Bella and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter Forty-Three

We went down to dinner with everyone else like normal, but we did not return to Gryffindor Tower with them afterwards. Harry sneakily had the Cloak hidden down the front of his robes; he had to keep his arms folded to hide the lump. We skulked into an empty chamber off the Entrance Hall, listening, until we were sure it was deserted. We heard the last pair of people hurrying across the Hall, and a door slamming. Hermione poked her head around the door.

"Ok," she whispered, "no one there - Cloak on -"

Walking very close together so that nobody would see us, we crossed the Hall on tiptoe beneath the Cloak, then walked down the stone front steps into the grounds. The sun was already sinking behind the Forbidden Forest, gliding the top branches of the trees.

We reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute in answering, and when he did, he looked all around for his visitor, pale-faced and trembling. 

"It's us," I hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off"

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and we stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Harry pulled off the Cloak.

Hagrid was no crying, nor did he throw himself upon our necks. Which was surprising really. He looked like a man who did not know where he was or what to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than tears. 

"Wan' some tea?" he asked. His great hands were shaking as he reached for the kettle.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"I-I took him outside," Hagrid told us, spilling milk all over the table as he filled up the jug. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' - an' smell fresh air - before -"

Hagrid's hand trembled so violently that the milk jug slipped from his grasp and shattered all over the floor.

"I'll do it, Hagrid," I said quickly, hurrying over and started to clean the mess.

"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid told me, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve. I glanced back at Ron, who looked back hopelessly.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore -"

"He's tried," Hagrid said. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared...an' the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's...but it'll be quick an' clean...an' I'll be beside him..."

Hagrid swallowed. His eyes were darting all over the cabin, as though looking for some shred of hope or comfort. I felt bad for him...

"Dumbledore's gonna come down while it - while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter - ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore..."

I stifled a sob and straightened the new jug in my hands, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall.

"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," Hermione began, but Hagrid shook his shaggy head.

"Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway...if Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Bella, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble"

With silent tears streaming down her face, Hermione rushed over and continued making the tea as my eyes were blurry from the tears that were threatening to fall. Hagrid doesn't deserve this, Buckbeak doesn't deserve this. He was a good guy and the Malfoy's are making him out to be a bad guy. It's not fair.