14. SPRINGFIELD

Hagrid woke up,his face deep in the pillows. He'd heard a joke

once,about a man who'd dreamed about eating a gigantic marshmallow

and awoke to find his pillow gone. He lifted his head,and grunted;

he was twisted in the warm sheets. As he turned over,he saw an

unmistakable figure sitting on the floor,playing with Fang.

"Professor Dumbledore?" he mumbled.

"Good morning,Hagrid."

Hagrid sat up and covered his lap with the comforter; he was a

modest man,but it wasn't as if Dumbledore had never seen Hagrid

au naturale.

He was uncovered from the waist up; thick,dark hair ran all the way

down his chest and stomach muscles,disappearing under the comforter,

reappearing down his legs.

"Not that I'm not glad ta see yeh,Professor Dumbledore,sir...but

shouldn't yeh be at Hogwarts?"

"I have reason to believe you may be in danger,Hagrid."

"Danger? Nah. Met the nicest family las' night-remember Lisa

Simpson?"

"I do," Albus said,remembering the adorable little girl. "I know

about the Simpsons,Hagrid. But there may be treachery afoot."

"Why d'yeh think that?"

"Harry had a vision. You know about Harry's visions,I suppose."

"What did he see?"

"That you're being watched."

"Who'd wanna watch me?"

"That is what we hope to ascertain."

"Harry's here,too?"

"Indeed he is. We brought you some breakfast."

"I'll get dressed."

Dumbledore nodded; he scratched Fang's ears,then went outside.

Dawn had arisen mere moments ago; the sun had yet to appear.

Harry was sitting in a swing,gazing at the deep, dark blue sky.

Nature at its most ethereal.

The school was dark,and empty.

"He's fine," Dumbledore told him.

Harry nodded,looking satisfied.

"Would you like a push?"

"Yes,please."

Dumbledore took hold of the chains suspending the swing. He gave

Harry a gentle but thorough push. In moments,Harry was swinging

through the air...and laughing. "I've never done this before," he

said."You should try this,Professor,it's wonderful."

"All right," Dumbledore said. "Although I'm no stranger to swings.

It has been quite a long time,though." He lowered himself onto the

swing beside Harry,and then pushed off the ground with his feet.

This is how Hagrid found them when he came out.

"I'd join yeh," Hagrid said,"I'd jus' break the thing,though."

"Hagrid," Harry exclaimed. He ground his feet in the grass,leapt

out of the swing,and ran into Hagrid's loving,tight embrace.

"Couldn't imagine a week without yeh," Hagrid said.