Disclaimer: See Part 1.
Part 2
One large figure sat at the head table. The half-giant was unmistakable. Hagrid. Harry smiled fondly. Oh, he had missed Hagrid so much these last eight years. The rest of the hall was empty. Harry walked forward slowly. His sneakers treading quietly on the stone floor. He stopped ten or so feet away. Hagrid was looking at something in his lap. It appeared to be a catalog of some kind.
"H..." he whispered. He cleared his throat. "Hagrid?" he said a little louder. The large hairy head rose quickly and swiveled in his direction. Large, loving, friendly eyes widened in surprise.
" `arry?" the gravelly voice whispered. Harry fought to gather a smile and nodded quickly, feeling his eyes tearing up at the corners. The large man stood up and moved slowly forward. " `arry, are you really `ere?" he asked, disbelievingly. Harry chuckled a little and nodded again.
"Yes, Hagrid... I'm really here..." he whispered. A second later he was wrapped in huge arms that held him as tightly as he'd ever been held. He sighed into Hagrid's beard and hugged back as much as he could. "I missed you too..." he laughed. Hagrid let him go reluctantly but kept, one huge hand on his shoulder.
"What`cha doing here? Not that I want`cha to leave or nothin'.." Hagrid rambled. Harry gave him another smile.
"You're looking at this years new D.A.D.A. teacher..." he said simply.
"Really?" Hagrid asked. Harry nodded and was swept up into a second hug. He winced a little as he was jarred a little too harshly, but didn't have the heart to ask Hagrid to be a little more gentle. Hagrid was the most gentle person Harry had ever met in all of his 25 years. He was released again and then taken to the seat beside his old friend. " `how ya been? You seen `mione? She's the new Charms teacher she is..." Harry shook his head. That wasn't going to be a fun reunion at all. He hadn't even shown up at the wedding. His best friends getting married and he hadn't had the heart to go. He'd spent the weekend in the muggle hospital, having a third surgery on his hip. It had been mangled so horribly in the final battle.
"I've been good, Hagrid... I just got here an hour or so ago... I haven't had time to get properly settled in or fed yet... I was wondering if you knew where I could get some of the things I'll be needing for my classes... I haven't yet picked up a text book for my students, I fear I'm already a bit behind..."
Harry ate a quick meal and, after promising to visit Hagrid the next night, started out of the Great Hall and up toward the East tower where the Staff lounge and apartments were located. Harry found his room easily enough, after climbing several flights of stairs. It was small but comfortable, he wasn't so sure he could make that trek several times a day though. He'd have to talk to the headmaster about that later. His bag sat in the middle of his living room. The apartment was only two rooms and a bathroom and it fit the needs of a single man perfectly. Just enough space for Harry and his things. He decided not to unpack in case he could get moved down to a lower room. Sighing he sat down on the couch and tried to get comfortable.
It wasn't going to happen. He wasn't comfortable in this room. He wasn't comfortable in this school. And, fuck, if his hip wasn't killing him after only half a day. He made to get up. His bag held his pain medication. Then he remembered his wand and yelling out a retrieving spell was able to get his bag to his feet in mere seconds without having to get up. Taking out the small brown bottle he was able to take one dry before leaning back and closing his eyes to rest.
"Harry Potter, Sir! You've come back to Dobby! Back to Hogwarts!" Harry shot awake at the familiar voice calling in his ear. He sat up swiftly, knocking the small house-elf over in the process. Dobby landed on the floor with a startled squeak.
"Dobby?! Are you okay? I'm so sorry, Dobby..." he reached over to the fallen elf, slightly panicked. Dobby stood swiftly. Harry noticed that the mismatched socks he and Ron had given him for Christmas years before still rested on his feet. They were worn and faded and looked rather dirty after years of use.
"Dobby is sorry, Harry Potter. Dobby didn't mean to startle you. Dobby is sorry. Bad Dobby.." Dobby spoke in his small squeaky voice.
"It's okay Dobby, I know you didn't mean to startle me. Are you okay? You aren't hurt are you?" Harry asked looking the small body over.
"Dobby is fine. Harry Potter shouldn't worry about Dobby. Dobby has a hard head. Dobby's old master used to tell him so all of the time..." Dobby spoke again. Harry smiled. In a way, he had missed Dobby as much as any other thing he had known at Hogwarts.
"I missed you Dobby..." he said quietly. Dobby looked slightly startled and unsure of the confession. Harry smiled reassuringly.
"Dobby, missed Harry Potter too..." he said rather subdued. He smiled a smile Harry had never seen on him before. "Does Harry need anything? Dobby will get him whatever he wants. Is Harry hungry? Does Harry need towels or magic things, or anything at all?" he was a little more exuberant again.
"I'm pretty sure that I brought everything I'm gonna need with me. And I just ate a fabulous meal for lunch a little while ago... I'll let you know if I need anything though..." he assured his old friend.
"Lunch?" Dobby squeaked again. "But, Harry Potter... Lunch was hours ago. Dinner is beginning in the Great Hall in just a few minutes. Harry should go eat... Yes, Harry should go now..." Dobby pronounced.
"Hmmm, Dobby, do you think that you could bring me something to eat here for dinner? I'm not feeling very hungry and I won't be introduced to the entire student body until breakfast tomorrow." Harry requested.
"If Harry Potter is sure that is what Harry wants then Dobby will bring dinner to Harry Potter, Sir." Dobby spoke proudly gathering himself up some. Harry smiled at him.
"Thank you, Dobby..."He said quietly before watching the small house-elf blink out of sight.
After dinner had long ended, Harry gathered himself up and walked the long trek to the Headmaster's office again. Albus seemed to be expecting him, then again he always seemed to know when Harry was on his way to see him.
"Professor Potter..." his eyes were twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. "Is something the matter with your rooms? I trust they were suitable for your needs."
"Quite suitable, Albus... but I'm afraid quite far from my classroom." Harry avoided the eyes. Albus hummed at his words.
"I see... hadn't thought of that... most of the staff sleeps in that tower. I'm afraid the only other rooms we have available... are near the dungeons..." there was a strange light in the Headmaster's eyes as he said the words. Harry fought the urge to roll his eyes. Not this again.
"Near our Dear Potions Professor no doubt..." he said dryly. Albus smiled knowingly. "Don't try to fix things you had no hand in... Severus Snape and I have never gotten along. We will never get along. Leave it be, Albus, for all of our sakes. I'll take the new quarters... could you tell me the way to my new home please. It's been a long day..." Albus nodded, and standing led him through the castle and down to the dungeons.
Harry found the new location much easier to finagle and left fewer steps to be climbed each day. Dobby popped up a moment later with his belongings and asked if there was anything else he needed. Harry shook his head and answered no. He watched Dobby frown and reassured him if he needed anything he would be sure to ask Dobby to get it for him. Dobby smiled and waved goodbye, leaving Harry alone in his thoughts. He moved to his desk and began to organize his rooms. He put away his books, and clothes and moved on to his lesson plans. Class did begin early the next morning, and he had seven new curriculums to finalize before going to bed. It was going to be a long year.
Tbc…
