The first thing (sort of) that I notice when we finally get to level ground, is how tall the guy is.

I mean, from a distance he looked a good six feet, but that may/may not be four foot of his real height. Even his beard is huge, like a fluffy animal decided it wanted to nest on his face forever.

Anyway, he holds out a hand, and grins. He appears to be good natured, which I suppose is a bonus. I manage to choke out a small 'hello', and Lily just grips my arm tighter. Bless her; I think she's a bit scared.

He reaches out a huge hand, and wraps it around my arm. All the way up to my elbow. I shake it, and then I notice how strong he is.

This is going to sound completely bizarre and crazy, but when I was little, dad had a 'meeting' in Austria, in the mountains. That's not the crazy part – quite a few people go on holiday to Austria to the mountains. But I could have gotten bored, and may have wandered off into a tunnel. Not the greatest plan when I learnt (from a screaming mad dad) what was inside the tunnel.

Giants.

You know, those hugely huge scary beings that live in mountains that are supposable dyeing out? Yeah, those sort of giants. I saw an arm of one, and it was twice the length of my body and thicker that Jake is wide (and that's saying something).

Long story short, I was grounded. For a few months.

Hmmm. Kinda makes you think. Not about giants, but how huge this guy is.

Right - moving on, story time over.

"Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of the Keys and Grounds here at Hogwarts," he says proudly, and Marlene to the side of me lets out a small 'Oh!'.

"But yeh can just call me Hagrid,"

I drag Lily from behind me, and she gives a tiny shy wave.

"Hello,"

Marlene snickers, and I realize he's looking at us expectantly.

"Oh! Right, yeah! Errm, I'm Katie, Katie Armstrong,-" I say, but Hagrid holds up a hand and chuckles.

"Not Paul's other daughter, surely?"

Oh bloody hell. How flipping typical that bloody Dad has set standards, it's already hard enough with Olivia strutting left right and centre. Humph.

Marlene answers yes for me, so I glare at her. Not very much, though.

Hagrid pats me on the shoulder, and I think I just sank about a foot into the mud. Okay, maybe not a foot but a good inch or so.

"Ah, don' worry abou' her; she's got yeh mother's side. Moody. I suppose you're the opposite?"

Excellent.

I'm not the only one that thinks that. Boom, Olivia. Boom.

I nod and grin, and Hagrid takes his hand from my shoulder and looks to the pair that are still stood slightly behind me.

"I'm Lily Evans," Lily squeaks, and Hagrid waves happily at her, and Marlene says her name. She gets a similar question of "Matthew's brother, Marlene?"

So, she does have a brother.

Well, I suppose she did tell us. I just didn't believe her.

Oh well.

It's not going to harm her, and I didn't specifically say that I didn't believe her, so no harm done.

They get into a conversation about Matthews apparently crazy trips into the forest. The forest we were warned about. I think he must be a bit mad, because I'm sure I wouldn't like to go in there anytime soon.

Lily looks a bit confused. I roll my eyes at her and she just gives me a questioning look. Oh right, she doesn't get it.

I need to corrupt her. And her innocent muggle-like mind.

Hmmm.

Or just give her lots of books, she seems to like them. She'd probably get on well with the Puff, what's-his-name.

Oh hurrah, Marlene has finished talking, and I presume she must have said something to us. Whoops. She's pulling the do as I say now or else glare, one I know because mother dear pulls it a lot.

So I just nod and smile, and Lily copies me, thank Merlin.

"How're yeh doin' up at school?" Hagrid asks, turning back to his cabin (it's quite small in comparison to him) and motioning for us to follow. We do so.

I exchange a glance with the others and say, "It's pretty good, actually. Apart from the homework,"

"But it's fun, Katie! The homework is good!" Lily pipes up.

Me and Marlene just look at her.

Hagrid chuckles.

But even so, he looks a bit confused. I don't blame him.

How anyone normal can like homework is beyond me.

"Okay Lily. I think we should give it a few years, and then ask you the question again," Marlene sighs. I snort.

"What?" Lily asks.

"Oh, it's just we'll have OWLS, and sleeping will be considered a very rare and special occurrence, let alone having any form of social life," I tell her.

She doesn't look any less disheartened, so I think I'll just give up.

Hagrid's still stood behind us, watching our little bicker. He seems nice enough, for such a huge scary guy.

Eh, I'll ask Dad. He is 'all knowing' (or so he claims).

My stomach gives a rather worrying rumble, and Marlene gives me a look.

I shoot her one back to tell her not to say anything.

She doesn't.

Good.

Anyway, I check my watch because my belly usually only makes such ridiculous noises when it's nearly time for food.

Good grief, it's half twelve!

Well, that escalated quickly.

"Errm, guys, its twelve thirty and I'm rather hungry. Can we go back up?" I ask. They all turn to me. It's a bit intimidating, but since I'm hard I'll deal with it.

"Yeh can stay down here if yeh want, I have food in m'hut," Hagrid offers.

Marlene checks her own watch to make sure I'm not lying, humph.

"Um, thanks, but I have a transfiguration essay to start, and I think it's going to rain... we'll come and visit you sometime, though," Lily says sweetly, and Hagrid pats her on the head.

"Ah, all righ' then, I best be getting on too... I'll see yeh around," he replies, quite happily, before waving and whistling to the puppy. It barks, and scampers after him as he walks in to the forest.

We all yell goodbye, and start heading back.

Aww. The puppy is cute. I want one, just to cuddle. As a dorm pet, since I highly doubt Leo will be allowed to stay in our room ever again. Bless him.

The Room,
I don't know, sometime reasonably late.

Errm, long story short – I have done absolutely nothing all afternoon.

Unless lounging around on my bed, eating and rereading Quidditch through the Ages counts. But I don't think it does, so I won't.

Whoops, too late.

AN: Arghh, Sorry!

I've been travelling around the UK with my family for a month and a bit, I have no clue why, but yeah. No internet or way of uploading anything. But here you go, so don't murder me :)

Erm, I don't have the hang of Hagrid yet, as you can probably see.

~Wolffe