The Protector

Evening with Slughorn

"Hagrid?" I asked.

"Hello Bridget. Harry. Horace," the giant man sniffled. Fang came over and laid at my feet. I bent down to pet it but kept my eyes on the spider.

"Blimey Hagrid!" Slughorn sounded impressed. "Is that an actual Acromantula?!"

"Well a dead one now, Professor," Harry blurted. I nudged him and shook my head. Harry realized what he said.

"How did you manage to kill it?!" Horace spoke up.

"Kill it?" Hagrid seemed offended by the saying. "He was my best friend."

"Oh my dearest apologies."

"Don't fret on it," Hagrid sniffled. "You know, spiders are such under appreciated creatures. I bet it's the eyes; they give lots of people the creeps."

"And their pinchers or fangs," Harry made little ones with his fingers.

"Not to mention," I chuckled sarcastically, "they wanted to eat us."

"Eat ya?!" Hagrid looked down to me.

I dropped my jaw, "Oh we haven't told you those stories?"

"Nope," Harry shook his head. "Still up here." He pointed towards his head.

"Well, maybe later," I chuckled.

"I hate to ask, Hagrid, but acro venom is very rare and cost fortunes. Could I extract some for academic purposes?" Slughorn asked.

"He's not going to use it, now is he?" Hagrid asked. He seemed like he was going to cry. I pat his arm.

"Those were my same thoughts," Slughorn got down to the large spider. "Always keep spare vials in my pockets for occasions like these."

"I wished you could've seen him alive," Hagrid spoke up. "He was amazing. Truly gorgeous."

"He was huge," I nodded.

Slughorn made his way back up to the three of us. I looked up to Hagrid. He was about to cry. I felt bad. Every time he gets a pet, he looses it. Except for Fang that is.

Slughorn must've noticed, because he asked, "Would you like me to say something?"

"Sure," Hagrid sniffled.

"Did he have a family?" The professor asked.

"Definitely," Harry nodded.

"We wish you farewell..."

"It was Aragog," Hagrid told him.

"We wish you farewell, Aragog. The King of the arachnids. You may decay physically, but your spirit will live on. May your sons be happy and live plentifully." After those kind words, we went inside. Hagrid and Slughorn sat at Hagrid's large table. Harry sat on a chair. I sat by the fireplace with Fang, next to Harry.

The men poured themselves drinks. It was funny seeming them so drunk. They sang a song. Once it was finished, Harry and I clapped. It was adorable.

Hagrid began to blabber about Aragog, "I had that sucked since he was an egg. He was so small when he hatched. He wasn't bigger than a...Pekingese!"

"Like the dog?" I asked.

"Yes!" He nodded.

"I had a fish once," Slughorn nodded. "His name was Francis. He was so dear to me; one day I went to see him and he was gone. Vanished into thin air."

"That's odd," Hagrid seemed as confused as I was. A fish can't just poof in thin air.

"It was," Slughorn nodded. "But it is what it is. Life! I can supposed...You're just going along then one day you just vanish."

I chuckled a little at their motions. Hagrid startled me the moment he leant back and fell asleep. He began to snore; that put me at ease.

"A student had given me my fish Francis," Slughorn explained. "One day in the spring, I came into my office and it was sitting on my desk. There was a few inches of water. Sitting on top, there was a small flower petal. It sank into the water and before it hit the bottom, it changed into a little fish. It was the most beautiful thing created from magic that I had ever seen." He spoke to Harry and I with such a gentle voice; like a grandfather would speak to his first grandchild right after they were born.

"Turns out the flower petal came from a Lily," he continued. "It was from your mother," he was referring to Harry in that moment. "One day I came downstairs, that day it was empty. The same day your mother..."

I grabbed Harry's hand but kept my face towards Slughorn. I couldn't see Harry's face but I sure could tell the tension in that room changed.

"I know the reason you're here, Harry," Slughorn nodded. "I cannot help you. I'd be in ruins."

"You know how I survived I reckon?" Harry asked. He gripped my hand. I wasn't going to let go. "It was because of her, Professor. She sacrificed herself to save me. Her love was much stronger than anything Voldemort had."

"Please don't speak his name," Slughorn told us.

"Professor, not saying his name gives him more power," I spoke up. "More ways in which he can control you. His name is the one thing you can use against him and win. Don't let it have power over you."

Harry and I both stood up and went up to the table. Harry spoke first, "I'm going to tell you something, Professor Slughorn. A thing others have guessed at. But now I will confirm it: I'm the Chosen One. I will destroy him, but I need your help. I need to know what you told him in your office that day."

Slughorn's mouth was agape at first. He was in shock and fearful. He closed it and shook his head.

"Please be brave," Harry told him.

"It's just a memory," I spoke up. "It can't hurt you anymore. It may not feel like that at times, but I promise it'll do you good to share it. Trust me, I've been there too."

"Really?" He turned to me.

"Really," I nodded. "Telling others what happened in the graveyard that night or when my mother died has helped immensely. I'm not bottling it up anymore. Now, be brave."

"Just like Lily," Harry agreed with me. "Just like my mum. Otherwise...she would've died in vain. And that bowl will continue to be empty."

His eyes were large. It almost seemed like he was going to cry. And I could understand why. It's hard. He took out a vial and put his wand to his head, "When you see it, please don't think poorly of me. He was just like he is now." I watched as he conjured up the memory. He placed it in the vial, closed it, and handed it off to Harry.

"I'm sure whatever happened, you had to do," I nodded.

"I didn't know," tears were growing in his eyes.

"I'm sure if you wouldn't have told him then he would've found out another way. There are so many other people and books that he could've found it," I nodded. "It's not your fault. Now, let's help you back to your office, sir."