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The Head of Ravenclaw celebrated his birthday today. Happy Birthday Profoessor Flitwick!

Chapter 8

Remus was by no means stupid. He was perfectly well aware of the fact that he was panicking for no reason. Albus and Minerva (they had insisted on first names when he joined the staff) were calm, as was Harry. But reading about the Dursley's was putting him on edge. He couldn't wait for Harry to enter Hogwarts just for the fact that they wouldn't have to read about them anymore.

Looking down at the book in his hands he began, "Chapter 4."

BOOM.They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake.

With the way Dudley was sleeping through the storm Harry had been surprised that that even woke him.

"Where's the cannon?" … rifle in his hands

"A rifle? Does he honestly think it's a smart idea to have that around two children?" McGonagall was flabbergasted. Doesn't he at least care about the safety of his own son?

"We are talking about the man who thought it acceptable to give his son an air rifle, so yes, he probably does think it's a smart idea." Remus was of the belief that the man would even go as far to encourage his son to use the damn thing.

– now they knew … landed flat on the floor.

Remus blinked. Whoever was on the other end of that door was strong. Hopefully it was nobody dangerous.

A giant … all the hair.

Remus let out a sigh of relief. It was only Hagrid and he wouldn't hurt a fly…unless said fly was threatening what Hagrid cared about.

The giant … an easy journey…"

Harry chuckled and he wasn't the only one. That was such a Hagrid thing to do. Knock down a door and ask for a cup of tea.

He strode over … behind Uncle Vernon.

"Harry," Remus began carefully, "a very large man just broke into the place where you were staying. Why didn't you hide?"

"I think I was in shock. It's not everyday something like that happens."

"An' here's Harry!" … yeh've got yer mum's eyes."

Harry smiled faintly. He had no idea what his parents looked like until that point. It was one of the things that built the foundation of his friendship with Hagrid. The other being Hagrid's reaction to the Dursleys.

Uncle Vernon … corner of the room.

The tension in the room decreased. At least now they didn't have to worry about any serious harm coming to anyone.

Uncle Vernon … green icing.

"My first birthday cake," Harry said softly.

"Second," Remus corrected. "You won't remember it, but Lily made you one for your first birthday." He grinned at Harry. "From what I heard you made quite the mess with it." Seeing Harry's light blush his grin widened. "You somehow got more of it on James then yourself. I think I may have a picture somewhere."

Harry looked up … "Who are you?"

At least he tried, thought McGonagall.

The giant chuckled.

… shook Harry's whole arm.

"A common occurrence among anyone who shakes his hand," Dumbledore commented casually.

"What about that tea then, eh?" he said, rubbing his hands together. "I'd not say no ter summat stronger if yeh've got it, mind."

McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose. The man was a dear friend, but really, there was a time and a place and that most certainly wasn't the time or the place.

His eyes fell on the empty grate … sunk into a hot bath.

Which was a relief considering how cold it had been that night.

The giant sat back down … starting to make tea.

"I've always wondered how Hagrid managed to fit all that in his pockets. Does he have some sort of Extension Charm on them Professor?" Remus asked Dumbledore.

"Indeed he does. I put several of them there myself. I do believe he may have experimented on his own though."

Soon the hut … he gives you, Dudley."

"Like he needs any more food," Remus scoffed.

The giant chuckled darkly.

"Yer great puddin' of a son don' need fattenin' anymore, Dursley, don' worry."

He blinked. Seems Hagrid had the same thought.

He passed the sausages to Harry, who was so hungry he had never tasted anything so wonderful, but he still couldn't take his eyes off the giant. (He knew not everyone was like the Dursleys, but a part of him was still afraid the food would be taken away.) Finally, as nobody seemed about to explain anything, he said, "I'm sorry, but I still don't really know who you are."

… Hogwarts, o' course."

"Had I been aware of how little you knew I would have sent someone to accompany Hagrid to help explain the little things. He has a good heart but he can be forgetful."

"I think he did a good job. He answered all the questions I had honestly," Harry defended.

Before things had a chance to go any further Remus broke in, "Why did you choose Hagrid?"

"I had originally been of the opinion that the Dursleys were just being difficult. I believed that Hagrid would make a wonderful impression on them as to why it was unwise to continue to do so."

That was very true. Even without using magic Hagrid was formidable.

"Er — no," said Harry.

Hagrid looked shocked.

"Sorry," Harry said quickly.

"Harry, why did you apologize?"

"Habit," he answered. No one was happy with that, but they didn't say anything. It would be added onto the things they needed to work through with him.

"Sorry?" barked Hagrid, … cowering against the wall.

The werewolf couldn't keep the smirk off his face as he read. Hagrid would put them in their place for all the lies they told Harry.

"Do you mean ter tell me," he growled at the Dursleys, "that this boy — this boy! — knows nothin' abou' — about ANYTHING?"

McGonagall winced. During all her years of teaching she learned that there are just some things you don't say in front of young boys, particularly those who wanted to prove themselves, and Hagrid just said it.

Harry thought this was going a bit far. He had been to school, after all, and his marks weren't bad.

The professors all looked at him. They were clearly at a loss for what to say. From their previous conversation about school they were left with the impression that Harry was forced to fail his classes.

McGonagall gave voice to what they were all thinking. "Mr. Potter I thought you said you weren't allowed to get good grades. How could your marks not have been bad from that?"

"That doesn't mean I had to fail. I just had to do worse than Dudley. And he still had to pass his classes. It wouldn't do for their precious Dinky Duddydums to have to repeat a year," he said the name scathingly. "That and he would have lost his spot at Smeltings."

That made more sense. And if they didn't want their own son to have to repeat a year they probably wouldn't have been happy with Harry having to as well.

"I knowsomethings," … sounded like "Mimblewimble."

Remus snorted. It appeared Dursley wasn't used to having people shout at him for a change.

Hagrid stared wildly … with a bewildered stare.

McGonagall felt her heart go out for Hagrid. She knew how trying it could be to explain to some Muggleborns and their parents about magic. Explaining it all to Harry would be ten times worse. Not only would he need to be told magic was real but that his parents had died in a war and that he was famous.

"Yeh don' know what yehare?" he said finally.

Uncle Vernon suddenly found his voice.

"I should have known that was too good to last," the Defense professor lamented.

"Stop!" he commanded. "Stop right there, sir! I forbid you to tell the boy anything!"

Eyes were rolled. Did this man really think he could order Hagrid around?

A braver man …

"Keptwhatfrom me?" said Harry eagerly.

Harry had always known the Dursleys were keeping stuff from him. Why else would they tell him not to ask questions? He just wasn't aware of how big or life changing it would be.

"STOP! I FORBID YOU!" … "Harry — yer a wizard."

It was only the years of practice in dealing with students trying to wriggle their way out of trouble that kept the cat Animagus from facepalming. You couldn't just tell a student they were magical and expect them to believe it without some form of proof.

There was silence … "I'm awhat?" gasped Harry.

"Which I can assure you is a common reaction among Muggleborns, Mr. Potter. It is usually quickly followed by requests of proof." Well, she says requests but that isn't always the case. Quite a few had actually demanded to be shown proof.

"A wizard, o' course," … read yer letter."

Damn right it is! Remus thought.

Harry stretched … and read:

HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY

…

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

"Is there something on your mind Harry?" Dumbledore asked, having noticed that he wasn't focusing much on the reading.

"Huh? Oh, it's nothing. I was just thinking." He paused for a minute before decided to go on. "Do Muggleborns get a different letter?"

"Actually, we do not send their letters out by owl post. It has been tradition for the Deputy Headmaster, or in our case Headmistress, to personally deliver the letters to the students. In this way the family is given proof and it isn't passed off as a hoax of some sort. We do however use Muggle post to set up a meeting between ourselves and the prospective student."

"Why didn't I get a letter like? I live with Muggles, and I wouldn't have an owl to send back."

Dumbledore let out a heavy sigh. "We had wrongly assumed that your guardians had informed you of magic and as such you shouldn't have needed a professor to explain it to you. As for the owl, well, Petunia knows how to contact us without one, so that would not have been an issue."

Harry nodded. It made sense, well mostly. He didn't at all understand how his aunt would know how to contact them and he wasn't about to ask.

Questions exploded … they await my owl?"

"Of all the possible questions that's the one you went with?"

"It was the only part of the letter that didn't make sense."

"Gallopin' Gorgons, … read upside down:

… Hope you're well.

Hagrid

Dumbledore chuckled at the memory of receiving that particular letter. The owl had arrived bedraggled and soaked. As had the letter.

Hagrid rolled up … closed it quickly.

That had been a shock for Harry. And the shocks had only continued throughout the night.

"Where was I?" said Hagrid, but at that moment, Uncle Vernon, still ashen-faced but looking very angry, moved into the firelight.

"He's not going," he said.

"He acts as though he has a say," Remus sneered.

Hagrid grunted.

… stamp it out of him!

That statement got a large reaction out of the professors. The last time it was mentioned Dumbledore's fury eclipsed that of the other two to the point where they were left speechless. This time however they did not let that hold them back.

Harry however was quiet. He was once again in a situation where his ignorance about the wizarding world was apparent. From what he could tell stamping out and squashing magic were bad. Extremely so. But he didn't know why. He considered asking the professors, but as they were just starting to wind down he decided not to. Maybe he'd ask Ron.

Wizard indeed!"

… witch in the family!"

Remus' voice grew colder and colder as he read. If he hadn't been convinced before that Petunia had become a spiteful bitch he was now. To speak that way of your own sister, who you would never see again, was just wrong on so many levels.

McGonagall couldn't help but be reminded of her own situation growing up. Her father, bless his soul, was a Muggle. And he loved her mother dearly, as he did his children. That fact didn't change when he finally learned of magic. His trust however did. She felt it growing up, the tension it caused. She found a home away from home in Hogwarts. It saddened her to think that so many years later one of her favorite students would be subjected to the very same thing from her own sister.

Dumbledore shook his head sadly. Jealousy was a viscous poison. Unable to let go of the past, Petunia had let it build up and even passed it to her family. It turned her into a bitter and hateful woman. One who would never be truly happy until she was able to rid herself of all the bad feelings and memories she held on to.

She stopped to draw a deep breath and then went ranting on. It seemed she had been wanting to say all this for years.

She probably had been, Harry thought.

"Then she met that Potter … and we got landed with you!"

The only sound that could be heard in the room was a muffled thump as the book fell out of slackened hands. Harry turned to the man next to him and saw that he had paled drastically. Looking to the others in the room he saw that McGonagall's lips had thinned more then he thought possible and Dumbledore's eyes held no sign of their usual twinkle.

Remus wanted to say something but couldn't speak past the lump in his throat. Harry, his cub, who had been lied to most of his life, had finally been told the truth in the worst possible way. This was so much worse than the outright lie she had given him two chapters ago.

Once he got his emotions under control he drew Harry's attention towards himself. "Harry, I'm — " sorry? He shook his head trying to gather his thoughts. Apologizing would sound too much like pity and pity was rarely appreciated. He settled for "That was a horrible way to find out what happened."

He nodded, it really was.

Slowly picking the book up and finding the correct page the professor began reading in a slightly shaky voice.

Harry had gone very white … knows his name!"

And it truly was. If that got out it would completely undermine all the pro-Muggle laws people like Arthur Weasley were trying to pass. The last thing they needed was witches and wizards going around attacking innocent Muggles for what only a few did.

"But why? What happened?" Harry asked urgently.

The anger faded from Hagrid's face. He looked suddenly anxious.

No one could blame him. To have to explain such a thing would not be fun. The professors suddenly became nervous. None of them, not even Dumbledore, knew exactly how Hagrid had handled this. It was a delicate situation and that needed to be dealt with carefully.

"I never expected this," … Hogwarts not knowin'."

Harry shuddered. That was a frightening prospect. To just show up at Hogwarts and have people pointing and whispering about him. He would have developed some sort of complex, he was sure of it.

He threw a dirty look at the Dursleys.

… Worse than worse.

And if what Dumbledore feared was true Tom had done the unforgivable to himself. He could only hope that these books would prove him wrong. If not, he feared for what would become of the young man sitting across from him.

His name was…"

… not jus' then, anyway.

Dumbledore couldn't help but feel proud of Hagrid at that. Not the statement about himself, but the explanation. He had managed to find a nice balance between too much and too little information. It was enough for Harry to know the horrors of the war, but not enough to induce nightmares.

"Now, yer mum an' dad … yer house an' — an' —"

A moment of silence passed, mostly in remembrance, but also so that Remus could collect himself. It was a long time ago, but it still hurt to think about everyone that he lost that night, about what he almost lost.

Hagrid suddenly … couldn't find — anyway…

Remus couldn't agree more with that statement.

"You-Know-Who killed 'em. … an' you lived."

Another moment of silence passed for the departed. They truly were some of the best of their generation.

Something very painful … a high, cold, cruel laugh.

The werewolf's breath caught in his throat. He had thought that the voices hadn't started until the Dementors. But to hear that at such a young age and when you only just learned the truth, it was enough to give a grown man nightmares.

Hagrid was watching him sadly.

"Took yeh from the ruined house myself, on Dumbledore's orders. Brought yeh ter this lot…."

"Load of old tosh," said Uncle Vernon. Harry jumped; he had almost forgotten that the Dursleys were there (so had the professors). Uncle Vernon certainly seemed to have got back his courage. He was glaring at Hagrid and his fists were clenched.

As if he could scare Hagrid.

"Now, you listen here, … wouldn't have cured

Anger once again filled the room. To insinuate that the abuse they had already inflicted on Harry wasn't far enough, that they should have gone farther. The more they read the lower the Dursley's sunk. Remus idly wondered if they could sink any further, before regretting that stray thought. He had probably just jinxed it.

— and as for all this … my opinion

"The world would be better off without you," Moony snarled. Harry wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment.

— asked for all they got, … a sticky end –"

If anyone is going to come to a sticky end it will be you, Dursley. Remus had just realized that while he couldn't stop all of his negative thoughts towards the Dursley's he could try his hardest to keep Harry from hearing the worst of them.

But at that moment, … You-Know-Who?"

"Never fear a name Harry," Dumbledore said absentmindedly. He was glad that Harry was asking questions despite growing up with that ridiculous rule. It was a good sign, one that meant they would be able to break Harry of the habit of not asking.

"Good question, Harry. … you stumped him, all right."

"Hagrid summed that up rather nicely," McGonagall stated thoughtfully. She knew from experience that Hagrid often became flustered and would lose his train of thought when under pressure and this was definitely a high pressure situation. She'd have to buy him a drink for doing such a wonderful job. And from the looks of things she wouldn't be the only one in the room thanking him.

Hagrid looked at Harry … like a football?

Dumbledore gave a slightly strained chuckle. "Unfortunately accidental magic doesn't work that way. It tends to only work when emotions are running high as a form of protection against the perceived threat and even then there is no controlling what happens, as you learned this summer."

Harry felt his cheeks heat up and looked down. Emotions had definitely been running high that night, but he didn't regret it. She got what she deserved.

"Hagrid," he said … boa constrictor on him?

Remus snorted. That had been amusing.

Harry looked back … famous at Hogwarts."

"I wish I wasn't," he said looking resigned to the worst.

But Uncle Vernon wasn't going to give in without a fight.

"Haven't I told you he's not going?" he hissed. "He's going to Stonewall High and he'll be grateful for it. (And he would have been to, just for the fact that he wouldn't be with Dudley anymore.) I've read those letters and he needs all sorts of rubbish — spell books and wands and —" (None of which was rubbish. It was all quiet useful actually, except for his History of Magic text, that one was extremely dull.)

"If he wants ter go, …

"I AM NOT PAYING FOR SOME CRACKPOT OLD FOOL TO TEACH HIM MAGIC TRICKS!" yelled Uncle Vernon.

Harry leaned forward in anticipation. Had he possessed little self-control he would have been cackling. As it was he had a hard time keeping the smirk off his face.

The adults had all seen just how far Hagrid would go in defense of the headmaster and they didn't pity the Dursleys. They would finally be getting what they had coming to them. The look on Harry's face just confirmed it.

But he had … hole in his trousers.

When this had originally happened Harry didn't laugh because Uncle Vernon was in the room. This time however he was in the safety of Hogwarts and could laugh to his heart's content, so he did. He wasn't the only one to do so either.

Dumbledore, though thoroughly amused, spared a fleeting thought for Dudley. Even though the boy needed a good shock, the sins of the father should never be revisited on the son. What he didn't know was that one of his own professor's was doing just that. But he would find out soon enough.

Uncle Vernon roared. … door behind them.

Various forms of 'it's about time' filled the room.

Hagrid looked down at his umbrella and stroked his beard.

"Shouldn'ta lost me temper," … much left ter do."

Several people snorted.

He cast a sideways look … wand in half an' everything.

Growling was heard, and for once it wasn't coming from the resident werewolf. It was coming from the boy seated next to him.

But Dumbledore let me stay on as gamekeeper. Great man, Dumbledore."

"Why were you expelled?"

That was one of Hogwarts greatest kept secrets. Very few people had known the reason why when it had happened as only the senior staff had been informed. Dumbledore had been able to convince Armando Dippet, the Headmaster at the time, to keep things quiet. And quiet it remained. Until last year not even McGonagall had known.

"It's getting' late … books an' that."

Harry shook his head. Hagrid was horrible at changing the subject, but he could understand why it was a sore subject.

He took off … one o' the pockets."

The book was closed and placed on the table.

"That was thoughtful of him." Remus was glad they were heading into the wizarding world now and shouldn't have to read much more about the Dursleys. Things should be much more cheerful now.