A/N: Hi again. This is a shorter fic set just before the deaths of James and Lily Potter. As always I do not own any of the Harry Potter world and I would appreciate any comments anyone has.
Unnamed InnocenceChapter 1I puffed as my feet crunched noisily on the forest floor beneath me. I was trying to be quiet but that's not exactly an easy task for a wizard of my stature. I was a half-giant; tall, solid, and sturdy. Unfortunately, my build meant that I made even the loftiest man in the world look like a midget.
Quiet quite simply just didn't fit into the equation, despite how much I may want it to.
Right now, between panting like a rabid dog and stomping heavily enough to start an earthquake, I was almost certain the entire forest was aware of my presence.
That is, of course, why I carried a nasty looking crossbow before me whenever I traversed in here. Can't be too careful when you enter the forbidden forest, particularly the farthest reaches of it.
At the moment Dumbledore, the great man that he is, had sent me out to deliver a message to the centaurs. The note sat heavily in the breast pocket of my thick fur jacket, a weight upon my heart. Though I did not know the contents of the letter I knew it's general gist. We were losing.
He-who-must-not-be-named's power was nearing its apex. Witches and wizards were falling so fast left, right, and centre, that you never knew where to look. It wouldn't be long now until the battle came to head. We were on the brink of open war. And sadly His army was more significant than our own.
That's not to say we weren't fighting. We were, and hard against His lackeys. But there in lies the problem. He, himself never made an appearance. It's not easy to battle a ghost.
Which brings me to my current task. Like I'd said, although I didn't know the contents of the letter that weighed in my pocket, I'm pretty certain of its contents.
He-who-must-not-be-named had a throng of magical creatures behind him. Werewolves, ghouls and giants had rallied willingly behind him and were all now plundering and slaughtering, vying for his approval.
Dumbledore had sent me out here today to ask for help from the centaurs, to gain their support for the impending war.
We'd already had this discussion, Dumbledore and I, and I'd told him good and proper back then that there was no way the centaurs would go for that.
"Too ruddy proud for their own good," I'd said.
"Nevertheless, Hagrid," he'd said to me. "We must extend the hand of friendship,"
I stomped frustratedly down on another tree branch, revelling in the satisfying 'crack' sound it made when it yielded to my weight.
Grimly, I admitted to myself that I could see the Death Eaters' fondness for destruction. Although I would never do it at the expense of someone else.
Fang, my dull-minded boarhound, bounded eagerly ahead of me. I watched with some interest as he lolloped with more enthusiasm than normal through the twisted trees.
Most of my kind found the forest unnerving, frightening almost. But me, I'd always felt at home. I was, after all, part giant. It was almost as though I belonged here, that I should find my place amongst the other monsters.
I might have been a half-blooded wizard but I was often met with a certain amount of prejudice, particularly from those snotty-nosed, too-big-for-their-boots Slytherin students and their narrow-minded parents. For the most part it didn't bother me; water off a ducks back, as they say. After all, I had Dumbledore's unwavering approval. And that was enough to keep my head held high. Great man, Dumbledore, great man.
I wasn't heading in any particular direction. After serving as gamekeeper here for several decades I knew that the best way to find the centaurs was in fact to let them find you. Ruddy stargazers would have seen me coming anyway, it was just a matter of whether they wanted to see me or not.
I was just fighting my way through a particularly dense part of bracken when I heard Fang whimper somewhere nearby. I paused, raising the crossbow before me as I searched for a sign of disturbance. When my sharp gaze discerned nothing I cautiously took stepped forward, heading in the direction of his cry.
I found the silly mongrel standing next to a particularly tall, dark tree, with a bowed head and a wagging tail. He fixed me with a particularly satisfied look when I approached.
I shook my head in dismay.
"I dunno Fang. Wha' am I gonna do –" I cut myself short as my gaze landed on a piece of white fabric, fluttering in the breeze on the other side of one of the tree's large roots.
Curious, I stepped around the obstructive object. My breath caught and my eyes widened as I took in a sight I'd never thought I'd see here.
There on the ground, curled up and fast asleep was a girl. A young girl. Here, in this awful place she looked so out of place.
Her smooth, porcelain skin contrasted starkly with the dark flora that blanketed her. Long dark tresses fell about her face as she shuddered slightly in the cool breeze. Her pretty face still held that slightly rounded look of childish innocence and she was clothed only in a simple white dress.
My heart went out to the beautiful child. She couldn't have been more than four or five years of age.
As a particularly icy gust of wind blew past us the girl shivered again, but this time her eyes opened with the abruptness. Bright sapphire orbs blinked a couple of times as she woke from her deep slumber.
I froze, unsure of what to do.
But before I could do anything, a soft gasp escaped from the child's mouth as her crystal gaze landed on my boots. They must have looked like boulders to her small frame and for one of the only times in my life, I was ashamed of what I was. This child, this beautiful, innocent creature before me would surely be terrified in the face of a monster like me.
The girl sat up quickly, craning her neck to turn wide eyes up to my face. Surprisingly there was no trace of fear on her young features. All I saw in the intelligent gaze that looked back at me was curiosity.
We stared, transfixed at one another for a moment. Gruffly, I cleared my throat, breaking the tense silence.
"You don' have to be afraid," I said in my softest, most genial voice.
The child said nothing. She just continued to stare at me for a moment longer. Then suddenly she rose and reached out to take my hand. Her tiny palm was so small it didn't even completely encompassed my little finger.
Startled, I didn't return the gesture for fear of crushing her delicate digits.
She was so trusting. I was a complete stranger, and a giant compared to her at that. Yet somehow this child was looking at me with the expression of utmost faith. It was almost as though she knew all along that I wouldn't hurt her.
Wordlessly I started leading her back in the direction of the school. The pace was achingly slow, owed to her tiny stride, which was no match for my own gigantic footsteps. But I was more than patient. I couldn't explain it but I felt like there was some sort of deeper affinity between us.
Curiously whenever we came across an obstruction, be that a fallen log or boulder, she'd let go of my hand and struggle her way over on her own. I could have easily lifted her small frame over the obstacles, her weight was feather-light to a beast like me, but whenever I made a move to help she shot me a reproachful look. It made me wonder what could have happened to this young creature before me to make her so adamant that she had to struggle through things herself.
Finally the magnificent stone structure of Hogwarts castle came into to view. I led the child up the dirt path and through the stone courtyard, thankful that it was at least summer holidays and the castle was virtually empty.
We came to a stop before a magnificent golden statue in the shape of a phoenix.
"Sugar Quills," I murmured the password gruffly. The statue came to life instantly, turning and twisting upwards to reveal a set of stone steps.
I looked down upon my companion. Her young face had a look of reservation upon it and I felt her tiny fingers close around mine slightly firmer.
I pulled her forward gently to step on to the winding staircase as it moved up. She still had that look of hesitation on her face but every now and then, as we ascended, her gaze flicked to me and her expression would relax again. Oddly, I got the impression that I was a source of comfort for her and that she continued to look up at me to remind herself that she was safe.
The rise of the phoenix statue eventually gave way to reveal a large wooden door at the top of the stairs. I knocked once on the hard wooden surface.
"Enter," a light voice called from the other side.
"Erm, Professor Dumbledore, sir," I began, pushing the door open just a crack to poke my head through.
The room's sole occupant was seated behind a magnificent marble desk. His intelligent light blue eyes brightened and he rose from his seat as he recognised me.
"Ah, Hagrid," he said smoothly, with a slight smile on his wise face. "I trust you delivered my message to the centaurs?"
I dropped my gaze to the floor slightly, the letter burning incriminatingly in my pocket. I'll admit I had forgotten the purpose of my trip into the forest.
"Erm, no, sir," I began uncomfortably. I knew he wouldn't be that aggrieved by my failure. No, not that. It's just that in all my years as gamekeeper, I've never let Professor Dumbledore down. "Somethin', erm, came up."
With that I pushed open the barrier between us fully and stepped into the room, pulling the hesitant child in with me.
If Professor Dumbledore was surprised he didn't show it.
"Well, hello there, little one," he said softly. Carefully the child's face stretched into a slight smile, though she still stood partially hidden behind me.
"I found 'er in the forest, sir. Asleep at the base o' one o' the trees."
Professor Dumbledore's gaze flicked sharply up at mine at the revelation, a frown upon his wizened face.
"Come child," he said to her after a moment. "Come have a seat over here."
I felt the warm grip around my finger release and I watched as the girl made her way over to the indicated chair. She lifted herself easily on to it, before sitting herself up poker straight, her hands clasped on her lap and her ankles crossed slightly.
The posture was distinctly formal and undoubtedly uncomfortable. I found it was curious that a child that young should behave with such stiffness.
Evidently Professor Dumbledore did too. He bent down slowly in front of her to look into her young face over his half-moon spectacles.
"Can you tell me your name, child?" he asked softly, with a reassuring smile.
The child stared back into the wizened, old face without hesitation but remained silent.
"You needn't be afraid. We only want to help you. Tell me, where are your parents?" Dumbledore tried again.
This time the girl dropped her gaze to her lap. She almost looked sad but again she said nothing. I was starting to wonder if she could even talk at all.
Defeated, Professor Dumbledore rose, but not before patting the child on the head gently. He made his way over to where I stood, still near the doorway.
"We need to find out who she is so we can return her to her family."
He turned back to face the girl whose gaze now roamed the room with an expression of interest.
"She's very astute. It's quite unusual in a child of that age."
The young one had risen from her seat now and was slowly making her way over to the perch next to the Dumbledore's magnificent desk.
From our position next to the door the two of us watched with expressions of awe as the girl raised her arm, silently beckoning the creature sitting atop the perch to come her.
With a rustle of red and gold feathers Fawkes flapped his way gracefully down to her extended limb.
The child's mouth opened slightly, her bright blue eyes transfixed as she carefully stroked the phoenix's warm feathers.
Silently Professor Dumbledore made his way back over to the pair. He crouched down before them, his hand raising to join the child in caressing the marvellous creature.
"Do you know what this is, child?"
She nodded. The wizard continued to watch her carefully for a moment. Then he seemed to come to some sort of a conclusion.
"Hagrid," he called to me quietly. "Please take her to Grimmauld Place. She shall remain in Sirius' care until we can identify her."