*★* WATTPAD FRIENDS AND FAMILY, WATTPAD FEATURED STORY & 2017 WATTYS WINNER!! *★* Preceded by rumors of their prophetic birth, pure-blood twins, Fred and George Weasley, follow in the footsteps of their three older brothers by attending a school for...
Immediately, they felt the Great Hall give a mighty heave as they were thrown headlong into the glossy substance. A rush of icy-cold darkness engulfed them in a swirling whirlpool of black fog. Then, quite abruptly, Fred and George landed on their feet beside Hagrid, the three professors, Headmaster Dumbledore, and Mr. Filch, whose cat had clawed to the top of his skull and would not come down — and for good reason. They were standing on top of the Hogwarts Express, chugging through the open countryside.
The foggy world within Hagrid's memory was amazing to behold, almost like a dream. Everything he recalled had slightly rounded edges, and was discolored to the point of looking artificial. The memory shifted unexpectedly, and they were now much further down the tracks, at the foot of a steep, wooded mountain that had only just been visible on the horizon moments prior.
"Well, that was entertaining," said Kettleburn sarcastically, looking unsteadily at Hagrid, who had to release the twins so their fingers wouldn't be crushed.
Professor Dumbledore comforted the group with a small and resolute grin.
"This is Hagrid's first time using such powerful magic. And we are but onlookers. These visions may be turbulent and unpredictable, but I feel that even a glimpse into Hagrid's past will make the journey worth the trouble."
"What year is it?" asked Fred, when he noticed the darker paint on the passenger cars.
"Nineteen Forty, I believe," said Hagrid. He looked slightly ill, having to endure the swiftly moving vision.
"Are we meant to be seeing something?" George wondered aloud.
"First, we must find Hagrid," said Dumbledore sagely. "And if my memory serves me well, you will be in this direction." He pointed to their right and moved toward the steaming engine, now midnight-black in color.
The others looked to Hagrid, who nodded thoughtfully.
"Let's be on our way, shall we?" Dumbledore replied, leading them to the next train car.
Climbing over the coal-filled tender was harder than it looked, especially for Professor Kettleburn. The twins thought it was going to be a nightmare with their newly uncoordinated bodies, but that did not seem to be a problem. The world inside the Pensieve was, in many ways, more stable than their own. No matter how misty and narrow the past seemed to be, it was solidified in the power of its own honesty. Fred and George knew that whatever they were about to witness, and whatever they could possibly learn, it would be the complete truth — despite how difficult the events might be to accept.
The eight onlookers of the Pensieve gathered in the tight engine room of the Hogwarts Express. Mrs. Norris crowed angrily at the engineer, who had chosen that moment to yank down on the whistle.
"Sure you don't want to take it for a spin?" the engineer asked, peeking over his shoulder at them.
"Can he see us?" asked Filch, with an oily sneer.
Dumbledore shook his head and gestured to the immense boy who was sitting behind them, his impressively wide frame engulfing the only two available seats.
"Whoa, Hagrid!" said Fred in astonishment.
"I can see your face!" said George.
The boy had a perfectly round head, and not much in the way of a neck. His uneven black hair was short, and extremely messy. And, to the twin's utter astonishment, there were a few wispy hairs on his chin, which hinted at the massive beard that would one day overshadow his other features. But it was still Hagrid.
"I think I prefer our version," said Professor Mulligan, looking pleasantly up at the gamekeeper, trying to help him feel comfortable. "Especially those gentle black eyes."
"Umm...thanks," said Hagrid awkwardly.
"Maybe I should get a beard, George," said Fred, stroking his left cheek.
"Our mother could finally tell us apart," he replied, delighted by the thought.
The train jostled as they pulled into Hogsmeade Station. The passing of fifty years seemed to have little effect on the village. It had the same eaves and signage, the same benches and horseless carriages waiting expectantly to deliver students to a castle that was just visible over the surrounding trees.
"Fascinatin', that," said the younger Hagrid.
When he got to his feet, the twins were able to notice how much shorter he was than their version. And yet, even at a young age, he towered over them.
"It was fascinating for me as well. I've never had a passenger like you before," said the engineer with strange admiration. "Sorry you couldn't fit into the compartments. You must be the biggest eleven-year-old I've ever encountered."
The younger Hagrid didn't appear too keen to leave the train. He peeked out at the students who were leaping excitedly from the long stretch of cars behind them.
"You'll make friends in no time," the man encouraged, before gazing at the pocket watch that dangled from the brake lever. "Time to go, lad. Best of luck."
The slightly more nervous version of Hagrid took a deep breath and stepped down from the train. The group of onlookers followed.
Most of the happy conversations on the platform ceased when the students saw him clomping through the crowd. The boys guffawed and pointed, and the girls whispered to one another as they scurried to safety. It was clear to everyone watching the scene play out that the present-day Hagrid had no desire at all to relive that memory. Even standing there, fifty years wiser and more mature (and three times the size), their judgmental eyes stung him just as deeply. The two Hagrids never looked more identical, as they sheepishly plodded towards the squat, plump man at the end of the platform.
The man was holding a shepherd's hook, and used it to corral the more nervous boys and girls. "This way, first years," he called, using the backside of the hook to brush the older students aside.
Hagrid joined the small crowd, refusing to make eye contact with anything but his own, very large boots.
"My name is Ogg. I'm the gamekeeper at Hogwarts School," he began. "I'm not the one to be answering your questions, hear? We'll be taking the path you see behind me to the lake, where each of you will get your own enchanted boat that'll draw you across the water to the castle. If you're unfamiliar with magic, just hold on tightly. I've done it a hundred times. Nothing to fear."
The shorter Hagrid shuffled to the middle of the line, as the students followed Ogg down the sloping hill. Fred and George, who were not much older, instinctually joined the first years. The rest of their group observed the scene from the rear and, for some reason, Hagrid was averting his gaze. They understood why a moment later, when his eleven-year-old counterpart stepped on a loose boulder. It tipped him severely to the right. The boy panicked, and tried to grab hold of a nearby tree, but it tore from the ground. The earth crumbled beneath him. And just before he dropped to the lake below, the eye of the shepherd's hook caught around his wide neck, and Ogg struggled to pull him back to the path.
The massive boy bent forward, breathing heavily. He propped his hands on his knees to steady his beating heart. The line of first years, with their array of disapproving expressions, left him to get through it alone. After quite some time, Ogg dusted off the boy's giant shoulders and clapped him solidly on the back.
"How's about we share a boat?" he said encouragingly, causing the young Hagrid to crack a smile.
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