Chapter 5
The next day Harry wakes in a hurry and is prodded by both Ron and Dudley to make his steps quick. Harry tips his head back to dry swallow one of the blue pill, his new best friend, and follows the duo at a run. They return to the dinning hall, shove food into their mouth while still standing and head to their class.
All the first years from four houses share classes and classrooms are wide and large. Different teachers take different classes in different rooms and story and the corridors are always full of running students hell bent on making their next class. Harry manages all the bustle by having Ron and Dudley always with him and dunking his hand into his pill bottle regularly. People stare and point at him but no one really dares much to actually come up to him given Ron’s permanent scowl and Dudley’s just this side of off putting smile.
Only people from his house seem to be ok talking with him and the others shy away for some reason. Harry finds all the subjects really interesting and invigorating. They also strike up a friendship with Hermione Granger who is the smartest in their class and the apple of Severus’ eyes. Very confident and takes no shit for anyone. Quick to argue and always has a reply to any comment that come her way. Ron actually looks a bit smitten with her, as in he doesn’t scowl at her so much or is not that cruel to her.
Another fellow Slytherin is Draco Malfoy who calls out to Harry in classes just to say hello and good morning. Harry likes those interactions pretty much a lot even though he himself only responds with nods and smiles. People were aware that he had a speech impediment but it was as if no one cared about it. Certainly no one kept a live commentary on it like Aunt Petunia had given at home.
Classes are mostly uneventful, except hilarious mistakes here and there. They still have to run to make their classes and barely make breakfast most days. Harry had seen the post come in and had ordered his own subscription to the Daily Prophet. It was the only post he got most days. However, one day he got a post in an unknown handwriting. It was signed Rubeus Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys at Hogwarts, asking Harry down for a visit.
No one had quite asked Harry to visit anytime anywhere so Harry decided to go. First he wrote a letter asking if he could bring some of his friends as well. He got the reply pretty quick that he could. So after class that day he asks Ron and Dudley if they want to accompany him to Hagrid’s house. Both nod their affirmation. Harry happily leads tem out back, asking the directions from the ghost they pass and reach Hargrid’s cottage before the sun has set.
Harry knocks on the door and a huge booming bark sounds from the other side of the door. Harry hears a man shout, “Back, Fang, back.”
A massive face covered in hair so that only prominent thing on the face is the big nose peers out a sliver of the opened door and looks at Harry. On seeing that it is indeed Harry and friends, Hagrid pulls the door fully open and lets in the trio. They are immediately bounced upon by the dog Fang and slobbered upon most messily. The boys rub their hands in their robes and edge around to the sitting area while Hagrid pulls away Fang to go sit by the humongous fireplace.
“Blimey Harry, didn’t really think you would come. Never having met before you and all. But I am so glad you came. Here, have some of me rock cakes boy, outright fresh from the over,” Hagrid said with a big smile on his face. Harry noted how when Hagrid smiled, his eyes twinkled most kindly and his mat of a bread waved as if it were trembling from quivering lips. Harry smiled back at him.
“Well, I s’pose introductions are in order. I am Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys here at Hogwarts. I am also an old friend of yer family and was quite ready to bring you with me for your official first visit to the Diagon Alley if Snape was busy, I had even asked his permission and all. Well, it was not required so i never got around to introduce myself. So, introduce me to your friends here Harry,” Hagrid said pointing out at Dudley and Ron.
“TTh-is is Ronald Wweas-ley and tt-his is my cousin Dd-dud-ley Snape.” Harry said.
“Ah. The Snape boy and the youngest Weasley boy. I mighta thought you were in Gryffindor rather than Slytherin, but the hats knows best, so what can I say. So how have been your first week in the castle Harry? Everything all right there?” Hagrid nodded sagely.
“Yy-es Hagrid. I am enjoy-ing my cla-sses very much. Everything is –ssh- interesting and my friends like them-mm too. I even ggot a few points in o-one of my cla-sses,” Harry answered.
“Ah, I knew you would be a good wizard. A very good wizard. Your parents were very good you know. Fought you-know-who by themselves you know. Sadly didn’t make it but you did. Ain’t that a miracle now. So, Weasley, tell me how are your parents?” Hagrid asked Ron.
“Call me Ron, please. And they are fine, like always. Just a bit miffed that I didn’t get in Gryffindor like my siblings,” Ron replied.
“Ah, well, Slytherin is a good house too. So many great Wizard and witches from that house. Tell your family not to worry. I am sure you will be as good as them as a wizard,” Hagrid said kindly.
“I will be better!” Ron Interjected.
“Aye, aye, that’s the spirit. And Snape, Dudley, eat one more cake, you look like you could do the feeding,” Hagrid said pushing the half full plate towards Dudley.
Dudley smiles at Hargid, not his weird rictus one, but a genuine small one and it seems to mollify the worrying Hagrid.
They all sit and talk for a bit more and head towards their castle just before dinner is due. All three calls out their goodbye to a waving Hagrid and walk over the mountain to go in. They bump into Severus and he gives them a telling off for being out so late. Somewhat chastised, they head to the dinning hall, have their dinner and then head to their dorm to do their homework and onto their beds later to sleep.
Harry counts how many pills he had left and find that its not many. He took three today, had been taking almost the same daily and his stock is dwindling. Making up his mind to ask Severus for more tomorrow, he pops one more into his mouth, the social visit leaving him too tired and shaky and gets into his bed. He sleeps dreamless that night.