Never Let Me Go ⚡︎ [ harry potter ]

⚡︎ • ❝ t w e n t y n i n e ❞ • ✴

"They can't do this," Harry hissed, shaking his head as he looked at the letter. "They can't! Buckbeak isn't dangerous!"

"Malfoy's dad frightened the committee into it," Hermione said, wiping her eyes. "You know what he's like!"

"They're a bunch of wrinkly old fools without a brain of their own! They were scared into agreeing with Malfoy!" Grace hissed angrily. "There will be an appeal, there always is one for face but... but nothing will change. Their decision is final as long as Malfoy has them on his payroll."

"It will! It has too!" Ron exclaimed. "You two won't have to do the work alone this time! I'll help!"

"Oh Ron!" Hermione cried, flinging her arms around Ron's shoulders and stated crying into his neck. Ron, looked at Grace and Harry, completely terrified on what to do, just patted Hermione on the head awkwardly. "Ron, I'm really, really, really sorry about Scabbers! I really am!" she sobbed as she pulled away.

"Oh – well – he was old," Ron shrugged, looking relieved when she finally pulled away. He could handle a crying Grace, he's had years of practice with her, but other crying girls? Ron couldn't do it. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now," he hoped.

Grace was happy that Ron and Hermione were finally talking again, she was not happy with the outcome of Buckbeaks trial. She wish she could console Hagrid, but with the extra security measures on the castle, it was next to impossible to talk to Hagrid in the evenings, or to be outside in general. She missed sitting outside by the lake reading with Snuffles, and was sad that she didn't get to see Snuffles on her birthday, but she realized that maybe it's best if he was away for a little while with all the security.

"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 of fer me, 'Mione. An' then Lucious Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em," Hagrid told them that afternoon during Care of Magical Creatures class, as it was the only time they were able to talk to Hagrid about it.

"There's still the appeal!" Ron reminded him fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!" he said as they all made their way back up to the Castle. Grace glared murderously at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who were all looking back at them and laughing.

"S'no good, Ron," Hagrid told him sadly as they reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure that the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that..." he nodded, and turned to head back to his hut with his face buried in a hankerchief.

"Look at him blubber!" Malfoy cackled. "Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" he laughed. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Grace glared at him, pulling her wand from her robes as she followed Hermione. She held out her wand, ready to hex him with the scalping hex again, but Hermione beat her to him and then SMACK! Grace blinked, staring at Hermione in awe. She had just slapped Malfoy across the face.

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

"Hermione!" Ron called, grabbing her hand and tried to pull her away.

"Get off, Ron!" Hermione shouted, pulling her arm away.

"Yeah, Ron! Let Hermione loose!" Grace encouraged, grinning at Hermione as the other girl pulled out her wand, aiming it at Malfoy, who stepped backward.