Chapter Text
Hagrid looked at the too skinny, too timid child trembling in front of him. When the headmaster had given him the task of reintroducing Harry Potter to the wizarding world, Hagrid had felt happier than he had since the day You-know-who killed the Potters. Now he felt nothing but sadness at the obvious fear in the child’s eyes. Well that and anger at the people who put that fear there.
Ignoring the blustering muggles, the half giant tried to soften his voice as much as possible, speaking as gently as he would to his often frightened dog, Fang. “I won’t hurt you, lad. I know I’m big and kind of scary looking and I talk too loud, but I would never hurt you. Why I knew you when you were just a wee little mite. Come with me and I’ll show you a world beyond your imagination.”
Harry tilted his head and spoke barely above a whisper. “I’m not allowed to have an imagination, sir.” He couldn’t help thinking that this rather tall man seemed nice enough but that didn’t mean he wasn’t going to mind his manners.
Hagrid didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Not allowed to have an imagination indeed. “Then this place will be beyond your reality. Tell me, have you ever had something strange happen whenever you were upset?”
The child thought a moment. “My teacher’s hair turned blue when she blamed me for something Dudley did. I once found myself on the roof of the school when I was trying to get away from Dudley and his gang.” He spoke even softer. “Once when Uncle Vernon was really angry with me, my bruises were all gone the next day.”
Hagrid glared at the big man cowering in the corner. “You dare hurt a child under your care? You and his aunt were supposed to love him and treat him like your own. Not leave him dressed in rags and fearful of strangers.”
“Now see here, How I raise the boy is none of your business. As if I could ever love a freak like him. If you ask me, the brat could do with a few more bruises.” Vernon glared at his nephew, who bowed his head and stayed quiet.
Petunia chimed in with an expression like she’d bitten into an extremely sour lemon. “It’s the boy’s fault for being one of your kind. I’d hoped that Vernon could beat it out of him, but no such luck.”
Hagrid made a snap decision. He would hide the child in his hut until school started if he had to, but he would not be going back to his horrible family after they finished shopping. “Come Harry. We’ll kip at the Leaky and then do your shopping in the morning.” No way was he going to subject the child to his awful relatives any longer than necessary.
Harry timidly followed behind Hagrid and tried to ignore his sputtering uncle. He had no idea what the Leaky was nor how he was supposed to pay for any shopping. It wasn’t like the Dursleys ever gave him any money. After the silence had stretched out for sometime he quietly spoke up. “Um, sir? How will I pay for my supplies? I don’t have any money.”
Hagrid turned to face the child. Poor thing looked like he was falling asleep on his feet. “It’s just Hagrid, Harry. And don’t worry, your mum and dad left you plenty of money. We’ll stop at Gringotts, that’s the bank, in the morning.”
Harry rubbed the sleep from his eyes. “But Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia said they were drunks who left me without anything.”
Hagrid wanted to go back inside the hut and hex the Dursleys into next week. Surely using magic would be allowed against such awful muggles. Why he would be doing the world a favor. He took a couple deep breaths and forced himself to be calm. “Lad, your parents were great people who loved you very much. Anything those awful people told you about them is a lie.
“Really, sir? What were they like?” asked Harry, brimming with curiosity.
Hagrid led the boy towards the large motor cycle he’d left outside while he answered the question. “Your mum was one of the smartest people I ever met and the kindest. Your dad was as full of mischief as could be but he could be serious when he had to be and he grew kinder when he got older.”
Harry looked thoughtful. “How did they die Mr. Hagrid?”
Choosing to ignore the honorific for now, the kindly giant wished he didn’t have to answer that question. He took the small lad’s hand and gave him a mournful look. “An evil wizard murdered them both when you were a baby. He tried to kill you too but somehow you survived and he vanished.”
Harry glanced up at the giant. “What could I have done as a baby and why did he want to kill me?”
Hagrid put as gentle of a hand as he could on the child’s shoulder. “I suspect your mum and dad did something to make you survive the evil wizard’s curse. And well you couldn’t do much then but children eventually grow up. I imagine he didn’t want you seeking revenge later.”
Harry nodded thoughtfully. That made sense. Shortly afterwards, he saw a huge motorcycle. “Are we riding on that?” For the first time in forever he felt some excitement.
Hagrid laughed. “We are. Let’s get you seated in the side car.”
Before long they were both situated and to the young wizard’s delight flying. He tried hard to stay awake but had to concede defeat. Hagrid took a blanket out of one of his pockets and covered the child. He could only hope that Dumbledore hadn’t known about the child’s treatment. Then again that might be worse because that meant he’d never checked.
When they finally landed, he tried unsuccessfully to rouse the boy. With a soft chuckle he picked him up and carefully placed him on his hip. The child slept through the whole check in process at the Leaky and barely stirred when he placed him in one of the beds.
Hagrid wished he could sleep so easily. The doubts running through his head made that impossible. By the time the sun rose, he’d resolved to do his best by the lad even if that meant going against the man everyone thought of as the greatest wizard who ever lived.
He let Harry sleep as long as possible before waking him up. “Come, Harry we need to get some breakfast and then get your supplies.”
Harry rubbed his eyes. “I get to eat? But I haven’t done anything to earn it.”
Hagrid forced himself to sound cheerful. “Sure you did. You stayed out of trouble on the way here didn’t you?”
Harry gave him a half smile. “All I did was fall asleep.”
Hagrid gave him a much bigger smile back. “Hard to get into mischief when you’re sleeping.”
He turned more serious. “After breakfast we’ll go to the bank and get some coins for you. After that we’ll get you your school uniform and better clothes. While we eat I need to talk to you more about what happened when you were a baby.”
After they sat down to eggs on toast for Harry and enough food to feed a small army of growing teenage boys for Hagrid, the giant spoke. “The evil wizard who killed your parents and tried to kill you cast what’s known as the killing curse. No one has ever survived that curse. Not until you. This made you famous in the wizarding world. In fact, you’re known as The Boy-who-lived.”
Harry snorted rather bitterly for an eleven year old. “Not famous enough for anyone to check on me. The Dursleys could have killed me and nobody would have known or cared.”
“I can only apologize for that. I think the Headmaster honestly thought you’d be safe and cared for in the muggle world. He isn’t a bad man but even good men can make mistakes sometimes.”
‘No, a mistake is getting the wrong answer on a test or misspelling a word on an essay or giving Dudley the wrong cereal’ thought Harry. Out loud he merely gave a noncommittal hum. After all, Mr Hagrid might be the nicest grown up he’d ever met but he was still just that. A grown up. And Harry knew that grown ups couldn't be trusted.
Wisely dropping the subject, Hagrid told Harry about the different houses. “When you start Hogwarts you’ll be sorted into one of four houses; Gryffindor for the brave, Slytherin for the cunning, Ravenclaw for the wise , or Hufflepuff for the loyal.”
“What if I don’t fit in anywhere? Will I get sent back to my relatives? I really don’t feel like I’m any of those things,” wondered Harry.
“Not to worry. No one has ever been sent home after getting their letter. Oh, speaking of, I plum forgot to give yours to you.” With that, Hagrid dug through his coat pockets until he found Harry’s Hogwarts’ acceptance letter.
Harry read it in silence. Before he could do more than skim over it, the barman approached.
Tom smiled cheerfully at them both. “Good to see you’re awake now, lad.” He lowered his voice. “I have a cap here for when you and Hagrid visit the alley, Mr. Potter. Wouldn’t want you to get mobbed would we?”
Harry took the hat numbly before kicking himself mentally and stammering out a thank you. The friendly barman told him not to mention it before wandering off to another table.
Hagrid felt more than a little bit relieved. His original plan was to throw Harry into his fame head first. Now that he’d actually met him, he thought that would be cruel. Certainly the child would have to face his fame sooner or later but not just yet.
Harry’s eyes widened at the sight of the Alley. Everyone was dressed colorfully with strange hats. The buildings themselves had a life of their own. He couldn’t help just standing and staring.
“The first sight of the magical world is something. But come, Harry, we need to get to the bank.” Hagrid directed.
“Sorry, sir.” Harry’s face flushed.
“None of that. We just have lots to do today.” Hagrid smiled in what he hoped was a reassuring manner.
The bank looked nothing like what Harry expected. It was much more ostentatious than any he’d ever seen. And just what were the tellers? He’d never seen green people before.
“Those are Goblins, Harry. They can be a bit grumpy but they’re good folks. Just be polite."
Harry nodded obediently. “Yes, Mr. Hagrid.”
When they got to the front of the line, the teller looked up at them. “Name and business.”
“Rubeus Hagrid and Harry Potter. Here to withdraw coins from Harry’s vault"
“Do you have your key, Mr. Potter?” asked the Goblin.
“No, sir.” Harry wanted to ask if he could get another one but adult humans were bad enough. He had no idea about adult goblins. He would have been surprised to find out that most of the tellers were teenagers in Goblin years. The adults worked more behind the scenes.
The Goblin raised an eyebrow. “Give me your hand.” After the puny human did so, he pulled a small knife out of one of his desk drawers and with surprising gentleness pierced the child’s thumb. He then squeezed the blood over a piece of parchment over his desk before releasing the hand.
Harry looked in fascination at the parchment.
Name: Harry James Potter
Father: Lord James Potter (deceased)
Mother: Lady Lily Evans Potter (deceased)
Godfather: (oath sworn) Sirius Black (imprisoned)
Godmother: Marlene McKinnon (deceased)
Titles
Lord Potter (inheritance)
Lord Black (inheritance) (Sirius ineligible because of imprisonment and dementor exposure)
Duke of Barenol, Lord Slytherin (conquest)
Allies to Lord Potter
Weasley
Longbottom
Vassals to Lord Black
Tonks (After Andromeda Black married Theodore Tonks, the then Lord Black only agreed to not disown Andromeda if her husband swore fealty to the House of Black.)
Vassals to Duke Barenol
Malfoy
Parkinson
Crabbe
Goyle
Flint
Lestrange
Carrow
Rookwood
+all marked death eaters
Magical talents
Parseltongue
Potions affinity
Mage Sight
Harry read the document twice before venturing to ask a question. “I’m a Duke?! I thought I was just an ordinary kid.”
The Goblin grabbed the parchment back none too gently and quickly read it over. “Indeed, your Grace. I will have someone escort you to your vaults as soon as I have a key made.”
Harry nodded. “May I have your name please? And call me Harry.”
“Sourtooth. You can call me that if you want your Grace.”
“Thank you, Mr Sourtooth.”
Harry soon met Saltyfang, his cart driver. Once he and the unusually silent Hagrid were inside the cart, the driver took off. For the first time ever, Harry felt genuine childlike glee at the ride. He almost felt sorry it stopped.
He looked at the huge vault door and produced his newly given key. With a confidence he didn’t truly feel, he opened the door. His green eyes widened when he saw the coins piled up inside. He didn’t think he’d ever seen so much money in his life.
A flash of anger hit him. He turned to Hagrid and spoke through tightly clenched teeth. “They said I was a burden. They said anything they gave me was something they took away from Dudley. And yet, I’m rich. Like super rich. If I had known, maybe I could have given them money to take care of me. Maybe they would have loved me then. Why? Why couldn’t they love me?”
At Hagrid’s open invitation, Harry silently cried into the man’s chest. “I don’t know, lad. Some people just never learned how to love more than just themselves. I kind of feel sorry for them. Life’s pretty lonely without people who you love.”
Harry pulled back, embarrassed at his emotional display. “Sorry, Mr. Hagrid. Sorry, Mr. Saltyfang.”
Saltyfang grunted. “Foolish human. Tears aren’t a weakness.”
Hagrid tilted his chin up. “He’s right Harry. But come. Let’s get you some coins so we can do the rest of our shopping.”
During the trip back to the top, Hagrid asked for and received permission to look at Harry’s parchment. He’d thought he’d heard something about Harry being a Duke, but surely not, right? Before he even read the titles he saw that Sirius Black was Harry’s oathsworn Godfather. He quickly skimmed the rest of the document and saw that the child next to him was indeed an actual Duke.
After they exited the cart, Hagrid gave Harry a polite bow. “Your Grace, we should get your symbol of office then get you proper clothing.”
Harry scrunched his nose up. “That’s too weird. I’m just Harry.”
Hagrid shook his head. “I’m afraid that you were never going to be just Harry. Even if you weren’t a Duke, you’re still the Boy-who-lived. “
Saltyfang regarded the underfed and seemingly weak human child. Something told him that once the young Duke learned to embrace his fame, the wizarding world wouldn’t know what hit it. He gave the child a very slight smile. “I suggest, your Grace, that you learn to accept who you are. Part of that is graciously accepting the courtesy of others.”
“I guess I understand Mr Saltyfang. What’s a symbol of office?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.
“It’s an object such as a signet ring that’s connected to your magic that shows your titles truly belong to you,” the Goblin answered.
With that they entered the Heritage Office. “Place your right index finger on this indentation, your Grace,” Saltyfang instructed.
Harry did so and felt a small prick followed by a pressure in his head. A thick gold chain with three charms appeared on the table. The first was a small pottery wheel. The second was a snarling black dog with red eyes. The last was silver cauldron with a bright green snake embossed on the front. He admired the charms briefly before slipping the chain over his neck.
The moment he did so, he felt his spine snap straight. He could almost physically feel the self doubt beaten into him by his relatives leave his mind. A strong determination infused his whole being. If he was a nobleman, then he would be the best he could be. He would protect the people under his care. He would work hard to improve their lives. He would use this gift he’d been granted to lift others up, not push them down.
His eyes widened when he saw Saltyfang and Hagrid on one knee in front of him. Speaking in unison they declared: “I Saltyfang of Clan Fang, I Rubeus Hagrid do swear fealty to his Grace Harry James Potter, Duke of Barenol, Lord of Slytherin, Lord of Potter, Lord of Black. I will offer guidance when needed, correction when warranted, and support when requested. This do I swear in the eyes of magic.”
“I accept your pledge and thank you for it. Rise my friends.” He offered a hand to each in turn and helped them up.
With their business at the bank concluded Hagrid took Harry to Gladrags. “Most wizards buy their school uniforms from Madam Malkins, your Grace, but you’ll need to wear higher quality clothing because of your status.”
Harry inclined his head. “I understand, Mr. Hagrid.” This time, the Mister was added out of genuine fondness for the tall man and not fear of offending a grown up.
The proprietor of Gladrags started to dismiss the two who entered his shop until he saw the chain the younger one wore. “Clarence Hopkins at your service. How can I serve your Grace?” He bowed.
Hagrid answered. “His Grace needs a full set of Hogwarts uniforms and a full wardrobe befitting his station.”
What felt like an eternity later, Harry left wearing finer clothes than he’d ever seen and several shrunken packages in his pockets. “Where are we going now?”
Hagrid thought about it a moment. “Let’s get you a trunk and then get your school supplies. After that we’ll get your wand and then I think it will be time for ice cream before I take you to Hogwarts.”
“I’ve never tried ice cream. Is it as wonderful as it looks?” asked Harry with a child like enthusiasm he hadn’t allowed himself to show yet.
Hagrid swore to himself that he would give the bright eyed child in front of him all the kindness and good experiences he could.
Harry could not help staring at his shiny new wand. Elderwood and Ashwinder, Mr Ollivander had told him. He would have to work hard to earn the wand's complete allegiance but once he did, it would be loyal to him and him alone no matter who actually held it.
Harry licked his strawberry ice cream cone with the biggest grin he'd ever worn. Ice cream was the best thing ever. "Can we have ice cream every day, Mr. Hagrid?"
Hagrid ruffled his head fondly. "Maybe not every day, your Grace." He pulled what looked like an old rag out of his pocket. "Grab and keep hold of this. You'll feel a strange pulling sensation. It will pass quickly."
Harry whooped with joy when he felt himself flying through the air. He stumbled on the landing, gladly accepting Hagrid's help. "That was fun! Can we do that again?"
Hagrid thought port keys were anything but fun. He intended to hide Harry in his hut before reporting to the Headmaster. Unfortunately fate had other plans.
"What do we have here? You know perfectly well that children aren't allowed at Hogwarts before the start of term." The dour looking man made the Goblins seem downright cheerful.
Hagrid started to put himself in front of Harry but stepped back at a gesture. For his part, the man took a breath to go on a diatribe at the apparent defiance of the child staring him down. Before he could say anything, the boy spoke.
Somehow Harry knew exactly what to say. "You and all who followed that so called Lord belong to me now. I don't expect absolute obedience. I do expect basic courtesy. If you have something to say, you will watch your tone. Is that clear?"
Snape blinked twice then took a closer look at the boy. He paled dramatically when he saw the charms. "Forgive me, your Grace. You are of course welcome to stay here." He bowed then offered to help find a temporary room for the young Duke.
Hagrid gladly accepted and hurried to the castle. He had much to report.