Harry stood there for several minutes, his eyes trained on the ground in front of him.
Harry was never the emotional type, but right now he was crying hot tears, very much wishing he was down there with his very first friend.
His eyes trailed up to the magnificent marble headstone. He tried to muscle a smile as the words looked back at him.
Rubeus Hagrid
Born 6 December 1928
Died 14 October 2022
Beloved Friend and Guardian
Memories flooded Harry's mind.
A man of massive size busting through a door and giving him his first true memorable present, a chocolate cake with the words Happy Birthday Harry. And also gifting him a new friend, his beloved Hedwig, who he still missed terribly after twenty five years.
A large beaming smile directed at him every time he came down to visit him, and encouraged to try badly cooked rock cakes every time.
Harry wouldn't change it for anything.
There was one memory in particular that stuck out though.
December 2003
Ginny was sleeping, exhausted but happy after having given birth to her and Harry's first child, James Sirius Potter.
Harry had just managed to get James to sleep, when there was a booming knock on the room's door.
It wasn't enough to wake Ginny, but it woke up James, who immediately started crying.
Harry got up angrily and marched to the door, intending to scream at the person who woke up his son.
But the moment he opened the door, he was greeted by the sight of a big bearded and delighted Rubeus Hagrid.
"Hagrid," said Harry in surprise. He was not expecting this. He greeted the man with a one-armed hug.
"I jus' heard the news and had to come by and congratulate yeh," weeped Hagrid. "I'm so proud of you Harry. I'm so happy you now have your own family."
"Hagrid, I've always had my own family," said Harry, looking meaningfully into Hagrid's eyes.
"Thank you Harry," said Hagrid, his voice full of gratitude.
"Here, maybe you can quieten him," said Harry handing the crying baby into Hagrid's arms.
James went silent at Hagrid's touch and immediately started sleeping on the man's arm.
"He already likes you, just like I did when I met you," smiled Harry.
"Have yeh named him yet?" asked Hagrid
"We have. His name is James Sirius Potter."
"It is great that you're honouring your dad's name with him," said Hagrid, looking down at the little bundle with massive tears in his eyes.
"My dad, and all my honorary dads."
"What do you mean by 'all' of your dads?" asked Hagrid.
"Rubeus Hagrid, would you do me the honour of being godfather to my son."
Back in the present Harry wiped away his tears at the memory. Hagrid was overjoyed that Harry and Ginny selected him and made sure to visit them as often as he could. He spent as much time as possible with the Potter's getting to know all the Potter children. Albus and Lily were always jealous of James for having the cooler godfather. But Hagrid doted on them all. It was impossible for him to pick a favourite.
He placed his own memento for the man on the grave.
A rock cake.
"You were like a father to me," said Harry, once again barely holding back the tears. "Rest In Peace Rubeus Hagrid."
AN: Rubeus Hagrid is my favourite character in the Harry Potter franchise of all time. The main reason I loved him was because the magnificent Robbie Coltrane played him. No other actor could have played him with such perfection. It was a big shock to me when I heard he died. I just had to post a tribute to him. I hope Robbie Coltrane in Resting In Peace.