Rubeus Hagrid was a surprisingly gentle soul for a half giant. Being a runt of a giant meant that he had been shunned by the tribe shortly after birth, left with his wizard father. All this to say that Hagrid was a man who understood being an outsider and feared when all you wanted was friendship and peace to enjoy the life we have. Hagrid also was a bit clumsy and a touch weak to drink. That is why he valued Dumbledore's full faith and trust. So when the hooded fellow that was playing cards with him began buying him drinks and asking about his job at Hogwarts and the creatures he had to watch over, Hagrid looked over at the barkeeper with a knowing look over at Aberforth. While the Dumbledore family had their issues, both brothers agreed to watch out for each other from the background.
So when Hagrid gave the younger Dumbledore that glance he understood and gave a curt nod as he poured a drink and set it in front of Hagrid it may have looked and smelled like ale, but his massive mug was filled with water.
Hagrid knew his weaknesses now; after all he was in his fifties. He may be simple and somewhat straightforward person, but he also knew others would underestimate him because of that. His giant blood made charming or ensnaring him was far harder than most wizards could manage, and that extended to a lesser extent to potions. He had to be given a very high dose for most potions to affect him. So when a hooded stranger was suddenly buying him drinks after playing cards, he felt something was off. It was why he had alerted Aberforth in the first place: the younger Dumbledore was quite sharp, which was why Hagrid had been comfortable coming here when the Headmaster approached him.
Flashback
"Yeh want me to go to tha Hog's Head for drinks every Saturday nigh' this school year?" Hagrid looked surprised at Professor Dumbledore, a confused look in his black eyes. The Headmaster never asked him for something involving his off time so his confusion was quite understandable. The aged professor gave Hagrid a faint smile, looking apologetic.
"I know it may seem rather rude of me to insist," Dumbledore began, "but this is all part of finding out if my theory is correct. Do not worry; the barman there is quite friendly with me and has agreed to help out. I can only trust this part of the plan to you both. The person I believe trying to steal the Stone is going to try approaching you to get past your Cerberus, Fluffy. Since I am now coordinating with a new friend to try and flush everything out in a way that leaves no maneuvering room or doubt for the culprit."
"i am righ' honored yer ask fer me help, Professor. Yeh just haven' explained how this helps if I start before the term does?" Hagrid's massive bushy beard kept most of his face unreadable. However he was clearly trying hard to see how starting early helped. He was supposed to take Harry his letter on the poor lad's birthday!
"Oh I assure you this is not permanent my friend. But when the person I believe visits Hogsmeade I think it'd be good if you were seen frequenting the Hog's Head before term officially starts." Dumbledore's smile never faded as he added. "I will also, of course, reimburse you for the meal and drink you order on these nights myself. When the time is right and someone begins acting suspiciously or approaches you and is unfamiliar just give the old barman a nod. He'll take care to make sure you don't lose your wits. Remember," Dumbledore's expression grew serious as his eyes twinkled. "We are all in this together."
End Flashback
I don't want to cause the barkeep any more trouble, but this whole situation feels strange to me. Hagrid played up his drinking as the cards and conversation kept smoothly continuing. Every time his mug emptied, this hooded bloke would immediately buy another. By this point the barman was quietly grumbling as he threw a dirty look at Hagrid, but his eyes showed he was not truly angry. "You break any furniture, I don't care if you're gamekeeper for that school I'll ban you Hagrid!"
"S'all righ'" Hagrid again acted a bit tipsy to put the stranger at ease. "Ah'm not... that bad yet..." He groggily swayed a bit chuckling. "Yeh know what Imd really love?" He turned back to the hooded figure on the other side of the table. "Ah'd love ter raise a dragon. Blimey, do I ever wish I could..."
"Is that so? Well, I am a bit of a collector of unusual items, and I happen to have an egg from a Norwegian Ridgeback here in my pack." The voice was soft and delicate, and quite low to avoid being overheard. "You say you care for unicorns, thestrals, befriended centaurs, even that massive Cerberus you mentioned earlier." The stranger's face was down shuffling the cards and missed the way that Hagrid blinked at them while another person in the corner under a long black veil took notice, though none could tell looking at her where her attention lay.
I didn't mention Fluffy yet... this person wants me to slip up and tell him how to get past the first of the traps that Professor Dumbledore had us all set up!
Hagrid was about to stand and reach for the cloaked person when a fresh mug of "ale" was put in front of his reaching hand. "You're a mess Hagrid!" Aberforth growled at him to get his attention. When the massive man met his face he very slightly shook his head as the person under the veil looked over as if noticing them for the first time. "Get it together or this'll be the last one before I cut you off for the night!"
"Nah, yer can' do tha'!" Hagrid's drunken manor continued, his heavy hand and the mug thudding heavily onto the table, accidentally revealing the hand he had in the card game to the other person. The confusion and the shadow of the hood left the smirk on the person's face invisible. When the two bickering ceased, and Hagrid slumped forward and picked up his cards the trap was lain down for the giant.
"We've played a fair few hands, and your luck is fair tonight. I travel too much to properly care for this dragon when it hatches, but I can't just give it to anyone. How about while we play this hand, you tell me all about the most dangerous creatures you've dealt with. If I believe you can handle it, we play for the egg as out last game."
The person under the veil grinned, unseen by the three men. She admired to see how well Albus could read people and situations. It almost made her wish he had taken the top job after Bagnold retired. Shame, a wizard like him with a mind that sharp could have done so much good rooting out the corruption. However, she did see his point about how power would corrupt even the most stalwart, and his three positions he held showed that he was always going to be a figure looked to for insights and answers.
He would have been an incredible Auror too, now she thought on it. Reflexes and skill like his were nigh unapproachable by most wizards or witches. Amelia Bones took a sip of the fire whiskey in her tumbler through the veil. It passed through easily thanks to the veil being illusory. So while it looked like it was pouring through the fabric. That old coot knows way more than he lets on, I swear. Amelia watched through the wavy haze of her magic illusion. Still, he had been right- someone did think Hagrid was the weak link. So when Hagrid mentioned that he could easily tame his pet, she hoped he remembered what the false tip was they had come up with.
She watched as Hagrid fumbled with his cards, then laughed merrily and agreed to the terms. His blustering turned to the method of soothing the beast. "Yeh'd never guess it, but he's actually fond... fond..." Hagrid leaned in conspiratorially, looking proud of himself. Amelia watched as she could the plan falling apart by the tension in Hagrid's shoulders. At least if he was told the answer it wasn't the end of the world. And sure enough, Hagrid blurted out music as what soothed the savage monster canine. As the stranger laid out a losing hand, the black dragon egg appeared on the table. Before Amelia could try and arrest them for trafficking in illicit items they seemed to be out the door and merging into the shadows of the night sky.
"You did fine Hagrid," her disguise dropped and Amelia moved over towards her two co-conspirators. "I think it will work out better if we know that the next person who attempts to enter that corridor is most likely our thief. Given the wards and alarms we set up in that corridor the Headmaster should be able to alert someone far before they get past the entrance of the corridor on the third floor."
"It was good enough to fool a desperate sort," Aberforth grumbled as he looked away. "So he finally got wise instead of smart, Madame Bones?" There was an underlying tension still between the brothers that confused Amelia, but as long as they were both willing to help in this strange situation she would try and handle things diplomatically.
"Not sure what or who you mean, but if you are talking about the Headmaster I think he may be trying to make steps in that direction, Mister Dumbledore." Amelia was polite and professional. "I hope his willingness to trust us is proof of that."
Aberforth nodded sullenly, but there was a brightness in his eyes made Amelia wary. Just because the younger Dumbledore avoided the limelight didn't mean he was any less dangerous than his older brother. "It shows he is starting to get his head out his own arse at least. Now-" all three stared at the massive black egg on the table. Nobody wanted to take it to a school filled with children. "I think it best you cart that thing off with you, Miss Head of Magical Law. Aren't dragon eggs the type of thing that get confiscated or whatever when people flee the scene? Just get it out of my pub!"
The school year was actually pretty fun for Harry and his three friends. Occasionally Seamus or Dean or both would pop over and every once in a while all their Gryffindor year mates joined them as well. It was just studying, but Harry got to know a bit about Lavender and Parvati from the way they spoke to each other and their very expressive faces when they spoke. It was quite different from how any of the boys spoke and he often would just listen as the pair continued their discussions while they worked.
Harry just couldn't believe that they could talk about everything but their assignments and still finish at the same time as everyone else!
However for Harry the biggest surprise was yet to come. One day at the end class Professor McGonagall called out as they were preparing to leave, "Students who wish to stay in the castle over the Christmas Holidays may sign up with me any time this week."
As his relatives disliked him it was easy for Harry to immediately sign up, something that caught Hermione's attention right away as she looked at him curiously. He was looking happy and almost... relieved? Was there something wrong with his home life? Hermione's mind buzzed with questions. Were they just poor? Looking at his clothes he must never shop for clothes his own size, and he never looked confident or comfortable when he has his regular clothes on.
It didn't sit right with her, rankled her a bit for some reason. The frustrating thing was she had no idea why it bothered her. Something was off, but as she would be going on vacation with her parents to go skiing she would have to leave it be for now.
Harry on the other hand was ecstatic. Ron and his brothers were staying as well this year, and Ron promised to include him in everything they did. It was awesome as far as he was concerned! He couldn't go get gifts for everyone out at Diagon Alley, so he settled for asking the Weasley twins (who had a reputation for getting things inside the school) if they would get some of the nicest sweets they could and maybe something for Hermione if they knew where to get any kind of books she might like.
Now Fred and George were pretty sharp for thirteen year olds. They put the story of Halloween together from the bits and pieces and Ron admitting rather embarrassedly he had had a few nightmares when they pressed him a bit in their teasing. While they loved a good laugh, that hadn't been the type of joke they found entertaining. Nearly watching two people snuff it while you frantically try to save them? That's no laughing matter! So when Harry came to them hat in hand and sincerely asking for help and then catching his slip of first time having anyone to get presents for- Come off it! They couldn't prank someone genuinely caring about their family and the person he rescued! They walked the fine line between jokers and troublemakers, but they were loyal friends.
"All right," Fred relented, after a whispered conversation with George where they had been faux whispering between themselves to get Harry chuckling. "We'll see what can we work out. In fact, we'll even bring you a list of books for sale. I think we may have a supplier in mind."
"Right! Well, with business out of the way lets go brother mine! I heard Lee reckons he found a way to sneak into the kitchens from the opposite side."
Fred laughed merrily as he hooked his arm in George's. "Bollocks! He just got lost following our directions!"
It was a very pleased and laughing Harry Potter that returned to his common room; looking forward to his first actual Christmas since his parents died.
