𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 ;𝐑.𝐖𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐥𝐞𝐲

"I still say good riddance to the dragon."

Harry was silent all through dinner and quietly snuck back to his dorm when they reached the common room. Ron made a move to follow his best friend, but Rachelle stopped him.

"At least give him the choice of pretending to sleep." She said quietly.

And when Ron tried to go back to his room again, Rachelle made no move to stop him. He eventually came back down, reporting that Harry was lying still on his bed.

Hermione insisted they come up with something to say to him the next morning, and the three got to work, trying to find words to convince Harry to not go after Black on his own.

Secretly Rachelle knew that no matter what they said the hatred that Harry must have would overpower their words, but Hermione was so determined to at least try Rachelle didn't have the heart to tell her that it wouldn't work.

They decided to leave Rachelle out of the rehearsed lines since she was useless at these types of things. Her personality would more likely encourage him than do the opposite, and they knew it. Even Harry wasn't stupid enough to know that Rachelle wouldn't say the lines on her own accord.

So the next day, she went to visit Hagrid instead of waiting around with them for Harry to wake up.

She saw him sobbing at his kitchen table through the window, and suddenly wished that she had stayed with her friends instead. But Hagrid would probably see her walk away and then she'd seem like a bad friend, so she sucked in a breath and marched up to the door.

"Hagrid? Are you alright? What happened?" She knocked on the heavy door for good measure. It took several long seconds for the door to open, and when it did Hagrid appeared, his eyes red and puffy, his nose running.

A official looking envelope sat on the kitchen table and Hagrid pointed to it wordlessly.

Dear Mr Hagrid,
Further to our inquiry into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.

However, we must register our concern about the Hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.

Yours in fellowship...

And there followed a list of government officials. "I-I'm sure it'll be fine, Hagrid. Me and Harry and Ron and Hermione, we'll be witnesses. We'll tell them that that git Malfoy wasn't listening and that you told us not to insult him. They'll understand." Rachelle soothed, awkwardly patting his back.

"Its no good. Ministry's wrapped around Lucius Malfoy's pinkie." Hagrid said dejectedly, leaving the girl at a loss of what to say or do.
So she continued patting Hagrid's huge shoulder.

"Hagrid!" came a voice from outside the door, and someone thumped at the wooden door.
Rachelle recognized it as Harry and she sincerely hoped they would know what to do or say to the huge man. "Hagrid, are you in there?"

She extracted herself away from Hagrid and opened the door, her expression screaming for her friends to help her. They stared back confusedly. Pursing her lips, she motioned for them to enter and nodded at the envelope still sitting on the table.

They entered to reveal a sobbing Hagrid.

"Hagrid, what is it?" said Hermione, aghast.
Rachelle rolled her eyes and points to the envelope.