Metanoia • Harry Potter • Book I

Chapter 4

Word Count: 3208

The entire hut rattled with the last BOOM, waiting for the final hit. Keziah quivered with excitement. It was finally starting! The story had truly begun. She gripped Harry's arm tightly, rocking back and forth.

"Keziah what are-" 

Harry was cut off by a final SMASH. The door fell at the feet of a truly gargantuan man, like a simple domino piece. Keziah inhaled sharply as she stared at the stranger, taken aback at his rather fierce appearance, his silhouette illuminated by a particularly bold strike of lightning. He was at least twice the size of a normal adult and five times as wide. His face was mostly shadowed by a shaggy mane of hair and a wild bush of a beard. His black overcoat was riddled with pockets and might as well have been a size XXXXL. 

The giant squished his way into the tiny hut, fitting the door back into place as easily as a puzzle piece. The clamour of the storm lessened ever so slightly. Keziah gasped, shifting onto her shaking knees. The reality of her situation hit her like the Knight Bus. 

Before she could say a word, Vernon came skidding into the room holding a thin rifle. She wrinkled her nose at the firearm.

"A gun? They're illegal, how did you get one? Are you going to shoot him?" she cried, jumping to her feet. Vernon's pale blue eyes glinted dangerously, but before he could respond, the giant leaned over.

"Shoot me? No' likely!" he grunted, twisting the gun into a pretzel as though it was putty. He turned to her and Harry and stared at them, his beetle-like eyes crinkled into a smile.

"I haven't seen you two since you were babies. Harry, you look like yer dad but yeh got yer mum's eyes. And, Keziah, yeh look awfully like yer mum. A perfect pair," he said with a smile. Keziah gaped like a fish. She tried desperately to find anything to say, but he had already turned away to focus on Harry.

"A very happy birthday to yeh. I got summat fer yeh here- I mighta sat on it at some point, but it'll taste all right."

From the inside pocket of his coat, Hagrid brought out a slightly squashed box. Harry opened it with trembling fingers. Inside was a large, sticky chocolate cake with Happy Birthday Harry written on it in gooey green icing. Keziah's mouth watered at the sight of it. The packet of crisps and the banana she'd eaten earlier felt hours away.

Harry looked up the giant, his eyes full of gratitude. 

"Who are you?" Harry asked innocently. Keziah elbowed him sharply, glowering.

"Harry! You can't say that!" she hissed. The giant chuckled.

"I suppose I should introduce meself. Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Groundskeeper of Hogwarts."

There it is, Keziah thought. This was really happening. She subtly pinched herself and winced at the jab of pain. Yep, it was real. Hagrid held out his dustbin-lid hands and shook the siblings' arms. 

"How about some tea, eh?" he said, rubbing his hands together and turning to the empty grate. "Though I won't say no ter summat stronger if yeh've got it, mind."

Hagrid spotted the charred packets lying pathetically in the grate and snorted. He bent down over the fireplace muttering something. Keziah craned her neck and saw the beginnings of something pink but it disappeared before she could get a closer look. Hagrid leaned back and there was suddenly a roaring fire. It filled the entire hut with flickering light and Keziah clambered forward, letting the unexpected heat wash over her like a warm bath.

Hagrid sunk onto the couch, much to Dudley's fright. The boy jumped up, running to cower behind Vernon and Petunia. Keziah grinned openly, wiggling her fingers at her cousin. The giant, meanwhile, had begun taking a manner of things out of his pockets. There was a copper kettle, a squashy pack of sausages, a poker, a teapot, several chipped and faded teacups and a bottle of amber liquid, which he took a swig from, before stashing it back into his coat.