"No problem. How far is Charing Cross Road away from here?" Harry asked.
"On foot, twenty minutes. I don' know about those muggle vehicles. Never really learned how ter go by 'em. Only those train like ones." Hagrid answered.
"That's no problem. As long as you know the way, we can walk. I've never really been to London except for the finals of the primary school championship in football. But then we were only driven to the stadium where the competition was taking place." Harry said.
"Yes, I heard yer were really good at football. I'm curious how yer'd be at Quidditch. Yer dad was a great Quidditch player. Gave yer mum quite a few scares when they were dating in their seventh year." Hagrid chuckled.
"You knew them better?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, I did. Even at school. Yer da' and his gang of friends were a right han'ful. Always up ter prank somebody. Liked a good laugh 'em. Don' know how often I had ter chase 'em outta the forest. But they were great people yer parents. Is a shame what happened to 'em. They were headboy and 'girl in their time. Both very bright. But yer mum also had a temper when she wanted. Yer da' was a bit stupid abou' his attemp's at tryin' ter win her. Got himself hexed good if she was furious. Needed ter mellow out a bit ter get her, but I've rarely seen a couple so in love as 'em after they finally were together. And when yer were born, yer da' an' his friends let loose a great firework at the Hogwarts grounds.
"Thought the students and teachers should also celebrate with 'em. And one look was 'nough to see they loved yer more than anythin'. Really great people they were." Hagrid said, having to clean his nose over the memories.
Harry was touched. This was more than he ever had heard about them. And they seemed to be normal people, with their own quirks.
"What position did my dad play at Quidditch?" Harry asked.
"He was chaser, and a damn good one. From wha' Lily an' James told us during Order meetin's you were a natural on a broom. Yer da' found it terribly funny, yer mum not so much as yer nearly killed her cat on tha' toy broom yer had." Hagrid chuckled.
Harry laughed. He tried to imagine the faces of his mum and dad when they told their stories. The only problem was he didn't have a picture to go by.
"Hagrid, were there any photos left in the house, when you got me?" Harry asked hopefully.
"I didn' get ter really look. I only got yer outta there. But I can try an' see if some of their ol' friends have some which they'd give yer." Hagrid said.
"That would be great. I never saw a photo of them and never was allowed to ask questions about them with the Dursleys." Harry said.
"Bloody muggles, I'd like ter introduce 'em ter Fluffy sometime." Hagrid mumbled.
"Who is Fluffy?" Harry asked, not being capable of imagining anything called Fluffy scaring the Dursleys.
"A three headed dog I got from a Greek chappie a while ago. Real softy he is, yer only need ter know how ter handle him. Play 'im a bit of music an' he falls asleep. Mos' magical creatures are only misunderstood, I think. Look at 'em callin' Thestrals dangerous creatures. Only 'cause they can only be seen by those who've seen death. Thestrals can look after 'emselves. Ministry fools don' like tha'. We've a 'hole herd at Hogwarts. They pull the carriages for the students when they come with the Hogwarts Express every year." Hagrid said while they walked through the part of London where St. Mungo's was located towards Diagon Alley.
Harry imagined the Dursleys covering in fear while a big Cerberus growled at them. He grinned evilly. Perhaps there was a way to make that meeting happen one day.
"What other creatures are living at Hogwarts?" Harry asked.
"Well, of course we've a whole bunch of owls. Really useful. Many students bring their owls too o'er the year. You see, they carry yer mail, get yer the newspaper and make good pets. I don' like cats ter much, they make me sneeze and tha' cat of Filch, the caretaker, always follows me 'round when I'm in the castle. Filch puts her onto it, I'm sure. I'd like ter give her a good kick sometimes. Nasty piece o' …" Hagrid stopped saying what he thought of the caretaker's cat.
"Other students have toads, but they wen' outta fashion years ago. Yer don' wanna be seen with one. There are a few others. I know one o' the Weasley boys has a rat. In the grounds there are many great creatures. They mos'ly live in the forest. It's forbidden for students to go there. I don' know though how often I've chased those Weasley twins outta there. There are Hippogriffs, we have a knarl colony, a few bowtruckles, salamanders, acromantula, unicorns, a giant squid in the lake, a few grindylows are also in there, some fairies, centaurs are living in the forest, the normal forest animals you also find in muggle forests and I know there is a runespoor somewhere inside. I never saw it meself, but I found eggshells durin' one of me walks." Hagrid listed the creatures.
"Wow, that's a lot of creatures. What exactly is a runespoor?" Harry asked.
"A magical snake with three heads. Many fear snakes, but they're only animals like others. Don' anger 'em an' they won' harm yer." Hagrid said.
Finally Harry recognized Charing Cross Road.
.....
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