Rating:: G
House:: The Dark Arts
Characters:: Rubeus Hagrid
Genres:: General
Era:: Multiple Eras
Spoilers:: Philosopher's Stone
Stats:: Published: 01/24/2004

Updated: 01/24/2004

Words: 829

Chapters: 1

Hits: 350

Harry's Letters -- An Excerpt from the Diary of Rubeus Hagrid

Mrs. Lovegood

Story Summary:: Excerpts from Hagrid's diary starting when Harry's first Hogwarts letter arrived at Number 4 Privet Drive, up to the day Hagrid took Harry to get his school supplies.

Posted:: 01/24/2004

Hits:: 350

Author's Note:: Dear Readers, You might note that Hagrid doesn't really sound, well, like Hagrid. But if you look throughout the works of JK Rowling, you will note that the notes Hagrid periodically sends are written with correct grammar and spelling. What we're used to "hearing" is Hagrid's accent, but that doesn't come through when he writes. Sorry, it just doesn't. This is how Hagrid writes, short sentences, not a lot of big words, but none of the odd spellings you associate with how his speech sounds. I hope you enjoy reading this.

Tuesday, July 24^th — Harry didn’t get his letter. Professor McGonagall told me Harry didn’t get his letter. I knew those Dursleys would make trouble for him somehow.

Professor McGonagall says she’ll send another letter tomorrow. I guess it’s best to sit tight and wait. I wish I could do more.

Wednesday, July 25^th — I went to the Owlery last night to watch the owl take off. The owl that’s bringing Harry his letter, I mean. I had to see it myself, to make sure it was really sent. And it was. But Professor McGonagall told me a few minutes ago that Harry didn’t get that letter either. She says she’s going to send three letters tomorrow. I’m going to handpick the owls she uses, just to be sure.

Thursday, July 26^th — Last night, I picked the three sturdiest, healthiest owls in the Hogwarts Owlery, and I attached the letters to their legs myself. Those letters are tied tight, no chance of them falling off on the way! I sure hope Harry gets one of those letters.

(Later) Harry didn’t get any of the three letters that I sent. I want to go there today. I’m going to talk to Dumbledore and see if he’ll let me.

Friday, July 27^th — Dumbledore says we should be patient. We sent twelve letters last night. I wanted to put a special spell on them to make sure Harry got them, but -- I’m not too good at spells, and Professor McGonagall would have seen me anyway. So I just made sure the letters were tied on tight and that the owls were healthy. I gave each of them a treat right before they took off.

Saturday, July 28^th — Harry didn’t get any of the twelve letters we sent Thursday night, so last night we sent twenty-four letters. I saw Dumbledore do some kind of special spell on them. He went right up into the Owlery to see the owls off this time. But he still says we have to be patient. He won’t let me pay them a visit to see what’s keeping the letters from getting to Harry. I bet it’s those Muggles. I knew they couldn’t be trusted.

Sunday, July 29^th — Even with Dumbledore’s special spell, Harry didn’t get any of his letters yesterday either. Last night we sent so many letters I couldn’t count them. We used every owl that wasn’t out taking a letter somewhere else. Dumbledore did the same spell again. He doesn’t seem worried. I am trying to be patient, but it’s hard.

Monday, July 30^th — Last night, we sent out every Hogwarts owl that wasn’t taking a letter somewhere else, and Dumbledore sent me to Hogsmeade to send letters with about twice that many owls from the Hogsmeade Post Office. Dumbledore just called me to his office to tell me Harry didn’t get any of them. He’s finally agreed to let me hand-deliver a letter. I just packed a bunch of things. I’m making Harry a cake — tomorrow’s his birthday. I’ll set off as soon as the cake’s done. I hope he likes chocolate!

Tuesday, July 31^st — Today was a busy day. But I want to get this written down before I forget. I just got back. Dumbledore let me fly on one of the Thestrals to where Harry was, but I had to wait till it got dark before I could leave, so the Muggles wouldn’t see me. By the time I got to where Harry was, it was windy and raining. Not a pleasant trip!

Harry wasn’t at the Muggles’ house. He was in a cabin on an island in the middle of the ocean. Dumbledore told me he’d be hard to find. He was right, as usual. The Muggles were there too. They never told Harry he was a wizard! He was right surprised, let me tell you! I had to explain to him about You-Know-Who — I wish I hadn’t had to do that, but he wanted to know, and he has a right to know. I know Dumbledore expected the Muggles to tell him, but the Muggles had this crazy idea that they could stop Harry from being a wizard if they didn’t tell him. I don’t think I’ve been so angry since I heard that Lily and James had been betrayed by James’ best friend. I had to tell young Harry all about how his parents died. It was very sad.

The Muggles tried to stop me, but I took Harry to get his supplies for Hogwarts. I bought him a nice Snowy Owl too, as a birthday present. Dumbledore also asked me to get an important package out of a special vault at Gringotts. He really trusts me, bless him!

Harry looked so much like James, but he has Lily’s eyes. It was fun showing him Diagon Alley. I can’t wait till the term starts and he’s here at Hogwarts.