Chapter 15
The truth and tentative trust
Poppy's POV
The air all around us seems filled with mixed emotions, the meaning of them seemingly divided. One part of the group is obviously filled with curiosity and wonder as to what will happen next, while the other seems terrified of what more they will discover. But one emotion overpowers all of that curiosity and fear; anger.
The entire Hall, especially the Purebloods, are furious at what young Harry had to go through and I know they all badly want Harry away from those abusive Muggles. Then suddenly Mss. Granger, who seems to feel that enough anger has been felt by all those around her says casually: "Am I glad Mrs. Potter's adopted."
Everyone looks at her and she says: "Because she was, her Blood sacrifice is useless around the Dursleys, but amazingly valid around Sirius and other born Blacks. And with Sirius being Harry's blood uncle and adopted mum, Harry has double the blood protection." Everyone looks shocked at this, before large grins appear on everyone's face,
Everyone feeling glad that Harry no longer has to go back there. I then look at my colleague and Filius nods, understanding my need to read next. I walk over to take his place and share a look with Madam Bones as we had agreed that she would further list any injuries read about. I turn the page to the next chapter and start to read.
The Keeper of the Keys
"Hagrid!" Many students shout and Ronald says: "Only he could make such a loud noise when knocking." The Half giant smiles ruefully and Ronald goes on: "Do continue, Hagrid. Scare the living crap out of those Muggles." The man laughs, together with most of the room and I shake my head at his language as I read on.
BOOM! They … said stupidly.
"What's a cannon?" Susan asks and Hermione, obviously feeling responsible for taking Harry's place as the one to explain Muggle stuff to the Magicals says: "It's a metal weapon Muggles use to blow holes into walls and fortresses. They use it during war times. It kind of causes the same effect as when you cast the Bombarda curse."
The girl nods, but I can tell that many students are a little bored by her explanation and that they would have rather had Mr. Potter explain. Feeling I can't personally blame them as Mr. Potter has an imaginative way of explaining and knows how to speak both languages – Magical and Muggle – do I smile at the sleeping boy and read on.
There was … his hands –
"He was holding a WHAT NOW?" Mss. Granger asks furiously and Susan asks: "That's bad?" Hermione nods and says: "Where a cannon is a large, tall and heavy metal tube which you can use to blow up entire armies, the rifle is a little more dangerous, because of its effective uses on singular targets and easier usage.
The rifle is, as the story described, long and thin and has two holes at the end of the tube, while the start holds a hand and a small ring with a small piece of metal inside the ring called a trigger. If someone is to, as they call it, pull the trigger, a small missile called a bullet shoots out of the metal tube with amazing speeds.
If you get hit with that bullet, the pain and your life endurance depend on where it hits. If it hits you in the arm, leg or below the chest, it hurts a lot and can even make you cripple. I even read somewhere that the pain can be compared to the Cruciatus If it hits you in the head, neck, heart or lunges, it has the same effect as the killing curse."
Everyone looks shocked, the adults white as we must all thinking the same thing right now and Amelia asks the very question I have on my mind: "And he thought it appropriate to take that along and bring it out in front of two kids?" And Hermione growls: "Apparently." Making me growl as well before I read on.
Now they … I'm armed!"
"So is the whole world, you dumbass." One of the Weasley twins says, their voices proving they're too angry to try and make a joke, but Hermione shakes her head and says: "A Muggle says such a thing when they have a weapon out and ready to use it. It's their way of telling intruders they'll be under attack if they dare come in."
To this the twin nods and the other asks: "So it's their way to say I warn you, I'll curse." Hermione nods and says: "Yes, because Muggles don't have magic, they use weapons like this to defend themselves. Although that Muggle took defending over the extreme with that riffle." And she shakes her head as I read on.
There was … the hair.
"And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the description Harry gave for the first time to one of his friends." One of the twins says, while his angry voice makes me amazed at how well he can still try and crack a joke and the other, his voice slightly calmer, comments: "So don't get your hopes up on a good and friendly description for yourself."
To this Cedric asks: "You do know that will count for you boys as well, don't you?" The twins nod and the second says: "We know." And the first goes on: "And we can't wait." Cedric shakes his head at them, while the anger at the description of the rifle and its effects are finally lessened a little and I read on.
The giant … with fear.
Harry had moved to stand next to the chimney, but on the side he could easily escape the house would the giant turn violent.
"Budge up … the stranger.
"George, I'm confused." The other twin, apparently Fred, says and he goes on: "Which comment was better. The long journey and cup of tea, or the great lump." George then pats Fred on the shoulder and says: "The great lump of course, my dear brother. That one insulted the fat pig." Everyone laughs and Fred says: "Of course. How could I be so stupid?"
Making the students laugh even harder. I quickly look down at Mr. Potter, but Filius seems to have put quite the spell on the sleeping bag as the roaring laughter and hits on the tables by the students doesn't seem to bother the boy at all as he sleeps on. I smile relieved, knowing the boy must have had a terrible time reliving his past and read on.
Dudley squeaked … Uncle Vernon. Harry wanted to do the same, but knew his uncle would just throw him at the man and, for now, had no intention of getting anywhere near the man.
"And the dumb thing was, I could still see most of him." Hagrid then tells the hall, his eyes showing the hurt he feels that at one point Harry was actually scared of him, making many of the students and some of the teachers laugh, while I shake my head and think: "A boy too fat to be hidden behind his father. Preposterous."
I then look up and as I look at the young, small frame of Harry Potter, sleeping on the laps of his parents and possible boyfriend, I sigh and think: "Too bad those Muggles just don't know how to treat kids. Whether they actively try to hurt him or not." And with that, while hoping Amelia will take that along in her report, do I read on.
"An'here's … the giant. This shocked Harry as he had never heard his name be said like that, as if it was a good thing he was there. Harry looked …mum's eyes."
"And still there is so much of him that is just his he's a son to be proud of." Remus comments, smiling proudly down at the softly sleeping boy and Sirius, whose eyes show so much love I am almost blown away by it and again wonder how we thought him a criminal, says: "That he is. A treasure to whoever gets to raise him and a friend for life."
And very slowly, gently and carefully as to not disturb the boy in his sleep, does Sirius raise the boy and does he softly kiss his forehead, before lying him back down, even going so far as to tuck the sleeping bag around the boy a little more comfortable.
I smile at this action and the love shining in the man's eyes, knowing that under that rough, prankster exterior the man has, as a teen, shown to his fellow classmates a soft, kind-hearted soul hides itself, one that will – even if he had been through hell and back the last fourteen years – make the man a wonderful mother.
This makes me snicker as I know darn well that any child born from a male automatically calls his or her birth giver his or her mother, because of the many months they share a body and the long time within which the mother shares his magic with his child and I wonder how the proud Sirius Black will react to this news as I read on.
Uncle Vernon … the room. Harry couldn't believe the man had that much strength and for a second he thought: "Maybe he has enough strength to make sure Uncle Vernon won't punish me anymore." But the rational part of his mind knew that would only temporarily cause the punishments to stop. One drink too much and Uncle Vernon would be even worse than he was now.
Everyone looks hurt that Harry didn't even dare ask Hagrid to help him and Hagrid says: "Should have seen something was up. He was bloody smaller than a nine year old." He then grumbles more insults, mostly to himself, and I look at Minerva, who sits closest to him, with the request to cheer the Half-giant up a little.
"Good for you to get rid of that riffle, Hagrid." Minerva then says and Hagrid stops his rant to shortly blink at the Deputy Headmistress and when her words sink in, he smiles and replies: "And then to think I didn't even know what that ruddy thing was. I just didn't want him interrupting me anymore." The students laugh and I read on.
Uncle Vernon …green icing.
This relieves me as I know that Hagrid would never use green for James Potter's son and I think: "Thank goodness he didn't make it himself. I have enough First years hiding from that man that they get sick of his food and then visiting me in the Hospital wing for healing Potions." I sigh, not wanting to hurt him by saying this and read on.
Harry could barely believe what he was seeing. This man, this strange, large man, who only knew him from when he was a baby, actually cared enough for him to buy or maybe even make him his own birthday cake. He wondered what he could have done as an infant to make the man like him this much – to actually do something like this for someone like him.
Everyone looks hurt, all of them feeling deeply pained that Harry didn't even believe himself worthy of receiving a cake and then Hagrid, who has his face down to hide his tears in his bushy beard, says softly: "If I had known it would mean that much to him I would have let the House Elves work harder on that cake."
The students now smile at the man, even those that normally never want to be around the half-giant like some of the Slytherins and even Mss. Granger smiles widely, while I know that she is against us and our ways of using House-Elves. Sighing and hoping she will see differently as the books are read, do I read on.
Harry looked … are you?" Immediately he whitened as Uncle Vernon always got beyond furious if he didn't use proper titles and respect when speaking to him.
The giant chuckled, unknowingly relieving the tension out of Harry's shoulders.
"True, I … whole arm.
Now Hagrid looks sheepish and says: "I really got to keep an eye on my strength, don't I? I mean, I get a little too often, don't you think?" And many students, who probably often visit Hagrid and get the same, nod in agreement, but with gentle smiles on their faces to show they don't mind it. I smile at my visitors and read on.
"What about … it, mind." This scared Harry again, as his uncle was always terrible whenever he was drunk. But then he mentally shook himself and thought: "This man has shown no likeliness's to uncle Vernon, no way will he be like him when drunk."
His eyes … fire there.
Now students look at each other, while the Ministerial officials seem to share worried glances with each other and Hagrid and then Minerva says: "I heard from Albus that Hagrid had permission to use magic as long as he was looking for Harry or as long as Harry was with him." The students nod and then Ron says:
"And besides, he might have been expelled, but who says he's not another Sirius case?" The students look confused and Sirius says: "He means that Hagrid could have been framed." The students nod and I read on, wondering what had happened to Hagrid as I only got appointed in 1968 and so wasn't there when Hagrid was expelled.
It filled … the giant. part of him wary of his form as he could easily do more harm to him than uncle Vernon ever could, though the other part of him curious as to who this man really was and how much he knew of him and his parents. And more importantly to Harry than that was whether or not the giant really meant his friendliness. Finally, as … said quickly as he saw anger replace the confusion and knew he should have just done what he always did; pretend he didn't exist.
"Sorry?" barked … the shadows shocking Harry as he had been sure he had done something wrong like always. "It's them … Hagrid thundered. Harry pressed the ragged blanket against himself tightly and pushed his head down, trying to let the blanket, dark wood and his black hair blend together to make him invisible and so making the giant unable to find and hurt him.
This really hurts me and Hermione sniffs: "Survival instincts at age 11. What boy has such survival instincts at age eleven?" And to everyone the answer is as clear as water; Harry Potter. The boy that was forced to gain survival instincts at the tender age of eleven, just to survive his own home and the people he lived with.
I sigh at this, having always known that the boy had a way of surviving and fighting that wasn't truly his own as it seemed too advanced for his age and now the truth comes out. A truth I had always suspected with Harry's talent for survival, but that I never wanted confirmed, just for the sake of that poor young lad. And with that I read on.
"Now wait … whole hut. Harry looked up through his fringe to see if the man had noticed his disappearance and whether or not he could escape the hut.
The Dursleys … the wall. Harry was doing no better, but he was slowly, while making sure he didn't leave any footprints or make a single sound, making his way to the door.
"Do you … weren't bad especially thanks to Mss. Crenson.
"I know … and stuff." He knew this was partially a lie as they had only begun to learn math when he was expelled, but he had been taught enough to know the basics, like sum numbers up.
But Harry … at Harry. This time Harry dropped the blanket and wished that the man would be kind enough to only yell and not hurt him. This trust came from the fact the man had not raised his hand all throughout his anger.
"But yeh … were they?" Harry couldn't imagine how two people could become famous for being drunk and dying in a car accident. The only way possible was if the car accident had also killed some kind of criminal, but Harry had never heard of such a thing on the news or from his previously fellow classmates.
And that he was famous was something he really couldn't think of. If he had been, wouldn't his uncle had known that? Surely, had he been famous, his uncle would have known that hurting Harry like he did, could get him in a lot of trouble.
No, there was no way either him or his parents could be famous.
Everyone looks down, all of them shocked by the logic of the boy and Minerva says: "We should have never left him there. It took away all his self-confidence." And then Severus shocks me, the Gryffindor fourth years, Sirius and Remus as he has his head down and his voice is filled with self-hated as he says:
"That boy really is nothing like his father." They all look at him and he says: "Not in the way I thought he was. He would have taken in the fame and glory and would have basked in it, had he been." The two men, three girls and four boys nod in agreement, while Sirius and Remus seem slightly angry with the man and I read on
"Yeh don' … the firelight making a grab for Harry, but the boy threw his blanket at him and quickly ran back to his side of the hut.
"He's not …eyes on." Harry didn't know whether Hagrid meant literally or figuratively, but either way, he agreed – silently.
This makes a lot of students, Pomona, Tonks, Arthur, Amos and even Nella laugh and Hagrid, who tries to speak through his own laughter says: "I meant figuratively, but in my head, I really meant both." Making the twins laugh even harder and they chorus: "So true, so true." As they wipe away their tears of laughter.
Then a soft yawn stops me from reading on and we look at the midst of Gryffindor table, where a grunting Harry Potter tries to get out of the strongly tucked in sleeping bag. His friends snicker and Sirius smiles as he undoes the zipper and help Harry sit back down. Remus vanishes the sleeping bag and I read on, Sirius talking Harry by.
"We swore … she was?
"The only one who you should call dratted is yourself, seeing all you were willing to do to your own nephew." Narcissa hisses furiously, the happy smile she had on her face at the last interruption gone and Hermione then asks a question I didn't even think about: "Wonder why she never told others she wasn't related?"
Everyone looks at her, some of the teachers and Harry in pure shock and while Minerva seems as curious as her student, does she say: "Well, I mean – surely Professor Dumbledore had put some form of communication in the letter he wrote her, so why didn't she ever use that to tell him there was no blood between her and Harry?
Surely she read the letter and knew that the Blood wards only work if there really is blood shared between two of the inhabitants." Everyone looks at each other and Amelia says: "A brilliant question, young lady. I will be sure to ask them once I arrest them." The brilliant girl smiles widely at the elder woman and I read on.
Oh, she … into rats.
"That can't be right. Muggleborns aren't allowed magic around Muggles." Seamus says and Minerva says: "Back then it was different, Mr. Finnegan. Until 1984, it was allowed for Muggleborns to perform one spell and one potion each summer to show their parents what they were learning." The boy nods and I read on.
I was … the family!"
"That's not what I heard." Minerva then growls and when everyone looks at her she says: "I'm sorry. This concerns conversations between me and Mr. Potter's mother and so are personal information. Mr. Potter, if you wish to know, I will inform you of the conversations after this chapter." Harry smiles widely at his Head of House and I read on.
She stopped … for years. Harry wondered if this angered hatred was the whole reason why she seemed to hate him so much. If so, he disliked her even more than before – hating someone for an ability they couldn't control, preposterous.
"Then she … very white. He wasn't stupid; he heard her last words and knew he had been lied to. Lied to about his parents and since he was bloody five! As soon … asked urgently.
He wanted to know. He had to. If there was even the slightest of proof his parents hadn't been money-stealing and spending drunks with no acceptable job or responsibility, who drove themselves to their death – as he had always been told – he wanted to grab onto it and never let go.
The anger … not knowin'."
"Hogwarts? It would have been a disaster for you to enter our world without knowing. Who knows what kind of crackpot story you would have heard and believed?" Sirius tells a now fully awoken and eager Harry and the boy, who apparently caught onto the worried tone of his mother's voice, tries to hide a snicker and say:
"Yeah, I could have actually read a book about what happened, like The Rise and the Fall of the Dark Arts or Great Wizarding Events of the Twentieth Century. I mean, come on. How could any book hold any valuable, truthful information about an event of which only a dead guy and an orphan were actual living witnesses?"
Everyone looks shocked, while some of the Ravenclaws look appalled and I smile at the intelligence of the boy, while Amelia says: "Better make sure we let book store owners know that, not to mention the publishers, so they can adapt the books before anyone else realizes." Her fellow Aurors nod and I read on.
He threw … knows –""Who?"
"Nice, Harry, you already knew part of it." Fred snickers, but Harry suddenly seems intent on letting us see logic as he says: "You know what I don't understand? If people were so terrified of him that they didn't even dare say his name, why didn't they try and find out his true name? I mean, who would name their kid Voldemort?"
Everyone looks at each other and Amelia asks: "Mr. Potter, I take it you know You – Voldemort's real name?" Harry nods and says: "It's actually one of his biggest secrets, together with him actually being a hypocrite. You'll see what I'm talking about when we read the next book, Madame Bones." The woman nods and I read on.
"Well – I … then, anyway.
I see the Trio share a significant glance and whiten, realizing that You-Know-Who actually has tried and succeeded in infiltrating Hogwarts. Wondering when and how I quickly read on, while fearing how Mr. Potter and his friends could have survived attacks from – I gulp – him when they weren't even halfway through their teens yet.
"Now, yer … a foghorn.
Harry himself felt a few tears take form in his eyes and he scolded himself for crying over people he never met – people he would never remember.
Immediately Sirius hugs the boy and whispers: "I'll tell you all about them, Harry. Remus and I will. By the time we're done, you'll feel like you've known them your whole life." The boy happily smiles at his mum, while some of the girls have tears in their eyes at the thought of never knowing one's parents and I read on.
"Sorry." He said … famous, Harry.
Harry shakes his head with his eyes closed shut to hide his tears, actually pushing closer into the hug and mumbles: "Famous for losing family. Joy." And many students look at him guiltily, probably having either been jealous of his fame or wanting to be him or hogging him for it at some point in time, like Mr. Creevey.
I shake my head and then Harry asks: "Professor McGonagall, could I please talk with you and the other Heads after this chapter? I have a suggestion I would like to make." Minerva nods, while Pomona looks interested and Severus seems to try and hide his, which would have worked were it not for his eyes. I snicker at the man and read on.
No one … you lived."
Now Bill, Charlie, Sirius, Percy, Amelia and Susan all lower their heads, while Arthur seems to care enough for his ex-wife motion her over and to pull a comforting arm around her as she softly cries. Harry looks timidly curious as he tries to look away from the shirt he still hides his face in and Ron whispers softly:
"The Prewetts were mum's brothers. They died, fighting off a mayor bunch of Death Eaters, Bill told me. I don't really know them myself, but the twins apparently do, they talk of them a lot." This makes Hermione hug the boy while Harry lies a hand on his, even though he didn't lower his head and he smiles at his friends.
Harry then looks at his dad and Remus, who is holding the man tightly, says: "Marlene McKinnon was like Lily to Sirius. Even though he faked to love her and wanting to marry her, he really loved her like a sister. Her death in the summer of 81 urged Sirius to try and hide you and your family even quicker and better."
Harry looks at his mum in sorrow and hugs him from behind, his parents smiling proudly. In the mean time have Hannah Abbott, Justin Flinch-Fletchley and Amelia come to sit with Susan and all hug the crying girl, who I know cries for the loss of her parents, while Amelia sheds a few tears for her lost brother and sister-in-law.
I look at the sorrowful room around me and then Harry raises a goblet, filled with clear water and says: "A toast to those who should never be forgotten, as it is them that allowed us to be here today. To our loved ones." And everyone stands up, all of them grabbing and filling a goblet with water and shouting as one: "To our loved ones!"
The Houses toasting together, while the Weasleys, Susan and Amelia and Sirius all smile at Harry in gratefulness and pride and Harry shrugs and says: "I have my own loved ones to honor too." And they all nod, knowing he means his parents and they all slightly raise their goblets for him again, making him smile as they all sit down and I read on.
Something very … were clenched.
Harry was slightly scared for Hagrid. While his rough exterior clearly hid his soft, gentle personality, was he still a force to be reckoned with, as Harry had witnessed when the man was angry, but still he wondered if the gentle personality of the man would keep him from defending himself against Uncle Vernon, should his uncle decide to attack him.
Harry didn't want the only man who could tell him the truth to get hurt – mostly because he was afraid the man would then leave and leave him with his uncle all over again – but part of him wanted the man to leave if it got too dangerous or if his uncle got too violent, even if it meant he could lose his first and only friend since Erica.
Hagrid smiles at the boy, while some of the girls tear up at hearing that last sentence and says: "Don't you worry, Harry. That uncle of yours had nothing on me." Harry smiles and says: "I know, Hagrid. You just seemed really worried and caring for me and I didn't want my uncles behavior to take that chance away."
The half-giant Care of Magical Creatures teacher smiles at the person who is probably his favorite student and Sirius proudly pulls him close and ruffles his hair, smiling at the boy, who playfully tries to struggle out of his grip. I smile at this and at the fact that Harry doesn't really seem to put too much effort in the pushing and read on.
"Now you … he snarled taking a threatening step towards Harry, but before he could do anything, did Hagrid pull Harry close to him on such a way he was near Hagrid and that Hagrid was sitting in between him and his uncle, I accept … sticky end –"
Now rage like no other sears through the room and Lucius hisses: "That low life piece of scum. Does he have no respect for anyone?" And Harry answers drily: "He does. For himself. He just wasted all of it up on him and only him and that dumb act makes him thus incapable of ever feeling respect to anyone else."
This only relaxes the mood a little, the dry humor making some people smirk and snicker, but the United Hogwarts front, as I now call the midst of Gryffindor table, stays pissed and I quickly ask the House-elves for some water and snacks. This does the job and while the group calms down and eats some more, do I read on.
But at … of them. He spared a glance at uncle Vernon, wondering if he would get punished for asking other people questions and then the need to know of his parents and the history behind them and his scar over won his fear for the man, cowering with his wife and son in a pitiful corner.
"But what … to die.
Now Harry looks up, his bright green eyes suddenly shining, making me know he thought of something and says: "Huh, I guess you can't really call someone with that many soul parts locked away human. You were actually right there, Hagrid." Hagrid looks shocked, while Sirius whitens and asks: "What do you mean soul parts?"
And Harry's answer scares me, Sirius as well as Severus as he asks: "How do you think he survived that night?" Sirius and I share a glance, while Severus starts to curse under his breath behind me and I suddenly realize what exactly happened when Mr. Potter came back from the Graveyard and grabbed his scar.
It had been a soul part and when Voldemort had died, he had tried to use it to keep himself alive, but Harry's love and amazing heart had saved him and broke the connection made through the soul part. I shake my head, barely believing that the boy can survive something like that and then still party almost all night long as I read on.
Some say … horrible mistake.
This shocks me and seems to confuse the school, but then Sirius grumbles: "Rotten Muggles." And he pulls Harry ever closer. We all look at him and he says: "It's obvious, isn't it? Harry doesn't believe he can be a wizard, because of all those times his relatives talked him down, both awake and when he's asleep."
Everyone looks shocked and Collin says: "But surely –." But Sirius stops him and says: "Collin, that only makes it an even bigger problem. What Harry did was beyond amazing and so, because he was constantly told he was – which he is not – beyond worthless – I repeat, which he is not – that made it even harder for him to believe all of this."
The boy looks shocked and Harry asks: "How do you know all this?" And Sirius whispers something in his hair that the school obviously considers too personal as the charm Albus casted doesn't make us hear what he says. I shrug at this, hurt and worried over Harry and his mental state and continue reading the chapter.
A wizard … Uncle Vernon the pain in his wrist the proof – and on the same time making him wonder if that will ever heal; if he … his cupboard? Why hadn't everything uncle Vernon used to punish him turned against the man if he had such amazingly magical powers? If he'd … a football – not to mention all the kitchen utensils aunt Petunia used and all the ways uncle Vernon punished him?
"Hagrid." He said quietly, wanting to disbelief his own words as it would mean his way gone from the Dursleys, "I think … Hagrid chuckled.
"Of course he chuckled. You not being a wizard?" Sirius asks his son incredulously and he says: "That's like Hermione not being smart, the Weasleys not being gingers, Remus not being my one true love." He then softly caresses the boy's face and says: "You not being my son and baby boy." Harry smiles at his dad and I read on.
"Not a … grow back … when Dudley had thrown him out of the window he had somehow survived the fall and fallen into a coma instead of dying and the …on him?
The last part I read silently, trying to just continue reading and hoping to find something that can distract us, but then Harry says: "All parts of the November 1986 story I will tell you about soon. I –." He then stops, obviously trying to find his courage again before he says: "I just first want to find someone I can trust with this story."
The Hall nods, the students and even Sirius and Remus understanding that with Harry's trust issues and the magnitude of this particular story it's hard for the boy to just come out with it. But the words still scare me and I whisper: "From what floor did he fall?" And while hoping it's just a window on the ground floor at the Muggles, do I read on.
Harry looked … wands and –" His tone scared Harry and, trusting Hagrid one last time, he quickly ducked onto the couch. Hagrid did not fail him as the man glared at his uncle and drew a gentle arm around him. "If he … growled Hagrid, pulling Harry closer as Uncle Vernon had walked away from the corner in his anger. "Stop Lily … was born.
"Even before, thanks to James." Sirius smiles at his son and Harry smiles back, but then he looks from Sirius to Remus and suddenly blanches. The two look confused and then a peaceful smile adorns Harry's face and he whispers:
"I'll be a good son, I'll make you proud." The two smile and Remus says: "We know you will. And you'll be a great big brother too." And Harry asks the one question that makes me realize why he blanched earlier on: "Will you werewolf adopt more kids?"
The two look at each other and then Lucius says: "Harry, Magical Creatures, such as werewolves, have, as you now know mates. But once the Mate – if male – and Magical Creature bond a small womb will start to grow inside the Mate's body, making the Mate capable of being pregnant once the two are ready for kids."
Harry looks wide eyes and Narcissa says: "It's also possible with powerful wizards, such as Godric Gryffindor, who was rumored to be the bearers of his own heirs." And Harry repeats: "Wizards can get – pregnant?" The four elders nod and when a small smile returns to Harry's shocked face, Remus says: "Like I said, great big brother."
He's off … Albus Dumbled –"
"Seeing what that man did to Harry and what he caused him, I can't say I can agree with myself anymore. But at least I don't think as bad about him as those rotten Muggles." Hagrid grumbles and this intrigues me as I read on.
"I AM … Uncle Vernon.
My eyes widen at reading this and my mind fills with possible reactions from Hagrid to this. "Did he just actually." One of the twins then starts and the other goes on: "Have the guts." And the first returns: "To say that." And they chorus: "In front of Hagrid?" Hagrid nods and all of Gryffindor choruses as one: "He's dead."
But he … his head. Harry took comfort from the fact Hagrid actually sort of hugged him and that it were his uncle's words that set the man off to keep himself from getting scared and cowering in front of his first friend, NEVER –" he … behind them. Harry could barely believe that had happened, but knew that – if such things happened again – his uncle would one day snap and would take his punishments to a whole new level.
Hagrid looked … the job –"
"Glad I can help you use some magic, Hagrid. Merlin knows you deserve it." Harry smiles at his elder friend, who smiles back widely. And Ron mumbles: "As long as you keep Aragog and Skrewts away from us." Hagrid laughs at the boy's words and I snicker myself as I read on, glad that the chapter's almost over.
"Why aren't … to Harry.
Harry was relieved and honored at the same time. Hagrid had actually let him borrow something and its uses were obvious. On the same time he was relieved that his questions, which had been becoming a little too personal he now realized, had not angered Hagrid.
"You can … the pockets."
If ye wan' ye can sleep on the couch." Harry looked at it as Hagrid lay himself down on it and then sat back up. The couch was now almost even with the floor and the arm rests were no longer attached to the couch except for a few strings.
Harry knew he could kip there and be close to Hagrid's warmth, but the couch would not keep him from rolling off and he declined, saying the couch was now better suited to Hagrid's size. The giant agreed, offered again, but when he was again declined, shrugged and slowly lay down.
Harry lay himself back down in his little sand-made basket and felt proud of himself as he pulled the coat over him – he had pushed the sand together near the fire and now the heat had warmed up the sand surrounding him. Soon the same happened to the coat and while now being used to the thundering storm and blowing winds, did Harry feel himself falling asleep to the rhythmic sound of Hagrid's even snores.
Everyone smiles, all of us relieved to finally have a happy ending to a chapter and Harry says: "I have to admit they forgot to add something, Hagrid." The man looks at him and he says: "Part of me was indeed scared I would fall off, but I was scared of it, because I feared you could turn in your sleep and then squash me."
The man looks shocked and then the Hall bursts out laughing as the man turns red and snickers. Harry smiles, obviously glad that his words hadn't angered the Half-giant and then he stretches his arms out and asks: "Professor, would now be a good time to have those conversations?" The Heads nod and all of them leave.
Harry then also stands up, slowly hugging his parents and tentatively giving Viktor a kiss on the cheek causing for most of the females in the Hall to coo and some of the males around him to hoot at the sight, before thanking his friends for their support and understanding and they all nod before he leaves to follow the Heads.
