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"Yes, father found out from some old Daily Prophet articles that the reason that oaf Hagrid doesn't have his wand was because he was responsible for some creature that killed a girl during the forties. Since these attacks are happening, Father pointed out the he was a likely culprit. They're coming to take him in today. I hope that oaf rots in Azkaban, serves him right for being friends with Potter." Malfoy said boastfully.
Harry saw red for a brief moment before calming down. Hagrid had told him last year about the incident that got him expelled, but that had been taken care of. What right did Malfoy have to bring it up again? Harry turned to look at Hermione, who simply nodded to him.
"We'll go see him as soon as classes are done for the day. Hagrid's got strange choices in pets for sure, but even he couldn't handle a Basilisk."
For Harry, classes couldn't go by fast enough, but once they were over, he grabbed Hermione and Padma, and the trio dashed off towards Hagrid's hut.
The giant of a man was outside currently, nervously rooting through his pumpkin patch. He turned when he heard them coming. "'Ello 'Arry, 'Ermione, Padma, what brings ya round 'ere?" He asked, his usual chipper tone dulled slightly.
"We overheard Malfoy say his father is getting you sent to prison for these attacks, you aren't responsible Hagrid we know that." Harry said, wrapping the man's leg in a hug. Hagrid had been Harry's first friend in this world, the first person who was happy to see him and enjoy being around him. He didn't want anything to happen to him.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence lad. It'll be alright. I know I didn't do it, this time or last time. It'll all come out. Aragog didn't kill Myrtle, and 'e certainly didn't petrify any of the other students." Hagrid said, putting on a brave face.
"Aragog? Myrtle?" Hermione asked, her desperate need for information momentarily overwriting her desire to comfort Hagrid in this time.
"Oh, Aragog was an acromantula I raised, real intelligent. He's a spoider about as big as me now, but back then he was jus' a lil' fella. Ministry don' like people keepin 'em as pets, says they're too dangerous. Myrtle was Myrtle Warren, a Ravenclaw girl in my year. I was a touch sweet on 'er, but something got her. Now she haunts the bathroom on the second floor. Poor thing, been tryin'a talk to 'er fer years, never could build up the nerve." Hagrid said, as he lazily kicked a rock from the garden.
"Do you know anything else about what happened that time?" Hermione asked, gears turning in her head.
"Nah really no. That slytherin boy Tom Riddle kept telling everyone tha' it was Aragog that killed her, got that award for 'Special Services to the School' thas in the trophy case. Myrtle's folks were devastated, and then I got expelled. Ya know the res' af'er tha'." Hagrid said. "I reckon' you lot best be on now, they'll be comin' fer me soon. We'll get it sor'ed ou', don' worry. Prolly won' even know I'm gone. McGonagall'l be feeding Fang fer me. If ya feel like it, come and play with him won' ya? He'll love tha'." Hagrid said, before waving them off. Fang came out of the hut and stood with Hagrid, as the trio walked back towards the castle.
The following morning, Harry's fears were realized when Dumbledore announced that Hagrid was temporarily in ministry detention for suspected involvement in the attacks on students, Dumbledore assured everyone that the incident was soon to be well in hand, and not to worry. This of course made Harry worry more.
"We need to find a way to deal with this Basilisk, we can't let them lock Hagrid in prison for something he didn't do." Harry said, resolving himself. "Hermione, what do we know about Basilisks?"
"Not much I'm afraid, their scales are resistant to most spells, their venom is among the most dangerous substances in the world, and they can kill if you make eye contact, or petrify if you see a reflection apparently." Hermione rattled off.
"We'd need something that was capable of piercing its scales then, any ideas?" Harry said, looking between the girls.
"Father always said that goblin-made weapons were capable of piercing anything, although that might be an exaggeration. Even beyond that, Goblins haven't created weapons for the other races in centuries. Too many goblin wars is what Parvati says." Padma said.
"So we're stuck." Harry said, looking angrily at his breakfast.
"You're not seriously thinking about fighting a Basilisk are you Harry?" Hermione asked, looking worriedly towards her boyfriend.
"Someone has to, I just might be the only one stupid enough to do it." Harry said.
"You're a lot of things Harry, but you're not stupid. You're in the house of the clever after all, you're just more Red and Gold than Blue and Bronze at the moment." Luna said from her place across the table. "Before you go and just start screaming out 'Marco, Polo' in Parseltongue, why not try and fight out how it's moving through the castle? Basilisks are supposed to be rather large, but no one has managed to catch any glimpse of it before it is too late."
"That's a good point Luna. Harry, I'll get to work on that, if you really feel like trying to take on a Basilisk, how about you and Padma try and figure out what spells work best on their hide, if you can't find anything on Basilisks, try Dragons, they'll be better documented and at the very worst comparable. I'm not going to let you take this on without preparation." Hermione said, kissing his cheek. "I'm heading to the library. You two should talk to the Care of Magical Creatures professor whenever you get the chance."