HARRY POTTER

he'd been dreaming of it since the

defeat of Voldemort the veil that is the

one that Sirius had fallen behind the

last time he dreamed about the

department of mysteries Sirius had died

the world had also finally woken up to

the truth about Voldemort but the price

had been too high for him to be grateful

and once the truth was out the attacks

had gotten worse he wondered briefly why

he was there Ginny was at home she was

pregnant she needed him yet he could not

seem to stay away Voldemort was gone

true but then so were so many other

people good people who should not have

died he counted the steps until he was

standing right in front of where Sirius

had fallen through Cedric Sirius

Dumbledore Hedwig Moody Dobby tonk's

father Remus Colin creevey Tonks Snape

Fred hell even crab didn't deserve to

die then there were more many more but

none of them close to him they were

close to somebody though foreign

maybe that was why he couldn't stay away

why he couldn't look away why even at

that very moment he couldn't walk away

Harry awoke with a start he was lying on

a floor covered by a poor excuse for a

blanket and someone appeared to be

attempting to break the door down

where's the cannon Dudley asked Dudley

where had the veil sent him could this

be when Hagrid first told him about

Hogwarts it must be because he couldn't

recall any other time where he and

Dudley had been sleeping in what

appeared to be a shack there was a crash

behind him and Uncle Vernon came

skidding into the room holding a rifle

Harry snorted like that would do any

good against Hagrid his uncle didn't

seem to know that though and shouted

who's there I warn you I'm armed

although it did occur to Harry that when

people were trying to break in it can

generally be assumed that they are

probably armed as well and as if they

didn't know that a wizard had come for

Harry who else could even get across in

this weather not to mention who else

would even bother smash the door flew

clean off its hinges and landed on the

floor with a thunderous crash Hagrid

stood in the doorway looking very

impressive now Harry hadn't exactly

planned this but he figured that he

might as well make the best of it things

hadn't exactly turned out terribly when

he had taken down Voldemort but they

also hadn't been all that great maybe he

was getting a second chance and if that

was the case there was no way in hell he

wasn't going to take it couldn't make a

cup of tea could you it's not been an

easy Journey Hagrid began and completely

ruined his frightening first impression

he Strode over to the sofa where Dudley

sat petrified budge up your great lump

you told him watching as Dudley ran to

go hide behind his mother who was in

turn hiding behind her husband and

here's Harry last time I saw you you was

only a baby you look a lot like your dad

but you've got your mum's eyes I demand

that you leave it once sir Uncle Vernon

demanded making a funny rasping noise

you are breaking and entering ah shut up

dursley you're great prune Harry grinned

he'd been much too confused to enjoy

Hagrid's verbal Throwdown of his uncle

the last time around when Hagrid reached

over and turned the gun into a pretzel

Harry's grin only grew wider

anyway Hagrid said turning his attention

back to Harry as though people regularly

went around turning deadly weapons into

the shapes of tasty snack food Harry a

very happy birthday to you got Summit

for you here I might have sat on it at

some point but it'll taste alright he

pulled out a cake that said happy

birthday Harry written on it in green

icing why thank you Harry said

gratefully accepting the cake he did

wish though that Hagrid hadn't used a

slithering color even if it did match

his eyes

you seem to know me but if as you said

we haven't seen each other since I was a

baby perhaps you could be so kind as to

introduce yourself Harry asked politely

Hagrid chuckled of course of course

rubius Hagrid keeper of keys and grounds

at Hogwarts and with that he shook

Harry's arm up and down what about that

tea then eh I'd not say no to Summit

strong if you've got it mind

I'm sorry we left in rather a hurry so

we don't have anything to drink Harry

said apologetically it's all right I've

got Summit here

Hagrid said turning towards the

fireplace and then back once he got a

roaring fire going he then proceeded to

pull a good dozen or so things out of

his coat Pockets Uncle Vernon said

sharply don't touch anything he gives

you Dudley Hagrid chuckle Darkly your

great pudding of a sun don't need

fattening anymore dursley don't worry

Hagrid passed Harry the sausages and he

thanked him cordially for his

thoughtfulness then decided that it

would be suspicious to just accept this

and so asked Hagrid for more details

call me Hagrid everyone does and like I

told you I'm keeper of keys at Hogwarts

you'll know all about Hogwarts of course

Harry nodded of course Uncle Vernon's

eyes bulged

yes Harry answered calmly but how we

were always so careful not to let you

get any dangerous ideas how do you hear

about all this Wizarding nonsense now

wait just one second Hagrid thundered

leaping to his feet in his anger he

seemed to fill the whole Hut the dursley

is cowered against the wall

do you mean to tell me he growled at the

dursleys that you told this boy this boy

nothing about about anything no Harry

said shaking his head ruefully they

didn't Hagrid looked as if he was about

to explode

boomed Uncle Vernon who had gone very

pale whispered something that sounded

like mimble wimble but but if Daddy

didn't tell Harry anything how does he

know that badly asked speaking up for

the first time from behind his mother

Hagrid looked expectantly at Harry

FairPoint Harry admitted well it's just

that people have spent the last 10 years

following me around and shaking my hand

and bowing to me generally just

appearing very honored to meet me and

eventually you pick some things up

it's not enough to pick things up Harry

you've got to know

but I do know Harry counted about

Hogwarts about my parents about

Voldemort Hagrid shuddered don't say

that name Harry Shrugged old habits die

hard although if I ever go camping again

I'll make sure to take your advice well

we'll be heading to Diagon Alley

tomorrow

of course Hagrid nodded I am not paying

for some crackpot old fool to teach him

magic tricks yelled Uncle Vernon Harry

might have known Uncle Vernon would

insist on provoking Hagrid quick as a

flash he'd brought his umbrella

containing the pieces of his wand

swishing down through the air to point

at Dudley a flash of violet light loud

boom and pig squeal later Dudley was

dancing on the spot with his hands

clasped over his fat bottom howling in

pain when he turned around Harry could

see the curly pig's tail poking a hole

through the back of his pants Uncle

Vernon roared pulling Aunt Petunia and

Dudley into the other room he cast one

last terrified look at Hagrid and

slammed the door behind them Hagrid

looked down at his umbrella and stroked

his beard shouldn't have lost me temper

he said ruefully but it didn't work

anyway meant to turn him into a pig but

I suppose he was so much like a pig

anyway there wasn't much left to do

he cast a sideways look at Harry under

his bushy eyebrows be grateful if you

didn't mention that to anyone at

Hogwarts he said

I'm sure not supposed to do magic

strictly speaking I was allowed to do a

bit to follow you and get your letters

to you and stuff one of the reasons I

was so Keen to take on the job

of course not Harry assured him it's

getting late so we should probably turn

in

right you are Harry Hagrid agreed we've

got lots to do tomorrow gotta get up to

town get all your books and all that he

took off his thick black coat and threw

it to Harry you can keep under that he

said don't mind if it wriggles a bit I

think I still got a couple of door mice

in one of the pockets

Harry woke early the next morning

although he could tell it was Daylight

he kept his eyes shut tight

it was a dream he told himself firmly I

dreamed I was back to when Hagrid came

to tell me I was going to a Hogwarts

when I opened my eyes I'll be at home

with Ginny there was suddenly a loud

tapping noise and there's Hedwig Jr

knocking on the window Harry thought

relieved still not getting up tap tap

tap all right Harry mumbled I'm getting

up he set up and Hagrid's heavy coat

fell off him the Hut was full of

sunlight the storm was over Hagrid

himself was asleep on the collapsed sofa

and there was an owl wrapping its Claw

on the window a newspaper held in its

beak Harry's heart sank it hadn't been a

dream after all he quickly paid the owl

and handed the daily Prophet to Hagrid

he then listened patiently as the half

giant explained to him about Gringotts

then they got into the dursley's boat

and headed off towards London and Diagon

Alley leaving the dursleys to fend for

themselves realized Harry with malicious

Glee he knew they'd get home before he

would and besides it really served them

right all too soon they were in The

Leaky cauldron as before everyone was

very eager to shake his hand eventually

a pale young man made his way to Harry

his left eye twitching something

terrible Professor Quirrell said Hagrid

Harry Professor Quirrell will be one of

your teachers at Hogwarts

stammered Professor Quirrell grasping

Harry's hand can't tell you how pleased

I am to meet you

Harry briefly wondered how he could

stand touching him but realized he must

not have been possessed yet probably

wouldn't be until he failed to secure

the stone

he also wondered why in the world he

felt the need to stutter the whole year

he could appear perfectly innocent

especially compared to the likes of

Severus Snape just fine without it and

quite frankly it was annoying besides

according to Snape's memory Dumbledore

had been on to Quirrell from the

beginning he supposed that Hagrid

neglected to mention that this was

quirrell's first year teaching so as not

to freak him out with the Dada Job Curse

he decided to bring that up so how long

have you been teaching he inquired well

actually this is my first year but I'm

very excited Quirrell said looking a bit

sheepish

what subject do you teach Harry asked

knowing the answer perfectly well but

that was just the sort of question

people asked their future teachers the

defense against the deedy dark arts

muttered Professor Quirrell as though

he'd rather not think about it yes

Quirrell and his master Voldemort would

probably be much happier without such

pesky things as defenses against the

dark arts being taught not that you

needed a Papi Potter he laughed

nervously you'll be getting all your

equipment I suppose I've got to pick up

a new B book on vampires myself he

looked terrified at the very thought

Harry marveled when he thought about the

fact that this was the very first person

he could remember trying to kill him the

other patrons of the bar quickly

interrupted and it took nearly 10

minutes for Hagrid to extricate Harry

from his throng of admirers things

progressed pretty much the same from

then on until it was time to go to

Madame malkins to get his uniform

when Harry went inside he froze he'd

almost forgotten about his first meeting

with Draco Malfoy here before either of

them knew anything about the path that

was chosen for the other because they

were Arch Rivals before he found out

that Draco though undoubtedly unpleasant

wasn't evil and had more or less

redeemed himself

hmm Harry thought could be fun hello

said Draco Hogwarts 2 yes Harry nodded

my father's next door buying my books

and mothers up the street looking at

wands said Malfoy he had the same board

drawling voice at 11 as he did at 23.

not much point of that until you get

there though right Harry asked true but

she needs something to do while I'm in

here after that I'm going to drag them

off to look at racing brooms I don't see

why First Years can't have their own I

think I'll bully farther into getting me

one and I'll smuggle it in somehow

they probably won't check the luggage so

if you just shrink it you can carry it

in and then unshrink it once you're

there of course you'd have to claim it

belonged to an older student if anyone

asked but that shouldn't be too

difficult Harry suggested Draco looked

at Harry approvingly that just might

work I'd have to learn how to unshrink

things but until then I could get an

older student to do that as well say

have you got your own broom

not at the moment Harry answered

non-committally play Quidditch at all of

course I'm Seeker you same father says

it's a crime if I'm not picked to play

for my house and I must say I agree know

what house you'll be in yet

I think I'd like to be in Gryffindor I

hear they have the best parties well

that's okay if you're into that sort of

thing I'm going to be in Slytherin all

our family has been there well that's

okay if you're into that sort of thing

Harry interrupted and he could have

sworn he say draco's mouth twitch

upwards imagine being in Hufflepuff I

think I'd leave wouldn't you well maybe

not leave that's a bit drastic but I

definitely defect I mean Hufflepuff

sounds like a brand of marshmallows or

pillows or something

this time he knew he wasn't imagining it

Draco Malfoy fighting a smile because of

something he Harry Potter had said he

never thought he'd see the day this

actually was sort of fun why weren't

they friends again

I say look at that man

Harry turned to where Draco was pointing

and saw Hagrid standing outside the

window grinning at Harry and pointing to

two large ice creams to show that he

couldn't come in that's Hagrid he works

at Hogwarts oh I've heard of him he's

sort of a servant isn't he oh that's why

he's the Game Keeper yes exactly Draco

nodded impatiently no not exactly

there's a difference between a Game

Keeper and a servant maybe not a

profound difference but it definitely

something that any Mana Lord should know

Harry said knowing full well that Draco

would inherit Malfoy Manor someday he

was pleased to note draco's ears were

pink I heard he's a sort of Savage lives

in a Hut in the school grounds and every

now and then he gets drunk tries to do

magic and ends up setting fire to his

bed

well Harry said remembering how Hagrid

had carried him back to Hogwarts when

Voldemort had nearly killed him and

struggling to keep his temper

I'd wager a guess that it's a bit

difficult to do magic when drunk under

the best of circumstances and not

everyone can live in manners if they did

then it wouldn't be so special now would

it and people would have to find new

ways to flaunt their wealth Draco nodded

considering you're right I never thought

I'd say this but the hagrids of the

world are needed to contrast with the

right sort of people now Harry knew

exactly what he meant by the right sort

of people but pretended he didn't to

avoid a scene hey is he with you yes

Harry said simply why where are your

parents

godric's Hollow why didn't they come

with you then Draco pressed well they

would have but Voldemort killed them see

Harry explained draco's eyes widened you

said the Dark Lord's name Harry nodded

yes yes I did

Draco didn't seem to be able to think of

anything to say to that so instead he

asked but they were Our Kind weren't

they Harry fought the urge to roll his

eyes if they weren't why would Voldemort

bother with them personally he was

rather busy and important near the end

or so I hear and had other people to

kill Muggles for him

I really don't think they should let

mugglebones in do you they're just not

the same they've never been brought up

to know our ways some of them have never

even heard of Hogwarts until they get

the letter imagine

well I don't think it's not having heard

of Hogwarts that should concern you per

se as much as they haven't heard about

magic or know anything about our culture

Harry said not really answering the

question yes that's exactly why I think

they should keep it in the old Wizarding

families what's your last name anyway

before Harry could answer Madame Malkin

said That's you done my dear Harry

briefly wondered why he was done first

when he had come in after Draco but

decided not to dwell on it

well I'll see you at Hogwarts I suppose

Draco said

later see if you can guess my last name

by then and tell me on the train

I will Draco said suddenly determined

shortly after that Harry and Hagrid had

purchased all of Harry's supplies and he

was back with the dursleys the last

month wasn't so bad his aunt and uncle

mostly ignored him and Dudley ran from

the room screaming when he saw him it

wasn't so bad really as he had had

plenty of experience with people

ignoring and or fearing him in his first

year second year fourth year and fifth

year for getting caught after getting

rid of Norbert being a parcel mouth

being the fourth champion and being a

lying schizophrenic respectively one

thing he did do was make sure he

memorized his potions textbook he was

not taking any chances there Snape may

have loved his mother but he sure as

hell hated him until he died

on the last day of August Harry went

down to the living room and cleared his

throat watching with some amusement as

Dudley screamed and ran from the room

Harry supposed that that was what

happened when Dudley's parents

encouraged him to make Harry's life

miserable and kept him in the dark about

Harry having magical powers I'm Uncle

Vernon Uncle Vernon grunted to show he

was listening I need to be at King's

cross tomorrow to go to Hogwarts another

grunt

would it be all right if you gave me a

lift

grunt thank you

funny way to get to a wizard school the

train magic carpets all got punctures

have they no but they're illegal in

Britain and I doubt they'd trust us to

go straight to school and not let

ourselves be seen if we each had one not

to mention how expensive it would be

where is this school anyway

Scotland Harry replied

can you be any more specific Uncle

Vernon asked planning on coming up for

Family Day Aunt Petunia looked horrified

they have family day now all right we'll

take you to King's cross we're going up

to London tomorrow anyway or I wouldn't

bother

great Harry said and left

to think only one more day and he'd be

back at Hogwarts and he'd get to see

Ginny too if only briefly yes things

might just work out after all if he

could keep his temper this time around

and not alienate the press and the

ministry oh boy this was going to be a

long seven years