Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Chapter 41 – Year 2
"Yeh kno', I could get used to this" said Hagrid.
"Try not to" commented Harry, drily, while casting a series of cutting charms towards some nearby nearby bushes. "This is strictly temporary."
"Maybe I shoul' convince the headmaster to hire yeh' for the afternoons, then" continued Hagrid, while picking up stray branches and foliage. "My job is certainly easier now, and having someone that can cast magic help is neat."
"Just use your own wand, Hagrid. No one cares" concluded Harry, brushing his hands on his robe. Looking up, he could see that the sun was quite low on the horizon. It was getting darker, and colder.
"It's askin' for troubles, Harry. Anyway, i think we are done. Let's get back to my house."
Slowly, the two of them walked away from the castle's courtyard, Fang trailing behind them. It was late December, and full winter. The latest weeks had been both full and boring: it didn't take long for Harry to notice he had, after all, quite the good reason to meet Black, so being stuck in Hogwarts his classes had just dragged along. On the other side, working with Hagrid had been a fresh change of scenery for Harry.
"Come in. Nothing better than tea and cake, after work" said Hagrid, opening the door to his hut. Inside, the fire was almost dead but it took little effort to vamp it up. Both Harry and Hagrid took off their gloves and scarves, and started preparing the tea.
"I am not saying you should open a bottle of firewhiskey, but what about some beer?" asked Harry, amused. It was more of a joke than a question, by that point.
"If yeh mean butterbeer, sure, boy. As much as yeh want" said Hagrid, clapping heavily on Harry's shoulders, with enough strength to make him stumble. Soon they were both sitting down at the table, tea and a set of Hogwarts pastries in front of them.
"At least I don't see any rockcakes" sighed Harry. "I wonder how many students you and Dumbledore tortured over the years between those and his lemon drops."
"I insist mine were not that bad" said Hagrid, a bit embarrassed. "Not everyone likes soft sweets, Harry."
"My teeth do. Not even magic could fix what happened to them last I tried yours."
"So funny. I wonder why yehr teachers keep complaining about you. And what is that last thing yeh had with professor Snape, anyway?"
"You know how I am using our job as an excuse for doing the bare minimum on homeworks, right?" said Harry, an half smirk on his face – while Hagrid's expression hardened. "And don't start preaching, I get enough of it already."
"Maybe if you were not so difficult…" started Hagrid, but without conviction.
"Sure, whatever. The point is, Snape was insisting that since this is my punishment I should take responsibility for it and sacrifice whatever free time i had to so that i could present less incompetent assignments, or something like that. He was quite smug in saying it, too."
"Please tell me yeh didn't reply, Harry" sighed Hagrid. "Who am i kidding, of course yeh did."
"I am as polite as one can be!" countered Harry, irritated. "Which, that time, meant telling him to just give me my grade and go on with his lesson. Not my fault even that was enough to set him off."
Hagrid just shrugged, and drank more tea. "Try to avoid problems, Harry. More problems, I mean."
"I think I can survive some school drama" commented Harry, lightly, while serving himself a slice of cake. "Anyway, what about Christmas. Are you planning something nice?"
"I'll go to Bulgaria on the headmaster's orders, actually" said Hagrid, perking up. "Nothing special, mind you, it's a delivery of a present to some friend of his. I wonder If I coul' go and visit Norbert in Romania, too…."
"Just ask for extra time. He probably doesn't mind" said Harry.
"Yeah, maybe. What about yeh, kid? Still grounded here at school?" asked Hagrid, teasingly.
"If you have to call it that" answered Harry, unamused. "But i do have something special planned for Christmas, which is way I am keeping my mouth shut lately". At this Hagrid sniggered, only to try and cover it up with a couple coughs. "Well, within reason of course" said Harry, rolling his eyes. "After that, i might forget the way back here and go visit my relatives."
"Your muggle relatives? Why would yeh even want to?" asked Hagrid, surprised.
"Because they are my relatives, and that is reason enough at Christmas time. Beside, I was making some progress with them. Starting from zero helps, of course" said Harry, sadly. After a second of hesitation, he frowned and spoke again. "By the way, if was really a rotten thing you did to my cousin, Hagrid. Maybe you should come with me and apologize, one of these days."
Hagrid seemed surprised, but not convinced. "Harry, they were insulting yehr parents' memory! Family or not, that was wrong. And i won't ever let anyone insult the headmaster, anyway."
"Give my uncle a punch in the face, next time. He might even benefit" continued Harry. "But to curse my cousin, who said nothing, just a little boy…. Come on, that was low."
At this, Hagrid blushed quite heavily. "One of my punches would be much worse than a simple jinx, though. It take' a second to remove that." At this, Harry just stared at him but Hagrid expression did not change. Finally, depressed, Harry said one word. "Muggles."
"Yeah?" asked Hagrid, puzzled.
"Muggles, Hagrid. They can't Finite it, they had to cut the tail off with a knife. It was embarrassing, expensive, quite painful, too" said Harry, getting a little agitated. Noticing it, he shut his mouth and sighed while Hagrid was remaining silent. "You know, maybe apologies should really be in order."
They remained in silence for a while after which Hagrid, head low, simply murmured "I guess. Sorry". Harry just shook his head.
"Well, it is an old story by now. Maybe I shouldn't have brought it up, I am sorry too" said Harry. "Thanks for the tea, Hagrid. School is over, should i come in the mornings starting tomorrow?"
"Oh, right" said Hagrid. "I am not sure. The headmaster said afternoons only, but if yeh want to come and work, yehr' welcome anytime. In winter I need all the help I can get."
"I probably will, then. Unless i get drunk at tonight's party" said Harry, only to smile at Hagrid's expression and raise his hands in a placating gesture. "I swear I was mostly joking."
"That mostly really worries me, kid" said Hagrid, sadly, while standing up. "I am sure even yehw dad would tell you to calm down a little".Harry gave him a flat stare in return but soon shrugged, and decided to let that one slide.
After exchanging goodbyes Harry started his way back to the castle, the sun long gone under the horizon leaving the sky filled up only with the moon and early stars. There was no one in sight, understandably. Most students were packing their trunks for their trip back home the coming day, or just heading already for the great hall, where dinner was about to be served.
Eventually, Harry decided to stop at a bathroom to freshen up a little and then head straight to dinner. Hagrid's tea and cake had only awakened his appetite.
"….and with that, I wish you all a very merry Christmas, my dear students. Rest, celebrate, and don't forget the assignments your professors gave you for these holidays. Now, let's share our last dinner together for this year!" said the headmaster, his usual benevolent smile on his face, concluding his speech in front of the assembled students at the great hall.
The hall itself was full of Christmas decorations, hanging from the walls and the corners of the tables. Tables that, right after the headmaster concluded his speech, saw large amounts of food appear quantities and the students, now sitting down, started piling them up.
The atmosphere was certainly festive, and the excitement could be also felt by the noise, much louder than usual. Seemed like everyone was busy talking with each other. Harry's section of the table was of course no exception, and he checked out his various classmates one after the other.
"It's Disneyland, Zack. And it is quite a big deal. I swear I'll take some photos just to shove them into your face" was saying Justin, immersed in one of his usual tirades on muggle entertainments.
"Please don't" countered Zacharias, smirking. "I can tell they don't move even from a distance."
Ernie gave them a glance, shook his head and continued talking with Wayne – or, at least, to address him while he was quite busy with his dish of pudding. They were a bit more discrete, but Harry could still hear a word or two describing Diagon Alley, and expected presents.
Smiling, Harry turned towards the other side.
"….i pestered my mom for months now, she must have bought me a broom!" said Megan to Susan, determination written on her face. The other girls were watching her and Susan nodding herself, glass in hand.
"Having one will help with Quidditch training" she commented. "I hope I can use my aunt's, during these days. If you get one, let's fly together!"
"I hope we can do something else than flying, too" said Hannah. "And we could all meet after Christmas."
While watching them, Harry crossed stares with Sally-Anne. She leaned on the table towards him.
"Harry, are you still stuck here? I think it's quite mean, to leave you here alone."
"It's not the end of the world" said Harry, while taking some roast. "Sure, it's not going to be the merriest Christmas ever, but I wasn't expecting a good one either, at home."
"Right, your tutors" she said, grimacing. "From how bad they sound, they could be the villains in a fairytale."
"Eh" snorted Harry. "My uncle looks the part, too. They are not that bad, though. Just… normal bad."
"Normal bad" said Sally, evenly, while filling up her glass with pumpkin juice. "Sure."
After a minute of silence, he continued. "Anyway, that's me. What about you, Sally? Any plans?"
"I am not sure. Usually, someone in the family invite most of the others, and we all gather around for a big lunch. Last year it was our turn, so…."
"Seems fun enough. Do you have female cousins of your age?" asked Harry, between mouthful of chicken.
"A couple, yes, either a little older or younger. I hope I won't have problems this time" she said.
"Problems?" asked Harry, surprised, before relaxing and commenting with a quieter voice. "Ah, yes, I remember. What about your parents, then, are they still worried about Hogwarts?"
"Harry, I didn't update you yet" she commented, suddenly excited. "I was having those talks with professor Sprout just like you said, remember?"
"Yes, sure" said Harry, thinking back of his latest chats with her during the month.
"Well, the professor started writing to my parents, and they went back and forth for a while" continued Sally.
"And?" mumbled Harry, mouth half full of potatoes.
"We will go all together to Diagon Alley, at some point during the holidays. The idea is to tour my dad around the shops, the businesses, and some parts of the ministry. To show them wizards are different, not backwards."
"Oh. Not a bad idea" commented Harry, before frowning a little at what she said. "Is that really how Sprout presented it to you?"
"She might have said that the point was to show our way is better" said Sally, smiling. "But, and I quote, 'not in a way that would offend your parents'."
"Of course. It might even work. Good luck then" said Harry.
"Thanks, Harry" said Sally, her smile growing. "In their last letter, my parents seemed eager to do this. Dad was the most worried, mom has always been more mellow."
"Daddy's girl?" joked Harry. Sally just rolled her eyes, and spoke again. "I don't mind visiting Diagon Alley either. Maybe I will buy you a present. Maybe not" she concluded, now with a small grin on her face.
"Don't bother" said Harry, piling up more food on his dish. "Just eat a chocolate frog in my name, or something."
At this Sally giggled, and went back to her own food. Around them, the noise from the gathered students just rose in volume. After a full hour of eating and chatter most students had risen up and left. With some amusement, Harry had noticed several couples of older students going their own way, hand in hand. As for the rest, which included all of Harry's classmates, they moved in groups back to their dormitories.
Inside Hufflepuff's common room, the chaos went on undisturbed. There were students of all age playing, gossiping and enjoying the extra refreshments that someone must have asked back in the kitchen.
As usual, a bit of smuggled drinks in form of butterbeer, ale and firewhiskey could be seen here and there. Checking the tables accurately Harry swore he saw also some muggle bottles, too. As for him, he decided drinking only butterbeer would work better this time around.
The party went on long into the night.
"Why did i drink again?" moaned Justin, painfully cradling his head on his hands.
Next to him, the other boys looked exactly as miserable, if not worse. The girls, on the other side of the table, appeared to feel marginally better but they were still complaining from their headaches and their lack of sleep.
When breakfast appeared in front of them, a couple of the boys groaned more, while Ernie seemed to be turning green and to burp a little. At this scene, Harry just shook his head and smiled.
"Try not to puke all over my breakfast, if you can" he said, amused.
"The hell with you, Potter" was Zacharias' answer.
"Thanks for your solidarity" said Ernie.
"Not my fault you learned nothing from last year" commented Harry, only to start complains from everyone.
"Are you really lecturing us on rules, now?" said Susan, irritated.
"Especially if those voices of you and the hog's head are true" added Megan.
"Just voices" said Harry, nodding gravely. "I would never drink firewhiskey recklessly. And you shouldn't had, either" he concluded with a smirk, only to receive plenty of glares in exchange.
Looking around himself, Harry noticed how most of the students in the great hall seemed to be in similar conditions, or otherwise quieter than usual. The headmaster and the professors were fine but, probably recognizing the situation, did not address the student body in any special way beside a general reminder that the train would be leaving in a couple hours, and that the lower years were expected to gather in front of the gate, so that Hagrid could escort them to the station. The next hour was not pleasant, as they moved through the castle, but eventually the younger Hufflepuffs were waiting for the last strugglers in front of the gate, snow all around them.
"Harry, I hope yeh'r not planning on taking the train" said Hagrid, frowning, when he noticed him among his class mates.
"And good morning to you, too" said Harry, half surprised half annoyed. "I am just escorting them."
"Fine. I'll keep my eyes on yeh, though" countered the half giant.
"Thanks for the trust" whispered Harry, frowning. Shrugging, he turned around – only to almost bump into a small red bundle. Red hair, red robe, red faced.
"Harry, merry Christmas!" she said without looking him in the eyes.
"Thank you, Ginny. But it might be a little early?" asked Harry, only to notice then a brightly colored package in her hands and smile. "I see."
"Yes, I wanted to send it to you by our owl, but he is a bit old and unreliable. So…" she said, shuffling a little on her feet "here. For you" she concluded, pushing forward the box.
"This is quite nice" said Harry, picking the box up and shaking it lightly. It didn't weight much, and no sound would come from it. "You will have to wait until Christmas for my present, though" lied Harry, effortlessy, with a smile.
"I am so sorry you have to be here, alone" said Ginny, a little sad "and for Christmas, too! Maybe the headmaster would let you come to our house, if you ask him" she added, blushing again.
"I wish, but I have another appointment this year" said Harry. "Maybe we will meet up eventually, like in Diagon Alley."
"Maybe!" commented Ginny, excited. "Should we organize it by owl?" At this, Harry's smile got a little forced for a second, but he recovered quickly.
"Maybe. Write me on when you go there, and I'll see if I can join in."
Meanwhile, Hagrid had ordered the group of 1st and 2nd year students to start walking and they were on the way to Hogsmeade. On the road, Ron had joined him and Ginny and, after a couple of final greetings, they split. Walking back to his classmates, Harry received – and returned – several greetings and well-wish from other students from all houses. One of them, like Ginny, accosted him to talk more.
"'morning, Potter. So, any last question?"
"Good morning, Draco. No, nothing. I'll just show up by the floo."
"Well, I do have some" added Draco, irritated. "I got it, it's my mother's cousin, but to make a party just for him... and you know my mother said she also want to invite him on Christmas itself? I wanted to spend the day alone with my parents."
"You told me he is coming back to England after a long while, right? Your mom probably missed him" said Harry, lightly.
"No. Just no" countered Draco. "If that was all, they would have him visit once during the holidays, and that's it. This is too much."
"Well, whatever. Just suffer through it. Besides, he is not going to stay the whole day, right?" said Harry.
"Right" said Draco, now thinking. "You know, we could play some quidditch at the party. Don't worry, I'll go easy on you" he added, smugly.
"Yes, yes, Slytherin is undefeated" said Harry. "Congratulations, you did your part."
"I did more than that!" said Draco, offended. "I am the seeker, the star of the field. I won the matches."
"Don't let your team mates hear you say that, Draco" commented Harry, worried. "People like humble winners, not blowhards."
"Sure, whatever. Besides, my real fun comes from gloating in front of the Gryffindors. Weasleys in particular" he concluded, watching towards the red head itself. Soon, he turned back and his grin grew. "I should be gentle with you poor Hufflepuffs. Only defeats."
"I am aware of that" concluded Harry, unamused. "There are the return matches, Draco. Slytherin has not won the cup yet". After a couple minutes of debate over the school tournament, they promised to meet again at Christmas's eve and moved back to their own groups.
Once in front of the train, Harry received his final goodbyes from the other Hufflepuffs. Mostly a mix of teasing from the boys, and pity from the girls.
"Hang in here, Harry" said Hannah, a bit sad. "We will be back soon."
"Don't cry in your sleep, if you can" commented Zach. Wayne simply shook his head at that.
"Goodbye, Harry" said Sally-Anne, hugging him tightly. This caused a small wave of extra teasing but, beside blushing deeply, she showed no notice of that.
"I might miss you guys. A little. See you soon" said Harry, nodding and taking a step away from the train while everyone else stepped in. He followed them with his stare for a while and waved once at Sally who had kept sending glances at him, but once they were all inside the train he moved away, walking towards Hagrid. Soon, the train had left the station leaving it completely silent.
"It's us again, Harry. Ready to work?" asked Hagrid, already on the move.
"Ready. Let's go" said Harry, following beside him. They didn't talk much on the way, so Harry had time to think.
'I'll have to prepare a present for Ginny now' he though, sighing. 'Draco too, probably.' After a minute, though, he showed a sincere smile. 'Now, what would she like…'