Forever and Always Potter

3.13

That night I didn't go down to dinner, I stayed in my bed staring at a photo of my parents. It was their wedding photo, I never noticed the handsome man next to my father. It was Sirius Black, the reason I grew up an orphan. The reason Harry and I never received a birthday or Christmas present until coming to Hogwarts. I didn't leave my dorm until the next morning. I put on a green sweater Mrs. Wesley gave me last Christmas and a pair of jeans, I grabbed my coat and left the girls dorm for the first time since yesterday. "Where are you headed?" Draco asked eyeing my winter jacket, "just a walk I need some fresh air." "You shouldn't go alone," Draco said. I couldn't look him in the eyes, he'd see the pain "you knew didn't you?" He didn't respond, "you knew that Black is the reason my parents are dead and you didn't tell me," I said under my breath. "I know I should've told you, but I didn't want to scare you." He tried to turn my face to look at him but I pushed back refusing to let him see my tear filled eyes, "how many times do I need to tell you that I don't need your protection?" 

As I walked around the snow covered grounds I spotted Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed towards Hagrid's hut. I jogged to catch up with them, "mind if I join?" They all shook their heads and we headed down together. 

Ron knocked, but there was no answer. "He's not out, is he?" said Hermione, who was shivering under her cloak. Ron had his ear to the door. "There's a weird noise," he said. "Listen — is that Fang?" Harry and Hermione put their ears to the door too. From inside the cabin came a series of low, throbbing moans. "Think we'd better go and get someone?" I said nervously. "Hagrid!" called Harry, thumping the door. "Hagrid, are you in there?" There was a sound of heavy footsteps, then the door creaked open. Hagrid stood there with his eyes red and swollen, tears splashing down the front of his leather vest. "You've heard?" he bellowed, and he flung himself onto Harry's neck.  Hagrid allowed himself to be steered into a chair and slumped over the table, sobbing uncontrollably, his face glazed with tears that dripped down into his tangled beard. "Hagrid, what is it?" said Hermione, aghast. I  spotted an official-looking letter lying open on the table. "What's this, Hagrid?"  

Dear Mr. Hagrid,

 Further to our inquiry into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident. 

 "Well, that's okay then, Hagrid!" said Ron, clapping Hagrid on the shoulder. But Hagrid continued to sob, and waved one of his gigantic hands, inviting Harry to read on. 

 However, we must register our concern about the Hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr. Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to theCommittee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your Hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London ont hat date. In the meantime, the Hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated. 

 Yours in fellowship

"You'll have to put up a good strong defense, Hagrid," said Hermione, sitting down and laying a hand on Hagrid's massive forearm. "I'm sure you can prove Buckbeak is safe." "Won' make no diff'rence!" sobbed Hagrid. "Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket! Scared o' him! Ad if I lose the case, Buckbeak —" Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then gave a great wail and lurched forward, his face in his arms. "What about Dumbledore, Hagrid?" said Harry. "He's done more'n enough fer me already," groaned Hagrid. "Got enough on his plate what with keepin' them Dementors outta the castle, an' Sirius Black lurkin' around." Hermione looked at me, it looked as if a light bulb had gone off. "I have an Idea," she said while staring at me, "Draco Malfoy is quite taken with Amelia. Maybe you can persuade him to let Buckbeak live." All the eyes looked at me, I couldn't say no to Hagrids sobbing face, "I can see what I can do."