A/N: Another chapter has arrived! This one will more than likely confirm a few suspicions out there and I really don't mind. I hope you all enjoy it, and if you're in the mood, leave me a review and let me know what you thought.
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CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THINGS JUST KEEP GETTING WEIRDER
~~~~~December 5th, 1996.~~~~~
Harry, Hermione and Ron left there final lesson for the day, Transfiguration with the cheerful McGonagall, and headed outside into the snow for a walk. The three of them had spent so little time together since the school year started that it felt good to have the trio together again.
Her arms entwined with her boys Hermione kicked at a clump of snow and asked, "So, what are the Christmas plans?"
"I'm at the Burrow, the whole family will be there." Ron told them. "Even Charlie and Bill."
"What about Percy?" Harry asked.
During the previous year there had been a rift between Percy and the rest of the family when he chose to follow the lies of Cornelius Fudge and the Ministry instead of believing Harry and Dumbledore when they said that Voldemort returned.
"Mum invited him. They've been talking a bit, he apologized and everything, but there's still a bit of tension there." Ron explained. "Anyway, he'll probably be there. What are you two doing?"
"I talked to Remus the other day and he said that I'm going to Headquarters with him and Tonks." Harry said, "Your Mum wrote to me, Ron, asking if it'd be alright for the family to come there a day or two after Christmas, I told her that'd be great."
"Cool, we could have a second Christmas."
"Hermione? Are you going home?"
"I got a letter from Mum yesterday, her and Dad want me home. So I'll probably go." She didn't miss the slight look of disappointment on Harrys face. "But I may be able to convince them to let me come to you guys after Christmas."
Harry smiled at her, "That'd be nice. You should ask them to come too, there's plenty of room and that way they'll get to spend more time with you."
"Hey, I gotta' go." Ron said distractedly, then ran off.
Harry and Hermione watched him go with curious expressions. He walked a bit away to where a group of Ravenclaw fifth years were huddled. He touched one on the elbow, a pretty blonde girl, and she turned and smiled at him.
"Oh, so that must be the Ravenclaw he wouldn't mind getting to know." Harry said softly as he turned Hermione away and led her through the snow.
"What?" She looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
Harry smiled a little, "That day he broke up with Lavender, we were talking and he said something about a Ravenclaw he wouldn't mind getting to know, I'm guessing that's her."
He turned back and saw Ron and the girl walking in the opposite direction than he and Hermione, away from the group of girls.
"I'm sorry I won't get to spend Christmas with you." Hermione whispered.
"Don't worry about it Love, we've got a lifetime of Christmas' to spend together." Harry smiled at her, but didn't get a smile back.
She looked up at him a bit teary-eyed, "I hope so."
"You're worrying about the battle."
"I'm allowed to worry about something this important, Harry!" She cried. "I think it's just with all this training....it's making it seem much more real. Making me realize that this is going to happen, this must happen."
He stopped them walking and turned to her, "Yes, it must. But with the training, a little luck, and maybe some help from whoever is upstairs, we'll get through this, Mione."
She smiled a little and let him wipe away her tears, then once more linked her arm in his and continued their walk. Before they even knew where they were going they were just a little away from Hagrids hut.
"Fancy a visit?" Harry grinned.
"Why not? It's probably nice and warm in there anyway."
They walked up to the little old shack and Harry banged hard on the door. After a few moments it swung open and Hagrid grinned at them.
"'Ello! Come on in yer pair, 'bout time yer stopped by for a visit, specially since yeh'll be off fer Christmas soon."
He ushered them in and sat them down around the old wooden table in the center of the room, then leaned over and stoked the fire a bit more.
"How are you, Hagrid?" Hermione asked.
"Oh, can't complain. Bin' pretty good, actually. So where's ol' Ron?"
Harry laughed a little as he answered, "He's off chatting up some poor girl."
Hagrid laughed as well as he sat across from them, "Like Bill and Charlie he is. An' why aren't yer two off chattin' up folks of yer own?"
The look on Hagrids face told them he knew exactly why they weren't interested in anyone else and caused the two to blush.
"I thought so, I thought so." Hagrid grinned smugly. "Yers may be able to hide things from other people, but not me. I can see it in yer eyes."
"Hagrid - -" Harry started.
The half-giant waved him off, "Don't yers worry, I'll keep the secret till yers are ready ter tell evryone. What'd Ron say?"
"He...he doesn't know yet." Harry told him. "We didn't think he'd be too happy about it."
"Maybe not to start with, but he'll get over it. He's yer best mate, he won't stand in yer way." Hagrid said, nodding his head a bit.
Hagrid was about to go on, but the door swung open again and looking outside they saw that the snow had started coming down again. The tall shadow in the door turned out to be Professor Brodsky.
He looked up from shaking the snow off his and was surprised to see the two students in the little hut. "Hello, all."
"'Ello, Byron."
"Sorry, I'm late, Hagrid." Brodsky said as he walked over to the fire and put his hands in front of it, "I got caught up with a third year whom required my assistance."
"That's alright. Bit cold out there, is it?"
"Indeed it is." Brodsky answered as he moved to the kettle and began preparing a pot of tea. "What do
you two have in mind for Christmas, Harry, Miss Granger?"
Hermione was looking uncomfortable being in such a small space with Brodsky so Harry answered, "Well, Hermione is going home to her parents and I'm going to Grimmauld Place."
"I'll probably see you there, Harry, since I'll more than likely be dropping in a few times."
Hagrid had noticed that Hermione had gone quiet. When Brodsky sat down with the tea he watched as the two avoided eachothers eyes. He saw Harry attempt to act as some kind of mediator between the two. At first he thought the two must have had some kind of falling out, but an inkling at the back of his mind came forward full force.
He looked at Hermione intently, then looked over at Brodsky. His old friend had aged far too many years since that horrible night. It had been Hagrid who had found him at the Hogwarts gates all those years ago.
***~~~~~October 6th, 1981. Hogwarts.~~~~~***
It was a beautiful night, though no stars could be seen. The rain had been pouring for two straight days now and that had given Hogwarts that wet grass smell that Hagrid loved so much. Pulling his massive coat off the hook it hung on, Hagrid used his umbrella to perform a very handy spell he had picked up to make the coat water-proof.
Slipping it over his shoulders the half-giant walked out of his cabin and into the rain. The water pouring on him was hard enough to feel, but gentle enough so as not to bother him. With his old lamp and his trusty hound Bones beside him, Hagrid was set for his nightly walk of the grounds.
Everything seemed normal tonight, as it usually did. Even the Dark Lord wasn't foolish enough to attack Hogwarts yet, especially not since Albus Dumbledore was Headmaster.
He wasn't far from the gates he passed every night when he heard it, a crack of apparation. Knowing that no one could apparate while on Hogwarts grounds, he knew it must have been outside of the gates.
Pointing his umbrella in front of him, Hagrid carefully made his way towards the large, old, steel gates. Only one crack wouldn't be an attack, even he could take one person, let alone the Professors inside the castle, but best he be safe.
"Help!" A voice familiar to Hagrid cried out into the darkness.
The sound was coming from the direct opposite side of the gates. Quickly Hagrid ran towards them shining his lamp in that direction. Before he opened the gates up, he looked on the other side to see who it was.
The form was kneeling in the ground, one hand holding him up while the other was holding a large bundle of something.
"Identify yerself?" Hagrid told whomever it was.
Brodsky looked up at his old friend, "Hagrid, please, I must see Dumbledore, it's urgent."
"Byron?"
Hagrid was shocked to see him, especially in his current condition. There was blood mixed with water running down his face from a cut on his forehead, he was dripping wet so he'd obviously forgot to put on any water-proofing charm, he had a gash from his just under his ear to the center of his throat that had blood pouring out of it and he looked as if he'd collapse right then and there.
Hagrids shock didn't stop him from opening the gates any faster than possible. He carefully knelt down beside Brodsky.
"Can yer walk?"
"I think so."
Hagrid thought he must of been wounded somewhere else too and the large puddle of blood that was mixing in with the mud on the ground only proved that. Brodsky was losing alot of blood and he was losing it very fast.
Hagrid carefully helped him to his feet. "Why don't yer let me carry what yer holdin'?"
"No." Brodsky said, leaning heavily on Hagrid as they slowly made their way to the castle. "I can't. I won't let go."
It was a pretty slow trip to the ancient fortress, the rain got heavier and heavier as they went, Hagrid was practically carrying Brodsky most of the way as with every step he got weaker and weaker. Once they were in the light given off by the castle Hagrid looked back and saw a trail of blood.
They entered the entrance hall of the castle and Hagrid went to steer Brodsky towards the infirmary. "No, Hagrid, my friend, I must see Dumbledore, this is far too important."
"Yer canna' tell Dumbledore what yer need ter if yer die on the way there." Hagrid argued.
"This is more urgent than my life, Hagrid."
"What is going on?" A young mans voice broke in.
Hagrid looked over to see the schools head boy, Charlie Weasley. "Charlie, I need yer to go an' get Dumbledore an' McGonagall, quickly." Charlie nodded and ran off as fast as he could. "We're goin' to the infirmary."
"No, Hagrid! I must see Dumbledore!"
"Yer'll see him, he's on his way."
"Hagrid, this is urgent, my life means nothing now."
"Yer goin' to the infirmary an' tha's that!" Hagrid ordered, dragging him in the direction of the hospital wing.
"No! I won't allow you to take me there, Hagrid! I won't walk anywhere unless it's to Dumbledores office."
If the situation wasn't so serious Hagrid may have laughed. "Walk, eh? I suppose, yer feet may touch the ground a few times."
Hagrid physically lifted Brodsky off the ground and headed for the infirmary. Once there he hollered out for Madame Pomfrey who came rushing in almost immediately.
"What has happened?" The medi-witch asked in a hurry as she directed Hagrid towards a bed.
"I dunno. He's hurt pretty bad, lost alot of blood."
They lay him down on the bed, but when they attempted to take whatever it was he was carrying off him he responded with energy that a man in his condition shouldn't have.
"No! Not until I see Dumbledore!"
As if his words were a calling Dumbledore walked through the large doors, McGonagall close behind.
"Hagrid?" The Headmaster inquired.
But Hagrid never got the chance to explain as McGonagall had seen the patient. "Byron? Oh my Lord, what has happened?"
"Dumbledore, I must speak with you immediately."
Everyone in the room could hear the seriousness in the statement. Whatever had happened, whatever Brodsky had to say to Dumbledore was more important than his own life, the man didn't care if he died as long as he told the Headmaster what he needed to.
Very slowly Dumbledore nodded. "Hagrid, Poppy, leave us a moment."
Pomfrey looked as if she were about to argue but Hagrid took her arm and walked her away from the scene. Dumbledore and McGonagall moved closer to Brodsky and Dumbledore used his wand to draw up a privacy screen around the three.
Hagrid waited patiently as he heard the hushed voices from behind the screen. The only distinguishable sounds were a few uncontrollable cries from McGonagall and when Brodsky screamed, "They killed her!"
After what seemed like an eternity the screen was removed. McGonagall walked straight to Pomfrey, white as a ghost, and now holding whatever it was that Brodsky had been holding, which to Hagrid looked like a pile of rags. Obviously something important was wrapped up in them.
"Poppy, please...." McGonagall started, tears in her eyes.
"I'll do everything I can, Minerva." The other witch swore and then ran over to her patient and got
straight to work.
McGonagall gave Hagrid an appreciative look, to which he nodded at and then left the infirmary. Dumbledore was whispering to Brodsky for a minute longer before walking back to Hagrid.
He simply motioned for Hagrid to follow him out of the hospital wing. "Thankyou, Hagrid, for forcing him to come to the infirmary."
"He lost so much blood, Professor. There's a trail of it leadin' right back to the gates."
"There is nothing that you nor I can do for him at the moment, Hagrid, Poppy will treat him if she can."
"What happened, Sir?"
"The death eaters attacked. His family is dead." Dumbledore stated gravely, his eyes shining in their sadness. "He may survive this night, Hagrid, but I don't know if he can survive tomorrow when he wakes."
"Damn Riddle!" Hagrid cursed. "Why? Why is he doin' these things, Professor? He wasn't that bad when he was 'ere. Sure, he was a bit weird and sneaky, but....."
Dumbledore simply shook his head, patted Hagrid on the shoulder, stating, "Not all wizards are good, Hagrid. We will never understand the nature of evil and that is what makes us the side of light, Hagrid." Then he walked away.
Hagrid pondered the words for a few moments before going back inside the infirmary and quietly taking a seat far away from where Madame Pomfrey was struggling to keep his friend alive.
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Hagrid went over this memory like he had so many times before. Then very suddenly, as it hit Hagrid like a ton of bricks, he stood, knocking the table and spilling tea everywhere. Three sets of curious eyes looked up at him.
"Yer two..." He said pointing at Harry and Hermione, "Yers should get goin' before the snow gets heavy."
"Perhaps I should leave too then." Brodsky stood as did Harry and Hermione.
"No." Hagrid told him, "I gotta' talk ter yer 'bout somethin'."
"Very well. Harry, I shall see you tomorrow night then."
"Goodbye Professor, we'll see you later Hagrid."
Harry and Hermione left the hut and from outside, although the wind was blowing hard, they heard Hagrids voice boom, but all they could make out was, "Why the ruddy hell - -".
Exchanging a look, they ran towards the castle. As soon as they entered the ancient building they shook the snow off themselves and looked at eachother.
"Was it my imagination," Hermione began, "or did we just hear Hagrid yell?"
"I'm pretty sure that's what it was."
The two headed for the staircases, "We've never heard Hagrid yell. Hagrid doesn't yell. What do you think made him angry?"
"I wouldn't know. Nothing happened that could've done it, nothing we were saying....."
"This is just getting weirder and weirder." Hermione muttered.
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