I will always find you

POA 13

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ella, Ron 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 looked up fer me, 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 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 Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively.

"'S'no good, Ron" Hagrid said 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 round and hurried back towards 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. "Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" Malfoy said. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!" Harry, Ella and Ron all made furious moves towards Malfoy, but Hermione got there first - SMACK! She had slapped Malfoy around the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ella, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul - you evil"

"Hermione!" Ron said weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.

"Get off, Ron!" Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backwards. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.

"C'mon" Malfoy muttered, and next moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.

"Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.

"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch Final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin win!"

"We're due in Charms" Ron said, still goggling at Hermione. "We'd better go." They hurried up the marble staircase towards Professor Flitwick's classroom.

"You're late, guys!" Professor Flitwick said reprovingly, as Harry opened the classroom door. "Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today. We've already divided into pairs" Harry, Ella and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags. Ron looked behind him.

"Where's Hermione gone?" Ella and Harry looked around, too. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, yet she had been right next to Harry when he had opened the door.

"That's weird" Harry said, staring at Ella and Ron. "Maybe - maybe she went to the bathroom or something?" But Hermione didn't turn up all lesson.

"She could've done with a Cheering Charm on her, too" Ron said, as the class left for lunch, all grinning broadly, the Cheering Charms had left them with a feeling of great contentment. Hermione wasn't at lunch either. By the time they had finished their apple pie, the after-effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off, and Harry and Ron had started to get slightly worried. "You don't think Malfoy did something to her?" Ron said anxiously, as they hurried upstairs towards Gryffindor Tower. They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password ('Flibbertigibbet') and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room. Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. They went to sit down either side of her. Harry prodded her awake.