Whelp II The Wrath of Snape

thirsty.'

'Not thirsty for tea?' Hagrid looked shocked. ''Ow 'bout a nice cakie, then? Made 'em fresh this mornin'.'

'Not hungry,' Harry said and drew a circle in the dirt with the toe of his shoe. 'But thanks.'

'Oh, now what's wrong, then, 'arry? Never seen yer refuse a cakie b'fore.'

Harry shrugged, and Hagrid came up in front of him, and put a couple huge fingers under his chin, tilting his face up so he had to look at the giant's face. 'You can tell me, 'arry. Anything a'tall what troubles yer, ye know that.'

'Can't,' Harry said, and to his horror, felt tears rise again. He roughly rubbed them out of his eyes before Hagrid could see.

'Sure ye can.' Hagrid's voice was real soft, and so kind it made the breath hitch in Harry's chest, just to hear it.

'I want my father,' he whispered, embarrassed, but desperate all the same.

'Ah, well, now, 'arry, he's busy with classes today. Ye know that.'

'I know, Hagrid. But he's . . . he . . .'

'Spit it out,' Hagrid encouraged. 'It's all righ'.'

'He's the only one what'll keep me safe,' Harry blurted at last, the words tumbling over each other. 'When Mister Filch tries to kill me. 'Cause he will. I know it. He'll catch me and put me in chains and hurt me bad, and only my Daddy can save me.'

Hagrid's silence was like a roar of blood in Harry's ears. The giant stared down at him for a long, long time, and then his eyes filled with tears, spilling over to drip down his cheeks and into his scraggly beard. 'Ach, no, Harry,' he said and sniffled loudly, wiping fingers the size of sausages across his face. 'No, no, never think tha'. Mr. Filch won't do it, not any of it. And the Headmaster wouldna let him, anyway, and neither would your Da'.'

'But—'

'No buts, now, 'arry. Yer safe as houses, I swear on Dumbledore's good name. All righ'?'

Biting his lip, Harry glanced at Nelli, who nodded quickly in agreement. Thoroughly outnumbered, he hitched up his shoulders a bit, but then nodded, too. 'Okay. All right.'

'Good, good.' Hagrid patted him on the back, almost knocking him over. 'Now, come inside a mo'. I got a delivery last nigh', some'at you'll like, I'm sure. All the way from Siberia, this one is. . . .'

Calling up a smile for Hagrid's newest acquisition, Harry followed him into his hut.

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A/N: Thanks for all the enthusiastic reviews and encouragement for this story! I should have a new chapter out in a couple of days. Harry Hugs for everyone!

*Chapter 3*: Chapter 3

Whelp II -- The Wrath of Snape

By jharad17

Chapter Three

Disclaimer: None of this is mine. Honest. She's rich, blond and British. I'm not.

A/N: If you haven't read 'Whelp' before reading this story . . . well, why not? Really, you should, 'cause otherwise, you're gonna be plenty lost.

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Previously:

Calling up a smile for Hagrid's newest acquisition, Harry followed him into his hut.