The Forgotten Twin

Chapter 15

Delilah hated to admit he was right, but she couldn't argue. Harry was good at fixing things, a skill she couldn't seem to pick up no matter how hard she tried.

"Fine, but it still is obnoxious!" she huffed, turning away and marching back towards the common room. She was already making plans on how best to sneak down and check on Hagrid.

The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it harder to visit Hagrid, but Delilah already had an idea how to get past them. She needed time though, it was a very difficult spell, higher than O.W.L.S, maybe even N.E.W.T.S. Luckily Delilah could still talk to him 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 walked up to the castle with the rest of the class. Delilah wanted to smack all the Slytherins that were laughing at Hagrid. Sure he wasn't the best teacher, but he was a great friend.

Blaise was the worst. He was walking by Crabbe and Goyle, who seemed to have been drawn to him while Draco was with Delilah. Blaise 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!"

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

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

Delilah glared at him and was just about to tell him where to put it, but Hermione got there first — SMACK!

She had slapped Blaise across the face with all the strength she could muster. Blaise staggered. Harry, Ron, Delilah, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you foul — you evil —"

"Hermione!" said Ron weakly, and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back.

"Get off, Ron!"

Hermione pulled out her wand. Blaise stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.

Midnight hissed threats that made Delilah wince. Harry looked surprised and embarrassed by her foul language.

"C'mon," Blaise muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.

"Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.

"Thanks for doing that, Hermione. I've wanted to smack that idiot since our first year."

Hermione blushed, but still looked furious.

"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You just better had, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"

Delilah smiled at that and added, "Well, you don't have to beat us, but I get why you'd want to. Give Draco an extra smack for me, if you wouldn't mind."