Harry Potters Twin Book Three

The Quidditch Final... Finally! ~not edited~

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

I 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

P.S Tell Nixie I said thank you also

"They can't do this," said Harry, who had read the letter over my shoulder. "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."

"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. 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. I clenched my teeth together. She shouldn't be the one apoligizing, Ron should. He was the one who ignored her just because of a stupid rat.

"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."

"Oh - Well - I wish you would have thought of that before this argument started," I growled, glaring so feircly at Ron he took a step back.

"They said sorry, Nixie," Harry mumbled, looking very uncomfortable. "Let it go."

"No," I said flatly. "Hermione said sorry. Ron didn't."

They were silent, all of them staring at me.

"Well!" I snapped at Ron, who jumped.

"W-well what?" He stuttered, recoiling under my gaze.

"Apoligize!" I said, as though I was speaking to a two year old.

"I'm sorry Hermione," Ron said to Hermione, actually looking sorry. "F-for ignoring you just because of a rat."

Hermione beamed at Ron, forgiving him - obviously. I rolled my eyes and trudged around Hermione and into the Common Room.

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and I to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Our 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 two looked up fer me, Hermione, Nixie. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em…"

"So it wasn't your fault, Hagrid," I said softly. "It was the corrupted Ministry's fault. I bet Malfoy scared them all to find Buckbeak guilty, because if they weren't scared, anyone would be able to see that Buckbeak is actually very sweet."