I will always find you

GOF 18

Harry returned to Gryffindor Tower the following evening where Ella, Hermione and Ron all told him that Dumbledore had spoken to the school that morning at breakfast and had merely requested
that they leave Harry alone, that nobody ask him questions or badger him to tell the story of what had happened in the maze. Most people, they noticed, were skirting him in the corridors, avoiding his eyes. Some whispered behind their hands as he passed. Perhaps they were formulating their own theories about how Cedric had died.

“She went to ask him if you could come straight to us this summer,” Ron told Harry as they all sat together one afternoon “But he wants you to go back to the Dursleys, at least at first.”

“Why?” Harry asked.

“She said Dumbledore’s got his reasons,” Ron said, shaking his head darkly. “I suppose we’ve got to trust him, haven’t we?”

The only person apart from Ella, Ron and Hermione that Harry felt able to talk to was Hagrid. As there was no longer a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, they had those lessons free. They used the one on Thursday afternoon to go down and visit Hagrid in his cabin. It was a bright and  sunny day; Fang bounded out of the open door as they approached, barking and wagging his tail madly.

“Who’s that?” called Hagrid, coming to the door. “Harry!” He strode out to meet them, pulled Harry into a one-armed hug, ruffled his hair, and said, “Good ter see yeh, mate. Good ter see yeh.” They saw two bucket-size cups and saucers on the wooden table in front of the fireplace when they entered Hagrid’s cabin. “Bin havin’ a cuppa with Olympe,” Hagrid said. “She’s jus’ left.”

“Who?” Ron said curiously.

“Madame Maxime, o’ course!" Hagrid said.

“You two made up, have you?” Ron said.

“Dunno what yeh’re talkin’ about,” Hagrid said airily, fetching more cups from the dresser. When he had made tea and offered around a plate of doughy cookies, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed Harry closely through his beetle-black eyes. “You all righ’?” he said gruffly

“Yeah,” Harry answered him.

“No, yeh’re not. Course yeh’re not. But yeh will be.” Harry said nothing. “Knew he was goin’ ter come back,” Hagrid said making Ella, Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up at him, shocked. “Known it fer years Harry. Knew he was out there, bidin’ his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an’ we’ll jus’ have ter get on with it. We’ll fight. Migh’ be able ter stop him before he gets a good hold. That’s Dumbledores plan, anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. ‘S long as we’ve got him, I’m not too worried.” Hagrid raised his bushy eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on their faces. “No good sittin’ worryin’ abou’ it,” he said. “What’s comin’ will come, an we’ll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha’ you did. Harry.”
Hagrid’s chest swelled as he looked at Harry. “Yeh did as much as yer father would’ve done, an’ I can’ give yeh no higher praise than that.” Harry smiled back at him. It was the first time he’d smiled in days.

“What’s Dumbledore asked you to do, Hagrid?” he asked. “He sent Professor McGonagall to ask you and Madame Maxime to meet him - that night.”

“Got a little job fer me over the summer,” Hagrid said. “Secret, though. I’m not s’pposed ter talk abou’ it, no, not even ter you lot. Olympe - Madame Maxime ter you - might be comin’ with me. I think she will. Think I got her persuaded.”

“Is it to do with Voldemort?” Hagrid flinched at the sound of the name.

“Migh’ be,” he said evasively. “Now… who’d like ter come an’ visit the las’ skrewt with me? I was jokin’ - jokin’!” he added hastily, seeing the looks on their faces.