It was the final quidditch match of the season, Gryffindors versus Ravenclaw. I sit with Harry and Hermione, sneaking away from my House to sit with them.

".. Bradley.. Davies.. Chang." The announcer was a little less than cherry, saddened by Fred and George's leaving. It was something I understand, I missed the boys.

"And they're off! And Davies takes the Quaffle immediately, Ravenclaw Captain Davies with the Quaffle, he dodges Johnson, he dodges Bell, he dodges Spinnet as well.. He's going straight for goal! He's going to shoot-and-and- And he's scored." Gryffindor slumps, the Slytherins cheering from their stands.

"Weasley cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring... " I shake my head at this, going to apologize for their behavior. Hermione turns to me more as my mouth opens, both of us thinking my voice had suddenly changed or something. I turned with the other two, the man that rowed me to Hogwarts there, wounded terribly. I stare at the man with concern, his eyes showing caution as he stays hidden from view as best as he could.

"Listen, can yeh come with me? Now? While ev'ryone's watchin' the match?" The large man asks.

"Er.. can't it wait, Hagrid? Till the match is over?" Harry inquiries back.

"No. No, Harry, it's gotta be now.. while ev'ryone's lookin' the other way.. Please?" He asks again, a flicker in his eyes that worried us..

"'Course, 'course we'll come.." Harry agrees, the three of us inching along through the crowded seats.

"I 'ppreciate this, you three, I really do. I jus' hope she doesn' notice us goin'.."

"You mean Umbridge?" Harry mentions.

"She won't, she's got her whole Inquisitorial Squad sitting with her, didn't you see? She must be expecting trouble at the match." Hermione interjects.

"The Slytherins were awfully quiet around me this morning, more so than usual." I add.

"Yeah, well, a bit o' trouble wouldn' hurt." Hagrid subtly hoped, pausing to peer around the corner for a clear shot.

"Give us more time.." He adds.

"What is it, Hagrid?" Hermione inquires.

"Yeh- yeh'll see in a mo'. Hey, did someone jus' score?"

"It'll be Ravenclaw." Harry says heavily, his mind thinking of Chang for sure.

"Good.. Good.. Tha's good.." It was hard keeping up with his large steps, his eyes glancing around cautiously as we did so. I jogged closer to his side, causing him to do a double look before he goes back to surveillancing.

"I've been wanting to thank you again, for when I first came here. I heard you were teaching another class, it's unfortunate I didn't take that class afterall- I'm sure it would have been wonderful having you as a teacher!" I offer, a rush smile forming as he doesn't let his guard down.

"Ay, I'm jus' glad yeh made friends whiles yeh been 'ere. Good friends." He nodded contently, giving a quick glance to Harry and Hermione as we continue for the forest. The others must have thought we were going somewhere else, Hermione going to go to a cabin before seeing Hagrid continuing onwards. They stop, causing me to stop with them as the large man grabs a crossbow by the trees.

"We're goin' in here." He turns back after realizing we had stopped, gesturing to the forest with his head.

"Into the forest?" Hermione questions perplexed.

"Yeah. C'mon now, quick, before we're spotted!" He ushers us. He marches on, assuming we'd follow, which we do hastily.

"Hagrid, why are you armed?" Harry questions as he eyes the weapon poised for action.

"Jus' a precaution." Hagrid shrugs, but his eyes unwaver from his surroundings.

"You didn't bring your crossbow the day you showed us the thestrals." Hermione notes tautly.

"Nah, well, we weren' goin' in so far then. An' anyway, tha' was before Firenze left the forest, wasn' it?"

"Why does Firenze leaving make a difference?" Hermione questions the obvious.

"'Cause the other centaurs are good an' riled at me, tha's why. They used ter be- well, yeh couldn' call 'em friendly- but we got on all righ'. Kept 'emselves to 'emselves, bu' always turned up if I wanted a word. Not anymore.." He sighed deeply.

"Firenze said that they're angry because he went to work for Dumbledore?" Harry mentions, tripping on a root in his distraction.

"Yeah. Well, angry doesn' cover it. Ruddy livid. If I hadn' stepped in, I reckon they'd've kicked Firenze ter death-" I gasp at this, now more cautious of roots and didn't want to end up tripping either.

"They attacked him?" Hermione asks in shock.

"Yep. He had half the herd onto him-"

"And you stopped it? By yourself? Harry gapes.

"'Course I did, couldn't stand by an' watch 'em kill him, could I? Lucky I was passin', really.. an' I'd've thought Firenze mighta remembered tha' before he started sendin' me stupid warnin's!" Hagrid says, suddenly vexing heatedly as we share a look to this.

"Anyway, since then the other centaurs've bin livid with me an' the trouble is, they've got a lot of influence in the forest.. Cleverest creatures in here.."

"Is that why we're here, Hagrid? The centaurs?" Hermione asks.

"Ah no, no, it's not them.. Well, o' course, they could complicate the problem, yeah.. But yeh'll see what I mean in a bit.."

"This.. wouldn't have anything to do with why you're all banged up now, would it? You are alright, aren't you?" I ask the friendly giant. A hasty nod to follow.

"Oh, this is no'ing to worry 'bout. I'm jus' fine, thanks. Yeh'll see.. Yehr all 'bout to see." He leads us ahead further, the air growing tenser with anticipation. In started to get harder to get through the dense forest around us, trying not to get lost or tripped up.

"Hagrid? Where are we going?" Harry fights his way through the forest with us. I was snagged back, thorns catching my robe that Hermione tries to help me with. We run to hurry after the pair, Hargid being able to trudge through the forage with ease as opposed to us.

"Bit further. C'mon Harry. We need to keep ter keep together now.." He turns back to ensure Hermione and I were keeping up, his strides seeming to grow longer as he sees us right behind him.

"Hagrid, would it be all right if we lit our wands?" Hermione quiets quietly.

"Er.. all righ'. In fact.." The man before us suddenly stops knocking Hermione back. Harry and I sturdy the girl to her feet.

"Maybe we bes' jus' stop fer a momen', so I can.. fill yeh in. Before we ge' there, like." Hermione exclaims in relief at this, lighting her wand with Lumos. Our wands illuminated around us, out light revealing a Harris's troubled face once more.

"Are you sure everything is alright? I reckon something's wrong.. Are you sure you're okay?" I questions the friendly man who seemed terribly troubled. His eyes casting worried glances about.

"Righ'. Well.. see.. the thing is.. Well, there's a good chance I'm goin' ter be gettin' the sack any day now." He stumbles over his words, having to take a deep breath before continuing.

"But you've lasted this long- What makes you think-?" Hermione begins. I turn shake my head at this.

"This is because of Umbridge, isn't it? That woman is unbelievable..!" I sigh exasperatedly at the tyrannical-crazed woman.

"Umbridge reckons it was me that put tha' niffler in her office." He sighs heavily.

"And was it?" Harry blurts.

"No, it ruddy well wasn'! On'y anythin' ter do with magical creatures an' she thinks it's got somethin' ter do with me. Yeh know she's bin lookin' fer a chance ter get rid of me ever since I got back. I don' wan' ter go, o' course, but if it wasn' fer.. well.. the special circumstances I'm abou' ter explain to yeh, I'd leave righ' now, before she's go' the chance ter do it in front o' the whole school, like she did with Trelawney."

"No! No, you can't! That woman has already driven out Dumbledore, Fred and George too! Trelawney! You can't let her win!" I protest. Something about the woman riling me up inside. He stops our protesting with a wave of his huge hands.

"It's not the end o' the world, I'll be able ter help Dumbledore once I'm outta here, I can be useful ter the Order. An' you lot'll have Grubbly-Plank, yeh'll-yeh'll get through yer exams fine.." He voice quivers, a handkerchief being pulled out.

"Don' worry abou' me. Look, I wouldn' be tellin' yer this at all if I didn' have ter. See, if I go.. well, I can' leave withou'.. withou' tellin' someone .. because I'll-I'll need you three ter help me. An' Ron, if he's willin'." He sniffles, my heart feeling heavy for the sniffling man.

"Of course we'll help you. What do you want us to do?" Hermione and I nod to the gesture, Hagrid patting Harry on the shoulder. The force would having sent him into the tree had I not help steady the boy.

"I knew yeh'd say yes, but I won'.. never.. forget.. Well. . C'mon.. jus' a little bit further through here.. Watch yerselves, now, there's nettles.." We continued to walk in silence from there on out, the urge to question how much further striking every other minute. Promptly, Hagrid throws an arm up, stopping us from walking any further.