Brave

The Strange Gift

The next day, Harry came down the stairs around lunchtime and sat on the couch across from Hermione and Ron, who were there waiting for him.

"Finally, it's almost lunch, I was about to go get you," Ron explained.

Harry looked around the common room, noticing that they were the only ones in there. "Where's everyone... and Rory?"

Hermione began to explain. "They're gone, it's the first day of the holidays, remember? We don't know where Aurora is though, I would assume she would need some time alone after what happened yesterday."

"Oh," Harry replied. Hermione and Ron exchanged looks with each other.

"Listen Harry," Hermione began to say, sitting up straighter. "You can't go after Black. You could get Siriusly injured."

Harry didn't bother to reply.

"You don't want to kill him, do you?" Ron asked. 

"Even if you do," Hermione said after Harry didn't reply. "Don't try to kill him. At least if it's not for you, then for Rory. I don't think she'd want you to kill her father, no matter how much she hates him."

"Do you want to play a game of Wizards Chess? Or go down to Hagrid's?" Ron asked, trying to change the subject.

"Ron, I really don't think Harry should be going out-"

"Yeah, let's go see Hagrid," Harry said, standing up and looking a little happier. "Maybe we'll find Aurora there and I can ask him why he didn't tell me about Sirius Black."

The trio walked down to Hagrid's hut and Harry knocked on the door. A few moments later Hagrid opened it, looking teary eyed.

"Hagrid, what happened?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione looked at him, wondering if he would still ask Hagrid about Sirius when he was in this state.

"Come in," Hagrid mumbled, opening the door wider. They walked in and saw Aurora, who was sitting on the couch, her eyes looking sad but not full of tears like Hagrid's.

"Rory!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over to her and hugging her, happy that they found her although she couldn't have gotten far, he was worried that someone had done something to her.

Everyone sat on the couch except for Hagrid, who was sitting in a large chair in front of them.

"So, what happened?" Hermione asked again. Hagrid began sobbing, unable to speak.

"They're going to have a trial for what should happen to Buckbeak," Aurora explained. When the rest of the Gryffinfour looked at her, confused, she went on. "Draco told his father about Buckbeak scratching him and Lucius Malfoy told the Committee for Dangerous Creatures."

"They can't do this!" Ron exclaimed.

"Don't worry Hagrid, we'll help you," Hermione said, hugging him. 

"Yeah! I'll even go to the library to search things up," Ron added. Hagrid pulled the Gryffinfour into a hug. After talking with Hagrid, the four walked out of his hut.

When they got back to the common room, Harry gave Ron and Hermione a look that told them that they should get out of the room. Harry pulled Aurora by the arm lightly to the couch. He looked at her, worried.

"Are you okay? You know, about what we found out yesterday?" he asked.

Aurora sighed, putting on a fake smile. "Yeah, I'm fine," Aurora told him.

* * *

After what happened at Hogsmeade, Aurora decided to go back to being quiet, not really talking to anyone. Harry, Hermione, and Ron were worried, knowing that her father escaping Azkaban already made her upset, but knowing that he was what caused the death of Harry's parents made her feel worse. They were hoping that Christmas would make her feel better.