From a few small details, it was easy to tell that Hagrid was a regular at The Three Broomsticks.
The chair he sat on was large enough to fit two adult wizards comfortably, clearly a seat reserved just for him. Even the mug of Butterbeer in front of him had been specially made—larger, wider, and thicker to suit his size.
It was obvious that The Three Broomsticks had prepared it specifically for Hagrid.
As for whether he might have brought it himself?
Well… Hagrid wasn't exactly known for that level of thoughtfulness.
There was nothing particularly surprising about Hagrid being here.
Half-giants were rare in the wizarding world, but compared to half-Veela, they weren't especially eye-catching.
However, when two towering figures—both far taller than ordinary people—appeared together, it was impossible not to draw attention. Unsurprisingly, plenty of eyes drifted toward Hagrid's table.
Especially with Maxime, Hagrid, and Minerva seated together, those who recognized them couldn't help but take a few extra glances.
"Is it a date?"
"You mean… Madame Maxime?"
"They do share the same bloodline, don't they?"
Girls tended to see things through a slightly romantic lens.
Even Hermione, usually the most level-headed of them, couldn't help feeling a flicker of anticipation about how things might develop between Hagrid and Maxime.
The speculation wasn't entirely baseless. Over the past year, Hagrid had behaved rather strangely.
The perpetually disheveled Hagrid had suddenly begun caring about his appearance. He was often seen taking the initiative to talk to Madame Maxime, and now they were even dining out together.
Add to that their shared identity as half-giants, and it was no wonder Pansy and the others had jumped to conclusions.
What they seemed to forget, however, was that Minerva McGonagall was also sitting at that table.
No matter how oblivious Hagrid might be, he wouldn't invite another witch along on a date.
Not like someone else… ahem.
As if recalling something awkward, Draco gave a faint, guilty cough.
"As for that, I might know the reason."
His words pulled Pansy and the other girls' attention back to him.
It sounded like things weren't quite what they had imagined.
"Huh?"
"So it's not a date?"
"Looks like Hagrid still has a long way to go."
Draco's lips twitched helplessly.
Just how invested were they in Hagrid's love life?
...
After the brightly colored sodas were served, Draco finally began explaining why he had gathered everyone.
Before he could get far, Hermione—ever cautious—spoke up first.
"Wait. Is it really safe to talk about this here?"
"Yeah, Draco. Why not wait until we get back?" Pansy added.
Unlike Hermione, who was worried about being overheard, Pansy simply didn't want heavy matters ruining their day out.
Unfortunately, Draco had no intention of postponing it.
"It's fine. It's nothing too important."
That said, he had deliberately chosen a seat in the corner. From there, he could take in the entire pub at a glance and immediately notice anyone new walking through the door.
After spotting Harry Potter slipping in furtively with Ron Weasley, Draco interlaced his fingers and rested them beneath his chin.
"One of last night's pieces of information was about Hagrid's movements."
"Last night? Oh, right—the partner you mentioned."
"Mm. Not long ago, our partner appeared at the Hog's Head and exchanged a few words with us."
"What? Just now? When did that happen?"
Draco ignored Pansy and Astoria's startled, curious looks. He took a slow sip of his soda before continuing.
"Albania."
"Albania?"
"That's right. Hagrid was seen in Albania. And not only him—Maxime was spotted in the same city as well."
If Draco hadn't been speaking with such a serious expression, it might have sounded like nothing more than an ordinary trip, hardly worth mentioning at all.
Astoria, quick on the uptake, seemed to realize something. Her eyes widened slightly.
"Albania… you mean—?"
"Greengrass, have you figured something out?"
"Think about it. What do Hagrid, Maxime, and Albania have in common?"
"In common?"
"It can't be… No, I need to check the library!"
Hermione, just a step away from connecting the final piece, instinctively started to get up to head back to the Wizarding School. Draco caught her arm and pulled her back into her seat with mild exasperation.
He wasn't finished yet.
"Albania is currently the largest known giant settlement in the wizarding world."
"Giants…"
"Obviously, Dumbledore has set his sights on them. Even if he can't win them over, he'll want to ensure they don't side with the Dark Lord. That's likely why Hagrid, with his giant blood, was sent."
"I see… Because Hagrid has a natural advantage when dealing with giants?"
Draco's explanation made everything click for the three girls.
While Pansy and the others were still digesting the implications, Draco suddenly set his soda glass down heavily on the table.
"This glass represents us… and the families behind us."
Without giving them time to interrupt, he reached over and tapped Pansy's glass.
"This one represents the people at the Ministry of Magic."
Hermione caught on immediately. She nudged her own glass forward and picked up where he left off.
"Then mine would be Dumbledore's faction… and perhaps the giants as well?"
"Exactly. And the last one stands for… the Dark Lord, the Death Eaters, and… the Dementors."
Draco pointed to Astoria's glass.
"..."
"..."
It was the first time Pansy and Astoria had heard this laid out so plainly. Shock spread across their faces without any attempt to hide it.
"Dementors?"
"What does that mean…?"