On Friday, January 19th, 1995, after all classes were done for the week, Harry was going to go down to Hagrid's hut and convince him to return. He wasn't going alone though.

He had convinced his friends Hermione, Neville, Ginny, and Luna, the other Triwizard Champions Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur as well as the Weasley twins, Lee Jordan, and Susan Bones to help him. Also joining him would be the Slytherin girl who had offered to help at the end of Monday's class, who turned to be a muggleborn named Lily Moon along with her friends Tracey Davis and Daphne Greengrass as well as Daphne's younger sister, Astoria, who was a first year who didn't know much about Hagrid but hated smear and slander all the same.

The sixteen of them walked down to Hagrid's Hut with Harry in the lead.

Harry knocked on the door of Hagrid's hut to no response.

Harry knocked a second time, but it was second verse same as the first with no reply.

"Hagrid, that's enough!" yelled Hermione as Harry continued to knock on the door, "We don't care what that Skeeter bitch wrote about you! We miss you and we want you to come back!"

Very reluctantly, Hagrid got up and opened the door.

He was astonished to see sixteen people standing there.

"Wow," said Hagrid emotionally, "Have yer all come ter support me?"

"Yes, we have," exclaimed Harry loyally, "And we have also come to convince you to resume your teaching post."

"We know Rita Skeeter's writing is hot garbage and she goes out of her way to make trouble for the sake of sensationalism," snarled Ginny bitterly.

"Not for much longer," said Susan in a satisfied voice, "Hermione recently discovered the Rita Skeeter is an unregistered animagus that takes the form of a beetle. I have informed my Aunt Amelia about Rita Skeeter's illegal beetle form as well as her illegal presence on the Hogwarts campus after Dumbledore banned her from Hogwarts. Rita won't know what's hit her when Aunt Amelia gets a load of her."

"So," said Hagrid in surprise, "She's overheard things in her beetle form? Is that where she's getting her stuff from?"

"In some cases, she is, " confirmed Neville, "But there's also something more sinister here: Rita Skeeter has been receiving interviews in her beetle form from the bad Slytherins, especially Draco Malfoy."

"I'm grateful not to be in the same year or house as Draco," piped up Luna bluntly.

"Amelia will give Rita her comeuppance," said Hagrid confidently, "She was always one of the most fair minded people at the ministry."

Susan smiled.

"By the way, Hagrid," said Lily matter of factly, "Draco himself is entirely responsible for Buckbeak attacking him. You clearly warned us not to insult hippogriffs and it's Draco's own fault that he wasn't paying attention and called Buckbeak that offensive "U" word."

"Thanks, Lily," said Hagrid gratefully, "I've noticed that yeh and yer friends never interact with Draco or his friends."

"Believe me, there are plenty of Slytherins who are on the receiving end of his bullying," said Tracey crisply, "And he gets away with it because Snape refuses to punish or discipline him. Draco is his favorite student. He's even warned us in the Slytherin Common Room to leave Draco alone and let him do what he wants."

"Snape is a Hogwarts teacher, he would do no such thing," said Hagrid stubbornly, adhering to his policy of not criticizing Hogwarts teacher expect for Lockhart in second year, who he had easily seen through as a self-absorbed fraud.

"I am almost certain that Lucius was paying members of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures large amounts of gold in exchange for voting Buckbeak guilty, including on the appeal," rued Cedric, "Dad has never liked Lucius. He's always suspected that Lucius has used money to buy influence."

"Part of the problem," explained Daphne, "Is that Lucius donates to charities to make himself look better and that gets him in Fudge's good graces."

"And there's no way anyone can get a bite off a flobberworm, " reasoned Fleur logically, "They haven't even got teeth!"

"People can turn out okay even if their families weren't," offered Viktor, "It comes down to what do you choose to make of your life."

"If you-" began Fred.

"Were to be fired-"continued George.

"Or removed."

"Plenty of parents-"

"And students-"

"Would have."

"Plenty to say."

"About it."

"Including all of us," added Lee.

"Not everyone," said Hagrid sadly, "Not all parents and students want me ter stay."

"If you are holding for a 100% approval rate then you will be stuck in here forever," piped up Luna, displaying her knack for speaking uncomfortable truths."

"We want you back, Hagrid," said Harry in a fierce, loyal voice, "We miss you and you owe to yourself not to let that Skeeter cow get to you."

A few tears strode down Hagrid's face.

"Yer're right," said Hagrid softly, "Yer're all right. I've been bein stupid."

"So," said Harry clearly, "We expect to see you back at our next Care of Magical Creatures lesson on Monday.'

"I will be," promised Hagrid.

"I gathered up a team of friends and supporters to come with me to convince you to come back because you're a great friend and I miss you and because you deserve better than Rita Skeeter ruining your life," Harry told Hagrid.

"You are sweet and kind, Harry Potter," cooed Lily.

"Yes, he is," smiled Hagrid, "Thank yeh, Harry, I look forward ter seeing you in my next lesson on Monday."

"I'm looking forward to that class too," returned Harry happily.

A shout out to the following members who have added Harry Potter and the Champions Closer Ties to their favorites and/or follows lists since the last update:

4597boss

Alzei

CarterOniell

clawr495

Dalton King

dtlwheels

dwyermolly49

gochamaramat

jonesiia

jorgejonathanrs

LadyPhoenix68

lupin512

seantrem74

sweetkitty

Tadachi mukusoki

tamarabvillar

TolkienSnickersEsther

TReXD

twaptwap72

YANDRACK

Zeroske

Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all -Michael :)