Chapter 7.

Elves and Giants

Harry woke up to the smell of bacon, eggs, fried potatoes and loud giggling. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and searched for his glasses. He felt small hands put his glasses in his hand. When he got them on he looked and did not see anyone but heard giggling again. He leaned over the bed and saw three strange looking creatures with big floppy ears and wearing tea towels tied around them. Each one of them held a tray that contained food.

"What are you?" asked Harry. I err; ah mean "Who are you?"

"We's is Hogwarts Elveses," they replied in unison as they curtsied at the same time. "I'm Kaddy, I'm Laddy, I'm Nady!

"Are you magical creatures?" asked Harry with a big grin on his face.

"You don't know what Elveses is Master Harry?"

"Er no. I did not know I was magical myself until yesterday evening!"

"We do's the cooking and cleaning here at the School;" answered the trio who immediately started giggling again.

"We's is honored to meet the Great Harry Potter we is, young master, sirs."

"Well I'm honored to meet you three too!"

This set off a storm of additional giggling form the three elves. Composing themselves they bowed low. "No sirs; we is honored to meet you's we is. Time for breakfast sirs, your guests have arrived; said the elves as Ron and Ginny walked into the hospital ward and ran up to Harry's bed and the elves put the trays on the table in an alcove by the window and stood giggling watching Harry.

"Come get up Harry," said Ginny, "It's time for Breakfast!"

Just then Severus walked in and said; "House-Elves-should-be-seen-and-not-heard."

The Elves froze in place and then hesitantly turned around and spying the professor immediately disappeared.

Severus addressed the children; "Ms. Weasley, Mr. Weasley please go sit at the table. Harry will join you in a moment," as he pointed his arm in the direction he wanted them to go.

"Mr. Potter, Madam Pomphrey asked that I stop in and examine your arm as she is suddenly called away."

Harry held out his arm and Severus performed a spell and said; "It appears to be healing nicely. Are you in pain?"

"Just a little, it does not hurt as much as when my uncle would grab my arm and twist."

Severus looked at him a moment. "Please flex your arm a few times for me."

Severus looked closely at Harry's eyes as he did so.

"Hmm at least your arm is straight now but you are in pain. Here take this potion. It will help. Now join your friends for breakfast."

"Yes Sir, Mr. Professor Snape, sir;" said Harry as he slipped out of bed. "Sir; are House Elves slaves?"

Severus was taken aback and stared at Harry. Harry could feel a general uneasiness in the professor. Finally he answered; "It is a matter of opinion as to their status. It is an ancient situation. They are bound magically to the masters they serve. But they cannot survive for long without a bond to a magical. Here they are bound to the School, the Institution because magic is strong here. There are some who consider it wrong to use elves as servants who must do their bidding and others as a magical birthright. There is no easy answer to the question Harry."

"What do you think Sir?"

Harry could feel strange emotions begin to boil up in the Professor.

"I-think-that-it-is-time-for-you-to-join-your-friends-and-eat-your-breakfast-now;" as he looked Harry in the eye.

Harry could feel the emotions subside and puzzled, he nodded his head and went to join his friends.

o0o0o0o

After Breakfast Harry and the trio visited together in the hospital wing until noon when Madam Pomphrey told the Weasley children to wait in the corridor while she attended Harry. After about twenty minutes, Harry now dressed in his jeans and sweatshirt joined the siblings and they accompanied the Medi-witch to the great hall for lunch.

As they walked into the hall, Harry was thunderstruck. He stood in awe slowly turning in a circle looking at the great hall's magical ceiling. Madam Pomphrey led them to a small round table set up next to the head table where they were to eat lunch. Once all the teachers and staff were in the hall Professor Dumbledore rang a bell and platters heaped with food appeared on the table in front of the children startling Harry. He laughed and said; "I was waiting for the elves to show up!"

After lunch Molly came to pick up her children and visited with Harry for short time.

"Soon Harry, you will be able to come home. Madam Pomphry said you are progressing nicely."

As they left through the great hall's fireplace Harry felt sad they were gone. He had enjoyed himself with the Weasley Children. He had never had friends and this was nice. He hoped that it would last, that a bully would not come along and chase them away, threaten them because of him the way his cousin had done every time someone had befriended him. He hoped that what Mr. and Mrs. Weasley said was true; that he would go and live with them. He sighed and wondered if he was to be disappointed again. He seemed to live his life that way. He was standing in front of the fire fighting back tears and starring at the fire when he felt a cold nose in the back of his hand. He kneeled down and hugged Paddy.

o0o0o0o

Madam Pomphrey took him by the hand. "Come Harry, I've someone special for you to meet," as she led him from the great hall and out the front door. They walked down a path to a strange looking rectangular hut that had an enclosed garden to one side. It was a sturdily built wooden hut, tall for one story, made of roughhewn timbers with a wooden shake roof, a very large front door and granite steps. The windows were large and had rough shutters. A solitary chimney jutted out of the rectangle shaped hut and a thin curl of blue smoke rose into the still air. She walked Harry up to the door and knocked sharply and looked at Harry and smiled.

He heard a gruff voice exclaim; "Jus a minute, coming, down Fang," a loud bark and the sound of heavy footsteps coming closer. The door opened and Harry looked at another incredible sight, one of a string of incredible sights he had seen since he left his so called relations and entered the magical world.

He was standing in front of a giant. Harry's eyes tracked from the unknown animal skin boots to the hairy trousers to the hairy vest to the enormous beard and head as he tilted his head back to see all of this giants eight plus feet.

"Wow! Who are you?" asked Harry.

The man, who looked to be a giant from Harry's small perspective, leaned down and looked Harry in the eye.

"Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts," boomed the voice, causing the little boy to step back. Hagrid reached out an enormous hand and lifted Harry up by the collar of his jacket and straightened up and brought Harry to his eye level.

"Arry Potter! Blimy Arry! It's not that I'm not appy to see you, I am, I jus din not think I'd see you for another tree years. God bless her soul, but ye got your mother's eyes Harry. Come, come in and have a cuppa wit me." Turning he swung Harry around, which led to Harry's feet flying out in an arc, causing him to start but then laugh, and then the giant placed Harry gently on the end of bench at a rough farmers table. "Yer can call your dog in Harry, my pup won't bother him. Right Fang? Yew too Poppy, come in an hav a cuppa wit us," said the giant as he moved nimbly around his hut.

Madam Pomphrey cleared her throat and Hagrid turned around. "I cannot stay Hagrid. Please return Harry to the hospital wing when done with your visit." She winked at Harry. "Don't worry about a thing, Hagrid will take care of you. Enjoy your visit Harry." She turned and shut the door as she walked out.

Hagrid rummaged around the kitchen banging things until; "Ah here we go, this is more your size;" as he put a cup in front of Harry that was still the size of a one quart bowl. He then poured it full of tea. "And here you go have a biscuit. These be Molly Weasley's, she was here a little while ago and left them for me. Said ter me: "Hagrid, have some of my chocolate dipped biscuits, you never know when you'll have company". My that women treats me well she does. Oi Arry, I tell ya she knows her way around a stove, she does. We'll have a bite, I won't hurt ya none," as he sat on his own bench making the floor bounce.

So Arry, tell me about yourself. Why are yer at Hogwarts now? Not that I mind seeing ya, as I'm as appy as a lion eating a steak, but It's a mite early fer yer to be here. About tree year early"? Did somtin appen at home Arry"?

Harry's face colored and he looked down at his cup.

"It's alright Arry, I'm yer friend. I was friends with your mom and dad. "

"Did you really know them Hagrid? I don't remember them much."

Your parents were fine folks Array. And they loved yer more than ye kin imagine. The best of people, muggle or wizard. Now yer dad, when he came here he was a little pampered and spoiled scamp prone to doing stupid things and pranking others. He started out as a git, but he grew up and became a fine young man. Brave, kind. Yer mother made a big difference in him. Ah Lily, yer have her eyes Arry. None as smart or sweeter than her. Oh she was a good'n she was."

Hagrid took out a towel sized handkerchief and blew his nose loudly.

"Sorry Arry. I get emotional when I think of them. Now that dog of yours. Hmm seems I remember a black dog maybe like this in, that followed your dad around a bit his last year. That one was scrawny and…nah, can't be the same dog. He'd be quite old now for a dog. Jus a coincidence I say."

"Well tell me how yer got here?"

"I ran away Hagrid because my Aunt and Uncle were mean to me."

Harry shrank back form the raw emotion he could feel roiling off of Hagrid. He felt anger and concern and love in one powerful wave after another. He looked at Hagrid, got up and hugged him. "Hagrid, I'm OK now. Don't worry."

Sitting back down Harry looked at the giant. He could feel that Hagrid was a good man and was concerned about him. What he felt told him that Hagrid was telling him the truth about things.

"Hagrid, please don't go and do anything foolish. Mr. Dumbledore is taking care of things."

"Ah Arry, tis good he should do sumtin. He's a great Wizard dat man. Good he's on our side. Arry relax and I'll tell yer about yer parents."

o0o0o0o

Harry visited Hagrid until it was time for dinner in the great hall. Hagrid walked him up to the castle and left him with Madam Pomphrey for dinner. Since Harry was the only guest he sat at the head table with the staff.

He looked at the plate in front of him and saw chicken, glazed with an orange sauce and with green beans and mashed potatoes. He sat looking at it and wished that the beans were his favorite Broccoli. Suddenly the plate glowed and the beans were replaced with broccoli. He smiled. The castle amazed him.

He felt emotion and he didn't understand. He was not sure, longing? Regret maybe? But overriding this was a deep black sadness. He looked down the table and saw Professor Snape staring at him. They locked eyes. He could feel the probing from the professor and tried to shut his mind. He felt a wall spring in front of the probe. The professor drew his eyes away releasing Harry. His pasty white face had a tinge of blush to the cheeks. The professor looked chagrined. Harry nodded to the professor and went back to eating his chicken. After all the tea and chocolate biscuits at Hagrid's he wasn't really hungry for pudding and just took a small apple and a piece of hard cheese. Harry sat looking up at the enchanted ceiling as the twilight crept into the sky. He stretched and yawned. Madame Pomphrey noticed and stood up. Let's go Harry. He rose and followed the medi-witch to the hospital ward where he was staying while at the castle. "Please go wash up and put on your pajamas Harry," asked the witch.

A short time later she came out of her office to check on Harry and found him sitting up in bed staring at a photograph. "What do you have their Harry?"

"Hagrid gave me a picture of my parents and their friends. Its Lily & James, Peter, Sirius and Remus. I didn't know any of these people….Madam Pomphrey is this all real?" asked Harry as he swept his arm around. I left from my Aunt's house and I met so many nice people. A little girl in the park was kind to me, then the bus driver who took me to the zoo, the nice lady at the burger fry, the people on the Knight bus, the Weasley's, everyone here. Am I dreaming all this because I didn't eat for two days or just wish my life to be better? Will I wake up in my cupboard under the stairs?" as Harry burst into tears.

Madam Pomphrey sat down and took Harry in here arms holding him tight as she rocked him. "Let it out Harry. Your safe now, this is no dream. You're with people who care about you."

Harry sobbed and sobbed and finally fell asleep exhausted. Once he was sleeping soundly she tucked Harry into bed placing his stuffed dog in his arms. Paddy looked at the witch and whined and lifted his paw up. She smiled down at him and nodded. "Ok Paddy you can sleep on the bed." Paddy hopped up and curled up at Harry's feet as the witch went into her room and waved her wand to shut all the lamps save one.

o0o0o0o

It was the middle of the night and an almost full moon was up flooding the hospital ward with a soft blue light. Shadows danced on the walls from the flicking lamp that had been turned down. Harry woke up from hunger. His stomach growled loudly and he sat up. Paddy woke up at the stomach growl from Harry and whined.

"I'm hungry Paddy. I wonder if I can find the kitchen where the elves cook all that nice food?"

Paddy hopped off the bed and stretched and took a few steps towards the door, stopped and looked over his shoulder at the young boy in the hospital bed." The let out a quiet "Woof" and looked at the boy.

"Paddy are you telling me you know where the kitchens are?"

"Woof," answered the dog as he headed for the door.

Harry grinned and got out of bed and put his robe on and cinched the belt tight. "Let's go Paddy, lead the way," said the boy as he grabbed the dogs collar.

Paddy led the boy out the door into the dark corridors and to the left. They turned left again at the first intersection and then climbed one flight of stairs. Paddy led the boy onwards down the corridor to a pedestal holding a statue of a woman with flowing gowns and long hair with a traditional conical witch's hat. The pedestal was a carved marble plinth that had the school crest on each side. Paddy looked at Harry and "Woof" and pushed his nose against the center of the crest. Harry was perplexed. "What are you doing Paddy?"

Just then a low rumble started and the entire plinth and statue swung to the side and revealed a hole with a chute inside the cavity.

"You want me to go in there?"

"Woof," answered Paddy as the dog stepped inside and sat at the edge. He looked at Harry.

Harry looked back. The dog has never led me into danger. He's looked out for me for a while, protected me. He seems to know his way about. "OK Paddy lets go;" he said as he sat down, put his arms around the dog and inched off the edge.

He dropped abruptly and let out a scream;" Paddy "Woofed" and the pair dropped down the chute. As they moved along, the passage was lit by lamps that lit up as they approached and shut off as they passed. The chute took several twists and turns over ten seconds that seemed like hours to the boy and finally Harry slowed to a stop in front of a small door. Paddy "Woffed" again and pushed his nose against the door and it slowly opened to reveal another wondrous sight to Harry. Paddy jumped out of the passage and stood there waiting for Harry.

He stepped out and stood in awe of the sight. He was out in the middle of one side of a large rectangle. The kitchen was huge, perhaps thirty feet deep by sixty feet long. The ceiling was at least twenty feet high. Three large tables stretched almost forty feet in length side to side. The far wall had multiple shelves up to the ceiling, piles of Dutch ovens, caldrons, pots and pans were stacked next to two large sinks. To the left along the far wall were shelves piled high with crates, bags, boxes and barrels of bulk food. In the middle were two large doors, closed and windowless. On the opposite side and to Harry's right the far wall was dominated by a huge fireplace with multiple sets of andirons, and cast iron hooks. There were a number of elves scattered around the kitchen, in front of the sink, washing up, along the tables kneading dough for the morning bake, in front of the fireplace tending the roaring fires and raking glowing coals into piles where cast iron Dutch ovens were placed. And several were tending huge ovens removing baked bread and placing fresh mounds of dough inside.

Paddy "Woffed" lightly once and all activity came to a screeching halt in the kitchen as every elf stopped what they were doing and turned to look at Harry. Harry suddenly was scared and was about to turn and try to go back in the chute when Paddy "Woffed" again and put his nose in the small of Harry's back and pushed him forward.

The little female elf Harry had met his first morning at the school named Kaddy came forward and bowed low, touching her nose almost to the tiled floor. Standing up she said:

"Master Harry Potter sirs does the elves of Hogwarts School a great honor by visiting them in the kitchens!"

At this all the elves bowed low.

Harry was standing motionless in wonder at the site. He felt a cold nose in his back.

"Oh, it is nothing Kaddy. It is my honor to meet the elves and see the kitchens."

"Oh but you are a modest one for such a great Wizard, Master Harry sir."

Just then Harry's tummy growled loudly causing Kaddy to giggle.

"Would the young master like something to eat?"

Harry said "I was wondering if I could have a snack?"

Just then several other elves came forward and bustled Harry off to a small table in front of the fireplace. "Sit here Master Harry, what would you like to eat?

"May I please, if it's not too much trouble, a glass of milk and oh that bread smells wonderful!"

"Master Harry;" said Kaddy. "Use is an unusual wizard, even for one so young. Sit, no trouble and I'll bring you your milk. Would you like it to be chocolate milk? And how about some nice warm bread and butter?

Harry nodded enthusiastically.

"A few moments later Harry was tucking into a plate of warm bread, smeared in fresh butter and Naddy dropped a plate with six rashers of crispy bacon on it in front of him. Harry was in heaven. All the elves were in a semi-circle watching him eat. Most had very big grins and more than a few stood in awe of Harry. When he was finished he stood up and all the elves took a step back in unison.

Harry bowed to them which elicited a gasp from the crowd.

"I thank you for the food. I was very hungry and it was the most delicious bread and butter and bacon and chocolate milk I've ever had. Thank you for taking care of me."

The entire contingent of elves all bowed low to Harry and responded with "We's is honored that Master Potter sirs enjoyed our food."

Harry was blushing as Kaddy came up to him. Master Harry, us elves are not used to Wizards, especially famous and powerful wizards paying us respects. You honor us greatly. Now it is late, take my arm and I'll bring you back to your room before you worry Madam Pomfrey. She took Paddy by the scruff of the neck and held Harry by the arm and in a second they were in front of Harry's bed.

Harry hugged the very surprised elf and said "Thank you" and turned to get into bed. Kaddy waited until Harry climbed in and Paddy hopped up before smiling and snapping her fingers and disappearing.

A moment later Madam Pomphrey came out of the shadows, cleared her throat and turned up the lights. "And where have you been young man?"

Harry stiffened and looked down at his hands holding his stuffed dog tightly. "Are you going to punish me? I woke up and was hungry and I asked Paddy to show me how to get to the kitchen. I thought I'd get something to eat from the coolers."

Madam Pomphrey looked at Harry with a cross face.

"Oh Oh," thought Harry, I'm in for it now".

"No I'm not going to punish you Harry." She turned to the dog and scolded him. "And you, don't be taking Harry down any more secret passages."

Paddy hung his head and covered his eyes with his paws and whined.

Harry visibly relaxed.

"Harry, I knew where you were all the time. The elves told me you came to the kitchen. Next time, just come and get me and I'll get you something. You should not wander around the castle at night. It can be dangerous and you don't know your way around and you could get hurt. I'm just worried about you. I want you to be safe."

She laughed. "You remind me so much of your father. That is something he would have done with his friends. Now be a good boy while you're here and don't wander around at night."

With that she turned the lights down and headed for her room. "G'nite Harry."

"Harry sat there for a few moments looking at the closed door Madam Pomphrey had gone through. He let out a breath. He patted Paddy who looked at him with his black eyes. "I thought for sure she was going to be angry."

He lay back on the pillow and slowly drifted off to sleep while he thought about his father possibly sneaking around the castle.