Hope Mikaelson Goes to Hogwarts

Chapter 16: Hagrid's Return

Hope's POV:

When the day finally came to go back to Hogwarts, I almost didn't want to. Hogwarts may be my home, but 12 Grimmauld place is slowly becoming another home like the Burrow is. The train ride is pretty uneventful.

I told Hermione and Ron over break about Harry and I and to say my ear drums are still recovering from the squealing is putting it lightly. Ron was less thrilled, and he gave Harry the 'you may be my best mate, but if you hurt her, I'll punch you' speech. I smiled at that.

I didn't think Ron cared that much, but it's nice to know that he does. When we reach Hogwarts Harry and I are walking towards the entrance to the castle when Hermione calls out to us. "Harry! Hope!" We turn to her, confused. "Hagrid's back."

Harry and I exchange wide eyed looks of shock before we rush after our friends towards the all too familiar hut that has been vacant throughout the year. The four of us sprint down the hill to Hagrid's and when we reach the door I knock rapidly, wanting to see my returned friend.

When we reach the hut I pick up something with my werewolf hearing. Umbridge. I stop my friends. "What is it?" Hermione whispers." I put my finger to my lips and then beckon them to follow me to the side of the hut top listen in. "I'm ordering you to tell me where you've been." 

"I told you. I've been away for me health." Hagrid tells her. "Your healthy?" "Yeah. Bit of fresh air, you know." "Oh, yes. As gamekeeper, fresh air must be difficult to come by. If I were you, I shouldn't get too used to being back. In fact, I mightn't bother unpacking at all." 

My jaw clenches in anger at her words. When we see her coming towards the door I pull everyone out of sight. I hear a spritzing sound and I scrunch up my face at the horrible smell now surrounding the place. "What is it?" Harry asks, noticing my disgust. "She marked her territory." 

They all smile at this. Once she's gone we run up to the door, knocking. Hagrid opens the door with an angry look on his face, but it softens when he sees its us. "Come in, come in." He says, beckoning us to the table. 

"Hagrid, where were you really?" I ask softly, not wanting to upset him anymore than she did. "Now this is top secret, right? Dumbledore sent me to parlay with the giants." My eyes widen. "Giants!?" Hermione exclaims. "Shh." We all shush her. "You found them?" I ask. 

"Well, they're not that hard to find, to be perfectly honest. They're so big, see? I tried to convince them to join the cause. But I wasn't the only one that was trying to win them over." "Death Eaters?" Ron asks. "Yes. Trying to persuade them to join You Know Who." 

"And...did they?" Harry asks. "I gave them Dumbledore's message. Suppose some of them remember he was friendly to them, I suppose." He shrugs. "And they did this to you?" Harry gestures to all the cuts on his face. "Not exactly, no." 

He tries to press a piece of cold meet to his face, but Fang keeps barking. "Oh, go on, you have it then, you dopey dog." He says, throwing it to the dog. "Do you want me to-" "No, she's already seen the cuts and if she sees they're gone that quickly then she'll start to question." 

I nod, not liking the fact that I can't help my friend. The wind starts to pick up and a draft  starts coming through the hut. We all stand and go over to the window. "It's changing out there. Just like last time. There's a storm coming Harry. We'd all best be ready when she does." 

I can sense all the fear in the room. I reach down and grab onto Harry's hand, squeezing it reassuringly. He squeezes back just as tight. "Now, you three best be off before it starts raining. Off you go." He says. We head for the door before I turn back. 

"I'll be back tomorrow with a salve that should help the healing process." He nods. "Thank you Hope." I nod back before walking out of the hut with my friends. When we reach the castle night has fallen. We quickly make our way up to Gryffindor Tower. 

We're careful to avoid Filch and Umbridge and basically any other teachers roaming the halls. We make it up to the Common Room in record time. When we get up there we're all tired since it's late and from the long train ride. 

After saying goodnight to Hermione and Ron, Harry and I take our places on the couch. He wraps his arm around my shoulders as I bring my feet in and tuck myself into Harry's side, laying my head on his shoulder. 

He gently strokes my arm in a soothing pattern while we watch the fire in front of us. The crackle of the fire is calming. The silence is peaceful and I can't help but be selfish and wish that this moment will last, but I know it won't. Especially now. 

It's like the calm before the storm, just like Hagrid said. Something in my gut tells me that this isn't just a spring shower, it's going to be an ongoing, destructive storm, determined to destroy everything in it's path. 

What scares me the most is that my friends and I are right on the front lines, holding everything back so that the storm doesn't demolish everything around us, and we're standing on eroding pillars, threatening to fall and take us with it. \

"This is where everything goes downhill, isn't it?" I mumble. He sighs and places a kiss to the top of my head. "Whatever happens, we'll deal with it like we always down. Together." I nod. "Together."