.Good….good…..said.Hagrid.distractedly..Tha.s.good…..
They.had.to.jog.to.keep.up.with.him.as.he.strode.across.the.lawn,.looking.around.with.every.other.step..When.they.reached.his.cabin,.Hermione.turned.automatically.left.towards.the.front.door..Hagrid,.however,.walked.straight.past.it.into.the.shade.of.the.trees.on.the.outermost.edge.of.the.Forest,.where.he.picked.up.a.crossbow.that.was.leaning.against.a.tree..When.he.realised.they.were.no.longer.with.him,.he.turned..
.We.re.goin..in.here,..he.said,.jerking.his.shaggy.head.behind.him..
.Into.the.Forest?..said.Hermione,.perplexed..
.Yeah,..said.Hagrid...C.mon.now,.quick,.before.we.re.spotted!..
Harry.and.Hermione.looked.at.each.other,.then.ducked.into.the.cover.of.the.trees.behind.Hagrid,.who.was.already.striding.away.from.them.into.the.green.gloom,
.his.crossbow.over.his.arm..Harry.and.Hermione.ran.to.catch.up.with.him..
.Hagrid,.why.are.you.armed?..said.Harry..
.Jus..a.precaution,..said.Hagrid,.shrugging.his.massive.shoulders..
.You.didn.t.bring.your.crossbow.the.day.you.showed.us.the.Thestrals,..said.Hermione.timidly..
.Nah,.well,.we.weren..goin..in.so.far.then,..said.Hagrid...An..anyway,.tha..was.before.Firenze.left.the.Forest,.wasn..it?..
.Why.does.Firenze.leaving.make.a.difference?..asked.Hermione.curiously..
.Cause.the.other.centaurs.are.good.an..riled.at.me,.tha.s.why,..said.Hagrid.quietly,.glancing.around...They.used.ter.be.‐.well,.yeh.couldn..call..em.friendly.—
.but.we.got.on.all.righ...Kept..emselves.to..emselves,.bu..always.turned.up.if.I.wanted.a.word..Not.any.more...
He.sighed.deeply..
.Firenze.said.they.re.angry.because.he.went.to.work.for.Dumbledore,..Harry.said,
.tripping.on.a.protruding.root.because.he.was.busy.watching.Hagrid.s.profile..
.Yeah,..said.Hagrid.heavily...Well,.angry.doesn..cover.it..Ruddy.livid..If.1.hadn.
.stepped.in,.1.reckon.they.d.ve.kicked.Firenze.ter.death.‐..
.They.attacked.him?..said.Hermione,.sounding.shocked..
.Yep,..said.Hagrid.gruffly,.forcing.his.way.through.several.low‐hanging.branches...He.had.half.the.herd.on.to.him...
.And.you.stopped.it?..said.Harry,.amazed.and.impressed...By.yourself?..
.Course.I.did,.couldn.t.stand.by.an..watch..em.kill..im,.could.I?..said.Hagrid.
.
.Lucky.I.was.passin.,.really….an..I.d.ve.thought.Firenze.mighta.remembered.tha.
.before.he.started.sendin..me.stupid.warnin.s!..he.added.hotly.and.unexpectedly..
Harry.and.Hermione.looked.at.each.other,.startled,.but.Hagrid,.scowling,.did.not.elaborate.,.
.Anyway,..he.said,.breathing.a.little.more.heavily.than.‐usual,..since.then.the.other.centaurs.ve.bin.livid.with.me,.an..the.trouble.is.they.ve.got.a.lot.of.influence.in.the.Forest….cleverest.creatures.in.here...
.Is.that.why.we.re.here,.Hagrid?..asked.Hermione...The.centaurs?..
.Ah,.no,..said.Hagrid,.shaking.his.head.dismissively,..no,.it.s.not.them..Well,.o.
.course,.they.could.complicate.the.problem,.yeah….but.yeh.ll.see.what.I.mean.in.a.bit...
On.this.incomprehensible.note.he.fell.silent.and.forged.a.little.ahead,.taking.one.stride.for.every.three.of.theirs,.so.that.they.had.great.trouble.keeping.up.with.him..