Just like Brothers

Chapter 32

"Get up."

Draco groaned and rolled over in his bed. He was so comfortable under the warm covers of his bed he couldn't fathom getting up just yet.
     
"Come on, its nearly noon and we ought to be heading back to school soon. Snape says so." Harry repeatedly poked Draco's shoulder.
     
"Its Sunday there's no class today, why can't we just go back tomorrow morning." Draco asked, opening one eye.
      
"People will get suspicious. You know this." Harry crossed his arms.
     
Draco grumbled but sat up nonetheless. It was nice not sleeping it a freezing dungeon. Draco loved the Slytherin common room and his dorm but whoever decided to place it under the lake without heating deserved a very painful death.

In the middle of winter, Slytherins needed to walk around in cocoons of blankets just to keep from freezing to death.

"We should go see Hagrid today," Draco commented as he stretched. "It's been a while, I would like to check up on him. I feel horrible about the news on Buckbeak. I've submitted a statement to the ministry saying it wasn't his fault but I guess that didn't help." The blond looked down, defeated.

"Yeah, I'm sure he'll like that. And it's not your fault." Harry reassured him, pulling on a clean shirt that was left over break. "Oh, by the way, Ron and I made up on the condition that he had to apologize to both you and Hagrid." Harry grinned.

"You're making Weasley apologize to me?" Draco laughed. "Oh, that's going to be fun."

The boys walked downstairs to grab a quick bite to eat before heading to Hogwarts.

"Good morning, boys." Snape said over his tea and paper. "I assume you slept well."

"Morning Professor." The boys echoed.

"I forgot how much I missed my bed." Harry sighed, pouring a glass of orange juice. "Say, Professor, can't we just stay here on the weekends? We won't miss any classes or anything." Harry suggested hopefully.

Draco nodded his head eagerly. "That would be brilliant. I could restock on Cocoa Puffs."

Snape peered at the two teenagers over his paper.

"We will see."

"That's not a no." Draco turned to Harry for a high five.

Harry happily obliged.

"Good job on your win yesterday, Mr. Potter." Snape added, "your new broom served you well. When you figure out who gifted that to you be sure to thank them."

"Thank you, Sir! And I will." Harry smiled at the praise.
     
A half hour later, the boys were back on Hogwarts grounds. They separated and took two different paths to Hagrid's hut.

Draco knocked on the door of the half-giants home and waited for the it to open. 
     
"Good Afternoon, Hagrid, how're you..." Draco came face to face with Hermione Granger.
        
Hermione's eyes were wide as she stared at the boy.
        
"Errrr, yeah, Draco, Hermione." Hagrid tried.
        
"Hello Hagrid!" Harry now walked into the hut. He froze when he saw Hermione sitting there. "Hi, Hermione."
      
"Where were you?" Hermione asked dangerously, "do you know how worried I was! A murderer on the loose and you go missing!"

"I...uhm, Dumbledore thought it best for me to be out of the Gryffindor tower while the castle was being searched. I was with him." Harry replied.

"All morning? Harry James Potter, it's noon!" Hermione was now standing directly infront of the boy. Considering Hermione was about an inch taller than Harry, she looked very intimidating.

"No, I had a lesson with Professor Lupin this morning." Harry lied again.

Draco watched from besides Hagrid as the scene between the two friends played out. He hoped Hermione didn't turn to him because the brunette was scary, something Draco was not afraid to admit.

"Why're you here Hermione?" Harry tried in an attempt to change the subject.

"I've been researching a way to save Buckbeak. A loophole if you will." She was still shooting daggers at Harry but she was a little more relaxed. "Why is he here?" She thrust a thumb at Draco.

"Draco here comes for tea and helps me with my lessons sometimes." Hagrid interjected.

"Hagrid! Are you home." Another knock was heard on the door. It was Ron.

Harry glanced at Hagrid who warily answered the door. Ron came slumping into the hut that was too small for the half giant, 3 teens, a Hippogriff and a massive dog that were occupying it.

0Hello Hagrid, oh, good, Malfoy's here too, hello, Harry." Ron greeted all of them but Hermione, who huffed in annoyance.

It was after Ron rambled apologies to Hagrid and Draco that she spoke.

"I think I deserve an apology too, Ronald." Harry was glad he wasn't on the receiving end of that glare.
      
Ron, however, shot a glare right back at the brunette and crossed his arms. "You deserve an apology? If anything you owe me an apology!" He shouted.
    
"What happened, exactly?" Harry asked, confused.
      
"Hermione's cat ate Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed.
       
"Honestly Ronald! Crookshanks is a cat! It's what they do. He can't help it." She shouted back.
      
"Your cat is a monster." Ron stated. "And it wasn't just what cats do. That cat has had it out for Scabbers ever since you bought him!"
      
"Nonsense!" Hermione now had tears brimming in her eyes.
     
"Calm down, you too!" Hagrid interrupted, "I expected better of you lot. Ron, I thought you valued your friendship with Hermione more than a rat."
      
The two of them fell silent and looked down in shame.
      
Draco sat awkwardly around the small table with the golden trio and the half-giant. He ignored the odd looks he was receiving from Granger and Weasley. They obviously were trying to figure out where he fit into the situation.
      
"Hagrid, did you ever think about just letting Buckbeak go?" Draco thought aloud, "just say he escaped or something?"
     
"They'll know I've done it." Hagrid said miserably, "I'm a terrible liar." Behind him, Buckbeak spat a pile of chicken bones onto Hagrid's pillow.
      
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