Chapter 2
Avoid loud and aggressive persons,
they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
-Max Ehrmann; "Desiderata" 1952
Harry slowly began backing away. "Ha….Hagrid…." He knew HE could fight the imperius curse, but Hagrid was another story.
"Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked. She followed Harry's gaze to Hagrid's empty eyes and shrieked.
"Get everyone inside, AHHH" Harry shouted as Hagrid grabbed him by the collar.
Everyone screamed, unsure of what to do. Hagrid was normally so gentle and kind. Yes, he had a temper, especially if you insulted someone he cared about, but he was always so gentle.
Hagrid, under the influence of the Imperius, slid his enormous fingers around Harry's throat.
"Hagrid, Hagrid, listen to me! It's Harry, st…..." His words were cut off as his good friend began to strangle him.
"Hagrid! Stop!" shouted Harry's friends.
Harry was just about to lost consciousness when suddenly, the light came back in Hagrid's eyes. He immediately dropped Harry to the ground. He coughed and gasped for air.
"'Arry? What….what did….I…..what 'appened?"
"You were under the imperius curse." Came the voice of Lord Voldemort as he came out into the garden. He had been the one to cast the counter curse. "Obviously Dumbles still haven't given up."
Hagrid scratched his head. "'Arry, did I 'urt you?"
Harry shook his head, not wanting to alarm the easily emotional half-giant. "No, Hagrid." He stood up and hugged his friend.
Hagrid hugged him back. "Dumbledore came to tell me 'e knew where you were. 'e said 'e wanted my 'elp to rescue you, and then after that everything…is just….a big blur."
Tom decided everyone should come in and calm down. He knew that he would have a lot to explain to the gamekeeper, and could only hope that he would believe them. He also knew that he could not wait any longer to act. He would send an anonymous owl to the Minister Fudge that evening.
"But, I don't understand 'Arry, 'ow could you 'ave joined with You-Know-Who."
"Please don't call him that Hagrid. He's not evil. He's been framed for everything." Harry informed him. "Dumbledore did it."
Hagrid stopped. "But…'Arry, Dumbledore would never…."
"Then how do you explain that it was Dumbledore who came to see you seconds before you were hexed into trying to kill me?"
The gamekeeper's eyes grew wide. "No…" He didn't want to believe it. Dumbledore had taken care of him, when his father had died. He had allowed Hagrid to stay at Hogwarts even after being wrongfully expelled for crimes he hadn't committed.
Harry sighed. "He used us Hagrid. He's been using all of us, this entire time. He meant for me to die at the hands of Voldemort, on that night 16 years ago. He had no idea that Voldemort wouldn't fall into his trap. Then he meant for me to die at the abuse of my relatives. And every single year I've been at Hogwarts, he's set me up in situations where I could possibly die."
Tom smiled inwardly. The boy had figured out that subtlety was not always wise, and most of the time the straight truth, however painful, was the best. "He's right, Rubeus. He's the one who framed you the night Aragog was discovered."
"No, it was you….you tried to kill 'im."
Tom smiled. "They say Dumbledore is excellent at disguising himself, my loyal followers, they say you never know where and who he is…."
"You mean……" Hagrid, despite how slow he could be, was beginning to understand. "But….why?"
"Who knows. But he's been doing the same thing to me for the past thirty-five years." The dark lord turned his head to meet Hagrid's eyes. "He showed you a little kindness to ensure your loyalty later on."
"But….what about the Chamber….what about the diary?"
"I planted it as a trap for the old coot. I thought perhaps if the whole thing were to happen again, then people would have to take Dumbledore out of position. If he wasn't doing enough to protect their students than someone else had to, right? It would have worked, if he hadn't discovered Ginny with the diary. Doesn't take much magic to manipulate a diary into giving falsehoods, he used it from afar to lure Ginny down into the Chamber, and disguised as my seventeen year old self, he tried to kill Harry AND the Weasley girl." Tom ended his tale, leaving the half-giant to mull over it.
Slowly Hagrid understood. Dumbledore had been using him. Asking him to take three CHILDREN into the Forbidden Forest for a detention, all they'd done was help him save a baby dragon. Then dropping the boy clues every year, leading him into the most dangerous places. Asking him to loan him Fluffy, even to guard the Sorcerer's Stone, especially if he had already planned for Harry to get the stone from Voldemort anyway. No man who truly means well, does any of that.
"Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a letter to write. Harry, I must borrow Hedwig." Tom left Harry and his friend alone to get reacquainted.
AN: Well, what'd ya think? Reviews gladly welcomed. I try to reply to all reviews. I also take suggestions, so tell me what you'd like to see.