𝑵𝑰𝑲𝑶𝑳𝑨 𝑷𝑶𝑻𝑻𝑬𝑹 ⭑ 𝑫𝑹𝑨𝑪𝑶 𝑴𝑨𝑳𝑭𝑶𝒀

SEVEN: Sirius Black

It had been a few days and Draco still was avoiding me. I didn't even understand why, as he said I wouldn't. It felt weird not just having him there. There was still nothing new about Sirius and I could tell it was bothering Harry. Weirdly, he wanted to be found.

We were heading down to Hagrid's when we saw a frail, cloaked man sharpening an execution blade. I flinched at the sight of it, it was utterly disgusting to me that someone was actually okay doing that.

"I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak, It's too horrible," Hermione groaned as she caught sight of the man.

"It was Lucius's doing, did you expect any better from a Malfoy?" I muttered, causing all their eyes to turn to me. "What?"

"What happened? Thought you were getting chummy with the lad," Ron asked, frowning at me. I hadn't told them anything that went on between me and Draco, I saved that to rant to Daphne about in our dorms at night. I didn't think bothering them about my boy problems, especially when my own brother and his friends hate his guts. It wasn't something I was ready to admit yet.

"They're all selfish, nothing will make me forget that," I told them, refusing to meet their staring eyes. We headed down to Hagrid's hut and on the way down we saw Draco, Blaise and Goyle watching from one of the hills. "Speak of the devil," I mumbled, as he turned to us, though he didn't seem to notice me stood behind Harry.

"Ah, come to see the show?" he mocked, holding his arms out dramatically. That did it for me. The lingering silence between us turned into a fiery anger in the pit of my chest. I barged past Harry and I saw his face drop. I stormed towards him and threw my fist at his nose. He let out a groan and stared at me holding the place I punched, frowning.

"You're a foul git," I spat at him, before they turned away and headed back up to the castle. I turned to the others, their eyes wide in shock.

"Was there a reason?" Harry asked, clearly okay if the answer would have been no.

"A whole list," I whispered, glancing at Hermione who grinned at me satisfied.

"That was brilliant," Ron laughed.

When we got to Hagrid's hut, we could tell by his subtle trembling that this whole thing bothered him terribly.

"What don't we just set him free?" I said, and Hagrid gave a sigh.

"I thought about it, but they'd know it were me, and that would get Dumbledore in terrible trouble," he sulked, sipping his tea with a shaky hand. "Coming down to be with me you know, Dumbledore is. Says he wants to be with me when it happens. Good man, Dumbledore."

"We'll stay too Hagrid," Hermione offered. He frowned at her sternly.

"You will not! Don't want you seeing a thing like that," he said. "You'll drink your tea and be off. But before you go, Ron.." Hagrid reached behind him and turned to hand his rat over.

"Scabbers!" he exclaimed, reaching for the rat.

"Think you owe somebody an apology," Hermione snapped, watching him grin down at Scabbers.

"Right.. Next time I see Crookshangs I'll tell her," he snapped back, and her face folded into a frown. They began arguing again and me and Harry shared an exhausted glare.

"Ow!" Harry flinched, breaking our glare. I frowned at him as he rubbed the back of his head. We turn to the window to see Cornelius Fudge and Dumbledore approaching the hut.

"You four better go, it's almost dark. Anyone sees you outside the castle you'll be in trouble, especially you two," Hagrid stated, gesturing towards me and Harry. We nodded at him and started heading to the backdoor as the front was getting knocked on. I gave Hagrid one more reassuring glance before following Harry out of the cabin.