The Protector

Good-bye Buckbeak

I ran up the stairs and into the empty divination room. I had gone to bed a little later than usual and slept in. I sat down and went back three hours. Luckily, I made it just in time as Trelawny was explaining something.  

"Broaden your minds," she explained as I put away my necklace. I looked around the class room, and on every table there was a glass ball that was filled with a smoke substance. Ron seemed to be passed out, which made my day get slightly better. 

"Do you mind me trying?" Hermione asked. 

Trelawny looked to her, and opened her arms to the crystal ball. I bet Hermione's going to make a joke out of it. 

Without even looking at the ball, Hermione goes, "The Grim? Maybe?" 

I stifled in a laugh, "At least you tried?"  

Trelawny looked to her, "Ever since you had stepped foot into my class I sensed you did not have the proper soul for divination." The professor grabbed her hand, "Ah, see. You may seem young in years, but your heart is like a old maid. Shriveled up. Cold and dry like the pages in the books that you desperately cling to." 

Dang! Just sent the truth right to Hermione, didn't you? Ouch, I tried to hold in a laugh for as long as humanly possible. I could tell Hermione was furious. 

Hermione got up, ripped her hand from Trelawny's grasp, and knocked over the crystal ball. Everyone whispered as she walked out of the classroom. "Have I said something?" Trelawny asked. 

"Let me go get her," I smiled. I grabbed my books and ran out of the classroom. 

I saw Hermione quickly walking down the stairs, "'Mione! Wait!" 

She stopped for a second so I could catch up, "Are you okay?" 

"I try and be kind. I try to use my heart and to stop going by books. My heart doesn't mean to be like that!" She ranted as we made our way down the stairs. 

"Your heart isn't. Your heart is normal, you're just more tense. I think you should laugh a little bit more and not be so stiff. Worry about your grades but don't get so caught up in them to where you can't have a good time every once and a while. School was just meant to teach you, not rip away your spirit." 

She sighed, "Okay. I have to go to the bathroom too, so it all worked out."

+++

The sound of sharpening a knife made my blood run cold. We walked out of the castle together on our way to Hagrid's to go see Buckbeak for the last time. The executer smiled at us as we walked by. I nodded and walked faster. I walked side-by-side with Hermione as we led the guys. 

"I cannot believe that they are going to kill Buckbeak," she spoke as we entered the small bridge. 

"It's terrible," I took a deep breath as we came out on the other end. I saw someone up ahead with their friends. 

"And it's going to get worse," I heard Ron say as we stepped out of the bridge. 

Hermione went stomping in towards them. I tried to stop her-oh who am I kidding? I didn't even attempt to tell her no. 

"Ah, come to enjoy the show too?" Parkinson did a maniacal laugh. Draco smirked behind her, and Goyle and their other guy stood there smirking as well. 

"You!" Hermione went right up to Draco. "You loathsome cockroach!" she held her wand to his neck. 

"Get off my Drakey!" Pugface pointed her wand at Hermione's face. 

That was my last button, Parkinson, I thought. I punched her right in her ugly face. If it helps, it looked less ugly after. 

She stumbled backwards, holding her left eye, "You bitch!"