Upon hearing the confirmation, both Alan and Hog felt a wave of relief.
"Since he's clean, I'll release Hog first. Regarding his situation—given his unique nature—I was wondering if we could keep the details from the Ministry? I'd really rather not hand him over to them," Alan said, glancing cautiously at Kettleburn.
In a situation this significant, it was impossible to hide everything from the Ministry of Magic, especially since they still needed official help to apprehend Fenrir Greyback. However, the specifics of Hog were a different matter.
"Absolutely not the Ministry!" Kettleburn declared decisively; his distrust of the bureaucracy was legendary. "Hog is in no condition for their 'handling.' If he's turned over to those paper-pushers at the Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, who knows what sort of cage they'll put him in? And it's not just Hog—every creature here needs to be moved to Hogwarts for proper care. The Ministry can focus on hunting the fugitive; they don't need to worry about the logistics of the rescue."
"I'll keep Hog's secret. He can stay in my hut," Hagrid added firmly, clearly moved by the wolf's tragic past. "If the Ministry finds out, it'll be in the papers by morning, and nothing good ever comes of that kind of attention."
With everyone in agreement, Alan unlatched the cell and let Hog out.
Free for the first time in weeks, Hog was overwhelmed. He had listened to their conversation, and a flicker of warmth sparked in his chest at the realization that these humans actually cared about his well-being. Nearby, Kiki watched him with wide, curious eyes. To her, he looked like a giant, fluffy dog—certainly too cute to be abused.
"Alright, enough about Hog for now. The three of us will share responsibility for him. To anyone else, he's just a large hunting dog, and Hog—you must try to speak as little as possible in front of strangers," Kettleburn said with a wink before turning back to the cages. "The priority now is these animals. Listen closely."
"The Graphorn and the Manticore are highly aggressive. Beyond the hunger, they have nasty external wounds. I'll administer sedatives shortly; we only move them once they're under. They'll go to Zone Four, and Hagrid, you'll be the lead on their recovery."
"The others—the Occamy, Knarls, Murtlaps, and Kneazles—are all severely malnourished. The ventilation in this hole is abysmal, so they've all developed varying degrees of pneumonia. I'll dose them here, then we transport them in their cages. They'll need weeks of quiet recuperation before they can be released, or they'll just wander into a predator's path."
"The two Mooncalves are the most critical," Kettleburn continued, his voice softening with pity as he looked at their drooping eyes. "They aren't just starving; their skin is ulcerated with boils. They need immediate isolation and treatment. They're naturally photophobic, and in this state, sunlight could kill them. We move them under heavy black cloths."
"The Thestral is actually in decent shape. Once we're back, we can release it directly to the local herd. Even if it isn't from their specific line, Thestrals are remarkably welcoming to strays."
Kettleburn proved why he had held his professorship for decades; his assessments were rapid, clinical, and accurate. Under his direction, the group set to work, with Kiki and Hog pitching in where they could.
The transport was a grueling process. They used a relay system: Apparition took Hagrid and his enchanted motorcycle to the forest's edge, followed by Alan, Kiki, and Kettleburn ferry-loading the cages. From the boundary, Hagrid used the motorcycle to tow the heavier loads. Smaller cages were strapped to the frame, while larger ones were enchanted with Levitation Charms and towed like floating barges.
By the time the cave was cleared, everyone was exhausted. At Alan's request, Kettleburn agreed to take official credit for the discovery of the smuggling ring, reporting that the three of them had worked together to repel the pack. Alan wanted his name kept out of the headlines; he had already drawn enough attention over the summer and didn't want to give a fugitive like Greyback a specific target for revenge.
Kettleburn stayed behind to summon the Aurors and deal with the Ministry, while Alan, Hagrid, and the others returned to the castle. They worked well into the afternoon getting the creatures settled in specialized paddocks. It wasn't until dusk that they finally made it back to Hagrid's hut.
Alan decided that Kiki and Hog would stay in his spare room at the cabin. Since he spent most of his time in the Slytherin dormitory, the space was usually vacant. Hog was content; though his spirit was returning, his body still bore the deep scars of his captivity. Kiki was hesitant at first, but under Alan's gentle encouragement, she settled into her new home.
Hagrid was delighted with his new tenants. He lived a solitary life for the most part and welcomed the company. In the following weeks, Alan spent every free afternoon at the hut, checking on Hog and bringing Kiki along to assist Kettleburn with the animals' treatments—a process that provided him with a wealth of practical experience in magical healing.