Chapter 804: Chapter 179: Quarrel by the Stables (Part 3)

The two were a man and a woman. The girl’s fluffy blonde hair bounced with her steps, making her easily recognizable just by her head.

——Luna Lovegood.

Suddenly, a shrill shout echoed in the common room:

"Acromantula? You’re going to deal with those creatures?"

Ron looked terrified, his voice unnaturally high as he shouted at Harry, "Do you know how terrifying those things are? Do you know they always move in groups?"

Many people were hearing about the third competition task for the first time, and upon hearing this, they started discussing it. The common room, which had been relatively quiet, suddenly buzzed with conversation.

Harry’s face also turned slightly pale.

"The important thing isn’t the spiders; there are so many dangers in the Forbidden Forest!"

Hermione took a deep breath and said, "Harry, I think you should prepare systematically! Spells, magic potions, weapons, and emergency signals when necessary! Oh gosh, there’s so much to prepare; I must make a list!"

She sat down and started writing furiously, while Fred wrapped an arm around Harry’s neck and, acting sneakily, handed him a list, saying:

"Harry, Weasley’s prank products; I’m sure you’ll need some. Considering our relationship, I’ll give you a fifty percent discount..."

"Gray!"

While everyone was discussing in low voices, Zacharias Smith from Hufflepuff raised his hand and loudly asked, "Are there any effective spells against the creatures in the Forbidden Forest?"

The common room fell silent for a moment.

Vid withdrew his gaze from outside the window, smiled under the varied expressions in the classroom, and said:

"Of course there are—acromantulas in the Forbidden Forest are quite afraid of fire; centaurs, sphinxes, and unicorns won’t attack humans proactively; if you encounter a werewolf, the Strong Light Spell can expel them, provided they’re not provoked. This spell is an enhanced version of the Lumos Spell..."

Vid did not hold back, teaching the spell openly. Meanwhile, Zacharias, who had asked the question, felt uncomfortable under the gaze of others and quickly fled the moment the activity ended.

Vid quickly freed himself from a few classmates wanting to talk to him, waved them off, and then hurried downstairs.

Near the stables, the strong smell of alcohol was evident from afar. Vid cast a Bubble Head Charm on himself, followed by a Disillusionment Charm, and then walked over quietly.

"Ah, look, I found another one!"

Rolf Scamander said excitedly, holding a struggling beetle in his hand, its shell golden, similar to the color of the Divine Talisman Horse’s coat.

"I’ve already caught three," Luna said, shaking the bottle in her hand to indicate Rolf needed to keep trying.

Most of the Divine Talisman Horses were asleep, with a few scraping the ground with their hooves, their wings occasionally brushing past the fence, creating a soft rustling sound.

Luna and her companion, squatting near the stable, were searching for beetles when they suddenly heard heavy footsteps. They were startled and quickly hid behind a nearby haystack.

Hidden with invisibility, Vid also shifted his position, staying behind another haystack. Not far away, Luna suddenly glanced in his direction.

Then, Madam Maxime came striding over, her face as cold as frost.

Immediately, Hagrid walked quickly to her side, saying in confusion, "I don’t understand! There’s nothing shameful about giant lineage! Why do you..."

"I’ve told you again!" Madam Maxime raised her voice in anger, saying, "I! Don’t! Have! Giant lineage! Don’t associate me with those barbaric creatures!"

The sleeping Divine Talisman Horses were startled awake, quietly neighing in distress.

"Barbarian? Madam, you call giant lineage barbaric?"

Hagrid said, hurt and shocked. Then, he also became angry, muttering, "Are you humiliating our lineage? Saying such things... You’re humiliating yourself too!"

Madam Maxime was equally furious, trembling all over, her breath quick and her chest heaving violently:

"Rubeus Hagrid! Haven’t you seen giants with your own eyes? That crude, filthy, stupid, brutal race, even saying their name makes me sick! I’m not like you; I’m not some Half-Blood Giant, I’m just large-boned!"

Hagrid’s voice trembled, "You’d rather deceive yourself like this and not face the truth? But I..."

"Enough, we have nothing more to say!" Madam Maxime interrupted him coldly and turned to leave.

Hagrid stood sadly in place, looking at her back, finally heaving a deep sigh and leaving as well.

After a while, Rolf finally stuck his head out, brushing off the grass stuck to him.

"They had quite the argument, didn’t they? Even knowing their words would hurt each other, why couldn’t they think before speaking?"

The boy sighed sympathetically, paying no mind to the "Half-Blood Giant" he overheard.

"Like the Whomping Willow." Luna said softly.

"Whomping Willow?" Rolf looked at her curiously.

The girl glanced at the distant willow tree and said, "Outwardly ferocious, but beneath the surface, its roots entwine."

Rolf understood, smiled, and looked at Luna, asking, "...Really?"

"Of course," Luna gently swayed her head, her voice drifting, "They hurt each other because of their closeness, because they’re too stupid to know how to say ’I care about you’—don’t you think?"

The girl looked towards where Vid was hiding, softly asking.