Granted, the path to this point had been long and hard, as in order to get through the prejudice against him, the Headmaster needed to have to present a very good case. Hagrid was moved at how many troubles the Headmaster went through to do so. That he went through all this trouble, despite the fact he could just have chosen a different successor for Kettleburn, was still somewhat baffling to Hagrid.
The biggest surprise perhaps was the third... person involved with this trial.
Hagrid did not know all the details, but somehow Moaning Myrtle wasn't moaning so much anymore and her attitude had improved a lot. Somehow, the Headmaster had convinced her to speak on his behalf and explain exactly what happened the day she died over 40 years ago. She also looked different - somehow she managed to exchange her spectral school robes for a spectral version of the new uniform that got introduced. Hagrid didn't even want to think about the mechanics behind that.
Nevertheless, it must have been quite a chore for the Headmaster to get them to lift Myrtle's restrictions temporarily so that she could attend the trial as a witness. After all, no one had said that a witness needed to be alive.
The trial itself had been very interesting.
He'd left most of the talking as agreed to Dumbledore, since the man clearly knew what he was doing. Even during the trial there had been lots of opposition to re-open what many saw as already ancient history, not to speak of the underlying racism involved. However, the Headmaster had proven to be very level-headed and made the argument that this can hardly be seen as irrelevant, if two of the people most affected where present.
Of course many had then expected him to use emotional appeals, since many knew of his connection to the Hogwarts gamekeeper. However, they couldn't have been more wrong. Dumbledore had instead first laid bare that essentially Hagrid being blamed for everything had solely being on the word of one student without any evidence at all. It was thus pretty obvious Headmaster Dippet had simply waited for someone to blame the whole mess on.
That had been followed with actual evidence from their own side, that it couldn't have been Hagrid.
First had been a memory from Hagrid that showed everyone what exactly he had bred in the form of Aragog, as well as confirmation from an expert that not only would death by an Acromantula would have meant death by violence - while Myrtle's body had been spotless - but also that Aragog at that time had been way too small to be of any danger to people, not to speak that his venom wouldn't have developed for a whole year. Aragog simply couldn't have killed Myrtle.
Of course some had argued that breeding a dangerous creature was proof enough - even though they fell under no ban - but that was when Hagrid under voluntary use of truth serum admitted that while Aragog indeed had become a good friend, the Acromantula growing bigger had become a problem and he had planned to ask for the help of a professor, before things had gotten out of control.
Myrtle's description of her death finally did it, as she described a rather high-pitched male voice in the bathroom, and that the teenage boy certainly had not been Hagrid, before describing the yellow eyes that caused her to die instantly. She also confirmed when being presented with another memory from Hagrid, that the boy she had seen indeed had been Tom Marvolo Riddle.
The revelation from an expert that it all points to a basilisk being the cause of death had caused unrest, which only grew when the Headmaster revealed that only a snake-speaker could control one, and that Tom Riddle actually was the legal name of Lord Voldemort. By the end there had been no other choice than to clear Hagrid of all charges and return the right of wand to him.
"I still can't believe it's over..." Hagrid said while people started to leave.
"Well, Rubeus, it certainly had been an uphill battle, but now that injustice is finally over and nothing stands in the way of your dream," Dumbledore reassured the big man.
Hagrid liked hearing that, then sighed. "Well, apart from several years of training from Kettleburn and catching up on schoolwork."
"No one said the path to success is easy, yet if you prevail, you will be very prepared." Dumbledore then saw something. "Interesting."
Both men watched Myrtle talking to a witch who they guessed was in her late fifties. Hagrid had no idea who it could be, while Dumbledore made the connection. It seemed that the Grey Lady had done wonders with Myrtle, as the ghost girl's body language spoke of shame and regret. It took several minutes, before the witch gave Myrtle a final nod and walked over to the Ministry officials.
"What was that about?" Hagrid asked while Myrtle waited for the witch to return.
"That's Olive Hornby, the woman that bullied Myrtle during their time in school and in return was tormented by Myrtle after her demise until making the Ministry restrict her to Hogwarts. For Mytrle to be able to attend, her presence was needed as well," Dumbledore explained.
Both men watched Hornby return to Myrtle after a few minutes and after some exchanged words, they parted ways, Myrtle floating to them.
"She did not exactly forgive me... Though she did believe me enough that I won't bother her to tell the Ministry to not renew my banishment." Myrtle hadn't had any illusions that she would be forgiven and it already was a success that her banishment had been lifted.
"The Grey Lady did a small wonder..." Hagrid remarked.
"I still have much to learn from her and I can never repay her enough for her help. Still, I'm off to Hogwarts, exploring the castle while it's still empty." She then whisked away.
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