People Watching.

Chapter Twenty-Six.

After (Y/n) got Neville the news of the preordered plant and got her bowtruckles to her plants and her flytrap into her room, Hermione and (Y/n) rushed around the castle in search of Harry and Ron. Eventually, they reached the corridor where the security trolls were pacing. Harry could instantly tell they knew what happened. He grew anxious— had Hermione told Professor McGonagall?

"Come to have a good gloat?" said Ron savagely as they stopped in front of the boys. "Or have you just been to tell on us?"

"No," said Hermione. She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was trembling. "I just thought you ought to know... Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed. He— he sent me this," she said, holding out the letter.
Harry took the damp parchment and slowly read it, finding it difficult with the large teardrops.

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

"Malfoy's 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 will have changed."

"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work this time, Hermione and (Y/n). I'll help."

"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 her head. (Y/n) and Harry smirked at each other. 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 him go. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl."

"Or you can have one of our cats," (Y/n) said. "We see you a lot anyways. I don't think it'd make much of a difference."

"...I can't say I'm ready for a cat," Ron stammered. 

"Good. I'm not too fond of giving one up," (Y/n) said. Harry snickered.

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for either of the four to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. They had finally found a time in which they would all be present (during the trio's Magical Creatures lessons and during (Y/n)'s free hour).
Hagrid 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 looked up fer me, girls. 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 said 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 Draco, 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 Committee's 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 buried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"
Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.
"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Draco. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Harry and Ron both 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, Ron, Crabbe, and Coyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. (Y/n) hyped her up.