INCEPTION.

Chapter Fourteen - Sirius Black.

June 6th, 1994

The long-awaited day came where we finally finished all of our exams.

Hermione and I were taking turns massaging each other's temples.

My head was on her lap as she rubbed my scalp.

Harry was sitting in the armchair next to us, polishing his Firebolt to destress when Ron came in looking dejected.

"Buckbeak lost," said Ron weakly. "Hagrid just sent this."

I sat up and reached to grab the note from Ron.

Harry moved to sit by my side to read over my shoulder.

Lost appeal. They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down.

I don't want you to see it.

- Hagrid

"Shit... I should've said something to Malfoy when I had the chance" I muttered solemnly.

I haven't talked to Draco since that weird night at the Courtyard but I've seen him around in the hallways and at the Great Hall during breakfast, lunch, and dinnertimes.

There were plenty of opportunities to approach him and convince him to tell his father to drop the case.

I felt guilty at the thought that the outcome might've been different if I did.

"And what good would that would've done? He wouldn't have listened to you. Besides, you said more than enough that day that he bad-mouthed Hagrid. You were bloody brilliant." Ron said to me reassuringly, looking at me as if I were the most impressive thing he's ever seen.

This only made me feel even more guilty because I never told any of my friends about my bonding moment with Draco Malfoy.

"We've got to visit him," said Harry, "He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"

We agreed that we'd visit Hagrid at sundown, which was in an hour.

Once the sun was low in the skies, we put Harry's Invisibility Cloak over us and walked to his cabin.

"It's us," Harry hissed when Hagrid opened his door "We're wearing the cloak. Let us in."

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid complained, but he stood back anyways, and we stepped inside.

Hagrid shut the door hastily and Harry pulled off the cloak.

I immediately walked over towards Hagrid's tiny kitchen, taking the boiling kettle and started making tea.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" asked Hermione hesitantly.

"I— I took him outside, he's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' smell fresh air before..."

I rushed towards Hagrid with a huge mug that was filled to the brim with tea before he started sobbing again.

He gave me a tearful smile and started taking big gulps.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore—"

"He's tried," interrupted Hagrid. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared... Yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like... threatened 'em, I expect... an' the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's... but it'll be quick an' clean... an' I'll be beside him..."