Harry potter and the Time of Retirement
Everything related to Harry Potter belongs to JKR
Chapter 19
"Aaand another day's gone" said Wayne, while they were all getting out of the last class for the day, Charms.
"Is it me or they are all getting stricter on us? I mean, a five foot essay from Flitwick?" complained Hannah.
"McGonagall keeps saying we should study more now, for the exams" said Megan.
"Anyone knows how hard are they going to be?" asked Justin.
"They are exams. They are hard only if you know nothing" answered Zacharias.
"No one can know everything, Zach" countered Susan.
"We should form a study group or something. You know, helping each other" said Hannah.
"That would be nice" added Sally-Anne.
"Don't you already do that, more or less? You always do your homework inside the common room" added Harry.
"Something bigger, Harry. All of us. Even you" said Ernie.
"Me? Why?" said Harry.
"You are not as good as you seem to think, Potter. I noticed how all the teachers always complain that you put in the minimum effort" said Zacharias.
"Not in the last weeks" countered Harry.
"They just gave up on you" said Hannah, giggling.
"I wouldn't mind receiving some help in Potions. That stupid Snape" said Justin.
"He snapes at us for everything!" added Susan happily.
"Oh God – Lame, Susan – You can't be serious" were some of the comments that followed. Susan did not look embarrassed, though.
Meanwhile they arrived at their common room, which was already full of older students. Most of the kids immediately found an empty corner where to sit down and took out their school stuff while some of them, Harry included, went back to their room.
"So, are you really not staying Harry?" asked Wayne seeing Harry storing all his stuff in his chest.
"Not today, sorry. I already have something to do" said Harry, talking out of the chest a small bag. Wayne, judging from his stares, was curious but still did not ask.
"This is Hufflepuff, Harry. Whatever you need to do, it can wait" he said.
"Yes, maybe. I promise I will join another day. Beside, tonight we would only write Flitwick's essay, and I need no help with that" said Harry, getting ready to go out again.
"Maybe we are the one that need help" said Wayne. His tone was weird enough to convince Harry to turn and look at him, but he was busy taking some books out, and was no longer turned towards him. Shrugging, Harry moved on and walked out of the room first, and the common room later.
'Can't help that' thought Harry full aware of how similar Wayne, normally one of the most mature of his classmates, had been to his own children when he had to leave for work during the holidays or other special days. He was almost failing as an Hufflepuff, apparently, but his classmates' feelings were…
'Eh, sorry kids' sighed internally Harry. They were all nice enough, but in his list of priorities having good relationships with them was not on top. Or near the top. He could only hope this was only a random complaint, and they would not start ignoring him again, as after their escapade in Halloween; that did make him feel a little lonely.
Walking, Harry arrived at the seventh floor and slowly started walking towards the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy trying to look inconspicuous while waiting for a couple of older students passing by to disappear. Once he was alone, he walked the ritual three times onward and back while wishing for "a room where to prepare quality potions". Once the door appeared, he entered.
The room was exactly as he hoped: neither huge nor small, packed with tools for brewing, many books and even some plants – all of common varieties, unfortunately.
Placing his bag on a nearby table, he started setting everything up. While he became quite competent with potions during his career, he never had the flair of a true master. Still, his talents would be enough for what he planned to do so long as he kept his focus on all the time.
'Neither too weak, nor too strong' thought Harry, pondering on his planned meeting with Quirrell. Kicking him out of the castle or even killing him was not that hard –even a simple letter to the aurors or the headmaster could do the trick, so long as it came with a believable enough reason for them to check under his turban. Unfortunately, that would not solve the real problem.
'Riddle' thought Harry, thinking of his old memory of him as a, to be honest quite ridiculous, wrinkled face topping the head of Quirrell.
The few hints he found in the book he copied from the forbidden section – 'By the way, I should really get rid of it while i can' thought randomly Harry – implied that capturing a ghost itself was possible, but it required skills and power that Harry did not possess. The second best thing, he had concluded months ago, would be to capture Quirrell and his host intact but unconscious and pack them for the headmaster with a VERY detailed note on what was happening, and what he was expected to do.
'So, where is my list?' thought Harry, preparing to brew what would be the first of many, many passages required for his weapon of choice: a terrible union of several smaller poisons, used mostly by ministry officials to stun or control dangerous magical creatures, that he would also need to brew in an odorless gas form. In theory he should be able to create it. In practice, he felt only mildly optimistic.
Determined to complete what had been his best idea so far, Harry started working.
Slowly, weeks first and then a month passed. Harry's potions were progressing and, as common with the most complex ones, they now required only to simmer for long periods of time before any addition or intervention, leaving Harry free to take care of other business.
The frenzy that had enveloped his year mates about studying and the exams had not lasted for long with the same intensity, but the study group itself had persisted. Sure, studying was not always the only activity they did when they gathered.
"Here are the cookies" said Justin, dropping a huge, sweets-filled plate on the table around which they were all sitting down.
"And the tea?" asked Ernie.
"I think Susan picked that up – but she stopped mid-way to chat with someone" answered Justin.
"Let me try those" said Wayne, picking one up.
"They are good, but I wouldn't mind something different once in a while" said Megan.
"Just give the order to those… things. God, I swear those elves really freaks me out" said Justin.
"Still your stories on how elves should be tall and smart, Justin?" said Zacharias.
Justin sent his way an annoyed stare, but did not answer.
"They are really nice and helpful. Maybe we should give them a thank you gift. Like a card?" said Sally-Anne.
"You are crazy, Sally" said Ernie, while most of the others just sniggered. Harry, that was sitting close to Zacharias, could swear he heard a whispered 'Muggleborn' coming from him.
"A thank you is enough, Sally. It certainly makes them happy enough" said Hannah.
"True, but still…." said unconvinced Justin.
"Don't start thinking they are like us, Justin. You too, Sally. It would just make you look silly" said Harry.
"We should still be nice towards them" said Sally-Anne, in a low, but reproaching tone.
"Sure, sure. Mistreating your elves is a sign of uncouthness" said Zacharias almost ironically.
"For real, Zach. My dad told me not to trust those that mistreats them" said Ernie.
"Slytherins don't agree, though" said Megan.
"How do you know, Megan?" asked Harry.
"My mom said it. Those that followed… well, you-know-who, never treats their elves nicely" she answered.
"Not all his followers were Slytherins, Megan" said Zacharias.
"Name me one that wasn't" said dismissive Ernie. When neither Zacharias, nor anyone else answered he smiled smugly.
"What are we talking about?" said Susan, arriving with another large dish carrying several cups and a pitch.
"How all the followers of that black lord of yours were Slytherin, apparently" said Justin. He seemed surprised when Susan giggled.
"Black lord, Justin?" she said.
"Figures" said Zacharias.
"Still, they were" confirmed Susan. Then, turning towards Harry "You should be wary around them, Harry."
"Nonsense" said Zacharias.
"They are kids like you, Susan. Beside, Zacharias was right" said Harry.
"About what?" asked Justin.
"You-know-who followers. They came from all houses, except ours" said Harry.
"Really? Go Hufflepuff!" said Hannah smiling.
"Who told you that, Harry?" asked Wayne.
"I read it around" he answered.
"I can't imagine anyone but Slytherins as one of them" said Ernie, unconvinced.
"Maybe Binns should talk about that, instead of his endless goblin rebellions" said Susan.
"Anything would be better than those" said Zacharias.
"Once I thought having a ghost professor would be cool. Yeah, right" said Justin.
"We still have to study History, though. Anyone here that could explain it to the rest of us?" asked hopeful Megan. No one answered, and after a couple seconds some of the kids started smiling.
"Just read the text book, guys. No one listen to the lessons" said Harry.
"Some Ravenclaws do, or so they say. And there is Granger, of course" said Sally.
"You should ask her to help us, Harry. If you do it, she would surely say yes" said Megan with a big smile. The others just sniggered.
"Very funny, Megan" countered Harry lamely.
"We could also search in the library for more texts. And on You-Know-Who, I still can't believe there were Ravenclaws or Gryffindors among them" said Ernie.
"I doubt you can find a book much simpler than ours, though" said Sally.
"You never know when a book can come in handy, though. You know I saw even the groundskeeper borrowing some, in the library?" said Susan.
"You mean that huge bearded guy? Really?" asked Justin.
"Yeah, no joke" she answered.
"Did you see what was his book about, Susan?" asked Harry, with a nagging memory in the back of his head.
"Not the titles, but one had a picture of some monster on the cover" she answered.
'Monsters? Oh. Yes. That stupid dragon of his' thought Harry pinching his nose, while his mind started to recall another of his ridicolous adventures in Hogwarts.
"Yeah, it really is in character with the guy" said sarcastically Justin, smiling at Harry.
The next evening, Harry walked all the way to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door. The hut itself seemed almost deserted, with all the windows closed: only a line of smoke coming out from the chimney hinted at someone's presence.
"Who's there?" boomed from inside Hagrid's voice.
"It's Harry. Hi Hagrid."
After a couple seconds, and some loud noise, Hagrid appeared at the door – and closed it behind him.
"Harry! So nice to see you again! I've been missin' ya!" said the huge man.
"Yes, it must have been what, a month? Sorry, we are really busy lately" said Harry.
"I know, homeworks and exams and all that stuff. Don't mind it" said Hagrid.
A silence followed for a couple seconds, then Harry restarted.
"Am I in a bad moment, Hagrid? Maybe you were leaving the house."
"Oh. No, Harry, it's not that. But…. my house is a mess right now. Can't invite yeh in, let's stay outside" Hagrid said, first hesitant and then in a lighter tone.
"Sure, I don't mind. This way I'll avoid the monster you have inside the house, at least" said Harry teasingly. Hagrid got nervous instantly, predictably.
"What' yeh talking about, Harry? What monster?" he said.
"Oh, nothing, a rumor I heard around. That you were keeping some weird beast in your hut."
At these words the groundskeeper seemed to visibly deflate, and did not answer. After a while he went back inside his house while Harry, that followed him, stopped a couple steps after the door, without closing it. The hut, inside, was exceedingly warm.
"Come in, Harry. Close the door and sit down" said the man, after a while.
"I guess it was not just a rumor, then" said Harry.
"No, it's not. Here, look for yourself" said Hagrid waving his hand towards the fire. There, Harry recognized from his old memories the dragon's egg.
"Doesn't look threatening. Which species is it?" he asked.
"Dragon. A real live dragon, Harry! Do yeh kno' how long I wanted it?" said Hagrid, lively and smiling again.
"I can imagine, dragons are rare. Why hiding it?" asked Harry. Hagrid stopped smiling immediately.
"Keeping it is… illegal. I shouldn't. But, a dragon…." almost whined Hagrid.
Harry stood up, getting closer to the egg. It was black, and shiny, but otherwise unimpressive.
"Yeah, you won't find another soon, or ever. So, what do you plan to do?" asked Harry.
"I'll keep it. As long as I can" said Hagrid.
Harry easily remembered how fast the dragon grew, in his youth. 'Not an option, not for long' he thought.
"A real, huge dragon will never be allowed around Hogwarts" said Harry. Hagrid remained silent and, after a while, Harry continued.
"Listen, did you violate the law by getting this egg? Or, did you just find it?"
"Oh, I won it in a bet. Who knows where this egg come from?" said Hagrid.
"I see. You can't keep it long term, but, maybe you could be allowed to keep it for a while. Until it starts to get too big, or too dangerous" said Harry.
"The ministry would never allow me to keep it, Harry, even for a day" commented sadly Hagrid.
"You? No. They would allow Dumbledore, though" said Harry.
Hagrid, that until now had been sitting at the table with his head down looked at Harry, obvious hope in his face.
"You think so, Harry? Would the Headmaster help?" he asked.
"Maybe. Dragons are rare, he would be interested in showing one to the school while it's possible. Worse case, he can arrange for your dragon to be taken care of – without betraying you to the aurors" said Harry.
"Kettleburn would love to give lessons on it, true" said Hagrid unsure. "I could even help 'im!" he added, switching again to excited.
"Dumbledore is nice, he would help you I think" added Harry, half smiling.
"Yeah, great man the Headmaster. You may be right, Harry" said Hagrid.
"It beats giving the aurors a reason to arrest you, Hagrid. I heard terrible stories on the ministry prison" added Harry.
"….yes, Harry, yeh can't even imagine" said Hagrid evenly. "Dumbledore it is, I can trust him."
"I can't wait to attend your lessons on dragons, Hagrid" said Harry friendly. "In the meantime, some tea?"
After that, the two spent a pleasant hour chatting and enjoying tea and Hagrid's horrible rockcakes. The conversation rotated mostly around how the dragon would look like once the egg hatched, and how Hagrid could help in giving the classes for Care of Magical Creatures. After a while Harry said goodbye, and left for dinner in the great hall. Hagrid greeted him with real enthusiasm, inviting him to come back to check on the egg whenever he wanted.
'My daily good deed done, I guess' thought Harry half pleased and half sarcastic, walking away from the hut.
Author's note: a short chapter, but meaningful in its own way.
On a side note, I received via PM and reviews a couple more requests to hire a beta. Guys, you are right, believe me I am aware that my English is not perfect – and that the structure of some of my phrases reflect my true language. A beta would help. I just don't want one.