"Honestly, I don't know much about her either," Hagrid replied, gazing into his tankard as he recalled and scratched his beard. "I met her on a trip to Ireland during an expedition I took as a vacation to see a rare variety of Moonclafs. We hit it off quite well. She loved magical creatures even more than I did, so we had a few drinks... and all I remember is saying goodbye the next morning. Imagine my surprise when, a year later, a basket showed up on my doorstep with Barnaby inside!"
"What happened?" Harry asked, a sinking feeling in his gut.
"She passed away," Hagrid's spirits were low. "She left a letter explaining several things I didn't fully understand, something about being a Sleigh Beggy and a blood heritage. To be honest, even to this day, I still don't grasp most of it. And after reading the letter, it burst into flames and disappeared."
"And what does that have to do with Barnaby learning from Mr. Ollivander?"
"Well, Barnaby inherited the interest of both of us in magical creatures, but apparently, his mother's blood is much more dominant and gave him some... abilities and talents. One of them is the knowledge to carve and use his own magical staff. He thinks of it as a bigger wand..."
"I know what a staff is, Hagrid," Harry assured him. He had seen comic book posters where a character used one.
"Well, the thing is, knowing something doesn't make you capable of using it correctly. Barnaby is more handy than I am, but he prefers working with hides, feathers, bones, scales, and so on," Hagrid placed the tankard on the table. "So, I thought, who's good at working wood in a magical way? And during one of my visits to Diagon Alley, I saw Mr. Ollivander's shop and realized."
"So, Barnaby went there to learn how to carve his staff?" Harry understood.
"Actually, he can't use a wand," Hagrid explained with a shrug. "Well, saying he can't would be incorrect. It's more like his magic doesn't respond well to wands. At first, Mr. Ollivander wasn't willing to take Barnaby, but I managed to convince him to give it a shot with some unicorn hair I found in the Forbidden Forest, and after seeing him work, his attitude did a complete turnaround, and he agreed happily."
"So, did he manage to make his staff?"
"Well, he was skilled enough to make some usable ones that he discarded over time as he made better ones, but now he's working on what would be his definitive version!"
"How will he do it?"
"I'm not sure; my head hurts every time he tries to explain it to me," Hagrid waved his hand in embarrassment. The symbolism behind the complex ritual was too much for the half-giant. "I just know he'll use his cut hair, a wood carving made from a branch of the Whomping Willow, and... what else did he say... a pair of gems that have been at the bottom of the Black Lake, bathed in the sun and moonlight for a thousand years," Hagrid rubbed his head with his hand to help remember. "Oh, and a song, the song is very important! But don't ask me to sing it; I don't know the lyrics."
"Hair, a branch, gems, and a song?" Harry couldn't imagine how these elements would end up creating something useful.
Hagrid seemed quite pleased that Harry didn't understand either. It appeared that it wasn't just him who couldn't keep up with Barnaby.
"In any case, finish your meal, and then we'll go get some ice cream at Florean Fortescue's ice cream parlor. They have all sorts of flavors!" He leaned over the table to emphasize his statement. "And when I say all sorts, I mean literally. Although I wouldn't ask how they manage to make them."
Both of them left the establishment, and before Harry knew it, he was on the Hogwarts Express, filled with excitement, on his way to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. He met Ron, along with his pet rat, a fellow first-year witch named Hermione (a bit of a know-it-all), and a boy named Neville, who seemed to have a recurring problem with losing his toad.
When they arrived at the station, Harry and company saw Hagrid waving to them, with Barnaby by his side. In his arms, he held and stroked the back of a small creature that made the present women let out high-pitched squeals of adoration.
"Hi, Harry!" Hagrid approached with his son. "Everything okay?"
"Yes, thanks, Hagrid." Harry's gaze was also drawn to the creature in Barnaby's arms. "What kind of magical creature is that?"
Hagrid also looked at his son. He had seen over the years how Barnaby brought out all kinds of strange creatures he had never seen before and had grown accustomed to it, but that never diminished his interest in them.
Some stayed, some left and never returned, and occasionally, some came back for visits.
"This little one is a Vulpix," Barnaby replied as he stroked the creature's soft fur, which, judging by its expression, seemed to be enjoying the touch.
Suddenly, the Vulpix lifted its head and shot warning embers at the hand that seemed to have tried to sneak up silently to touch one of its six tails.
"Be careful," Barnaby warned Hermione as the Vulpix returned to its relaxed position. "Never approach a creature recklessly just because you see it calm, and certainly don't touch it if you're not familiar with it. Your proximity can upset it, and if I weren't here, you'd likely be starting the year with a nasty burn on your hand."
"How can something so cute be so fierce?" Hermione was a little frightened. She felt in her hand that the temperature that came from the Vulpix's mouth was anything but low.
"Welcome to the magical world," not only Barnaby but the older students around them laughed.
No one seemed surprised to see Barnaby accompanied by such a unique creature.
"First years, over here!" Hagrid shouted for them to gather. "We'll talk later; you can't miss the feast."
"Careful with the roots on the path!" Barnaby reminded them as he walked away with the older students.
"Why isn't he eating with us?" Harry asked, puzzled.
"Percy said that Barnaby graduated from Hogwarts early," Ron replied as he shoveled his sixth sausage into his mouth with a fork. "He grew up here, so the teachers are like his uncles, and he's been exposed to lessons since he was little. He's the youngest and fastest graduate in the castle's history!"
Hermione's ears perked up when she heard that and felt so envious.
The feast continued, and when the dessert plates vanished, Dumbledore made an unexpected additional announcement for the first years.
"As some of our new students may know, there is a possibility of encountering peculiar creatures at Hogwarts and its surroundings. Let me remind you that if you wish to interact in any friendly manner with them, it's best to do so under the supervision of a professor or your master, Mr. Barnaby," he raised his voice a bit more. "If there is any incident due to reckless or inappropriate behavior on the student's part, neither the school nor Mr. Barnaby will be held responsible, although you can still go to the infirmary to be treated by Madam Pomfrey. Good night, everyone."