The Princess of Light

Chapter 5.22 (Hagrid's Tale)

Harry sprinted up the boys' dormitories to fetch the Invisibility Cloak and the Maurader's Map, while Aurora and Hermione ran up to theirs to fetch a scarf and gloves.

They crept trough the portrait hole and covered themselves hastily in the Cloak - Ron had grown so much he now needed to crouch to prevent his feet showing - then, moving slowly and cautiously, they proceeded down the many staircases, pausing at intervals to check on the map for signs of Filch or Mrs. Norris. They were lucky. They saw nobody but Nearly Headless Nick, who was gliding along absent-mindedly humming something that sounded horribly like 'Weasley is our King'. They crept across the Entrance Hall and out into the silent, snowy grounds.

They set off at a quick march, crunching excitedly through the thickening snow until at last they reached the wooden front door. When Harry raised his fist and knocked three times, a dog started barking frantically inside.

"Hagrid, it's us!" Harry called through the keyhole.

"Shoulda known!" Said a gruff voice.

They beamed at each other under the Cloak, they could tell by Hagrid's voice that he was pleased. "Bin home three seconds...out the way, Fang...out the way, yeh dozy dog..."

The bolt was drawn back, the door creaked open and Hagrid's head appeared in the gap.

Hermione screamed.

"Merlin's beard, keep it down!" Said Hagrid hastily, staring wildly over their heads. "Under the Cloak, are yeh? Well, get in, get in!"

"I'm sorry!" Hermione gasped, as the four of them squeezed past Hagrid into the house and pulled the Cloak off themselves so he could see them. "I just - oh, Hagrid!"

"It's nuthin', it's nuthin'!" Said Hagrid hastily, shutting the door behind them and hurrying to close all the curtains, but Hermione continued to gaze up at him in horror.

Hagrid's hair was matted with congealed blood and his left eye had been reduced to a puffy slid amid a mass of purple and black bruising. There were many cuts on his face and hands, some of them still bleeding, and he was moving gingerly, which made Aurora suspect broken ribs.

It was obvious that he had only just got home. A thick black travelling cloak lay over the back of a chair and a haversack large enough to carry several small children leaned against the wall inside the door.

"Who're yeh?" He asked, pointing at Aurora. She suddenly realised her hair was still brown. "A new friend of yours, Harry?"

"No, rather an old friend." Harry smiled a little. "Hagrid, don't freak...but this is Aurora."

Hagrid frowned, leaning down to inspect Aurora's face closer. Aurora brushed through her hair and ran her fingers down her face, changing her appearance back to that of Aurora Black.

Hagrid jumped. The eye that wasn't squeezed shut teared up. "Ara?"

"Yes, it's really me, Hagrid." Aurora smiled.

Hagrid bent down and picked her up in a bear-hug although it did seem to hurt him because he winced a little. "I knew it!" He said. "I knew yeh were alive!"

Aurora laughed. "Can you, maybe, put me down now? I can't breathe."

"Oh, o' course." Hagrid placed her back on the ground.

Hagrid was going to ask something as he limped over to the fire and placing a copper kettle over it. But Harry was first.

"What happened to you?" Harry demanded, while Fang danced around them all, trying to lick their faces.