Cornelius Fudge
Harry,Ron,andHermionehadalwaysknownthatHagridhadanunfortunatelikingforlargeandmonstrouscreatures. DuringtheirfirstyearatHogwartshehadtriedtoraiseadragoninhislittlewoodenhouse,anditwouldbealongtimebeforetheyforgotthegiant,three-headeddoghe’dchristened"Fluffy." Andif,asaboy,Hagridhadheardthatamonsterwashiddensomewhereinthecastle,Harrywassurehe’dhavegonetoanylengthsforaglimpseofit. He’dprobablythoughtitwasashamethatthemonsterhadbeencoopedupsolong,andthoughtitdeservedthechancetostretchitsmanylegs; Harrycouldjustimaginethethirteen-year-oldHagridtryingtofitaleashandcollaronit. ButhewasequallycertainthatHagridwouldneverhavemeanttokillanybody.
Harryhalfwishedhehadn’tfoundouthowtoworkRiddle’sdiary. AgainandagainRonandHermionemadehimrecountwhathe’dseen,untilhewasheartilysickoftellingthemandsickofthelong,circularconversationsthatfollowed.
"Riddlemighthavegotthewrongperson,"saidHermione. "Maybeitwassomeothermonsterthatwasattackingpeople..."
"Howmanymonstersd’youthinkthisplacecanhold?"Ronaskeddully.
"WealwaysknewHagridhadbeenexpelled,"saidHarrymiserably. "Andtheattacksmust’vestoppedafterHagridwaskickedout.Otherwise,Riddlewouldn’thavegothisaward."
Rontriedadifferenttack.
"RiddledoessoundlikePercy-whoaskedhimtosquealonHagrid,anyway?"
"Butthemonsterhadkilledsomeone,Ron,"saidHermione.