Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, the Deputy Headmaster and Professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts, had the habit of seeing himself in the actions of others.
If he came across an intelligent boy, Albus would immediately think of how intelligent he and Gellert had been at that age, and from there, Albus would remember the chaos they had brought to the world. And the tragedy Gellert was still heaping upon it.
All Albus would see were the similarities, and not the differences between him and the child. At least, in the beginning. He would, unknowingly and unthinkingly, place the burden of unearthing the differences between them on the shoulders of the child. The child would have to constantly prove himself to be different from the boy Albus had been, Gellert had grown into, or be judged for his actions by an authoritative Albus. It was a struggle. The struggle eased soon enough, once the child proved to be different from both Albus and Gellert.
Thankfully, child geniuses were rare, and therefore no one had yet to suffer the full prejudice of a man who could not forgive himself.
Thomas Hadrian Hagrid, of course, was a child genius.
When Albus came to the Hagrid Household, with a letter to deliver, he admitted to himself he had no reason to be here. Thomaf was a pureblood. He belonged to the Magical World, and therefore, needed no introductory visit from the faculty. And yet, Albus was here. No one knew he was here, including the Headmaster. It was one of the duties of the Deputy to post the letters and to assign Introductory Visits, and Albus was taking advantage of the duty to satisfy his curiosity. He was here because of the rumors.
He had heard, of course, when a new shop had opened in Diagon Alley, selling rare ingredients. He had also heard that the shop took in requests for the procuring of materials that were hard and dangerous to gather. He had took notice when the shop had no trouble gathering these materials. It was then he paid more attention to the shop, and therefore the shop-keepers.
The owner: Rubeus Hagrid - home-schooled, rumored to be a half-giant, excellent with all sorts of creatures, a father to a very bright son.
The Assistant and Manager: Livia Sprout, Huffelpuff, Kind with a spine of steel, excellent at management and customer service, a mother to an adorable daughter.
The Temps: Sixth and Seventh Year Hogwarts students, working part-time in the summer, belonging to all houses, no prejudice shown by the shop.
He had heard how the shop only hired part-timers during the summer, and how not many workers were needed to run the shop the rest of the year. It was a successful business, but not one that needed too many employees, especially when Livia took care of the Office work and Rubeus took care of the Practical work.
Albus had found out all of these out of the desire to ensure that it was not a base for something dark and nefarious. It hadn't been, but he had found something that made him fear nonetheless. He had found Thomas Hadrian Hagrid.
The child of Rubeus Hagrid and the late Merope Gaunt. A little digging had revealed how the mother had died at childbirth and how the father had been almost lost to despair, before coming alive at the sight of his son. (Nurses were gossips, especially for stories that had heartwarming endings. The sight of a giant man, holding a new born babe as though the babe were made a glass, is a sight not many could forget.)
It had also revealed that Merope had belonged to the Slytherine line.
Albus learnt about how the boy had snakes for pets. How, through his mother, he might have the power to speak Paseltongue.
He learnt that the boy was curious and had already read numerous books on Magic and Creatures, in order to help his father. He heard how the boy was advanced for his age, and that he was highly magical. Albus had heard the story of how Thomas had saved Pomona Sprout by halting her mid-air as she fell from a ladder, and then gently bringing her down to the ground. He had heard how the boy was practicing wandless magic, and could create colorful bubbles for Pomona's amusement.
Albus heard this, but only took in half of the information.
He saw a boy who came from a Dark heritage (ignored the fact he was being raised by none of them). He saw a boy who might speak to snakes (ignored that his father was known for his kindness in dealing with creatures and had taught his son the same). He saw a boy who read far beyond his age (ignored the fact it was to help his father in his job). He saw a boy who was highly magical (ignored how Tom had used magic to save not harm). He saw a boy who had good control over magic (and ignored that he used it for making his sister-figure happy, and not for getting away with trouble).
He saw a boy who could be dangerous (he did not see the boy who was helpful and kind).
Albus saw, and yet he did not see. (Wasn't that what he usually did?)
When Albus knocked on the door of the Hagrids' home, he expected many things. He expected to see a sullen boy, hiding his impatience behind a polite mask. He expected to see a boy using his knowledge to hide his lack of morals and understanding of human nature. He expected to see an Albus, but a crueler and more amoral version of him.
What Albus saw was a very tall and strong man almost ripe the door of the hinges, and lose the welcoming smile on his face for a longsuffering one. Indeed, it looked almost as if Rubeus Hagrid (for that was who the door opener was) was contemplating the merits of shutting the door on Albus' face!
'Oh, dear, what in Merlin's name did I do?' was what Albus wished to know.
AN: Sorry for the Lateness, Albus would not cooperate! Thank you for reading!
Review if Possible!