#7 | Visiting Hagrid

Clara skipped some, keeping up with Jamie, all the while keeping her eyes scanning the area in which they walked, looking for anything that she and even Jamie could use to add to their collection of ingredients. She hoped they found more soon, but it wasn't a complete waste of a day, she was confident now that her friendship with Jamie was solidifying itself, they'd gotten to hang out by the lake and now they were off to see Mr Hagrid!

"Being a little nervous is okay..." Clara assured him, a warm smile on her face. Glancing over at Jamie briefly, her eyes turned to the hut in the distance. "But we got each others backs right? And Mr Hagrid's meant to be really nice." she said, with a small shrug of her shoulders.

Nothing happened.

There was no sound inside the hut, no welcoming bark from Fang, or anything that indicated someone was home. The door was even locked.

The silence continued, until there was a rustling towards the forest treeline - a bit beyond the private pumpkin patch not overseen by students. Fang was lounged under a tree as if he'd been there a while. Not harmed, just content to enjoy his nap and ignore anything else.

There was no sign of Hagrid, though.

Jamie sighed, but also looked over in the direction before he looked at Clara. "I guess not, but doesn't his dog stay close to him? Maybe he will be right back..." Jamie said, looking towards the dog again and smiling. "We have time before dinner, lets go see his dog." Jamie said, fixing his bag that had a twisted strap before heading over to see the dog.

As he got closer, he smiled at the huge dog and stopped close by him, but didn't get too close. "Um... Do you happen to know the dog's name?"

Hearing Clara say his name, Fang made a startled sound of being interrupted from his peaceful nap. He lifted his head to peer at them, but decided to two first years weren't worth the effort of getting up. If they got too close he might have to retreat, but for now was fine where he was.

There was another rustling at the treeline, not completely part of the Forbidden Forest itself that the students knew of and had to avoid, but it was close enough. There was a feint sound of voices, though the Ravenclaws couldn't make out any of the words or even determine who spoke them. Student or adult, tense or friendly - it was impossible to tell from where they were.

Clara smiled as the dog reacted to her saying his name, glad she'd be right. Fighting back the urge to walk over to him and stroke him, she stayed rooted to the spot. Chances were the dog didn't want that, especially with the uninterested look he gave them before laying back down.

"I think so..." she said in response to Jamie, she stayed where she was as she watched him inch towards the trees. Yep, she definitely wasn't getting her final ingredient now, turned out they were doing something else now instead. Sighing softly, she adjusted her bag and followed Jamie, "You want to check it out?" she asked.

As the two Ravenclaws approached the treeline and sound of voices, Fang lifted his head to watch them. However, they were unable to find the source of talking. It seemed further away the closer they got, then they got the fright of their life - a Centuar ran passed, still within the shelter of the forest but close enough that it would take their reflexes a moment to realise they weren't being attacked.

The hooves thundered away, and a loud whistle sounded from deeper in the forest. Fang jumped and and ran towards it, so it could be assumed that's where Hagrid was. They had no chance of following too though, not from where they were. The area was too overgrown; they'd have to venture around to the more official forest area - but by then, Hagrid and Fang would be completely untraceable.

It looked like they wouldn't be able to speak with Hagrid this afternoon.

Clara reluctantly followed close behind Jamie. As eager as she was to meet Hagrid, wandering into the Forest wasn't really on her to do list and she was surprised Jamie was so willing as well, but she stayed quiet and followed. Falling into step beside him, they both leaned in, hearing voices only as they attempted to listen closer the sudden galloping of hooves made them both jump back violently.

Clara dropped her bag, tripping over the strap as she stumbled, causing her to follow the bag to the floor, landing with a painful, "Oomph..." she gasped, catching sight of the dog running into the forest, following the sound of a whistle. Frowning she glanced at Jamie and sat up, cradling her hand in her lap.

Glancing down she winced, her palm grazed and arm aching in a way she knew she'd be sporting some bruises. "Yeah, I vote heading back." she said softly, standing up she put her bag over her shoulder, picking a small fleck of stone from the graze on her hand. "Are you okay?" she asked, noticing how he hissed and held his arm.