Hey, I Ruin Stories Chapter 10

Chapter 10: The Injured and the Friend


[Early Morning — Hallways of Hogwarts]


Magic of Protection.


Possibly one of the best forms of magic that I have.


The ridiculous headache that I felt early morning from the lack of sleep was healed in an instant. 


It sure doesn't heal any physical injury, as I had scratch marks on my back despite me using the magic. 


Doesn't matter.


It just means I have to be sure not to get an arm or leg blown off.


But for now, I was off to the cafeteria. 


Or so I thought.


“Professor Dumbledore!” I heard a yell from back as I was walking through the hallway.


Of course the call wasn’t for me and as I looked ahead, I noticed the old man walking ahead of me by a few feet as another man came running from behind —totally ignoring me.


“Jules?” Dumbledore turned back, surprised to see the man who was seemingly pale from fear. 


As he called the man’s name, his eyes met with mine too at which he gave a nod of acknowledgement with me doing the same.


“P-professor!” He huffed, “I-I-Its about Hagrid!”


The man stuttered from the lack of breath, or maybe it was from the fear he felt —for reasons unknown.


“Take a long breath, Jules.” The professor gave a kind smile. “Calm, breathe and then talk.”


The man however did not seem to have the time or the intention of doing that. So skipping the first two instructions, he went straight to the third.


“Sir, Hagrid… H-He is in the matron’s office!”


“Pardon?”


This caught Dumbledore off-guard, his smile faded almost immediately as he heard that.


“He is poisoned and in a very rough state, his entire face is messed up.”


I had no choice but to join the discussion, “What happened? He was with us just till yesterday’s evening. What happened within the short time that he wasn’t with us?” 


“Madam Pomfrey says that is an attack from acromantulas, multiple, and horrible.” The man shuddered as he described, “One of his eyes is heavily gnashed and madam is trying her hardest but she says that he might lose it.”


“That…” Dumbledore’s voice went low, “Come with me.” 


He said to the man as he tried to rush towards the matron’s office. 


“I will come too.”


The old wizard thought of declining, but I had no intentions of listening.


“Alright.” But he didn't, realizing that Hagrid was in a way responsible for me getting a job here. So, he believed that I felt indebted to the half-giant.


Without uttering a single more word, we rushed towards the matron’s office, hoping that the half-giant would survive. 


Dumbledore seemingly was crying in his mind for Hagrid and even the man that came to deliver the news, who seemed to be a helper of the matron, also had his eyes teary. 


We ran past students who were walking towards the cafeteria, mostly ignoring their greetings.


Hogwarts was big, even with fast feet, it took us minutes to reach Madam Pomfrey’s office.


“Hagrid!” Dumbledore almost shouted, slamming the door to the office open and rushing in to check on the half-giant.


Or so he tried to do 


“Stop!” Madam Pomfrey’s voice was sharp, and overpowered the old man. “Do not go in like that!”


The Madame was furious at the headmaster, “He needs rest. Bursting in like a barbarian would only awaken him and agitate him more.” Her scowl was scarier than anything I had seen. “I expect better from you Dumbledore.”


“Pomfrey…” The old man was too anxious to think, something that was very unlike him. “How, how is he?”


“Alive, injured and needing rest.” 


“Will he be fine?” I asked.


“Will be, but severely scarred unless you use those extremely expensive potions to remove them.” Saying this she frowned. “Yet I would suggest against them, they have more side-effects than I have hair.”


“When can I see him?” The old wizard asked, agitated but not as bad as before. He had calmed down and was somewhat thinking straight. “And how did he get attacked by so many acromantulas? They don't move in packs once they grow up. Only till the children are young do they stay together as a colony.”


“That is what I am shocked about.” She said, “He seemed to have been bitten and attacked by dozens, maybe even reaching a hundred or more of those accursed spiders.”


“Is it his…” Dumbledore frowned. “His pet’s offspring?”


“He has a spider pet?” I finally asked, “Why would he have an acromantula as a pet?”


I long since understand that spiders and acromantulas were the same, maybe bigger —much bigger.


“He…” Dumbledore took a deep breath, calming himself. “He is just like that, always caring for others more than himself. Even when those others are just beasts.”


He finally regained his iconic look, just with a sad smile than what he usually had.


“Pets don't harm owners, usually.” I mean they can still hurt you at times. “Did something attract the spiders? Or maybe they were running away from something.”


“Or someone drew them towards him intentionally.” Pomfrey said, “For adult acromantulas to gather in large numbers, that can only be possible if they are directed by someone or something.”


“But what?” I asked, “What can even do such a thing?”


“That remains a mystery.” The woman said, “Just make sure not to send the children anywhere near the jungle and try to find his pet acromantula. Aragog or whatever he calls it.”


“I will ask someone.” Dumbledore said, “May I see him?”


“You can.” Pomfrey nodded as she noticed that the man had finally calmed down. “Just two at a time.”


“Then I will go with him.” I said, “I owe Hagrid quite a lot.”


She agreed, “Just do make any noise.” 


Dumbledore seemed hesitant to see the injured Hagrid but he wanted to go too. He needed to check on the half-giant.


And so following him, I also walked inside…


Only to meet a horrifying sight.


“Merlin…” Dumbledore's face softened, almost breaking, “What have they done to you, boy…”


And by the Devil was he right.


Half of the giant’s face was wrapped in herbs and bandages and even the magic that Pomfrey had casted could not fully heal him. Even with the bandages his deformed face could be seen, fleshed gnashed out and eye dark —slashed over.


I am surprised that she said there is even a slight chance that he will be able to keep his eye. The chances look zero to me.


His body was a light blue, probably from the poison that had been expelled.


“He was purple when he was found.” Pomfrey said, affirming my doubts. “It's a miracle that he was found early.”


“Yeah…” I muttered.


Thankfully he was found early, otherwise he would have been dead.


Tch…


Only if I was a bit more thorough.


…

…


[Late Evening — The Witchery]


{Nymphadora Tonks}


I was early, why was I early?


I was early by half an hour and there was still fifteen minutes before the promised time.


Really, why was I early?


I was not excited, not entirely that I would wait for a man or come early.


Even if it was for dinner at a very fancy and expensive place.


A place that I always wanted to eat at but never did because of the prices. 


Aurors got a decent salary but it was not enough to splurge at a restaurant like the Witchery just for amusement. And I can definitely use the money for something better.


I can, can’t I?


I cannot.


Oh, Merlin… I should have come here before. Now I know nothing about this place nor the etiquettes.


I won't make a fool out of myself, would I?


“Seven is still ten minutes away, or is my watch ruined?” 


Finally.


“Or maybe we are just both early, you by a little more.” 


And he stood there, with the same handsome and punchable face that always seemed to have a smile. Albeit this time, he was much better dressed, way better.


“When did you get here,” he asked.


I could have lied, I really could have.


Surprisingly, I didn't.


“Around twenty minutes ago.” 


His smirk turned to curiosity, “That early? Did you finish work early?”


We did get off days, but not necessarily Sundays. We had irregular hours on Sundays but still, even if for an hour we were often called.


“Kind of.” I could only shrug. “Didn't know what to do, so came early.”


“That's my bad.” His face turned a bit saddish. “I should have asked if we should have set an earlier time.”


“Ah, no.” I assured that it wasn’t his fault. “We have irregular work hours on Weekends, so even I would not have known what hour I would have been assigned work for. I informed them about seven, so I did not get called late.”


Otherwise who knows? Might have been called late at night, not like that was rare.


He sharply breathed out, “Still, I am sorry. I am not the best person at making plans as you might have noticed.”


“It's fine.” He is weird, quite the difficult guy to figure out. “So, are we going to stand outside and talk?”


“Of course not.” He laughed, “Let’s go inside. We cannot trust the weather, it might explode in rain before we know it.”


He led the way, rather gentlemanly which I did not expect from him.


From the road to the Witchery and to the seats —is that how men do? How they act?


Maybe, but considering how I had caved myself in a hole called work… I barely got to see and explore life. 


To prove myself and to be free I got the job, but there's more to life than work. And it has taken me quite a long time to understand that.


“Will that be enough?”


His question felt ridiculous. From Peking duck to a white truffle topped cheesecake. Caviar, bluefin tuna, Caesar salad and many more. And he asked if that would be enough?


He wasn’t rich, so why was he spending so much? I can guarantee that he spent every single galleon that he had on the food.


“More than enough.” I tried my best to be as calm as possible, “Maybe a bit too much, don't you think?”


“Barely.” He laughed. “I pretty much got a new life and a great job all because of you. You deserve at least this much.”


“I only did my job…”


“Job that got me a job, so enjoy today.” He showed a kind smile, “Then you go back to your daily work and I go back to my new work.”


This guy was something else, wasn’t he?


“Then let me treat you to something better next time, alright?”


“Deal.” He said as quickly as I asked him. 


We talked about life before work and before his migration to here. Well, he almost said nothing but from what he said… He had an interesting life, much more than me but quite painful as well.


“It’s almost like we are friends.” 


“We aren't?” He asked, confused, almost shocked.


“We are,” I laughed. “Aren’t we?”


But…


I just hope that I am not making a mistake. 


I really hope so.