Chapter IX: The Cuckoo Nest Fire
Alarms blasted. Small, red boxes tucked underneath the ceiling now flamed red and beeped such a horrible, loud noise. A hoard of nurses dressed in white trenchcoats ran through the corridors. The same nurse who had visited Hagrid each and every day now turned the knob into his cell.
"Time to go for a walk," she tried to say calmly. Her hand trembled as she reached forward into the dark. A large hand grabbed hers, forcing her to pull back and yelp. "Hagrid, you're hurting me. Do you hear me? Stop it, Hagrid!"
The half-giant knew no better. He saw a hand and gripped it tightly. As she struggled, Hagrid stood up, nearly hitting his head on the ceiling. Then, he approached the nurse, making the strain on her hand much less. Gently, he let go and smiled at her.
"That's good, Hagrid. Now, we must go." But he stood still. "If you stay, you will be captured by them." But he stood still. "Hagrid, I know you can hear me. I don't know if you can understand me, however, we must go."
Finally, Hagrid darted his eyes at the doorway. Before walking towards it, he turned around and grabbed a piece of artwork he had made. It was a picture of a castle, of Hogwarts. He pointed at it and showed it to the nurse.
"Do you want to go back to Hogwarts?"
Hagrid surprisingly mumbled, "Ogwa!"
The nurse blinked and slowly smiled. "Yes, that's what you've been trying to say. Not Ogwa, but Hogwarts. You do understand, at least, you remember your past. We will go to there, Hagrid, we will go to Hogwarts."
Immediately, Hagrid jolted forward, grabbed the side of the nurse and dragged her along. He found himself outside his cell, a place he had not been in several months. Down the corridor were screeching patients, some speaking nonsense and others shouting, "Help me!"
Hagrid put down the nurse and fled down the hallway until he found himself standing in front of an open door. Two people stood inside only a few feet from him. They could have left anytime, but they didn't. Instead, they were standing, waiting for something or someone. Something was familiar to Hagrid about the pair, a resemblance in their faces that he couldn't comprehend.
One of them came forward. He was a wizard who trembled all over and pointed at Hagrid, up and down his large body. Then, he grabbed the half-giant's sleeves, and threw his head into them. Snot and tears were smeared across the fabric.
Limping behind Hagrid was the nurse. She frightfully glared at the couple and then to Hagrid. She thought she had locked that door, but apparently, Hagrid found a way in. Pushing her way beside Hagrid, she came across Mister Longbottom, blowing his nose into Hagrid's sleeves.
"All of you! We must go! The Muggles are here, with cameras and lights and horrible things. They might hurt you. Oh, neither of you understand me," she said, staring at Neville's parents. She turned to Hagrid. "Tell them where we are going."
"Ogwa!" he shouted. Suddenly, his face became pale, his bearded jaw drew limp and his eyes glistened. Slowly and softly he said, "Hogwarts."
The Longbottoms screeched and howled. Both cupped their hands over their ears and ran in circles about the room. Hagrid, with a stern voice now shouted, "Hogwarts! Hogwarts! Hogwarts!"
Tears streaked down the nurse's face. She coughed and tried to compose herself. In the distance, there was banging on the doors. Shouts rang from a Muggle man's mouth, something about witches and burning them.
It didn't take long for the nurse to realize they were all in great danger. She poked at Hagrid's arms and said,
"Take both of them to Hogwarts! Just follow me, please!"
He nodded his head and clutched the two frantic Longbottoms. Then, with one large heave, he threw them over his shoulders. They continued to pound their fists, kick and shout. The nurse left the room with Hagrid following. They raced down the corridor until they came across a blank white wall at the end. A line of wood was on it for decoration and nailed onto it was bottle cap.
"It's the portkey," the nurse said. She pressed the Coca Cola bottle cap and gulped loudly. Behind her orange flames busted through a window. Smoke clogged the doorway on the other side and glass shattered onto the ground. A mob of Muggles flew through the mess. The nurse gulped once more and stared at the bottle cap. With hope, it would take her straight to Hogsmead and from there, Hogwarts.
The wooden boat lay on the side of the riverbank; inside it were an empty robe and two oars. A trail of footprints led away from the boat and vanished once they came across the pavement of the sidewalk. Down the row of Muggle houses tightly stacked together was Harry Potter. He walked slowly down the dimly lit street wearing just his pants and a wool sweater. His wand poked out of his back pocket but luckily Dudley's oversized sweater covered it completely.
He had never been to Hermione's house before and barely knew what it looked like from what she had told him. Actually, he did not know the street name or number at all, just that it was in this part of London. After about thirty minutes of aimlessly walking, Harry came across a dentist office with the title "Granger & Granger." He knew both of Hermione's parents were in the field and there could not have been another Granger family practicing dentistry within a few blocks. And so, Harry knocked on the darkly lit office. It was well past closing time, but he still hoped someone was there. Unfortunately, there was no one.
After waiting, Harry decided to sleep on the sidewalk until the morning hours. He assumed the Muggles would think he was a bum and leave him alone. Sluggishly, he slumped his body next to the brick wall and folded his arms to make himself a pillow. Both of his eyelids fell heavily, and his body limped over to the side.
"Oh, Sirius," Harry said, staring at the closed casket.
Then, the black door swung open, and a hand emerged from it. Cuffed along the wrists was a dress robe and fancy attire. Suddenly, Sirius's upper half moved forward, completely turned one hundred and eighty degrees, staring back at Harry. He flinched and fell backwards.
"You're alive?" Harry asked horrified at the pale, blue skinned, and deformed godfather.
"Who ever said I died?" Sirius replied and reached forward. His peeling hands tried to grasp Harry, but he again moved back.
"No, you're dead, this can't be real," Harry mumbled.
Sirius's face changed. It was no longer the resemblance of Harry's godfather, but a completely different man. His hair became fully, skin smooth and peachy colored, and he wore glasses much like Harry's. He had seen that face many times before in pictures, dreams and in the Erised Mirror.
"Hello, Harry."
"Dad? Dad!" Harry screamed and jumped forward. He smiled and drew tears and hugged his father as if Sirius was never there. The casket fell away into a white mist, and the two were now standing near a river with beautiful tulips surrounding them.
Then, James Potter turned away and walked into the river. His entire body disappeared under the water and only small bubbles surfaced. Harry ran forward, screaming,
"Come back! Come back!"
Everything faded into white.
"Oh dear, do you think he's all right?"
"He's breathing. We better take him inside."
Harry's body was lifted into the air. He could feel four hands underneath him as he floated. When he finally opened his eyes, Harry found himself lying on a red, vinyl sofa near a receptionist desk. Two Muggles stood in front of him.
"Are you hurt? Shall we call the hospital?"
"No," Harry said and sat upright. "I'm perfectly fine. Are you Mrs. Granger?"
"Why yes. Do I know you?" the woman asked. She didn't look very much like Hermione. Her hair was sleek and smooth, and her teeth didn't protrude out at all. Wait; there was something in her face. Yes, her eyes. Those were Hermione's eyes.
"Not exactly. I'm sure you've heard of me though. I'm Harry Potter. I'm a friend of Hermione."
"Oh, yes! She talks about you very much. You've known her quite a while."
Harry nodded. "Going on 8 years now."
"My word, how the time flies. Are you looking for her?"
"Yes."
"She should still be home. You better catch her before she runs off again."
"I'm sorry, but I don't know where your home is."
"It's not too far. We'll call you a cab and send you there."
Harry's eyes shifted and he sighed. "I'm sorry again, but I didn't bring any money with me."
"Don't be silly, it's on us," Hermione's mother said. "And have some sugar free gum too!" She handed over a handful of goodies from a large, clear bowl.
"Thank you," Harry said and waited.
A small, Muggle cab pulled up on the left side of the road. Harry jumped in, closed the door and flew back; the cab sped down the road quickly and ran through the first red light. When the driver went through the second one, Harry became very concerned.
"Sir, there's no rush. I have plenty of time to get to the Granger's."
"Oh, you're not going there," he said and laughed.
Harry's brow arched. "But the Grangers called you to take me to their house."
"I know," said the cab driver.
He continued speeding and turned a right corner sharply. Harry slid down the leather seat and smacked his face into the glass. Another corner, now to the left, and Harry slid now to the right side. His stomach was twisting and churning.
"Stop it, now! Where are you taking me?" Harry asked. He thought about using his wand, but with all the chaos, he knew it would only bring more attention to him.
"Shut up," he responded.
After another minute of racing down the Muggle streets, the cab stopped abruptly. Harry sat, wondering whether or not to run for it. If he did, he would be lost and have no one to help him. He didn't even know Hermione's phone number.
It's now or never, Harry thought. The cab driver unlocked the doors and got out of the front seat. Right when the front door closed, Harry bolted to the right side of the cab, flung the door open and ran. Behind him, the driver shouted,
"Wizard! Get back here!"
How did the company know? Harry thought. What he didn't know was that Hermione's family was long under suspicion for having a witch in their family. And now, a list was created of all suspected families. When the Grangers had called, the company knew right away that they'd be transporting a wizard or a witch.
Next to the cab on the left side of the street was a police station. The cab driver turned his head and started shouting to them. It wouldn't be long until the police were after him, so Harry just continued running down the street. His wand was still in his pocket, and Harry frantically tried to come up with some spell or enchantment that could help him.
There was no one to turn to now. If he asked a Muggle for help, he'd be turned in. If he asked a wizard, it would draw even more attention, and he'd surely be arrested. Then it dawned on him. Mister Corryton told him to look into the deaths of other Hogwart's students. He could think of only two, not including Chad, and they were Cedric Diggory and the Fly. Perhaps their parents could help him, or at least get him off the streets.
Amos Diggory worked for the Ministry of Magic… Harry knew it would be impossible to get into the Ministry with all the Muggles about. He had to do something illegal; he had to do something he had little practice with at all; he had to Disapparate.