Integra did not have any idea what to expect but from what she'd seen, and what Harry had described, Hagrid was a kind fellow. A somewhat absent minded and oft oblivious fellow, but a kind one none the less.
Hagrid's cottage was relatively small, at least when his size was taken into consideration, and located on the edge of the 'forbidden forest', a wood that apparently held all forms of vile beast. While her family did not clean out the place, she did not know, but she guessed they had their reasons.
She smiled at Harry and motioned him forward. She didn't want to be first in. She was in no rush to start her punishment. Sure, she accepted it as better than dishonoring her house, but still, she was in no rush.
The young boy shrugged and adjusted his glasses, before walking forward. He paused for a moment acknowledging a crossbow and a pair of galoshes that sat by the front door.
Harry's knock was responded to with the sounds of frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Through the thick oaken door, Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang, back."
Moments later, Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.
"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.
"I guess the dog likes you, Ronald," Integra remarked.
"Bloody hell! Get this monster off of me!"
"So, who are your friends, Harry?" Hagrid asked the boy.
"This is Ron," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.
"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles. "It feels like I've I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."
"This is Hermione," Harry continued going onto the next friend down the line.
"It’s a pleasure to meet you, Hagrid," she stated with a smile.
"And this is…"
"Aye, I know who this is," Hagrid stated with an indignant frown. "She's that Hellsing girl."
Integra scowled. "And is that a problem."
Hagrid glared at her as if she'd wounded him deeply and personally. "You people killed my Rover!"
"What are you talking about?"
"He was a good boy! He'd a never hurt a soul, but he went and slipped his leash and you people put him down, only 'cause he was a Hell Hound! Rover was a good boy! He'd didn't want ta hurt anybody! He only wanted to play!" the towering giant exclaimed between sobs. "Why'd ya have ta go and kill my Rover?"
Looking at the sobbing behemoth of a man, Integra could not help but feel like dirt. She knew her family dealt with all kinds of freakish monstrosities but the idea that they could be well behaved and loved… that was just too bloody strange.
"I'm sorry," Integra reluctantly stated, not knowing how to deal with the crying man.
"Your dad said your were to help me 'till Christmas," he voice took on a tint of fear, "You're not going to go shoot my other beasties, are you?"
"No!" Integra replied, mentally adding the fact that if they tried to eat her they would be open game.
The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but the four friends pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first -lessons. Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes while Integra did her best, to comfort the giant of a man, who apparently was still hurt by the death of his Hell Hound.
Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Fitch "that old git."
"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her -- Fitch puts her up to it."
Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.
"But he seemed to really hate me."
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid, not quite meeting Harry's eye, "Why should he?"
"Well," Hermione though to herself, "He seemed to like Integra enough. Even gave Gryffindor a point."
Hagrid glanced at Integra is some surprise, "Now missy, I'd like ta hear how you pulled that off!"
Integra shrugged, "I explained how wolfsbane was used to hunt werewolves…"
"Sounded to me like he gave you a point because you told him the best way to hunt them was with a machine gun…" Ron remarked, "Sounds to me like he's got something against werewolves…"
"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid quickly asked Ron. "I liked him a lot -- great with animals."
Integra and Harry;s eyes met over the table with a nod as they both wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose.
While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons, Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet…
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July, widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"
There was no doubt about it, Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes this time. He grunted and offered him another rock cake.
Integra took the clipping from Harry and read over it. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. She paused for a moment in thought.
"Harry," Integra though out loud, "Didn't you tell me Hagrid took a funny little package out vault…"
"So, Integra," Hagrid rapidly stammered, "What did ya do to get punished this hard anways?"
Integra sighed. He was defiantly dodging something. "I 'overreacted' when that despicable little git Draco Malfoy called me a Mudblood."
Hagrid and Ron both gasped.
"Bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, "No wonder you tried to kill 'em!"
"He didn't!" an outraged Hagrid growled at Integra.
"What's a Mudblood anyways?" Hermione thought out loud.
"It's about the most insulting thing he could think of," stated Ron, "Mudblood's a really foul name for someone who is Muggle-born - you know, non-magic parents. There are some wizards - like Malfoy's family - who think they're better than everyone else because they're what people call pure-blood…"
"How dare that peasant claim anyone has dirty blood, no less than a member of the peerage!" Integra growled, "Just look at the fool, strutting around thinking he's better than everyone else because he's from a wizarding family!" She looked at Ron, and indignity asked, "Are all Purebloods such simple minded fools?"
"Hey!" Ron exclaimed, "I'm a Pureblood too you know!"
"I take that as a 'yes'," Integra replied sardonically.
Ron flushed crimson while Harry chuckled at his friends expense.
"Integra, you really should tell him the whole story…"
She sighed and began recounting the story that ended with her punishment and Harry's becoming Griffondor's seeker.
"Hold on," Ron cut in, "You're telling me you got a semester of punishment because you tried to go to your daddy?" he shook his head in disgust. "
"I didn't do it to escape punishment!" Integra replied, "She was going to take twenty points from Gryffindor! I refuse to allow the house to suffer for my actions!"
Harry gawked, "You're taking a three month punishment so Griffondor doesn't loose twenty points?"
She nodded.
"Integra this is wrong!" Hermione exclaimed, "You don't have to do this to yourself!"
Hagrid nodded. "This is the most movin' think I did ever hear. If you want I could talk to Professor McGonagall about it…"
Integra shook her head and began to complain but Harry cut her off.
"If you're going to have to help Hagrid for the rest of the semester then I will too!"
Both Ron and Hermione nodded in agreement.
Integra sighed and looked own. "Fine…"
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(Posted Fri, 11 Feb 2005 23:15)
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