Assistant Professor for the Care of Magical Creatures. It was probably the best position Hagrid could have come up with.
It was certainly a step up from being a junior gamekeeper or the Deputy Keeper of the Keys.
This was also a bit of calculating on Hagrid's part—after all, the person standing before him was a "big shot," renowned throughout the entire Wizarding World. How could someone like that have such a "humble" work history on their resume?
Sean Green... he ought to be like Dumbledore—someone who shined.
"Hmm, I agree."
Sean didn't hesitate.
He needed to practice Atmospheric Charms and Spatial Magic. Before he could sculpt a magically expanded habitat tailored for magical beasts, he needed to find a suitable location to interact with and raise them...
And really, was there anywhere more suitable than the Forbidden Forest?
"Thanks! Thank yeh! That's just ruddy brilliant!"
Hagrid's beard practically twitched with excitement.
And just like that, the Forbidden Forest welcomed a new guardian—oh, sorry, the official title was Assistant Professor for the Care of Magical Creatures.
One has to admit, the gamekeepers of Hogwarts have always had exceptionally "colorful" track records.
The previous gamekeeper, Hagrid, had once tried to raise a dragon in his wooden hut, not to mention that three-headed dog he affectionately called "Fluffy."
The second "gamekeeper," Mr. Green, even before taking office, had already stashed a Basilisk in the Forbidden Forest and crushed a colony of Acromantulas...
---
"Have you ever heard of an assistant professor that young?"
Ron, who had been eavesdropping, couldn't help but whisper.
"Given Sean's knowledge of magical creatures," Hermione said slowly, remembering how Sean had followed Newt Scamander around and was even invited to his home as a guest. "Ron, he could teach ten of you."
Ron's eyes went wide at that. "Don't joke, Hermione... I reckon it's more like a hundred!"
That remark made Harry shake with laughter, but after a second thought, his smile froze.
It seemed... actually quite accurate.
---
A gentle breeze rustled the neat hedges flanking Hagrid's hut. Under a pale blue and soft pink sky, the lawn swayed silently.
After tea time, Hogwarts Castle slipped into a lazy, comfortable lull.
As the golden sun sank behind the treetops, a wizard the size of a giant was shouting his goodbyes:
"See yeh later! Go on, get to the feast... I've got good news for yeh, the feast is gonna be a real surprise—"
Hagrid's voice echoed through the empty expanse of the Forbidden Forest.
"What surprise? Blimey, since when can Hagrid keep a secret?" Ron looked genuinely shocked.
Wrapped in this vague sense of anticipation, the group made their way back to the castle.
---
### The Feast
At this final feast of the Christmas holidays, everyone ate with gusto, including the students who had just returned to school.
They had been reluctant to leave their homes, but now, after swapping a few stories about the latest Hogwarts gossip and taking a few bites of warm apple pie, the castle suddenly felt like home again.
The Great Hall was as magnificent as ever.
Not only were there a dozen frost-covered Christmas trees and thick ribbons of holly and mistletoe crisscrossing the ceiling, but enchanted snow—warm and dry—drifted gently down from above.
Sean and the others had just taken their seats, wondering what Hagrid's surprise might be, when Dumbledore arrived a moment later. The clamor in the hall gradually died down.
"Another term gone!" Dumbledore said cheerfully. "Before we sink our teeth into these delicious dishes, I must trouble you to listen to an old man's ramblings."
His words made everyone crane their necks. The young wizards around Sean exchanged glances; they knew Hagrid's "surprise" was about to begin.
"A long time ago, before I chose to become Headmaster of Hogwarts, a shocking murder occurred here."
The Great Hall fell instantly silent, followed immediately by a wave of frantic whispering as students pulled out recent newspapers.
"Yes, just as the reports say. Oh, imagine the situation facing the Headmaster at the time, Armando Dippet."
Dumbledore produced a notebook. He tapped it with his wand, and the book began to speak, narrating a confession:
> "I was the one who framed Hagrid.
> Imagine what Armando Dippet had to face.
> On one side, there was me, Tom Riddle: poor but brilliant, orphaned but brave and talented, a school Prefect and a model student.
> On the other side was that big lump, Hagrid: clumsy, blundering, causing trouble every other week.
> I have to admit, even I didn't expect the plan to go so smoothly. I thought someone would surely realize that Hagrid couldn't possibly be the Heir of Slytherin.
> It took me five whole years to figure out the Chamber of Secrets and discover the secret entrance... Did Hagrid have the brains or the ability for that?
> Only the Transfiguration teacher, Dumbledore, believed Hagrid was innocent. He persuaded Dippet to keep Hagrid on and train him as the gamekeeper.
> Yes, I think Dumbledore suspected something. He never seemed to like me as much as the other teachers did..."
The voice dragged everyone back into the dusty past. They were listening to the confession of a murderer.
Some of the younger students began to shiver.
"I bet Dumbledore saw right through him," Harry said, emphasizing every word. The people around him nodded in agreement.
The voice from the diary continued—arrogant, hateful, and casual:
> "Ever since Hagrid was expelled, Dumbledore kept a close watch on me. It was intensely annoying.
> I knew it wouldn't be safe to open the Chamber again while I was still at school.
> But I didn't want my years of effort finding the Chamber to go to waste. I decided to leave behind a diary. That way, one day, with a bit of luck, I could guide another to follow in my footsteps and finish Salazar Slytherin's noble work—to kill all the Mudbloods—"
The voice turned sinister, and many Muggle-born wizards looked terrified. This was the history of a heinous criminal, and a death threat from the past.
"That... that diary..." Ernie from Hufflepuff asked, his voice trembling.
"Yes, the diary has surfaced, and it is in my hands." Dumbledore beamed. "So, you can probably guess. In a place unknown to us, a desperate battle took place."
"Therefore, I have some points to award. Let me see... Ah, yes."
"Harry Potter and Ron Weasley. For valiantly following the clues left by their companions and finding a way to destroy the dark magic upon the diary... I award them one hundred points each!"
Gasps and cheers erupted from the surrounding tables. Now, the Gryffindors knew exactly where their massive point boost had come from.
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