Disclaimer: I do not own these characters, brilliantly created by J.K.
Rowling. Most situations are based on those created by J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Nineteen: The Reunion Comes to an End
"Do you think we should get going as well?" Ron asked the group.
"Let's stay just a bit more," said Hermione. "There are still some people here. We haven't been here in so long, I'd like it to last."
"I know what you mean," said Ron. "This is where we started. And I don't just mean you and me. I mean you and me and Harry too." He smiled and whispered to her. "But especially you and me."
Ginny was watching Harry talk with Professor McGonagall. Neville and Luna had said their good-byes hours earlier, promising again that they would meet the group for lunch and attend Olivia's birthday party the next month. When Harry returned he took Ginny's hand and gestured to the staff table, where Professor Dumbledore was standing and waiting for attention.
"Good evening again," he began. "I can see that this has been a wonderful evening for everyone, myself included. I can only hope that I won't fall out of touch with so many of you again. It has been a real pleasure to see everyone back at Hogwarts, especially for what will become one of my own final nights in the castle."
He looked out over the crowd. "I will certainly miss Hogwarts when I take my leave. However, I know that it can never be behind me. Being headmaster here has been perhaps the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I do so love to fill eager young minds with new information. I must add that this class has been one of the greatest ever seen at Hogwarts, earning the most achievements while at the school and also outside of the school, and of that I am very proud." He clapped his hands together, causing the entire crowd to start applauding.
"Now, I don't want anyone to worry. Hogwarts certainly hasn't seen the last of me. I will be at Professor McGonagall's exposal, should she need any guidance, but I doubt that will be the case, will it Minerva?"
Professor McGonagall smiled and shook her head. "I think we can manage without you, Albus," she said. "But do come back and visit from time to time."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Professor Dumbledore. "I'll come every now and then. How could I stay away from such good food?" The crowd laughed. "Now I see that many of you are anxious to head out, and I can't say that I blame you. The time has run away from me this evening, and I can hardly believe the festivities are coming to an end, though I must add, you're welcome to stay!" He looked around at the crowd. "However, I know you're not sixteen year old anymore! Perhaps now you've realized why we had a curfew for you all those years." He stopped and smiled again.
"I would also like to say that I am looking forward to the coming years. I am sure that Professor McGonagall will be an excellent Headmistress, and will do you proud when it comes time to send your children to Hogwarts, as I am sure you all will."
Professor McGonagall stood next to Professor Dumbledore. "I know most of you have children who are too young for Hogwarts yet, but I can assure you that I intend to be here when they get here, and I intend to be here when they graduate from here." She smiled and continued. "I just wanted to add that I am so happy that you have all accepted my becoming Headmistress without a second thought. I am so pleased to know that you think me as capable of the job as my predecessor."
Dumbledore took over again. "However, enough speeches and enough repeating what has already been said. With everything said and done, I want to bid my farewells to you all, and hope that you won't be such strangers in the future."
Dumbledore stepped down from the staff table, as did Professor McGonagall. Immediately, a group of students walked over to them and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny could see them shaking hands with the teachers. "Should we get going?" Harry asked the group.
"Suppose so," said Ron.
"Not so fast!" came a loud voice from behind them. The friends turned to see Hagrid beaming at them. "Yeh weren't going ter leave without seein' me for a cup a tea, were yeh?"
Harry smiled, and looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione. "What do you think guys?"
"Of course we'll come have tea," said Ginny.
"Take yer time," said Hagrid. "Say yer goodbyes to the Professors and meet me down at my cabin."
"Sure thing, Hagrid," said Ron, and Hagrid headed in the direction of the door.
"We certainly haven't seen Hagrid's house in a while," said Hermione. "I bet it looks just the same as it always did."
* * *
Hermione soon found out that she was correct. Stepping into Hagrid's cabin made them feel as though they had used a Time Turner. The chairs were the same, the large bed, the table, and as usual, a large welcoming fire was burning in the fireplace. Hagrid was boiling water over it. He had already laid the cups out on the table.
"Glad you came tonight," he said.
"Of course," said Harry. "I'm glad we came too. It's been a long time since we've had tea here at your place."
"Don't I know it!" Hagrid exclaimed. "It's been different since yeh've been away from Hogwarts. I mean, I got to know some new students, but none of been as friendly as you lot."
"Any other students ever come up here for tea?" Hermione asked.
"Some," said Hagrid. "Mostly I entertain the other professors."
"Will you be staying on without Dumbledore being here?" Ron asked.
"Of course!" said Hagrid. "Can you imagine Hogwarts without me?"
The friends smiled. It was true. They could not imagine a Hogwarts without Hagrid.
Hagrid walked to the fire and removed the teapot. Bringing it to the table he filled the four mugs and fixed the tea. He also set out a place of cookies. The friends gladly drank the tea, but left the cookies on the table. "Aren't yeh hungry?" Hagrid asked.
"Hagrid, we've just come from a feast," Ginny said, and Hagrid laughed.
"Of course, of course," he said, but he took one of the cookies for himself anyway.
Harry looked around the cabin. There were SOME differences, he noticed. For example, Hagrid had started putting up a lot of pictures. He seemed to have a whole gallery of shots. Harry recognized his and Ginny's wedding picture immediately, and saw Ron and Hermione's right next to it. Then there were pictures of Hagrid with various staff members of Hogwarts. There were also pictures of Harry and Ginny with James just after he was born, and the same with Lily. Next to those were pictures of Ron and Hermione with Emma and Olivia. "That's quite a gallery you have there," he said, gesturing to it.
"Well, I thought to myself one day that since yeh're not here at Hogwarts anymore, what better way to see you than to have pictures up," he said. "So I picked my favorites and there they are."
"Wow," said Hermione. "I'm honored that you have the pictures from our wedding."
"Of course!" said Hagrid. "All of yeh are the closest thing family I've ever had, next to Professor Dumbledore of course."
"You should spend more time with us," said Ginny. "Really. We'd love to have you at our house."
"Or ours," said Ron.
"That's sweet of yeh," Hagrid said. "I think I will take you up on that, this summer perhaps. Of course yeh know that once school begins in September I have my duties."
"Of course," said Hermione. "How are the classes going?"
Hagrid's face lit up, as it always seemed to lately when he was talking about the Care of Magical Creatures lessons he taught. Though his start as a teacher was somewhat shaky, years of experience were soon making him a force to be reckoned with. Professor Grubbly-Plank hadn't been at Hogwarts in years, and rumors flew that she was now teaching at a Swedish wizarding school. Hagrid and Hermione spent a good twenty minutes discussing the various aspects of his classes, and the creatures he had managed to show the class over the past year.
"Makes me want to be a student again," Hermione said, with wistful sigh.
"Not that you'd need to be," said Ron proudly. "I think you know all there is to know!"
"No one knows EVERYTHING, Ron," said Hermione, even though she was smiling.
"I know," said Ron. "But you're pretty close."
"Hermione, if yeh want to watch a class, yeh know yeh'd be welcome anytime," said Hagrid. "Though I think Ron may have a point. Yeh certainly do know a lot." Hermione smiled.
The small group was having such a nice time that it was past midnight when Hagrid finally looked up at the clock on his mantle. "Goodness, is that the time?" he asked, with a start.
"Oh, I hadn't even noticed," said Harry, also looking towards the clock. "I suppose we should head back to the hotel."
"I walk with yeh to the gates," said Hagrid, and he stood with them and followed them out of the cabin. As they walked along, they talked about where Hagrid would stay when he came for a visit in July. He planned to stay two weeks - long enough to celebrate Olivia's birthday, and then Harry's.
"We have plenty of room," Ginny said to him just before they leave. "So don't worry."
"We'll see you soon, Hagrid," Hermione said.
"See yeh soon," said Hagrid. "Be careful!"
"We will!" Ron called out, and the four friends set off down the road, away from Hogwarts.
Chapter Nineteen: The Reunion Comes to an End
"Do you think we should get going as well?" Ron asked the group.
"Let's stay just a bit more," said Hermione. "There are still some people here. We haven't been here in so long, I'd like it to last."
"I know what you mean," said Ron. "This is where we started. And I don't just mean you and me. I mean you and me and Harry too." He smiled and whispered to her. "But especially you and me."
Ginny was watching Harry talk with Professor McGonagall. Neville and Luna had said their good-byes hours earlier, promising again that they would meet the group for lunch and attend Olivia's birthday party the next month. When Harry returned he took Ginny's hand and gestured to the staff table, where Professor Dumbledore was standing and waiting for attention.
"Good evening again," he began. "I can see that this has been a wonderful evening for everyone, myself included. I can only hope that I won't fall out of touch with so many of you again. It has been a real pleasure to see everyone back at Hogwarts, especially for what will become one of my own final nights in the castle."
He looked out over the crowd. "I will certainly miss Hogwarts when I take my leave. However, I know that it can never be behind me. Being headmaster here has been perhaps the most rewarding thing I have ever done. I do so love to fill eager young minds with new information. I must add that this class has been one of the greatest ever seen at Hogwarts, earning the most achievements while at the school and also outside of the school, and of that I am very proud." He clapped his hands together, causing the entire crowd to start applauding.
"Now, I don't want anyone to worry. Hogwarts certainly hasn't seen the last of me. I will be at Professor McGonagall's exposal, should she need any guidance, but I doubt that will be the case, will it Minerva?"
Professor McGonagall smiled and shook her head. "I think we can manage without you, Albus," she said. "But do come back and visit from time to time."
"I wouldn't have it any other way," said Professor Dumbledore. "I'll come every now and then. How could I stay away from such good food?" The crowd laughed. "Now I see that many of you are anxious to head out, and I can't say that I blame you. The time has run away from me this evening, and I can hardly believe the festivities are coming to an end, though I must add, you're welcome to stay!" He looked around at the crowd. "However, I know you're not sixteen year old anymore! Perhaps now you've realized why we had a curfew for you all those years." He stopped and smiled again.
"I would also like to say that I am looking forward to the coming years. I am sure that Professor McGonagall will be an excellent Headmistress, and will do you proud when it comes time to send your children to Hogwarts, as I am sure you all will."
Professor McGonagall stood next to Professor Dumbledore. "I know most of you have children who are too young for Hogwarts yet, but I can assure you that I intend to be here when they get here, and I intend to be here when they graduate from here." She smiled and continued. "I just wanted to add that I am so happy that you have all accepted my becoming Headmistress without a second thought. I am so pleased to know that you think me as capable of the job as my predecessor."
Dumbledore took over again. "However, enough speeches and enough repeating what has already been said. With everything said and done, I want to bid my farewells to you all, and hope that you won't be such strangers in the future."
Dumbledore stepped down from the staff table, as did Professor McGonagall. Immediately, a group of students walked over to them and Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny could see them shaking hands with the teachers. "Should we get going?" Harry asked the group.
"Suppose so," said Ron.
"Not so fast!" came a loud voice from behind them. The friends turned to see Hagrid beaming at them. "Yeh weren't going ter leave without seein' me for a cup a tea, were yeh?"
Harry smiled, and looked at Ginny, Ron and Hermione. "What do you think guys?"
"Of course we'll come have tea," said Ginny.
"Take yer time," said Hagrid. "Say yer goodbyes to the Professors and meet me down at my cabin."
"Sure thing, Hagrid," said Ron, and Hagrid headed in the direction of the door.
"We certainly haven't seen Hagrid's house in a while," said Hermione. "I bet it looks just the same as it always did."
* * *
Hermione soon found out that she was correct. Stepping into Hagrid's cabin made them feel as though they had used a Time Turner. The chairs were the same, the large bed, the table, and as usual, a large welcoming fire was burning in the fireplace. Hagrid was boiling water over it. He had already laid the cups out on the table.
"Glad you came tonight," he said.
"Of course," said Harry. "I'm glad we came too. It's been a long time since we've had tea here at your place."
"Don't I know it!" Hagrid exclaimed. "It's been different since yeh've been away from Hogwarts. I mean, I got to know some new students, but none of been as friendly as you lot."
"Any other students ever come up here for tea?" Hermione asked.
"Some," said Hagrid. "Mostly I entertain the other professors."
"Will you be staying on without Dumbledore being here?" Ron asked.
"Of course!" said Hagrid. "Can you imagine Hogwarts without me?"
The friends smiled. It was true. They could not imagine a Hogwarts without Hagrid.
Hagrid walked to the fire and removed the teapot. Bringing it to the table he filled the four mugs and fixed the tea. He also set out a place of cookies. The friends gladly drank the tea, but left the cookies on the table. "Aren't yeh hungry?" Hagrid asked.
"Hagrid, we've just come from a feast," Ginny said, and Hagrid laughed.
"Of course, of course," he said, but he took one of the cookies for himself anyway.
Harry looked around the cabin. There were SOME differences, he noticed. For example, Hagrid had started putting up a lot of pictures. He seemed to have a whole gallery of shots. Harry recognized his and Ginny's wedding picture immediately, and saw Ron and Hermione's right next to it. Then there were pictures of Hagrid with various staff members of Hogwarts. There were also pictures of Harry and Ginny with James just after he was born, and the same with Lily. Next to those were pictures of Ron and Hermione with Emma and Olivia. "That's quite a gallery you have there," he said, gesturing to it.
"Well, I thought to myself one day that since yeh're not here at Hogwarts anymore, what better way to see you than to have pictures up," he said. "So I picked my favorites and there they are."
"Wow," said Hermione. "I'm honored that you have the pictures from our wedding."
"Of course!" said Hagrid. "All of yeh are the closest thing family I've ever had, next to Professor Dumbledore of course."
"You should spend more time with us," said Ginny. "Really. We'd love to have you at our house."
"Or ours," said Ron.
"That's sweet of yeh," Hagrid said. "I think I will take you up on that, this summer perhaps. Of course yeh know that once school begins in September I have my duties."
"Of course," said Hermione. "How are the classes going?"
Hagrid's face lit up, as it always seemed to lately when he was talking about the Care of Magical Creatures lessons he taught. Though his start as a teacher was somewhat shaky, years of experience were soon making him a force to be reckoned with. Professor Grubbly-Plank hadn't been at Hogwarts in years, and rumors flew that she was now teaching at a Swedish wizarding school. Hagrid and Hermione spent a good twenty minutes discussing the various aspects of his classes, and the creatures he had managed to show the class over the past year.
"Makes me want to be a student again," Hermione said, with wistful sigh.
"Not that you'd need to be," said Ron proudly. "I think you know all there is to know!"
"No one knows EVERYTHING, Ron," said Hermione, even though she was smiling.
"I know," said Ron. "But you're pretty close."
"Hermione, if yeh want to watch a class, yeh know yeh'd be welcome anytime," said Hagrid. "Though I think Ron may have a point. Yeh certainly do know a lot." Hermione smiled.
The small group was having such a nice time that it was past midnight when Hagrid finally looked up at the clock on his mantle. "Goodness, is that the time?" he asked, with a start.
"Oh, I hadn't even noticed," said Harry, also looking towards the clock. "I suppose we should head back to the hotel."
"I walk with yeh to the gates," said Hagrid, and he stood with them and followed them out of the cabin. As they walked along, they talked about where Hagrid would stay when he came for a visit in July. He planned to stay two weeks - long enough to celebrate Olivia's birthday, and then Harry's.
"We have plenty of room," Ginny said to him just before they leave. "So don't worry."
"We'll see you soon, Hagrid," Hermione said.
"See yeh soon," said Hagrid. "Be careful!"
"We will!" Ron called out, and the four friends set off down the road, away from Hogwarts.