‘Cheer up,’ said Ron. ‘Snape’s always taking points off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?’ At five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door. When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid’s voice rang out, saying, ‘Back, Fang – back.’ Hagrid’s big hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open. ‘Hang on,’ he said. ‘Back, Fang.’ He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.