As Jade followed Professor Dumbledore out of her room, she kept thinking about how insane all of this was making out to be. Her whole life she had been sheltered by her mom. Overprotected, as she had liked to call it. But now, her only wish was that Lora Lye would reappear and take her in her arms and tell her that everything was going to be ok. Jade was afraid. Looking at the walls that surrounded her, she felt strange and unbelonging. Were these really the walls that had kept her safe all these years? Or were they only shadowing what lies had been concealed from her for so long. This was all she knew. These were the things that had kept her safe since she was a child. Now it was all being taken from her. At this moment, she felt a great wave of sadness over come her. Like water, hungrily soaking up the warm beach sand after a long time at sea. What was happening?

Still, she couldn't help but trust this man. This stranger that in some way, wasn't a stranger at all. Jade felt as if she'd known Professor Dumbledore her entire life.

She led the way through the hall towards the kitchen. It was pitch dark and all she could see was the dim light of the street lamps through the window. She reached for the light switch and screamed as a huge figure in a green trench coat stood up from the floor. His hair was matted and his beard unkept. In fact, the only part of his face that she could see was his small brown eyes, twinkling mysteriously. She would have screamed if it weren't for the gentle way she sensed about him. He seemed so warm. So kind. How could she be afraid?

'Alrigh' there kid? Sorry I startled ya! Just tha', this kitchen's so small and, well, I'm so big. Ha, I can't barely fit now can I?'

He was right. The man was almost bent double and his head was still barely scrapping the ceiling. 'How did he get in here?' she thought.

'Jade,' came Professor Dumbledore's voice. 'I'd like you to meet Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts.'

'You can just call me Hagrid,' he said.

'H, hi Hagrid. N, nice to. Um. To meet you.' stuttered Jade.

'Ah, Don't be afraid o' me! I may be big but I'm as cuddly as a kitten I assure yeh.'

'Oh, ok.'

'Well, its nice to meet the famous Miss Moonstone. I've heard,' Hagrid stopped short. Dumbledore gave him a look of warning. 'Not a lot about you. Nothing at all in fact.'

Hagrid looked down at the floor when he said this but Dumbledore didn't seem to notice.

'Hagrid will be taking you to the Weasley's. Mrs. Weasley is a wonderful woman and a great chef if you don't mind me saying. I'm sure she'll make you feel right at home. There's a boy about your age and the girl is 15. I'm know you'll get along just fine.' Jade could feel tears welling up in her eyes.

'It's ok Jade,' said Hagrid. 'Don't be sad. I know yeh'll love Hogwarts. Yeh'll make lots o' friends.'

'It's not that,' whispered Jade for the first time in minutes. 'I just really miss my mom.'

Hagrid looked at Dumbledore with a worried expression.

'There's just one more thing Miss Moonstone.'

'What?'

'There's one more person I'd like you to meet. He's your age. I know he'll be able to help you with your studies. A very nice boy. Good family. He's waiting outside. Would you care to meet him?'

'Yes. Alright.'

'Great,' said Hagrid with a smile. 'Let's go than. I have ta' feed Fang and than, well, nothing. I'm just going ta' bed. Yup. That's all I'm doing. Yuppers. Going ta' bed.'

Dumbledore snickered as they headed towards the door, though Jade didn't know why. Was Hagrid hiding something?