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Beta: FlyingLovegood123


Edward looked up at the wooden door when he heard footsteps approaching. They sounded a bit too loud for his liking. In fact, the floor was actually vibrating with each step of whomever it was that was walking along the corridor. It had been a while since Tom left the room and Edward knew it couldn't be him, the landlord had never been quite so, well, heavy. But it seemed that the stranger was definitely heading toward the direction of his room. The sound drew in closer and closer until finally, it stopped right at the other side of the door.

BOOM

The large crash almost made Edward jumped out of his skin. His eyes were glued to the door, which was shaking as if it was going to fall from its hinge. Someone had just knocked, or more like punched at it, judging from the force. Stationing himself beside the wooden frame in an instance, Edward grabbed the doorknob with both of his hands, unsure whether to turn it or not.

BOOM

Another knock almost sent Edward falling flat on his back had he not tightened his grip. He gulped, trying vainly to see through the wood to whoever was standing outside. A moment of silence. Then…

"Hello! Is Edward 'ere? I'm the one who's supposed to ter come and get 'im"

Edward let out a breath he didn't realize he was holding. The speaker had a funny way of talking, but so far, he detected no sign of threat from it. At least he could be sure that whoever it was on the other side was not someone he had to worry about. Maybe he was just being paranoid, but somehow, feeling other people getting close without seeing their face first made him jumpy. It was as if it was some kind of instinct that had been drilled into him. And most of those instincts, he found, belonged to a prey hiding from predators. He actually blasted Tom out of the room once when the landlord went in unannounced to check on him. Thankfully that there was no harm done, as the landlord had assured him amidst his endless apologizes. Opening the door tentatively, Edward looked up…

…and he had to immediately clamp down the urge to slam the door shut right in the other man's face.

At the threshold stood a giant figure who had to be twice as tall as a normal man and five times as wide. His face was almost completely hidden behind long tangles of bushy black hair and beard, which just added to his intimidating appearance. Edward found himself frozen in place, gaping at the man's feature. The giant man must have noticed his paralyzed look, for he stepped back and gave what Edward could see as some kind of apologetic smile under his black beard. Having gotten over the initial shock, Edward found out that up close, the stranger didn't look scary at all.

"Sorry if I startled yeh. Dumbledore asked me ter come. I'm Rubeus Hagrid."

Hagrid held out a hand which Edward took and the boy found himself being lifted off the floor in what must have been a handshake.

"You know Dumbledore?"

"Everybody knows Dumbledore. By the way, I'm Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts"

"That's the place that sent me the letter!" Edward said out loud.

"'Course they did. And that's where you'll be learnin'. But we'll have to ter talk later. We haven't had all mornin' ."

"So, got everythin' ready?" Hagrid gave the room behind Edward a look "Yeh all packed up?"

Edward nodded.

"Great! Then let's go. We have lot ter cover today. Harry's waitin' downstairs."

Stooping down to pick up the small bag that contained what little possession he'd got which he placed readily by the door, Edward asked.

"Who's Harry?"

Hagrid's face seemed to light up with excitement and fondness.

"Harry Potter, o' course. Yeh should know him, he's famous. I'm takin' him to ter buy his stuff, just like you. Yeh'll see, he's hard to miss."

Edward still didn't get quite the idea who this "Harry Potter" was, but Hagrid was already walking away, so he had to catch up, jogging to match Hagrid's long footsteps.


The Leaky Cauldron was usually a pretty quiet place. Sure, it was never empty but asides from daily exchanges and greetings, there had never been much said in this place, as far as Edward could tell. Today, however, something was different. Several feet away from the bar, Edward could see that there was some sort of commotion going on there. A small crowd had gathered and was circling around something in the middle that Edward couldn't make out. Buzz of excited voice filled his ears. Everyone had there hands outstretched and looked quite determined to reach the center. Besides him, Hagrid was wearing a large grin. Making his way toward the crowd, he pushed past several people and tiptoed to see what it was all about.

Shaking hand with everybody and wearing a pretty confused look, a boy about Edward's age was standing there, looking as if he had no idea what was going on despite being in the center of it. He was scrawny, having bright green eyes behind a pair of glasses that looked like they were barely holding together, black hair not quite unlike Edward's own, and clothes four times his size. Spotting Hagrid's huge figure over the other's heads, he gave a relieved smile and an expression that was clearly begging for help. After several unsuccessful attempt, the gamekeeper finally managed to make himself heard and led the boy away from the crowd over to the door to the courtyard, where Edward was standing after finally managed to get back out. Hagrid placed the two boys in front of each other for introduction.

"This," Hagrid pointed to Edward "is Edward Thompson. He'll be joining us today Harry. And Edward," he pointed to the other boy "This 'ere is Harry Potter."

"Hi." Harry gave a timid smile and held out his hand, to which Edward returned the gesture.

"Nice to meet you." Edward said. Harry seemed friendly enough. Now that they are standing face to face, Edward noticed a thin scar on Harry's forehead that shaped like a bolt of lightning. He didn't question it, though.

Hagrid clapped his hands together

"All right, lads. Gotta go, lot ter buy." He ushered the two boys out into the courtyard. Being given a slight push on the shoulder by the gamekeeper, Edward stumbled and knocked head first into a man.

"I'm sorry!" He quickly apologized.

The one he bumped into was a pale young man who was wearing a large turban. He was trembling.

"N-N-No, d-don't worry a-about it" the man stuttered. He quickly grasped Edward's hand before making off. The moment their skin touched, Edward felt something in him recoiled in terror. A nauseous feeling well up inside his stomach, and he walked toward Hagrid while swaying slightly.

"Whoa, yeh okay there Ed?" the gamekeeper looked at him in concern.

The feeling went away as suddenly as it came. Steadying himself, Edward nodded.

"Yea-Yeah, I'm fine."

Taking a look at the direction the young man had gone; Edward could see that he'd already disappeared. He couldn't help but ask himself, just what all that was about.