Harry stared at him. 

"It's what my mum does whenever someone's upset," Ron muttered, shrugging. 

At last, after many more assurances of help, with a steaming mug of tea in front of him, Hagrid blew his nose on a handkerchief the size of a tablecloth and said, "Yer right. I can' afford to go ter pieces. Gotta pull meself together..... "

Fang the boarhound came timidly out from under the table and laid his head on Hagrid's knee.

 "I've not bin meself lately," said Hagrid, stroking Fang with one hand and mopping his face with the other. "Worried abou' Buckbeak, an' no one likin' me classes --" 

"We do like them!" lied Hermione at once. 

"Yeah, they're great!" said Ron, crossing his fingers under the table. "Er -- how are the flobberworms?"

 "Dead," said Hagrid gloomily. "Too much lettuce. Amelia's we doin well till Fang get tre it."

"Oh no!" said Ron, his lip twitching. 

"An' them dementors make me feel ruddy terrible an' all," said Hagrid, with a sudden shudder. "Gotta walk past 'em ev'ry time I want a drink in the Three Broomsticks. 'S like bein' back in Azkaban --" 

He fell silent, gulping his tea. Harry, Ron, and Hermione watched him breathlessly. They had never heard Hagrid talk about his brief spell in Azkaban before. After a pause, Hermione said timidly, "Is it awful in there, Hagrid?" 

"Yeh've no idea," said Hagrid quietly. "Never bin anywhere like it. Thought I was goin' mad. Kep' goin' over horrible stuff in me mind... the day I got expelled from Hogwarts... day me dad died... day I had ter let Norbert go...."