lightning, Louis stomped down, snapping the flying bolt in half before it could hit anything.
"Careful, Hagrid. You don't want to hurt anyone by accident, do you?" Louis warned calmly. "Next time, be more careful when you're holding a weapon."
"Right—sorry," Hagrid said hastily. "I just got a bit worked up when you mentioned the Chamber…"
"Why'd that excite you so much?" Louis smiled faintly. "Let me guess—this isn't the first time it's been opened, is it? You were at the school the last time it happened, weren't you?"
"How—how'd you know that?" Hagrid blurted before he could stop himself.
"Just a guess," Louis said mildly. "But now I'm sure of it."
Seeing Hagrid's troubled expression, Louis continued, "Relax. It's hardly a secret anymore."
Hagrid sighed. "Come inside, have a cup of tea. I'll tell you what happened back then."
Once inside Hagrid's hut, the big boarhound Fang came bounding over the moment he caught Louis's scent, tail wagging like a fan. Anyone watching might've thought Louis was the dog's true master.
Hagrid was long used to Fang's behavior and didn't comment. He quickly brewed some tea and placed a plate of what looked more like bricks than biscuits on the table.
"Where to start… ah, yes. With Myrtle's death."
Hagrid took a breath and slowly began recounting the events from fifty years ago.
He told Louis how he'd been accused of being the Heir of Slytherin, had his wand broken, and was expelled. If Dumbledore hadn't argued for him, he'd likely have been sent to Azkaban.
"With all due respect," Louis said, shaking his head, "a Gryffindor student accused of being Slytherin's heir? That's ridiculous. But I suppose it's no stranger than how people are thinking now."
"Why? Who's being accused this time?" Hagrid asked curiously.
"Most people think Harry's the Heir of Slytherin," Louis said with a smile. "And most of Slytherin House thinks I am."
"That…" Hagrid trailed off, at a loss for words. In truth, if anyone fit the role, it probably was Louis.
"By the way, Hagrid," Louis said with deliberate casualness, "how did they come to think you were the culprit?"
"They thought the creature I raised—Aragog—was the monster in the Chamber." Hagrid sighed. "But that's nonsense. Aragog would never do that."
"Aragog?" Louis asked, feigning ignorance, though he already knew the name belonged to a giant Acromantula. Still, he had to ask to avoid suspicion. Prophecies couldn't serve as an information source—they never revealed something as specific as the name of a spider.
"He's—he's an Acromantula I raised," Hagrid said, then instantly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Louis didn't care. "An Acromantula, huh? They kill with venom. Did anyone ever find bite marks or venom traces on the victim?"
"I dunno." Hagrid looked even more miserable. "They didn't even check properly before sayin' I was guilty."
"Figures," Louis muttered under his breath. "The Ministry was rotten fifty years ago, and it still is."
"What was that, Louis?" Hagrid didn't catch the mumble.
"Nothing important," Louis said quickly. "By the way, Hagrid—you said you raised that Acromantula? Mind taking me to see it?"
"But the Forbidden Forest is dangerous," Hagrid protested. "There're trolls and werewolves—"
He stopped mid-sentence, suddenly remembering how Louis had punched a troll to death last year with three blows.
"These dangers don't mean much to me," Louis said calmly. "Besides, you'll be with me. With you around, no creature in the forest will dare attack us."
"Well, that's true enough." Hagrid nodded, finally agreeing.
"All right then. But stay alert—the forest has creatures that don't like human wizards." He grabbed his gear and locked Fang in his cage.
"You're not bringing Fang?" Louis asked.
"He's too much of a coward," Hagrid said as he fastened his crossbow. "Best leave him here."
Louis smiled. "Fair enough."
"Let's go, then," Hagrid said. "We're off."
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