𝐎𝐑𝐂𝐇𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎𝐔𝐒 || Harry J. Potter [DISCONTINUED]

Chapter 15 ✎

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul loathsome evil-looking cockroach-!"
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Third Person POV

"Buckbeak lost his case."

The four of them raced down the hall in a frantic run.

"Hagrid sent me this," Hermione quietly held out the letter. Harry took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.

Dear Hermione and Jilly,

We lost.

I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. The execution date is to be fixed.

Beaky has enjoyed London. I won't forget all the help you both gave us.

- Hagrid

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

"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it," Hermione wiped 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 will have changed."

Jilly wiped her tears as well. She didn't know what to do either, they had really tried everything. Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

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

There was a very dramatic silence, and then-

"Oh, Ron!"

Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely.

Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Jilly and Harry's eyebrows shot up in the air, and they gaped.

Finally, Hermione drew away. "Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers..."

"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."

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, Jilly, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.

He seemed numb with shock at the verdict.

"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh two looked up fer me, Jilly, 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!" Ron fiercely bounced. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

They started their walk back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead, they could see Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who 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, his face buried in his handkerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"

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

The four of their eyes flashed.