"they can't do this," said harry, "they can't. buckbeak isn't dangerous."
"malfoys dad frightened the committee into it," said hermione, wiping her eyes. "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 with 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, ron!"
hermione flung her arms around rons neck and broke down completely. ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. finally, hermione drew away.
"ron, i'm really, really sorry about scabbers . . ." she sobbed.
"oh — well — he was old," said ron, looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go of him, "and he was a bit useless. you never know, mum and dad might get me an owl now."
eliza never wanted to strangle ron more than she did now, after all the petty remarks, he'd just shrugged it off.
