Harry left his friends in the Library after reading up on next week's Potion outline to visit Hragid. He had offered his friends to come and meet Hagrid, though none of them had taken him up on. On his way to the grounds he noticed a group of First Year Gryffindors blocking his path.
"Mind if I get by." Harry said as he approached the door.
He recognized the one boy from the sorting. Ron Weasley. He just seemed to scowl at Harry for a moment. "What happened to you?" Ron asked sounding upset. "How could you end up in Slytherin? You're supposed to be in Gryffindor. You got rid of you-know-who, and you end up with those slimy Slytherins." Ron seemed to have a preconceived opinion on who Harry should.
Harry frowned and looked directly at Ron. "You're gonna tell me what I should and shouldn't do based on something that happened when I was a Baby?" Harry asked rhetorically. "If me being in Slytherin is such a problem for you, then that's your problem. Now are you gonna let me pass?" Harry took a few steps forward getting closer to Ron in an attempt at intimidating him. He then realized that Ron was actually taller than him.
Ron seemed confused for a moment by Harry's confidence. "You don't know how to count Potter?" Ron said gesturing to the other Gryffindors. "There's four of us and one of you. Just what do you think you'll do." Ron was now much more confident than angry. It was clear that he was no stranger to altercations.
"Actually it's four on two." said a new voice from behind Harry. A 6th year Slytherin came around the corner and stood next to him. While being taller than Harry and the Gryffindors, he wasn't spectacularly tall. More muscle than height. He had very short dirty blonde hair, and rectangular glasses, and just a bit of peach fuzz on his chin. "Now, I may be able to count better than any of you, but I still think I'm happy with our odds. Wouldn't you say so Potter?" he asked brandishing his wand.
Harry had never been more happy to see one of his housemates than he did right now. "Yeah, I'd say so." He said looking back at Ron.
The other Gryffindors weren't so smug anymore . One of them looked ready to take off at the slightest thing. Finally one put a hand on Ron's shoulder and whispered to him. "You got lucky Potter, but this isn't over." he said as the left.
As soon as Harry was sure they were gone he let out a sigh of relief. "Wow, thanks a lot. I don't know what I would have done if you didn't show up." Harry said turning to his rescuer.
"Not a problem Potter, I just don't like Gryffindors thinking they're big shit." He said offering Harry his hand. "John Sonarous."
Harry took his hand and smiled. "Harry Potter, but you already knew that." he said politely. "Now I don't mean to be rude and dash, but I've got to meet Hagrid before he starts to think I'm not coming." Harry gestured to the doorway Ron and his friends had been blocking before.
"Don't worry about it. Go. But just remember if those shit heads give you trouble you've got all of Slytherin at your back." John said before heading in a different direction.
Harry now worried started running toward the Dark Forest. He had never been to Hagrid's before, but it was hard to miss the only structure on the edge of the tree line. As Harry approached he could see hagrid sitting on his porch, whittling what Harry guessed was a flute. "Hey Hagrid." Harry said making his presence known.
Hagrid looked up with a large grin on his face. "Arry, good to see you. Haven't had a chance since the Sorting." Hagrid said, standing up and brushing wood shavings off his pants. "How ave you bin?" he asked sounding a little unsure and guilty.
"Fantastic. Just had Potions today and Transfigurations yesterday." Harry said enthusiastically. "Sorry I'm late though. A few Gryffindors wouldn't let me pass." Harry scowled a little and looked away a little embarrassed. "If an older Slytherin hadn't shown up I'm not sure what would have happened."
Hagrid listened but seemed conflicted. "So, yer getting along with your Housemates? Its not to hard is it?" Hagrid asked sitting back down on his porch giving his pants one final brush. "You can tell me, you know. I can't imagine it being easy." Hagrid had a seemingly sad knowing look on his face.
Harry was completely confused. Did Hagrid mean to imply that he was being bullied by his own house? Harry shook his head. "No Hagrid, it's fine. They're my friends. If anything it's the other houses that are the problem. Gryffindor in particular." Harry said sitting down next to Hagrid. "Its like everytime I walk by they're pointing and whispering. Some just stare and me, others frown and glare at me. The Hufflepuffs just ignore me, which is fine. And the Ravenclaws seemed to not hate me though, so that's pretty good. But the Slytherins have been great."
Hagrid let out a deep sigh. "Oh thats wonderful." Hagrid said immediately regretting his choice of words. "Well not the part about the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, but the fact that you're getting along with your Housemates. That's fantastic Arry." Hagrid placed a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I remember the teasing from my time here. I was already bigger than most professors by the time I got sorted into Gryffindor. Most kids me own age were terrified to approach me."
Harry sat and listened to Hagrid's stories of his time at Hogwarts but started to get a bit vague around his third year. "Well it's getting a bit late. How about I walk you to the Greenhouse and show you the den I made for your Orobo-Raven?" Hagrid asked standing up with enthusiasm. "I'll be honest Arry, ever since you came out of Bragforth's with him, I wasn't sure how I could help. Owl's are easy, everyone knows how to take care of owls. But what you've got yourself is a magnificent beast Arry."
They made their way to the Greenhouse as Harry explained everything he knew about Balthazar, excluding the fact that Harry could talk to him.
"I asked Professor Sprout about the Greenhouse and which ones were used the most. I didn't want to much commotion near him during the day, and I didn't want anyone bothering him." Hagrid said leading Harry around a few Greenhouse. "Greenhouse 17 hasn't been used in years, not even in my day was it used. So I just set him up in there." Hagrid pointed out an section of the Greenhouse's ceiling windows propped open.
Hagrid opened the door and presented Harry with a most magnificent view. "Had to do a bit of reading, but from what I could gather Snakes like it warm and dry." Hagrid said gesturing to all the lamps. Inside it seemed like the Greenhouse was from another continent. There were plenty of large rocks and sand underneath lamps and a stream of water that seemed to flow in a circle around a small island. There were larger rocks leading up to the open window. "Had to talked to Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore 'bout certain bits of magic in here. Dumbledore seemed enthusiastic about it he spent an entire afternoon with me making sure that none of the spellwork would come undone in the middle of Winter."
Harry was speechless. It was amazing. It was all for him and Balthazar. No one had ever done anything like this for him before. "What's the matter Harry? Yeh don't like do you? I should have put more rocks, I told myself 'more rocks'" Hagrid started ranting a berating himself and was blindsided by Harry's hug.
"Its wonderful Hagrid." Harry said wiping away a tear. Harry spent the rest of the afternoon asking Hagrid questions about the Greenhouse, the work he put into it, and what he had learned about snakes. All of which Hagrid was happy to answer.
Eventually Hagrid had to get back to his duties and Games Keeper and returned to his hut leaving Harry in the greenhouse. It didn't take long before Balthazar arrived through the open window on the ceiling. Harry spent the rest of his evening before curfew reading his text books with Balthazar curled up on his lap.
