In general, albeit without much desire, I began to tell about strictly positive moments. Were I younger, stupider, without shards of someone else's memory, I might have found something to be offended by, something to dislike. But even understanding that children are quite cruel, and teenagers differ little from them, did not worry me much; it is unlikely they can "out-nightmare" the memory of shards, in which there is more than enough of various horror both magical and in terms of deeds. And as I already learned, thanks to the same shards; everything has its time. Now, in this life of mine, is time for, so to speak, "Entertaining Hogwarts" with its magic, amusements, and hobbies.
In the common room, when we returned, there were quite a few students, and everyone with undisguised concern began to ask both us and Justin, as well as Madam Sprout, about the reasons for the summons to the Headmaster, whether something happened, and all that stuff. This is even a little pleasant. But, as the Headmaster said, the time is already late, and schedule is an important factor in the successful growing up of a young organism, that is, me.
Sunday is a wonderful day! Excellent sunny, warm weather turned out, for the sake of which our entire Hufflepuff year numbering as many as six people including me, went to explore nearby territories. Well, only I engaged in exploration, while the rest simply went for a walk, concurrently showing me local sights.
We simply walked, guys talked about all sorts of little things, and Ernie pressed me with questions about the life of ordinary people. He is a pureblood, knows absolutely nothing, and operates with incredible "facts" heard here and there. This reminded me somewhat of fantasies of ordinary people regarding wizards, only in reverse. And yet if you look into it, everything is exactly the same, except that for some science serves to ensure personal comfort, for others—magic.
"...and here we have the Black Lake," Justin pointed with a hand toward this very lake when we approached the shore.
Blue sky was reflected in the calm water surface.
"Here one can still walk, but further—territory of Dementors already begins," explained Susan very seriously, thereby causing Hannah's interest.
"How do you know?"
"Well, my aunt is the Head of the DMLE," the red-haired girl explained a little modestly. "She immediately explained to me where the safe zone is. True..."
Susan hesitated, and this caused interest in everyone else already.
"True 'what'?" Hannah didn't lag behind her friend.
"Well, these are Dementors. They are quite intelligent, but satisfying hunger is their goal of life. And here there are no prisoners of Azkaban, nothing to feed on."
"Logical," I nodded. "Hunger can push even a human to ill-considered acts. What to say about creatures whose goal and meaning of existence is in satisfying this hunger. And here is a whole castle of schoolchildren."
"Dumbledore won't allow it," Ernie waved it off, but his face acquired an even more serious expression.
"You know," I turned away from examining the water surface of the lake and green hills on distant shores. "Ordinary people have many sayings, the general meaning of which boils down to the phrase: 'Trust in higher powers, but don't slip up yourself'."
"Hmm?" he didn't quite understand, and the others looked at me with interest too.
Exposing my face to rays of sun and light cool breeze, I continued the thought:
"Even if there is a force nearby capable of protecting and saving you from troubles, this is no reason to seek these very troubles purposefully. One needs to secure oneself from Dementors, and reduce the 'safe area'. The inability to visit the shore of the lake for some time is an incomparably insignificant loss compared to the chance of losing a soul."
Now it got to the guys a little, and we went closer to the castle towering on the rock. Wandering along wide clearings in the undergrowth, which were an analog of a road here, the guys quickly recovered from the suddenly revealed realization that a certain "safe zone" is not such at all.
"And how to defend?" asked a logical question Justin, whose thoughtful face looked too much like that of a movie villain plotting global mischief.
"For a start, keep away from the territory patrolled by these creatures," Ernie began to bend fingers.
"Learn the Patronus Charm," suggested Hannah.
"Yes, that too," Ernie bent the second finger.
"But how?"
This question of Justin caught everyone by surprise. We almost reached the castle, and right now stood next to a large stone hut on the very edge of the forest. This hut itself was built for someone clearly exceeding human dimensions; this was traced absolutely in every detail, from windows and doorway to steps, roof height, and a certain bulkiness of the structure. A fairly large vegetable garden by the hut was entirely in pumpkins of most diverse, and sometimes absurdly huge sizes.
"Hagrid's hut," explained Justin to me, seeing curiosity in my gaze. "He is, generally, the gamekeeper. They say he is excellent at understanding animals, as a practitioner."
"Yeah-yeah," Ernie nodded with a smile. "Someone told me too somehow. For him, the criterion 'safe animal' extends, perhaps, to everyone. Easily finds an approach to everyone, and by his simplicity doesn't understand their danger to others at all. He himself is o-ho-ho how healthy and powerful! Probably pulling a dragon by the tail is no question for him."
"Yeah," the others agreed with a smile.
"A small one," Zacharias nodded with a smile.
"Oh, what have you gathered here for, kiddies?" a low rolling bass rang out slightly to the side of us.
For me, the approach of a huge sentient was not a secret, although I noticed him inexcusably late; this big guy walks too quietly and clearly through the undergrowth. For the umpteenth time I am convinced that whoever you are, experience in your business can overcome the mismatch of physiology to the business.
The guys almost jumped on the spot, turning to the voice.
"Professor Hagrid!" they blurted out in chorus, almost shouting.
"You scared us..." expressed the general thought Justin.
"I, that, didn't want to... And let's do without professors of all sorts and sirs."
Examining this huge, obviously half-breed, up close was quite amusing. There is no less than two and a half meters of height in him, full, but powerful. Slightly baggy leather and fabric clothes make him more solid and massive, and thick and completely curly hair and beard hide the head well, which is somewhat smaller than it should be if observing human body proportions.
"Walking, yes?" he bassed. "Weather is good nowadays. Just as if autumn hasn't arrived."
Hagrid approached his vegetable garden and put down a large wooden bucket he held in his hands.
"How without 'professors'," Hannah was surprised. "You teach at Hogwarts now."
"That, of course, is so," Hagrid turned to us. "I, of course, am glad to teach kiddies, you that is, to handle different animals. But I don't even know how... What a business; I am all with animals, and with animals. Dumbledore asked me, until he finds a proper professor, or else no one wants to teach Care at all. That's the business..."
Hagrid stretched his back, looked at us, and somehow even with embarrassment spoke.
"You, that... I am always glad to chat, but there is heaps of work. Look, Thestrals still need feeding..."
"We, then, will go," I nodded to the newly minted professor. "Won't distract."
"Go on, kiddies, study well."
Issuing a parting word and waving a hand, Hagrid stomped into the hut, and we—further, to Hogwarts.
"Simple as five Knuts," Justin nodded at his thoughts.
Susan walked thoughtfully.
"Wonder whom he will bring to the first lesson?"