Bella and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Thirty-Eight

"He - he sent me this," Hermione said, holding out a letter.

I took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places 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," Harry said, his eyes wide. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"Malfoy's dad frightened the Committee into it," Hermione told us, 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"

"Yeah, it will," Ron said fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help"

"Oh, Ron!"

Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. I smirked, I can deffo see them two becoming a thing in the future. Ron, who looked quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.

"Ron, I'm really sorry about Scabbers..." she sobbed. 

"Oh - well - he was old," Ron said, looking very relieved that she had let go of him. I chuckled. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now"

*

The safety measures imposed on everyone since Black's second break-in made it impossible for the four of us to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Our 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 were 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!" I said fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

We were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead, we could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively. 

"'S no good, Bella," Hagrid said sadly as we reached the castle steps. "That Committees 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 round and hurried back towards his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief. 

"Look at him blubber!"

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening. 

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" Malfoy said. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"