Disclaimer: I do not own works by Rowling.
Author's Note: I've always felt that Hagrid brought in his critters to show what was really out there, but he's never let any of the students come to serious harm.
Summary: he counts the days until they come home/hagrid drabble
Hagrid watches them anxiously as they all board the train. They're all a little taller, some a little thicker around the waist. The older ones are wearing dark circles under their eyes as the weeks of little sleep in order to prepare for exams have finally started to catch up with them. Some are anxious for the holidays to begin, other to see their families. All of them are looking over their shoulders, still travelling in groups.
He notes the increased flush to their cheeks (remembers the pale fear that sapped their colour), some of them have a twinkle that wasn't there before (remembers frank and alice and how they used to look at each other), the pinking of scars that can't be covered by robes and are too proud or tired to cast glamours over (he can still hear their screams in the hallways).
Term is over, summer holidays are here. A whole year since the second War. A first year asks him for help with her trunk. He smiles. A second year waves at him – he had cried after seeing what the Carrows had done to Hagrid for protecting him. A sixth year grins widely, raises a bandaged hand in a gleeful salute.
(minerva had screeched at him and hagrid had acted ashamed but both know better – hagrid brings in these beasts because they're interesting yes, but because he is there to supervise when the students get a glimpse of what is waiting beyond the borders that he maintains, with him they see that the outside world is dangerous but they know that for now hagrid will be there.)
Finally they're all boarded. All safe.
He stands on the platform until the Express fades from view.
Hagrid turns and begins to walk back to the castle and already counting down the days until the fall term begins when the students return, where he can keep them safe.