PHANTOM FIGURES | harry potter

29. the quidditch final

     "He - he sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter to Aspen so she could see it.

     She 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

     "Oh..." Aspen trailed off, fingering the corner of the paper.

     "They can't do this," said Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

     "Malfoy's dad frightened the committee into it," said Hermione, wiping her tears. "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!"

     Her next action shocked Aspen so much her mouth hung open.

     Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down completely. Ron, looking quite terrified, patted her very awkwardly on the top of her head. 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."

     How they could make up so easily, Aspen will never know.

     The safety-measures imposed on the students following Black's second break-in made it impossible for Aspen, Harry, Ron, and Hermione to visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creature 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' droopin' 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 were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was talking with Crabbe and Goyle, and kept looking back, laughing derisively.

     "S'no good, Ron," said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucuis 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!"