The Girl Who Lived

The clock had barely had the chance to strike midnight when, suddenly, the tranquility of the night was shattered by a colossal bang. The Dursleys' house, once enveloped in silence, now seemed to tremble. The door was thrown open with brutal force, and from it burst a giant of imposing aspect, filling the small hall with his massive figure.

His height must have exceeded three meters, his face almost entirely concealed by his wild, long, unkempt hair and beard.

He wore a leather coat, heavy boots, and, strangely, an umbrella.

For a moment, the girl feared for her life, until she remembered the newly discovered world for her. If wizards existed, why not giants?

"You..." she began, but her voice trailed off.

The Dursleys came downstairs screaming, creating an annoying cacophony, and the only thing that prevented the girl from rolling her eyes was seeing that Vernon was carrying a shotgun.

"Who are you?" he shouted, pointing the gun at the newcomer. "Look, I'm armed!"

"Couldn't you prepare a cup of tea for us, could you?" The stranger retorted, his gentle voice in total disagreement with his appearance, then he headed to the sofa, which sank under his weight. It was when his eyes turned to Shaia and wrinkled into a smile. "Ah, and here's Shaia!" exclaimed the giant. "The last time I saw you, you were a baby. You look very much like your mother, but you have your father's eyes."

Uncle Vernon made a strange, rasping sound, while Shaia's eyes widened.

"I demand that you leave immediately!" she said. "You've invaded my house!"

"Oh, shut up, Dursley, you prune-faced git," said the giant, reaching behind the sofa and grabbing the gun from Uncle Vernon's hands, bending it in half as if it were made of rubber and throwing it into a corner of the room.

Uncle Vernon made another strange sound, like a mouse being stepped on.

"In any case, Shaia," said the giant, turning his back on the Dursleys, "happy birthday to you. I have something for you here, maybe I sat on it by mistake, but it still tastes good."

From an inside pocket of his black coat, he pulled out a slightly crushed box. Shaia reached for it and opened it with trembling fingers. Inside was a large, sticky chocolate cake with the words "Happy Birthday" written in green icing.

"It's hideous," she replied sincerely, then looked up and smiled at the giant. "I absolutely loved it." The giant chuckled, and Shaia thought it was a good time to continue. "You... knew my parents?" she asked, her eyes shining with curiosity and a touch of hope.

"I knew them? Ha! I saw them grow up and witnessed the birth of love between them, a beautiful couple, no doubt."

"I saw them grow up?" she repeated, disbelieving. "Then, were they at Hogwarts? They were wizards!"

Petunia let out a squeal at the word, holding Dudley with her trembling hands and looking at her niece as if she had never seen her before.

"Of course, they were! Among the most powerful! How did you not know that?!"

"I never knew how they met," Shaia leaned forward, ignoring the protests of the Dursleys. "You said you saw me for the last time when I was a baby?"

"Of course I did! How do you think you got here? By stork?"

"How did I get here...? Well, after they died in a car accident, I was handed over to Aunt Petunia?"

"Car accident?!" the half-giant roared, turning furiously to Vernon. "You told the girl that a car accident killed her parents?! Lily and James Potter?! This is absurd! A scandal!"

Uncle Vernon, however, finally found his voice after being confronted.

"Stop!" he ordered, Dudley and Petunia shrinking behind him. "Stop right now! I forbid you to tell her anything else!"

"And who do you think you are to give me orders, Dursley?"

"I'm not allowing this... this nonsense to continue! We swore when we took her in that we would put an end to this nonsense! Wizards, honestly."

"You knew?!" Shaia blinked, outraged. "You knew all this time!"

"Nonsense?!" Hagrid's voice overpowered Shaia's. "That's what it is! She has to go to Hogwarts to be taught by the best wizards in the world!"

Vernon, still ashen but looking very angry, protested.

"She's not going!"

"I'd like to see a great muggle like you stop him," the wizard replied.

"A... what?" the girl interjected.

"A muggle, that's what we call people who aren't magical like us. And you had the misfortune of being raised in the family of the biggest muggles I've ever seen in my life!"

"I've said it before and I'll say it again: she's not going."

"Nothing you can do or say will stop her from going to Hogwarts and being under the protection of Professor Dumbledore."

"I WON'T PAY ANY CRAZY OLD COOT AND FOOL TO TEACH HER HOW TO DO MAGIC!" Mr. Dursley shouted.

But he had finally gone too far. Hagrid grabbed the umbrella and spun it over his head.

"NEVER!" he thundered. "INSULT... ALBUS DUMBLEDORE... IN FRONT OF ME!"

And he spun the umbrella in the air, lowering it until it pointed at Dudley, there was a flash of violet light, the pop of a firecracker, a high-pitched scream, and the next moment, Dudley was dancing in the same spot with his hands clutching his chubby stomach, squealing in pain. When Dudley turned around, Shaia saw a curly pig tail sticking out of a hole in his trousers.

Uncle Vernon bellowed. Pulling Aunt Petunia and Dudley up the stairs, he cast one last terrified glance at Hagrid and then hurried upstairs.

"You shouldn't have lost your temper," the remorseful wizard said, "but in any case, it went wrong. I wanted to turn him into a pig, but I guess he already looked enough like one that I couldn't do much. I'd appreciate it if you didn't tell anyone at Hogwarts about this. No... Um... I'm not allowed to use magic, strictly speaking."

"Why can't you use magic?" Shaia asked.

"Oh, well... I was at Hogwarts, but... Um... I got expelled, to tell the truth. In the third year. They snapped my wand in half and everything. But Dumbledore let me stay as the gamekeeper. Great guy, Dumbledore."

"I thought he was a professor..." Shaia confessed.

"That's true, I didn't introduce myself! Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." He extended a huge hand and shook Shaia's entire arm. "Call me Rubeus, that's what everyone calls me. You'll meet your teachers in September, and... Galloping gargoyles! I almost forgot one thing," said Hagrid, slapping his forehead hard enough to knock over a horse, and from another inner pocket of his coat, he pulled out an owl, a real owl, alive, somewhat ruffled, a long quill, and a roll of parchment. With his tongue between his teeth, he scribbled a note that Shaia could read upside down:

"Dear Mr. Dumbledore,

I'm with Shaia. I'll take her tomorrow to buy her supplies. Hope you're doing well.

Hagrid."

Hagrid rolled up the parchment, handed it to the owl, which grabbed it in its beak, then he went to the door and released the bird. When he returned, he sat down with a smile.

"So, Rubeus... could you please tell me more about my parents? How did they really die?" the girl asked, and suddenly, the gamekeeper's smile disappeared.

[...]

Shaia had never been to London before — well, she had never been anywhere besides Little Whinging, actually. Hagrid, however, seemed to know where he was going, even though he obviously wasn't accustomed to getting there by conventional means. The redhead wondered how wizards traveled.

"I don't know how Muggles manage without magic," the older man complained as they climbed a worn escalator leading to a busy street with exits on both sides.

Hagrid was so large that he effortlessly made his way through the crowd, while Shaia just needed to follow closely behind. She wondered if it was cruel to laugh when he knocked poor children in his way to the ground.

"It's here," Hagrid said, stopping. "The Leaky Cauldron. It's a famous place."

It was a dingy pub, which Shaia probably wouldn't have noticed, and strangely, she felt like only she and Hagrid could see it.

For a famous place, the Leaky Cauldron looked very gloomy, shrouded in shadow, a dense atmosphere filled with muffled murmurs. The dark walls displayed signs of decades of stories, with yellowed photographs that moved. A dim light emanated from scattered torches, casting dancing shadows on the worn tables.

The distinctive scent of time, mixed with the smell of alcohol and tobacco, permeated the air. Some old women sitting in the corner drank small glasses of sherry. One of them had a long pipe between her lips, the smoke winding through the room, creating a misty cloak around them.

A little man in a top hat was chatting with the old barman. The murmurs died down as they entered. They appeared, everyone knew Hagrid; they waved and smiled at him, seeming much friendlier now, and the bartender grabbed a glass, asking:

"The usual, Hagrid?"

"I can't, Tom, I'm on Hogwarts business," said Hagrid, patting Shaia's shoulder, almost making her knees buckle.

"My God," exclaimed the bartender, looking at her, "Is... Is it possible?"

The Leaky Cauldron suddenly fell silent.

"God help us," murmured the old man. "Shaia Potter... What an honor!" And he went around the counter, rushed to Shaia, and grabbed her hands, tears in his eyes. "Welcome, Miss Potter, welcome."

Shaia, stunned, didn't know what to say, a reception so different from her interactions with neighbors. All eyes were on her.

The old woman with the pipe pulled the smoke without realizing that the pipe had gone out. Hagrid smiled radiantly.

Soon there was a great scraping of chairs, and Shaia found herself shaking hands with everyone in the Leaky Cauldron.

"Doris Crockford, Miss Potter, I can't believe I can finally meet you!"

"I'm so proud, Miss Potter, so proud."

"I've always wanted to shake your hand, I'm over the moon. Delighted, Miss Potter, I can't tell you how much, Diggle is my name, Dedalus Diggle."

"I've seen you before!" Shaia said, suddenly recognizing him, Diggle's hat fell off in excitement. "You bowed to me once in a shop."

Now, reflecting on her few years of life, Shaia realized she had been approached by many strange people on the streets.

"She remembers!" exclaimed Dedalus Diggle excitedly, looking around at everyone. "Did you hear that? She remembers me!"

Shaia shook many hands. Doris Crockford kept coming back for another shake, when a pale young man stepped forward, very nervous. A trembling eye.

"Professor Quirrell!" Hagrid said. "Shaia, Professor Quirrell is going to be one of your professors at Hogwarts."

"P... P... Potter," stammered Professor Quirrell, shaking the girl's hand, but then recoiling suddenly. Shaia didn't like the feel of his skin against hers — "I... I... I don't even know what t... t... to say how p... p... pleased I a... a... am to m... m... meet you."

"What subject do you teach, Professor Quirrell?" Shaia asked.

"D... D... Defense A... A... Against the D... D... Dark Arts," Professor Quirrell murmured, as if he preferred not to think about it. "Not that you n... n... need it, right, Potter?"

But the others didn't want to let Professor Quirrell have Shaia all to himself. It took about ten minutes for the girl to get rid of everyone. Finally, Hagrid managed to make himself heard in that turmoil.

"We need to hurry. We have a lot to do. Come on, Shaia."

And then Potter moved away, feeling a strange tingling in her hand. Maybe it was just from the repeated handshakes. Yeah, it must be just that.

[...]

After bidding farewell to the Leaky Cauldron, Hagrid and Shaia ventured into Diagon Alley, a bustling street filled with shops catering to the needs of wizards and witches. Shaia marveled at the magical displays and eccentric storefronts, feeling a sense of wonder at every turn.

Their first stop was Gringotts, the wizarding bank. Shaia was introduced to the concept of goblins, who ran the bank with precision and seriousness. Everything in the bank seemed impressive, including the wealth her parents had left her — for someone like her, who had never had anything, it was still a shocking reality.

Shaia was still curious about what was in the small package Hagrid had retrieved from Vault 713 when he directed her to the shop where she was to purchase her school uniform.

Unbeknownst to her, Shaia accidentally bumped into another girl on her way, causing both of them to tumble to the ground.

"Oh, I apologize!" The redhead brushed her hair out of her face, laughing at her own absentmindedness, and quickly got up, extending her hand to help the other girl.

"It's okay." The other girl chuckled, accepting Shaia's kind offer.

She was wearing an elegant blue dress, adorned and billowing, with shimmering bracelets and earrings that contrasted with her pale skin. Dark blond hair was skillfully braided, highlighting her blue eyes in a face of delicate features.

"Hey, I know you!" Shaia blinked, remembering seeing her on television while the Dursleys watched the news. "Gwendolyn Rutherford, daughter of the Duke of Devonshire." Gwendolyn offered a rehearsed smile as she nodded, and Shaia realized the lack of subtlety in her comment. "I'm Shaia Potter," she said, smiling, while extending her hand to the girl in front of her.

Probably a curtsy would have been more appropriate, but Gwendolyn seemed more relaxed now, shaking and shaking Shaia's hand with more enthusiasm than the redhead expected.

"You can call me Wendy! So, are you...?"

"A witch? Yes, I am!"

"Miss Rutherford, don't stray too far," a woman instructed from behind her, placing her hand on her shoulder.

She was an imposing woman, with a rigid posture and evident elegance. Her hair was black, and square glasses highlighted her intense eyes, which conveyed authority and wisdom. She dressed soberly, wrapped in a dark green cloak.

"Professor Minerva!" Hagrid approached, greeting the woman with a smile. "Shaia, this is Minerva McGonagall, headmistress and Transfiguration professor at Hogwarts."

Minerva observed Shaia with indecipherable emotions, but offered her a small smile and a gentle nod.

"We need to move on, Miss Rutherford, there's much to do," Minerva indicated, guiding them both to continue.

"Oh, wait! Hagrid, your pen, please," she requested, and the half-giant searched his coat before handing her the same pen he had used to write to Dumbledore, with a little dried ink still on its tip. "Excuse me," she said to Gwendolyn before grabbing her arm and scribbling a sequence of numbers. It was her phone number, from the old cellphone she had been given by a couple who left her babysitting their children. The Dursleys didn't know, of course. "I know it can be a bit scary, everything new, you know? So, if you want to talk to me..."

The blue-eyed girl blinked at the ink on her arm, flashing a big smile.

"I'll definitely do that!" she replied excitedly, moving away with Professor McGonagall.

So, much happier now, the half-blood entered Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

Madame Malkin, a chubby and smiling witch, stood out in the store all dressed in lilac. Shaia felt a warm premonition about her and responded to the smile with an equally radiant expression.

"Hogwarts, dear? I have everything you need here. By the way, there's a little boy fitting a robe in the back right now."

In the depths of the shop, a boy with fine features balanced skillfully on a stool while a second witch adjusted his long, dark robes. His eyes, green as two peridot stones, stood out under the dark blond locks that fell to his eyebrows.

Madame Malkin led Shaia to a stool next to the boy, sliding a long robe over her head and beginning to adjust the hem to the right size.

"Ah, hello," the girl ventured to say, feeling the anxiety vibrate in her words as she watched the boy next to her, longing for a chance to meet another future Hogwarts student.

"Hm? Yes, hello," he replied back with a cordial smile and a polite nod.

"So, Hogwarts, right?"

"Precisely. You too, I suppose."

"Yeah, indeed," she admitted, realizing the blond boy was giving her an enigmatic look.

"Which House do you want to be in?" he asked.

"House?" the redhead repeated, confused, as the boy hummed as if he had just confirmed a hypothesis.

"You're new to this world," he pointed out his discovery, while the woman adjusting his robes indicated that she was done. "Read Hogwarts: A History, it will help you with your questions," he recommended amiably.

"Oh, thank you!" Shaia thanked, watching the boy walk away with a new nod. "Hey! Um, what's your name?"

"Aaron Greengrass," he replied, before out of her sight.

Shaia remained there for a few minutes, waiting for Madame Malkin to finish, and was pleased to see how nice the uniform looked. She thanked before returning to find Hagrid, eager to buy her schoolbooks and, perhaps, find Hogwarts: A History.

By the end of the day, Shaia had in her hands all the items on the materials list, along with some extra books that would deepen her understanding of the magical world. The newly acquired wand rested in her bag next to an attentive owl, guardian of future messages and dreams that would blossom at Hogwarts.

Hagrid, her first friend and guide in this new chapter of her life, helped her board the train that would take her back to the Dursleys. Before saying goodbye, he handed her an envelope.

"Your ticket to Hogwarts. First of September, at King's Cross Station, everything is detailed in it. If you have any trouble with the Dursleys, send me a letter by owl; she'll know where to find me... Goodbye for now, Shaia."

The train pulled into the station, and Shaia felt a mixture of anxiety and excitement pulsing in her chest. She wanted to watch Hagrid until he disappeared completely from view. She stood up, pressing her nose against the window, but when she blinked, Hagrid was gone, leaving only the promise of a reunion at Hogwarts.