This is my first Harry Potter story, please read and review. And yes, Hagrid talks this way. -T.K
Chapter 1:
It was only a legend, but still, it drew sixth year Hermione Granger's fancy. She sat in the library of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, poring over the Quibbler clipping that had arrived two months ago. Shaking her bushy brown hair out of her eyes, she read:
'Reports of a couple of muggles approaching the perimeter confirmed as of last Tuesday. Aurors Nymphadora Tonks and John Dawlish sent on an exploration found the remains of two muggle explorers who seemed to have perished four years ago without food and water. Upon search, said late muggles were in possession of photos of who aurors believe is their son; overwhelming evidence shows that their son, aged at about eight, accompanied them at the time. It is believed that this boy might have survived, but in the conditions of the Forbidden Forest, it would be highly unlikely.'
The report ended there; usually, logical Hermione Granger wouldn't believe a word of the Quibbler, but she knew Tonks had mentioned a legend like that last summer.
"Hey Hermione!" Harry Potter, pushing his glasses up his nose and ruffling his jet black hair, called the girl over. "What are you reading?"
Hermione accompanied her best friend outside to the courtyard, "I was reading about the Forest's Child, a kid who is supposedly lost in these woods." She pointed to the Forbidden Forest; a gust of wind blew through the tops of the trees.
"S'cuse me." A deep voice grunted; Hagrid shuffled past them, carrying an old rotten table. "Dumbledore said I could use this for firewood."
"Look, it's all rotted at the bottom." Read headed and freckled Ron Weasley grinned, pointing at the giant table.
"Have you heard of the Forest's Child?" Hermione asked, but before Ron could answer, Hagrid dropped the table.
THUMP! CRACK! The table lost a leg.
Harry and Ron helped Hagrid drag the table back to his hut while Hermione trailed behind with the leg.
Once they were behind Hagrid's cabin, he sighed and sat on the steps. "So, yer wonderin' 'bout the kid in the fores'?" he asked, a smile appearing in the tangles of his beard.
"Yes." Hermione said quickly. Ron and Harry found giant pumpkins to sit on while listening to the half-giant.
"Well, I don' know all o' it meself, but Tonks told me abou' it." Hagrid said, "Rumor has it that four years ago, there was a couple o' muggles wanderin' around deep inside the forest; ended up getting lost and dyin'. We couldn' bother about them then because o' the whole Chamber fiasco. Recently, the Aurors found the remains o' the muggles and something told them there was a kid with them, the forest has been searched, but he's not been found. Some say that eight year old died, got swept up by the current o' the stream and landed in the bottom o' the lake. But there are others who'll tell yer that he's still alive, avoiding us here and trying to survive; has to live off the stream and fruit from some o' the trees."
Ron's mouth dropped open, "Blimey! A muggle kid, in the forest, do you believe in the tale, Hagrid?"
Hagrid stared into the forest, "Well Ron, I'm not sure what ter believe. The idea is a bit far-fetched, but it could be true. 'Course I never seen him; I don' think the centaurs do either. Harry? Hey Harry, are you alright?"
Harry had been staring across the horizon in deep thought. "I want to find him." He said suddenly, this kid was like him; they both had no parents, they had to find their own way in the world, and had to struggle to survive against harsh conditions.
Hermione smiled, she wanted to search for the boy as well, but Ron looked horrified at the thought of entering the forest again.
"But, like I said, it's only a legend." Hagrid chuckled nervously. "It's gettin' dark, you three best head on to the castle; leave the investigatin' ter the professionals."
Rather reluctantly, Harry and Hermione followed Hagrid back to the castle, Ron ran ahead, keen to make distance between him and the forest which contained gigantic killer spiders.
As they left, a pair of gray eyes stared at them from the trees.
