Hagrid The Hero

Hagrid frowned in deep thought at the boy in front of him. Dumbledore had told him that he had been raised with the knowledge of Magic but away from those that would harm him. The half-giant was a simple minded man, but he knew the signs of bullying and had to assume Dumbledore was wrong. Of course, this went against everything he thought about regarding Dumbledore, but there was nothing else he could think about.

"Look, Harry, I need to go and speak to somebody about something" he said at last.

"Oh, okay… I'll wait for you" Harry looked up at the Giant.

"Actually, this person will want to speak to you"

"Me?"

"Oh certainly"

#

"Madam Bones? Mr Hagrid to see you" her office assistant said, putting her head through the door. Madam Bones looked up – Hagrid almost never came to the Ministry so she was curious as to why he had come directly to her… Perhaps Dumbledore had given him some information she had to see which needed to be hand delivered.

"Show him in" she decided at last, waving her wand once to organise her desk. "Mr Hagrid, what can I do for you?"

"You know you be calling me Hagrid… Everybody does" Hagrid shook his head and pushed Harry into a chair while he remained stood up. "I know I am a simple minded person, but you investigate any possible crimes, don't ya?"

"Not me personally, but the DMLE does" Madam Bones frowned in confusion. It was clear that Hagrid was trying his best to do the right thing. "Whats the problem?"

"I think Harry here has been abused by his relatives" Hagrid replied – earning a sharp look from the boy dressed in little more than rags.

"What is your name?" Madam Bones asked the boy.

"Harry… Hagrid just said it"

"Your surname"

"Oh – Potter" and Madam Bones's eyes widened in shock and surprise. "His Aunt and Uncle seemed dead set against him leaving them"

"You didn't kill them, did you?" Madam Bones was always part concerned about strength when Hagrid was concerned.

"No… Might have scared them witless, mind ya" Hagrid boomed out in laughter.

"Okay, so tell me why you think Mr Potter is being abused"

"I know I am a simple man, Madam Bones" Hagrid sobered up quick, "But when you spend as much as time as I have at Hogwarts, you learn to look at stuff. Harry here is too small for his age, he ain't dressed right and he can't have eaten in days"

"Is this true?"

"Um"

"You will not get into trouble for telling me whats happened"

"Well they sometimes beat me, they make me clean the entire house, they said rude things to me and they sometimes don't let me eat for days" Harry said, his gaze dropping to the floor.

"I see… Hagrid, how are you involved?"

"Well, ya see Madam Bones, its like this… Professor Dumbledore asked me to get young Harry here from his Aunt and Uncle to get his Hogwarts things. I thought it was a bit odd, you know with Harry supposed to know about the magical world, but I have me orders, you see" Hagrid paused for a moment. "Didn't really see why, to be honest with ya. Anyway, I figured that his relatives must have been hurting him somewhat wicked when he cringed the moment that fat whale of his Uncle started yelling. Hurting a kid is a crime, and I know ya the Chief Auror or something" Hagrid shrugged, "I thought he should see you"

"Hagrid, you don't know how much you have done by bringing Harry here. I think I am going to need to have a few words with Albus Dumbledore and, most likely, place him under arrest. Will you stay with Mr Potter for a while?"

"'course"

"Thank you… You know, Hagrid, some might call you a hero"

"Hero?" Hagrid said slowly as if tasting the word on the air, "'Hagrid the Hero'… Aye, I quite like that"