Adventures of Harriet Potter

The Quidditch Final

"He — he sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter.
Harriet 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,
We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed. Beaky has enjoyed London. I won't forget all the help you gave us.
Hagrid

"They can't do this," said Harriet. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous." She was absolutely furious. "Malfoy's dad's 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." Harriet was at a loss for what to do to comfort Hermione. "Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help."
"Oh, Ron!" said Hermione as she 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. 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 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 Harriet, 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!" said Ron 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," 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 hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief. "Look at him blubber!" sneered a voice in front of them. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening. "Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!" Harriet 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. Harriet, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. "Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul — you evil —" she said, her voice seething with the same fury Harriet was containing. "Hermione!" said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back. "Get off, Ron!" she said, Ron reluctantly let go.
Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. "C'mon," Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons. "Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed. "Harriet, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!" Harriet nodded, figuring Morgana's little gift was hitting Hermione hard so agreeing to something she was already planning on doing was a safe option. "We're due in Charms," said Ron, still goggling at Hermione. "We'd better go."
They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom. "You're late, you two!" said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harriet opened the classroom door. "Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today, we've already divided into pairs —" Harriet and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags. Ron looked behind him. "Where's Hermione gone?" he said in a confused tone. Harriet looked around too. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, yet Harriet knew she had been right next to her when she had opened the door.
"That's weird," said Harriet, staring at 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," said Ron 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 Harriet and Ron had started to get slightly worried. "You don't think Malfoy did something to her?" Ron said anxiously as they hurried upstairs toward 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 on either side of her. Harriet prodded her awake. "W-what?" said Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. "Is it time to go? W-which lesson have we got now?"
"You have Divination, but it's not for another twenty minutes," said Harriet. "Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?" Her tone was laced with concern. "What? Oh no!" Hermione squeaked. "I forgot to go to Charms!" Making no sense at all to Harriet. "But how could you forget?" said Harriet. "You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!" Obviously more confused than she thought she ever would be. "I don't believe it!" Hermione wailed. "Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things!" Harriet studied Hermione's face, trying to figure out what vital clue she was missing. "You know what, Hermione?" said Ron, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. "I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much." Harriet had to agree. "No, I'm not!" said Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry. . . . I'll see you in Divination!"
Harriet had a free period so she pulled out her Ancient Runes book, studying the complex shapes and how they interacted magically. About halfway through the hour Hermione showed up in the common room again. Surprising Harriet because she was positive the lesson wasn't over yet. "Hermione, what are you doing here? Did the lesson end early or something?" she asked as Hermione joined her at the table. "No, I got tired of that fraud seeing death omens everywhere so I left. What are you working on?" Hermione said adjusting her position in the chair.
"Just reading ahead in the Ancient Runes text book." Harriet said, "Then I am going to check my batch of Contraceptive Potion." Harriet shuddered as she remembered why she was brewing that potion. How horrible it would be if Uncle Vernon got her pregnant, not only the sex involved but the knowledge that she would be carrying a baby for such a monster that disguised itself as a human being. Such thoughts alone made Harriet nauseous. Hermione hugged her, showing full friendly support as she knew what Harriet's home life was like from Harriet confiding in her.