Chapter 111: Gentle Hagrid, Christmas Preparations
In Hagrid's vegetable patch.
Leonardo drew his wand and tapped lightly. "Burrow."
A small deep pit opened in the soil. He set the sealed box containing the phial inside, then waved his wand to smooth the earth back over it.
He summoned several stones and pressed them into the ground, arranging them in an irregular pattern, then traced a few layered warding and trap charms with his wand.
Next, he took several Chomping Cabbages from his flask container and transplanted them around the spot.
"Hagrid, could you keep an eye on this for me?"
"Don't you worry. I won't let anyone meddle with it," the half‑giant said, thumping his chest.
Leonardo nodded with formal gratitude. "Thank you."
The mixture needed to rest in a dark, quiet place until a thunderstorm came. Until then, the crystal phial could not be disturbed, nor exposed to sunlight. Sunlight caused the worst kind of corruption.
Leonardo glanced at the buried place. A pity it had to be sunk in the earth, but it was a key step in interacting with nature. The ingredients would slowly fuse and change, like a seed waiting to sprout. He could not simply tuck it into an Undetectable Extension container, convenient and safe as that would be.
He had considered burying it in the Forbidden Forest and having Aurelius watch it; nothing in the forest could best a growing Qilin. But then there was Quirrell—or rather, the thing inside him. Voldemort would soon be seeking unicorns. If they crossed paths at the wrong time, it would be trouble.
Hagrid's garden was better. Few people came here besides himself and Harry's group. With the holidays approaching, even fewer would pass by. He only needed a week or two. And Hagrid was reliable. Dumbledore would trust him with lives. He could not keep a secret, perhaps, but he did a job well.
"Leonardo, I just thought of something."
"Hm?"
Hagrid looked up at the night sky and rumbled, "Even if it's the weekend, students shouldn't be out late, and you've gone all the way out of the castle. It's not so convenient to go back now. Why not stay here for the night?"
Night wandering and forest strolling had become routine. Getting back was easy enough with Aurelius's Apparition. Still, staying with a friend was normal enough.
"If it's not too much trouble."
"No trouble at all. I'll tidy up."
Hagrid bustled into the hut, pleased to have a guest. When he was gone, Leonardo summoned Aurelius. The little Qilin had shrunk itself. Leonardo rubbed its brow.
"While I'm away the next few days, keep watch nearby."
"Okay, Master."
"And no nibbling Hagrid's vegetables. I'll bring you food."
"All right, Master."
Tiny spirals showed in Leonardo's eyes as the little Qilin nuzzled his hand.
No magical pathway…
Inside the hut.
"Leonardo, want a bedtime story?"
A bedtime story?
Leonardo blinked. He had not expected that. The half‑giant really was gentle.
"Sure."
Hagrid produced a booklet—well, a book, though it looked like a pamphlet in his hands.
"Once upon a time, in the wizarding world, there was a family…"
Leonardo had barely heard a few minutes before Hagrid's voice cut off. Loud snores followed.
Leonardo could only smile, shake his head, and tap his wand to wrap himself in a Silencing Charm. Then he put out the lights.
At dawn, with the sun just cresting the horizon, Leonardo was already up. Facing the new light, he touched his wand tip to his heart and intoned, "Amato Animo Animato Animagus."
This was the third step of the Animagus rite. While waiting for the storm to come, at every sunrise and sunset, the wand tip must touch the heart as the incantation is spoken. Not one repetition could be missed.
"Morning, Leonardo."
"Morning, Hagrid."
Hagrid appeared in his moleskin coat, beaver boots, and rabbit‑fur gloves, dragging a fir he had cut from the Forbidden Forest for Christmas decorations.
Leonardo lifted the fir to float alongside with a tap of his wand.
"Thanks kindly, Leonardo."
"Any time."
They walked together to the castle. As they entered the Great Hall, Harry and Ron waved from breakfast.
"Morning, Leonardo," Harry called. "Are you staying for the holidays too?"
Christmas was for family, and most students went home. Leonardo, unfortunately, had arrangements—Animagus work among them. Then again, Aurelius's Apparition reached far further than most. If there was time, he could slip home and give Aunt Penelope a small surprise.
"Staying for now."
"Oh, right, Ron—Scabbers, back to you."
Leonardo drew a balding rat from his pocket. The moment Scabbers hit the table, he launched himself into Ron's arms and burrowed into a pocket.
He never wanted to see that monster in human skin again.