The Protector

Keeper Of Keys

I woke up with the sunshine in my face. I squinted. "Ehhh," I whispered to myself, not knowing whether my mother was home or not. I quietly got out of bed, and glanced at my clock. 9:15 AM. I sighed. Brushing my hair into a high ponytail, I was ready for this crazy day to begin.

I glanced out my window and there was an owl. It was a barn owl, which was my favorite type of owl. I smiled at it, and walked over to my window. I opened it, and it cocked it's head at me. What did it want? Oh. "I don't have any parchment, but I will be attending Hogwarts. If you could please let them know, that would be great." It gave a hoot before flying off.

I checked my luggage. Everything was in place, just as I had it last night. I glanced down at my wrists and smiled. The bracelet was still there. It was so pretty. I checked my jeans and my key was, thankfully, still there. That's what I forgot last night. I didn't put on pajamas. Oh well.

I glanced at my clock: 10 o'clock AM. I closed my trunk. Taking it along, as well as a picture of my grandparents, I left my room. I quickly grabbed an apple and headed out the door. I wasn't to come back for a while. As the door shut behind me, I took a bite from my apple.

There was a weird looking motercycle outside of the Dursley's house. I thought that was a little odd. The Dursley's were not odd people. Their car was gone and replaced with a motorcycle. Where had they gone to?

I walked up to their door, and I knocked. Pretty hard too. I needed to let the stranger in there that someone was outside. Who knows? Maybe someone called the police on them for child endangerment. I took another bite from my apple, and the door opened. I looked up. In front of me was a bulky, tall man. His hair on his face made up a quarter of his body weight.

"Um...Hello?" I said to him.

"Well, Hello ther'."

I smiled, "I'm looking for Harry Potter. Is he home?"

"Actually, I was lookin' for hem too," the man said.

I furrowed my brows, Why was this man looking for Harry, "Why do you need to see him?"

"Some business needs to be attended to," He went on.

Maybe he was called for child endangerment. I noticed that, with him, he had a pink umbrella. Why would he have an umbrella in the end of July? "What's up with umbrella?"

"In case it rains," He said without looking up.

It was a beautiful, sunny day. Hmmm..."Well, I'm Bridget. I'm Harry's best friend. And I'm concerned for his well being. I'm assumed you were told."

"Told what?"

He's not from the government...I took a couple steps back, "Told about the way they treat him."

"Oh, I was told that the day I...That's not important."

I noticed paper sticking out of his pockets. They looked awfully familiar, "What do you have in your pockets?"

"Nothing."

I pulled the letter from my pockets. As I examined the two, I realized something, "They're the same!"

"What are?"

An owl swooped from overhead. It dropped a piece of paper in front of Hagrid. He picked it up. He spoke as he read it, "He's not here. That makes sense."

"Are you from..." I read the name of the school, "Hogwarts?"

His head snapped up in an instant, "Excuse me."

"Are you from Hogwarts? I noticed you have the same letter as I do-"

"I am," he chuckled. "Rubeus Hagrid. Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. And the letter isn't mine."

"Harry's been accepted?!"

"Yes," he laughed. "Why is that such a shock?"

"He's never talked about it to me before," I looked to the ground. "He talks to me about everything. I didn't even realize that I was a witch until last night."

"Well, where are your parents?"

"Ones dead."

Hagrid's face went white, "Oh-"

"My mum is probably out drinking. So...I have to find my way to get my things and stuff."

"Do you even know where to go?"

I shook my head.

"Well...I need to go find Harry. You can tag along if you'd like."

"I'd love to, if you're okay with that," I took another bite from my apple.

It was raining, and dark. Hagrid's boss, called Albus Dumbledore, told him it was on a rock near the coast. We get out there and this place is surrounded by water. Why would they come here? I asked myself. I had Hagrid's umbrella over me, but it wasn't working that well. I had folded up my letter, list, and picture up and place them in my trunk, which I hoped was still dry on the inside. We get there and Hagrid, knocks on the door. Then I knock on it rapidly. Still no reply. Hagrid then proceeds to knock down the door. I honestly didn't mind. I was sick of traveling today. We go in, and the Dursleys are standing there terrified. I couldn't see Harry.

"Sorry 'bout that," Hagrid apologized imidiately

"I demand that you both leave at once! You are breaking an entering!" I glanced at the stairwell and there stood Mr. and Mrs. Dursley. Mr. Dursley was holding a shot gun and shaking. I thought he looked quite funny.

Hagrid walked over to Mr. Dursley and grabbed his gun and bent it upwards while saying, "Light'n up, you prune."

I laughed and walked in front of the fireplace. Harry must've saw because he ran into me and hugged me. It took me by suprise at first, but I soon hugged back. I missed him, I really did.

We released from our hug and our eyes met. His eyes were filled with relief. "Happy Birthday Harry," I told him.

"Well, well. You must be Harry Potter. I haven't seen yeh since you was a baby. Oh and I...er...got somethin' for yeh," Hagrid came over and handed Harry a white box. I looked at Hargid in confusion. He hadn't told me he got something for Harry. "Baked it homemade. All by meh self."

Harry opened the box, and I glanced inside. It was a cake decorated with pink frosting and "Happy Birthday Harry," which was spelled absolutely incorrect, but it's the thought that counts.

"Thank you," Harry said putting the cake on the nearby wooden table.

"Well, you don't become eleven everyday, right?" Hagrid responded, falling onto the couch. He sat on the couch, pulled out his umbrella, and lit the fireplace. I smiled and glanced at Harry, who was in awe.

"I don't mean to be rude...but who exactly are you?" Harry asked.

"I am Rubius Hagrid, keeper of keys and grounds at Hogwarts," he replied.

"What's Hogwarts?" Harry replied. He seemed as confused as I was when I was first told.

"You can't be serious," Hagrid laughed. Harry didn't laugh. He was serious. Hagrid looked to the Dursley's then back to Harry, "That's where your mum and dad learned it all."

"Learned what exactly?" Harry looked so confused. I felt bad for him.

"Yer a wizard, of course," Hagrid said.

Then they got into a discussion about wizards, and there was a little bit of controversy between Hagrid and Mr. Dursley. Hagrid got rather upset with the Dursley's for not telling Harry the truth. I would've too.

"Hey, Harry," I said, causing him to look at me. "I'm a wizard too, but not a wizard. A witch. And we'll be going to the same school."

We both smiled. "That's awesome."

"Yeah," I said.

Hagrid checked the time, "We are running a bit behind schedule," He put his pocket watch away. "Should get goin'."

I smiled as I drug Harry out of that run-down shack. I was happy to get him away from those horrible people.

"Off to Diagon Alley."