"𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗲 𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲"
Maera Atlas Black is just like her father, a genius that has a knack for getting into trouble.
From making fun of Snivellus, annoying...
After spending an entire day with Madam Pomfrey due to Maera passing out, she returned to the common room rather pale.
"Oh Maera, we were just looking for you," Hermione beckoned her over, "Hagrid sent me this,"
Hermione said, holding out the letter. Maera 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 Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."
"It's Malfoys dad, he probably frightened the committee into doing this," said Maera, clenching the paper again in anger, causing it to wrinkle. "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. Harry and Maera snickered at the two, Ron was always rather awkward around the girl. 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."
"Oh Merlin, are we all good now?" Maera said, flinging her arms up in the air.
Ron and Hermione exchanged a glance before saying, "Yes."
The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, Maera, 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 them good argument tips from Maera. 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 Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle and kept looking back, laughing derisively.
