Chapter 1:
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"Come in." said Hermione, not looking up from the paperwork she was currently reviewing.
The door to her office was opened slightly ajar before Harry Potter's head poked inside. "You wanted to see me, Headmistress?"
Hermione's attention lifted from the paper to Harry. "Yes, Professor Potter, please come in and shut the door behind you."
Harry did as he was told and stood in front of her desk. The two looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"Blimey, it's weird to hear you call me 'professor'." said Harry.
"Not as weird as you calling me 'Headmistress'." retorted Hermione.
Less than a year ago, at the end of term, Hermione had gotten the news of her promotion when Professor McGonagall had come to her Charms classroom one afternoon and told her that she had plans to retire. She then told Hermione that she could think of no one better to replace her. That summer, having found the school without a Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, yet again, Hermione begged Harry to join the staff.
There was no fear in the position any longer, however, the previous DADA teacher had lasted a long and fruitful ten years before deciding to retire, having been an Auror before teaching at the ancient school.
Harry had been playing Quidditch professionally for a few years before it resulted in a nasty fall, and although making a full recovery, he had decided to quit and pursue a different passion. Therefore, he had accepted the position without much persuasion.
"Well," started Harry, taking a seat across from Hermione. "I couldn't imagine you anywhere else. Even with everything you do here, you still manage to write up new legislation for rights for magical creatures." He shook his head, smiling. "You're a woman of many talents, Miss Granger. You'll make some man very happy one of these days." I just wish it were me. He finished in his mind.
Yes, for the last few years, Harry had come to the startling (to no one else but himself) conclusion that he harbored secret feelings for his best friend of sixteen years. To him, she was the whole package: Smart, beautiful, vivacious. However, The Man Who Conquered, the Defeater of the Dark Lord, Champion of the Triwizard Tournament, could not pluck up the old Gryffindor courage to ask her out. He could not explain why. Maybe it was because he was afraid it would ruin their friendship if they ever broke up. Maybe it was the fear that she would reject him. He could not be sure.
Hermione rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Anyway, Harry, I did have something I wanted to discuss with you. I just received an owl from the Ministry of Magic."
"About?" asked Harry. He thought it was so cute the way she ignored his compliments, wanting to get straight to business. It was so Hermione-like.
"Well," she started, rummaging with some papers on her desk in search of something. "A few weeks ago I was thinking. (What else is new? thought Harry, smiling to himself.) With all of my work with the ministry, there was one person that I thought could really benefit from my, that is to say, our help here at Hogwarts." She found the paper she had been looking for and looked back up at Harry. "I had written to Kingsley, and he just responded today. I think you might take a special interest in this letter."
Harry raised his eyebrow in curiousity. Hermione handed him the letter and he took it from her, his eyes lingering on her wide smile before finally turning his attention to the letter.
As his eyes dashed across the paper, Hermione watched as his expression changed from curiousity to utter bewilderment.
"Hermione," he said, looking back at her once he had finished reading. "Seriously? This is fantastic! Do you think he'll accept, though?"
Harry's excitement was contagious. "I certainly hope so. He deserves it, don't you agree?"
"Absolutely! Bloody brilliant!" said Harry.
He tried to hand the letter back to Hermione but she held out a hand to stop him and shook her head. "No, Harry. I want you to give that to him. I think it's only fitting, don't you?" Harry felt a lump in his throat starting to form. Unable to speak, he merely nodded. She stood up from her chair and offered him her hand. "Are you ready to go?"
Harry nodded again and they were off.
"'Lo, you two. Was wonderin' when you'd come an' see me." said Hagrid, ushering them into his hut.
Harry and Hermione walked inside and took a seat, scratching Fang's ears while Hagrid fixed them some tea.
"How have you been, Hagrid?" asked Hermione. "How is retirement treating you?"
After the war, Hagrid realized that he was getting a bit on in years and his body, while still very strong and able, was getting weaker. Two years after Voldemort's defeat, he decided to retire from his position as Gamekeeper and Care of Magical Creature teacher. The position of COMC teacher, going instead to Luna Lovegood and her husband Rolf Scamander and Gamekeeper to his younger brother, Grawp.
Months later, he decided that he wanted to move closer to the village of Hogsmeade so with Harry and Hermione's help, they were able to reconstruct the Shrieking Shack into a larger home suitable for him. It was bigger than his hut but still had some of it's rustic charms. Magical items from the creatures he had taken care of still hanging from the ceiling and draped over various chairs.
"Doin' great, Hermione." he said beaming at them as he sat down. "But 'ow 'ave you two been? Ready fer the new term?"
Harry and Hermione shared a look and tried to suppress their grins. Harry was the one to start. "Yes, I think we are fairly prepared for it only being early July."
"An' how's the creature laws coming, Hermione?" asked Hagrid, nodding his approval.
"Well, I have a lot of meetings to still present my ideas for legislation." she said, and her voice sounded slightly nervous and tired. Harry made a mental note to ask about this later. "But I'm confident I've made a good case for some new and improved werewolf laws."
"Tha's great! I'm really proud of ya! Both of ya!"
"Thanks, Hagrid!" they both said.
"But Hagrid, there is something we wanted to discuss with you." said Harry, barely able to contain his excitement. Hagrid waited expectantly and he continued. "Well, Hermione got an interesting letter from the Ministry of Magic and...well..." Harry handed the letter to Hagrid who took it looking bemused.
Hagrid looked down to read:
Dear Mr. Hagrid,
It is with great pleasure that we clear you of all charges that led to your expulsion from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
As an apology, we would like to offer you a place back at the school to finish your education.
If you chose to accept this offer, we have enclosed a list of items that you will need to start your third year at Hogwarts. We are eager to hear from you with your response and, again, offer our sincerest apologies.
Yours truly,
Kingsley Shackelbolt
Minister of Magic
Order of Merlin, First Class
Hagrid looked up in disbelief, tears starting to well up in his beetle black eyes. "Go back to 'ogwarts? As a student?"
Hermione was crying when she said, also with a smile. "Well, Hagrid, what do you say?"
After several minutes of Hagrid gaining back composure, he looked up, the tears now streaming into his beard. "I don't know what to say."
"C'mon, Hagrid," said Harry, leaning forward. "'We best get going. Lots to buy.'" Hagrid laughed as Harry threw his words back at him from when he was eleven.
AN: This is a plot that I have been thinking about for awhile now. I've wanted Hagrid to go back to Hogwarts since I saw a drawing of it happening a few years ago. Ultimately this will be a Harry and Hermione fic with a background of Hagrid. What do you guys think? Should I continue?