Chapter 174 - 173 — You’ve Been Dismissed!

Chapter 174: Chapter 173 — You’ve Been Dismissed!

# Chapter 173 — You’ve Been Dismissed!

**Gryffindor Common Room**

Professor McGonagall informed all the students that they had to return to their common rooms after six o’clock.

Furthermore, they had to travel in groups during the day, with professors assigned to accompany them between classes.

No one was allowed to visit the castle bathrooms without a professor accompanying them, either.

All Quidditch matches had been postponed, and students were no longer permitted to leave the castle at night.

"I know none of you are happy about these restrictions, but there is nothing we can do. This time, the culprit is a basilisk, and we have been unable to locate it.

"We also have no way of knowing exactly where it will attack next.

"If the school still fails to capture the serpent after a certain period, Hogwarts will have no choice but to close indefinitely!"

With that, she staggered out through the archway of the common room.

Her words, combined with her weary appearance, left all the students silent.

After a while, Fred finally stood up, his voice full of anger.

"Vesey is popular throughout the school, and she’s incredibly powerful. She even developed a potion that can transform vampires! And what happened to her?

"She was still attacked! The basilisk went after her in broad daylight, trying to kill her. What had she ever done to deserve that?

"She has done so many good things. Who would want her dead? I think it’s those people in Slytherin! Vesey has interfered with their interests, and now those pure-bloods are ostracizing her!

"Slytherin is the only house that hasn’t had a single student attacked. Doesn’t that tell you something? They’re behind this! They’re trying to kill everyone who does any good!

"The Heir of Slytherin is a monster! I say we drive every Slytherin out of Hogwarts!"

His speech was met with enthusiastic agreement.

Some students had even begun writing letters demanding action.

Harry and Ron stood in a corner, watching everyone vent their indignation. Then they noticed Ginny suddenly burst into tears, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.

"We can’t let things continue like this," Harry said angrily. "Let’s go and find Hagrid! If he really did set that snake on Vesey, I’ll make him pay!"

Ron hesitated.

"But Professor McGonagall won’t let us leave the castle."

"Have you forgotten the cloak Dad had? I think tonight would be the perfect time to use it!"

That night, Harry and Ron remained in the common room until everyone else had been sent away.

Nobody suspected them of anything. After all, Vesey and Hermione had both been attacked, and it would have been strange if the two of them could sleep peacefully under the circumstances.

Once the common room had emptied, they put on the Invisibility Cloak and slipped out.

As they made their way through the dimly lit corridors, Harry and Ron quickly realized just how ill-advised their nighttime excursion was.

Nearly every professor in the school seemed to be on patrol. Teachers, prefects, and ghosts were moving around in groups, making it difficult to avoid being discovered.

Harry even spotted Cassandra, her eyes red.

He didn’t know why they looked so swollen, but the way she gripped her wand made it seem as though she were holding a massive sword.

Going out beneath the Invisibility Cloak might not have been safe after all.

Fortunately, they seemed to have a bit of luck on their side.

They reached Hagrid’s hut without incident.

After knocking on the door, they were greeted by Hagrid, who looked dreadful. His eyes were swollen, and he was clutching a bow and arrow as if he were a frightened animal ready to defend itself.

Harry and Ron observed him for a moment before removing the Invisibility Cloak.

Hagrid lowered his bow and arrow.

"What are you doing here? Didn’t Headmaster Dumbledore tell you not to wander around? You’re risking your lives!"

Harry and Ron paid little attention to his warning. They were already there, so what was the point of worrying about the danger now?

"Have you heard what happened to Vesey and Hermione?" Harry asked politely.

Hagrid’s hand trembled as he poured tea for them, spilling it all over himself.

Heavy tears rolled down his cheeks.

"I heard about it. I thought..."

Suddenly, someone knocked on the door.

Harry and Ron sprang to their feet in alarm.

Hagrid hurriedly threw the Invisibility Cloak over them before calling out, "Who’s there?"

"It’s me!"

Dumbledore’s voice.

Hagrid immediately went to open the door.

The moment Dumbledore stepped inside, his gaze drifted toward the corner where Harry and Ron were hiding.

"Good evening, Hagrid," he said, his expression unusually grave.

Someone entered behind him: Piers Thicknesse.

Both Harry and Ron recognized him. He was the new Minister for Magic, appointed after Fudge’s arrest.

Thicknesse wore black robes and carried himself with an air of disdain. He was of average height, appeared to be in his forties, and had a rather vulgar way of looking at people. A contemptuous smile played on his lips.

The moment Hagrid saw him, his legs seemed to give way, and he collapsed into a chair.

Thicknesse smiled.

"Excellent. It seems Mr. Hagrid is ready."

"No! It wasn’t me! I didn’t raise the basilisk! I’ve never raised a basilisk in my life!" Hagrid shouted desperately.

Thicknesse shook his head.

"Come now, Hagrid. Don’t try to deny it. That’s exactly what every prisoner says, after all.

"And if another attack occurs after you’ve been taken into custody, wouldn’t that clear you of suspicion?

"Alternatively, you could tell me where the basilisk is hiding. Surely you know something?

"Your attack on Vesey has spread throughout Britain. Countless wizards are demanding an explanation from me."

"I didn’t! I didn’t attack Vesey! I’d never attack her, even if it cost me my life!" Hagrid cried out in anguish.

Harry and Ron believed him.

Hagrid wasn’t a liar. If he said he hadn’t done something, then he truly hadn’t done it.

And if he insisted that he had never raised a basilisk, perhaps that was the truth as well.

Unfortunately, their belief meant nothing. Thicknesse didn’t believe him.

Anger flashed in Dumbledore’s eyes.

"I don’t think taking Hagrid away will accomplish anything."

Thicknesse smiled.

"Oh, Dumbledore. You’re only a headmaster, after all. Hagrid has committed a crime, and his past experience tells me that he’s a repeat offender!"

"He was framed!" Dumbledore replied coldly.

At that moment, Harry was completely convinced of Hagrid’s innocence.

If even Dumbledore said Hagrid had been wronged, then Hagrid must have been wronged.

Had Hagrid been falsely accused before, too?

And what part had Riddle played in all this?

Harry wanted to tell Dumbledore about Riddle, but with Thicknesse standing right there, he held his tongue.

"Dumbledore, we need to take Hagrid with us and detain him temporarily—"

"Detain me?" Hagrid shouted. "Where? Azkaban?"

He stared at Thicknesse, his voice heavy with despair.

Thicknesse was about to answer when the door opened again.

This time, it was Lucius Malfoy.

He entered leaning on his cane, his expression brimming with pride.

"Mr. Thicknesse, you’re already here!"

He smiled and shook the Minister’s hand before turning his attention to Hagrid.

"Oh, for goodness’ sake! Why hasn’t this man been arrested yet?"

"Get out of my house!" Hagrid roared angrily.

Lucius sneered.

"You call this a house? Well, I’m not here to see you. I heard the headmaster was here, so I decided to have a word with him."

"What do you want from me?" Dumbledore asked calmly.

Lucius smiled.

"This is truly unfortunate."

As he spoke, the smile on his face widened.

He unfurled a long roll of parchment and said softly, "Look here. The Board of Governors believes you should step down. This is your dismissal notice. Isn’t that astonishing?"