Harry Potter 06 - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

the burning house as an enormous figure emerged from out of the flames carrying Fang on his back. With a cry of thankfulness, Harry sank to his knees; he was shaking in every limb, his body ached all over and his breath came in painful stabs.
    ‘Yeh all righ’, Harry? Yeh all righ’? Speak ter me, Harry …’
    Hagrid’s huge, hairy face was swimming above Harry, blocking out the stars. Harry could smell burnt wood and dog hair; he put out a hand and felt Fang’s reassuringly warm and alive body quivering beside him.
    ‘I’m all right,’ panted Harry. ‘Are you?’
    ‘Course I am … take more’n that ter finish me.’
    Hagrid put his hands under Harry’s arms and raised him up with such force that Harry’s feet momentarily left the ground before Hagrid set him upright again. He could see blood trickling down Hagrid’s cheek from a deep cut under one eye, which was swelling rapidly.
    ‘We should put out your house,’ said Harry, ‘the charm’s Aguamenti …’
    ‘Knew it was summat like that,’ mumbled Hagrid, and he raised a smouldering, pink flowery umbrella and said, ‘Aguamenti!’
    A jet of water flew out of the umbrella tip. Harry raised his wand arm, which felt like lead, and murmured ‘Aguamenti’ too: together, he and Hagrid poured water on the house until the last flame was extinguished.
    ‘’S not too bad,’ said Hagrid hopefully a few minutes later, looking at the smoking wreck. ‘Nothin’ Dumbledore won’ be able to put righ’ …’
    Harry felt a searing pain in his stomach at the sound of the name. In the silence and the stillness, horror rose inside him.
    ‘Hagrid …’
    ‘I was bindin’ up a couple o’ Bowtruckle legs when I heard ’em comin’,’ said Hagrid sadly, still staring at his wrecked cabin. ‘They’ll’ve bin burnt ter twigs, poor little things …’
    ‘Hagrid …’
    ‘But what happened, Harry? I jus’ saw them Death Eaters runnin’ down from the castle, but what the ruddy hell was Snape doin’ with ’em? Where’s he gone – was he chasin’ ’em?’
    ‘He …’ Harry cleared his throat; it was dry from panic and the smoke. ‘Hagrid, he killed …’
    ‘Killed?’ said Hagrid loudly, staring down at Harry. ‘Snape killed? What’re yeh on abou’, Harry?’
    ‘Dumbledore,’ said Harry. ‘Snape killed … Dumbledore.’
    Hagrid simply looked at him, the little of his face that could be seen completely blank, uncomprehending.
    ‘Dumbledore wha’, Harry?’
    ‘He’s dead. Snape killed him …’
    ‘Don’ say that,’ said Hagrid roughly. ‘Snape kill Dumbledore – don’ be stupid, Harry. Wha’s made yeh say tha’?’
    ‘I saw it happen.’
    ‘Yeh couldn’ have.’
    ‘I saw it, Hagrid.’
    Hagrid shook his head; his expression was disbelieving but sympathetic and Harry knew that Hagrid thought he had sustained a blow to the head, that he was confused, perhaps by the after-effects of a jinx …
    ‘What musta happened was, Dumbledore musta told Snape ter go with them Death Eaters,’ Hagrid said confidently. ‘I suppose he’s gotta keep his cover. Look, let’s get yeh back up ter the school. Come on, Harry …’
    Harry did not attempt to argue or explain. He was still shaking uncontrollably. Hagrid would find out soon enough, too soon … As they directed their steps back towards the castle, Harry saw that many of its windows were lit now: he could imagine, clearly, the scenes inside as people moved from room to room, telling each other that Death Eaters had got in, that the Mark was shining over Hogwarts, that somebody must have been killed …
    The oak front doors stood open ahead of them, light flooding out on to the drive and the lawn. Slowly, uncertainly, dressing-gowned people were creeping down the steps, looking around nervously for some sign of the Death Eaters who had fled into the night. Harry’s eyes, however, were fixed upon the ground at the foot of the tallest tower. He imagined that he could see a black, huddled mass lying in the grass there, though he was really too far away to see anything of the sort. Even as he stared wordlessly at the place where he thought Dumbledore’s body must lie, however, he saw people beginning to move towards it.
    ‘What’re they all lookin’ at?’ said Hagrid, as he and Harry approached the castle front, Fang keeping as close as he could to their ankles. ‘Wha’s tha’, lyin’ on the grass?’ Hagrid added sharply, heading now towards the foot of the Astronomy