Story Title/Link: Henry & Hagrid
School and Theme: Ilvermorny: Redemption
Mandatory Prompt: [Character] Original character
Additional Prompt(s): [Action] Babbling & [Word] Invisible
Special Rule: Ilvermorny: A muggle's POV
Year: 6
Word count: 3434
The first indication that today isn't a typical day comes when grey light streams through Henry Warren's window, waking him up with a start.
Mum must have come up and opened his curtains at some point. It forces him to open his eyes, and they immediately water at the intrusion of the light.
This is not a good start, he thinks.
The second clue comes when Henry rolls over and spots the smart, black suit hanging on the side of his wardrobe. That wasn't there when he went to sleep, so Mum must have left it. It looks sombre against the bright colours of the posters and drawings in his room, but that feels appropriate for what Mum has warned him will happen today.
A soft sigh escapes his lips, and he burrows deeper under his duvet, pulling it over his head to block out the world and everything that is going on. He already has such a lot to deal with for a child so small, and since the owl came with the news, all Henry wants to do is sleep or disappear.
His mind drifts to the conversation he had with Mum as she was tucking him into bed last night.
"Tomorrow, we'll be taking the train to Scotland," she said, sliding her hands down the side of the bed to fold the ends of the duvet under the mattress.
"Scotland. I haven't been there yet." Henry yawned.
"No, you haven't." Mum kissed the top of his head. "Tomorrow, when we get home, we can put a pin on your map next to your sister's. We'll be visiting her school. It will take us a while to get there, but if you're good, and you wake up and get ready on time, I'll buy you a comic for the journey."
"One about animals?" Henry's eyes were growing heavy, but he needed confirmation from mum before he let sleep steal him away.
"Sure, one about animals."
"Five minutes, then breakfast is ready," Mum calls up the stairs.
Her voice is strained and tight as if it's struggling to escape her mouth. Henry's stomach lurches. It makes him wonder how many tears she's already spilt this morning. Yesterday, the thought struck him that if Mum didn't stop crying, she would soon sweep what remains of their family away in a sea of tears.
With heavy limbs and far too significant a burden for an eight-year-old to carry on his narrow shoulders, he hauls himself out of his bed. Without needing to be told, he walks out of his room and towards the bathroom. As he passes his sister's bedroom, he stops and stares at the door. He always misses her, but the ache in his heart has grown deeper since the owl came yesterday, radiating into his belly and making him feel ill.
Once in the bathroom, Henry washes his face and combs his hair for the first time without bribery or coercion. As he dresses and checks his reflection in the mirror, he knows it was the right decision. He looks smart, and surely that will make his mum smile.
The train journey is long, but there's plenty to watch from the window, and his comic keeps Henry distracted. Next comes the taxi ride that takes them from the station and dumps them outside a set of ruins.
"This can't be right," Dad says to Mum, who is checking the address on the letter the owl delivered.
"This is where the Headmaster told us he would be." She frowns back.
In front of the small family lies what looks like an old castle, although it's probably better to refer to it as a pile of old broken bricks. The stone is slowly turning green with moss, and bare tree limbs protrude from the places where there used to be windows. A sign hangs on the rusting gate that reads, 'DANGER. DO NOT ENTER. UNSAFE.'
Henry is confused. How can anyone live here?
"This isn't a school. Are you sure this is where she is? The sign says we shouldn't go in. Maybe the taxi driver got the address wrong." He knows he's talking too much—he always does it when he's nervous. He tilts his head up so that he can see Mum and Dad's faces. Tears draw lines on their cheeks. Henry feels sad as if someone has taken away his favourite toy. It's tiring, and all he wants is to go back to bed.
Nobody answers him. It's as if he isn't even there.
Movement from an old doorway catches Henry's attention. A thin man with a wiry grey bead strides towards them, a sullen look on his pale face. He is wearing a blue dress, which has been decorated with stars that almost sparkle in the sunlight. The man is ancient and frail and looks like he shouldn't even be alive, let alone moving.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry."
The man pushes open the old gate. It wails on its hinges, reminding Henry of the noise Mum made when she first heard the news. The newcomer extends a hand, and both Henry's parents shake it. "I'm Professor Dippet, Headmaster of the school. I wish we were meeting under better circumstances. Why don't you come in?"
Although it's an offer, not a command, Mum and Dad follow the man without considering it. Professor Dippet holds open the gate, but Henry frowns, his feet glued to the old stone steps.
This cannot be right, he thinks. Where did she sleep?
"Come along, Henry," Mum chides through gritted teeth. "Please!"
The look on her face warns him that he shouldn't mess around or upset her—not today of all days.
As Henry walks through the gateway, the scene in front of him transforms as if by magic. Vast green grounds fill his view. To the left stands a beautiful, sparkling blue lake. Next to it is a deep, dark forest. There is now a magnificent castle with tall turrets and balustrades that shine in the sun where the ruins once lay.
"Wow," Henry gasps as he drinks in the view. "This place is amazing." He's sure his eyes are the widest they've ever been. His head swivels in every direction, needing to explore every corner, even though it looks like the landscape stretches out for miles and miles.
The man leading the way down the stone path chuckles. "That's pretty much the same thing your sister said when she crossed the Great Lake by rowboat." His voice is whimsical and soft, as though he too is seeing the magic for the first time. "Most visitors to Hogwarts feel the same. It's a pretty unique place, isn't it? Of course, it's invisible to Muggles, but I've adjusted the charms to allow you to visit. It only seems right."
Henry does not respond. There are far too many questions racing through his mind, and he cannot force them into words. Instead, he follows the man down through the castle grounds and into the large stone building. They pass pictures that move in their frames and walk up staircases that change direction as they wind their way up high above the entrance hall.
Eventually, they are standing in front of an ugly stone gargoyle.
"Ashwinder," Professor Dippet says clearly to the guard. The statue nods in understanding before stepping aside to reveal an entranceway.
Henry holds his hand over his mouth to suppress the gasp that longs to escape. Even at eight years old, he knows that gargoyles do not usually move.
"Good afternoon, Professor Dippet," the gargoyle says, with a short bow of his head.
"Good afternoon." Dippet nods before turning to Mum and Dad. "I don't think it's wise for your son to come into my office with us. Some of the news about the circumstances might be upsetting for young ears."
"I didn't bring anyone to look after him." A frown has appeared on his mum's face again, and Henry wants nothing more than to push the lines away and make her happy.
"He will be okay outside, as long as he doesn't wander. The school is still a safe place, despite recent events."
Mum's lips draw tighter together as if she's fighting off a barbed retort. Instead, she nods her head, then turns to Henry, kneeling to his level.
"Promise me you'll stay by here and not run off?" Her eyes are wide, almost pleading with him.
"I promise" Henry draws a cross over his heart, feeling it leap as a small smile spreads across Mum's face. She kisses his forehead then stands up straight, following Dad and the professor past the stone gargoyle and up the circular stairs.
Henry wishes so hard that he could follow and see inside the office. He bets it's full of wonderful things. Instead, he presses his back against the wall and slides down until his bottom touches the cold, stone floor. And he sits and waits, watching as two old witches brew a potion in the portrait opposite him.
Henry is not sure how long he has been sitting outside the office. Time seems to speed up and slow down, confusing him. Students and teachers rush past him, but none of them pays a blind bit of notice to the small child sitting on the floor.
All Henry knows is that it's still the afternoon because the sun is peering through an old stained-glass window, casting the corridor in beautiful reds, greens, and blues.
Suddenly, the appearance of a tall person blocks the light, casting Henry's spot into darkness. The person's face is young, yet his height tells Henry that he should be an adult. The stranger is as wide as he is tall, and in his large hands, he clutches a limp rooster.
Henry's heart starts to pound in his chest, and his palms turn sweaty. Things happen in this school; his sister is always coming home with stories. He's far too young to die.
"Hiya." The stranger's voice is friendly, despite his menacing appearance. It wobbles and breaks and has a thick west-country accent. "What are you doing on the floor?"
"Waiting," Henry sighs. He pulls his knees up to his chest and rests his head on them. "My parents are speaking to Professor Dippet."
"You look a little small to be coming to Hogwarts." The stranger squats down so he's closer to Henry, although the child still has to crane his neck to look up at him.
"I'm only eight. After what happened, I doubt my parents will let me come."
"What happened?"
"My sister died here, yesterday or the day before, I think." The words catch in his throat. It's the first time he's said it out loud, and that just makes it feel more real. Tears burn behind his eyes, but he blinks them away, refusing to let this stranger see his sadness. "None of the adults will tell me what happened to her."
"Oh…" A hot red blush fills the stranger's cheeks, and suddenly he can't make eye contact with Henry anymore. The teenager sighs and plonks himself down on the floor so hard it shakes underneath Henry's backside. "I reckon I can tell you a bit about that. I'm Rubeus Hagrid, by the way."
Rubeus holds his hand out, and Henry hesitates. The stranger's brown beady eyes are comforting enough, so Henry takes his hand and shakes it a couple of times. Manners are important, Mum is always telling him.
"I'm Henry Warren."
"Warren." Rubeus nods to himself before letting out a deep, mournful sigh. "You see—I had a pet spider. His name was Aragog. I had to let him out into the Forbidden Forest because Dippet says it's not safe for Aragog to be in the school. But I promise you it wasn't Aragog who killed your sister. He wouldn't harm a fly. He's only a baby himself.
"I love creatures, and I always look after them so well. Aragog was living under my bed, you see. But something more sinister is happening in the castle. None of the Professors know what yet. But your sister got caught up in it all, I'm afraid."
Rubeus lets out another sigh. This time it's shaky and tainted with emotion. He seems to take a moment to compose himself before resuming his rambling explanation of what happened to Henry's sister. Henry's heart is pounding in his chest. He's eager to learn what happened to his sister, but at the same time, he's not sure how he'll feel once he knows it all. Surely, there's a reason why the adults won't tell him everything?
"I'm sorry, though. Really I am. I wish I could help make things better for you and your family. I didn't know Myrtle all that much because we were in different houses, but I'm ever so sorry she got killed. Tom told Dippet that it was Aragog that did it. But it wasn't him! He wouldn't! He never!"
Big racking sobs overcome the giant teenager, and his words disappear, alarming Henry. Fat tears roll over Rubeus' cheeks and splash onto the floor. Tentatively, Henry reaches out and pats the giant teenager on the shoulder.
Henry understands how Rubeus might feel. He had a hamster once called Sammie, who escaped his cage and chewed a hole in the living room curtains. Mum said Sammie had to go, so Henry gave him to a friend. It wasn't even the hamster's fault—the curtains were floral, so they must have looked like dinner.
"Here, have a hanky." Henry digs into his pocket and checks the white triangle of cloth to make sure it's clean before passing it to his new friend. "I like animals too. I'd love a pet spider."
"I can go and visit Aragog sometimes, as long as no one sees me. Dumbledore persuaded Dippet to let me stay on school grounds, now that I'll be expelled and have my wand broken." He blows his nose, the trumpeting sound echoing down the corridor.
"Why can't you go home?" Henry questions. He refuses the handkerchief when Rubeus tries to hand it back.
Rubeus looks thoughtful for a moment. "My parents are gone."
Henry wants to push for more information, but losing family members is painful and talking to Rubeus about it makes his heart hurt more. "What other animals are in the school?"
Rubeus' wet eyes light up. "Oh, there are tons of creatures here and everywhere else. You Muggles just can't see them because you're not paying enough attention. We were just studying Fire-Crabs. They defend themselves by shooting fire from their backsides. I'd love to get my hands on one."
Henry laughs. Rubeus isn't too bad—he's friendly and has some fantastic stories, even if he is a little difficult to understand. He even likes animals, just like Henry.
Despite the devastating end to his sister's life in this castle, Henry starts to hope that he'll get his letter inviting him to Hogwarts in a few years so that he can get to know Rubeus better and learn more about magical creatures. He wants to do magic, and make things appear and disappear, just how his sister showed him.
He's keen to ask Rubeus more questions, but they are interrupted by the stone gargoyle stepping aside once again. Henry's parents appear, feet first, as they make their way down the circular staircase, followed by the Headmaster. Henry pushes himself up off the floor, ready to greet them and, out of the corner of his eye, he notices Rubeus doing the same.
The teenager draws himself up tall, still clutching the limp rooster in his hands. Henry is about to introduce his parents to his new friend when an almighty scream pierces the otherwise quiet corridor. It causes a shiver to travel down his spine, forming in a heavy knot in his stomach.
"You!" his mother spits. "How dare you be here!"
"I-I-I-" Rubeus is trying his hardest to speak, but it seems he cannot form any words against the tirade of abuse Henry's mother is still throwing at him. "I'm sorry." He finally settles on.
"Sorry?" Mum's voice is shrill and almost at the pitch where only dogs can hear it. "You killed my daughter!"
"Now, now." Professor Dippet stands in between Mum, Dad, and Rubeus.
Mum has a murderous look in her eyes, and even though the half-giant towers over her, Henry worries that his new friend might get hurt. Although Dad hasn't spoken up, the look in his eyes and his clenched fists shows he agrees with Mum. The sight of his parents looking so angry scares Henry. He's never seen this side of them before, not even when he broke Mum's favourite vase.
"Rubeus has received an appropriate punishment for keeping a forbidden pet, and we have disposed of the creature."
"But there's no saying he won't harm any more children with some other creature." Mum is rounding on the old professor now, but he is standing his ground despite the finger jabbing at his chest. "I may not be able to do magic like you vile types, but I will ensure that this school is closed down so that no other children will die the way my Myrtle has. I will write to the Chief Education Officer, and he will ensure you all get the punishment you deserve."
Rubeus shrinks back at the woman's words, and panic starts to fill his face. It looks like he might start crying again. He opens his mouth, and Henry wonders if he might begin to apologise again until Headmaster Dippet intervenes.
"Mrs Warren." The professor gives up being kind and soft and now uses a more authoritative voice. "Rubeus is just a child too. He is an orphan, and he has apologised for what happened. This is why we are allowing him to stay on the grounds under strict supervision. We have taken his wand from him, and he will no longer be able to perform magic. Instead, he will be working as a groundskeeper. As you can see, our land is quite extensive, and we need all the help we can get."
Professor Dippet clears his throat before continuing. "Now, I will put in place the arrangements we agreed on. Can I offer you a tour of the castle before you leave? Perhaps some dinner? The house-elves will be serving in the Great Hall sh—"
"No, thank you," Mum interrupts, and Henry is shocked by how rude she is being.
Manners are important, she's always telling him.
"Very well," Dippet sighs. "Then I will escort you out. Rubeus, is there anything I can help you with?"
"I just wanted to ask for some better protection for the chickens." He holds the dead rooster up high as if to prove a point. "Perhaps I'll go see Dumbledore?"
"That might be best, as I am currently otherwise occupied." The professor turns to Mum and Dad. "If you'd like to follow me."
Henry's body droops at the thought of leaving Rubeus behind, but he follows his parents anyway. He's too young to be at the school, and something is telling him that his mum needs him around more than ever. Mum holds her head up high, although her shoulders tremble. It's as if she is trying to prove a point. She is probably trying to act the bigger person, a thing she's always telling Henry to try and be.
Just as they round the corner, he stops to wave goodbye to his new friend. The teenager is watching them, and he lets out a sorrowful sigh before lifting one dustbin lid hand to wave goodbye back. Henry gives him a small smile then hurries to catch up with his parents.
As the staircases move to aid their path back to the entrance hall, Henry's new friend is firmly at the front of his mind. Rubeus was fun to talk to, and Henry is desperate to find out more about all the creatures that live in the magical world. Rubeus was so sad about Myrtle's death. If he were responsible for it, then surely he wouldn't have been so apologetic. But Mum was angry when she saw him, making Henry wonder what she knows that he doesn't. As they leave the castle, he starts to hatch a plan to keep in touch with Rubeus. It should be easy enough—Henry wrote to his sister all the time. All he needs to do is find an owl.