Another Potter

forty six

chapter forty six
the prisoner of azkaban

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"He sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter.

Amelia 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,
We lost
I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed.
Beaky has enjoyed London.
I won't forget all the help you gave us.
Hagrid

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

"Malfoy's dad's 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."

"Damn it," Amelia said, "I'm sorry you had to do it alone."

"Don't be," Hermione said, wiping her eyes, "I know you were busy."

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The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Amelia, 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 was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. 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!"

They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Draco, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively. 

"S'no good, Ron," said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that. . . ."

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

"Look at him blubber!"

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

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Draco as Amelia looked at him with an annoyed look. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Harry, Ron and Hermione both made furious moves toward Draco, but Amelia was ahead of them. The sound of her heels clicking on the floor made his head snap up. His smile dropped slightly when he saw the angry look on her face. Amelia had her jaw clenched and everyone's jaw dropped at what happened.

Amelia had punched Draco across the face with all the strength she could muster. Draco staggered as Harry, Ron, Hermione, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted. 

"Laugh at him again," Amelia said as she stood next to her boyfriend, standing in opposite directions, "I'll kill you." Amelia looked up at Draco with a stone cold look before she walked down the corridor, her brown curls bouncing as she made her way towards Charms class.