Hagrid arrived the day before the First Task, and Alexander and Hermione were there when his Portkey dropped him on the grounds, racing to him happily, "HAGRID!"

"Oh you two," the half-giant wrapped them in a large warm hug, and began blubbering, "Read that article… could of told me… nicest kids ever met… missed you both…"

Blushing, they hugged him back as tightly as possible, "We missed you too Hagrid, and we're sorry for not telling you, you were one of the hardest to hide it from. Every letter we'd want to write you to say who we were but would always stop."

"I understand," the large man said, somewhat calmly, "Fang misses you, so does Siofra."

That brought large grins to their faces, "We've missed them too, though we'll be seeing Siofra soon enough."

"Who told you?"

"We were the ones who suggested it to Charlie, he was thinking of bringing a Hungarian Horntail," the teens shuddered.

"Ooh, not Roberta, she's a vicious beast, only just started getting on her good side lately, after Siofra took a chunk from her side after she went at me," Hagrid laughed his belly laugh, warming the demigods, "The other dragon handlers are right jealous that I've got a dragon body guard. So proud of little Siofra, made me a granddaddy with this handsome Norwegian Ridgeback male, Buck's what we all call him though he's probably got a different name. Hey Ha-Alexander, maybe you can come around to the reserve and find out everyone's real names? Might make them like us better if we call them the right thing."

Shooting a pleading look to his love, he wanted to but wouldn't if Hermione said no, the wizard laughed happily when she nodded, "Of course, but we'll have to work it all out. After the task tomorrow, I'll do the girls you guys have here."

The man cheered, lifting the pair onto his shoulders, each of them laughing, "So, what have you two been up to since your last letter?"

Retelling their friend all about the classes they'd attended, the antics of Nye, all of their friends, the demigods felt whole once more, truly missing their large friend. When they entered the castle, they'd ducked quickly to prevent hitting the door frame, but didn't get down, enjoying being so high up. Severus was turning a corner, his head in a text book, when he heard Hermione calling, "Severus! Look who's here!"

Looking about, he saw no one until he spied Hagrid and then his wards on his shoulders, "Merlin, I thought I was hearing things. Nice to see you again Rubeus."

Had the teens not told the bushy man about Severus change, they were sure they would have been on the floor from shock, but all Hagrid did now was shake the offered hand, "And you Snape."

"You pair, I've taken your classes for the day, so be teenagers for Merlins sake, have a bit of relaxing fun," the man waved as he moved off, a classroom waiting for him.

Bending over to look into the dark eyes, Alex asked, "Do you want to meet our friend Fleur, and perhaps her headmistress?"

A deep blush was noticeable through the hair, "I, ahem, I'd like that."

"Great, head towards your old place, the carriage is by there and the stables we put up"

As they walked, the teens tried to settled the hair and beard, getting it so that it didn't look so wild, and Alex conjured a large bouquet of various French flowers, lilies, irises, daisies, and sprigs of rosemary flowers. Placing a single lily in the coat pocket of the man, he placed the bouquet in his hands. When they were standing out front of the carriage, Hermione knocked on the door, and gave Hagrid a reassuring grin.

The door opened, and Fleur smiled out at them, "Good morning, I thought you were busy this morning."

"Our friend Hagrid came today with the task," Alex hinted before looking about, "Is Madam Maxime here?"

Looking at the nervous as hell man holding flowers, the Veela chuckled, "Give us a moment."

As the trio waited outside, Fleur called for her French brethren, "We have a suitor for our headmistress."

The entire group were pleased; they knew that Olympe didn't date due to her being a half-giantess, and wanted her to have a life, looking to her as another mother for the remainder of their lives at the kindness she showed. With Fleur in the lead, they all walked down to where the woman's quarters were. When Olympe saw them all, her eyes widened, "Yes my dears?"

"Madam Maxime, we are not ones to usually threaten our superiors, especially those we respect as we do you, but you have a suitor outside and we are going to get you ready whether you allow us or not. There are enough of us here to forcibly stun you," Fleur's expression softened and she sat next to the stunned woman, "You have been alone, looking after the students passing through Beauxbatons, for many years now. Being half-giantess is nothing to be ashamed of; isn't that what you told me about my being a Veela? Now, there is a man outside who is in desperate need of a haircut but also I've heard nothing but brilliant things about him. If nothing else, you will accept his flowers, his arm, and his offer of a walk."

Maxime had tears in her eyes as she looked at the students she mothered and taught, "But…"

"No buts, get dressed in something nice and we will quickly fix your hair and makeup," the Veela ordered, pointing her finger at the wardrobe.

20 minutes later a nervous Olympe opened the carriage door to see Hagrid by himself, the demigods and Veela standing to the side, watching. At seeing the flowers, the French witch smiled, "Oui?"

"Madam Maxime, umm, ahem, I was wondering if you would like to go for a walk," seeing his friends mouthing 'name', Rubeus groaned, "Oh, umm, my name is Rubeus Hagrid. I was the groundskeeper of Hogwarts before going to work at a dragon reserve."

Laughing lightly, the witch took the offered flowers, smelling them before taking a lily like the one in Hagrid's coat, placing it behind her ear, and passing the rest of the bouquet to one of her students, then took his arm, "I would like that, and I am Olympe."

The trio sighed heavily, "Match-making is way too hard."

"Too right"

After a moment, Hermione said, "I think Faye and Neville need a push in the right direction."

"Yeah," and the trio began plotting away again.