Wild Thing (Working Title)

Rubeus couldn’t help but to fidget as the stern looking man looked him up and down taking in the slightly ragged appearance of his coat, beard, and hair that were more harried looking right now then usual as he had spent so much of this last week reading and trying to get the Hut ready for Harry. Still he wasn’t about to back down from the Ministry man who’s name he couldn’t remember even if the woman the day before /had/ told him what it was. He hadn’t been paying much attention then and didn’t much care right now he just wanted the man to get done with this so that they could get going. Besides he didn’t care what this man really thought of him, the man had been ordered to help him as needed or so he had been told, and most of those ministry people were so good at orders it was scary sometimes to the half giant.

Despite his thoughts though he was glad when the other man finally stopped looking at him like he was trying to pick him apart with his gaze and finally asked what Rubeus needed his help with. “I can’ do no magic maself, so I need you ta: take me to where I’m going; make sure those muggles don’t try an cause trouble; An ‘elp me get ‘Arry back ‘ere af’er.” He told the man who seemed to consider for a moment before nodding his consent of the ‘plan’ if it could truly be called that before resting his hand on Rubeus and they were gone.

Reappearing in a deserted and fenced in park it took them just a bit to walk to the Durselys’ home, but Rubeus himself didn’t mind and while he had no clue what his ‘escort’ thought the other man never complained so he just assumed the other didn’t either. Still he was glad when he saw the familiar street and house come into view. He could feel the nervousness creeping over him as he made his way up the steeps hunching over so he could fit better onto the porch before knocking on the door.

Irritated Petunia looking up from trying none to kindly to get her sister’s brat shoved into some half decent clothes so she could take the boy down the road while they went out with Dudley at the sound of the door. Giving the crying Harry a last look she made her way to the door smoothing out her features and her dress she pulled the door open only for her eyes to nearly leave their sockets and her mouth to fall open. Realizing that she could hear talking outside she quickly pulled herself together “Get in here.” She hissed at the pair quite sure that at least the smaller one was one of her sister’s kind even if she didn’t know why he or the other man were here. Still she couldn’t have them just /standing/ out there could she what /would/ the neighbors thinks.

The ministry official raised en eyebrow at the woman, but did as ‘bid’ all the same with his ‘charge’ entering behind him. He wasn’t at all pleased with the look the woman was giving him and didn’t even bother to try and hide the fact that he was looking the woman over. She wasn’t even close to being something worth looking at; remind him of a horse in truth which was far from appealing. He couldn’t see how /this/ woman could be related to Lilly Potter, he hadn’t personally known the mother of the boy-who-lived but he had seen pictures of her and heard stories of her. This… women didn’t seem like what he thought a person of her family would be like, but he didn’t care to examine it much farther just then as that really wasn’t why he was here and evidently she agreed as she demanded to know why they were here.

Rubeus swallowed hard at the sharp question, this woman was nothing like his friend Lilly he could already tell, but quickly answered all the same. “I’m ‘ere for ‘Arry.” He told the woman as he tried in vain to remember what Lilly had said her name was.

Petunia couldn’t help the delighted look that spread over her face at those words. So they had come to take the brat back that was fine by her. At least it was until she remembered the note that had been left with the boy and the delight quickly left followed by a rather displeased and dark look. “I can’t let you do that I’m afraid.” She informed them though she didn’t sound at all pleased with the words.

Rubeus couldn’t help but to be confused by the look of delight that had first come over the woman’s face, it had made him think of Lilly for a moment, but it seemed holey out of place for the comment. Then to see her face darken so quickly and the words that went with that look, and their tone, no this surely couldn’t be her sister could it? Still he offered her a smile all the same after all he had never been to good with people so he was probably just reading her wrong, right? “It’s ok, ‘e’ll be looked after good an I’ll bring ‘im by to see ya when ever ya want.” He assured her thinking that maybe she was just worried that Harry wouldn’t be taken care of or maybe that she would ever get to see him. Sure Harry was his son now, but he wouldn’t at all deny him to see his aunt and uncle.

Suddenly the crying from the other room stopped and the ministry offical’s gaze widened when a small boy with black hair sticking up every which way, green eyes, a red tear streaked face, a dipper, and a half on shirt came toddling in. He hadn’t ever personally seen him, but the man knew the-boy-who-lived when he saw him. This was him? Why did he look so scrawny, where were the rest of his clothes, and was a dipper supposed to fit like that?

Rubeus’s eye widened as he spotted Harry, it had only been a month since he saw the now nineteen month old, but he had changed greatly. Still he didn’t even hesitate when he toddled over holding up his hands to pick him up. “Wha’ ‘appened to ‘im? ‘Arry you look like a thestral all skin and bone.” He told the small and now rather skinny boy who buried his face in his coat saying something though it was quite muffled and unintelligible. The half giant’s gaze hardened as he turned his attention to Petunia “Wha ‘ave ya done ta ‘im?” he growled out.

The woman paled, but did her best to quickly pull herself together under the gaze of both men neither of which looked to friendly. “How is it my fault if he boy refuses to eat? He doesn’t even want to sit still long enough to be changed or for a bath.” She told them calmly though knowing good and well it was a lie as she just didn’t try and neither did her husband. It wasn’t like they had even been asked the boy had just been shoved at them. Sure she didn’t let the boy die, but why should she go out of her way to be nice to him, after all she just /knew/ that he would be a freak and the world wouldn’t miss one less if he didn’t happen to die.

The only thing that stopped Rubeus from shaking the woman was the fact that he was holding Harry “Lyin woman. ‘Arry ne’er ‘ad any problem with eatin I fed ‘im lots myself, James let me ‘elp bath ‘im once too and ‘Arry loved the water.” He told the woman once more growling at her, none to pleased with the state Harry was in or her attitude towards it all. It made him want to… to… well he wasn’t sure but it wouldn’t be nice he knew that.

When Paleno had heard what he was doing today, where he was going, and who with he had been beyond displeased with the entire situation. Still it had been an order and it was for the boy-who-lived so he complied, but now seeing the boy and the way the half giant was acting he let it ease his worries a bit, maybe it really wouldn’t be so bad for the boy-who-lived to live with such a man. Still his stern gaze was kept on the woman, apparently she was Harry’s aunt, or at least this should be her from what he had heard of the woman. He lifted a hand settling it on the half giant’s arm trying to calm things before they got worse then they already were. “What has been done can not be changed, but he is yours now.” The ministry man offered Rubeus his tone steady even as he gaze met and bore into that of the boy-who-lived’s aunt. No he didn’t approve with her treatment, but it seemed that the half giant would make up for it or at least it looked that way so far to Paleno.

She might not want the boy, but she also had some since of self preservation and that note had been clear. The boy had to stay here because of her precious sister dying for him or some nonsense and if they let the boy go that man wouldn’t be pleased. “Now you listen here both of you. He was put on my doorstep and I was told to look after him..”

“Is this what you call looking after him then?” Paleno questioned giving the woman a hard look before the half giant could react. While he was glad for the large man’s protectiveness as it boded well for their savior he didn’t need the man getting to upset and possibly hurting the muggle woman.

Petunia settled her hands on her hips giving the man a hard look as she raised her chin “I told you, he is a stubborn freak of a child. It isn’t /my/ fault he..”

“Enough.” Paleno narrowed his gaze on the woman unwilling to listen to when even he could tell was a lie. “I know nothing about children Muggle and even I know that to be a pack of lies. I have no clue why Harry Potter was ever given to you in the first place when your sister made it clear you and yours were to be the last place her son went, she said because you had your own son she didn’t want to burden you, but somehow he did. We are just here to fix that mistake and what ever reason you think you have has no bearing against the Ministry of Magic.” He informed her narrowing his gaze. When she didn’t speak up after a long moment he used more pressure on the half giant’s arm to get him to turn and head back for the door “It is time for us to leave.” He informed Rebeus leading the other man out the door and ignoring the sputtering woman behind him. “Did you need to get anything for him?” he questioned watching the half giant as he fussed over Harry letting the action sooth his worries a bit more.

Rebeus shook his head “I wen’ yesterday ta get everythin I needed fer ‘im.” He replied shifting his gaze to the stern looking man glad that Harry’s crying was calming a bit and becoming more subdued sniffles. He didn’t know what that woman had done to Harry, but he would make it right. He pulled his son close when the smaller man warned him they were going offering him a bit of a smile when they appeared back at Hogwarts “I need ta go get ‘im clean and fin some food. Thank you an you’ll thank the Minister for me won’ ya?” he question turning away when the other man nodded at him agreeing.

Paleno watched the half giant walk off with the savior of the wizarding world wishing the boy luck. He didn’t know how much Rebeus Hagrid knew, but for the sake of the boy he hoped it was at least as much as it seemed like.

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Thanks to: uchiha mikomi, EvaNone, Bones, Maloanne, hope rivet, & of course Tado ;) for yer reviews. I know this chapter took a bit and I’m sorry I was having trouble with that conversation with Petuna. I know this is a shorter chapter, but It was mainly just getting Harry from the Dursleys and to Hagrid. I know it is a bit slow right not, but bear with me it will pick up and all is not going to be well as I am a fan of minulative!Dumbles be warned for that coming in and him trying to find a way to take Harry back. So yep here we go next chapter and I’m off to get 3 working…