Chapter One

The tiny rain splashed onto the muddy ground that so many feet tread on each day. Hermione Granger ran through the courtyard and out onto the grubby trail leading towards Hagrid's small, but warm and dry hut. The mud squished beneath Hermione's feet as she ran towards the small house with smoke curdling out of its chimney. The rain pounded down on Hermione, drenching her hair and robes, not to mention her feet. Water fell into her eyes and she tried hastily to wipe it away so as it could not obscure her already limited vision.

Before Hermione even reached Hagrid's hut, Hagrid and the door open and Hermione could see him waiting in the doorway with a white, fluffy towel in his hand. As Hermione rushed in he handed her the towel and she began to dry herself off. Within a few moments Hermione was relatively dry and sitting in front of the warm fire with a mug of tea in her small hands.

"Thanks Hagrid," Hermione said, indicating the now sopping towel and mug in her hands. "Well Hermione," said Hagrid, "I saw you running through the rain and I didn't want you to come down sick. Besides, what are you doing out here in this dreadful weather?" "Oh, yes." Hermione said, "I was taking a walk around the northern trails when it had started to rain. I was just out walking and thinking and this dreadful thing had to happen. I came to your house because it was closets and I also haven't seen you in a while. Since the beginning of term feast to be exact. We all miss you Hagrid, especially Harry. He has been meaning to come and visit you but he works day and night on his school work and new spells to help him in his fight against Voldemort."

Hagrid listened attentively and watched Hermione as her face fell when she while she was thinking about Harry's predicament. Ever since Dumbledore died everyone had been different. They were all humbled realizing that the greatest wizard of their age had passed. Hermione and Hagrid both stared into the orange flickering flames of the fire. They watched them dance in merriment, remembering how the trio used to all come down and visit Hagrid to tell him about the latest gossip or the newest mystery. Hagrid thought about how the stress level had risen since the end of the past year.

Hagrid cleared his throat as to make sure that his voice would not falter and said, "You tell Harry to keep practicing and only to come see me when there is no other alternative. He needs to stay focused on his task or he will not be ready when Voldemort comes to full power." "But Hagrid," Hermione protested, "Harry loves you. He misses those days when we could all sit around and talk about nothing in particular. All he does is study and work, always busy, never taking a break." Hermione had tears streaming down her face at this point and she kept going. "He doesn't sleep, he hardly touches his food and it's taking its toll on him Hagrid."

Hagrid laid a gentle hand on Hermione's small shoulder and said, "I know Hermione. It's hard on all of us, especially the ones who care the most about Harry." At those words Hermione looked up at Hagrid and asked, "What do you mean?" "Hermione, I see the way you look at him, the way you talk about him, you care about him a lot Hermione." Hermione looked down at her mug and blushed. "I do care for him Hagrid, More than a girl like me should care about a boy like him. I just can't stand to see him hurt. Him nor Ron, but Harry especially. He is going trough so much lately Hagrid and I don't think that he wants a girl taking up his time."

Hagrid gave Hermione a smile and quietly said, "Hermione, you'll never know the true feelings of someone else's heart until you express your own. You should talk to Harry about it. It would probably actually do him some good to take his mind off of the negative things for a change. It will do you both some good." Hermione smiled at the thought of Harry being happy again.

"Thanks Hagrid, you sure do know how to help me out. I appreciate it a lot." Hermione gave Hagrid a hug and said, "I should probably be going, the rain is finally letting up and it is getting close to nightfall, so I will come visit you later on this week." "Okay Hermione," Hagrid replied, "you go have fun and tell Harry and Ron that I send my best wishes." Hermione nodded and went out the door, trudging back up towards the castle that so may people called home.

What Hermione didn't know about the situation is that Hagrid and had a conversation similar to theirs with Harry a few days prior. Harry had come down to Hagrid's hut for the counsel of a comforting friend.

Flashback:

Harry knocked on the door of the small wooden hut that Hagrid lived in. He could hear Fang's deep barking as Hagrid came to the door and drew the bolt. Hagrid opened the door and beamed as he swept Harry up into a bone-crushing hug. "It's good to see you Harry my boy. You haven't been down to see me since the beginning of term. I reckon Fang here missed you more that I did!" Harry smiled broadly despite his desperate need for air.

"It's wonderful to see you too Hagrid. It's been too long. Hagrid invited Harry in and they sat before the fire, tea mugs in hand. Harry was sitting on the stool that was soon to be occupied by Hermione when she comes to talk with Hagrid. "So how have you been Harry?" asked Hagrid turning suddenly serious. Harry looked down at his mug and took a deep breath. "I have been working on some new spells and hexes that Hermione is helping me learn and I have been constantly studying, trying to get the best possible scores I can. Life is tough right now and I feel like the only one I can talk to about it is you Hagrid. Sirius is in hiding and Dumbledore is dead, so they aren't of much help. But you have a heart the size of one of your enchanted pumpkins." Hagrid smiled at Harry's complement and said thank you. "Harry, ever since Dumbledore asked me to take you from the ruins of your parents house I knew that you were going to lead a difficult life. I knew that however hard it may urn out to be for you that I want to stand by your side through it all. You are like a son to me Harry and I know that life is tough but you need to give yourself a break.

"Go take a broom ride every once in a while. I haven't seen you fly around on that Firebolt of yours yet this year. You are working to hard man. It's taking an emotional toll not only on you but those that care about you as well." Harry nodded in agreement to Hagrid's words.

"Ron is like the brother that I never had. He keeps me company and supports me one hundred percent. Hermione… well… Hermione is probably the best thing that ever happened to me. She helps me with my work, encourages me and she even is teaching me some very difficult spells that I would have never even thought of. Hagrid, you are the dad that I never got to meet. You take care of me and discipline me when I need it and you do it with a smile on your face the whole time. I don't know what I would do without you three, you keep my world turning."

Hagrid smiled at the thought that Harry actually thought of him as a fatherly figure. He also noted the fact that Harry spent a great deal of time discussing Hermione. "Harry, I thank you for your kind words and I know that Hermione and Ron would also, but I couldn't help but notice something. You really seem to care about Hermione a lot. Not in the way that she is your best friend or your sister, but in the way that she is someone very dear to your heart." At these words Harry's cheeks flushed red and he said "Yes, Hagrid, I do feel like that about Hermione. I know I shouldn't be thinking about things like this but I can't help it. I care about her too much."

"Well," said Hagrid, "you should tell her hoe you feel. Let her know that you have feelings for her and see how she reacts. She might share your feelings." Harry nodded and gave his thanks to Hagrid. "I don't know what I would do without you Hagrid. Thanks for the advice and I think that I will take and break and that I will talk to Hermione and tell her how I feel about her." Harry left Hagrid's and headed back up towards the castle for dinner.

End Flashback

Hagrid smiled as he thought about the two youngsters and their feelings. His smile faded, however, when he thought about the troubles that they all had to face and that the happiness that was known in the present world would soon be very limited.