Minerva McGonagall watched with pride as the first-years' names were called out. With each name a young witch or wizard came forward, hesitantly taking a seat on the stool in front of the Head Table. Professor Flitwick was standing on another one next to that one, and put the Sorting Hat on top of the children's heads excitedly. As soon as the Hat had made a decision and shouted out the House's name, the hall broke into an applause.

The students from the second-years to the last-years had all been surprised and confused to see Hagrid entering with the first-years, and coming to stand next to the children in front of the Head Table. The half-giant had always left the children to the Deputy Headmaster at the doors of the castle, and appearing in the Great Hall with them was odd, to say the least. In the commotion of the sorting, most of them stopped to wonder about the giant, and focused on welcoming the newcomers.

From the Head Table Minerva could see the excited and happy glisten in the giant's eyes. The Headmistress had allowed him to not buy himself a set of school robes, considering the work the seamstresses would have to go through because of his size, and had offered to transfigure some of his own clothes into school robes if he wanted to. But since all this business was quite out of the ordinary, they had eventually agreed that Hagrid wouldn't need to wear special school garment. He was to remain teaching the Care of Magical Creatures, since Minerva couldn't see why not - his grades in that area of magic could not be questioned -, and he had decided to remain living in his Hut, because the student dorms were simply too small for him and he had his dog to take care of.

Minerva had personally accompanied Hagrid to Diagon Alley. They had gotten him a new wand - so he could leave his umbrella at home - and the school books required. Through the trip, and really the entire time since receiving his Hogwarts Letter, Hagrid had been most happy. And Minerva couldn't blame him; she was totally pleased with the situation. It had taken her to change quite a lot of rules to make this work, but she was highly respected by the Board of Governors, so it hadn't taken her long to.

"Hagrid, Rubeus!" called Professor Flitwick happily.

A hush fell over the Hall. Everyone stared in shock as the giant stepped up to the stool and took a seat. Minerva watched proudly as Professor Flitwick hesitated to Levitate the Sorting Hat up to Hagrid's head.

"Perhaps you'd like to do it yourself," the small wizard offered, and Hagrid took the Hat from him.

He put the Hat carefully on and instantly heard a long forgotten familiar voice in his ear. "You again, hm? Well, there's no doubt anymore to which house you belong. GRYFFINDOR!"

The students, who had finally understood what was happening, broke into a tremendous applause and cheering. As Hagrid took off the Hat and handed it back to Professor Flitwick, the small wizard smiled at him, and the giant had a glimpse of the other teachers clapping and smiling widely. When he turned to head to his house's table, every one of the students stood up out of respect, and the Gryffindors welcomed their new housemate with uppermost joy.

If Minerva's memory wasn't failing her, this cheering was even louder than the one Harry Potter had gained at his Sorting.


"Quiet now, please!" Professor Flitwick called, gaining the attention of his class - first-year Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. "Thank you. Now, in our lesson today, we will be learning the Levitation charm."

Throughout the lesson the students behaved, but once the lesson was over, everyone gathered around the most popular first-year again. Hagrid always found himself in the centre of attention in class. And for a soft half-giant that he was, this attention was at first quote overwhelming. It didn't take long though for him to cast aside his wariness, and become a great friend to all of his new classmates.

The students gathered around him to hear his stories of the Wizarding War, of what Hogwarts was like years ago, and of what it was like to be a teacher. Care of Magical Creatures became the first-years' favourite lesson, even most of the Slytherins were having fun in Hagrid's lessons. And that was saying something!

Hagrid himself was thoroughly excited to be able to learn at Hogwarts again, and to be allowed to use magic again.


"I trust you're doing well in class, Hagrid," Minerva said, flicking her wand to make the teapot pour some tea into the half-giant's cup. "You're ever so popular among the students."

Hagrid chuckled into his beard. "I must say they're rather a nice bunch o' kids," he said. "I do my best in the lessons. Some o' the spells I can rememb'r from my time, but that's only little. It's good to have a real wand again."

Minerva smiled behind her teacup. "I'm glad you're happy."

"I ought to thank you."

"You already have."

"But I ought to say it again," Hagrid protested. "If it weren't for you, this would ne'er have 'appened." He eyed the Headmistress gratefully. "I always say Dumbledore was the greatest wizard o' our time. An' I don't think I will be mistaken if I say you're the greatest witch I've known."

"Oh, nonsense!" Minerva said dismissively, waving her hand.

"I'm afraid I must agree with Hagrid on this one," a familiar voice said from one of the paintings on the Headmistress's office wall. Minerva looked up to find the white-bearded wizard smiling at her, his eyes twinkling behind those half-moon shaped spectacles. Minerva shook her head in slight annoyance.

Her eyes absent-mindedly wandered to another painting on the wall that she had lately often been watching. The young black-haired Headmaster nodded almost unnoticeably.

"Men!" Minerva sighed.

The End