Harry thought he would never feel fear again.

He had, after all, been through a less than ordinary life so far. If you had stared death in the face as many times as Harry, fear becomes much harder to feel.

Harry wasn't just scared. He was terrified.

Breathing quickly, he banged loudly on Hagrid's door.

Harry heard a frantic scratching and soft whimpering.

"Alrigh', alrigh'- Blossom! Get down!"

Harry grinned in spite of himself. Of course. Hagrid's new puppy- Harry had finally convinced Hagrid to get himself a new companion after his beloved Fang had died.

The latch was pulled up and the door opened.

"'Arry!"

Harry raised his eyebrow.

"Blossom?"

Hagrid went scarlett, "Yeah, well, on'y thing she will answer too, in't it? Got her second hand, like."

Harry grinned.

"Nice to see you, Hagrid"

"C'mere!"

Harry was pulled into one of Hagrid's usual back breaking hugs.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Harry shrugged, allowing a very excited Blossom to chew on his fingers.

"Does there need to be a reason?"

Hagrid smiled.

"Known you longer than most, 'Arry. There's always somethin' afoot. I'd 'ave thought things must 'ave calmed down for you in the past few years though."

"I thought so too."

"So there is a problem?"

"Yes."

"I'll pop the kettle on."

"Got anything stronger, Hagrid?"

Hagrid raised his eyes.

"Bloody 'ell Harry. Do I need to be sittin' down?

Hagrid reached into his cupboard and produced a huge bottle of whisky.

Harry sighed deeply.

"Ginny's pregnant."

Hagrid put the bottle down with a bang. A grin spread across his face. He took two strides across the room and wrung Harry's hands together.

"I was wonderin' when this would finally 'appen! Oh Harry, I can' tell you how thrilled I am."

Harry smiled weakly.

"Cheers, Hagrid."

Hagrid placed a glass in front of him.

"You don'' look too pleased abou' it Harry."

Harry's false smile dropped.

"I'm… I'm not ready for this Hagrid."

Hagrid chuckled softly.

"Nobody ever is, lad."

Harry shook his head.

"You don't understand. I don't know how to be a father… I don't know how to act around kids."

Hagrid stayed silent, softly scratching Blossom's ears and listened carefully.

"I mean… I don't know how to hold a baby… I don't know how to take care of one… It just seems so unfair. My dad knew what to do…Remus knew what to do and…" Harry trailed off.

Hagrid was smiling gently at him.

"Harry… there's no spell for this one."

"I don't know about that… Hermione might be able to dig one up for me."

They both laughed weakly.

"Harry… I'm glad you came here today. I truly am. It should be James tellin' you this… or Sirius, bless their souls… but, I've always looked on you as a kind of son, Harry, you know that. Always kept an extra special eye out for you. Promised myself I would, ever since I held you as a baby, which, incidentally, is not as hard as it looks."

Harry smiled.

"…When Dumbledore asked me to pick you up, when you were eleven, I had no idea what I was doing. As I said, no spell for this one. Yet you were such a little mite- clothes hangin' off you. I just wanted you to be okay. It's always been that way. My job, like."

Harry was touched.

"Well, you did a good job, Hagrid."

Hagrid's eyes filled with tears.

"And so will you, Harry."

They stayed silent for a while. Hagrid poured another glass for them both and picked it up.

"To the future, 'Arry!"

Harry smiled.

"To the future."