milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Hagrid's come into the bar for a bite to eat, and a cold tankard of beer. He's in a cheerful mood today, as usual.

And still looking for people to try out his pumpkin boats out on the lake. Any takers?

[ooc: internet connection is dodgy today - may disappear suddenely for short periods of time, or even all together, but mun is happy to slowtime if that happens]

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"Yeah," Hagrid says in a low voice,his hands itching to reach over and help Barty kiss his own arse. "A long time. Why don't we go outside and get caught up? Yeh traitorous little snake?"

"I've betrayed no-one, Hagrid," he says camly. "Fighting and betrayal are different. And no, let's not."

"Yeh kin call it what yeh want, and it don't change me own definition o' the word."

Hagrid is now trying to take deep breaths, because his temper is rising.

"Frank and Alice were good, decent people - AND Pure-bloods. Yer master was already defeated, so yeh weren't even followin' his orders. What yeh did was the act o' a coward, an' if I had me way..."

Hagrid takes a deep breath and sips his beer.

"It don't matter... or at least it won't"

"I don't doubt they were decent people," he says quietly. "Or pure-bloods. But let me put it this way. If Dumbledore had gone and you thought you could get him back, and two Death Eaters turned up and you had every reason to believe they knew how to get him back - well, would you not have done the same?"

"And it was anything but cowardice. I risked the rest of my life in Azkaban. That took courage."

"I wouldn'ta done th' same," Hagrid says with utmost conviction. "Dumbledore's a great man, and he ain't afraid ter die. He's led a good life, and wouldn't want us ter bring him back. WE can make it withou' him, if we have ter.

"Azkaban's a terrible place. I spent time there meself. There ain't no brave men in there, are there? 'Speciall not you.

"Yeh say yeh risked it fer yer cause? Why not go back there, then, an' prove yer willin' ter do yer time like you were supposedly so prepared ter do? No? Don' talk ter me about courage. Yer jus' a sad little man who had a big temper tantrum when yer side lost."

"Then I can only conclude you're less committed to your side than I am to mine," he snaps. "Only a few of us would really have done anything for our beliefs, and I'm one of them, and I did. I knew what I was risking. Life and freedom. And I risked it. You don't think that's courageous? Fuck off."

"And I fully intend to go back, Hagrid, in time. I'm wasting no time in my world by being here. I'm gaining useful information. And I wouldn't taunt me into going back if I were you, because thanks to timelines it might just make your future far worse than you can possibly imagine."

"I already know yer future," Hagrid sneers. "An I already lived the time line yer livin' now. Yeh haven't changed nothin. Yer master is exteriminatin' his own kind. I know what he tells his followers - that he's a Pure-blood and that he's better'n everyone else.

"You think me an' my side aint committed because we're not bloody insane? If that's yer definition...well. Maybe yer right. Yer committed all right."

"I haven't changed anything yet," he corrects. "There's a Tom Riddle here who's different because he split timelines. Imagine if I were to break out of Azkaban, right now - which I could - I might split the timelines."

"And, for your information, I know he's a half-blood. In the name of a greater struggle we can afford to ignore moral semantic self-indulgence."

"An' what greater struggle is it that makes yeh lie to yerselves that way?" Then he hold up a preemptive hand. "Don' answer that. I already know th' answer."

Hagrid stares at Barty with disgust plainly written in his expression.

"Boy, yeh'd better pray fer yer sake you do manage ter escape yer fate, one way or th'other. I ain't too worried about mine. In the meantime, yer spoilin' me appetite."

Hagrid turns his back on Barty and returns to his meal.

He shakes his head, more in contempt than anything else, a deeply unpleasant smile on his face.

There are some on the other side he has a grudging respect for. Many, in fact; the Longbottoms were among them. But they do not include Hagrid. What a waste of time this conversation has been.

[ooc: but unlike Barty, I enjoyed it. :D]

Hagrid listens for Barty's retreat, proud that he kept his own temper. What a waste.

[ooc: Likewise! I feel bad being so mean when the RP calls for it! Thanks!]

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