Chapter 64: The Real Worth of a Half-Blood Giant

Thanks to those moving staircases at Hogwarts — the little nuisances that usually torment students — at the critical moment they really came in handy.

In any case, it was by relying on those staircases that Silven was able to shake off the three-headed dog again and again.

The thing actually came out, smashed through the door frame and the railing, and without any stairs it just leapt straight down, chasing after Silven like a madman.

From the fourth floor all the way to the first, Silven didn't even have time to catch his breath — he could only keep running forward.

Finally, in the Entrance Hall, Silven spotted Hagrid outside the main doors.

He seemed to have already learned that Fluffy had broken free, and had come sprinting toward the castle the moment he heard.

"Get out here!" Hagrid shouted.

Silven turned and bolted through the main doors, with Fluffy hot on his heels.

"Stop, Fluffy, stop!" Hagrid waved both hands.

Normally, if he did that, Fluffy would definitely stop — but not this time.

The three-headed dog acted as if it didn't recognize Hagrid at all, not pausing for a single beat. All three heads opened their mouths at once, baring the pale fangs inside, and lunged straight at Silven, who was closest to it.

Then Hagrid charged over, kicking up a fierce gust of wind, and slammed into the middle head of the three-headed dog with a thunderous crash.

"Boom!"

It felt as if even the earth itself had trembled.

"Crack!"

The middle neck of the three-headed dog let out a crisp sound, then twisted slantwise to one side. Its massive body rolled a few times on the stone steps before slamming down onto the ground and going still.

Hagger staggered back three steps, his whole face flushed crimson, the veins on his forehead standing out in sharp relief.

Silven was completely dumbfounded, standing there slack-jawed, unable to speak.

This was the first time he had directly grasped just how valuable being a half-blood giant really was.

A three-headed dog that huge — and it didn't even have a chance to fight back, just got flipped over on the spot?

And judging from the commotion just now, the middle neck of the three-headed dog should be broken too. If it didn't have three heads, that single blow would have killed it instantly.

No wonder Hagrid likes fierce beasts with fangs and claws — with his strength, even a werewolf would get a much clearer look in its eyes after taking one slap from him.

"Oh, Fluffy…" Hagrid, who had just steadied himself, saw the three-headed dog lying motionless, and his eyes immediately turned as red as his face. Big, fat teardrops rolled down through his shaggy beard.

"Merlin, Fluffy's dead, I killed it…"

"No, Hagrid, calm down." Silven walked over and patted his waist.

"Fluffy has three heads — the heart is its most fatal weak point."

"Mm…" Hagrid said between sobs, "You mean… it… it's still alive?"

"Of course." Silven walked over to the three-headed dog and could still faintly hear its faint heartbeat — it really was still alive.

"Let's move it somewhere else first." Silven glanced at the castle. "That commotion just now probably woke a lot of people up. If someone else sees you and the three-headed dog, you'll both be in trouble."

Silven wasn't worried about the professors — he was worried about students seeing, especially Slytherin students.

Hagrid was still on the Ministry of Magic's key observation list. If some little wizard told the Ministry about the three-headed dog, even Dumbledore probably wouldn't be able to protect him.

When that time comes, the three-headed dog Fluffy would have to be put down too — that's exactly what the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures does.

So Hagrid carried the three-headed dog, with Silven assisting with the Levitation Charm, and the two of them moved Fluffy to the edge of the Forbidden Forest, right next to Hagrid's wooden hut.

"I'm, I'm sorry, Silven." After putting down the three-headed dog, Hagrid stood there at a loss. "You almost got killed by Fluffy… but I… but I swear… Fluffy normally… it…"

Hagrid wanted to say that Fluffy normally was very obedient, but the terrifying scene just now made it impossible for him to say such a thing no matter what.

"I know what you're trying to say." Silven said. "And I believe you too."

"You believe me?" Honestly, Hagrid didn't quite register it for a moment.

"Mm." Silven nodded.

After calming down just now, he had also replayed the details he hadn't had time to think about during the chase.

Something was off about the three-headed dog — or rather, very off. Its eyes were too red, you couldn't even see the pupils, as if dyed in a layer of blood.

The three-headed dog he had seen last time didn't look like this at all.

Rather than some "enemies meeting, eyes blazing with hatred," Silven felt it was more like the dog had been affected by some kind of dark magic.

As for who that person was — well, does it even need saying? Apart from Voldemort, there's no one else. Silven remembered he had called Quirrell a fool, and then there was no more sound from inside.

"Dark magic?" After hearing Silven's explanation, Hagrid frowned and said, "But Fluffy's in the castle — who would use dark magic on it?"

"Of course, whoever wants to get through that trapdoor." Silven said.

"How, how do you know Fluffy is guarding the trapdoor?" Hagrid stared at Silven, eyes wide.

"Harry told me, of course." Silven said it as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

"He… wait." Hagrid suddenly realized something. "You mean someone is trying to steal the Philosopher's Stone?"

"Not trying — they should already be in motion." Silven turned and glanced toward the castle.

It had been a while since he had been chased out here — Quirrell should have already reached the final obstacle.

"I'll go check!" Now Hagrid couldn't be bothered with Fluffy anymore and turned to head back toward the castle.

The Philosopher's Stone is the most important thing — it absolutely cannot be lost!

"I'll go with you." Silven said.

"No, it's too dangerous." Hagrid refused on the spot. "You stay here, or go back to your dormitory."

"I promise I'll stick with you the whole time and definitely won't run off."

"That won't work either!"

Just as the two were locked in an unresolved argument, a thin, tall figure suddenly appeared on the grounds out of nowhere.

The common knowledge that Apparition was forbidden at Hogwarts seemed to simply not exist for this person.

Hagrid, hearing the commotion, turned his head, and upon seeing who had arrived, his eyes immediately lit up with delight: "Professor Dumbledore."

"Hagrid." Dumbledore's expression was grave. He glanced at the three-headed dog lying not far away.

"Can you tell me what happened here?"

"When I came back from visiting Fred and George at the school hospital, I found someone had broken into the fourth floor." Silven said quickly. "They broke the three-headed dog's chain, then used magic to drive it mad, made it lose its mind.

"I happened to pass by and got chased out of the castle. Luckily I ran into Hagrid, and he saved me."

Dumbledore's face grew darker and darker… "It looks like someone didn't want me at the school today, so they forged a letter from the Ministry of Magic."

Dumbledore strode quickly toward the castle, and Silven hurried to keep up.

"Hagrid was right, Mr. Ollivander. You should be heading back to your dormitory to sleep right now."

"I want to know what happened, Professor Dumbledore." Silven said. "I can't have been chased by a three-headed dog for nothing, and with you here, I definitely won't be in any danger, right?"

"Your trust makes me feel ashamed, Mr. Ollivander." Dumbledore sighed and continued walking forward, no longer saying anything about telling Silven to go back to the dormitory.

Silven also quietly followed behind, not asking him why he insisted on walking to the castle instead of Apparating… he could clearly Apparate within the school.

……

(End of this chapter)