Classification
Harry followed Hagrid through Diagon Alley with large eyes. It was all more spectacular than he could truly process. The colors. The people. The sounds. The smells. It was all enchanting. The large man took him to a bank where Harry walked in timidly after the dire warning posted outside. Hagrid fumbled around for a key and the goblin looked over its desk at Harry and the boy recognized the feeling of being found wanting.
“I do not have a classification on file.” The goblin drawled.
Hagrid shifted. “Aye. He was raised by muggles. Does it need te be done now?”
“A minor cannot be allowed in his vaults without it.” The goblin raised his bushy eyebrows over curved spectacles.
“Alright. Harry. You’re a right smart lad. I am going to get somethin from a vault fer the Headmaster. Ye need to be classified. No need te worry, lad. It doesn’t hurt.” Hagrid boomed, not realizing that his words were not too reassuring.
“Classified?” Harry questioned softly and then curved his shoulders up to his ears realizing he shouldn’t have questioned the adult.
Hagrid must have been busy because he didn’t even blink that Harry was so rude to ask a question. “Aye. Every witch and wizard is classified. Don’t worry, though. Most are just registered baseline. A few are alphas or omegas. And even less littles. You’ll most likely be baseline like yer parents. Now, follow the goblin and be good.” Hagrid nudged him to follow what Harry now realized was a creature that was even smaller than he was.
Harry wanted to protest. He barely knew Hagrid, let alone a goblin that he had just met moments ago. But he knew better than to question an adult again so obeyed. After Hagrid disappeared, Harry followed the goblin down a stone hall to a room where another goblin stood working busily behind his desk. “We need a classification potion for Mr. Harry Potter.”
Harry stood awkwardly behind the goblin who sneered at him. “Sit down, boy. Don’t just hover about.”
“Yes, sir. Sorry.” Harry rushed to the seat and the goblins exchanged a glance.
The goblin behind the counter placed a bottle on his cupboard and told Harry he needed to drink it in one gulp. Harry reached out carefully and even though foul tasting, he did so and sat back down immediately, eyes trained on the floor. After waiting a few moments, a large glass bowl was brought out and Harry looked at it curiously before he saw the goblins watching him and he trained his eyes back down with another swift apology.
After another silent exchange between the goblins, the first goblin ordered Harry to the bowl and told him he would need to prick his finger and let exactly three drops of blood into the bowl. Harry held out a finger and followed the instructions carefully and looked with interest as the liquid in the bowl bubbled as his blood swirled around before turning a soft powdery blue color.
The goblins looked at him with some surprise. The savior of the wizarding world was a little. “You have been classified as a little, Mr. Potter.”
Harry looked at them miserably. He always knew he was smaller than everyone else in his class, certainly more so than his own cousin. It wasn’t surprising to Harry that even as a wizard he was to be considered small. “I’ve always been small.” He admitted.
“Do you know what a little is, boy?” One goblin asked in what seemed to be a kinder voice than before.
Harry blinked. “It means I’m smaller than everyone else. But maybe I can grow bigger. Some kids have growth spurts all the time.” The goblins exchanged a look, frowning. Harry scrunched up, realizing that he had said something wrong. “I’m sorry.” He said quickly.
“No need for apologies. Follow me and I will get you settled until we make a call.” Harry hurried to follow the goblin and was surprised as he entered the room and saw it was a comfortable space with big fluffy pillows to lay on a sofa and lots of stuffed animals and toys. “Wait here and we will have someone come speak with you, Mr. Potter.”
Harry stood in the center of the room and just looked at everything for a great while. He wondered if this was some sort of test. He knew that he was not allowed to play with such nice things. They were for children who were good and not freaks like him. But something in him wanted to play so badly. He kept eyeing a large stuffed dragon that had blue, purple, and green scales and looked rather friendly.
Licking his lips, Harry inched towards it, keeping an eye on the door. He finally reached a hand out and felt the soft fur of the toy. It was so nice. Exactly what Harry had hoped. Eyeing the door again, Harry thought it couldn’t hurt to give the dragon a quick cuddle. Nobody else was here and one time wouldn’t bother anyone if they didn’t know.
He had often done this with Dudley’s cast-off toys. Once with a set of broken knights he had even smuggled a few into his cupboard before his aunt threw them all away. They were confiscated later and he wasn’t allowed food for a week, but he had had so much fun. So Harry reached out and sighed as the large dragon plush sunk into his arms and even smelled good as his face buried into it.
The door popped open at that very moment and Harry looked up at a dark man and quickly said, “I’m not stealing!” As he immediately dropped the dragon.
“Indeed, Mr. Potter.” The man drawled. “Take a seat on the sofa and I will speak with you shortly.”
“Yes, sir.” Harry said with wide eyes and turned to the sofa.
“Mr. Potter.” The man stopped him. Harry froze and looked at the man worriedly. “You may take the dragon.” Harry looked at the man with surprise and slowly reached down to pick up the dragon and take it with him to the sofa. Harry held it tightly to his chest as the man and goblin shut the door.
~*~
Severus sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose as the door shut. “What is going on?” He demanded.
“When his attendant brought him to his vault I recognized that he had not been classified. I took the boy to take the test while his attendant retrieved something from another vault.” The goblin began.
“What foolish attendant would leave a child alone for a classification?” Severus demanded.
“Where’s Harry?” A loud voice demanded.
Severus sighed again. Of course. The headmaster obviously would have chosen the bumbling oaf for what was most likely an incredibly important task. Not because he would do a good job, but because he would indoctrinate the boy about the greatness of the headmaster. “I would ask you to lower your voice, Hagrid. Potter will be fine, no thanks to you.”
“What?” Hagrid demanded. “I was followin’ Dumbledore’s orders. Great man.”
“And did that include leaving a child who had no idea what was happening alone for a classification?” Severus growled.
“I – that is – he’s a smart lad. Well behaved. He didn’t cause any trouble did he?” Hagrid fretted.
Severus and the goblin rolled their eyes. “No, you fool. He was classified as a little and has no idea what is going on.” Hagrid’s face crumpled but Severus had neither the time nor the patience for it. “I was called as this year’s little caregiver. You can tell the Headmaster that I will handle it.”
“Well now, I don’t know about that. I was te get young Harry his supplies.” Hagrid argued.
“It is still a month before school begins. I will speak with him and his guardians and get him appropriately kitted out for the year.” Severus told the giant. He highly doubted the keeper of the keys would know what to appropriately get for a new little. The man would most likely spoil the boy in some ways and overlook the most important.
Hagrid reluctantly agreed then Severus turned back to the goblin. “Now, to attend to my charge.”
The goblin hesitated. “It is not my business to interfere in the affairs of great wizards.” He began. “But my associates and I suspect that all is not well with Harry Potter.”
“Not well?” Severus frowned.
The goblin merely said, “His mannerisms and lack of knowledge are concerning.” Then refused to say more as they entered the room to a nervous boy who was gripping the stuffed dragon tightly.
“Mr. Potter, my name is Severus Snape. I am a professor at Hogwarts. I have been sent to speak with you about your classification.” Severus began slowly and calmly.
“I – I can grow! I promise I can. Please let me still come to Hogwarts, sir. I’ll be very good and have a growth spurt any day now!” Harry blurted out and Severus realized what the goblin had been speaking about. He glanced at the creature who merely nodded imperiously.
“Hush. You are attending Hogwarts. I merely meant I wish to speak with you and your guardians about your new status and what you will need for the upcoming year. I am here to help you.” Severus told him.
“Sorry.” The boy practically whispered.
Severus bit back a sigh and stood. “Come, we will discuss further with your relatives.”
“Yes, sir.” Harry stood immediately.
He moved to put the dragon back, but a gravelly voice halted him. “You may keep the dragon, Mr. Potter. As our gift to you.”
When Harry looked conflicted, Severus intervened. “It is considered rude in goblin culture to turn down a gift, Mr. Potter.”
Harry’s eyes blinked owlishly behind a pair of hideous round glasses. “I don’t mean to be rude, sir.”
“Then thank your host graciously so we can be gone.” Severus instructed as patiently as he could.
Harry turned to the goblin and warbled out, “Thank you, sir. I’ve never had a gift before and I promise I’ll take the best care of it ever.”
Severus thanked his years as a spy for him being able to keep his face passive as the boy turned back to him. Was the boy being serious? Or did he mean he’d never gotten a gift from a goblin, surely? Or was he seeking attention like his father? Shaking his head, Severus grabbed the boy’s hand who looked at him with shock.
“Little boys need to hold someone’s hand in a crowd to stay safe, Mr. Potter. Come, we shall return to your home and speak further with your guardians.” Harry blinked owlishly but did not argue. Severus led the boy firmly through the crowds and once safely outside of the alley apparated away with the boy still holding his hand tightly.