Hagrid

The knock was not loud, but it made a deep, muffled sound, as though something very large had struck the door.

Harry quickly jumped up from the sofa. The awkward, oppressive atmosphere in the room had become almost unbearable.

He hurried to the door. The knock came again, and Harry pulled it open, then froze.

Was that... a person standing outside?

Standing outside was a... Harry could not think of a word to describe him. Tall, burly, hulking-all the usual descriptions seemed utterly inadequate beside the figure before him!

His enormous frame completely blocked the light from the entryway, leaving Harry unable to make out his face. Of course, Harry doubted he could have seen it even with better lighting. The man's face was entirely hidden beneath a thick tangle of beard and hair.

All he could make out was a pair of eyes that gleamed like black jewels.

"S-sorry," the enormous man began. His voice did not match his appearance. Though slightly loud, it was still within a normal range, and Harry could even hear a trace of hesitation and embarrassment in it. "I meant to get here earlier, but something unexpected happened on the way. The streets in this Muggle area got me a bit confused."

"Muggle?" Harry was puzzled by the word, though this hardly seemed the time to ask.

"Oh, yes. That means people who can't do magic," the enormous man explained. Then he asked, a little hesitantly, "Could you move aside a bit? As you can see, I'm rather large. With you standing in the doorway, it's a bit difficult for me to get in."

"Oh, yes, of course. Come in!" Harry hurried out of the doorway and glanced back at his aunt and uncle. Both had already stood up, but neither seemed inclined to approach the door.

With great care and considerable effort, the enormous man stooped and squeezed through the doorway, which had already been enlarged beyond its usual size. Only when he straightened up did Harry finally see just how tall and broad he was. Or rather, even those words were wholly inadequate.

The ground floor of the Dursley family's house was nearly four meters high. Even so, it only just allowed the man-or giant-before him to stand upright. He was twice the height of an ordinary adult and at least three times as wide! He wore a large, dark coat and a pair of boots that children could have used as boats. The floorboards kept creaking beneath his feet.

"Oh! Hello!" The giant clasped his hands together, looking rather ill at ease.

"My name is Rubeus Hagrid. I'm the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts! Headmaster Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall sent me to take Harry Potter to make the preparations he needs before starting school!"

As he spoke, he glanced hesitantly around the room, then asked with great care, "May I ask where Harry is?"

"Um... that's me..." Harry answered uncertainly. Why did this man seem... not particularly bright?

"Ah?" The giant named Hagrid let out a startled cry. This time, his voice was tremendously loud; he had clearly been deliberately keeping it down before. Then he realized how loud he had been and quickly gave an apologetic smile.

"Sorry, sorry. I'm rather big, so my voice is rather big too..."

Then he looked Harry up and down doubtfully. "But I remember Harry being a boy..."

"Um... I am a boy..." Harry felt a little awkward. At school, he usually found this sort of thing amusing, but now it was rather embarrassing.

"Ah... is that so..." Hagrid studied him a little more closely, and his eyes gradually lit up. "Yes, you must be him! They say boys take after their mothers, and it's true. Harry, you look just like your mum did when she was little!"

A huge smile spread across Hagrid's hairy face. It was not a handsome smile, but it was positively radiant. "But you've got your dad's eyes, and his hair color!"

"You knew my mum and dad?" Harry's eyes lit up at once. In all his life, he had never seen a single photograph of his parents, nor did he know anything about them. All Aunt Petunia had told him was that he looked a little like his mother.

"I did. Yes, of course I did. We were friends! Both your dad and your mum!" Hagrid gave another of those smiles that, while not particularly attractive, radiated kindness.

"Hmph!" Aunt Petunia, who had remained silent until then, gave a quiet snort. Her expression was ugly, as though Hagrid's words had stirred up unpleasant memories.

Hagrid looked over, noticed their unfriendly expressions, and hurriedly cleared his throat. "Good day-oh, good evening, madam and sir! I expect you both know why I've come. If you don't mind, I'd like to take Harry with me now. I'll bring him back tomorrow, or the day after at the latest."

"You should at least prove that you really are from this Hogwarts place!" Aunt Petunia said coldly. She clearly had no fondness whatsoever for the giant before her. Uncle Vernon, by contrast, did not seem quite so hostile. Of course, judging by the slight trembling he could not quite control, he might simply have been frightened by Hagrid's enormous size.

Harry felt that not reaching for the shotgun hanging on the wall was already an extraordinary show of restraint.

"Oh, yes, yes. Professor McGonagall mentioned that, but I forgot!" Hagrid hurriedly felt around inside his coat. The nights in Britain might not have been as hot as the days, but they certainly were not cool. It was a wonder he could bear wearing such an enormous leather coat.

After a flustered search, Hagrid pulled out a letter and held it out to Petunia. Then, apparently remembering something, he drew his hand back and offered it to her with both hands instead.