Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Note - nope, not abandoned. I just got lazy after last update. As it is usual for me, i have 3 more chapters beyond this one ready to be published, so no re-reading the whole story just for a single update. Hopefully my new desire to write will last until the end of the 2nd year. Enjoy.
Chapter 38 – Year 2
"Wake up, Harry"
"….i am awake, Wayne" moaned Harry, eyes still desperately close and quite a big headache. "Leave me alone."
In their corner of the room Ernie and Justin were dressing up, their day already started. Magical, artificial lights flooded automatically the dormitory at fixed times and Harry was having troubles trying to forget that it was morning already.
"It's getting late and we are not waiting for you again. Move" countered the boy, walking back to his own bed and the other, already active, 2nd year's Hufflepuffs.
Painfully, Harry slowly rose from his bed looking groggily around himself. It took him a couple seconds before recalling why he felt so bad. "Firewhiskey…" he murmured, after a while. Either because of his body's age, or it no longer being used to alcohol, but he couldn't recall such a bad hangover since his late '40s, a lifetime ago.
Half dragged, half pushed by his classmates Harry eventually found himself at the breakfast table. It took some pumpkin juice and a slice of bacon before he could fully remember the day before. Lockhart and his Halloween show, sure… but, more importantly, Halloween itself!
'Right…' thought Harry, eyes opening wide 'yesterday the Heir was supposed to show up. Did it… happen?'
Looking around himself, he noticed no particular excitement. The few phrases he could hear from the students at the table were all about the coming classes, with some still commenting on the night before. No one seemed to have real news to share, let alone stories of petrified cats and minacious writings on stone walls.
Randomly asking about it was too weird to even contemplate, and probably unnecessary too. Had something like that happened, stories about it would be spreading immediately.
Shaking his head, and taking some more juice out of a pitcher, Harry gave a sideway glance towards Gryffindor's table – and Ginny. 'I guess i am just postponing the problem' he considered. Maybe he could just stand up now, ask her bluntly if she had a thinking diary, solve the matter…. 'Later' thought Harry. 'Just a couple more hours to be sure'. Beside, he felt way too sick to do anything substantial right that moment.
The rest of the morning passed almost on automatic for him. First class was transfiguration, where professor McGonagall decided to make them practice returning items back to their base state by having them detransfigure all of the previous day's decorations. Following that, potions: Snape was his usual unpleasant self, but kept his now mostly silent and hostile attitude towards Harry, letting slide just a snide comment on how this year Harry hadn't take advantage of his classmates' stupidity and how sad was that it could be considered an improvement by all of them.
A line that –Harry noticed – made all other Hufflepuff boys in class get rigid for a second, a sign they had not completely forgot their adventure the previous Halloween either. Luckily enough, nothing followed on that.
'I swear this guy needs an hobby…. or a woman' was Harry's only mental comment at the end of the class, only to cringe immediately after as he remembered how Snape still had one hell of a fixation on his mother. His family was back on his mind after Lockhart's stunt, and not in a pleasant way.
'Better dead than with this creep' decided Harry, once again disgusted by the man in front of him.
At lunchtime, no news had come forth either and Harry was resigned to the idea that something major must have changed, after all. In a way, this was a relief… maybe Malfoy senior choose not to use the diary, this time around? Maybe, but that would not explain why Dobby still had something to warn Harry about. In any case, it meant the situation was no longer easy to manipulate.
'Is that even a bad thing?' admitted Harry to himself 'Ginny would be safe, mostly, and I don't want to babysit anyone else'.
'I'll check up with her, maybe with Hagrid too… and then i'll see' he decided.
He could not get his chance at lunch, though. Fleeing from Snape, 2nd year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws arrived at the great hall with no desire to interact with anyone and stayed in their usual corner, every other year and house minding their own business. After lunch they arrived, largely in advance, to charm class and Harry managed to chat a little with professor Flitwick, learning in the process that 1st year Gryffindors, together with Slytherins, would be having Herbology that evening.
'All right' considered Harry, while approaching his seat right next to Justin 'I could corner her in the courtyard after class'.
Charms itself wasn't spectacular either, but still interesting enough: unlike subjects like Potions, or Transfiguration, where the subjects mostly remained the same with regular increases in complexity, Charms had the quality of teaching many different spells to cast, each with its own traits and peculiarities.
Today's lesson, for example, was the general counter-spell, Finite Incantatem, and Harry didn't mind at all a professional review of what was one of the most useful charm in existence. 'Technically, everything magical could be stopped with a proper Finite… technically. I wonder what i could do with the Elder Wand. Could i reverse the effect of the Basilisk's gaze, or its poison? What about werewolves?' wondered Harry, while his hand almost automatically wrote notes about the lecture that he knew he would not read again.
Him being absent minded must have still be apparent, because he got scolded a couple times during the lecture. Nevertheless, once class was over, Harry picked up all his stuff and quickly made way for the door.
Walking as fast as possible without running, Harry rushed all the way through the castle until he reached the courtyard, stopping in front of Herbology's greenhouse. His efforts were for nothing, though, as the previous class was still inside clearly busy cleaning up tools and placing back on their shelves all the pots.
'Of course' thought Harry 'Just like potions, it always takes that little extra time' so he sat down on a close by stone bench, the courtyard otherwise deserted. The weather, for being the first day of winter, was relatively warm and he could enjoy a moment of peace. In the distance the quidditch stadium was visible even if no players could be seen flying in it, not yet at least. The castle, as usual, gave an impressing view to all onlookers.
"This is nice" he said eventually, relaxing on his bench... only to frown a little when, not much later, noises from incoming children reached him. Standing up, he approached the wave of red and green robed kids coming out of the greenhouse. Among them, talking with other girls, was Ginny.
Almost cutting into her path, Harry instantly produced a friendly smile while stopping her.
"Harry? What are you doing here? I mean, hi!" she asked, surprised, while her friends started giggling at her expense.
"Oh, i am just enjoying the courtyard. And waiting for you. Can we talk?" he answered, nodding to the outside of the castle. At this, the girls surrounding them giggled even more. One of them, a short haired one, even pushed Ginny from behind saying "Sure you can. Go Ginny!" while the others laughed.
Ginny started blushing, while Harry – his fake smile still on his face – remained unfazed. "Perfect. Let's go, it shouldn't take long."
"Harry, is something wrong?" she finally asked, once they were far enough from anyone else.
"Hopefully not. I am sorry if I have been pushy, but this might be important. Or not" said Harry, gathering his thoughts. 'Well, no reason to be insecure now' he though.
"I'll be blunt. Ginny, I need to know if you have a diary, a notebook, anything that writes you back or shows intelligence. Anything similar goes and please, please tell me the truth."
"Ehm… no?" she said, puzzled.
"I see. But this is important, so let me insist. If you do, or know someone who does, speak up. To your parents or a professor if you don't want to tell me, but do it."
"Harry, I don't have anything like that" said Ginny, a bit weirded out. "It would be quite nice to have one, actually, it sounds amazing."
Harry looked at her for a second, before sighing and giving up. "It would not. I worry because it is something dangerous. Sorry for bothering you, Ginny".
"Oh, that's ok but… what was all this about, Harry? I mean…. you know."
Resigned, Harry went with the half-lie he had prepared. "You remember that weird elf that beat your brother up this summer?" he asked.
"Sure!" said Ginny, giggling a little "Poor Ron, he was really down for a while. What, you think this magic notebook is that dark plot he got so upset over?"
"It might be me having too much imagination" said Harry, a flat tone "but, maybe. So remember it, just in case someone you know hints about any special diary, ok?"
"Sure, I can do this" said Ginny, shrugging "but most of my housemates have one, you know? Normal ones I mean. And I meant the girls" said Ginny, blushing a little at her third correction.
"Please do. And try to remember the name Tom for this stuff, ok?"
"The evil diary Tom? Oh, I can't forget something like that" said Ginny, now laughing softly. "Still, where did you even get this idea? Can I help you somehow?"
"Nope" he said, a small grin on his face.
"Come on, I can help. For real!" she said, passionately.
"There is nothing to help with, Ginny" countered Harry, shaking his head "especially now that I am out of ideas. But if i ever start some grand mission….."
"Oh, fine" she said, finally. Then, she gave Harry a teasing stare "Are you sure this isn't all an elaborate prank on Ron? And I would definitely love to help with that too!"
"Ooh, you are evil! And something like this would have been fun for Halloween, true. Alas, we are late" he concluded, dramatically raising his hands.
"Maybe, maybe not. I could ask Fred and George" she said happily, and for a while they chatted about what the twins would do, or the best way to use diaries to torment them or Ron. Eventually Ginny gave him a huge smile, said goodbye and left, a clear spring in her steps. Harry's smile, unfortunately, was much more short-lived, soon giving way to a grimace.
'Ok. Ok. This was a possibility' he thought, hugely disappointed. 'Now what? Am I supposed to remain here for the whole year, just in case?'
Walking aimlessly, Harry moved away from the castle, deep into his thoughts. 'Maybe I am just grasping for excuses to remain. My… time here was nice. Too nice, maybe.'
He was now close to the lake so he changed directions, almost randomly. He ended up on the path for Hogsmeade, but he barely noticed, or cared.
'I like my new body. Hogwarts can be great, those kids are nice. And Ginny… Ginny, I wish you the very best' he continued his internal musings, feeling an almost imperceptible pain in his heart.
'It is nice. It really was' he thought, resigned. 'but this is not my place, not really.'
Nodding to himself, sadly, he stopped, Hogsmeade visible in front of him. Technically, he wasn't allowed to be there. It wasn't even a weekend. 'For real, what am I doing? School rules' He snorted. Yes, this game of pretend had gone on long enough. If only he knew what else to play with, now.
"I need a drink" he murmured, and restarted walking, straight into the village. On the way, he smiled bitterly while recalling how he had a hangover this morning too. 'Too young to become an alcoholic' he thought, with a bitter smirk.
Walking inside Hogsmeade, Harry found himself in a place both familiar and new. Or old, depending on the point of view: he could recognize some buildings from his own youth, but he also had stronger memories of some of those buildings changing ownership, or destination. Including his very own, for now belonging to a random older couple whose members he did not recognize.
The puzzled stares of the few people he met did not help either: Hogwarts students were a rare sight outside of the weekends and, with the occasional exception of a couple of very young kids walking together with their parents or playing in their front yards, he was by far the only non-adult in sight.
Harry gave only a quick glance at the Three Broomsticks as he passed by it: madame Rosmerta was not exactly a reserved person, and chances were he would not even be allowed to stay. Shaking his head, he moved on until he was in front of the dustier, gloomier Hog's Head. Chances were that the older Dumbledore would be much less offended at the idea of one of his brother's students walking into his establishment while breaking school rules.
Inside, it was mostly as he remembered it. The Three Broomsticks was perfect for those searching for fun, but this kind of place was more suited to relax and cool down in Harry's opinion. Seated at the various undecorated tables, glasses both full and empty in front of them, were people in shabby clothes either drinking alone or in couples and chatting in low voices: guys done with their work, done with their patience or just wasting time. Not unlike him, in a way, at least for that evening.
Approaching the counter he gave a nod to the bartender, Aberforth Dumbledore, busy cleaning stained glasses. Inside, Harry got a small smile out of that: it still seemed a little surprising to see Dumbledore's brother working as the weird, gruff owner of a pub. Admittedly, the weird part was not surprising after all.
"Good evening".
"Go back to your castle, boy. I am working" answered the old bartender.
"And I am a customer. With money" countered Harry.
"You still shouldn't be here".
"Oh, I have a special permission."
"Do you, now?" asked Aberforth, his expression as skeptical as it could be.
"Either I do, or I am lying. Why, do you care?" asked Harry.
"…..honestly, no. But you will pay in advance" finally said the man.
"Fine by me" said Harry, taking some of his few remaining coins out of his pocket. "A shot of firewhiskey, one glass of butterbeer, and whatever snacks that are not expired."
"You get one third of a shot, boy, and that might be too much already. For the rest, go and sit wherever you can not annoy me" answered the bartender, roughly, turning around.
Shrugging, Harry turned and moved to a close by table next to the walls. This kind of back and forth, one couldn't get from the house elves when sneaking into Hogwart's kitchen. 'Not with my class mates either, to be honest' he admitted. Soon his drinks and food were served and he started slowly, slowly enjoying them. 'These chips are just… meh' thought Harry, and covered their stale taste with his barely visible shot of firewhiskey. The effect on his throat was still there and, satisfied, Harry laid back on his chair, closed his eyes and relaxed.
Stray thoughts about his life – his relatives, his classmates, Ginny and the diary – crossed his mind here and there but he made a conscious effort to stop them. More obsessing over his problems were not why he had gone there. And so, occasionally taking a pinch of chips and immediately covering them with butterbeer, Harry let time pass. As simply as that.
A full hour later, he was almost ready to go back to the castle, at least for now. None of his problems solved nor any of the decisions waiting for him taken, Harry still felt noticeably better. On his table there were now three empty glasses, two smaller shot glasses and only one empty dish of chips. In truth, Harry wouldn't have minded a final third-of-a-shot of firewhiskey but Aberforth had rudely told him that he would sooner throw the bottle at his head than offer him, a little boy, a full shot of a man's drink. At this, Harry just showed a small smirk that seemed to irritate the man even more.
So there he was, just looking at the coming and going of customers – not that many, truth be told, their number remaining low even as the light from outside dimmed noticeably. He had a pleasant time, just a bit lonely, maybe. So it was with mixed feelings that he saw Hagrid stepping inside the pub. His enlarging eyes and shocked expression all but ensured some nagging was coming his way, but that could be fun too.
"Harry, what are yeh even doing here?" grumbled Hagrid, loudly enough to draw stares, while approaching him with large steps.
"Oh, hello Hagrid. Nice to meet you again. Nice day, isn't it?" said Harry, unfazed.
"Don' play dumb, Harry! Yeh shouldn' be here. At all. This… not even those Weasley boys simply come here, it is not how things get done!" countered Hagrid, clearly upset. Towering in front of Harry, fists closed on his sides, he was the most upset Harry saw him in a long while.
"Come on Hagrid. Ok, sure, I am breaking the rules but aren't you off work now right? Let's share a drink together" said Harry, pointing at an empty chair. The effect was not… positive.
"A drink? Those better ain't shots of firewhiskey!" he said, picking one up and sniffing it "They are! Aberforth, have yeh gone mad too?" he said, turning towards the counter.
"I am not a babysitter for your school, Hagrid" said the bartender, irritated. "He came, he payed, and I gave him less than a shot."
"Hagrid, for real, relax" said Harry. "What is done is done anyway, and nothing bad happened. You came here to unwind too, right? Sit down."
"I should drag yeh back to the headmaster, Harry, and by ye' ear" said Hagrid, still dark in the face. Finally, looking around at all the other customers staring at him with amused expressions, he sat down "and yeh are still bein' punished for this stunt! I will warn professor Sprout, I can't avoid it."
"To think last year you were so proud of me for sneaking out of my common room" said Harry, lightly. Hagrid was not amused.
"Don't even start. Yeh know the difference, Harry" said the half-giant, still grumbling. "You probably just don't care."
"Right now i don't, true" sighed Harry, who then looked at Aberforth "Can we get more chips here? And one more glass of butterbeer for me! Hagrid, what about you?"
"Firewhiskey for me" said Hagrid, before throwing another nasty look at Harry "and yeh are not sipping from my glass."
"Didn't expect to" countered Harry, evenly. The two remained in silence while the bartender brought them their orders and, after one sip from his glass and laying down against his chair, Hagrid focused back on Harry again.
"So, what's happening Harry? And don't yeh dare tell me nothing."
Harry just shrugged. "I wanted to get out of the castle for a while. Just… be on my own, for a while."
"Yeh could have just stayed in yehr room, or on the field."
"Not the same. I am a student there" said Harry, sipping from his butterbeer glass. Eventually, he checked out the groundskeeper. "Hagrid, If I can… is Hogwarts really all you want out of life?"
"What do yeh mean, Harry?"
"I have been told some of your story, Hagrid. You have been in the castle since you were a kid, right? It might have made sense before, but time has passed. Don't you want to do more?"
Hagrid just smiled, and picked up a couple of chips. "Is this what's up with yeh today? Already feelin' the castle tight?"
"I asked first" countered Harry.
"Yeh're way, way too young for this kind of talk, Harry" said the half-giant. "And yeh haven' tried even half of what the castle can offer, yet. Beside, your schoolin' and all that."
"Still… i meant it, Hagrid. Your wand in the umbrella would be enough to tour the world, meet people. Find a wife maybe. Aren't you fed up with students?"
Hagrid seemed surprised by the questions, then simply shook his big head. "How do you know… anyway, I am here drinking together with a rule-breaking brat so yeah, Harry, sometime' i am done with students."
"But I think yeh're underestimating Hogwarts… and me. I travel often on Dumbledore's orders, and the principal has friends everywhere. The forest fits me a lot more than living in a city, too" continued Hagrid, before giving another mean stare at Harry "and I am not talking of women with yeh, boy".
"I heard professor Trelawney is single" said Harry, hiding his smirk with his butterbeer. Hagrid couldn't hide his shudder, though.
"Yeh couldn't pay me enough" he started, before stopping himself "and don't make fun of yehr professors, Harry!"
"Eh. So, you are happy at Hogwarts?" asked Harry again. Hagrid seemed surprised, a little.
"I… am. The castle is not a prison, I like living here. I can't imagine being anywhere else, 'ctually" said Hagrid, before becoming suspicious "Should I be worried, Harry? What's yehr problem?"
"No problems" answered Harry, quickly "and I mean it. Everyone is nice, the food is great. Sure, Snape is an idiot. Maybe I am just… unsatisfied."
"Professor Snape, Harry, and don't insult him" said Hagrid, unconvinced.
"Maybe this is what bothers me, Hagrid. I don't like all these corrections. I say the man is an idiot, and that should be it".
"Harry, yeh're what, twelve? I know yeh're a smart kid and all but yeh should be a lot less arrogant, yeh know? They are professors, we are adults, yeh are… a boy" said Hagrid, before giving him a patronizing, heavy scrub on his head. "I mean it well, eh? Don't yeh get angry at me now."
"I won't" answered Harry, simply, as if nodding to himself. "Thanks Hagrid. I think I have a… better idea on what to do now".
"That easy? Maybe I'll be a good professor after all, eh?" said Hagrid, jokingly. "Finish your stuff now, Harry. I am escorting yeh back to the castle."
Slowly Harry and Hagrid finished their order and, after giving a farewell greeting to the bartender that went barely answered with a grunt, they walked their way back to the fields surrounding Hogwarts almost in silence. It was only at the very end, when Hagrid suggested that Harry walked the rest of the way back by himself, that Harry addressed the groundskeeper.
"Hagrid, one last thing. How are your roosters?"
"What?" said Hagrid, puzzled and then amused. "This is what you are thinking about right now? Nothing about your future detention?"
"I might be thinking about dinner" shrugged Harry. "So, how are they?"
"Oh, well, they are fine. Checked up on them a couple hours ago, did i. But they are for mine dinners, Harry, not the school's" concluded Hagrid, snorting. With a final farewell, he left.
Once again disappointed, shaking his head, Harry started walking the other way towards the castle.