Chapter 16:

Disclaimer: After all this time I still don't own Harry Potter.

Hagrid always felt honored when Dumbledore would choose him for his 'special missions'. But this time he was really, really happy about it. He was going to surprise Harry on his birthday. He hadn't seen Lily's and James' son for ten years now. Back then he had only been a tiny scrap, barely as big as Hagrid's finger. Hagrid would have liked to see the boy sooner, but Dumbledore hadn't wanted him to, had said, that his relatives wouldn't be pleased.

Now that he would see Harry again, he would make it right, he thought, while baking the boy a birthday cake.

Point 3 o'clock pm, the Dursley's doorbell rang. When Petunia went to open the door, she almost stumbled back in shock. Looming over their entrace was a giant of a man carrying a pink umbrella and a package. The package wasn't all that small, but looked so in the man's huge hands.

"Hullo m'dam," the giant greeted. "'m here to speak to Harry, t's about the letters."

Quickly Hagrid was ushered inside by Petunia, hitting his head on one of their lamps in the progress.

What would the neighbours think, if they saw him standing out there?!

Harry's birthday had been surprisingly pleasant so far.

Even though he had woken up in a glum mood, still thinking about the letter.

Things had been different between Dudley and him since they read the letter. Harry thought, that maybe he was getting a taste of what their relation would be like, should he accept.

Both boys had carefully avoided bringing the letter up, but as a result there had been this akward silence between them.

Harry and Dudley had played together still, like they always did, but had been easily distracted. Dudley always seemed a bit down these days.

But on his birthday everything was back to normal.

Dudley had woken him with a pillow in his face and had seemingly put thoughts about the letter aside for now. The boys had had more fun, than they had all week.

They were just about to start on the cake, when the door bell rang and Petunia went to check on the door. When she came back she was really pale and followed by a giant, hairy man.

Dudley and Harry looked at the man openmouthed, Vernon was about to choke on his coffee.

"Happy Birthday, Harry!" The men said to the raven haired boy, a lot friendlier than he looked.

"How do you know, who I am?" The boy asked, a bit bewildered.

"Ev'rybody know's in our world," the giant laughed.

"Our world? You mean the magical society?" Harry asked. Then, as an afterthought he added: "Who are you? And how would they all know me?"

The giant's black beetle eyes twinkled in amusement.

"You're right, didn't introduce myself, did I? I'm Rubeus Hagrid, keeper of the grounds of Hogwarts. But you can call me Hagrid, everybody does that," Hagrid started. "So you know about magic, huh, that's good. And yes, every child in the magic world knows your name."

He made a little break in his speach there, after all it was a lot to wrap your head around.

Harry looked at him seriously. "It's about how my parents died, isn't it."

Hagrid's face fell, Petunia sobbed and Dudley, as eager as Harry to learn about the Potters, leant forward.

"Yes," Hagrid sayed quietly, himself barely suppressing a sob. "Lily and James Potter, the best and friendliest people one could meet."

"What happened to my parents," Harry asked again.

"It's not an easy story to tell, maybe you want to eat some cake first? I backed you a birthday cake," Hagrid tried to stall, but Harry only looked at him.

Hagrid sighed. "I wish you could learn about this from someone else, but I will just have to try and tell you."

And he told Harry everything he knew about the deaths of Lily and James Potter on one Halloween eve.

When he finished Petunia was in tears, having just learned, how her little sister died. Vernon was attemting to sooth her. Dudley edged closer to Harry in a protective manner, after all there was a very likely still alive, magical madman out there, ready to kill his brother.

Harry blinked, blinked again, then swallowed. It really was a lot to take in.

The silence stretched until Harry spoke again: "I think I would like some cake now. And Hagrid, if you knew my dad, can you tell me about him?"

Hagrid smiled gently at him: "Of course."

And soon after they were all sitting around the kitchen table, eating cake and listening to Hagrid's stories. Even Petunia and Vernon were there, not knowing how they got into that situation, not knowing how to get out of it. They just couldn't deny their nephew and adopted son to learn about his father.

The afternoon went by quickly. Harry was thrilled to learn, that his father had been quiet the mischief maker and both boys listened enrapt, when Hagrid began to tell them about Hogwarts and Dumbledore. Their plans to go indoor climbing for Harry's birthday were forgotten.

It was already nearing dinner time, when Hagrid said goodbye.

"See you tomorrow, Harry. I will be here around 10, to take you shopping for your school supplies."

Harry's face fell and he sounded a bit sad, when he said: "It's really nice of you, Hagrid, and I would like to see you again, but I won't be going to Hogwarts."

"What? Why?" Hagrid was shocked, the Dursley's were surprised. Lily's and James' son didn't want to go to Hogwarts?!

"I don't want to leave my family behind," he stated simply.

"You would see them in the holidays," Hagrid reasoned.

"It won't be the same," Harry said with a look toward his brother.

And Hagrid nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. He now remembered how often Lily Potter, back then Evans, had been in his hut. Half of the times she had complained about James Potter, but the other half she had been crying because of her sister.

"Dumbledore'll wanna speak to you 'bout that", the half-giant said gently. "Maybe you can work something out." With that he stepped out of the door and seconds later he was gone.

Harry turned back toward his family.

Petunia and Vernon looked dumbstruck but moved.

Dudley looked him straight in the eye. "Thank you."

Alright, to those of you, who would like the story to end this way: Don't read on and consider this the final chapter.

HOWEVER: This ISN'T THE END of the story, there are two more chapter to go. Next chapter hopefully in two weeks.

Please tell me what you think about it so far.

And yes, Dumbledore will make his entrance next chapter.