The Half-Giant Family

Chapter 1: Hagrid Just Can't Let Him Go

Rubeus Hagrid was flying on a bewitched motorbike he had borrowed from Sirius back, on his way to Surrey from Godric's Hollow. One year old Harry Potter was asleep in a sling, resting against his chest comfortably. Hagrid couldn't help but look down at the sleeping babe every few minutes to make sure the little one was alright.

Well, as alright as he could be.

His parents had just been murdered, and he had been in the same room as his mother, who knew what horrors he had seen and heard.

He hoped the baby wouldn't remember it.

Some part of Hagrid, part that he had long since pushed down when he realised it would never become a reality, was flaring up protective, fatherly feelings for the boy in his arms.

He had always wanted a family of his own, a wife and children. But it had never happened for him. And he knew it probably never would. He had accepted that, somewhat, putting all his fatherly feelings into the creatures he raised and the children he helped over the years at Hogwarts.

And yet, he was longing to be a father to this boy.

This boy who had just lost his family and was being shipped off to the muggle world. To his mother's sister. To Lily's sister.

He knew about Petunia. How she hated magic. Hated Lily. Her jealousy. And he knew that she wouldn't love Harry. She wouldn't raise him right. Would probably treat him horribly.

And he wanted to protect Harry from that. He wanted, more than anything, to be his father.

Not that he wanted to replace James, or Lily. But the boy needed a family who would love him. Protect him. Care for him.

Hagrid could do that. He wanted to do that.

And where better to put the one who had saved the world from You-Know-Who than with a half-giant who lived in the safest place in the country. Harry would be loved. He would be cared for. Protected. And he would be surrounded by magic, and children, and happiness.

Hagrid tried to push down these feelings. He tried because Albus wanted Harry to be raised by Petunia, and Hagrid liked Albus.

But he knew that Petunia wasn't the right person to raise Harry. She wasn't safe.

Hagrid was.

He hated that he wanted to go against the man who had taken him in, accepted him, believed him. But he couldn't help it. He longed for a family. And he wanted Harry safe and loved.

Before he knew what he was doing he turned the bike around, flying as fast as he could towards Hogwarts. Pushing some of his magic into the bike to make it faster. He couldn't do it. He couldn't take Harry to Petunia.

He couldn't let Harry go.

He just couldn't.

This baby, he deserved so much more than what Petunia would give him, if she gave him anything that is.

He would make Albus understand. He would do anything to make sure Harry was safe. And he would be safe with Hagrid.

"I promise, little one, you will be safe, and loved," he whispered to the air.

The baby started fussing just as they arrived on the grounds of Hogwarts. He needed Harry to be checked over, and he needed some formula or something to give to him. He also needed nappies. He would sort everything out.

He went to Severus, Harry in his sling, but Hagrid's arms supported him, holding him, attempting to comfort him. He wasn't sure fully why he decided Severus would be the best person to go to. Except, he knew that Severus knew what Petunia was like, he knew that Severus would help him with Albus. He knew that Severus loved Lily like a sister, even after their falling out, and that he would help look after and protect Harry.

He felt that he was the only one who truly knew Severus, unbeknownst to everyone else Severus and he had had many talks during his school years, he often protected the boy from the Marauders, or at least as much as he could. They had continued their talks after Severus left school also, and they had become more frequent since he started teaching. Hagrid loved him almost like a son.

He knocked on the door to Severus' quarters and smiled when the man opened the door, smiling brighter at the shocked look as the man (who had tear tracks on his cheeks) stared at the baby in Hagrid's arms.

"Hagrid, why do you have Harry Potter?" Severus asked worriedly as he welcomed Hagrid and the baby into his home.

"Albus wanted me to collect Harry from the wreckage and take him to Petunia's where he would meet us. But I couldn't do it. I couldn't let him go there. I couldn't let him go," Hagrid said as he sat on the sofa.

"Petunia's?" Severus was beyond shocked, and angry, "He told me that he was taking him to Lily's parents,"

Hagrid shook his head sadly, "Lily's parents are dead, Severus,"

Severus gasped, both in pain and shock, "When?"

"About six months ago,"

Severus sank down next to Hagrid on the sofa, "How?"

"I believe they were in a car crash,"

Severus nodded, looking at his knees briefly before looking at Hagrid, "Why did you bring him here?"

"I need your help, Sev. I need your help talking to Albus, and I would like you to run some tests and make sure Harry is okay. And if you could help me get some formula and things ready for him that would be good also, he started fussing as we arrived and he needs some food, and nappies and such,"

"Why me?" Severus said unsurely, pain and confusion in his eyes.

"Because I trust you, Sev. I know you better than anyone else does, and I know that you will help me, that you will help me to protect Harry. Because Lily would want you involved in Harry's life,"

"No, she wouldn't. She hates me,"

"Sev, no. She never hated you. She just didn't understand what was happening, why you were into the Darker magics. She was worried about you, but she didn't know how to help you. And then you said that word and she didn't know what else to do but to give you some space to figure things out. She was sorry that she hurt you. She wanted to reach out and apologise, but she didn't know how. She loved you, Sev. You were her brother. But people were saying things to her that she didn't understand and she was confused,"

"How do you know that?" Severus whispered, looking at his knees.

"We talked, a few months ago, at Harry's birthday party,"

Severus nodded and looked up at the half-giant and the baby in his arms, "Give him here, I will run some tests,"

Hagrid beamed and gently passed Harry over to the man who held Harry with a look of awe in his eyes, especially as Harry's eyes opened and looked just like Lily's. Harry snuggled close to Severus' chest as Severus took out his wand and ran a diagnostic charm on the baby, marvelling at how the child could possibly feel safe enough to snuggle into him.

According to the diagnostic charm Harry was healthy, although his scar hadn't healed yet and there seemed to be some very dark magic in it that Severus didn't know. He told Hagrid as such, and suggested taking him to the goblins as their magic should enable them to find out what it is and potentially heal it.

"Thank you, Sev. I will be sure to take him to the bank when I can,"

That is when there was a knock on the door. A rather demanding one also.

Severus sighed, handing Harry back to Hagrid as he stood and opened it, letting in an angry, although he tried not to show it, Headmaster.

"Hagrid, I asked you to bring Harry to his family's home, and yet this is where I find you both," Albus said, a bite to his otherwise gentle, grandfatherly voice.

Hagrid fidgeted nervously in his seat, "H-headmaster-"

"Harry isn't going to Petunia's, Albus," Severus said firmly, shocking both Hagrid and Albus.

"What are you talking about, my boy? He is going to Lily's parents," Albus asked serenely, a twinkle in his eyes.

"Hagrid told me what your plans were for Harry, he also told me that Lily's parents are dead. He isn't going to Petunia,"

"He needs to be with family, Severus. Lily set up a blood protection which will allow me to place blood wards on Petunia's home to keep him safe,"

"He won't be safe at Petunia's house,"

"Of course he will, my boy, the wards will protect him,"

"Perhaps from things outside of the house, but not from the hate and jealousy that Petunia feels for Lily, or magic. She won't raise him right. She won't protect him. She won't care for him,"

"Severus, my boy, of course she will love him. He is her nephew,"

"And Lily was her sister, that didn't stop her from hating Lily. It didn't stop her from calling Lily a freak, or hurting her, bullying her. She will do the same to Harry,"

"He will be safe there, Severus. Safe from Death Eaters, and Voldemort," Albus said imploringly.

"He will be safer, and actually loved and cared for here. Hogwarts is, after all, the safest place in the country. You are feared by the Dark side. Hagrid is a half-giant. And the staff are mostly all powerful and capable wizards and witches. The students also will aid in protecting him, along with the House elves who are powerful in their own right, and that isn't to mention the creatures in the forest. The wards here are older and more powerful than any blood wards you place will be. In fact, here or Gringotts would be the safest places to raise him unless you want to take him out of the country," Severus argued.

"Severus, my boy, he needs his family,"

"No, he needs a family. Blood family doesn't always mean family. Blood families can be cruel, abusive people, in fact statistically speaking, your blood family are more likely to hurt you than anyone else. Petunia is a cruel person. She hates Lily, and she hates magic. There will be no love there for him. However, here, in Hogwarts, he will be surrounded by love, care, and happiness. He will find a family,"

"And what about the Slytherins?"

Severus glared, "Not all Slytherins are bad people. They aren't all Death Eaters. In fact, there were Death Eaters from all the Houses, as you well know since I gave you a list of bloody names. However, I have a strong feeling that having Harry here will be good for the students. Most of the people who go into the ranks are there because of pressure from their parents or friends. If we can eliminate that pressure, if we can show them that actually, being Slytherin doesn't mean you have to be bad, or are bad, then maybe, just maybe less people will join him when he comes back,

We need unity, Albus, and Harry can help with that. Without unity you get people who feel like they don't belong because no one cares enough about them, or protects them, or helps them. They get pushed aside because people automatically assume they are bad. So they go to the Dark Lord and he makes them promises that he will never keep but once you're in, you're in. Harry will be safe here. And Harry can help us win the war by making sure that the students get along, that people aren't chucked aside to flounder on their own,

I know you've never really cared about it before, in fact, you have actively promoted the House divides by favouring Gryffindor and treating the Slytherins as if they mean nothing, but if you stop doing that, and if Harry stays here, then we might actually face a chance of changing the wizarding world for the better, and of winning this bloody war. You have made me the Slytherin Head of House, and although I would do as much as I can, the main thing that is needed is less favouritism from you and some bloody unity,"

Albus looked both shocked and angry, "Severus, I have no idea what you are talking about,"

"Really? Are you going to act like you don't let Gryffindors get away with everything but as soon as someone from another House, but especially Slytherin, does the same thing, you punish them, quite severely also? Are you going to act like you don't alienate the Slytherins, and the other Houses, by giving Gryffindor loads of House Points, and none to any of the others? Are you going to act like you did actually punish the Marauders for both taking my underwear off, without my consent I might add, or for nearly killing me, or for any of the other things they did to me, as well as certain people from other Houses, instead of patting them on the head and actually giving them House points sometimes? Are you going to act like you punish any bully in Gryffindor the same way you punish those in other Houses? You alienate everyone who isn't a Gryffindor, and in turn, alienate the Gryffindors from making friends with people in the other Houses because of your favouritism. Because of the divide that you cause,"

"I think that is a bit far, don't you think, my boy. I have done nothing wrong,"

"Severus has a point, Headmaster," Hagrid said nervously, "Many points, actually. He was hurt so badly by the Marauders, and by people in his own House, and you did nothing to help him. You did nothing to remove him from his parents. You did nothing to help him, or anyone that wasn't a Gryffindor. And they could see that, the Gryffindors could also. I also believe that Harry would be great for the students, to bring them together. And I want to raise him. You know how much I have wanted a family, this is my chance, Headmaster. Petunia isn't right for him, Lily told me all about what she did. She won't look after Harry properly, I can. I will. I will protect him. We all will protect him. He needs a family. And Hogwarts can be his family. Hogwarts can be his home," Hagrid had never spoken so clearly in his life, but he was determined.

He could see the shock in both the other men's eyes. But Severus' smile told him that he had said the right things. Albus looked annoyed.

"Who better to protect Harry than a half-giant and hundreds of other people and creatures?" Severus said, "Especially when you, the most powerful wizard in the world, is one of those people that will be doing the protecting,"

They could see the fight leave Albus' eyes, but he still looked annoyed, "Fine, you can raise him, Hagrid. However, if anything happens I will be taking him to Petunia straight away," Albus warned before storming out of the room.

The two men breathed a sigh of relief.

"We should go to Gringotts first thing in the morning to sort out Harry's scar and get custody of him transferred to you so Albus can't do anything," Severus said.

"Okay," Hagrid said, nodding his head as Harry started properly fussing, clearly hungry for food.

"Misty," Severus called, and a house elf popped into the room.

"Yes, Master Severus," Misty said.

"Can you get us some food for a fifteen month old baby, and a drink? Then could you use some of the money in my vault to go and grab some basic baby stuff for us please? Place everything in Hagrid's Hut,"

"Of course, Master Severus,"

"Thank you," Severus said and she popped away, coming back a minute later with a bowl of porridge with some mashed up banana in it, and a child's bottle of milk. Severus took them from her, passing the bowl to Hagrid who started feeding Harry happily, and placing the cup on the table as she popped away again.

"You don't have to pay for everything, Sev. I have money," Hagrid said, though he was smiling as he knew he had made the right decision to come to the man who had become somewhat like a son to him.

"I know, but I want to. And it's better to get some of the basics right away than to wait until tomorrow to get everything," Hagrid nodded in agreement.

"Thank you," Hagrid said, smiling at the younger man.

Severus smiled sadly back, "You're welcome,"

"You know, it might be best if we shared custody of Harry," Hagrid said, causing Severus to almost choke in his shock.

"What? Why?" Severus said.

"I know I don't seem all that bright, but I do know things. And as much as I love Albus, I know that he isn't perfect. I know that he manipulates people. And I know he needs Harry to win this war, and will do anything to make sure Harry does what he is supposed to. I may be a half-giant, but I am not enough to protect Harry. I will try of course, but I am not technically allowed to do magic, and I am not that smart. You on the other hand are powerful, are able to do magic, and incredibly intelligent. You can teach Harry the things I can't. And you will be another layer of protection for him, from Albus. From everyone who would want to use or hurt him,"

"I'm a spy," Severus said, honestly shocked that anyone would think of him as a candidate to have custody of a child.

"Yes, you are. Which means you know of ways to protect him, more ways than I would know of. And no one would have to know. It will be a secret between the three of us and the goblins,"

"I… I will think about it," Severus whispered, and Hagrid could see pain and wonder in his eyes.

"That is all I can ask,"

They sat in a companionable silence as Harry ate and babbled about nothing. As Harry drank his milk he reached out to Severus, shocking the young man who took the child into his arms and held him carefully as he drank from his bottle, looking up at Severus with wide, trusting eyes.

"I think he likes you, Sev," Hagrid chuckled in delight.

"I don't see why," Severus grumbled, in awe of the child in his arms.

"Because with you he is safe. He knows that. Babies and children of all creatures have instincts which tell them who is safe, who isn't, and such,"

Severus swallowed deeply as Harry reached up with one hand and patted his cheek gently, his other hand clutching the handle of the bottle he was drinking from.

Severus ran his fingers through Harry's soft hair gently, his instincts taking over him. He couldn't help the small smile that took over his lips as Harry slowly fell asleep, his bottle resting on his chest, and his head turned into Severus' robes.

"I should probably take him down to my hut and get him settled," Hagrid said, and Severus turned to face the smiling man who had always looked after him more than anyone else had.

"Okay," Severus said, carefully passing Harry over to him in the hopes that he didn't wake the baby.

"Try and get some sleep, Sev. You need it," Hagrid said gently, Severus was still shocked by the care the half-giant showed for him.

"I'll try," Severus said, though he doubted he would be able to.

Hagrid nodded, a knowing look in his eyes as he kissed the man on the head as he had done so many times, and let himself out of the rooms, a small smile on his face as he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he had made the right call. Severus needed this, he needed Harry in his life. And Hagrid would get his family. He would raise Harry right. And Severus would help him.

Hiya my lovelies, I hope you are well!

This is just one of the new stories I have been working on as of late. I hope you enjoy it. It is a fic that came out of nowhere shortly after the news that Robbie had passed and I just knew I had to write it. Now, the first chapter might be a little messy, in my opinion, but I will get around to fixing it eventually, I promise. I just needed to get it out into the world to see if people like it, ya know?

I have a Facebook group called Maraudering_Paige which each and every one of you are welcome to join if you would like to. It is where we can talk about Harry Potter, fanfics, life, share memes and more. It is also where, when I have finished sorting things out, I will be posting some sort of update schedule for you, and be keeping you updated on what I am working on and such. I am happy to accept anyone and everyone into the group so if this sounds like something that might interest you then go ahead.

I hope you are all having an amazing day!

Kind regards,

Paige xx