Together [HP]

December brings high winds, rain and snow to Hogwarts.Although there is always a draft in the castle in winter, every time Jacqueline walked past Durmstrang's big boat parked on the lake, she was grateful for the hot fire and thick walls in the castle.The great ship pitched and tossed in the gale, its black sails billowing and dancing in the dark night sky.She figured it must be freezing cold in Durmstrang's trailer, too.She also noticed that Hagrid kept supplying Madame Maxime's steeds with their favorite single malt whiskey.The smell of alcohol wafted from the feeding trough in the corner of the temporary stable, making the students in the Protection of Magical Creatures class feel a little dizzy.It doesn't do any good, as they're still tending to the dreaded snails, and some wits are needed.

"I'm not sure if they're hibernating," Hagrid told his shivering class in the pumpkin patch the next class, "we might as well try and see if they want to sleep... we'll put them in the In these boxes..."

Now there are only ten snails left.Apparently, their desire to kill each other has not been completely eradicated.Today they are each nearly six feet long.Their thick gray coat, their powerful, flailing legs, their exploding fire-breathing tails, and their spines and suction cups, all add up to make the snails the most intriguing sight Harry has ever seen. disgusting stuff.The students stared listlessly at the large boxes Hagrid had brought out, all covered with pillows and fluffy blankets.

"We lead them in," Hagrid said, "and put the lid on and see what happens."

It turned out that the snails don't hibernate and don't like being stuffed into boxes with pillows and covered.Soon, Hagrid was yelling, "Take it easy, take it easy!" the field was already strewn with smoking crate fragments as the snails scuttled through the pumpkins.Most of the classmates, Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle in the lead, had fled into Hagrid's cabin through the back door and shut themselves in.

"So," Jacqueline walked to Hagrid's fireplace, tapped her wand lightly, and lit the fireplace, "you don't think this is Hagrid's home now?"

"Did you also forget that the people outside are your friends?" Malfoy found himself a chair that looked fit, and Jacqueline just raised an eyebrow.

"I'm not stupid enough to stay outside and play with Blast-tailed squirrels, and be wary of their sparks from time to time." Jacqueline stood at the window watching Harry, Ron, and Hermione.They worked together and managed to subdue nine snails and tie them up, but they also paid a heavy price, with countless burns and scratches on their bodies.In the end, there was only one snail left.

"Hey, don't scare it!" Hagrid yelled, as Harry and Ron shot sparks at the Whelk with their wands. "Tie a string to its spines so it won't hurt other snails!"

"Yeah, we don't want that to happen!" Ron yelled angrily, as he and Harry retreated to the wall of Hagrid's hut, still using the sparks of their wands to keep the snails at bay. "Hermione, come on, this is the last one."

"Don't rush me, Ron." Hermione said dissatisfiedly, a white rope floated from her wand, she tried to tie the snail with the rope, but a spark shot out from the snail's tail , burned the rope all at once.

"Dizzy," Jacqueline said, holding out her wand and pointing at the Blast-Ended Whelk.The gray snail swayed a few times before lying limply on the ground.

"That's clever, Jacqueline." Ron pulled a rope from his wand and tied the snail tightly. Hermione glanced into Hagrid's cabin and said angrily, "You Why did you go early?"

"Going to your brains," said Jacqueline.

"Hagrid didn't ask us to magically tie them up," said Hermione, holding her head up. "Can you come out of it? It looks stupid to talk to you like that."

"The school has banned you from doing too many things, and I haven't seen you obey them all." Jacqueline was still lying on the window, looking at Hermione outside, "We lit a fire inside, you have to come in to keep warm ?"

Hermione rubbed her gloved palms, glanced at Jacqueline, then at Malfoy behind her, "I don't think I need it."

"Yeah, ok, ok...it does look like fun."

Rita Skeeter leaned against the fence in Hagrid's vegetable garden, watching the farce.She was wearing a thick magenta gown today with a purple suede collar, and the crocodile handbag dangled from her arm.

"Who are you?" Hagrid asked Rita Skeeter, slipping a noose over the snail's spine and fastening it tight.

"My name is Rita Skeeter, a reporter from the Daily Prophet," replied Rita, looking at Hagrid with a wide smile, her gold teeth gleaming.

"It seems that Dumbledore said that you are not allowed to enter the school again." Hagrid said, frowning slightly, while dragging the unconscious snail towards its companions.

Rita didn't seem to hear Hagrid at all.

"What are these fascinating animals called?" she asked, her smile widening.

"Skreck," Hagrid replied gruffly.

"Really?" Rita said, interested. "I've never heard of it before . . . Where did you get them?"

Hagrid's face flushed from behind his shaggy black beard.Jacqueline lay on the window sill and watched them with interest. Indeed, where did Hagrid get these snails?

Hermione seemed to have thought of the same question, and said quickly, "They're interesting, aren't they? Tell me, Harry, aren't you?"

"What? Oh, yeah... Ouch... Interesting." Harry faltered as she stepped on his foot.

"Ah, you're here too, Harry!" said Rita Skeeter, turning her face. "So you like Care of Magical Creatures, don't you? Is it your favorite class?"

"Yes." Harry said unequivocally.Hagrid looked at him with a wide smile.

"Great," said Rita, "really great. Are the teaching hours long?" she asked Hagrid again.

She moved her eyes to Dean (who had an ugly gash on half his cheek), Lavender (a large piece of her robe was charred), Seamus (who was nursing a couple of burned fingers), Then her eyes moved to the window of the cabin, where most of the classmates stood with their noses pressed against the pane, trying to see if the danger was over.

"Just in my second year," said Hagrid.

"Great... Wondering if you'd like to do an interview, huh? Share your experience with the readers about protecting magical creatures? The Daily Prophet has a zoology column every Wednesday, I think you must know. We Can introduce these, um, Rattle Wolf."

"Skret," said Hagrid kindly and eagerly, "er, yes, that's all right."

"Okay, bye, Harry!" Rita Skeeter called out cheerfully to Hagrid when the bell rang for the end of get out of class. "Then it's a deal, Hagrid. See you on Friday!"

"She'll twist every word Hagrid says she wants," Harry said in a low voice.

"I hope Hagrid hasn't illegally imported those snails and stuff," said Hermione anxiously.

"Illegal importation is the last thing you need to worry about." Jacqueline opened the door of Hagrid's cabin and walked out.

"You're finally willing to come out of there," Hermione told her, and they walked together towards the castle to go to lunch. "Why did you just say that illegal imports are the least of our worries?"

"Go back and look through the books, Granger. And hope there's a book about snails."

"You don't mean..." Hermione's face turned pale.Jacqueline looked at her, raised her eyebrows, and yawned.

"Hagrid got into a lot of trouble before, and Dumbledore never fired him," Ron reassured them. "The worst possibility is that Hagrid has to get rid of the snails. I'm sorry... did I say the worst? I mean the best."

Harry and Hermione laughed, feeling a little lighter as they went to lunch.