A/N: This chapter is for the milestone 'the first time they meet'.
Rubeus balanced from one leg to the other. He was looking at the biggest horses he had ever seen. They were just beautiful. As he poured them single malt whisky, on Dumbledore's orders, he wondered what the person they belonged to would look like. If the horses were any indication, there was a chance they were a half-giant as well. It would be nice to meet them, since he'd always thought he was the only one.
After giving the horses one last bucket of single malt whisky, he walked quickly towards the castle. Once inside, he shook his head to clear it of raindrops, before entering the Great Hall. He walked over towards the staff table, but froze in his tracks.
There was indeed another half-giant. It was a woman. And she was absolutely amazing. Clad in deep black satin, her dark hair pulled into an elegant knot, she was the epitome of perfection. At least to Rubeus she was. He wondered if he could sneak out and make his appearance a bit neater. But unfortunately, being a half-giant means you kind of stick out in a crowd and Dumbledore was already beckoning him forth.
"Hagrid, I'd like to introduce you to Olympe Maxime. She is Head Mistress of Beauxbatons and will be staying with us for the remainder of the year. Olympe, this is Hagrid, our caretaker," Dumbledore introduced them to each other.
"It iz a pleazure to meet you, Monsieur 'Agrid." Olympe held out her hand and Rubeus shook it fervently, not really knowing what else to do.
"Nice ter meet yer," he replied. He was still holding on to Olympe's hand and she looked at him a little irritated. Too late he realised his mistake and he quickly let go off her hand before sitting down at the table.
There was an awkward silence between them. "You 'ave tended to my 'orses?" Olympe said in the end. "'Ow are zey?"
"Der absolute beauties, they are," Rubeus said. "Der Abraxans, yes?"
"Indeed zey are," she answered, a little surprised.
"How do yer make them pull the carriage? I thought twas very difficult ter make them pull things, seeing as they don't like it and all."
"We breed zem ourselves," Olympe said proudly. "We 'ave ze finest breeding programme in ze world."
Rubeus eyes began to shine. "You have ter tell me all about it," he said. "I do a bit of breeding me self as well. Got me self a nice herd of Thestrals, I have." He gave her a meaningful wink. "But don' tell anyone, it's sort of illegal ter breed them," he added. As soon as the words had left his mouth, he regretted them. I shouldn't have said that, he thought. I don't even know her.
But Olympe Maxime leaned in closed, a look of interest on her face.
"But where would you keep zem?" she asked. "You can't 'ave zem running free around ze grounds, non?"
"They life in Forbidden Forest, they do. No one goes in der but me and even if they do, der can' see them, can they?"
Olympe nodded in understanding. "Ze invisibility, non?"
"I can take you ter see them," Rubeus offered. "That is, if yer able to see them of course…" He shuffled his feet, not sure whether or not Olympe would find such a question impertinent. He was basically asking her if she had ever seen anyone die.
"I would, alas," she replied.
"Then I'll take ye to them tomorrow."