The Other Potter Book Two

Chapter Twenty Three: Ghosting

I followed the boys, who were under the invisibility cloak, out of the portrait hole. It was freaky because I could see them. The journey through the castle corridors wasn't enjoyable. Mind you, what is when you don't exist? I wonder if I really am a ghost. If so why can no one see me?

Once again, trust this crap to happen to me.

Teachers, prefects, and ghosts were marching the corridors in pairs, staring around for any unusual activity.

This only worried me because I feared the boys would have gotten in trouble. Their Invisibility Cloak didn't stop them making any noise, and there was a particularly tense moment when Ron stubbed his toe only yards from the spot where Snape stood standing guard. Thankfully, Snape sneezed at almost exactly the moment Ron swore. It was with relief that we reached the oak front doors and eased them open. 

It was a clear, starry night. We hurried toward the lit windows of Hagrid's house and the boys pulled off the cloak only when they were right outside his front door. 

Seconds after Harry had knocked, Hagrid flung it open. We found ourselves face-to-face with him aiming a crossbow at them. Fang the boarhound barked loudly behind him. 

"Oh," he said, lowering the weapon and staring at us, well them, I wasn't actually there. Was I? God, I make myself confused. This whole thing is confusing.

"What's that for?" said Harry, pointing at the crossbow as we stepped inside. 

"Nothin' - nothin' - "Hagrid muttered."I've bin expectin' doesn' matter - Sit down - I'll make tea -" He hardly seemed to know what he was doing. He nearly extinguished the fire, spilling water from the kettle on it, and then smashed the teapot with a nervous jerk of his massive hand. 

"Are you okay, Hagrid." said Harry. "Did you hear about Hermione and Willow?"

"Oh, I heard, all righ'," said Hagrid, a slight break in his voice.

“That’s actually really cute.” I told him. Not that he heard me. Not that anyone heard me. Lucy wasn’t even here to make me question my own sanity anymore.

Hagrid kept glancing nervously at the windows. He poured the boys both large mugs tea and was just putting a slab of fruitcake on a plate when there was a loud knock on the door. 

Hagrid dropped the fruitcake. Harry and Ron exchanged panic stricken looks, then threw the Invisibility Cloak back over themselves and retreated into a corner. Hagrid checked that they were hidden, seized his crossbow, and flung open his door once more. 

"Good evening, Hagrid." It was Dumbledore. He entered, looking deadly serious, and was followed by a second, very odd-looking man. 

On second glance I realised that it was The Minister of Magic. I’d met him last year for a whole ten minutes where he freaked out because I was a broken shell of a person. Now I’m the broken invisible ghost thing of a person.

Hagrid had gone pale and sweaty. He dropped into one of his chairs and looked from Dumbledore to the minister. 

"Bad business, Hagrid," said the minister in rather clipped tones. "Very bad business. Had to come. Four attacks on Muggle-borns, a student nearly dead. Things've gone far enough. Ministry's got to act."

"I never," said Hagrid, looking imploringly at Dumbledore. "You know I never, Professor Dumbledore, sir -"

"I want it understood, Cornelius, that Hagrid has my full confidence," said Dumbledore, frowning at the minister.

Okay, his name is Cornelius.

"Look, Albus," said Cornelius, uncomfortably. "Hagrid's record's against him. Ministry's got to do something - the school governors have been in touch -"