"Hey, Alex, good to see you!"

  Hagrid entered, carrying what looked like an enormous hunk of meat over his shoulder, his face red from the cold.

  Alex gri Rhine’s affeate greeting. "I came ht after lunch. Where’ve you been, Hagrid?"

  "Oh, Professor Kettleburn needed help over in the Forbidden Forest. He’s been raising a herd of Raem cows, and one of 'em died today, so I helped him butcher it. Ma back a good cut of beef for us," Hagrid replied, setting the huge sb of meat oable.

  Alex examihe meat with i; it was aire beef leg, nearly half the size of a normal cow. "Are Raem cows really that big? And does Professor Kettleburn raise a lot of magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest?"

  Hagrid chuckled, removing his coat. "Oh, he’s got all kinds of critters out there—Thestrals, Hippogriffs, Unis, and more. The professor’s also got herds of Raem cows, Teps, horned lmas, Lunar Beasts… he’s been workin’ to restore magical creature poputions that have been overhunted. Says it’s about sustainable servation."

  Alex houghtfully, impressed by Professor Kettleburn’s fht. "It makes sehere are so many magical creatures with valuable resources; it’s smart to preserve their poputions for the long term."

  "Right, but it’s tough work. This Raem cow’s blood, for instance, is a key potion ingredient, so Professor Kettleburn wants to ehe herd’s healthy enough to keep produg it. I tell ya, Alex, that cow’s nearly as big as three regur cows," Hagrid said, taking a long drink from his enormous c.

  Alex couldn’t help but smile as he examihe beef again. "Perfect timing, actually. With all this beef, how about we make a hot pot for dinner? I’ve got the spices, and we could cook it right here."

  Hagrid’s face brighte the idea. "Now that sounds wonderful! I’ll set up the fire, and you hahe seasoning?"

  With a flick of his wand, Alex ahe knives in Hagrid’s to start slig the massive hunk of beef. There was far too much to eat iting, so he set aside a portion to freeze outside the hut for ter meals.

  He then pulled a rge copper pot from his linen bag, which he had picked up in the market. Setting up a small pile of charcoal in the ter of the pot, Alex filled it with water and added chopped onions and gio start the broth.

  Ohe water was boiling and fragrant, Alex picked up his chopsticks aured to Hagrid. "Now, we dip the meat in the broth, let it cook, and the it with the sauce I prepared. Simple, but delicious."

  Hagrid, watg with curiosity, sat down with a fork in hand. "Seems like ordinary boiled water to me. What’s so special about it?"

  Alex just smiled. "You’ll see. Just give it a try."

  Hagrid hesitantly dipped a piece of beef in the broth, let it cook, then du in the sesame sauce Alex had made. As he took a bite, the savory fvors hit him instantly, and his eyes widened in delight.

  Soon, Hagrid was happily dev slice after slice.

  The two ate their fill, enjoying the eal, and by the end, Hagrid let out a tented burp. "Alex, that was delicious! If only you could stay here all the time."

  Alex paused, sidering Hagrid’s casual ent. Staying with Hagrid wouldn’t be impossible, especially given the isoted nature of the Slytherin on room, which was hidden away in the dungeons. Though he liked his house, the dark, underground quarters didn’t offer the open space or fresh air of Hagrid’s hut, not to mention the bonus of hotpot by a cozy fire.

  "You know, I wouldn’t mind staying here from time to time," Alex said thoughtfully. "It’d be a nice ge of sery, and I’d have more room to practice my spells and martial arts. But you’d o build ara room."

  Hagrid’s face lit up with excitement at the idea of having a panion nearby. "Oh, don’t worry about that! I’ll make space right o my hut. Plenty of timber in the Forbidden Forest for it, and I’ll start building right away."

  Alex chuckled. "Great! I help after csses. I might not stay every day, but two or three nights a week would be perfect."

  Hagrid agreed enthusiastically, overjoyed at the prospect of having pany. The Forbidden Forest was full of creatures, but human panionship was rare, and Professor Kettleburn’s occasional visits were hardly enough to ward off loneliness.

  The day, right after css, Alex made his way to Hagrid’s hut, where he found Hagrid had already started work. Logs and stones were piled up, and Hagrid was busy clearing a plot of nd beside his hut, leveling a ten-square-meter area with determined energy.

  Seeing Hagrid’s head start, Alex quickly joined in. Together, they finished leveling the ground and began ying the foundation. Using the Cutting Charm, Alex sliced thick logs into support beams and positiohem in each er, while Hagrid used heavy stoo cover the ground.

  Though the stones weren’t perfectly smooth, Alex’s Cutting Charm helped to even them out.

  The duo spent the rest of the afternoon strug the walls. Alex guided each wooden pnk into pce with the Levitation Charm, while Hagrid nailed everything securely. With four walls assembled, they attached one side to Hagrid’s hut, creating a cozy extension.

  By nightfall, the basic structure was plete. After another round of hotpot to celebrate their progress, Alex headed back to the castle, satisfied with the day’s work.

  Over the few days, they worked tirelessly after csses. Hagrid built a small firepside the room and id down a wooden floor. He even added a little baly outside the door, overlooking his vegetable garden, with a few steps leading down to the yard. There were two doors—one leading directly outside, and another eg the room to Hagrid’s main .

  Hagrid put his carpentry skills to work, crafting sturdy wooden furniture for Alex’s room. The bed, wardrobe, table, and chairs all had a rustic charm, with fur carpets and a heavy b adding to the cozy, hunting-lodge feel of the space.

  When it was finished, Alex was thrilled.