Lies might have been more comforting, but somehow she saw this person loved Harry too. She wanted him to believe her without deception.
How Hagrid could take that letter's text as proof of her relation to Harry was a mystery that didn't make much sense. But then, it wasn't entirely unprecedented either. This author has sat bewildered as people read directly from a note or book and managed to misquote the text as the exact opposite of what was clearly written within, believe their misinterpretation, and defend it. The rather vague note had no chance of convincing anyone already inclined for or against Kodachi's supposed relationship with Potter that it didn't agree with them.
In truth, it didn't say much of anything about Kodachi or her family, but it had Dumbledore's signature on it, and that meant whatever it said was important to the burly man.
Besides, Hagrid wants to trust people, a side effect of having a wonderful, kind heart, like he does.
A Law of the Ranmaverse came into effect: Namely the one about people jumping to the most improbable conclusions, then rationalizing them. Most often that rule applied to Ranma, but others were not immune to its effects.
The big giant of a man blinked tears from out of his eyes and grabbed the girl in a frantic hug. "I'm so sorry." Hagrid blubbered. "I ne'er meant to doubt ye. Gosh, Lily had Arry when she was twenty two, that ud mean you'd a been born when she was a fifth year. No wonder she gave ye up fer adoption! Her parents were right dead set against anythin like that happenin and there's no way she coulda raised ya at school, and all. Lily and James weren't even that close back then! She musta been worried sick, thinkin ta be a mother an all witout even a husband to elp er!"
Sniffling back tears, Hagrid looked at her, extending his hug to arm's length and smiling kindly. "Yer got yer father's eyes, and is hair too." He ruffled Kodachi's hair affectionately. "But the rest o ya is yer mother."
Hagrid blinked in astonishment. "Blimey! Didn Dumbledore's letter say ya was a Hecate? No wonder Lily was so powerful! Sure, an if I ad that witch's blood in me I'd claim ta be a muggleborn as well! There's an ancestor worth hidin if there ever was one. Now look you ere, Kodachi. You an Arry are good kids. Don't you go listenin ta anyone says otherwise. Yer mum weren't the firs witch got herself knocked up in her mid-school years. Them robes will hide anythin if ye wear em right, an more an one girl get herself in trouble and kept it all secret til she gave the kid away an no one the wiser. You jes keep telling everone that you an Arry are twins, and I'll back ya up to the hilt. Ye got my word on it!"
Releasing Kodachi after another strong hug, Hagrid turned to lead her back to the boats and whispered as they went. "Now, 'Dachi, yer mum ad it right bout not wanting it known she was a Hecate. Slytherin ain't ad an onest witch er wizard in it yet, an iffn they thought ye was a Hecate they'd put ye in there an no mistake. A ouse full o backstabbin snakes, they is. Do like yer mum did an go fer Gryffindor. That is, if ya want ta have friends ye can count on, an all."
He finished with a completely honest face full of friendly concern for her.
Kodachi's world had gone a bit dizzy. This man had known... her mother? And here he was acknowledging her? She resembled her parents? Hmm, that was a better thought than the pair she'd left, who'd raised her in Japan. Actually, a set of penguins would arguably make for better parents than those two. But..?
She had her father's eyes! She skipped merrily to the boats and got in, giggling, next to Harry, Hermione and Ron.
The boat ride was suitably fantastic, and all to quickly over. Soon the entire group was standing at the gates of Hogwarts. Hagrid knocked with thumping booms, and when McGonagall opened the doors, the half-giant gently took her inside and closed the doors behind the two of them.
"Don you worry, McGonagall. I set em straight, I did." Hagrid was speaking softly. "Lily's daughter, one she ad in er fifth year is ere. Got a letter from Dumbledore wit er. She'd ad er age changed, all due ta Dumbledore, so she could fit in. There was talk on the train about it, but I set em right. We're ta make as if she'n Arry are twins, ya see? That way there won't be no talk as could shame er parents."
Eyes twinkling, sure he was doing right by the progeny of his friends, Hagrid smiled at a rather flustered McGonagall as he turned to open the door again. "Ye should see er, McGonagall. She's got James' eyes, an his hair too. But other'n that she's Lily all over."
With that the giant of a man opened the doors again and went off herding his cargo of pupils back together, already drifting from a few seconds without supervision..
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(Posted Sun, 06 Mar 2005 07:38)
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