Changing our Mistakes

5. Keeper of Keys

The Keeper of keys

"Can't this book read itself faster?" James whined.

"Your son is sitting in front of us Potter, completely alive and grinning like an idiot." Eleanor pointed out as Harry rolled his eyes.

"Still, whatever it is, it can hurt him Malfoy," James said imitating her tone.

"Ever planned to use that brain inside your humongous head?" Regulus raised an eyebrow.

Sirius rolled his eyes, "Care to explain?"

Regulus blankly stared at his brother, not anymore, "Actually..." He paused, "No."

Before Sirius could respond Remus spoke up, "It's saying keeper of keys James,"

All eyes snapped in the direction of the half-giant who was silently sitting between McGonagall and Dumbledore.

"I am sure that I don't have any thoughts of changing our gamekeeper in the future." Dumbledore smiled.

"They are smarter than we thought," Ron said to Harry.

"Yeah." Harry replied before diverting his attention to the room, "I think if we continued you all we get your answers eventually."

They knocked again. Dudley jerked awake.

"Where's the cannon?" he said stupidly.

"Yeah, stupidly is the best way to describe it," said Arthur Selene.

There was a crash behind them, and Uncle Vernon came skidding into the room. He was holding a rifle in his hands

"That man was keeping a rifle with himself," Hermione shouted.

Lily's emerald eyes widened with disbelief, "This man is, is, I can't even describe."

"What's a rifle?" James asked confused.

"It's a muggle way of killing, one accurate shot and you would be dead before you can say Avada kedavra." Hermione

Many purebloods were shocked at that.

— now they knew what had been in the long, thin package he had brought with them.

"Who's there?" he shouted. "I warn you — I'm armed!"

There was a pause. Then —

SMASH!

Many flinched.

The door was hit with such force that it swung clean off its hinges and with a deafening crash landed flat on the floor.

A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. His face was almost completely hidden by a long, shaggy mane of hair and a wild, tangled beard, but you could make out his eyes, glinting like black beetles under all the hair.

"Hagrid!" Gryffindors cheered.

"I still think he could be more hygienic," Fiana said in distaste.

The giant squeezed his way into the hut, stooping so that his head just brushed the ceiling. He bent down, picked up the door, and fitted it easily back into its frame.

The noise of the storm outside dropped a little. He turned to look at them all.

"Couldn't make us a cup o' tea, could yeh? It's not been an easy journey..."

"Only you Hagrid, only you." Slughorn laughed as McGonagall sighed, massaging her temples.

He strode over to the sofa where Dudley sat frozen with fear.