Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. Halfblood heroes (Book 3)

Chapter 10

He — he sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter. Harry took it and read it.

"They can't do this," said Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it," said Hermione, wiping her eyes. Percy wrapped an arm around her shoulder "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope. . . . Nothing will have changed."

"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help."

"Oh so now you'll speak with her," Percy commented. Ron blushed and looked down embarrassed.

"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers . . . ," she sobbed.

"Oh — well — he was old," said Ron "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Percy, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons. Percy instead sacrificed all his Hogsmeade weekends and visited Hagrid and Buckbeak. Buckbeak seemed to have no clue that he was going to be executed.

"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They were all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em. . . ."

"There's still the appeal!" said Ron fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle and kept looking back, laughing derisively.

"S'no good, Ron," said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. "That Committees in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that. . . ."

Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, hisface buried in his handkerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy."And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

They made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first — SMACK!

She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Percy, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul — you evil —"

"Hermione!" said Percy weakly, and he tried to grab her hands she swung it back.

"Get off, Percy!"

Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backwards. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered."C'mon," Malfoy muttered,

"Harry, Percy you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!"Hermione saidd shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherinwins!"

And then, they went to classes. When he came back to his dorm, it seems that Hermione had missed a charms class. Which sounded ridiculous. Then, later on, she dropped divination and when he asked why she said something about the grim.