the prince - f.weasley

- c h a p t e r - t w e n t y -

Gemma swung her leg back and forth on the wall she was sitting on–her back pressed against the outline of the "window."

    She was staring up at the bright blue sky–silently wishing for a storm to suddenly arise so she could finish her potion after tonight.

    She could already feel the effects of the full moon and was having the hardest time not losing her mind on people.

    And it was starting to show.

    This was why she was staring at the blue sky and zoning off–that was until Hermione snapped, "For the last time, just forget about Malfoy."

    She lifted her head and blinked in surprise at Hermione's harshness.

    Then she snickered a little as Ron gave a start when a girl came around the corner, and the Granger girl tiredly said, "It isn't Lavender."

    "Oh, good." Ron sighed, relaxing.

    "Harry Potter?" The girl who came around the corner said. "I was asked to give you this."

    "Thanks..."

    Gemma watched Harry's face fall before he exclaimed, "Dumbledore said we wouldn't be having any more lessons until I got the memory!"

    "Maybe he wants to check on how you're doing?" Hermione suggested as Harry unrolled the parchment.

    Gemma leaned over and raised her brows, "That's Hagrid's writing..." 

  Dear Harry, Gemma, Ron and Hermione,

    Aragog died last night. Harry and Ron, you met him and you know how special he was. Hermione, Gem, I know you'd have liked him. It would mean a lot to me if you'd nip down for the burial later this evening. I'm planning on doing it round dusk, that was his favourite time of day. I know you're not supposed to be out that late, but you can use the cloak. Wouldn't ask, but I can't face it alone.

Hagrid

    Gemma read over his shoulder–and despite loathing spiders–she felt terrible for Hagrid.

    "Look at this," Harry handed the note to Hermione.

    "Oh, for heaven's sake," Hermione scoffed slightly, scanning the letter before handing it to Ron–who read it looking more increasingly incredulous by the second.

    "He's mental!" Ron exclaimed furiously. "That thing told its mates to eat Harry and me! Told them to help themselves! And now Hagrid expects us to go down there and cry over its horrible hairy body!"

    "It's not just that," Hermione added worriedly. "He's asking us to leave the castle at night, and he knows security's a million times tighter and how much trouble we'd be in if we were caught."

    "We've been down to see him by night before," Harry reasoned.

    "Yes, but for something like this?" Hermione waved a hand at the letter. "We've risked a lot to help Hagrid out, but after all–Aragog's dead. If it were a question of saving him—"

    "—I'd want to go even less," Ron interrupted firmly. "You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot."

    Gemma eyed the noticeable tear stains on the letter where the ink had run.

    Harry looked up at her as she made up her mind about the whole ordeal.

    "Harry, Gemma, you can't be thinking of going," Hermione read their expressions. "It's such a pointless thing to get detention for."

    But then Harry sighed and said, "Yeah, I know...I s'pose Hagrid'll have to bury Aragog without us."