One cannot live without friends in this world. A person without friends is lonely and isolated.
Friends can be divided into categories. First, there are ordinary friends—acquaintances with whom one shares only superficial ties, fleeting and shallow connections, typically formed around the dining table. These types of friends are plentiful.
Then, there are those friends formed out of common interests or goals. These friends unite for a shared purpose, striving together toward a common objective.
Finally, there is the rarest kind of friend—the kind that exists purely for the sake of friendship, without any ulterior motives. These are the friends who, through mutual respect or shared experiences, become those with whom one can truly connect and trust.
In society, friends are indispensable for support.
The wizarding world is perilous, and the relationships between friends are even more crucial. A trustworthy friend is one with whom you can entrust your very life.
Among ordinary people, the majority are acquaintances, followed by friends of convenience, and finally, the truly dependable friends.
Wizards, too, follow this pattern in their social interactions, but their choices are often more decisive and firm. Except for a few exceptional individuals, the friends they trust are undoubtedly worthy of that trust.
Due to his bloodline, Hagrid faced discrimination upon entering school, even being framed and made a scapegoat, leading to his expulsion. Having witnessed the harshness of the world, a typical wizard might have succumbed to such injustice, their later years clouded with bitterness. However, Hagrid endured.
He is simple-minded, open-hearted, and clever—wisdom disguised as simplicity.
Hagrid's sincerity and perseverance in the face of prejudice allowed him to remain true to himself. With Dumbledore's help, he befriended like-minded individuals—each of whom he trusted deeply.
As Zhao Lun knew, Hagrid had more trusted friends than most, and his bonds were particularly secure.
The world may take much from you, but it will offer compensation in return. Some people are naturally skilled at forging meaningful friendships, and Hagrid was always able to attract trustworthy companions. Although their exchanges were few, when it mattered, these friends always stepped up to help resolve his most difficult problems.
Such a talent is enviable beyond measure.
"Alright, we are friends—friends you can trust."
Seeing the large man speak so earnestly, Zhao Lun could no longer remain indifferent. Watching a giant shed tears, he was reminded of an innocent, big-hearted child being bullied by others, terrified and helpless, with no one to defend him. Hagrid's declaration of being a trustworthy friend was both moving and somewhat bittersweet.
Such is reality: no matter how many friends you have, not everything goes smoothly.
"In fact, when we first met, I felt you were a friend I could trust."
"And it has proven true—you are that kind of friend."
Hagrid is a straightforward man, always saying exactly what's on his mind. There is no pretense, no beating around the bush. Conversations with him are never tiring, and Zhao Lun appreciated having such a friend.
Zhao Lun liked straightforward people because conversations with them were direct and uncomplicated. It felt refreshing, without the need to guess or second-guess their intentions.
Hagrid invited him to his little cabin. Apart from himself, the other guests were Potter, Hermione, and Ron.
"Hmph!"
Hermione gave him a cold reception, offering no kindness to him or to Potter and Ron. After all, they had faced the basilisk without her and failed to invite her along, leaving her feeling excluded and dejected.
"Hermione, are you alright?"
Zhao Lun approached with a greeting. His skin had thickened somewhat from recent training, enabling him to endure various glares, sneers, and malicious gossip.
"Hermione, Allen has several girlfriends, you know…"
"Hey! Ron, I also heard you're seeing a girlfriend named Lavender. You also have another friend, Padma Patil, and there's a new student this year…"
"Allen, stop making things up, what girlfriends? That's just a few ordinary friends…"
"Hmph!"
A cold huff interrupted their back-and-forth.
Hermione gave another cold grunt and turned, following Hagrid into the cabin.
"Allen, you—"
"Ron, don't blame me, you started it."
Potter: "…"
At this gathering, Hagrid's rock cakes and his dog Fang were ever-present. The first was hard as a rock, the second, overly enthusiastic with his slobber. Poor Ron was particularly favored by Fang, who slobbered all over him repeatedly, much to Hagrid's jealousy.
"Get away!"
"Hagrid! Help!"
"He's never been this affectionate with me!"
Hagrid looked at Ron with an envious gaze, which only deepened Ron's despair. He would have preferred to forgo such affection.
Hagrid, though momentarily jealous, quickly congratulated Ron, realizing that Fang's affection for him was no small matter. He refrained from interrupting their closeness, and when they left, Ron's clothes were soaked.
"Ron, don't be so down, remember, you've earned the favor of a pure creature, something even Hagrid envies."
"Harry…"
Ron looked at his friend with frustration.
After the events in the Chamber of Secrets, things settled back into routine, but the quiet calm was appreciated. It felt all the more welcome after the recent turmoil.
Of course, their exploits in the chamber became the talk of the school, with Ron proudly recounting their heroics to anyone who would listen. It satisfied his vanity, and he walked with a renewed sense of triumph.
When Gilderoy Lockhart's unfortunate mishap led to Snape assuming the position of Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, he took over both that and his Potions class with zeal, never tiring of the workload.
Snape's success in the dual roles brought great joy to the Slytherin students, particularly Draco Malfoy, who, having decided to behave himself for the time being, resumed his provocations of Potter on a daily basis.
"Has your tooth healed?" Even such a simple jab couldn't stir the desired response.
Snape's favoritism toward Slytherin students was well-known, especially in his dealings with Potter. Every lesson, he would find some reason to make Potter's life difficult, even if there was no apparent cause.
For Potter, every Potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts class felt like an eternity.
As his close friends, particularly after the battle in the Chamber of Secrets, their bond grew stronger, and they, too, attracted Snape's attention. Zhao Lun handled Snape's provocation with ease, focusing his frustrations on Ron instead, which placed Ron in an even worse predicament.
However, compared to Dumbledore, Snape was still young and could not match his experience. Dumbledore was known for his fair and measured actions, always waiting until the crucial moment to intervene. His approach garnered admiration, unlike Snape's, whose reputation was tainted by his ineffective methods.
Zhao Lun bore no ill will toward Snape. On the contrary, he felt a certain gratitude. Snape rarely troubled him and treated him fairly in Potions class.
Though Snape appeared to enjoy picking on Gryffindors, Zhao Lun saw it as a form of responsibility. His stern, icy demeanor was a facade, masking a warm heart that struggled to express itself.
During the previous summer, Snape had visited Zhao Lun's estate to investigate a safety issue, and Zhao Lun appreciated the gesture. Because of that, he had sent Snape a Christmas gift. Despite their silence, their mutual understanding remained, unspoken yet clear.