"fried tail snails" → Blast-Ended Skrewts
"white rong" → white ferret
---
Chapter 478: Threatening Students?!
"Threatening students? Threaten you?"
Darren turned his head sharply, anger flashing across his face.
"Malfoy, what does Hagrid's situation have anything to do with you?"
His tone startled Malfoy.
Malfoy subconsciously took a step back.
"What do you mean it has nothing to do with me?" he retorted weakly.
"Didn't he raise Blast-Ended Skrewts? I was injured last time—can't I tell the truth?"
As he spoke, his voice grew louder and more confident.
He knew very well that as long as he had a so-called 'reasonable excuse,' Darren wouldn't hit him.
"But you weren't bad-mouthing him because you were injured," Ron snapped angrily.
"You're saying he threatened you just so Professor Moody would turn you into a white ferret—a white ferret running all over Hogwarts!"
"So what?" Malfoy sneered.
"Let Darren judge then. Why can't I tell the truth?"
He looked smug.
Darren said nothing.
After all, what could he possibly do with someone this shameless?
Besides, Malfoy was already backing away.
Harry and Ron were equally helpless.
The two of them angrily unfolded the newspaper.
At the very top was a photograph of Hagrid.
It showed him looking haggard and withdrawn, clearly avoiding people.
Below it was a bold headline:
Dumbledore's Greatest Mistake
Exclusive report by Rita Skeeter.
Dumbledore has always been fond of appointing all kinds of questionable individuals as professors at Hogwarts.
For example, the highly controversial Mad-Eye Moody.
When he was an Auror, he was already notorious for his extremism.
After being appointed professor by Dumbledore, his behavior only became more outrageous.
He even searched the classroom of Potions Professor Severus Snape.
Professor Snape expressed great distress when speaking of the incident, stating that Dumbledore was always like this—causing trouble himself and then forcing the staff to bear the consequences.
Of course, these are minor issues.
Because compared to Hagrid, Moody appears positively kind.
Yes—Rubeus Hagrid is a brutal giant with giant blood.
We have reason to suspect that his mother was a notorious giantess…
In his third year, Rubeus Hagrid was expelled from Hogwarts for violating school rules.
Yet through unknown means, he remained at the school and became the gamekeeper.
And just last year, he was promoted from gamekeeper to Professor of Care of Magical Creatures.
This is something the author finds impossible to understand, leading one to suspect that Dumbledore has grown old and confused.
What is more troubling is that Dumbledore has allowed this half-giant to become a close companion of Harry Potter.
Harry Potter—widely known as the Savior who defeated the Dark Lord—also happens to have an adorable brother.
Allowing this half-giant to teach Harry Potter and become his close friend may be the most absurd decision Dumbledore has ever made.
This is not prejudice.
The author has conducted extensive interviews.
Many students stated that Hagrid's lessons were terrifying.
They said they often had to rush to the school infirmary after class, fearing permanent injury.
During my interview, a student named Draco Malfoy claimed that Hagrid cultivated extremely dangerous Blast-Ended Skrewts.
Even Harry Potter himself was injured while subduing them.
According to the Ministry of Magic's regulations on magical creatures, breeding such dangerous beings requires official registration—something Hagrid clearly failed to do.
Therefore, the author appeals to everyone:
If possible, please raise your voices and help create a safe learning environment for our Savior!
Darren folded the paper.
After reading it, only two words came to mind:
Utter nonsense.
Hagrid had always been careless.
Now he was finally experiencing Rita Skeeter's true power.
But honestly, this was nothing serious.
Dumbledore would obviously not dismiss Hagrid.
Hagrid was one of Dumbledore's hidden assets.
Through him, contact with giants was possible—a valuable strategic advantage.
And more importantly, Hagrid was genuinely a good person.
Dumbledore would never expel him.
Based on what Darren knew of the future, Hagrid was probably just hiding in his hut right now, crying his eyes out.
In fact, it would be Hagrid himself who wanted to resign—Dumbledore never intended it.
And after a week or so, once Hagrid calmed down, everything would pass.
But—
As the Little Holy Father,
Darren couldn't appear indifferent.
So he put on an expression of pain and deep regret.
"It's all my fault," he said quietly.
"I should've been stricter with him from the beginning.
I should have warned him properly about Rita Skeeter—but I didn't.
I was too careless."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[...]
"Oh, Darren, don't say that," Ron said angrily.
"Didn't you warn him? You told him again and again that Rita Skeeter was trouble!
He just wouldn't listen—kept talking about his 'cute little creatures'!"
"And his bloodline!" Ron continued.
"People can't wait to expose him, and he just shouts that he's a half-giant in the middle of the garden!
How is that your fault?"
Darren, you did nothing wrong!"
Harry nodded fiercely.
He was just as furious.
They had all warned Hagrid repeatedly.
Yet Hagrid still trusted that woman and even told her about his ancestry—loudly.
That garden was enormous.
Who knew who might have been listening?
What made it worse was that Hagrid didn't lower his voice even the second time he mentioned it.
What was he thinking?
He wouldn't even tell them—so why trust a stranger?
"Are you three even listening to the lesson?"
Professor Glapland's sharp voice rang out.
"Darren, come here. I need everyone to see how well you and Alice cooperate!"
Darren shook his head.
"Professor, I'm sorry. I need to check on Hagrid.
I'm worried about him, and I can't focus on class.
You may deduct points if necessary."
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[Ding, Father Value +100]
[...]
Before anyone could respond, Darren turned and ran.
At last, he had a perfectly valid excuse to leave this snow-covered place.
He was genuinely about to freeze to death.
---