Sincerely, Yours (Draco Malfoy X Reader)

Chapter 16 ~ Buckbeak's Fate

Y/n was dressed in boot-cut jeans, a white t-shirt, and a brown jacket as she walked through the Hogwarts courtyard with her Gryffindor friends. The area was eerily quiet, and as they passed by, they came upon a man sharpening a scythe. His face was obscured by a black cloth, leaving only his sinister grin visible. It was all too similar to the look of a dementor.

"I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak. It's just too horrible," Hermione said angrily as they hurried across the bridge. Before they could go any further they came upon Malfoy and his friends standing in front of a tall stone.

"It's just worse," Ron said coming to a stop.

"Father said I can keep the Hippogriff's head. I'll donate it to the Gryffindor common room," they overheard Malfoy saying.

He then noticed Hermione striding toward him, "Oh, this is going to be rich." Malfoy smirked, holding out his arms "Ahh look who's here. Come to see the show?"

Hermione, not one to back down, marched towards Malfoy, "You! You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!" she shouted as she pointed her wand at him. Y/n, Harry, and Ron followed behind.

Malfoy quivered, scared and threatened by Hermione. But Ron quickly intervened, "Hermione no! He's not worth it."

Hermione lowered her wand and turned to leave, but Malfoy's snickering caused her to snap. She punched him in the face and his head hit the stone. Malfoy's friends helped him up and quickly fled the area. He turned around and Y/n looked away.

"That felt good," Hermione said with satisfaction.

"Not good, brilliant," Ron corrected with a grin.

Harry and Y/n both smiled, knowing that Malfoy deserved every bit of what he got.

His presence now left her uneasy, knowing what had unfolded that day on the platform. Nobody knew, and she decided it meant nothing. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing, with no real significance.

She didn't tell Aura or Jack, not wanting to bear witness to the inevitable disappointment and shock from them.

Y/n and her friends reached Hagrid's hut, they were greeted by the sight of Buckbeak already tied down in the pumpkin patch, waiting for his execution. Harry suggested freeing him, but they all knew the consequences that would ensue if they did, with Dumbledore getting into trouble.

"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," Hermione offered. But Hagrid, in his typically gruff manner, refused. "You'll do no such thing! Think I want you to see something like that? No. You just drink your tea and be off. Oh, before you do, Ron." Hagrid pointed to Ron, who had just discovered that his rat, Scabbers, was still alive. The group was immediately thrown into chaos as Ron and Hermione started arguing once again, this time over Ron's refusal to apologize. As the argument escalated, a vase in the centre of the table suddenly broke, causing Y/n to jump and almost spill her tea.

Harry, meanwhile, leaned against the window, winced "Ow!" and held the back of his head. His eyes caught something outside, "Hagrid!" It was the Minister of Magic and Dumbledore approaching. Hagrid quickly ushered them to leave through the back door, and they all hid behind the abnormally large pumpkins next to the hut.

"Come on! Let's go!" Y/n said, taking charge and leading the way. She ran hurriedly, turning over her shoulder as she saw Dumbledore stepping into the hut. Y/n's hair fled behind her as they took off and came to a stop where Hermione had just punched Malfoy. Y/n stood there, catching her breath. She swallowed, unable to turn her eyes away from the scene.

In shock after the execution, the crows scattered in all directions. Harry noticed Y/n's discomfort and pulled her into a small hug, but Ron's exclamation interrupted the moment, his finger bleeding from a bite. "Ah! He bit me! Scabbers!" Ron chased after his rat, and Harry swiftly grabbed Y/n's arm as they all followed Ron.