Chapter Eight: Hagrid's Surprise.

Harry awoke feeling restless on the first day of school. Grumbling, he sat up in his bed. The sun had not yet raised and the rest of the boys in the seventh year dorm were fast asleep, Neville snoring loudly.

Harry cracked his neck and stood up gingerly. He pulled on a pair on faded shorts, an undershirt and his running shoes. He fastened his wand to a holster he now kept on the side of his leg. He debated whether to bring the dagger Castor had given him, but after securing the latch to his forearm, he figured it was too much effort to go through so early in the morning.

I'm only going for a run.

He climbed out of the portrait hole and headed for the main gates of the school. Although it was nearly six, Harry passed quite a few people, Aurors in particular.

They eyed Harry suspiciously for being up so early, but continued patrolling the corridors and empty classrooms. Upon reaching the front gates, Harry noticed three Aurors standing guard.

'Uh, hi,' Harry said dumbly, addressing one of the Aurors with long blonde hair that he kept in a ponytail.

'And what brings you to the front gates at this hour?' the blonde Auror asked sternly.

Harry hesitated for a minute.

'Well,' he said, 'I'm going for a run round the lake.'

'I'm sorry, but that is not allowed without an Auror present with you, and we are far too busy to baby-sit a celebrity.'

The Aurors chuckled at this, which infuriated Harry. He was in no mood for this, especially at six in the morning.

'I'm going for my run,' he said flatly.

'You cannot be outside of the castle without an Auror present,' the blonde Auror repeated, stepping closer to Harry.

Before Harry could say anything the conversation was interrupted as a large black owl landed gracefully atop the Hogwart's seal above the door. The owl carried a letter in its beak and dropped it on the head of the Auror. The Auror took the letter, opened it and read.

As he scanned the letter, Harry noticed the Auror's eyes get wider with every line. The Auror snorted and stuffed the letter into his robes.

'Go on,' he said shortly allowing Harry to pass him. 'But don't stray too far from the castle.'

Harry nodded and turned around. The owl was still perched atop the seal, looking at Harry with interest. Once he focused his eyes, he suddenly recognized the owl.

'Grant,' he said.

'What was that Potter?'

Harry looked at the owl then back at the Auror.

'That's Professor Castor's owl.'

'Yea,' the Auror said, his comrades completely silent during this entire conversation. 'Apparently, Professor Castor says you have the permission to take your early morning runs, as long as you have your wand on you.'

Harry couldn't help it, but he grinned at the Auror before walking past them, and started to jog down the edge of the lake. As Harry ran down the side of the water, he had a smile on his lips.

Castor may be a royal prick, but he does have his moments.

Harry, Ron and Hermione all sat down at the Gryffindor table. Harry looked around at the staff table but felt a little dejected when he didn't spot Professor Castor. Professor Sprout took over the task of handing out the new schedules for each student. She gave a cherry smile to Neville Longbottom, who, although was legendary with forgetfulness and stupidity, had become the best Herbology student by a long shot.

'Herbology is not until Wednesday,' he said grumpily.

'What do we got this morning,' Ron said through a mouthful of eggs and bacon. Hermione was giving him a scathing look.

'Manners, Ron Weasley,' she said cutting her bacon with a fork and taking a tentative bite.

'Oh yes, mom,' he said leaning closer to her, his mouth still full of his breakfast.

'Ugh, Ron!' she shouted indignantly. 'That's disgusting!'

'Oi!' Harry yelled over them. 'Can you two please go through at least a couple days without fighting?'

Ron swallowed heavily and muttered, 'Sorry.'

Hermione looked at Ron then back at her plate, a small smile on her lips.

'What's our first class, Harry?' Ron asked again.

'Transfiguration.'

'Hooray,' Ron said dully. 'Just what I need in the morning, McGonagall breathing down my neck.'

'You're not taking the same amount of classes are you Hermione?' Harry asked, noticing that her book bag was nearly ready to explode.

'Er, well, yes,' she said brightly.

'This is our N.E.W.T. year?' Harry said. 'Or have you forgotten?'

'I haven't forgotten, Harry,' she said standing up and straightening her Head Girl's badge. 'I'm just keeping my options open.'

'Hey Hermione,' came a voice from behind her.

Ernie Macmillan, the Head Boy and pompous Hufflepuff was standing just a few feet away from her, looking a little nervous.

'Oh, hi Ernie,' Hermione said girlishly. Harry tried not to focus on what he had just eaten.

'Are you off to Ancient Runes right now?' he asked.

'Yea, you?'

Ernie held up his Ancient Runes textbook in his hands.

'Can I walk with you?' he asked in a timid whisper.

Hermione looked taken aback for a second, but smiled again and nodded. She waved at Harry and Ron, and then walked down the tables towards their first class. Ron was now cutting his bacon with his knife a bit too viciously.

'So, what shall we do with our free break?' Harry asked Ron, desperately trying to change the subject.

Ron, who's plate was only half eaten, shoved it away from him, and folded his arms over his chest.

'I was thinking about hanging myself,' he grunted.

'Well,' said a voice from behind them. 'You do that while Harry and me go for a fly.'

Ginny Weasley grasped Harry round the arm and walked him out of the Great Hall. Harry turned around to see Ron still sitting there, alone, his plate half empty.

It was the first time in all the years Harry knew him that Ron hadn't finished a meal.

World traveled quickly that Professor Castor was the new Head of Gryffindor House. Harry, who wouldn't find it funny a year ago, found it humorous as the rumors of Professor Castor spread like wild fire.

'I heard he's from the Ministry of America to spy on us,' he heard Michael Corner, a Ravenclaw and ex of Ginny in the corridors before Transfiguration.

'Well I heard he's a vampire posing as a teacher in order to gain blood from unsuspecting students,' Terry Boot retorted.

'I heard that he's half dead, and drinks unicorn blood every night.'

Harry noticed that only the guys were bringing up the mysterious new teacher as a vampire, werewolf, and Merlin knew what else. It was an entirely different story with the girls.

'He is sooooooo cute.'

'His hair looks so soft.'

'He plays by his own rules, I bet.'

'I wonder if he likes younger girls.'

Harry bit back a snort at hearing this before his Potions class. Ron, who had been in a bad mood all day, looked a little more cheerful when Hermione walked up to them in front of Slughorn's door.

'Hey,' she said brightly.

Professor Slughorn opened the door, his belly apparently had gotten bigger over the summer and ushered them into the course.

With Draco Malfoy gone, less than a dozen students had gotten into the final year of Potions. With the help of Snape's old textbook, Harry was by far the most advanced Potion maker in the course, but he felt apprehensive going into Slughorn's dungeons. He only shared the truth of Snape being the previous owner of the book Harry used to impress Slughorn with last year with Ron, Hermione, and even Ginny. Harry's eyes went unfocused as he thought about the night he told her, laying on the carpet of the common room, in front of the fire, their backs against the couch.

'Harry, m'boy!' Slughorn said exuberantly shaking Harry's hand. 'Wonderful to see you again.'

Harry had always felt Slughorn's jubilance to be a bit annoying, but in majority, he was an alright guy. Besides, with the search for his memory of the Horcruxes and last year's hell behind him; not to mention the fact he was lacking help from the Half-Blood Prince this year, he knew keeping it energetic between him and Slughorn was a good idea.

'You too, Professor,' he said in the same voice, which got him quizzical looks from Ron and Hermione.

Slughorn took role call, which took no more than a minute and went into it

'Although many of you know that I said I'd only be back for a year,' he said, his eyes darting towards Harry. 'I have decided to stay of as Potions Master for a few more years.'

He made a roaring laugh.

'That,' he said still chuckling, 'And I don't mind being the Head of my old house. Am I right Nott?'

Theodore Nott, his dark brown hair even darker and hollow eyes looked up, his conversation with Zabini being interrupted.

'Right you are sir,' he said coolly.

Nott and Zabini both glared at Harry for a minute. Harry glared right back. Harry felt anger bubbling under his skin. For all he knew, Nott and Zabini had been in on Draco's plan last year and had assisted in getting Dumbledore murdered. Considering that both Nott and Zabini's fathers were both well known Death Eaters, he wouldn't doubt it.

'Now then,' Slughorn said merrily clapping his hands together. 'This year in Potions will be your most demanding and I hope that you all are up for the tasks.'

He waddled around the room, looking like the walrus in Alice in Wonderland, his beefy mustaches shining through the clouds of smoke emitting from the cauldron on his desk.

'We're going to go right into it,' he said brightly. 'Today, you will be brewing Amorentia, the strongest love potion known.'

Harry shuttered, and so did Ron. Harry remembered quite well when Romilda Vane had given him some Chocolate Cauldrons that were spiked with love potion. Ron had taken them, and because of that unfortunate event, was poisoned. It was only Harry's quick thinking that had saved Ron's life.

'Please pull out your textbooks to page 15 and begin,' Slughorn said happily not noticing the scared look on Harry and Ron's faces. 'You have a little under two hours. Begin.'

There was a ruffling of books and parchment as everyone began to make the potion.

Harry looked at the instructions to brew the love potion and immediately felt all the confidence and talent he once had for potion making vanish. Slughorn kept giving him furtive glances at continued to look down at Harry's cauldron as the minutes clicked on. By the end of the class, Slughorn's face went from anticipation and eagerness to anguish and pity. The smooth mother of pearl color of the potion from Hermione's cauldron looked positively heavenly compared to the dark blue murky color of Harry's.

'It's alright, Harry,' Slughorn said as the class began to pack. 'Even the best potion makers slip once or twice.'

Harry merely nodded in return. To add insult to injury, before he vanished the contents of his cauldron, the potion emitted a loud hissing noise and exploded, completing coating Professor Slughorn with substances that made a dungbomb smell like roses.

Harry never moved faster in his life as he darted through the door and out of the dungeons, putting as much space between him and Slughorn as he possibly could. Catching up with Harry at lunch, Hermione was in a fit of giggles, but Ron looked morbid as he sat down next to him.

'Just be glad it wasn't Snape,' he muttered to Harry, who couldn't be more grateful than Ron's optimism in the situation.

Harry was as anxious as ever as he walked into his first Defense Against the Dark Arts course. Unfortunately, apparently many other people were too, Harry noticed, more specifically, the girls were.

For some unknown reason, Harry noticed a student from each of the four houses, the first class he had seen this. Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini had entered the class, but were the only two Slytherins. They sat in the back, looking bored. Harry noticed Seamus, Dean and Neville sitting at a table, accompanied by Ernie Macmillan, the only Hufflepuff boy to get into the class. The rest of the class, however, were girls. Harry also noticed that every single table within the vicinity of Castor's desk was taken by the annoying sounds by giggling and whispering.

Hermione gave an agitated huff as she caught sight of Parvarti Patil dabbing her cheeks with copious amounts of blush. Lavender Brown sat next to her, straightening her hair in the back. Hannah Abbot and Susan Bones were adding lipstick of deep crimson.

'Honestly!' she scorned. 'He isn't that cute!'

Ron and Harry exchanged looks and grinned as the door flew open and Castor came striding in. Harry looked at him incredulously. Castor was always seen in elegant robes or muggle suits. But today, he looked out of place entirely.

He was dressed in a pressed but slightly wrinkled marlboro red button down shirt. He wore faded blue jeans and dragon hide boots. He walked forward and stood behind his desk, the room completely silent.

He looks like a damn pretty boy!

Castor, who's hair was usually untidy and hung over his face was now slicked back. A few strands of it had escaped and fell over his forehead. Harry heard Susan Bones sigh and droop a little lower in her chair. Castor was far too busy rolling up his sleeves to notice. Harry glanced others start pulling out their books and he began to do the same.

'Books away,' Castor said not looking up. 'You won't need 'em.'

There was a murmur of excitement at this but instantly became silent as Castor looked up sharply.

He began to survey each student, sitting nervously in the tables in front of him. His eyes narrowed and stopped suddenly as he took in the two Slytherins sitting in the back of the class, both eyeing Castor with mocked boredom.

'Good afternoon,' Castor said not really meaning it. 'I am well aware of who is and who isn't in this class so we can skip over the necessities.'

He walked around his desk and leaned against it, his arms behind his back.

'I'm sure you all have already heard the speech about the importance of this year,' he said coldly. 'So I can skip over that too, however there are some things I would like to address.'

Nobody had moved an inch as he spoke.

'First and foremost,' he said leaning back a little more. 'I am not a bloody vampire, werewolf, or an elite member of the walking dead.'

Harry could tell some of his classmates were holding their breath and looking rather nervous. Apparently, Castor had caught wind of the rumors circling around the school concerning him.

'I am not a Ministry spy, either,' Castor went on in stern voice. 'My past is not important nor anyone's concern. Do I make myself perfectly clear?'

His voice, although not loud, permeated the room like smoke, and sent a shiver down Harry's spine.

There was a murmur of 'yes, Professor.'

'Very well, then,' he said.

'Now, I have spoken with the Headmistress about the past Defense teachers that you have had.'

There was a collective group of groans and muttering around the room.

'Silence!' Castor said sharply, making a few girls in the front row jump back, startled. 'I am well aware of your past teacher, not to mention that ignorant fat toad you had the misfortune of having as a so called Defense teacher for an entire year.'

At this, many people perked up in their seats, giving Castor more of their attention.

'But whether or not you liked your teachers means very little to me,' he said acidly. 'What is important is that I retain a clear assessment on what you are, and are not capable of performing.'

Castor hadn't moved a muscle as he spoke, his body rigid, his light blue eyes surveying the room with interest.

'As your teacher this year,' he continued, 'It is going to be my task of making you fully qualified wizards in defense, and unfortunately, you, at this juncture, are not.'

Theodore Nott, shuffled in his seat and let out a snort. Castor's eyes darted to him.

'Something you'd like to address to the class Mr. Nott?' he asked coldly.

Nott rolled his eyes and to irk Castor more, put his feet up on the table next to him.

'I was just thinking Professor,' he drawled sarcastically. 'Is how you can assume I am not a qualified wizard on your first day as a teacher?'

There were a few gasps at what Nott had just said, and Harry, knowing Castor the most, shuttered at the idea of how Castor would respond to the Slytherin's blatant disrespect.

To his surprise, Castor grinned.

'An excellent point Mr. Nott,' he said folding his arms over his chest. 'Perhaps a little test could rectify my statement.'

Castor heaved himself from leaning on his desk and walked into the middle of the room.

'Everyone stand up and move to the back of the room,' he ordered. Everyone jumped and hastily moved towards the door, all except Nott and Zabini who took their time getting out of their chairs and slowly making their way towards the other students.

Professor Castor pulled out his wand and made a quick wave. Immediately, the tables and chairs vanished, leaving a wide open space in the room. Castor put his wand back into his back pocket before addressing the class.

'Can anyone tell me what a Patronus is?'

Hermione's hand shot up so fast it was a blur. Castor nodded at her.

'A Patronus is the best and only defense against a dementor,' she exclaimed clearly.

'And do you know how they are produced?' Castor asked sternly, his eyes digging into Hermione's.

She faltered for a bit under Castor's gaze, but cleared her throat and straightened herself to full height.

'The wizard must reminisce about a very happy and influential moment in their life,' she said. 'Keeping that mindset of immaculate joy, along with the incantation will produce the silvery wisps of the Patronus charm.'

'However,' Castor said addressing Hermione to continue with a curt nod.

'However,' Hermione started, her voice rising a bit. 'Only an exceptionally powerful and skilled wizard can produce a corporeal Patronus, which is a Patronus that takes the shape on an animal that holds significance with the wizard who produces it.'

Castor stared at her for a moment, and Harry felt Hermione tremble a little bit next to him. But Castor merely smirked and nodded at Hermione.

'Couldn't have said it better myself,' he said. 'Ten points to Gryffindor.'

Hermione beamed at the praise, but still looked slightly apprehensive as Castor glared at her.

'That being said, who here can successfully perform a corporeal Patronus?' Castor asked, not missing a beat.

Hermione's hand shot up into the air, as did Harry's. For a moment no one said anything as Castor's eyes swept over them.

'Only two?' he asked acidly.

And then, out of the corner of Harry's eye, he saw Theodore Nott raise his hand, his expression still showing the same boredom. Castor's eyes darted to him and he smiled once more.

'Mr. Nott,' he said with a smirk. 'Apparently today is the day you prove me wrong on your abilities.'

Nott lowered his hand, a sinister grin spreading on his face. He straightened his back and glided to the front of the class, standing no more than five feet in front of Professor Castor.

'If you would be so kind to conjure a Patronus for the rest of the class, Mr. Nott,' Castor said coolly.

Before Castor could step back, Nott had his wand out and in an instant raised it above his head, his eyes gleaming triumphantly.

Expecto Patroum!

Immediately, a blinding light emitted from his wand, as silver vapors began to race out of it. Then, as Harry raised his hand to his eyes, blocking out the powerful light from Nott's wand, an enormous silvery bird, a vulture, shot out.

It flapped it's massive wings and began to soar around the room, it's ugly head peering down at the students below. It glided down and landed gracefully on Nott's shoulder, where it vanished.

Everyone in the room was speechless as the silver vapors of Nott's Patronus danced like smoke around his robes.

'Excellent, Mr. Nott,' Castor said walking towards the other end of the room where a large oak closet stood. 'Very impressive. Twenty points to Slytherin.'

Harry gawked at Castor. He couldn't believe he had just given points to Nott. Harry looked over at Hermione who had the same revolting look on her face.

'Thank you, sir,' said Nott, looking exceedingly arrogant.

There was silence for a moment as Castor walked forward, looking straight at Nott, his brow furrowed.

'However,' he said still eyeing Nott with a wicked gleam in his eyes. 'Can you do it when it counts?'

Nott's face dropped a bit, but before Harry could register what Castor meant, he snapped his fingers and the doors to the oak closet burst open.

Gliding out of the closet, tall and covered in a ragged black cloak, was the hooded figure of a dementor.

Harry stared at it with horror, his jaw gaping. He heard in the distance the combined scream of girls and felt them shove him roughly as they pressed against the opposite wall as the dementor drew nearer.

Nott froze where he stood, the color in his face was drained in an instant and began to shake as he raised his wand in a trembling hand.

'Expecto-' he croaked but his voice died out.

'Expectum,' he yelped as the dementor glided closer. Harry could hear the sound of air being sucked in from within the hooded figure.

Nott let out a high pitched cry, dropped his wand and dived under Castor's desk. Out of instinct, Harry walked out from the group of petrified looking students, held his wand to full height and bellowed,

Expecto Patronum!

Exploding from the tip of Harry's wand came a massive silver stag which reared on its hind legs for an instant before charging head long towards the dementor.

And then, something unreal happened. The dementor let out a startled yelp and flew straight up, and began to circle around the ceiling. Harry's Patronus galloped around the room than dissolved in numerous waves of illuminated spirals as Harry and everyone in the room stared at the dementor who continued to float around the ceiling of the room.

Harry felt his stomach lurch to his throat when the hooded figure let out a high-pitched cackle. And then, someone else let out a very dark laugh. Harry lowered his wand and glanced at Professor Castor who was back to leaning against his desk, looking up at the flying dementor, chuckling.

Nott, hearing Castor's laugh stuck his head out from beneath the desk and looked up.

'Thank you, Peeves,' Castor said still chuckling a bit. 'That will be all for today.'

Harry, along with Ron and Hermione looked up to see Peeves the Poltergeist whip off the black robe and began to laugh gleefully once more. He removed his hat from his head and bowed gracefully to Professor Castor, who nodded back in return. Peeves swept down and glanced at Nott, who portrayed a look of disbelief. The Poltergeist stuck out his tongue and floated through the walls, laughing madly all the way down the corridors.

Harry's classmates looked at one another, each with an expression mingled with disbelief, shock and humor. It was dead silence for the exception of Castor's continued snickering.

'Well, well,' Professor Castor said addressing Nott who climbed out from beneath Castor's desk, looking positively furious. 'Apparently my statement on your so-called talents, Mr. Nott, were fairly accurate.'

'That bloody Poltergeist,' Nott began but Castor snapped his fingers once more and Nott's voice went silent, though his mouth continued to move.

'I would like to think you didn't just try to talk back to me, Mr. Nott,' Castor said in a deadly whisper, taking a step closer to the Slytherin. 'Forty points from Slytherin for your severe lack of respect.'

At this, Blaise Zabini, who hadn't made a sound, exploded.

'Bullocks to that!' he hissed taking few steps closer to Castor, his nostrils flaring angrily.

Castor rounded on him and one look from the Defense teacher and Zabini's face went pale with fear.

'Lets make it fifty,' Castor said coldly eyeing Zabini as though he were about to hex him. 'And detention for both of you to be served this Saturday night.'

Harry looked between Zabini and Nott who glared at Castor with looks of intense hatred.

Castor motioned Zabini and Nott to rejoin the rest of the class, but not before saying in an eerie voice.

'Your beloved Professor Snape is no longer here to show favoritism towards the likes of you arrogant pure-bloods,' he growled. 'So you better wise up in my class, because I will not stand for your malcontent.'

Castor moved back towards his desk and pulled out his wand once more.

'For the remainder of the class, we will be working on Patronuses and discussing their uses as was just perfectly demonstrated by a wizard with some actual talent.'

Ron turned his head and grinned at Harry, who smiled timidly back.

'Thank you Potter,' Castor said looking at Harry for the first time since he had dropped him off at the train station. 'Twenty points to Gryffindor.'

Castor cracked his neck and cleared his throat. He proceeded into the lesson, speaking in a firm yet respectful voice, Harry noticing each and every one of his classmates give Professor Castor their utmost attention.

But Harry couldn't move. Never once had a teacher remarked on Snape's mistreatment of the students that weren't in his house. Never once had a teacher gone out of his way to mock and disrespect anyone from Slytherin. And yet, Harry marveled as six longs of fascism, arrogance and mistreatment was swept away in only one class period with Professor Castor.

Although it was an entirely different feeling than what Harry had experienced over the summer, he never felt better about being in his company.

Many of the students leaving Defense were positively beaming over their new teacher, with, of course, the exception of Nott and Zabini. Still, his cold and stern personality did nothing more but to enhance the captivation he had over the girls, who wouldn't shut up about him during dinner.

'He does seem to know a bit, doesn't he,' said Hermione absently as she tucked into her salad.

'Did you see how Castor grilled Ernie about his 'shabby Patronus?'' Ron asked gleaming.

Hermione dropped her fork with a clang.

'And how did your Patronus look?' she asked incredulously.

Ron, who would normally get worked up at Hermione's statements towards his studies, simply looked bemused, chewing his steak thoughtfully.

'Well,' he said swallowing. 'I'm not Head Boy now am I?'

Harry tried to hide the grin on his face as Hermione tried to get Ron into a blazing argument. But, astonishingly, Ron merely nodded his head to everything Hermione said and continued through his meal peacefully.

'He's a nice guy,' Hermione said shrilly, making a few Ravenclaws passing her look over their shoulder.

'Never said he wasn't,' Ron said nonchalantly.

'Just because you didn't get Head Boy doesn't mean you have to criticize who did!' said Hermione, her voice getting higher.

Ron finished off his plate and wiped his mouth with his napkin.

'I don't mind not being Head Boy,' Ron said complacently, smiling as he pulled a bowl of pudding towards him.

'You're just jealous!' Hermione cried, looking angry.

Ron, who had just picked up his spoon, took a sigh and placed it back on the table. He turned his head to look at Hermione, his expression was completely mellow.

'Hermione,' he said in a tranquil voice. 'I am not jealous and I have no problem with Ernie. In fact, I think he is a real stand up bloke, him being in the D.A. and all. Now are you quite finished with all your hollowed presumptions?'

Hermione and Harry gaped at him.

Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but when Ron's voice or expression had not changed, let out an agitated huff and went back to her salad. Ron, satisfied, went back to his pudding.

'Okay,' Harry said not believing what he just witnessed. 'Who are you and what have you done with my best friend?'

Ron, who was about to take a meager bite of pudding, looked up, and shrugged.

'We all have to grow up sooner or later, Harry,' he said and took a bite.

Harry groaned.

Ron acting his age? Peeves helping a teacher? Hermione acting like a six year old?

Christ, what next?

As Harry thought this, the doors to the Great Hall burst open and Hagrid came jogging in, each step he took made the floor shake.

''Arry, Ron, 'Ermione!' he boomed stopping right behind him. The three had to raise their heads uncomfortably to look into the beady black eyes of their favorite groundskeeper.

'What's up, Hagrid?' Harry asked.

'After dinner,' Hagrid said, lowering his voice. 'Come out to me cabin, I've got somethin' to shows ye.'

With that, Hagrid turned around and headed out the Great Hall once more.

They all looked at each other.

'I wonder what that 'something' is,' Harry said shifting in his seat at the thought.

'A three headed dog?' Ron asked.

'Blast ended skrewt?' Harry mussed.

'Another giant,' Hermione said in a hollow voice.

Whatever it was, Harry, Ron, and Hermione all made sure they had their wands and a good excuse to leave Hagrid's abruptly if the half-giant got himself another pet.

After dinner the three of them bolted for the front doors of the castle. With new security, it was mandatory that all students make their way back to their common rooms. It took nearly five minutes of negotiating with the Aurors at the front to persuade them to see Hagrid.

Seeing as Hermione was Head Girl and Ron a prefect, they grudgingly allowed them to go, but Harry noticed that the Aurors kept their attention on them all the way down to Hagrid's cabin and Hermione made a sharp knock.

There was a loud booming roar from inside and the door flew open. Fang, Hagrid's bloodhound, charged through, knocking over Harry and began to lick his face.

'Good to see you too,' Harry said trying to push the massive dog off him as Hagrid, still in his large moleskin overcoat from earlier filled in the doorway.

'Yeh came,' Hagrid said happily. 'Have I got a surprise for ye!'

Ron, Hermione and Harry all exchanged nervous looks but walked into the one room cabin Hagrid called home. All though he didn't know it, Harry was positive that Ron and Hermione were staring at the same thing he was.

Perched atop Hagrid's enormous wardrobe was a magnificent bird in colors of stunning gold and red.

'Fawkes,' Harry whispered sitting down at the table.

The phoenix, taking sight of him, swept down and landed gracefully on Harry's knee. Harry stroked the bird's feathers, smiling.

'Ain't he beautiful,' Hagrid whispered gently.

'How?' Harry began to ask.

'Professor Dumbledore left 'em to me,' Hagrid said, his eyes already getting puffy. 'It was quite nice of 'em.'

Hagrid sank into his chair and stared at the bird.

Hermione stood up and placed a hand on Hagrid's shoulder in sympathy.

'How are,' she started. 'How are you getting along, Hagrid?'

Hagrid looked at Hermione and placed his trash lid sized hand over hers and gave it a gentle squeeze.

'I'm alrigh',' he muttered. 'It's nice having Fawkes here. Reminds me of him an all. I was thinking of doing a few classes about Phoenix's to my fifth years.'

Nobody wanted to say it, but Harry felt that was probably the best idea Hagrid had come up with for his course.

'He's beautiful,' Ron said star-strucked at the sight of the phoenix who bowed it's head at him. 'Blimey, smart too.'

Fawkes rose and went back to the top of the wardrobe, put his head under a wing, and drifted to sleep. The kettle over the fireplace began to whistle and Hagrid stood up and walked over to it. The four of them sat at Hagrid's table, drinking tea and talking about everything and anything. Hagrid had told him that he had been at Hogwarts the entire summer helping the Aurors with the trolls that continued to patrol the outer ends of the castle.

'Ain't so smart, they aren't,' Hagrid said. 'Ye need to perform a few charms to get em' to do what cha wan' em' ter do.'

Harry was relieved that Hagrid hadn't asked him about his summer, but he got the suspicion Hagrid, being in the Order of the Phoenix already knew about it. The conversation of Professor Castor was never brought up.

'There's one more thing I wan' to show yeas,' Hagrid said and he stood up once more and walked over to his bed. He bent down and retrieved from underneath it a large wooden box.

'What's that you got?' Ron said eyeing the large crate timidly.

'When Dumbledore passed,' Hagrid said heaving the crate unto the table with a grunt. 'He wrote in his will that the Ministry should consider revokin' me from not doin' magic.'

They all looked at each other, but Hagrid continued.

'He said that due to me steadfast dedication and all that, and since we's in dark times an all, I should be allowed to get meself a wand.'

Harry was stunned. Hagrid had used the little pink umbrella where the pieces of his old wand were lodged since he knew him, but Hagrid had not be allowed to legally do magic since his third year, when Tom Riddle had framed him, over fifty years ago.

'And they said yes?' Ron asked, still eyeing the crate.

'Aye, tha' they did,' Hagrid said happily. He opened the lid and lowered his hand into the crate. There was a moment's pause and then, Hagrid pulled out his arm, brandishing what looked like a mountain troll's club in his hand. It was nearly the size of Hermione, and the other end came down to a dull point.

Hagrid stared at it as though it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

'What's that?' Ron asked.

But Ron's question was answered for him when Hagrid made a swift flick with the club and Ron was hurled a good twenty feet, flying out the back door and landing with a thud amongst the pumpkin patch.

'Ron!' Hermione shrieked and dashed out the back door, Harry and Hagrid on her heels.

'You okay mate?' Harry asked. Ron lay on his back, but somehow had gotten his foot stuck in a pumpkin. He sat up as Hermione brushed away all the dirt and pieces of straw stuck in his hair. Ron was more stunned then anything else. His eyes fell on the large club in Hagrid's grip and a look of horror spread across his face.

'That!' Ron said pointing at Hagrid's new accessory. 'That's a bloody wand!'

'Uh,' Hagrid said dumbly. 'I guess it is.'

'But, Oh! Hagrid,' Hermione said shrilly. 'That thing is enormous!'

Hagrid began to shuffle on his feet uncomfortably.

'Well,' Hagrid started. 'I'm rather enormous meself.'

Harry tried to hide the grin on his face with little success. He helped Ron back up to his feet.

'What's the core?' Harry asked gaining more and more interest on probably the largest wand ever made.

At this, Hagrid's face darkened, and the look in his eyes frightened Harry. It was bad enough that Hagrid was half giant and Harry saw, from atop the Astronomy Tower his fifth year what Hagrid was capable of if angered, but it was entirely something else to have a wand that could serve as a club as well. Hagrid held up his wand and looked straight at it.

'The core,' he growled darkly. 'Is part of the tongue, of a Basilisk.'

At this, Harry's face paled so quickly Ron shuttered at the sight of him.

'A,' Harry stammered. 'A basilisk?'

'Same one ye killed down n' the chamber.'

Harry looked at the wand for a moment, he couldn't believe that the tongue of the sixty foot snake that had nearly killed him four years ago was now in the wand that Hagrid was using.

Talk about irony.

Then, out of the distance, through the mists and fog that began to permeate over the grounds came a hell-raising roar. Hagrid himself jumped and, in an instant was striding through his pumpkin patch around his house. Harry, Ron and Hermione did the same, pulling out their wands as they did so. They walked in the opposite way of the lake, around the rim of the greenhouses where the forest had been cut down for the Quidditch pitch, which was where the noise had come from.

'This way,' Hagrid muttered, and the three followed him to the other end of the pitch, where the changing rooms stood. Hagird continued to take the lead until they were standing at the doorway of the girls changing room, Harry looked at Ron, who was marveling on how cleaner and fresher the girls room was to that of the boys.

'Doesn't seem fair,' he muttered.

'Quiet!' Hermione hissed, nudging him in the ribs.

'Right then,' Hagrid said. 'You three stay here.'

No one wanted to argue with Hagrid at this point.

He stepped through the door, walked up the rail and stopped right on the outer ends of the Quidditch Pitch. There was another loud roar, and something else, men, at least a dozen of them, yelling. Harry's heart was beating so fast he felt as though it was about to jump out of his chest.

After what seemed like five minutes and no word from Hagrid, Harry opened the door.

'What are you doing?' Hermione hissed. 'Hagrid told us to stay here.'

Harry brushed her hand off his shoulder.

'Hagrid might be in trouble,' he said. 'And I'm going to help. You can come if you like.'

Without the knowledge of if she or Ron were coming, he walked through the door and ran up the landing to spot Hagrid at once, standing perfectly still, his wand held loosely at his side. Harry felt a wave of concern for him.

'Hagrid!' he yelled, running up to his side and looking up at the half-giant who stared unblinkingly in front of him.

'Hagrid,' Harry yelled again, this time thumping him on the arm. 'Speak to me.'

There was another loud roar and more men yelling as Hermione and Ron raced up alongside Harry.

'Bloody Hell,' Ron whispered as the sight of what caught their eyes came into view.

Surrounded by at least a dozen wizards was a dragon.

The dragon was enormous, nearly bigger than the Hungarian Horntail Harry had fought back in his fourth year. This dragon, was black also, with long and pointy spikes lining his back going all the way down to the end of its tail. It had a long snout and large nostrils. Two horns, each the size of Hagrid stuck out fiercely above his eyes, which were putrid orange.

The dragon roared back on its hind legs, thrashing from the massive iron chains entangling half of it.

Harry looked at the dragon as it let out an enormous cloud of fire, catching half the pitch on fire, but was soon distinguished by the wizards surrounding it.

Hagird made a deep sigh that sounded like a growl. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked up at him. Hagrid's eyes were swimming in tears and the look he gave the dragon was of something of the deepest affection and longing.

'Norbert,' he croaked.

Harry, Hermione and Ron looked at Hagrid then back at the dragon in disbelief. And then, eyeing the dragon more closely, and noticing that it was in fact a Norwegian Ridgeback, the rarest of all dragons, made the three of them eye that once baby dragon in Hagrid's cabin become the most terrifying sight they had ever seen.

'He's come back!' Hagrid roared. 'My little Norbert has come back!'

A/N: Again, sorry this took awhile, hope you liked it. Review please. I'll need feedback on this chapter especially.