Harry Potter: From Baldur's Gate to Hogwarts

Visiting Hagrid's hut for the first time, the trio curiously took in their surroundings. Strings of ham and wild pheasants hung from the ceiling on iron hooks, a massive cauldron boiled water over a roaring fire, and against the wall was an enormous bed, big enough for three or four people to lie on while playing wizard chess. The bed was covered with a patchwork quilt of mismatched fabric scraps.

As Harry petted Fang, who was larger than himself, he introduced Hermione and Ron to Hagrid.

"Another Weasley boy, eh?" Hagrid said after shaking Hermione's hand. He turned to Ron with a playful grin. "You know, I spent half my life planning how to chase your twin brothers out of the Forbidden Forest. You're not planning to follow their example, are you?"

After some small talk, the kettle boiled, and Hagrid poured out three steaming mugs of tea. He then retrieved a bag of biscuits.

"Try one. I made 'em myself—rock cakes," Hagrid said, smiling warmly.

Ron obediently took one.

And immediately regretted it.

With a pained expression, he set down what felt like a literal stone. Hermione, learning from Ron's mistake, avoided the pile of rock cakes entirely. But Harry wasn't so easily deterred.

As the saying goes, "Where venom dwells, the antidote lies within seven steps." Harry's gaze swept over the items on the table and landed on the steaming tea.

You'll do!

Without hesitation, Harry dunked the rock cake into the tea. After a few moments, it softened into a sweet and chewy treat with a hint of tea flavor.

"Hagrid, your rock cakes are delicious!" Harry said, giving a thumbs-up after taking a big bite. Hagrid scratched his head, laughing happily.

Seeing Harry's innovation, Hermione followed suit. When she tasted the softened cake, her eyes lit up in delight. Soon, Harry and Hermione had finished not only their tea but also requested refills, much to Ron's astonishment as he watched them with a mix of disbelief and suspicion.

After tea, as Hermione and Ron recounted Harry's absence from class a few days prior, Hagrid turned to Harry.

"Professor Dumbledore told me about what happened yesterday. Being able to see your friends again after such a long distance—I'm truly happy for you."

"What? Harry skipped class to see old friends?" Ron asked, intrigued.

"Ah, that's not important," Hagrid said with a dismissive wave, narrowly avoiding spilling the kettle. "By the way, Ron, how's your brother Charlie? I hear he's great with magical creatures."

The conversation shifted to Charlie and dragons, and Hermione glanced curiously between Hagrid and Harry. Harry, however, tried to feign interest in the dragon talk while internally griping about the headmaster who told him to keep secrets but then blabbed them himself.

As dusk fell, the trio left Hagrid's hut with their pockets stuffed—Harry and Hermione willingly, Ron reluctantly—with rock cakes. Under the setting sun, they strolled leisurely back to the castle.

--

That evening in the Gryffindor common room, Ron waved a wizard chess set. "Fancy a match, Harry?"

"No, thanks. I need to finish the Potions homework. It's a full seven inches," Harry replied.

"Potions class isn't for a whole week! Why the rush?"

"Not everyone procrastinates like you," Hermione interjected, sorting her notes. "Some people prefer to stay ahead of their work."

"I didn't ask for your opinion, Granger!" Ron retorted, glaring at her. After confirming Harry wouldn't play chess, he wandered off to find another opponent.

Although Ron and Hermione both got along well with Harry, the two of them were like fire and water, constantly at odds. For now, though, their bickering hadn't escalated into anything major—yet.

--

By Sunday night, after a walk by the Black Lake, Harry returned to find Ron, Seamus, and others in a panic in the common room.

"What's going on?" Harry asked, setting down his bag.

"The Transfiguration and Charms assignments!" Hermione said from her armchair, where she had been leisurely reading Hogwarts: A History. "I told them to get started earlier, but they didn't listen."

"Harry, you've finished yours, right?" Ron looked up at him with pleading eyes. "Can I—uh, borrow them for reference? I'm out of time!"

Before Harry could answer, Hermione pulled at his sleeve. "Harry, don't encourage them! It's their own fault for procrastinating."

Looking between Hermione's disapproving glare and Ron's desperate puppy-dog eyes, Harry sighed.

"Hermione, forgive me—just this once. Ron, my homework is in my dormitory, in my cabinet. Help yourself."

Ron dashed off eagerly, while Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically at Harry.

--

By Wednesday evening, the students climbed up to the Astronomy Tower, bundled against the chill. Harry had used a warming charm on his cloak, which Ron and Hermione wore as well.

"It's freezing now—imagine how bad it'll be when it snows," Ron grumbled. "Why not just use a classroom and make the ceiling like the Great Hall?"

"That's completely unrealistic," Hermione snapped, shooting him a disapproving look. "The enchantment on the Great Hall's ceiling is extremely complex. Ordinary wizards can't replicate it. And the night sky we see there isn't even entirely accurate! That's also mentioned in Hogwarts: A History."

Ron rolled his eyes and tuned her out.

Harry, meanwhile, stared at the twinkling stars, lost in thought. I wonder which one of those stars is the sun I used to see back on Faerûn...

"One day, I'd love to travel there in a spaceship," he murmured.

"A spaceship? Is that like a flying ship?" Ron asked curiously.

"It's a vehicle designed for space travel," Harry explained.

"Wait, what? What's a space travel thingy?" Ron's eyes widened, and he stared at Harry, utterly clueless.

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