Snape steepled his fingers, then solemnly nodded. "As you said, some things cannot be changed."
Harry appreciated, more than he could say, the respect he heard in that comment. "Yeah," he agreed, wanting to drop the subject. "Anyway, back to the firechat. I don't think it's such a good idea."
"I will be right next to you to pull you out if you experience any difficulty," Snape promised, his dark eyes unblinking.
"Plus, he's got plenty of burn salve on hand," Draco added. "Come on, Harry. What if your magic is a bit like a muscle, and you have to exercise it to make it grow stronger?"
"Samhain," Harry protested.
Usually, that word was almost like an incantation, it held so much power of its own. Harry could count on it to make the others back off. Not this time, though.
Draco openly scoffed. "You've already sent your whole body through the Floo, twice, so don't tell me you can't stand the thought of flames. It's like I told your Muggle cousin--"
"Don't call him that!" Harry erupted. "We all know he's not a wizard. You don't have to mention it every time he comes up! I thought you were going to be less focused on blood!"
As a distraction, it didn't work so well. "Fine. It's like I told Dudley," Draco went on with hardly a pause. "You're just chicken."
"I hardly think names are going to help matters," Snape mildly inserted.
"Oh yeah?" Draco challenged. "Chicken!" he yelled. "Chicken, chicken, chicken!"
"Draco!"
"Oh, it's all right," Harry laughed. "It's pretty funny, him thinking I'm that easy to manipulate."
"Well, you are part Gryffindor," Draco drawled.
Harry jumped to his feet. "Don't you insult Gryffindor!"
Then it was Draco's turn to laugh. "And the boy thinks he's not easy to manipulate," he lightly sneered to Snape. Then with a more solemn air, he turned to Harry. "Sit down. Now, listen, because this time I'm not just trying to get under your skin. You're letting fear control you, and it has to stop."
"And there I thought I was simply avoiding recklessness," Harry countered.
"You're just avoiding danger," Draco corrected, leaning forward. "Or perceived danger, since there really isn't any. Where would you be if Severus had done the same? Do you have the slightest idea how dangerous it was for him to lie to the Dark Lord time and again?"
Harry sighed, recognizing the debt he owed. Turning toward Snape, he asked, "Who did you want me to firechat with, sir?"
"I thought perhaps you might like to speak with Hagrid."
Harry blinked. "Hagrid's hut is on the Floo Network?"
Snape's shrug was entirely too casual as he tossed out, "It is now. I asked the headmaster to arrange a connection."
"Well, that was certainly Slytherin of you." Exasperated, Harry shook his head. "I can't turn down a chance to talk to Hagrid and you know it. All right, fine. But... I would like you right beside me, like you said. Just in case."
"Certainly."
Draco, Harry noticed, was wrinkling his nose. He decided to ignore it, instead saying to Snape, "Hagrid came to see me in the hospital wing, a bunch of times, but it seems like forever since then. I expect the dungeons remind him of how Tom Riddle got him expelled, though, so I guess I can't blame him for keeping his distance."
"You could," Draco huffed, "blame him for never once writing."
"No, I couldn't," Harry disagreed. He'd never seriously expected a reply to any of his letters. Hagrid just wasn't big on the written word. It all went back to his not being able to spell so well. Standing, Harry strode over to the Floo powder, took some in hand, and knelt. "Let's do it, then."
As soon as Snape was kneeling beside him, Harry drew in a big breath and initiated the firechat, hoping "Hagrid's hut," was enough of a name to satisfy the Floo Network. Then again, Snape would have said something if it wasn't. The rush of fireplaces whirling past was nauseating, but Harry gripped the inside of the hearth tightly, his fingernails finding purchase against stone, and then it was over, and he was looking out at the interior of Hagrid's rather oddly furnished little cottage.
The half-giant's back was to him, but the moment Harry called his name, he whirled around, a blur of furry coat and patched leather boots, his enormous face breaking into a grin as he sat straight down on the floor to get close to the boy's face.
"Harry!"
Harry smiled, adjusting his position a little so it was easier to look up at the half-giant, who towered over him even when sitting on the floor. Then it occurred to Harry that kneeling on the hearthstones was a bit silly. Obviously, the Floo wasn't going to burn him up; if it was, he'd be singed by now. With that thought in mind, Harry started to crawl forward so he could have a proper visit with Hagrid.
Two things stopped him. One, the feel of strong hands suddenly grabbing his ankles and holding him in place from behind. And two, Hagrid's own hand on his shoulder firmly pushing him back until once more, only his face showed.
"Yeh better stay safe down in Professor Snape's rooms, Harry," Hagrid explained, his voice thrumming with gentle regret. "I'd not say no to a visit, yeh must know that much. Still, better safe 'n sorry, I always say."
"All right," Harry said, understanding. He really should have thought of that himself. Hagrid's hut wasn't warded with Dudley's blood, after all. Of course, Snape's cottage in Devon hadn't been, either, but that was a bit different. "I've missed you, Hagrid," he added.
For some reason, the half-giant blushed a bit. "Yeh saw me most ever' day when you was laid up in hospital."
"I didn't see you much at all," Harry weakly joked. He hadn't intended to discuss this, he really hadn't. He'd defended Hagrid to Draco and meant every word. But now that the others couldn't overhear, he realized he was blurting, "Why haven't you come to visit me at Snape's? I know you're awfully busy with your classes and your creatures and all the rest, but Hagrid..." His voice broke. "I thought we were friends!"
"Course we're friends, Harry," Hagrid assured him, one big hand reaching out to ruffle his hair just as though he were still eleven. "It's jus' that yer new father, he said--"
"Wait, you heard about my adoption?" Harry questioned. "Who told you, Hermione? Ron? One of the other Gryffindors?"
"Jus' hold up there a minute, Harry," Hagrid laughed. "Professor Snape told me hisself."
All the staff will be informed at once, of course, Harry heard Snape saying in his mind. "Oh yeah, right," he murmured. "So what did Snape say? You were going to tell me something."
Hagrid appeared to debate with himself, his jaw sort of moving as he thought. "He came here to ask summat about yer snake," he finally told Harry. "Said the poor little mite was sleepin' in the Floo and likely to be gettin' sicker 'n a cursed niffler agin. Asked me what ter do. I thought a charmed box for sleepin' might be jus' the trick."
"It works great." Harry beamed his pleasure. "That was a really good idea, Hagrid. Sals hasn't misbehaved once since Christmas. That's when Snape, uh, Severus, gave me the box."
"I heard a fair bit 'bout yer snake, Harry. If yer father woulda let me visit, I'da had me a good look at Sals ter see if she's summat magical."
"If my father would have let you visit?" Harry questioned, a dark suspicious growing in his voice.
"I shouldn'ta told yeh that," Hagrid realized with a twang.
"So that's why I haven't seen you for months!" Harry shouted, outraged. "It wasn't anything to do with you hating the dungeons! And what, you just agreed, Hagrid? I don't care if he is my father and these are his rooms, he's got no right trying to keep my oldest friend away!"