Brighter Than the Sun

Chapter Sixteen

When we came downstairs, we found Fred and George laughing with Lee Jordan.

"What's going on?" I wondered.

"Malfoy came back to the castle covered in smelly mud," George explained while Fred and Lee continued howling with laughter. "He's going around telling people he saw Harry's head by the Shrieking Shack."

"Harry's head?"

"Yeah, floating in midair."

So Harry had gone anyway. And Malfoy had seen him and probably told Snape about it, meaning Harry would probably get in trouble. Hermione and I slipped out of the portait hole and into the corridor where the security trolls were pacing. Harry and Ron were walking toward us.

"Come to have a good gloat?" said Ron savagely as we stopped in front of them. "Or have you just been to tell on us?"

"No," said Hermione, grabbing my arm to prevent me from jumping at Ron. She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was trembling. "I just thought you ought to know... Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."

Their expressions changed immediately. It might've been funny if it weren't for the news.

"He sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter. Harry took it and read it, Ron scanning the paper over Harry's shoulder.

"They can't do this," said Harry. "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. I exchanged an amused look with Harry, who seemed relieved that they weren't at each other's throats.

Finally, Hermione drew away. "Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers."

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

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for us 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 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!"

We were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead I could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively. Oh, yes, he was just begging for someone to give him a good thwack.

"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.