Black and Potter | H. Potter

13 ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆ a match to remember.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾

| A MATCH TO REMEMBER |
song: my songs know what you did by fall out boy.

☾ ⋆*･ﾟ:⋆*･ﾟ:✧*⋆.*:･ﾟ✧.: ⋆*･ﾟ: .⋆ ☾

"HE SENT US THIS," HERMIONE SAID, holding out the letter.

Ara took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.

Dear Hermione and Ara,

We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. The execution date to be fixed. Beaky has enjoyed London.

I won't forget all the help you both gave us.

Hagrid

"They can't do this," said Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"But—Malfoy's the one that should have his head cut off!" said Ara, outraged. "He provoked him."

"Malfoy's dad frightened the Committee into it," said Hermione, wiping her eyes. "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope. . . Nothing will have changed."

"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, you two. I'll help."

"Oh, Ron!"

Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.

"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers. . ." she sobbed.

"Oh — well — he was old," said Ron, looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go of him. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."

"About time they made up, don't you think?" whispered Ara happily in Harry's ear.

Harry nodded, smiling at her and putting an arm around her to give her a side hug.

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THE SAFETY MEASURES IMPOSED ON THE STUDENTS SINCE Black's second break-in made it impossible for Ara, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.

He seemed numb with shock at the verdict.

"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They were all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin'me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh both looked up fer me, girls. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em. . ."

"There's still the appeal!" said Ron fiercely. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.

"Look at him blubber!"

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione and Ara got there first —