Basking in Shadow

“Yeh foolish boy — where have yeh been?!?” The bellowing of his guardian filled the tavern and snapped Eric from his dinner. “I’ve been worried sick over yeh! Thought I’d come over teh git yeh settled in, only to find yeh were walkin’ home. What were yeh thinkin’?” Hagrid hauled Eric from his seat, smothering him in a giant bear hug. For all the noise, Hagrid was a loving caretaker, and Eric bore through the stifling greeting until Hagrid finally released him.

Dropping back to his dinner, Eric was quite apologetic. “I’m really sorry; I didn’t know you were coming. If I did, I would’ve sent word.” A wave of relief washed over him when Hagrid nodded, settling into the seat across from him. “To be honest, I wish you were with me today. The walk from Kings Cross was a bit unnerving.” He proceeded to explain about the dark figure that followed him.

After finishing dinner, Hagrid walked Eric home, listening with amusement as he rambled on and on about what he had seen all day. “Well, it’s good, what yeh chose to do. Gives yeh a chance teh see what muggles are like. Pretty amazin’ world, isn’ it?”

Eric had to admit — it was all amazing. Muggles had managed to create wonders that wizards hadn’t dreamed of. Sounds and images recorded so vividly, to be recalled however the viewer wanted. Buildings that reached for the sky, vehicles that traveled with such speed. While it was true that wizards had their own ways of getting about, it seemed that muggles had their own answers for every spell a wizard could cast.

It all made Eric envious of Naomi — she got to live as a muggle for most of her life, and still did for the summer, while he had to return to his shop to earn his way through school. Arriving lifted his spirits, though. His owls had made it back, and Willy had cleaned off everything. His belongings were all packed away, and an evening snack was waiting. It took Eric little time to settle back into his home. By the end of the evening, he dropped into his cot, exhausted by the day’s adventures and looking forward to the coming season of customers.

As Eric's fourth year at Hogwarts begins, he learns more and more about the world around him and the forces which strain the peace so long sought by the wizarding world. Meanwhile, Harry Potter continues to make waves, shocking and surprising his friends and enemies alike by becoming an unwilling contestant in the Tri-Wizard Tournament. Eric, on the other hand, is more than happy to allow Harry as much fame as he wants, since it draws attention away from his own pursuits.

Harry Potter stories are written by J.K. Rowling. Basking in Shadow takes place during the same period of time as Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.