Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter
Prologue: Phoenix Fire
Bone weary, Hagrid moved away from Grump, the giant having finally fallen asleep, to go up towards the castle. His little brother really loved to rough house, that was for sure, and there were some days even Hagrid had difficulty not snapping at the boy. Today seemed to be one of those days.
Not only that, but the woods, there appeared to be something… a bit off about it tonight. They were unsettled. The animals reacting to something they did not like. Not necessarily the same as a creature being unwelcome, no, when that happened they cleared out of the area and silence reigned supreme amongst the nooks and crannies. Tonight they roamed in clear anxiety.
An animal must be hurt.
He spent a little more time than he normally would searching the perimeters, but couldn't find anything, so, at last, he wandered back to his hut. The nearer he got to the school though, the more his intuition told him he was close. His thoughts went to Aragog, wondering if an animal had gotten into the castle or the surrounding perimeter. A shriek broke the air and Hagrid found his head snapping up.
Faux. It was Dumbledore's Phoenix. He felt his insides go cold as he watched the phoenix hovering above the castle. It was letting out an unhappy shrill. He dropped his bag, rushing up to the castle, walking past students briskly as he took the stairs six at a time.
Not Dumbledore.
Anyone but Dumbledore.
Godric, he felt sick. There was vomit threatening to rise. The man was probably the closest thing he'd had to a father after his papa passed away. The half giant forced his way through the halls until he found himself standing outside the great man's office.
"Rainbow gum drops."
The gargoyle leaped aside, its features seeming to frown at him as it always did, but instead of letting the thing unnerve him like usually, he hardly paid it a second glance.
He feet thudded against the stone steps like thunder and he burst through the doors to see McGonagal with grim features and sad eyes… talking to Dumbledore.
"Dumbledore, Sir, thank our lucky stars, 'es good to see ya!"
He felt the urge to hug the man, but controlled himself.
"Hagrid," Dumbledore said softly, the man spared him one of his fond smiles, but his eyes were haunted. Hagrid straightened up as Dumbledore ushered him in with a wave of his good hand. "So I take it you've heard."
"No sir, Faux is upset, thought 'erhaps something happened to ya."
"No, no, I'm perfectly fine. I'm afraid, however, that a grave incident has taken place involving Mr. Ronald."
His heart tightened in his chest. The hands on his knees gripped his pants until his knuckles turned white. Merlin. He felt his lips tremble, felt his voice shake as he asked.
"Ron? Well, what 'appened to him? He ain't hurt is he?"
McGonagal placed her hand on his arm, her eyes gentle. At the professor's unusual display of care, he gulped hard.
"He was poisoned earlier today," McGonagal told him, before she hurried on to say, "he nearly died. He's going to be okay, but it was very close."
Hagrid felt his whole body shudder. The image of Ron's impish grin forming in his eyes. Watching the kid sprout up like a bean pole. Lanky features always offering him a friendly pat on the back. The boy risking everything to help him get his baby dragon to safety, risking his life to get him out of Askaban, defending him when they attempted to kill Buckbeak. Ron hadn't batted an eye when the truth about his half-giant heritage came out in fourth year. And Ron had helped take care of his little brother last year and this year. How could something like this happen to such a good hearted kid?
He hiccupped, taking big shuddering breath, trying to keep it under control in front of two of the people he admired most in the world. He turned away from them, but felt McGonagal, pull him back to her and the old witch's arm briefly give his right arm a hug. He smiled down at her through watery eyes.
"He's in the medical wing," she said softly.
Hagrid nodded his head, straightening his shoulders.
"Righty o, best get down there."
He went to leave when Dumbledore called out to him.
"Hagrid, if you would do me the honor of accompanying me to the east side of the forest after you're finished, I would be greatly pleased."
He paused, then nodded his head, too choked up to trust himself to speak.
Later that evening, having spent most of his day going back and forth between the hut and hospital, furtively checking in on the half-conscious, pale figure known as Ron, he wandered into the clearing Dumbledore had shown him so long ago. It was where the Thestral herd came to safely conceive their offspring. Contrary to popular biased belief… Thestral's were no Pegasus who'd rotted away or been cursed by wizards. They were innocent creatures, their own species, their own life forms.
"The last time I brought you here, you were, but a young man unsure of his place in the world," Dumbledore's voice murmured as Hagrid walked towards him. Hagrid turned, beaming despite his nerves for the evening. Dumbledore returned the smile, but there was something unusually grim about the set of his features this evening that set off Hagrid's warning bells. Dumbledore continued. "You have grown into a fine man, Hagrid, one of whom I could not be prouder. I do not say this lightly: I trust you with my life. With the life of many, in fact, there are very few I think of as capable as you."
Speechless, tears threatening, no, spilling down his cheeks, Hagrid remained silent. Dumbledore did not give away compliments so easily and he felt that, on this occasion, the older gentleman was saying many things more than what the simple words suggested.
"Do you still remember the story I told you, back then?"
"Ai, 'bout you and Faux, how you found him while he was in his dying cycle and it scared the living daylights out of you." Hagrid chuckled at that. "And how you took him back to Hogwarts and cared for him. 'Bout how you cried when he died. How he chose you when he was reborn from his ashes."
Dumbledore nodded, warmth exuding from his being.
"So strange that such a small, simple display of human compassion can affect the course of ones' entire life, isn't it?"
Hagrid nodded. How he missed this. They used to do things like this often. Talking into the night about a great many things. But that had been before the war started up again. Before Harry had come to Hogwarts. The boy had managed to keep everyone on their toes during his time at Hogwarts, even Dumbledore. Well, especially Dumbledore.
"It wasn't quite that simple though," Dumbledore surprised him by saying. "Life rarely is. I'm afraid I never told you the full truth. Faux has stayed by my side for a great many reasons, my compassion for his life being one, but there were… larger things about, you could say."
"You don't say," Hagrid breathed.
He wouldn't say he was giddy, but he'd be hard pressed to find another emotion. He felt like a little kid who'd been told their favorite bed time story wasn't finished, not even halfway through.
"I've lived a very privileged life, Hagrid," Dumbledore said softly. "You are one of the people for whom I respect above everyone else. I feel then, considering the circumstances, I want to be completely honest with you. But I am only human, my friend, and I fear losing the respect and admiration you've shown me these many years."
Considering the older man's words for a long moment, he was at a loss with how to respond, but after a moment it came to him. Hagrid sat down on the grassy hill they stood upon, to better place the tall wizard at eye level.
"It's been an honor to serve you, Dumbledore, an honor. And it's going to stay an honor. Now, as far as I'm concerned, I ain't ever seen nobody, not nobody, who hasn't done sometin' they'd rather keep locked up in some trunk six feet underground. Unlocken' them trunks on purpose? For someone else? Well, I don't think I've seen anythin' much braver then that, sir. Maybe might make my own trunks a little less heavy on me, eh?"
The gratitude in those old eyes was like a mini sun to Hagrid's heart.
"I had a wonderful family growing up, remarkable companions, and a most fortunate turn of luck to have established a name for myself at a very young age. I developed into a young man who needed to know everything. I wanted to discover things, to create things, to be remembered. I thought myself above others, and it is to my dismay that there are days when I still do, when this old mind of mine forgets humbleness and embraces arrogance. I have made grave mistakes. More than I dare count."
Hagrid listened with rapt attention, feeling that it was vital he not forget a single thing. They sat there for most of the night, until the thinnest rays of the sun began to spread itself across the horizon. Dumbledore told him about those countless mistakes. Some made Hagrid cringe, others thoughtful, but he never judged. His own mistakes in life were different, but no less awful. He suspected that was true for everyone. When a comfortable silence stretched between them for some time, Dumbledore finally spoke the words Hagrid had feared since the start of this discussion.
"Faux has chosen another human."
Hagrid felt his breath hitch.
"It's odd, isn't it? Phoenixes are not known for choosing humans so close together in time. Normally they will be forced to wait several hundred years before they find another of their nature."
Dumbledore did not mention that the bird of life and death were lifelong companions. That should a Phoenix chose another, it meant the person they'd attached themselves to would not live much longer.
Stifling his sobs, Hagrid refrained from mentioning it as well. He could do this for Dumbledore. He could avoid the topic the man did not wish to broach.
"Who is it?" Hagrid voiced, his loud rumble down to a soft boom.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he turned to Hagrid.
"The Phoenix is a funny creature. Its affinity is fire. An element both destructive and guiding. Fire burns, yes, but it is also light. Faux chose me because of my compassion, but also for my desire for greatness. He chose this person, I suspect, for the boy's protective nature and his desire to stand out from the shadows. To be heard despite the many who wish to silence him."
Hagrid thought about that for a long time. At first he thought of Harry, as the boy seemed to be the center of everything as of late. It didn't fit though. He'd known Dumbledore, and by extension Faux, a long time. The phoenix would never have chosen Harry. The boy was too kind hearted, too soft in many aspects, too straight forward mind, and he only wanted to blend in with the world. The phoenix was a proud creature and tended to stick with those who demonstrated pride. Faux needed someone who thought differently than others, who was equal parts strong willed, defiant, dark, and light.
It clicked.
Hagrid grinned down at Dumbledore, even from his sitting position.
"It's Ron, isn't it?"
Dumbledore chuckled.
"Yes, I had my suspicions for a long time about the boy's affinity. Where Harry's soul seeks out peace, Ronald's desires chaos. He thrives off of a good fight. Whether that be against Mr. Malfoy physically or against Miss. Granger mentally. Yet in the same stride…"
"He's fierce when it comes ta protecting his friends," Hagrid stated proudly.
Dumbledore nodded.
"He's the only one who will be able to use my Deluminator when I pass," Dumbledore confessed. "Because of the bond Faux and I share, when Faux's next death cycle comes, it will last quite a while. Over a year, at least. It will come as quite the shock when Faux shows up on Mr. Ronald's doorstep, I'm sure."
"Ya need me to help him, ya?" Hagrid sniffed. "I will. Ya can bet your candy collection, I will. I'll be there for all three, I will."
"Thank you, Hagrid. I fear the coming days for Harry, Ronald and Miss. Hermione will be devastating. They will be tried in ways neither of us can imagine. There will be times when they feel it is difficult to go on, but I have full confidence that they are the key to our salvation, because they have the sort of spirits that will get back up and keep fighting."
"Darn right," Hagrid muttered.
They stayed like that long after the sun had risen, only heading back to Hogwarts when Hagrid was in danger of being late to his own class. It hurt, the knowledge he now carried, but he felt privileged as well. To be acknowledged by his father figure in protecting the generation he would be leaving behind soon. He would protect those three with everything he had.
He would protect Harry.
He would protect Hermione.
He would protect Ron.