Thank you to the beta of this chapter- Born-of-Elven-Blood

Chapter Twenty Three - Visit With Hagrid

Hermione tapped her fingernail on the mug cradled in her palms. The quiet ting-ting-ting echoed through the small hut. Neither she nor Ron had spoken a word since Hagrid opened the door. The half-giant didn't even ask why they were out of class. He just stepped aside and allowed the two to enter. Silence had reigned ever since.

Tea was prepared and distributed in the smallest mugs Hagrid could find, then he sat back, intending to allow the two Gryffindors to talk in their own time. But as the minutes ticked by he grew impatient. He wanted...no, he needed to know.

"Where's 'Arry?"

Ron and Hermione glanced at each other before Hermione spoke.

"He's with Professor Snape, in his chambers. We saw him this morning."

"And ...how is he?" Hagrid asked.

Hermione looked at Ron again, wondering if it was their place to talk about what had happened that morning. But then, Hagrid was sure to find out sooner or later…

"Not so well… Harry… he..." Hermione struggled to find the words. "Harry… threatened to take his own life this morning." She looked down at her tea, which had grown cold.

A wave of shock washed over Hagrid, but he did his best to hold it back. His first reaction upon reading the story in the Prophet this morning had been disbelief, then outrage, then grief. Now on top of that he was afraid for Harry's safety and sickened to think how much he must still be suffering. Even so, he held himself in check. Harry was safe with Professor Snape, and there wasn't much Hagrid could do for him now. But maybe there was something he could do for the two badly shaken Gryffindors in front of him.

"Ya know, not many people know this, but I'm the one that got Harry out of that house… out of Godric's Hollow... that Halloween night," he began. Ron and Hermione looked up at him, still subdued, but he had their attention.

"The little thing must have been crying for hours by the time I got to him. He was cold and wet… and Lily...'' Hagrid choked up a little, "...she… was laid out on the floor right in front of his crib."

"Oh my god," Hermione whispered. She had always wondered what happened that night but never expected to hear the story. She glanced at Ron again and they shared a forlorn look. How much more could their friend be expected to endure?

"I remember when I picked him up, he was no bigger than a bowtruckle in my hands. I changed him, got him into a warm blanket, cleaned up the blood… you know, from the cut," Hagrid gestured meaningfully towards his forehead, then paused for a moment as he relived that night in his mind. "He'd quieted down by the time I got him bundled up and strapped to my chest. Waved an angry little fist at me when I revved up my bike, but when we took off, I remember he laughed just a little. Natural born flyer, even then." Hagrid couldn't help but to smile. "He fell asleep not long after."

"Why… why are you telling us this?" Hermione asked.

"Because that night I knew that Harry wasn't going to have an easy life… but I also learned that he's a fighter, and a stubborn one at that!" Hagrid said with a chuckle. "That boy has faced down more death and hardship than most men do in a whole lifetime. And he still knows how to laugh. That's how I know, even though things may seem hopeless at the moment, Harry is going to make it though."

A thoughtful silence descended as he sat back and popped a rock cake in his mouth; still heavy, but not the oppressive air of misery that had pervaded the hut when they pair had arrived.

"...Harry is pretty stubborn," Ron chimed in after a minute.

This time Hermione smiled. "Yeah..." she agreed fondly as she thought about her friend. "I just wish there was something we could do..."

"Just keep on doing what you've been doing these past four years." Hagrid took Hermione's hand, and gave Ron a solemn nod. "Be there for 'Arry. You do that and everything else will work itself out."