Harry's heart skipped a beat when he heard the phrase "grew up in the Muggle world, didn't understand the situation in the wizarding world."
The Sorting Hat had also considered putting him in Slytherin.
If he hadn't seen the examples of Hagrid, Ron, and Draco Malfoy... would he have made the same choice?
Thinking about Fred and George's attitude towards Slytherins...
How would a crueler version of them treat him?
Hagrid looked at Harry, who had lowered his head and seemed calm.
Mistaking Harry's silence for acceptance, Hagrid added lightly, "Actually, you don't need to think too badly of your dad. After fifth year, he stopped pranking people. He became a truly good student, just like Lupin. That's why your mum started dating him in seventh year."
"What about Snape? How did he and Mum break up?" Harry asked sadly.
"Uh... well." Hagrid really didn't know how to answer that.
The incident was huge.
He had been nearby at the time.
Later, he asked people around for details.
Back then, James was still the kind of excessive student who messed up his hair just because he thought looking like he just got off a broomstick was cool, showed off with a Golden Snitch all day, and hexed anyone who annoyed him in the corridors.
After the Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L. exam, under the beech tree by the lake.
James, the traitor Sirius, the hero Peter, and Lupin were having fun at Snape's expense again.
Mainly the first two. That disgusting traitor Sirius was definitely egging him on.
James used Scourgify on Snape, filling his mouth with pink soap bubbles. Snape couldn't breathe.
Lily appeared. James used the opportunity to ask Lily out.
Snape took the chance to counterattack.
James got angry and hung Snape upside down in mid-air.
Lily drew her wand to attack James.
James put Snape down.
Snape called Lily a Mudblood and said he didn't need her help.
Lily left in anger.
Snape was hung upside down again.
And his underwear was exposed.
After that incident, Lily never spoke to Snape again.
James, after being scolded by Lily and told he was just as bad as Snape, turned over a new leaf.
Hagrid really didn't know how to tell Harry this story.
Especially since it inevitably involved Sirius Black.
"Was it because of my dad too?" Seeing Hagrid's silence, Harry assumed he had the answer.
The gathering ended on this unhappy note.
Harry didn't even notice the small piece of paper pressed under the tea cozy—a clipping from the Daily Prophet.
A report about the Gringotts break-in.
However, he did escape the fate of having his pockets stuffed with rock cakes heavy enough to break teeth.
On the way back to the castle.
Harry solemnly recounted his childhood.
Being bullied by Dudley's gang... he felt like he was Snape.
For the first time, Basil felt Harry actually had "Protagonist Energy."
Harry didn't like Dudley's old sweater, so it shrank until it fit a hand puppet.
Chased by Dudley's gang, he teleported onto the school roof chimney.
His hair wouldn't grow long, but when his aunt—who hated his messy hair—shaved it off, it grew back overnight.
Compared to Harry, Basil's "making mushrooms bigger and tastier" ability seemed a bit pathetic.
Also, Harry was surprisingly familiar with Mrs. Figg, the witness from the fifth movie.
The Dursleys often dumped him at her house.
Because of this, he hated cabbage and cats.
But Harry said he didn't feel that aversion towards other cats.
Basil didn't care about the cats.
He focused entirely on Mrs. Figg. A Squib who loved cats and was Harry's neighbor.
Was she Dumbledore's agent?
Her name started with 'F' like Filch.
They both loved cats.
Could they be husband and wife?
Then he heard Harry mention that the Dursleys were the ones who sent him to the station.
They mocked him the whole way, talking about how they treated him as a child.
Everyone else was indignant.
Granger even started reciting laws.
She pointed out that this was illegal. She could ask her dad to contact social services, sue them, and revoke their guardianship.
Harry hesitated three times but ultimately refused, though he was touched.
"How much did the movies change?!" Basil was speechless.
Before this, he thought Harry went to Diagon Alley on his birthday, July 31st.
Then Hagrid took him to the station on September 1st.
Then Hagrid disappeared, leaving Harry alone.
Then the Weasleys just happened to appear.
It all seemed like Dumbledore's plot to make Harry feel isolated and helpless so he would bond with the Weasleys.
But unlike the movies, Harry spent a month back at the Dursleys after visiting Diagon Alley.
And the Dursleys dropped him off.
Harry and Ron's meeting was also a coincidence.
Hmm, just like Dumbledore isn't as hot-tempered (movie Dumbledore: "DIDYAPUTYONAMEINDAGOBLETOFFIRE?!"), maybe he isn't as manipulative as the movie version either?
However, shortly after they left Hagrid's hut.
Dumbledore appeared inside.
"Hagrid, how did the talk with Harry go?"
Hagrid covered his face. "I messed up! You asked me to check on Harry's daily life, thinking he might have been bullied growing up in that family."
"But I accidentally revealed the stuff about James."
"Was it Basil Granger?" Dumbledore adjusted his glasses.
This boy survived and killed Fenrir.
He drove off a Malfoy wandlessly and silently.
He challenged Minerva about the flaws of the House system.
Hearing Snape's strange words, such a boy would definitely investigate the cause.
"No." Hagrid looked confused. "It was Hermione."
Dumbledore: ????
Why did he guess wrong every time it involved that boy?
"Close enough. The other protagonist." Dumbledore coughed. "So, how does Harry view James?"
Hagrid buried his face in his knees. "Dudley! Like Dudley Dursley!"
Dumbledore understood instantly.
He frowned.
Although James was arrogant, broke rules, and bullied people...
He was a good boy.
When Sirius's prank almost got Snape killed, James stepped in and saved Snape's life.
Later, he turned over a new leaf and joined the Order of the Phoenix.
Dumbledore felt the pressure mounting.
Should he replace the consumable—no, the next Defense Against the Dark Arts professor—with Lupin next year?
Let Lupin tell Harry about James's excellence?
Let Gilderoy Lockhart off the hook for now?
Dumbledore rubbed his temples and glanced at the paper under the tea cozy.
Hmm, I taught Hagrid to clip news, record valuable info, and connect the dots.
And gave him recent newspapers.
Mrs. Figg said that although Harry is nearsighted, his observation skills are sharp. He would definitely notice it.
And he can't keep secrets.
He would definitely ask.
In this regard, he should have—
Dumbledore asked casually, "Harry didn't notice the Gringotts news, did he? After all, the Dark Wizard broke in right after you two left that day."
Hagrid sniffled.
Dumbledore's lips curled up slightly.
However, Hagrid's face blossomed into a confident smile. "No! He didn't know at all! He didn't even ask!"
????
Dumbledore was confused for a moment, then remembered. The biggest headline that day was occupied by Fenrir Greyback's death.
Big-mouth Ron probably missed the Gringotts report because of that.
So Harry also—
IT WAS BASIL GRANGER AGAIN!!!
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