Author:Walter O'Dim

Title:Sunstroke

Category: Romance/Humour
Rating: K+
Summary: An upsurge of solar activity leads to most unexpected consequences...Hagrid/Snape/Harry (alternative OotP).

Chapter Two

The Feast

"Why does Hagrid keep glancing at Snape?" said Ron, frowning, as he poured himself pumpkin juice.

Harry, Ron and Hermione were at the start-of-term feast, and they had been very glad to see Hagrid, as usual. Hagrid, however, had returned their waves and smiles rather halfheartedly. He seemed distracted and worried, was hardly touching the drinks and indeed kept glancing at Professor Snape, who glared back at him when he caught his eye.

Hagrid had every reason to feel uncomfortable. Professor Dumbledore had given him a talking-to the day before and said that he couldn't possibly keep him at Hogwarts if he attacked someone again.

"You've got to quit drinking, Hagrid," Dumbledore had said. "I've been turning a blind eye to that long enough, and I won't any longer. You've got to get a grip. If I ever spot you drunk again, I'm afraid I'll have to relieve you of your post of Care of Magical Creatures teacher."

"Yes, sir, Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid had mumbled, looking at his feet.

"I also want you to apologize to Professor Snape."

Hagrid's face had reddened even more at those words. He didn't know what on earth had gotten into him earlier that day. He had been drunk many times, certainly, but it had never made him horny, let alone at the sight of rather unattractive men. Hagrid had thought that maybe Dumbledore had a point.

"Yes, sir," he'd said obediently.

He hadn't gotten his chance, however. Snape had slammed his office door in Hagrid's face when he saw who was knocking, and Hagrid's yells of "Wait, I on'y wanted ter apologize!" had had no effect.

But the worst thing was that the madness had decided to stay. Certainly, Hagrid didn't attack Professor Snape when he saw him again at the start-of-term feast, but the sight of him still aroused rather…tender feelings. That's why Hagrid couldn't help stealing glances at Snape, and the glares he got back hurt him like daggers. He knew it was madness, but he couldn't help it.

"Dunno," said Harry, also frowning. "Let's ask him when the feast is over."

He glanced at Snape and was startled to see that the Potions master was looking directly at him. He seemed somehow transfixed; Harry saw him blink, shake his head slightly and look away. "I hope he's not up to something," thought Harry. "Better watch my ass around him."

Finally, the feast was over, and the three friends cornered Hagrid as they had intended.

"Hi, Hagrid!" said Harry, walking up to him. "You all right?"

"Oh, I'm…I'm fine," said Hagrid with a weak smile. "An' you three? Had a good summer?"

"Yeah…listen, Hagrid, we see something's wrong with you. You look worried, and you kept glancing at Snape during the whole feast for some reason. Did he do something mean to you? Maybe we can help?"

"I…I haven' bin glancing at Snape!" said Hagrid, his face reddening. "Dunno wha' gave yeh the idea. An' I'm perfectly fine, thank you very much. Now, you three better be off to yer beds. See you in my class – got summat special in store fer yeh this year."

"He's got something special in store for us? Now that's cheered me up," said Ron as Hagrid stomped away. Harry and Hermione, however, looked thoughtful.

"There is definitely something wrong with him," said Hermione. "And again he's taking that stupid attitude of not sharing it with us. Well, never mind, we'll go down to his cabin as soon as we can and fish everything out of him."

"Good evening, Professor Dumbledore," said Harry, as Dumbledore was passing them.

"Good evening, Harry," smiled Dumbledore. "And you, , . Now, it's time for you to go to bed. Everyone else has already left."

"Professor?" said Harry. "Hagrid seems worried about something, and he won't tell us anything. Would you happen to know -"

"Ah, yes," said Dumbledore, his smile fading. "Hagrid had an unfortunate…accident yesterday. As it was of a rather delicate nature, I will not tell you what it was, and I would ask you not to question him about it. He'll be perfectly all right soon, I'm sure. Now, off you go."

And so they left, speculating on what Hagrid's "accident" might have been. As they were exiting the Great Hall they were passed by Snape in the doorway, and again he gave Harry a weird look.

"But where does Snape come into it?" said Harry, looking after Snape, as Ron was unfolding his theory about an escaped chimaera that had massacred half of Hogsmeade before Hagrid was able to catch it.

"Well -"

"Look," interjected Hermione, "whatever it was, it's apparently been fixed. And as for Snape, I know you have this thing about him, but we know he is in the Order of the Phoenix, so he can't possibly have done anything bad to Hagrid."

"Yeah, right."

Ron and Hermione bickered all they way to the common room. Harry didn't take part in their debate; he was lost in thought. Hermione certainly had a point, yet he was sure that Snape had done something unpleasant to Hagrid (a reverse situation simply didn't occur to him). But why? And why had Snape looked at him like that? These two questions followed Harry all the way into his four-poster bed. Finally he fell asleep and dreamed about Snape riding a chimaera that was chasing Hagrid through the Hogwarts grounds. Harry was trying to hex him, but Snape was merely laughing and shooting him that strange look now and again while Hagrid was yelling, "Leave 'im alone, 'Arry! He isn't chasin' me, dunno who gave yeh the idea!" Then the dream dissolved into nothingness, and when Harry woke up next morning, he didn't remember it.