Hearing Hagrid's words, Harry keenly caught the details in what he said.
"So... you knew my parents?"
Then he realized it was rather rude to keep someone standing at the door, so he invited politely, "Sorry, that was rude of me, Mr. Hagrid, please come in."
"Oh, no, no, I'm really too big, I wouldn't fit in this house." Hagrid refused a little awkwardly. "I still need to take you to Diagon Alley. If you don't mind, we can talk on the way."
"Alright." Harry nodded, and Hagrid immediately made way for him so he could come out through the door.
It wasn't until Harry stepped out the door that he realized just how tall Hagrid really was.
"Wow, you're really tall." Harry craned his neck, marveling dryly.
"Alright, Harry, you're not the only one to say that—come on, I still need to take you..." Hagrid got halfway through, then scratched his shaggy head a little sheepishly. "Should we maybe let your aunt know? You know, since she's your guardian after all."
"I think my uncle and aunt would be very happy to have you take me away." Harry replied with a double meaning.
"Is that so?" Hagrid asked, suspicious.
Just as he finished speaking, there came the sound of heavy footsteps thumping inside.
Hot on its heels, a roar.
"Harry Potter—"
Harry noticed Hagrid's gaze had zeroed in on Uncle Vernon's voice, so he tugged at Hagrid's sleeve, gesturing behind him.
"Hagrid, what's that?"
While Hagrid was turning around, Harry quickly looked back, just in time to see Uncle Vernon barrel down the stairs like a truck.
He put a hand over his mouth, stared at Uncle Vernon, and whispered a spell.
"Confundus!"
Uncle Vernon halted, squinted at Harry, then at the curious-looking Hagrid beside him, muttered something about how odd all of this was, and turned to head up the stairs.
To anyone else, it looked like he'd suddenly remembered something midway and changed course.
Hagrid finally turned back around, scratching his head, "How come I didn't see anything? What did you just see?"
"I must have seen it wrong, I thought it was a motorcycle..."
As he said this, Harry suddenly remembered a dream he'd often had. "Just like the motorcycle that shows up so often in my dreams—flying..."
"Harry..."
Hagrid's face brightened with joy. "I can't believe you remember, you remember it was me riding my little—riding the motorbike that brought you to the Dursley family's..."
Before he could finish, a rapid knocking sounded on the window.
They both looked in that direction; Uncle Vernon was rapping on the glass, pointing at the two of them, his mouth moving constantly.
"Your uncle... what is he doing?" Hagrid instinctively felt Mr. Dursley's attitude was not great.
Harry raised his hand like a shade and explained to Hagrid, "Uncle Vernon's way of saying: You must be happy!"
Hagrid hesitantly looked up at Uncle Vernon, who was still shouting at Harry, then down at Harry, "Doesn't quite seem like it to me?"
"Well, they're Muggles, you know. Their way of showing love is different from wizards." Harry said, pretending to wipe away nonexistent tears. "You know, I've been away from my mum since I was little..."
"Oh, Harry..."
Hagrid bent down tenderly, wrapping Harry up in a giant hug.
Harry didn't shrink back from that big hug. When Hagrid let him go, he looked up and asked, "So, Hagrid, how do we get going?"
"Hmm... we'll take the train. I heard on my way here that there are six trains an hour from Surrey to London." After answering, Hagrid asked, "So, Harry, did you bring the letter the school gave you?"
Harry patted the letter tucked close to his chest and flashed Hagrid a big smile.
"I did, it's right here."
"Oh, good boy."
Hagrid seemed infected by Harry's grin. He reached out his huge hand, mussed Harry's messy hair.
"You really do take after your mother—come on, let's get to the train station first."
(If you think Hagrid can't fit on a train, I suggest you go find @jk_rowling on X and argue with her directly.)
Someone as massive as Hagrid was bound to draw attention, not only getting stuck at the ticket gate, but also needing two seats on the train.
Once the two of them were seated, Harry started the conversation.
"So, Hagrid, you seem to know my mum and dad?"
"Oh, of course I did." Hagrid chuckled, weaving something pale yellow — it looked a bit like a circus bag.
Maybe that thing could muffle his voice, because Hagrid's booming tones got even louder: "Back when they were students, I got along great with both of them, especially your mum Lily. She was Head Girl, you know, and such a gentle girl— all of us liked her."
"And your dad James, well, he was Gryffindor College's famous Quidditch Chaser, and Head Boy too." Hagrid drifted into his memories, his beetle-black eyes shining. "He was a remarkable man, I mean in every way—ah, I really can't think of anyone who valued loyalty more than he did."
"Really?" Harry's eyes lit up instantly.
God knows how many days and nights he'd longed for a father's love and a mother's care.
Every time he saw Dudley being doted on by Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia, Harry couldn't help but wonder: If his parents were still alive, would he get all that love too?
Instead of living like this, under someone else's roof, always looked down on.
Thinking of this, Harry felt a burst of anger.
He wished he could find the Dark Wizard who'd killed his parents and made him an orphan, and really show him what's what!
"Of course, Harry." Hagrid hadn't noticed the shift in Harry's expression, still lost in that bittersweet nostalgia for the young couple, then rubbing his nose forlornly: "It's just a shame... ten years ago... sigh."
"So..." Harry's eyes flickered, "That Dark Wizard who killed my parents, who was he?"
At Harry's words, Hagrid couldn't help but shiver.
"It was You-Know-Who—"
"You-Know-Who?" Harry arched an eyebrow, puzzled.
"Yes, that's right, You-Know-Who." Hagrid coughed twice, trying to cover up his fear. "That Dark Wizard, he..."
Noticing Hagrid's terror, Harry reached out and put a hand on his arm, hoping to give him some strength, to chase away that fear.
He said gently, "Actually, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to..."
"Oh, no, Harry." Hagrid shook his head. "I can't send you off to Hogwarts knowing nothing!"
"But unless I absolutely have to, I don't want to say his name either. Nobody likes to talk about it." Hagrid added.
"So everyone just uses 'You-Know-Who' as a code name?" Harry raised an eyebrow.