Hogwarts: A little lion in the skin of the Eagle School

As December approaches, the Christmas season at the castle is here again.

The school was decorated with various exquisite Christmas decorations.

The most classic one is naturally the Christmas tree.

In the past, this task was always assigned to Hagrid, who would go to the edge of the Forbidden Forest to find suitable pine trees, cut them down, and then drag them back to the Great Hall for other professors to decorate.

This year is no exception.

"When are we going to cut down trees, Uncle Hagrid?"

It was another weekend, and John sat by the fire in Hagrid's hut, munching on Hagrid's rock crackers as a chewing stick, while asking Hagrid a question.

Two weeks have passed since Hagrid returned, and his injuries have visibly improved, but for some reason, he keeps getting new wounds.

When asked, just say you got it from the forbidden forest.

Why haven't I seen him in such a sorry state in the Forbidden Forest before?

"Oh, John, shouldn't you be preparing for your final exams?"

Hagrid, standing to the side, stuffed a rock biscuit into his mouth, crunched it up, and muttered something under his breath.

His teeth are exceptionally good.

Since his return, apart from Harry and Ron who came to visit him specifically, John has been the most frequent visitor.

He kept pestering him to go to the Forbidden Forest.

"Oh, exams are a piece of cake for me."

John waved his hand dismissively and said.

"Things haven't been peaceful in the Forbidden Forest lately, John, so please stop bothering me..."

Hagrid knew what John was thinking and said with a hint of helplessness.

"It must be because you've been gone for too long, Uncle Hagrid. The guys in the Forbidden Forest have been out of your control, so they've started causing trouble."

"Now, the King of the Forbidden Forest has returned, Hagrid! You must remind them of the terror of being under your rule!"

John said exaggeratedly from the side.

"Don't make me sound like a bad guy, John."

Hagrid shook his head with a wry smile, but in the end he still gave an explanation that wasn't really an explanation.

"But this time, it's not a matter of discipline..."

"What's the problem?"

"Anyway, John, your task is to finish your studies and then enjoy the Christmas holidays. Don't keep coming here every other day."

Hagrid didn't explain, but instead, unusually, adopted a professorial air and spoke to John.

"I do not want."

"..."

John refused decisively, leaving Hagrid speechless for a moment.

But he couldn't say anything harsh, and could only helplessly let John pester him.

"Let's go cut down trees in the woods by Black Lake later. Are you satisfied now?"

"OK!"

John then nodded solemnly in agreement.

"Oh, I really should write to Hermione and ask her to do something about you..."

Seeing John's state, Hagrid shook his head and sighed, crumbs of biscuit falling from his beard.

In reality, Hermione didn't care about him.

After all, she had seen John like this many times before and was used to it.

She usually turns a blind eye unless it involves doing something dangerous.

Amazing, Hermione!

......

The wind howled through the woods by Black Lake, and the withered branches rustled underfoot.

He came here with Hagrid last year to cut down trees, but the tree-cutting was interrupted because of the mermaid incident, which unlocked the secret of the golden egg.

He's here again this year!

He could have easily solved the problem by waving his wand, but he insisted on using an axe along with Hagrid.

The dull thud of the axe splitting the wood, and the vibrations transmitted back from the axe, gave John, who lived in a world of magic every day, a long-lost, raw tactile sensation belonging to the real world.

Labor is the right thing to do, family members.

Although he chopped dozens of times but couldn't cut down a single tree...

"Hey John! Chop along the grain of the wood—like this!"

Hagrid's booming voice drowned out the wind, and with a single blow of his axe, the tree trunk split open, sending wood chips flying like snow.

John stared at the jagged break, speechless.

Hagrid's massive brick flew through the air; there was no way it would have split along the grain of the wood...

After chopping for a long time, we finally felled the first pine tree.

Hagrid has already cut down five trees...

Magic is the right family.

Why not use magic if you have it? Efficiency comes first.

John tossed the axe aside and sat down on the tree stump.

With a casual wave of his hand, he lifted the heavy, frightening pine trunk into the air, suspending it steadily in mid-air.

As John manipulated the tree, the pine trunk slowly rotated, and the frost crystals that had condensed on the bark peeled off in a rustling sound, restoring its vibrant bluish-brown luster, like scales awakening from hibernation.

After doing all this, he threw the tree into the trailer that Hagrid had already prepared.

I must have been possessed by an evil spirit to say that magic is not true.

Magic is wonderful.

Hagrid ignored John and continued chopping down trees nearby.

John looked up at the gray-blue sky, when suddenly a slight tremor came from the depths of the Forbidden Forest behind him.

Ok?

John suddenly turned around and looked into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.

It was just that the weather was not sunny, and even during the day, the Forbidden Forest was very dark.

Moreover, the commotion was quite far away, unlike what could have been caused by a small animal nearby.

It's more like some enormous creature lurks deep within the forbidden forest.

Looking up at the sky in that direction, countless birds were startled and scattered in all directions.

Hagrid, who was not far away, also noticed the commotion and looked over there.

His expression changed slightly, as if he had thought of something.

"Uncle Hagrid, is this what you meant by the Forbidden Forest being unsafe?"

John looked at Hagrid and asked uncertainly.

"No, John, the Forbidden Forest is peaceful. Don't worry about it."

But Hagrid turned around and denied what he had said earlier.

"John, you've cut down enough trees. You can go back now."

Hagrid immediately told John to leave.

But then the tremor came again, this time even stronger, so strong that even the pine branches in the trailer trembled.

John shook his head as he watched this.

"No, Uncle Hagrid, I'm not that clueless first-grader anymore."

"There must be something going on in the Forbidden Forest, right? What are you trying to hide?"

Hagrid glanced at John, then looked in the direction of the Forbidden Forest.

It seemed like he was hesitating about something.

"It's really not a big deal, John..."

"Well... my younger brother woke up..."

Finally, Hagrid sighed, as if he had run out of ideas.

John paused, tilting his head. "Your brother?"

Does Hagrid have a younger brother?

He's not a mixed-race giant...

Ah, yes, giants.

Hagrid recently visited the Giants' Village, and since his return, the Forbidden Forest has been in turmoil...

"Did you bring back a giant?"

John immediately asked with some excitement.

"Keep your voice down, John, keep your voice down."

"I didn't even tell Dumbledore about this."

Hagrid quickly lowered his voice and nervously looked around, even though there was nothing there but white expanse.

At that moment, another tremor came from the Forbidden Forest.

Hearing the commotion in the Forbidden Forest, Hagrid grew anxious and stopped insisting on driving John away. Instead, he earnestly admonished John.

"I... him, well, if you're really curious, come in with me, we can talk as we walk."

"But you have to promise me you won't tell anyone about what's happening here!"