ATadObsessive46-Muchas gracias for the review! At least someone's reading... Anyhow, I personally thought the lack of reaction was amusing, too. :grins:kisses: ---for the R/R

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The next day, Harry, Ron, and Hermione awoke early so that they could eat breakfast in private and discuss their plans for the coming school year.

They had just entered the Great Hall when Draco Malfoy stood to leave the Slytherin table. He walked toward them without making any sign that he saw them. But when he passed them, he hit Hermione with his shoulder, and they distinctly heard the words "filthy Mudblood" escape his lips.

Ron turned and was headed after him, but Harry and Hermione grabbed his robes and pulled him back into the Great Hall.

"Lemme at 'im!" Ron yelled. "I'm getting sick and tired of hearing him say that!"

"It doesn't matter, Ron," Hermione said. But both he and Harry detected a tinge of hurt in her voice.

They walked slowly to the empty Gryffindor table.

"So, what do you think that git was up so early for?" Ron asked his companions.

"Dunno," Harry replied. "And I don't care either."

"You know," Hermione said, "I'm not even hungry."

"Me either," the two boys said in unison.

"Well... since it's so early, we could go down to visit Hagrid," Ron suggested.

"Good idea," said Harry. "Let's go."

The three of them stood and exited the Great Hall.

They were just about to leave the castle when their least favorite teacher, Professor Snape, approached them.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't famous Harry Potter and his trusty sidekicks," he said. "Now, what on earth would make you rise so early on the first day of school."

"We just got up early, sir," Harry replied. "We're on our way to see Hagrid."

"Hmm…" the professor said. "Very well, then. But I'm watching you three."

He hurried off toward the Great Hall.

"I'm watching you three!" Ron mimicked when Snape was out of earshot.

They all laughed as they crossed the grounds to Hagrid's hut. When they reached the door, they knocked.

"It's open!" he called. They were shocked to hear no barking from their friend's boarhound.

They opened the door and walked in.

"Oh! Hello!" he said. "Yeh want some tea? I jus' made a fresh pot. Ooh! And I made some treacle fudge last nigh'."

"Uh... we just ate," Ron lied.

"Yeah!" Harry and Hermione chimed in.

"Ahh... well that's too bad," Hagrid said. "So! What're you three up so early fer?"

"Why does everyone keep asking us that?" Ron said, annoyed.

"I was jus' curious!" Hagrid said in a hurt voice.

"Sorry," Ron replied. "We just felt like getting up early." He gestured to where Fang was lying by the fire. "Hey... what's up with him?"

"Oh! I almost fergot! Look what I got last nigh'!" Hagrid said excitedly.

"Hagrid?" Hermione asked. "Is this something you're going to get in trouble for again?"

"No!" Hagrid replied. "In fact... Dumbledore's the one that gave it ter me. Said he immediately thought o' me when he saw it."

Then, he walked over to the corner where the three noticed a large crate.

Fang growled by the fire.

Hagrid opened the crate and out came the last thing the three ever expected to see.

Instead of some strange creature they'd never heard of, out bounded a very large boarhound puppy. It immediately leapt over to Harry and began licking him furiously.

Ron and Hermione looked shocked at the sight of the huge pup.

"Umm... Hagrid?" Harry asked once he had managed to ward off the puppy.

"What?" Hagrid replied.

"Why did this remind Dumbledore of you?"

"Oh!" Hagrid said, smiling. "It's so Fang'll have a friend! Though he's not too happy 'bout it." He looked confused as to why, for a moment. "It's a female," he added, grinning.

Hermione nodded approvingly. "Hmm…" she said. "What's her name?"

"Spike," Hagrid said, cheerfully.

"Spike?" Ron laughed. "For a girl? Hah! You are strange!"

"What?" Hagrid said, bewildered.

"Well I think it's cute," Hermione said, shooting Ron a dirty look.

"Hey," Harry said, before Ron and Hermione could start arguing, "it's getting close to class time. I think we should go."

They said goodbye to Hagrid, Spike, and Fang, and then walked slowly back up to the castle.