Marak's russeled white hair didn't manage to hide his face as he was dragged to the lunchroom and was told off before he was finally allowed to get his food. Marak looked around, seeing a couple people snicker while pointing at him. Marak just ignored them and got a sandwich. He sat in a deserted bench, munching on his sandwich while looking at the letter in front of him. Marak wanted to open it… but something was holding him back.
How many times do you get a letter from an owl? Marak tried reasoning. Not many times.
His fingers stretched towards the letter laying on the tabletop. But he pulled them back, tracing the outline of the crest with his eyes.
"What do you have there?" A voice boomed next to Marak. Marak looked up startled. Joe Salingler, a burly kid, just a year older than Marak, stood looming over Marak. Despite Joe being only a year older than Marak he was much larger than Marak. Joe stood at 5 feet 6 inches while Marak was just a mere 5 feet. Joe snatched the letter from the table grinning evilly. Marak immediately stood,
"Give it back…" Marak said, a deadly edge to his voice, but Joe didn't say anything, just pushed Marak aside. With a quick motion he made to rip open the letter, but as he tried to rip open the letter he jerked his hand back as visible electricity shocked Joe's hand. The letter fluttered to the ground as Joe howled in pain. Marak jumped for the letter, but Joe kicked Marak hard in the stomach as he jumped for it. Marak was thrown against the wall, emitting a loud bang from the weak wall. Joe laughed cruelly, picking up the letter again. A wild look was in his eyes. Kids around the room looked in their direction, but didn't speak. Joe must've realized not to open the letter again, as he ran into the kitchen. Marak was having a hard time breathing, but he got up and followed.
Inside the kitchen he quickly found Joe, who was dangling the letter over a cooking fire.
"Give me my letter back." Marak snarled. Joe grinned and shook his head,
"Sorry dork, you tricked me somehow, and now no one's going to read your letter!" He yelled throwing the letter into the fire. Marak didn't notice he had thrown himself at Joe until he felt a punch to the chin and the world go black…
When he woke he found himself in his bed. Marak tried to sit up but he ached all over. That punk, he must have hit me while I was unconscious… Marak thought, seeing some flecks of blood on his shirt. He looked over and saw a letter on his bedside. Marak picked it up and read it. It said,
"Any more fights and you will be in serious trouble. I will talk with you later…"
It was signed by the orphanage's headmaster. Marak sighed; instead of his owl letter he now had this one. Marak silently laid in his bead, cursing his hesitance to open the letter. The darkness revealed that it was night, and as Marak looked at his bedside clock he could see that it was about 8:00.
Marak looked out the window and looked back at the door, only to suddenly look back at the window. He could've sworn he had just seen a massive shadow outside his window. Marak pulled his covers a little closer to his face. Marak almost got back to sleep, but just then he heard a thump, outside in the hallway.
Marak knew it was against all common sense to do what he about to do… but timidly Marak was got up and crept to the door of his room, opening it silently. Ever so slowly he brought his head closer to the doorframe and carefully looked out to look down the hallway.
Just about 50 feet away a huge Shadowy Figure was advancing down towards Marak's room. It seemed giant sized; in fact the figure's head nearly brushed the top of the hallway's ceiling. Every time the figure would take another step the "thump" of it's massive foot would echo through the corridor. Quickly Marak shut the door, closing it so that it wouldn't make noise, but it'd be as fast as possible. Marak immediately then sat back on his bed, praying the figure hadn't seen him or heard him… that the figure would just pass by…
But as he stared at the door, he could feel that the giant figure was standing just outside. Marak held his breath, hoping it'd just pass on by, but as he stared at the door he could see the handle twist and the door swing slowly open.
The giant figure stood at the doorway, bathed in shadows so that the figure looked more like a shadow itself. The creature lifted its massive hand, and suddenly Marak's room was bathed in the warm glow of firelight. Marak could now see the figure.
It was a man… at least he looked like a man, although he was sized up a bit. He had a great black shaggy mane of hair of which two beetle-like eyes shone from underneath. He wore a huge mole-skin coat and in his left hand was a piece of paper, which he was reading off of, and in his right... was a floating globe of fire!
Marak didn't know what to say, but the giant looked from its piece of parchment up to Marak and spoke,
"Is yer name Marak Barker?" The giant asked, brandishing the paper in Marak's direction. Marak mutely nodded, and a great smile came across the giant's face, "Ah, good. I don't know abou' having to use a memory charm, with me not being able ter use magic an' all." The giant said, taking two massive strides over to Marak and taking a seat on Marak's bed next to Marak. Instantly Marak jumped up, slowly sneaking away. The giant must not have noticed Marak trying to escape for he started fumbling in his pockets and said,
"I guess I haven't introduced myself." He began, finding what he was looking for and taking out a little envelope. He looked up at Marak, "Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." He said. Marak didn't know what to say back. He just stood there mutely. Hagrid continued on anyways,
"I got a report of a muggle trying to open a Hogwarts letter, which is why I had to come down here. Although it appears that it has been destroyed and nothing has to be altered." Hagrid began. Marak looked at him a little strange after the unusual words he was saying, muggles? Hogwarts? Mark still hadn't said a word since Hagrid first came.
"I was sent by Dumbledore himself to deliver your massage since I was in town and we didn't want anymore letters to fall into muggle hands." He finished. Marak didn't know what to say, but he took a stab at trying to speak,
"You…. You sent the letter?" Marak asked. Hagrid laughed,
"No… no, this is a letter for yer new school. 'Ere" He said handing the letter to Marak, who slowly reached out and grabbed it. He looked at it, finding it was exactly the same as the last letter, even with his name and address on it. With trembling hands he opened the letter…
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Author's Note:
Disclaimer: (See Chapter 1) Hagrid is not my character, and is J.K. Rowling's.
Hey again. As I promised, two chapters today, I already have another one cranked out, and I'm continuing to work. Please read the comments on Chapter 1, they really say almost all I want to say to you guys. Also, since I'm thinking about writing this until all 7 years has passed for Marak Barker and his lil' gang, which you'll meet (I have so many ideas , you'll see) I am also looking for someone who can draw well, because then I can make it really like a novel, so the parts which I need drawn can be so. I'm afraid all I can do for whoever might voulenteer is tell them what will be happening for chapters not yet up here (I'm cheap and have no money )
Please Read and Review.
Blackotter