WITHDRAWAL. draco malfoy

xx. back to the beginning

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The four Gryffindors were walking rapidly on the Wooden Bridge, actually trying to catch up with Harry, as he wished none of this would have happened.

"You did everything you could. No one could win against that old hag," Ron spoke.

"Even Dumbledore didn't see this coming," Hermione added, "Harry, if it's anyone's fault, it's ours."

"Yeah, we talked you into it!"

"Yeah, but I agreed. I tried so hard to help, and all it's done is make things worse," Harry answered, his voice filled with regret.

"Anyway, that doesn't matter anymore. Because I don't want to play anymore. All it does is make you care too much," Harry said, looking away, "And the more you care, the more you have to lose. So maybe it's just better to—"

"To what?" Lillian interrupted, her arms crossed around her chest.

"To go it alone."

Lillian was not even shocked at her friend's words, she was expecting it. She knew how Harry didn't want to put his friends in danger however he should know by now that none of them were ready to give up on him.

"Hagrid?"

The gamekeeper, as well as teacher, was actually gesturing for them to discreetly follow him and their full trusts brought them, obviously, in the Forbidden Forest, Lillian finding it difficult to not laugh every time Ron or Hermione would jump up in surprise.

"Any idea where he is taking us?" Ron asked.

"Hagrid, why can't you just tell us?"

A horde of noisy and over the top excited centaurs ran past them, making Hagrid stop and put his arms protectively against Harry and Lillian for them to stay still until the creatures were gone.

"I've never seen the centaurs so riled! And they're dangerous at the best of times," Hagrid sighed, "The Ministry restricts their territory much more they're gonna have a full uprising on their hands."

"Hagrid, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry to be so mysterious with you four, I wouldn't be bothering you at all with it, but with Dumbledore gone, I'll likely be getting the sack any day now."

This school was already losing its original concept ever since Umbridge had become the Headmaster, but without Hagrid it was going to be even worse.

"And I just couldn't leave without telling someone about him," Hagrid added as the largest figure appeared behind the trees, large footsteps echoing in the forest.

Lillian had never seen a real giant in her life before —not that it had ever been one of her goals, and she wondered how long this one had been hiding in this forest.

"Grawpy! Down here, you great buffoon," Hagrid instructed before the giant suddenly turned towards the teenagers and almost crushed Harry's head between his hands.

"Grawpy, brought you some company. I couldn't just leave him, because, because he's my brother."

"Blimey!" Ron and Lillian muttered in unison.

"Well, half-brother, really. He's completely harmless, just like I said, little high-spirited, is all."

Grawp bent down, his eyes scanning each teenager and, the second later, Hermione was up in the air, in Grawp's hand.