I'm so excited to have started this story. Hopefully it ends up being as fun to write as I hope it will be, I always wondered how Harry might have ended up had he been raised at Hogwarts
rather than with the Dursleys.

I claim no ownership for any of these characters and only dabble in JK's universe for fun.

Enjoy and please review if you fancy it!

...

Rubeus Hagrid would have loved nothing more than to sit at the table in his cottage with a large basin of whiskey, a fire crackling in the hearth, and his large dog Fang laying asleep at his feet. Instead he was riding his motorbike through the cold October air as quickly as he could make it go. He disliked everything about this plan of Dumbledore's. Sure Dumbledore was a great wizard - Rubeus remembered those years ago when the old man had vouched for him when a student had released a monster from the Chamber of Secrets. In the battle against Grindelwald, Dumbledore had been crucial to the success of the light. But that, in Rubeus's opinion, did not make a person a reliably good judge at all times. Especially not now.

Hagrid landed his large bike on a narrow street in Godric's Hollow and made his way slowly to a house that was reduced to almost ash save for the few remaining structural posts and a few dilapidated walls. The house still echoed the sickly green light that haunted his dreams as much as it haunted the minds of his colleagues. And once again, Hagrid considered that he did not like this one bit. Albus came out of the wreckage holding a small infant, young Harry to be exact. And when Hagrid took the child into his large arms he swore to protect him like his mother had died trying to do. Sure, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named was gone but that did not make the world safe. The poor boy would grow up in stardom because he had gotten lucky. Hagrid resented attention and got the impression that the boy would someday loath it too. Albus eyed Hagrid who sniffled loudly into a laced handkerchief and informed him of where the Potter boy would go.

Upon arriving safely on a suburban street in Little Whinging, Hagrid stood and regarded the house where he was to drop off the young hero who lay asleep in his arms. A loud crack told him that Dumbledore had arrived. A small calico cat ran up to the odd trio and transformed into a stern woman who glared at Dumbledore.

"Albus, I don't like this. I have been watching this family all day and they are horrid people. That woman, Pansy or whatever her name is, is simply dreadful. Peeks out her windows all day trying to learn everyone's business. And the husband! Godric I do not like him any more! Loud and awful and rude to his wife. Dreadful family and I don't recall this Pansy woman being on good terms with Lily." Her thick Scottish brogue cut through the night air and her glare could make even the most rambunctious Gryffindor go silent. This time, however, the legendary glare of the Hogwarts transfiguration professor had no effect.

The old man simply sighed. "Minerva, if I had a better idea I would have done it. We must keep Harry safe, and this is the best way to do it."

"For Merlin's sake, Albus, I will look after him if I must, I simply will not leave him here with these awful people. That squib Arabella Figg who lives next door? She doesn't like them either." Minerva refused to be cowed by the Headmaster - Albus Dumbledore may be a hero to others but she was Minerva McGonagall, damn it, and she did not take no for an answer.

"You know as well as I that the only other person we could put young Harry in the care of is a murderer and on the run."

"If you are speaking of Sirius Black, I know, Albus. I am not dumb like some of our other colleagues. There must be an alternative."

Albus, however, had tuned Minerva out by this point and turned to Hagrid. "Go put the young man on the doorstep, I will leave a note explaining everything."

Rubeus was disturbed by this turn of events, mostly because Albus simply expected him to obey. "Er, I think the Professor may be righ', Headmaster. If these muggles 'er as bad as everyone says, I will not leave 'Arry here when I coul' be carin' for 'im meself. I can give young 'Arry, 'ere, a home an' it may not be the mos' posh a place bu' I'll love 'im like me own an' keep 'im safe."

During this little speech, Hagrid drew himself up to his fullest hight, at least a meter over Dumbledore's pointed indigo hat. The stern transfiguration professor allowed herself a brief triumphant smile behind Dumbledore's back. It was a pity, she thought, that the young man had been expelled and his wand snapped. He would have made a great Gryffindor graduate.

Dumbledore, for his part, looked shocked, and then annoyed, and then angry. Before he could retort, however, Hagrid had turned, with the young boy still in his arms, and was lumbering back to his motorbike with the words, "See ye' back a' 'Ogwarts, Professor. Headmaster." With that, the half-giant took off into the night sky. Minerva hid her smirk behind the hood of her cloak and nodded to the still dumbstruck Headmaster before she too disappeared into the night.

Albus finally shook off his shock to find himself alone in a muggle neighbourhood in Surrey. All he knew in that moment was that the next twenty years, or so would be one hell of a time.

Back at Hogwarts, Hagrid picked up the infant and took him into his cottage. It wasn't too nice, Hagrid considered, but it was home. And home enough for the boy, he hoped. Pomona Sprout knocked on his door not ten minutes later, teary eyed and hiccoughing in a dressing gown to inquire as to young Potter's whereabouts. Hagrid merely pointed to the corner where the child lay asleep next to Fang in a small basket. "Sweet Merlin," Pomona gasped and scurried over to the boy. Her finger traced the raw scar on the child's forehead. "The poor dear, how ever did you get him back here?"

"I convinced the Headmaster tha' it would be bes' fer me ter bring 'im back to 'Ogwarts." A ruddy flush crossed his cheeks at her look of shock.

"Well, well, then Rubeus, we will all make sure that Mister Potter feels at home here at Hogwarts for it is, in fact, his home now." She patted Hagrid's elbow, the highest up the short, chubby witch could reach, and bustled out the door as quickly as she had come in.