Isabella Lestrange

The Willow

Christmas and winter had went by fast. I had been writing to Sirius nonstop. He was still close to Hogwarts and hadn't even seen Harry yet. I continued to have my regular meetings with Professor Burbage. Lucius had met with the Ministry of Magic to have the Hippogriff who hurt Draco to be put down. I didn't agree with his decision, but I couldn't argue with him either. Classes went by fast as they usually do. I stood in Professor Lupin's classroom. We had been arguing about when and how Sirius was going to clear his name.

"When?" I snapped.

"Soon, just be patient. He is not ready. I found something out last night that may have just given him an actual chance." Professor Lupin explained while walking around the room.

"What?" I asked getting excited.

"I can't tell you." He hissed.

"And why is that?" I asked sternly.

"Because I don't trust you. Sirius may trust you. But I'm no fool, I know who your parents are and I know who raised you. You will eventually fall, as does all of them!" Professor Lupin yelled. Suddenly the door to the classroom opened and both our heads shot in the direction. There stood Harry looking confused.

"Is this a bad time?" He asked awkwardly.

"No, we're done now." I hissed marching out of the room and slamming the door behind me.

A few hours later, Draco, Goyle, Crabbe, and I were outside the grounds. The boys just wanted to mess around. I wished to try and see the Hippogriff before it was put down. Not for joy, but to see if there was any hope for the life of an innocent creature. We watched from the top of the hill, we were surrounded by boulders circling the entrance of the school. The hill looked out over Hagrids house.

"Father said I could keep the Hippogriff's head. I'll donate it to the Gryffindors' common room." Draco laughed, as did his friends.

"That is barbaric." I stated watching with sadness as the animal was tied up outside the hut.

"Not really, it's a wild animal it doesn't have feelings. Get over it, Bella." Draco ordered standing in front of me.

"This is going to be rich." Draco laughed. I crossed my arms and turned away from him. I could barely look at him at the moment. I turned around to see Hermione storming down towards us with Harry and Ron in tow.

"Look who's here." I addressed to the boys hopping they would get the hint and leave.

"Ahhh! Come to see the show?" Draco laughed walking towards her.

"You! You foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach!" Hermione shouted in anger as she wipped out her wand and backed him up to the rock so he couldn't go anywhere. He began to cry.

"Hermione, no!" I cried trying to stop her from hurting him. Yes he was all the things she said but he was just all talk.

"He's not worth it." Ron tried to reason. Draco sounded like a baby shuddering with every breath. She slowly pulled down her wand, and his crying stopped. She turned around preparing to leave, but Draco never knew how to shut his mouth. He began to laugh and mock her. She turned around and collided her fist with his nose. Everyone gasped as he cried out and fell back to the rock.

"Malfoy, are you okay?" Crabbe asked as Draco fell into my arms.

"You really could do better, Bella." Hermione snapped. I looked at Draco to see his nose was bleeding. The boys all ran away and I remained.

"I don't think so." I whispered before walking off with the boys following behind me. The boys ran into the school. I took Draco to the Hospital Wing with Goyle and Crabbe behind me. I left Draco and headed back out to the spot we had once been at. I laid in the grass and thought about Draco and Sirius as well as Hermione and what she had said. I really was no better than Draco. I was just as spoiled and came from the same background as him. But why did we both react differently because of it? Maybe if I just let everything I cared about go and be more like him I wouldn't worry so much.