For the first time ever, Harry trusted someone.
Harry trusted Severus Snape.
He kept his promises; he never snapped at him; he lowered his voice if it got too loud; he was angry on Harry's behalf, instead of at him; he told Harry all about his mother; and most of all, he made Harry believe that Harry deserved to be loved.
It helped that Snape had also been... hurt, when he was a kid. Harry knew that Snape understood what he was going through and would know exactly what to do when Harry was... hurting.
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Later that day, as promised, Harry went to visit Hagrid. He knew he probably couldn't bring all of the first years, so he just brought Draco, Blaise, Pansy, and Tracey.
Harry knocked, and immediately heard barking and scratching at the door. Tracey groaned, and Draco blanched.
"What?" Blaise asked Tracey curiously, over Hagrid's "Back, Fang -- back."
"I'm allergic to dogs," Tracey sighed.
Harry blinked. "Hagrid, don't open the door yet."
"What? Why?"
"One of my friends is allergic to dogs." Harry glanced at Draco and added, "And I think one of them is afraid of dogs."
Draco spluttered indignantly, causing Pansy and Blaise to snicker. "I'm not afraid of dogs! I'm not afraid of anything!"
"Sure," Blaise drawled, then nimbly dodged Draco's swipe.
"I'll bring tea outside, then," Hagrid offered.
"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry smiled.
A few minutes later, they were all seated on Hagrid's porch, sipping tea. They avoided Hagrid's biscuits, which looked and felt more like bricks, but Hagrid actually made good tea.
"Who're yer friends, Harry?" Hagrid asked, settling deeper into the colossal deck chair he was sitting on.
"This is Pansy, Tracey -- she's the one who's allergic -- Blaise, and Draco," Harry said shyly.
Hagrid blinked and focused on Draco. "Thought yeh looked familiar. Harry, are yeh sure yeh should make friends with Death Eater's kids?"
"Yes, because they aren't their parents," Harry said quietly. "Hagrid, I grew up with the Dursleys, remember? I'm nothing like them. And I'm not brave like my dad, or determined like my mum."
"Are you one of those people who think kids are evil?" Blaise asked sourly.
"Wha?" Hagrid demanded. "No! What're yeh on about?"
"We're children, Mr. Hagrid," Blaise said sharply. "Eleven year olds. We already have to deal with other kids who think all Slytherins, including eleven year olds, are evil. We don't need adults treating us like that too."
Hagrid looked guilty.
"Mr. Hagrid," Tracey said calmly, "do you know what ambition and cunning mean?"
Hagrid blinked. "Er..."
"Ambition is working hard to fulfill our dreams," Tracey continued. "Cunning is planning ahead. Do you think that's evil?"
"No..."
"The reason why Slytherins have more Dark wizards out of all the Houses -- and other Houses do have Dark wizards," Blaise added, "is because sometimes, people are too ambitious."
"There's no such thing as too ambitious!" Draco sputtered.
"Yes, there is," Harry said quietly, remembering his uncle's. "I... don't think it has anything to do with what you want, but... how you get it."
