Back to School!
Hagrid sat down after a long day. That afternoon he had been released from Azkaban, thanks to Harry, Ron and Hermione. Thanks to them he had his job back, his life. Hagrid strode to the window, looking up at the castle. His own life had been a thorough disaster: Dad dead; his mother missing; expelled from school. Hagrid paused for a moment and then his idea struck.
The next morning Hagrid went straight to Dumbledore's office. Dumbledore had only just woken up and was poring himself a cup of tea. Fawkes was sitting in his lap. Dumbledore enjoyed this time of the day, nice and peaceful. The only sound heard was the gentle tinkling of the house-elves getting breakfast ready. Dumbledore lay back in his chair, savouring the taste of oak-thistle tea in his mouth.
'PROFFESER DUMBLEDORE SIR! PROFFESER!'
Dumbledore jumped about twelve foot in the air, dropping his tea on Fawkes, who squealed and scratched Dumbledore's arm in the confusion. This happened just as Hagrid barged in to the room, a big dopey smile on his face.
'HAGRID! For the love of Pete! What do you think your doing?'
Hagrid stopped and looked at the scene in front of him. Fawkes was sailing around the room looking five times as red as usual, Dumbledore was as red as the crimson rug he was standing on and had a large gash on his arm which was emitting green sparks.
'I'm sorry Professor but I've had an idea.' Hagrid's smile returned. 'Well my names been cleared now hasn't it? I never opened the chamber! That means I should never have been expelled! What I want to ask is…can I go back? Back to Hogwarts?'
Dumbledore stopped. 'Hagrid.' Dumbledore said quietly. 'You are sixty-three years old. You were expelled nearly fifty years ago. It's too late for you to go back.'
Hagrid's eyes started to water. 'Then I'll go. I can't take it.'
'No you will not!' Dumbledore sighed. Hogwarts needed a gamekeeper. 'On Tuesdays and Wednesdays you will go to classes with the rest of your old year. You will sit next year's exams. You can go on to NEWTS if you wish. Now get out of my face.'
Hagrid jumped for joy. The entire room shook, furniture leaping in to the air. Hagrid bounced out of Dumbledore's office, squealing about getting a wand and new books. Dumbledore sighed once again.
Two weeks later Harry and Ron wandered in to Transfiguration. Hagrid was sat at their desk, taking up seven seats and staring with great fascination at his new wand and textbooks. Professor McGonagall was looking at the rest of the class, determined to avoid Hagrid's overbearing excitement.
'You may have noticed that today the gamekeeper Mr Hagrid is joining us in this class. As Mr Hagrid was falsely expelled when he was accused of opening the chamber of secrets, he has decided to come back to Hogwarts as a part-time student. Please do not let his…circumstances get in the way of your concentration.'
McGonagall took a deep breath and then carried on with her lesson as though nothing had happened. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked around at each other and then at Hagrid. At the look on his face they smiled. Hagrid was making up for the past. He was happy.