Scattered

Hermione skipped lightly down the steps to the courtyard, swinging the hand that was clasping Ron's. "Come on, slowpoke," she said when he started to trail behind. "We're supposed to be at Hagrid's by now already." They were on their way to pay their very first visit to Hagrid's new home, a hut he'd spent the last few weeks constructing (with some magical help from Bill and Charlie) just a short ways from the castle and near the edge of the island's small forest. Hermione had been pleased and excited about the idea and couldn't wait to see it; it seemed just right, somehow, that Hagrid should have a place of his own, as he did at Hogwarts.

"Wait," Ron murmured, though, coming to a stop at the base of the steps and tugging her along with him.

"Why?" she asked, puzzled.

He frowned and jerked his chin at something ahead, simultaneously pulling her up against him. Confused, she turned, and understanding dawned.

Across the courtyard, Harry and Ginny were walking together, their heads down, Harry's hands in his pockets and Ginny's arms crossed. As they watched, the pair stopped and Harry said something to her; Ginny didn't reply but raised one small hand to wipe at her eyes.

"Oh," Hermione said softly, and sat. Ron settled on the step above her and pulled her back against his chest. She sighed. "I've been wondering when this was going to happen."

Ron sighed as well. "I don't know why Ginny got her hopes up," he said. "Nothing's changed since last year. Well, everything's changed, but not that."

Hermione shook her head. "I don't think she did, entirely." She paused, unsure, and turned so that she could see his face. "I think she understands. It's still hard, though."

"They're different from us, you know," Ron said. "It's not the same for them."

"I know."

Harry and Ginny stood together a few moments more and then Ginny turned away without another word, heading down the path that led to the beach. They saw Harry watch her go, the wind blowing his dark, untidy hair back from his face, his expression betraying nothing. After she was gone, he turned and walked towards them, sitting down a few steps below Hermione.

"Harry," she said softly. Ron gripped her shoulder in warning, but she swatted him away. "Harry, do you still want to go see Hagrid?" she asked simply.

He stood and smiled at her, holding out his hand to help her up. "Yes."

She tucked her hand around his arm and they walked companionably across the field, Ron just a step behind. "Hagrid's not the only one moving out, you know," he told them. "Dad says that Kingsley and his family are going to set up in one of the empty houses just west of Hamish's place." He frowned. "Not sure why, really."

"I think he and Emma want to try to create as much of a normal life for Christopher as they can," Hermione said. "A house of his own, a backyard, that kind of thing."

Ron snorted. "The whole island's his backyard. I don't know, I think it's barmy. They were alone for months, now they want to go off and be alone again?"

Harry shrugged. "It's not like they'll be far."

"I'm sure Emma will still bring Christopher up to see us," Hermione said, guessing at Ron's real reason for disliking the Shacklebolts' move. "And you can still teach him how to play Quidditch whenever you like."

"I suppose," Ron grumbled, and she hid a smile. "Someone's got to, after all."

"Luna and her father are moving out of the castle, as well. She told me at Ron's birthday party last week," Harry added. "Mr. Lovegood has this whole expedition planned, he's going to scour the island and turn up all kinds of long-lost beasts and formerly unsighted creatures. Didn't have the heart to tell him Hagrid's already been over the lot, in just the past few days or so, and didn't find much of anything."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but Ron laughed. "I bet Lovegood would go anyhow even if you did. Hey, maybe pretty soon he'll start publishing the Island Quibbler. Wouldn't that be fun?"

"Hardly enough goes on around here to fill a whole newspaper, even a short one," Hermione scoffed.

Ron and Harry grinned at each other. "Oh, I don't know about that," Ron said. "I was thinking of maybe an article about how reading too much can cause permanent shingles, or how new studies show that children learn faster if they're never assigned any homework."

"That's nonsense."

"And, plenty of personal gossip to share too, after all," he said somewhat suggestively. "I could write an entire column myself right now, sort of an advice thing, listing all the best places to--"

"Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up," Harry chanted loudly, looking at the sky and laughing. "Not hearing you!"

"Come on, Harry--"

"Shut up, shut up... seriously, Ron, the price you pay for shacking up with my other best mate is that you don't get to talk about it," Harry said, shaking his head.

"It's not like I was being descriptive," Ron argued.

"I'm standing right here, you know," Hermione pointed out. "And I believe I made it clear there's to be no talking about 'it' to anyone at all."

Ron laughed. "Harry's not just 'anyone'."

"There was a time I could have told stories, too, and didn't," Harry reminded him tiredly.

Hermione frowned and shot Ron a scathing look. She knew Harry didn't want to dwell on such things right now, and Ron never seemed to know when to stop. I love him, but this is one of those times I want to wring his neck.

"Sorry, mate," Ron said, clearly abashed.

Harry took a deep breath and sighed. "It's okay." He smiled at them. "You know I'm happy for you both. But seriously, I don't want details."

They'd crossed the field by this time, and, coming up to the crest of a low-sloping field, each of them gasped at the small hut revealed below.

"Blimey," Ron said wonderingly. "It's like he picked it up and moved it here all in one piece."

"He can't have, though," Harry said, his brows furrowed.

The new hut was rather amazing. Ron was fairly accurate when he described it as looking as if it had simply been moved from Hogwarts to Liath Cuan, for everything was the same. Same windows, same door, same roof, some color, same shape.

Hermione shook her head. "No. But Bill and Charlie have been working all week to make Hagrid's hut look as close to the original as possible. Hagrid said he wanted a 'piece of home' here in this new place," she added, smiling. "Let's go tell him how terrific it looks." She stepped forward and led the way to the front door, rapping soundly on the heavy oak. "Hagrid!" she yelled.

The door swung open almost immediately, revealing their friend, beaming with pride. "'Bout time you lot got here," Hagrid said, but his wide smile belied his words. He stepped back, gesturing for them to enter. "So, come on in! What d'you think of the place?" he asked proudly.

Hermione reached up and gave him a quick hug as she passed. She still felt a brief flare of elation every time she saw Hagrid here on the island. There was simply something so reassuring about having him there, something that made Liath Cuan more familiar and comforting than it had been before. Ron and the Weasleys and Harry made everything feel like home, but Hagrid made her feel that special kind of joy she'd experienced every moment she'd spent at Hogwarts. Deep down, she knew, there was still a part of her that hadn't completely resigned to never seeing the school again. But having Hagrid back made it just a little bit easier.

Inside, the hut seemed slightly unfamiliar for the first time; Hagrid simply hadn't had the time, yet, to hang strange furs from pegs on the walls, or start hatching new creatures in the hearth. She smiled, knowing it surely wouldn't take him long to change that.

"It's wonderful, Hagrid," she said warmly, and then frowned as she saw Ron poking into a trunk over in the corner. "Ron, don't be rude!"

"That's alrigh'," Hagrid said genially, though he tossed a heavy blanket over the trunk and gestured for them to follow him out the backdoor. Hmpf, she thought with an amused glance at the mysterious trunk. Really won't take him long at all.

"Honestly, Ron," she said, though, and Harry snickered. She gave him a confused look. "What?"

Harry shook his head. "I was just thinking that you'll be ninety, someday, and Ron will still be poking into things he shouldn't, or saying things he shouldn't, and you'll still be saying 'honestly, Ron' in just that tone of voice." He smiled. "I hope I'm there to see it."

"Of course you will be, mate," Ron said firmly.

Behind the hut, the ground was freshly turned. "I'll be plantin' here soon," Hagrid said. "Got the seeds ready, next week I'll get 'em in the ground."

"What are you planting, Hagrid?" Harry asked.

"Why, pumpkins, o' course." Hagrid smiled broadly, seeming eager to share a secret. "Got somethin' to show you lot, before we go on our tour of the forest."

Ron and Harry shared a suspicious grin, while Hermione tried to keep a straight face. "Something entirely... well, legal, right, Hagrid?"

"Legal according to what?" Ron asked impishly. "The rules of the Voldemort-run Ministry? Who cares!"

Hermione scowled at him. "Still..."

"Nothin' to worry about, Hermione," Hagrid reassured her, cutting off their row before it could begin. "In fact, I think you'll be glad to see this." He raised his hand to his mouth and, with two fingers, blew a sharp whistle, looking up into the sky. "Sure he'll be here in just a minute... just wait... usually he's right quick...well, maybe he was in the middle of a snack... There he is!" Hagrid shouted, and they all turned to see a winged creature flying towards them. "Good boy," he cried as it landed.

"Buckbeak!" Ron said wonderingly. "Hagrid, is it really him?"

The creature whinnied in its bird-like way, stepping away from Hagrid and moving over towards Harry.

"It is," Hagrid reassured them. As they all watched, Buckbeak nudged Harry lightly with his head and Harry solemnly reached out to stroke his feathers. "You don't think I'd leave him out there, in danger, do you?"

"But Hagrid," Harry said, "where has he been all this time? When we were looking for the horcruxes? Where was he then?"

"Well," Hagrid started, and took a deep breath. "That's a bit of a story. Let's head out, and talk on the way."

They began to walk slowly into the forest, Buckbeak foraging ahead sometimes and other times falling a bit behind. There was no need for any kind of protection, however, as the island's forest was nothing like what they'd known at Hogwarts; it wasn't dark or scary in the least, and instead seemed quite pleasant. There were great trees and lower bushes, and a nice clearing or two that would make for lovely private picnic spots. Hermione saw a great many birds and other small creatures, normal to the woods, but alas, no sign of the infamous Skreeits Mr. Lovegood has been so certain must be lurking there.

"When we left, Harry, I had to make some quick arrangements," Hagrid said. "You might remember I had a visitor that first day."

Harry nodded. "But I didn't see who it was," he said.

"And you weren't s'posed to, so that's all well and good. Things had to be very secret just then, Harry, you know that. Anyone could be listenin'." He paused and looked around a bit, and then led them around the left side of a small pond. "Watch your step there, Hermione, it's a bit squashy. Ah, I think your shoe's stuck. Come on, Ron, help her out. You're s'posed to be taking care of such things now!"

Ron snorted. "More likely it'll be the other way around, most of the time," he said, grinning as he helped her pull her shoe free.

She elbowed him and laughed.

"So, who was it, Hagrid?" Harry asked.

"Well, it was Olympe. Madame Maxine, to you all," Hagrid told them. "I needed to ask her a favor, to take Buckbeak and Fang. Had to get someone to take care of them, after all. Couldn't very well bring a beast like Beaky along when you're trying to be inconspicuous, and we all know Fang's too much of a bloody coward to be of any use. He'd have been howling like a baby, and that's the truth. Anyhow, once I got here to the island and all, your brother Charlie, Ron, he went to see Olympe -- Apparated, o' course -- and flew back here on Beaky."

Ron frowned. "Hagrid, no offense meant, and I'm happy to see Buckbeak again and all, but I suppose he could've just stayed there, couldn't he? He's not wanted for anything in France."

"Um... Charlie checked up on a few things for me while he was there," Hagrid answered vaguely.

Hermione had been thinking along the same lines as Ron, but with Hagrid's evasive answer, another piece of the puzzle occurred to her. "Hagrid, did you send Grawp to Madame Maxine as well?"

Hagrid stopped took a deep, shaky breath. "I had to do it!" he cried, wiping his eyes with his great heavy sleeve. "Had to send him away. I didn't want to, I wanted to keep him with me, but it just wasn't possible, and it wasn't safe." He took out an enormous handkerchief and blew his nose loudly. Hermione stepped up beside him and patted his arm comfortingly. "Sorry 'bout that," he said, looking embarrassed. "He's my brother, though, you know, and I feel like I hardly had him before I had to give him up."

"I'm sure it was hard, but you did the right thing," Hermione reassured him. She knew Ron and Harry certainly both thought it was for the best; though Grawp had quite improved a bit last year, and seemed devoted to Hagrid, the young giant was a handful. Admittedly, she agreed with them, but she appreciated Hagrid's sorrow at the separation as well. "You put his needs first, and that was very strong of you. I'm sure he's doing very well with Madame Maxine."

"Well, I don't trust anyone else to take care of Grawp but you lot," Hagrid said, and Hermione cringed inwardly, remembering their earlier attempts at 'taking care' of the boy. "You, and Olympe. You couldn't take him where you were going, around all those Muggles, so it had to be her."

Ron coughed, to cover a chuckle, she knew. "Absolutely, Hagrid. I'm glad that worked out, then."

"Olympe's a wonderful woman," Hagrid said, with a bit of a blush. "Knew she'd take care of him as if he were her own family. Charlie took the trip to make sure there wasn't anything they needed, and it seemed like a good time to bring Buckbeak here, while he was at it." He sighed. "Wish he coulda brought Grawpy back this time, but that'll take some doin', yet."

"What about Fang?" Harry asked.

"Oh, he's stayin' with Grawp. Takes a real shine to him, they're friends."

They spent the rest of the afternoon in the forest, happily talking about old times. Everyone's spirits seemed lighter than they had been in awhile. Hermione couldn't help thinking, again, that it was Hagrid's presence that had brought that about. Hagrid wasn't a powerful wizard, or even a fully trained wizard at all, really. He wasn't exceptionally clever. He was physically strong, it was true, but it wasn't his strength that made the difference, she decided. It was his heart. His caring, his loyalty. Hagrid was the truest man, and the most steadfast, she had ever known. He had a pure, noble heart, and he loved unconditionally. He loved Harry, and she knew he loved her, and Ron, as well. He loved his brother. And he'd loved Professor Dumbledore with all of his being. It wasn't entirely strange, really, that Hagrid inspired the same kind of emotions in her that their Headmaster always had: they were very alike, in their goodness if in nothing else.

Hermione sent up a silent, grateful prayer, not for the first time, that Hagrid had been with Harry these past few months. She still worried about Harry, even though he seemed stronger than he'd ever been before. He was focused, sure and confident, and she felt so proud of him, for all he'd accomplished, already. But she couldn't help noticing, as well, that he was quieter, more serious and driven. She was very glad that Hagrid had accompanied Harry on his long, lonely quest for the horcruxes, because she could only imagine how he would have emerged from it alone.

As twilight set in, they headed back to Hagrid's hut and went inside for some tea. They all shared a conspiratorial grin at the familiar sight of Hagrid's rock cakes, turning them down as politely as possible, as always.

"When Ron turns down food, you know it's got to be horrible," Harry said, laughing, when they left a short while later.

"Very true. Much as I love Hagrid," Hermione replied, "I'm also rather fond of Ron's teeth all intact, so I can't say I blame him."

"In the war between good looks and an empty stomach, though, I'd have put money on Ron picking the food," Harry said.

Ron chuckled good-naturedly. He slid his arm around Hermione's waist and dropped a kiss on the top of her head. "I was thinking of swinging by Hamish's and meeting up with Dad," he said. "He told me he'd be down there for a bit this afternoon."

She nodded. "That sounds nice. Harry and I will meet you back at home, then. For supper," she teased.

"Wouldn't miss it," he replied, and kissed her quickly, then turned and thumped Harry on the shoulder. "See you in a bit, mate."

"Right," Harry replied, and with a 'pop', Ron Apparated away. Harry turned and smiled at her. "Want to Apparate home?"

She shook her head. "No, it's nice out. Let's just walk."

They headed across the field, the castle's warm lights ahead of them. The island's habitual breeze was picking up a little strength and she hoped that it would be a little calmer on the morrow.

After a few moments of companionable silence, she asked, quietly, "You alright, Harry?"

He didn't respond at first and instead sighed a little, looking away. "That's the one thing about you that's changed," he said finally. "You're as smart, warm, bossy, loyal and outright wonderful as ever." She blushed, touched by his praise. "But back at school, you never would've waited all day to ask me about Ginny."

"I didn't say--"

"You didn't have to."

She sighed, unable to argue. "I didn't want to hound you about it, Harry, but I worry about you, you know."

Harry laughed. "I do know. You worry too much. I wish you wouldn't, and at the same time..." He trailed off, and looked a little embarrassed. "Well, to be honest, there's a part of me that likes that you worry. I mean, not that I cause you concern, that part I don't like. But it's nice... that there's someone who... you know... cares."

"A great many people care about you, Harry," she scolded him. "And you know that."

"Maybe. But hardly anyone as much as you and Ron do," he said, bumping his shoulder affectionately against hers.

Hermione smiled a little. "Maybe." She paused, and then stepped back to her original question. "So, are you alright?"

They had reached the castle steps by then and Harry stopped just where they'd sat that morning. He sighed and met her eyes with his own. "It's what has to be, Hermione," he told her.

"I know." She took his hands in her own. "But Harry, you're not answering the question."

"I know," he echoed in a weak joke. She rolled her eyes and finally, he nodded. "I have to be, and so I am," he said simply.

She sighed, part of her wanting to try to change his mind, to tell him how she'd learned that being with someone you love makes you stronger, not weaker; that it gives you something to live for when the world comes crashing down around you and there seems to be nothing left to hope for. She wanted to convince him, but at the same time, she couldn't deny what else she'd learned: that being in love changes you, and makes you do things you wouldn't have done otherwise. It becomes the most important thing in the world, eclipsing everything else in your life. It makes you part of someone else's life, and it makes that other person's needs and wants and fears yours. It means you are no longer alone, that you have someone else to think of, someone else to consider. Someone else to share your fate.

And that was something Harry couldn't let happen. At least, not now. Not while he had this responsibility, this task to complete, this destiny weighing on his shoulders. He couldn't be distracted, and he couldn't put anything else first.

Last year, Hermione hadn't understood his decision. She hadn't learned everything she knew now, yet, and she'd thought him stubborn and hoped to change his mind someday. Now, though, she knew that Harry was simply doing, as he said, what had to be done, and that realization made her incredibly sad. She had something in her own life that Harry couldn't allow himself, and her heart ached for him.

He took her hands in his to get her attention. "Hermione. Please, let's not dwell on this tonight. Okay?"

"Okay," she agreed, and moved forward to give him a hug.

"You're getting married tomorrow," Harry said, squeezing her back. "That's amazing, isn't it?"

"It is," she agreed, grinning. She pulled back to look up at him and felt a rush of affection. He'd come to take a place in her life she'd never known was empty, before, and become the brother she'd never had, and never known she'd needed, until now. "I love you, Harry," she said. "I hope you know that."

"Right back atcha," he whispered, and together, they headed into the castle.