Neurasthenia

Keeper of Keys || iv

____________________

A tall home perched atop a rock island in the middle of the sea. The Dursleys, including Harry, had relocated due to an overwhelming number of letters flooding the house. The family is fast asleep, Dudley curled up on a sofa next to Harry, who is lying on the chilly, dirty floor. In the dirt, Harry drew a birthday cake that was dedicated to him. keeping an eye out for Dudley's watch to strike 12:00.

"Make a wish, Harry". As he blows the "candles" on the drawn birthday cake, he whispers to himself.

Suddenly, the door thumps, in sync with the thunder flashing. Dudley jerks awake. "Where's the cannon?" he said stupidly.

The door thumps again and Dudley and Harry jump up, backing away from the door. Vernon then came skidding into the room with Petunia holding a rifle in his hand.

"What is he doing with a gun around children" Lily shrieked.
"What's a gun?" Many purebloods asked confused.
"Is a weapon that can kill a person with just one shot," she explained, leaving them mortified.

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

There was a pause. Then —
SMASH!

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

A giant of a man was standing in the doorway. "Sorry 'about that." the giant said as he put the door back up.

"HAGRID" The great hall cheered.

He then strode over to the sofa, "An' here's Harry!" said the giant.
Harry looked up into the fierce, wild, shadowy face and saw that the beetle eyes were crinkled in a smile.

"Las' time I saw you, you was only a baby," said the giant. "Yeh look a lot like yer dad, but yeh've got yer mum's eyes."

Vernon then made a sunny rasping noise. "I demand that you leave at once, sir!" he said "You are breaking and entering!" aiming the gun at him.

"Dry up, Dursley, yeh great prune," said the giant; jerked the gun out of Vernon's hands, bent it into a knot easily as if it had been made of rubber, and threw it into a corner of the room.

"Anyway— Harry," said the giant, turning his back on the Dursleys, "a very happy birthday to yeh. Got summat fer yeh here — I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right."

"PFFHAHAHAHA" Sirius bursted out laughing, "he just went on like nothing happened."
"Sirius, sit down," Remus said being, done with his "friend's" antics.

From inside of his black overcoat he pulled out a slightly squashed box. Harry opened it with trembling finders. Inside was a large, sticky chocolate cake with 'Happee Birdae Harry' written on with green icing.

Harry looked up at the giant. He meant to say thank you, but the words got lost on the way to his mouth, and said, "Who are you?" instead.

"Look Lils, he got your bluntness," Marlene said smirking.
"Hey! I'm not that bad.....anymore.." Lily trailed off.

"Right, I haven't introduced myself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts." He chuckled, taking out an umbrella and pointing at the empty fireplace. Two sparks fly out starting the fire. "Course, you know all about Hogwarts."

"Sorry, no," Harry replied. Hagrid looked shocked.
"Blimey, Harry didn't you ever wonder where yer mom and dad learned it all?"
"Learned what?"
"Yur a wizard, H'rry"
"I-I'm a what?" Harry looked confused.
"A wizard. And a thumping good one at that, I'd wager. 'Nce ya train up a little."
"No, you've made a mistake. I can't be..a wizard. I mean, I'm just...Harry. Just Harry."
"Well, just Harry. Did ya ever make anything happen? Anything ya couldn't expla'n when ya were angry or scared?" Hagrid asks making Harry remember the times when unexplainable things happened, things he got in trouble for because it just wasn't natural.