Discussions and Diversions

After they had finished eating, Chris, Kylie, and Ginny made their way toward Hagrid, who rose from his seat at the staff table. "Ready ta go, then?"

They simply nodded, due to the fact that they were a bit intimidated at the size of him.

"Where do ya think we should go first?" Hagrid asked.

Chris thought for a second and then asked, "What do you think would be the five most interesting things to see here at the school, Hagrid?"

"Let's see, now. Well, there's the Quidditch pitch, I guess. The Astronomy tower'll give ya a good view of the Forbidden Forest, since Dumbledore would sack me if I were to take kids that ain't even students yet in there. If any of ya are like 'Ermione, I'd be thinking you might like the library. I could take you down to me hut and introduce you to Fang." He paused for a moment. "Or, better yet, I could introduce ya ta Fluffy."

Ginny looked at him curiously. "Who's Fluffy?"

"One of my pets, just got him last year. He's a three-headed dog."

That got Kylie's attention. "There's something you don't see every day. Let's have a look."

Once Ginny and Chris had agreed with Kylie, Hagrid led the three of them to a door in what seemed to be an unused hallway on the third floor of the castle. "I fergot, this door is locked. I ain't got no way to open it without a wand."

Chris dipped his hand into his inside jacket pocket. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?"

"Not a word, Chris."

"Alohamora." Chris then grabbed the door handle and pulled. He quickly backed away from the door when he saw that what was on the other side was, indeed, a three headed dog. What he wasn't expecting was to find one that was easily the size of Hagrid, Ginny, Kylie and himself combined.

"Well, who wants to pet him first?"

"P-pet him?" Ginny asked.

"Ah, it'll be alright. Yer with me, so he won't bite ya." Hagrid stepped into the corridor visible on the other side of the doorway. "Fluffy, lie down."

The huge canine quickly did as Hagrid commanded. The large man began to pat it on the middle of the three heads. Heartened by this, the three ten year olds stepped up and began to pet Fluffy.

"Ah, he's just a big puppy," commented Kylie.

Chris replied, "A big puppy that could probably manage to eat all three of us at once." A mischievous look flickered across his face. "It would more than likely have an easier time eating Malfoy, though."

A big smile appeared on Ginny's face after that comment. "What an interesting idea. I may have to mention it to Fred and George."

The kids spent another ten minutes petting Fluffy and scratching behind its ears, which the dog seemed to enjoy immensely; they then decided to continue with their tour.

After being shown the Astronomy tower, the Quidditch Pitch and the library, as well as spending time with Fang and having tea (they chose not to have any of Hagrid's rock cakes) out in Hagrid's hut, they found themselves back at Professor Dumbledore's office a few minutes before three, as the headmaster had requested, where they said goodbye to Hagrid and entered the room.

Their parents were seated around the professor's desk and were making conversation with Dumbledore and McGonagall. "So, did you enjoy the tour, children?" inquired professor Dumbledore.

"It was definitely different, sir. But, I do have a question," said Kylie.

"What do you wish to know, Miss Granger?"

"If you have a three headed dog guarding a third floor corridor, do you use a hydra to guard the seventh floor?" she said, with a grin.

Professor McGonagall looked startled. "Do you mean to tell me that Hagrid introduced you to Fluffy?"

Chris, Ginny, and Kylie nodded.

She placed her hand on the lower part of her forehead, shielding her eyes from view. "Sometimes, I wonder what that man is thinking."

Professor Dumbledore began to chuckle. "I'm sure the children were safe, Minerva. Hagrid knows how to handle creatures of that nature.
However, if it will make you feel better, I will speak to him about restricting the showing of such things to the older students."

Alex was smiling. "Same old Hagrid. It's nice to know that some things never change."

Molly huffed a little at Alex's statement. "I wish Hagrid would be a little more mindful that most people aren't as big as he is. Some of the things he thinks of as soft and cuddly are capable of being very dangerous."

Ginny spoke up. "Mum, some things that are softly and cuddly are capable of being dangerous."

Her father motioned for her to come over to him. Once she had, Arthur picked her up, set her in his lap and wrapped his arms. "Considering some of the things you've more than likely learned from your brothers, I suspect that you're starting to fit into that category." This statement resulted in laughter from everyone in the room, including Ginny; she did, however, express the opinion that she didn't know what he was talking about.

Just then there was a knock on the door. "Enter." The door opened and Harry, Ron and Hermione walked in.

"I think," said Professor Dumbledore, "that this would be a good time to discuss plans that have been made regarding the next few months for the Grangers and Potters." He looked at the three new arrivals. "Please be seated."

"To begin, this evening, Arthur, Alexander and I will be paying a visit to the Dursleys to discuss new living arrangements for Harry." A smile quickly spread across both Harry's and Chris's faces. "Also this evening, Danielle is planning on paying a visit to Hermione's parents, which will be purely social; she is, of course, taking Kylie with her. Molly will be escorting Ginny and Chris to the Burrow. The Weasleys have graciously offered to allow Danielle, Kylie, Christopher and Alexander to stay there until such time as repairs on Potter Manor have been completed. After that, the four of them will be moving in. The renovations will easily be completed before the end of the school year. Harry, as I have already explained, will need to spend two weeks a year with the Dursleys; the rest of his time will either be spent here at Hogwarts or with his uncle and cousin at Potter Manor."

"We also need to discuss plans for the upcoming Christmas Holiday. Arthur and Molly have decided to travel to Romania in order to spend time with their second son, Charlie. Because of this, I have extended an invitation to Alexander and the others to spend the holiday here at Hogwarts. At this time I must ask young Miss Weasley if she would be interested to spend the holiday here as well, or if she would prefer to make the trip to Romania with her parents? It is your choice."

"I'd get to spend a couple of weeks here at the school?"

Arthur spoke up. "Molly, I do believe that sounded suspiciously as if it will be just you and I going to Romania."

Ginny blushed slightly. "Mum, Dad, you don't mind do you? I mean, it is Hogwarts."

Molly looked at her youngest child. "I would expect you to mind the teachers, Alex, Danielle, and your brothers while you're here, dear. Do you understand?"

"I understand most of that, Mum."

"Most of it? What do you mean, you understand most of it?"

"Well, considering that they offered to send me a Hogwarts toilet seat when you put them on the train this year, do you really want me doing what Fred or George tells me to do?"

Arthur began to laugh. "Molly, I think she won that one."

Molly smiled at Ginny. "Good point, dear. Ignore any orders from the twins.

Everyone in the room began to laugh at that statement, including the normally very stern Professor McGonagall.

"Well now that everything is settled, why don't we leave Professor Dumbledore to tend to any last minute business before he takes Arthur and I to meet the Dursleys? We can probably move this meeting to the Gryffindor Common Room."

Professor McGonagall rose. "Would you mind terribly giving me a little time to speak privately with Christopher? I could send him up after I'm finished."

"Of course. Chris, go with Minerva and we'll see you in a little while. The rest of you, let's go to Gryffindor Tower." They all turned and left the office.