No one in Gryffindor Tower slept that night. They knew that the castle was being searched again, and the whole House stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear whether Black had been caught. Professor McGonagall came back at dawn to tell them that he had again escaped.
Throughout the day, everywhere they went, they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to reorganize a large picture of Sirius Black; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been fired. His portrait had been taken back to its lonely landing on the seventh floor, and the Fat Lady was back. She had been expertly restored but was still extremely nervous and had agreed to return to her job only on the condition that she was given extra protection. A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their cubs.
Neville was in total disgrace. Professor McGonagall was so furious with him that she banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, gave him detention, and forbade everyone from giving him the password to the tower. Poor Neville was forced to wait outside the common room every night for someone to let him in while the security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. None of these punishments, however, came close to matching the ones his grandmother had in store for him. Two days after Black's break-in, she sent Neville the worst thing a Hogwarts student can receive over breakfast-a Howler.
Estella stood with Hermione as they overheard Ron and Harry discussing Hogsmeade.
"Harry, if you go to Hogsmeade again...I'll tell Professor McGonagall about that map!" said Hermione.
"Can you hear someone talking, Harry?" growled Ron, not looking at Hermione.
Estella scoffed, "Seriously, Ronald, what are you, five?"
"Ron, how can you let him go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I mean it, I'll tell-"
"So now you're trying to get Harry expelled?" said Ron furiously. "Haven't you done enough damage this year?"
Estella watched Hermione walk away and walked along with her.
*********
The following day Estella sat with Hermione and read the letter sent from Hagrid.
Dear Hermione and Estella,
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.
Thank you for asking your father to testify.
Hagrid
Estella looked at Harry and Hermione.
"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. They'll be an appeal, though; there always is. Only I can't see any hope...Nothing will have changed." Estella wiped her eyes. Buckbeak didn't deserve to die because of someone as stupid as Draco.
"Yeah, it will," said Ron fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work with Estella this time, Hermione. I'll help." Estella grinned; the band was back together.
"Oh, Ron!"
Hermione found 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.
"Oh-well- he was old," replied 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."
The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Estella 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 were all sittin' there in black robes an' I kept dropping me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up for me, Hermione and Estella. Estella's dad gave them an expert testimony until Lucious Malfoy stood up. The Committee just did exactly what he told them too."
"There's still the appeal!" said Ron fiercely. "Don't give up yet; we're working on it!"
They were walking back 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.
"Look at him blubber!" Malfoy laughed. Estella's eyes narrowed; if he said one more word, she'd punch him. Never in her life had she'd seen a bigger brat.
"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" asked Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Estella moved toward Hagrid, but Hermione got there first-SMACK!
She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood there flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. Estella smirked and silently cheered. That was her best friend.
"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. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.
"C'mon," Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeon.
"Hermione!" Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.
"I don't think I've ever been so proud!" Estella laughed, earning a timid smile from Hermione, who turned to look at Harry.
"Harry, you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final!" Hermione said shrilly. "You'd just better have, because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins!"
"We're due in Charms," said Ron, still goggling at Hermione. "We'd better go."
They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom.
"You're late!" said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harry open the classroom door. "Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today; we've already divided into pairs-"
Estella hurried to a desk at the back, Harry and Ron filling the seats next to her. Ron looked behind him.
"Where's Hermione gone?"
Estella looked around. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, meaning she was at Study of Ancient Ruins; however, given that she hadn't randomly popped up during the lesson, Estella knew she'd forgotten.
They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password (Flibbertigibbet), and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room. Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. They went to sit down on either side of her, with Ron across from her. Harry prodded her awake.
"W-what?" said Hermione, waking with a start and staring wildly around. "Is it time to go? W-which lesson have we got now?"
"Divination, but it's not for another twenty minutes," said Estella.
"Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?" Harry asked gently.
Hermione's eyes snapped to Estella's. "What? Oh, no!" Hermione squealed. "I forgot to go to Charms!" Estella's eyes widened at her statement; that was why she said no to a time turner and took Arithmancy at random times. It was unconventional, but she had wanted to take the course.
"But how could you forget?" asked Harry. "You were with us till we were right outside the room!"
"I don't believe it!" Hermione wailed. "Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him, and I lost track of things!"
"You know what, Hermione?" said Ron, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. "I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much."
"No, I'm not!" said Hermione, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry...I'll see you in Divination!"
Hermione joined them at the foot of a ladder to Professor Trelawney's classroom twenty minutes later, looking extremely harassed.
"I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come up in our exams; Professor Flitwick hinted they might!"
Together they climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling tower room and glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Estella sat down together at the same rickety table.
"I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Ron muttered, casting a wary eye for Professor Trelawney in case she was lurking nearby.
"Don't complain; this means we finished palmistry," Harry muttered back. "I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands. And the constant giggling when she looked at my hand and then at Es's."
Estella groaned, "I definitely won't miss that," she whispered.
"Good day to you!" said the familiar, misty voice, and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows. Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky glow of their crystal ball.
"I had decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned," said Professor Trelawney, sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around. "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice."
Hermione snorted, and Estella rolled her eyes. Visions did not work that way.
"Well, honestly...' the fates have informed her'...who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!" Hermione said, not troubled to keep her voice low. Harry, Ron, and Estella choked back laughs. She loved frustrated and snappy Hermione; she didn't hold back her opinions.
It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them, as her face was hidden in the shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not.
"Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art," she said dreamily. "I do not expect any of you to See, except for Estella, when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes"- Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise, thus making Estella laugh and put her head on Harry's shoulder- "So as to clear the Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end of the class."
And so they began. Estella didn't have to clear her mind to see what was projected in the crystal ball. Within the Orb lingered a black dog, the Whomping Willow, and two adults whose faces remained unclear despite how hard she focused. Her focus was pulled away as Ron broke into silent giggles, and Hermione kept tutting.
"See anything yet?" Harry asked them after a quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing.
"Yeah," Estella muttered.
"Es, do you really count?" Harry nudged her with a smile.
"Hey, of course, I do," she laughed.
"Yeah, there's a burn on this table," said Ron, pointing. "Someone's spilled their candle."
"This is such a waste of time," Hermione hissed. "I could be practicing something useful. I could be catching up on some Cheering Charms-"
Professor Trelawney rustled past.
"Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?" she murmured over the clinking of her bangles.
"I don't need help," Ron whispered. "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."
The three burst out laughing.
"Now, really!" said Professor Trelawney as everyone's head turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized. "You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!" She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball. Harry felt his heart sinking, and Estella rolled her eyes. She was sure she knew what was coming-
"There is something here!" Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering her face to the ball so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. "Something moving...but what is it?"
"It's a dog and the Whomping Willow," Estella replied coldly as Professor Trelawney said,
"It is here, plainer than ever before...my dear, stalking toward you, growing even closer...the Gri-"
"Oh, for goodness' sake!" said Hermione loudly. "Not that ridiculous Grim, again. Estella literally said she saw a dog!"
Professor Trelawney Raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger.
"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have entered this class, my dear; it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires. Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly mundane."
And to the whole class's amazement, Hermione strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight.
Estella applauded, earning a glare from Professor Trelawney and a stifling laugh from Ron and Harry. It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Professor Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grim. She turned abruptly from their table, breathing rather heavily as she tugged her gauzy shawl more closely to her.
"Oooo!" said Lavender suddenly, making everyone start. "Oooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our numbers will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!"
Estella rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Lavender, do you ever shut up?" Merlin, did she love boosting Professor Trelawney's ego. Lavender and Parvati glared at her, a glare Estella easily returned.
Professor Trelawney gave her a dewy smile.
"Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One, hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs...The Inner Eye can be such a burden, you know..." Professor Trelawney's eyes lingered on Estella, who avoided eye contact.
She'd definitely be dropping this class next year. She already had the sight; there was no point in taking this class.
"Someday Hermione's having, eh?" Ron muttered to the two, looking awed.
"Yeah..."
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