Chapter 15 – The Hag

Harry didn't know what to make of his conversation with the Headmistress and the Minister. He'd been deflecting questions about his return to Hogwarts since May. Part of him felt a sense of inevitably once he'd heard that everyone else was returning. Internally he fought against this inevitability over the Holiday, enjoying the illusion that he might finally be able to control his own future course.

Now he stood in front of Hagrid's huge front door knocking as he'd promised he would. He imagined he'd enjoy a quick visit and head home to the Burrow and sneak a quick kip before everyone returned home. Ginny and the girls had decided to have a lie in at Grimmauld and spend the day at Diagon Alley for an afternoon outing.

"Arry! You came!" Harry was locked into a gut wrenching hug the moment they'd shook hands. "Ay got so much to talk to you about. And we got a meetin' as well. Ay'd offer you some tea but it's 'bout time fer some lunch. You want some 'Arry?"

Harry was about to decline, remembering the usual fare offered on past visits, but he took in the smell and went with his instincts, "Yeah, Hagrid. I think I'd like that. What is that on the fire?"

"Aye, all right 'Arry. That there on the fire is a side of venison. The Centaurs shared some wit' me for some 'elp Ay gave a few weeks back. They'd needs some help movin' some stone fer a new place for a new mare and 'er mate. Daug'ter of the Elder me thinks." Hagrid turned around from the fire and brought a plate over to Harry. He'd picked off a rib for Harry and he placed the rest of the side of ribs on a larger plate for himself, "Speakin' of Centaurs, F'renze would like to speak with you after we 'ave a bite. He's got a favour to ask of you."

"What's that?" Harry had swallowed his first bite. The meat was delicious.

"Ay don't know all of it. It has sommat to do wit' the stone that's left from the move. 'E 'ad me move it clear to this side of the forest once he'd 'eard Ay'd cleared it from the col'ny. Wore me out summat furious. We'll go once we done eatin'. Arry, I nearly forgot. Yer of age now. You like some firewhiskey to go wit' yer food?"

"You know what Hagrid? I will have a small glass. Let me pour though if you don't mind. Sometimes we disagree over what small means."

"Ah course we do 'Arry. Look at me. Ain't nuttin' small 'bout me." Hagrid smiled, "Glad to see you finely speak yer mind 'Arry. Always made me smile you'd took them rock cakes an' try to eat them. Never finished one did yeh?"

Now Harry remembered why he liked to visit Hagrid so much. No matter how down Harry was, Hagrid would always take him out of his funk. "You knew all that time? Why'd you keep offering them?"

"Well 'Arry. When company visits yer sposed to offer summat. You don't just eat in front of yer guests and leave them with nuttin'. No manners in that. 'Sides, twas always funny to watch Hermione try to be all proper and all. Twas a guilty pleasure I'd admit cause I love her dearly, but yeh must admit deh faces she'd mek were priceless." They both laughed hard and loud. The laughter stirred something in the corner; a young puppy woke up and began howling.

The pup was bigger than most dogs but it had the look of a pup recently weened from it's mum, "Lil' pup don't have no name yet." Harry noticed a tear on Hagrid's cheek, "Poor Fang died savin' a youngin' that tried to come back and fight at duh castle. Spider was chasin' the kid an' Fang charged it. Ay always called Fang a coward but he died a brave ole' dog. This one I picked up wandrin' out in round London. Someone prolly let him loose when 'ee got too big. He'll 'ave a 'ard time livin' up to ole Fang but he's more a 'unter. Saw 'im helpin' a Centaur flush out birds the other day. You 'bout finished with that?"

"Yes, Hagrid. You said Firenze is waiting for us?"

"Aye, he keeps a fire near here t'ward the lake. He insists it has a good view of the stars. He's still banished from them others. What say we go pay em a visit?"

The walk wasn't long. They reached the lake in no time at all and Harry found that Firenze was not too deep into the forest. He'd found a small clearing that allowed him to easily look out into the sky and he'd placed a hut made from animal skins near the observation area. "Well met, young wizard. Well met Hagrid."

"Aye, Well met Firenze," answered Hagrid. "You said you needed to speak wit' 'Arry?"

Harry stood quietly waiting for the Centaur to acknowledge him. He remembered that he owed the Centaur his life a few times over. He kept his eyes at the Centaur's hooves."

"Young wizard. I thank thee for making the trip with my loyal mate Hagrid. I must ask a favour of you, young wizard."

"What could I do for you?" asked Harry. "If I can then I'll happily do it." Harry felt extremely uncomfortable under the penetrating glare of the Centaur.

"The stars. I've watched them for many moons. They tell the story of a young witch that is broken. She has been separated from her tribe...much like me. I would like you to return her to her tribe...as much as you are able. You must ask her to return to Hogwarts.."

Harry wasn't sure whom he was speaking of. He thought through those that were banished like Firenze, "You don't mean Umbridge?"

Firenze made a foul face, "The Toad that speaks? I think not. That insufferable beast shall spend the remainder of her days in a most appropriate place – far away from nature and good." Firenze considered, "The one you are to look for suffered greatly in Battle. She fought the grey wolf and won. She is brave yet trifling. She does not yet think deep but she sees far. She is a young flower that has not yet learned the depth of her thoughts."

Hagrid looked at Harry, "I know 'oo he speaks of..."

"Lavender," Harry thought aloud.

"Aye, good luck wit' that 'Arry. Young lass tis a sight to be seen. Fact, she won't be seen by nobody. She's still at St. Mungo's an' she won't have no visitors. Poor lass is said to been torn 'part by that wolf Greybeck."

The Centaur stared through Harry, "Young wizard, I have seen the stars. You and the Seer cross paths many times here in this very forest. I have seen that she can see what I cannot. She will show you the trails that I cannot travel. I might guide you in the general direction of your ultimate destination but she can show you the paths that will allow you to safely arrive to that destination. Without the trails, you will surely be forced to the fjord the rivers along the deep and rapid advances."

Harry wasn't sure he was following what the Centaur said, "But how am I to convince her to come here to Hogwarts if she is not willing to even see me?"

"Young wizard, I am but a seer that can occasionally provide guidance. Even with guidance a traveller must make his own way. You, young traveller, young Harry, have chosen well to now. Follow your heart and your mind and with proper guidance you shall always reach your destination."

Harry nodded still confused. The Centaur bowed as if he were done, "Well met, Young Wizard. Do this for me and ye shall be called Friend. For now, safe travels."

The Centaur then bowed to Hagrid and shook his hand in the traditional fashion at the elbow, "Safe travels, Hagrid. We shall meet soon."

As Harry and Hagrid made their way back to his hut Harry thought about what Firenze had said. It bothered Harry that Firenze would talk about things to be as if they would happen. To be able to tell the future implied that the future was indeed preordained. But what was the use in living if ultimately he couldn't make his own choices? For that matter, if Tom Riddle was really such an awful man then was it really his fault? A preordained fate made him and every other creature merely a Marionette guided along through time by sticks and strings.

Hagrid brought him out of his silence, "How you gonna get Lavender to come back to Hogwarts?"

"I don't know Hagrid. I don't know why it matters. If everything's going to happen anyway I don't know why I'd take the time to care." Harry's temper had overtaken his manners.

"Oh, 'Arry, don't believe that one minute. Twer it so, the Seers wou'd be right all the time. No, 'Arry, don't get me wrong, the Centaurs can see the shifts of time bet they can't see the whole t'ing. Summat is true bet even the Centaurs will admit they can only only see what can 'appen...not whet will." Hagrid stopped as they reached his hut, "Ay'm gonna part ways here 'Arry. Don' let life get you down. That said, if Firenze asks you to get Lavender 'ere it prolly for the good. See whet yeh can do, eh?"

Harry made to shake Hagrid's hand but the half giant pulled him in for a hug. Ron may have been Harry's first mate but Hagrid was his saviour. Hagrid was the one who'd pulled him out of the rubbish and showed him this whole new world. Hagrid had always been there when Harry needed him and he was fiercely loyal to Harry. Harry held tight to Hagrid a moment longer than he would with most. When he finally let go he asked, "You knew about the toffees too?"

"The rock cakes, the sweets...Ay'm part giant 'Arry an' Ay got me own tastes. You learn to turn down unwanted court'sies wit' grace and you will learn a skill indeed. Take care, 'Arry."

With that Harry was on his way. He headed back to the Hog's Head and before Aberforth could complain he ordered a Butterbeer. The tavern was empty other than them. "You mind if I ask you a question?"

Aberforth scowled, "If it's another like that one, then yes."

Harry grinned, "Do you believe everything is preordained? Do you believe people can tell the future?"

"You been talking to that Trelawney lady? Or the Centaurs?" Aberforth looked cross, "You don't worry 'bout no future. Future's just an imaginary thing. All there is is right now. The past has already happened and if you worry about the future enough it won't happen anyway."

"But what about the prophecy...about me and Voldemort?" Harry asked.

"Prophecy made itself. If Voldemort hadn't known about the Prophecy it'd never happened. What kinda prophecy is that? Albus used that Prophecy to bait old Voldemort." Aberforth looked at Harry closely, "Don't get me wrong Harry. There's been futures told. Centaurs have told what could be on occasion. Even they admit the stars tell what's possible - not what is. Never seen anyone tell what would be with any certainty. Even I can tell you the correct time twice a day."

"But remember this." Aberforth looked Harry in the eyes, "Chance and Choice are two lovers that frolic the night away. They are not the same but they are inseparable. Chance cannot exist without Choice and Choice cannot exist without Chance. Together they share Passion's kiss and their progeny is Hope."

Harry was taken completely out of his self pity and he stood open-mouthed. "That is the most beautiful and brilliant thing I have ever heard," mused Harry. "Where did you hear that from?"

"Heard it? I just made it up." Aberforth scowled at him suspiciously, "You finish that damned pint and get the hell out of here. I can't be walkin' around my bar waxing all poetically and all. I'll have all them artsy fartsy students walking in and sharin' Love Sonnets an' ordering wine. They'll start getting all snarky and such about the year and whatever town the rubbish was grown in and start talking about..." Aberforth stopped and shivered. "Bah, hurry up and finish boy and get out."

"You mind if I use that some time? Chance and Choice and all?"

"Boy, you can say whatever you like but you quote me at it and I'll hang you by your bits." Aberforth pointed a finger at him, "And you don't need to come in here talking all philosophical and all no more you hear? This is a man's bar, you hear? You make my head all cloudy when you do that. Now get out."

Harry held his laugh until he'd stepped into the Floo. He heard the old man's tirade even after he left the tavern. Before he blinked he stepped into the Burrow.

ZZZZZZZ

St. Mungo's was quiet. Harry had decided to take a few days before visiting his old schoolmate so that he could decide what to say. He'd been told by Seamus more than once that if you didn't leave immediately once she yelled at you then you should duck...low. Seamus said he still hadn't seen the poor girl. She had the lights dimmed at all times and he'd only seen a shadow.

Finally, on Friday Harry made the trip. He went alone. He knew that today he'd get nowhere but he'd hoped that a second visit on Monday would make more headway. He felt his only chance was that she was nearly ready to leave St. Mungo's and he had the feeling she hadn't yet decided where to stay.

He didn't even get an opportunity to announce himself. "Get out," came a voice from behind the screen.

"I'll just come back Monday," replied Harry. "And Tuesday. And Wednesday. And Thursday...I've been asked by someone that cares about you dearly to check in and see how you are."

"Harry, I don't care if Merlin himself asked you to come see me. If you don't get out of here I will begin throwing things. I'll have you thrown out. Tell Seamus he can give it up and move on. I'm not interested."

"Lavender, Seamus does care about you as much as anyone I know. He worries about you...but the request came from someone else. Someone who's always taken an interest in you so far as I can tell."

The room became quiet. Harry wasn't sure but he could imagine she was rolling through her head who this "other person" might be. "Not Ron?" she finally asked as much as announced.

"No, not Ron. But I don't want to bother you any more. I'll drop by Monday and see how you are. Maybe if you are up to talking..."

"Who is it Harry?" she asked still from behind the screen. Harry was sure he'd planted a seed that would grow strong and proud before he returned Monday.

"No worries Lavender. If you are interested in speaking Monday we can perhaps talk about him." Harry pulled on the line a little bit before releasing, "He had so much to say about you. I promised him I'd look in on you and make sure you were ok." Now the release, "but I don't want to impose today Lavender. I shouldn't have come unannounced. I promise to come Monday mid-day and we can speak more then. It was really good seeing you. It really raised my spirits hearing you are all right."

And as he stepped out of her room he realised that speaking with her did indeed raise his spirits. Somehow it had raised hers as well. Everyone had tried to push her to come out...to accept herself for who she was now. Harry had simply dropped by and said hello. He didn't have any expectations. Her gut told her he'd eventually want something but he wasn't pushing. It felt good though to have a conversation without being told what to do.

Harry returned to the Ministry to find Ron performing some kind of skip and dance. He was showing something to anyone who'd look but Harry couldn't get a look at it from this distance or angle. Then Harry threw out a kind tease, "Ron is that what I think it is? Now all you need is the Quidditch Championship Trophy in your hands and you'd be looking at a spitting image of you in the Mirror of Erised.

"Harry, that's right! I hadn't thought about that! But I think if I were to look today the reflection would be somewhat different," Ron declared - as if to the whole office.

"It'd better be. If Hermione were not in the image I'd imagine you'd have her to answer to."

Ewan teased Ron, "Do you ever do any work here? If you don't find something to do I'll have you cleaning all of the Heads...Head Boy." Ron made a dash to his desk. "I'm only winding you up, Ron. Congratulations!" the Auror shook Ron's hand, "You aren't the prototypical Head Boy. Normally they sit for seven to ten NEWTS. How'd you rate such an honour?"

"I dunno, I'm curious myself. Letter said my Head Boy badge had been late coming. Don't know what that means but it's here now."

Ron spent the entire weekend celebrating his unlikely honour. Friday night was spent with all of the Weasleys eating all of Ron's favourite foods. Percy had congratulated him in almost a backhanded fashion, "Ron, that is a tremendous honour. If you knew the competition for such a thing. There must be several students unable to attend." Ron grinned as the back of his Mum's hand met the back of Percy's head. No other answer was needed.

Saturday evening Seamus and the boys arranged a pub crawl. Harry went with them and was amazed that the boys could walk out of the fifth pub. By pub seven Ron and the boys were singing songs of Gryffindor and Seamus was wearing his second drink. The "birds" as he called them were not impressed with his limericks and when he awkwardly tried to find a rhyme for "bits" he got a good slap on the face. The drinks came when he and Dean chatted up to two young witches and asked the shorter one, "Do you know the difference between chatting and shagging?" when she answered "No" he replied, "Excellent, would you like to go upstairs and chat?" Dean laughed until he couldn't breathe and each time his mates asked Seamus, "What happened to you?" Dean would start again.

Sunday Ron spent the evening out with Hermione. The couple made a special trip to Grimmauld place which resulted in a very awkward conversation between Harry and Ron Monday morning. The two had a quiet breakfast with their girls and Molly. They then took the Floo in together to the Ministry and as they walked to the Auror's office Ron asked something Harry thought he'd never hear, "Erm, Harry? You and Ginny are pretty serious, right?"

"We haven't done anything," answered a cautious Harry. "Just some snogging. Maybe a little accidental contact. I keep my hands to myself, Ron. I wouldn't ever disrespect her...I care too much for our friendship Mate."

"Erm, that's the thing Harry. I, er, I don't know how to ask this but..." Harry glanced at Ron and noticed he was sweating. "Last night Hermione said she didn't think it was right if we started to...well, move on to the 'next phase' as she called it...until you and Ginny had moved on as well. She and Ginny decided it would be something they could..."

Harry bit his lip, "So you are asking me to do what? How many phases are there? Am I only supposed to brush up to your sister or are we talking full on? Am I supposed to let her..."

"I'm only saying. If we were to move on together. You know to..." Harry was having a hard time not seeing the humour in this.

"Does Ginny know about this?" Harry asked.

Ron was defensive, "Harry, you should be happy. I'm giving you permission to...well, you know."

"I know what you are giving me permission to do. In Muggle England where I lived they had a name for what you are doing right now. It's quite offensive really. You do know I have plans to wait until we get married, don't you?"

"Well, could you...do other things?" Ron nearly pleaded.

"Ron, what kind of other things could I do?" They were nearly to the offices, "You know what, Ron? I'm done talking right now." He shook his head, "Unbelievable. Really, unbelievable."

They didn't speak the rest of the morning. When Harry visited St. Mungo's at lunch Harry couldn't get the conversation out of his mind. He arrived at Lavender's room to find the screen still up and the lights still out. The witch behind it had no intention of taking the screen down.

"Good afternoon Lavender, you mind if I come in?"

"You're just going to return tomorrow if I say no, aren't you, Harry? And Wednesday and Thursday too?" the response was meant to be sarcastic but Harry could sense of happiness that he'd returned.

"Did you have a good weekend?" asked Harry.

"What do you think? I had the same weekend I've had nearly three months now. I sit in the dark behind a screen and wait for healers to return with treatments and training that hurt like Bloody Hell. Blimey Harry, what kind of question is that?"

"Sorry."

Lavender sat in silence for a few minutes. She knew what she wanted to ask but she didn't want to sound too eager. "What about you? What did you do this weekend?"

Harry explained Ron's award of Head Boy and the weekend celebration. He was worried the mention of Ron might make her angry but he swore he heard her smile when he began the story. He explained the pub crawl and how Seamus had brought on the ire of the two ladies at the bar and she began to giggle. "Did he use that line about chatting and...you know?"

"Oh, yes. They couldn't throw their drinks in his face fast enough." That brought on a laugh from both of them. He could hear her reminiscing behind the screen, "He used to whisper dirty limericks to me during lessons. Made them up on the spot. I remember one about a about a princess and a knight he used to recite that would get 'the birds' all riled up. I don't know if he fancies tough love but he took it well."

"Seamus has his moments. Ron was the Prat today," Harry grumbled.

Lavender actually mocked herself a little bit, "You mean Little Won Won is making trouble for himself? How utterly like him. He is a good bloke but he can't keep his foot out of it for long. What did he do?"

"Are you sure you want to talk about this?" asked Harry.

"I'm fine Harry. Whomever marries the poor bloke should slip me a few Galleons though for insuring he isn't rubbish, though. He was a sloppy mess in the beginning. At least now he knows where all the parts are." Silence. "Sorry Harry, I guess you don't need a run-down of your mates...prowess in the broom closet."

"I could do without that." Harry paused, "It's just that...he asked me about getting off with his sister so that Hermione will feel comfortable taking the next step. They made some kind of pact. My guess is Hermione is hiding behind it because she knows I won't go further."

"Hermione always was the smart one. I imagine she has him wound up pretty tight if he's willing to present you with an offer like that. She hides a lot of passion underneath all of those rules. I'd heard she'd found a book in the Restricted Section a few years back. She'd memorized some spells according to Pavarti. When Pavarti asked her about them Hermione blushed and said they were for her wedding night. I can only imagine what she could do if she wanted to properly motivate him."

"She found a book in the restricted section on..?"

"Pavarti says there's a whole lot of them. And you know Hermione," Harry could hear her smile, "she'd learn a spell just to learn it. If she's taken the time I am shocked the poor blokes head hasn't exploded yet. He may not be fully in control of his faculties."

Harry looked at his watch. "I should be going." I hope you don't mind me coming back tomorrow. I've enjoyed talking. Everyone wants to talk about so many serious things that it feels good to just talk."

"No, Harry, that would be great. It's been a relief to talk about more than my future with someone." Lavender remembered her question from earlier, "Erm...by the way. Who was it that had asked you to drop by?"

"Oh, don't worry about it. It was Firenze. He'd asked me to drop by. He said that he'd seen a vision of him teaching you about Seeing and that you were attending Hogwarts and I think he said they'd built you a cabin or something so that you didn't have to stay in the dorms. He also said something about you helping me out and if you didn't do it then I'd be in danger. You know how Centaurs are about the stars though. Firenze, of course, is fantastic. He's saved my life more than once. Lavender?"

Lavender was silent. Harry imagined she'd sat silent for a good five minutes after he called her name before she spoke again, "You know, he saved my life too."

"No, I didn't know that."

"Yes. Greybeck found me on the Battlements. I'd been firing off Hexes at the wizards below. He came charging at me and he first ripped into my wand arm. His eyes were yellow and bloodshot. He tore a piece of flesh out of my cheek and stared down at me as he did it. He tore into my shoulder...and my chest. All the while he'd whisper into my ear that I'd never look the same again. My heart pounded as I lie there helpless. I was paralysed with fear but the pain would jolt me."

"He said something to me that angered me. I can't remember what exactly but I remember it had to do with him enjoying the children the most. He said something about waiting until the full moon and finding innocent children to curse with his 'gift.' I don't know how I did it but I pulled him over the Battlement with me and we both fell at least a hundred feet. I heard a terrible howl as we fell and a broken whine when we hit the ground. I fell on top of him."

Harry knew she hadn't spoken to anybody about this just by the desperate rush that she was trying to get the story out.

"I heard that you were hurt badly later that evening. I don't think it was nearly as bad as me. I'd crushed my spine and my shoulder was crushed so that my left arm hung from my body. My nose was bent and my chin was shattered. One of my cheeks and the bones that held my eye in place were fractured. One of my legs was bent behind my head."

"Like you, Harry, I should have died. I was torn and broken in every way. I could feel myself bleeding to death slowly. I was bleeding internally. I could barely breathe. And then he picked me up. Firenze. But he didn't just pick me up and fix me. He first brushed back my hair and he looked into my eyes. I could see the pity and the sadness. I could feel him look through me and then I felt a tear fall on my chest."

"Without warning he leapt into a full gallop and began to whinny as he searched the forest. Each movement caused a tremendous amount of pain but I bore it. I knew he was searching for something important. To whine or complain seemed foolish. By the time he found what he was looking for I was shivering. I'd lost a lot of blood."

"He set me down and I could saw this unicorn. It was beautiful, Harry. White fur with silver shimmers in its mane and a great horn at the top of its head. It was truly a majestic beast. Once he finished whispering in its ear Firenze pulled out a hunting knife and cut right into the flank of the unicorn. With a bowl he captured blood from the unicorn's side. The beast let out a terrible sound but it stood there and took the pain. He then took the knife and cut a long cut into his own chest and took more blood from himself. Mixing the blood with his knife he finally brought it to me and forced me to drink half of it. The rest he poured over my wounds." Lavender went silent.

"So he saved you then? He likely used the unicorn blood to save you and his blood is as powerful as wolfsbane," Harry mused.

"You could say that. He did save me. The question is, just what did he save? I'm a Hag."