I solemnly swear (George Weasley- Love Story Book 1)

Chapter 3

CHAPTER 3
K POV:

I laugh as he licks my face and I sit up, pushing him off me so I can scratch behind his ears. It's not often I end up on the ground and yet he managed to sneak up on me. He wags his tail and barks again just as I hear Hagrid calling his name. A few seconds later I see Hagrid run out from behind the trees and watch as he stops a few feet away from us when he sees me. He's panting and holding a leash, but doesn't make a move to come any closer. I try to smile at him, but I can still smell the fear coming off of him.

"Hello Professor Hagrid."

"Ello, Ms. Harrison. Its jus' Hagrid outside class. See tha' Fang foun yeh didn' he."

"Alright Hagrid, please just call me Katherine. Ms Harrison makes me feel like I'm in trouble. And yes he did, he's a sweetheart. Hagrid, I've been thinking and I think I'm going to have to drop your class."

"Wha? Why would yeh wan to der a thing like tha?"

"I can smell your fear. It's alright I understand. I'm almost 17, if I wasn't use to this reaction by now it would mean that I've lived too sheltered a life. But I don't think that I can take knowing you're afraid of me every day in class as well as during full moons. I'm sorry."

I watch as Hagrid freezes for a moment and then I see his beard twitch. I hear Fang whine and I realize that he must sense that I'm upset, so I start rubbing his head again. I wasn't lying, I'm used to fear or anger or mistrust from people when they know what I am. Sure back home it's not as bad sometimes, because the states are pretty fair with rights and laws and making sure the magical community is informed and gets along. It's far from perfect thought, I'm still feared by most that know what I am.

And I'm not going to lie, Hagrid's fear of me, it hurts. I can only assume that people here don't normally know he's half-giant, though if they can't make an educated guess about that then I'm at a loss for words. But he should know how much fear and prejudice against 'half-breeds,' as we're both considered to be, hurts. This situation really does suck.

Plus care of magical creatures was always my favorite class. I wanted to be a magic vet when I was younger, the irony of wanting to help the animals and stop the bleeding when they're hurt even though I want the blood. Oh my life is complicated. Honestly though, I can't take that much fear all the time. It just weighs heavily on me and keeps me from thinking straight.

I see Hagrid take a few steps towards me and I see that he has a few tears twinkling in his eyes. I reach up to my face and see that I was crying as well, and I didn't even realize it. I conjure the vial of tears from my pocket and quickly collect them and make sure I'm done crying. I put the vial away and realize that Hagrid is right in front of me now and even kneeling down in front of me with a gentle smile on his face.

"Ay, it's alrigh nothin to be upset bout. It's jus, well I had come across a vampire once an it wasn a pleasan experience. But you, I can tell your differen jus like me really. Don drop the class, specially how Dumbledore said it was one of yeh best. I'll get to know yeh and it'll be fine, besides Fang likes yeh too much for you to leave him."

I watch as he holds out his hand for me to help me up from the ground and I take it slowly. I smell the air and realize that his fear is starting to fade a little. Underneath it his smell is that of the earth and the forest, a very calming happy smell even if it does have a touch of giant in it. I gently smile up at him and see that he's smiling as well.

"Are yeh off to Hogsmeade?"

"Yes, I'm headed back to the Leaky Cauldron tonight. Was hoping to travel by floo powder from there to the Three Broomsticks again."

"Well Fang and me's headin there as well for a drink. Why don we walk together an chat for a bit?"

"Alright Hagrid sounds good."

I can honestly say that I haven't had as cheerful a conversation as I had with Hagrid on the way back to Hogsmeade, since last year. He congratulated me on getting sorted into Gryffindor, and then we simply talked about animals the rest of the time. They have threstrals at Hogwarts, which will be interesting to see, as well as unicorns in the forests. I love working with unicorns they are simply the most beautiful creatures that anyone could ever imagine. I smile when he suggests I get a cat or an owl while I'm here. I might just do that honestly, I've always wanted one but my mother is allergic to cats and isn't fond of multiple owls in the house.

By the time I got back to the Leaky Cauldron, I was dead on my feet and decided to go to bed and worry about shopping for everything the next morning. I was too exhausted to worry about it right now. I did manage to send my family a note, though they'll probably get here for the World Cup before the owl gets back home. I hope everything goes better this year than last year. I need a serious break from the complicated life I've been having right now.