Disclaimer: If they were mine, I'd be a bit confused.

"Hey, Hermione?" Ginny called after her one day as she walked to breakfast, "Where were you last night?"

Hermione was a bit confused, "Huh?"

"Well," Ginny blushed slightly, "You said I could come find you if I needed any help with anything, and I went up to your dorm last night and you weren't there..."

"Oh."

"So I was just wondering where you were?"

Hermione was doing some quick thinking, "Oh, well, I just went for a walk."

"And you didn't get caught?" Ginny's eyes widened.

"Uhh... N-nope."

Ginny laughed, "Well done. See you around Hermione."

"We're gunna have to cut these meetings short."

"Huh?"

Hermione shrugged, "People are starting to notice I'm not in my dorm."

"Oh... Okay," Sirius looked a bit upset.

"Oh, damn."

Ron looked up from his chess board, "What?"

Hermione covered her face with her hands, "We forgot about Buckbeak."

Ron's eyes widened, "Oh, no! Is that..." he gestured to the letter in her hands.

She nodded.

"W-what does it say?"

She passed him the letter and he read aloud,

"'Dear Hermione,

We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts, Execution date to be fixed.

Beaky has enjoyed London.

Wish you could've helped.

Hagrid'."

His eyes widened even more, "Hermione! How could you forget!"

She shot him a look, "It's not my fault! We all said we'd help! You should have reminded me!"

"I should've reminded you!" He laughed spitefully, "Oh yes. Because I'm obviously the organized one around here!"

Hermione leapt to her feet and stormed out of the common room.

"Damned idiot," She fumed, "Blaming me for everything."

Hermione stomped through the corridors, past multiple students and teachers alike.

"Ouch!" She turned the corner and ran straight into someone.

She looked up to see Dumbledore straightening his hat.

Her eyes widened, "Professor Dumbledore! I'm so sorry!"

He chuckled, "It's fine Miss Granger. Although I do suggest you look where you're going next time."

She nodded, "Yes sir!" before skirting around him and trying her best not to run as fast as she could.

She found Harry testing out his new and checked broom on the Quidditch pitch.

"HARRY!" she called, waving up at him.

He spotted her and swooped down, "Hey Hermione, What're you doing down here? I thought Ron was coming?"

Her face dropped slightly, "No. Ronald is in the common room."

Harry winced, "What'd he do this time?"

She sighed, "I got a letter from Hagrid. Buckbeak lost."

Harry gasped, "Oh no…"

"And then Ron decided to blame it all on me."

"Ron. We're going to see Hagrid this weekend. To apologize."

He opened his mouth in protest.

"All of us," Hermione added.

Before they could get down to Hagrid's hut, Hedwig dropped a letter on Harry's lap.

"What's that?" Ron asked.

"It's from Hagrid," said Harry, ripping the note open. "Buckbeak's appeal - it's set for the day after tomorrow."

"What!" Gasped Ron and Hermione simultaneously.

Harry nodded, "And they're coming up here to do it..." he continued, "Someone from the Ministry and - and an executioner."

Hermione's eyes widened as she covered her mouth with a hand, "Oh no."

The next night, Hermione had some bad news.

"Scabbers is missing," she told Sirius, "Ron thinks Crookshanks ate him, but I asked and he said he wasn't anywhere near the damned thing."

Sirius cursed, "Shit! We have to find that rat, Hermione. My life literally depends on it!"

Hermione nodded as she sat down, "I know Sirius, and we will find him. I promise."

Hagrid was currently crying heartily over a cup of tea.

Hermione awkwardly patted his back as Harry tried to calm him, "Surely there's something someone can do? Dumbledore-"

Hagrid shook his great head, "He's tried. Told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but the Committee's scared... Yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like. Plus the executioner is an old pal of his..." he sniffled, "But, it'll be quick an' clean. An' I'll be beside him..."

Ron, who was rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard for another milk jug, as Hagrid had smashed the last, let out a shocked gasp; "I don't believe it - it's Scabbers!"

Hermione spun around, "What!" she gasped happily as Ron tipped a jug upside down on a nearby table and the rat tumbled out, "Yes!"

"What're you doing here Scabbers?" He lifted the terrified rat up to eye level, "Oh, wow. you look terrible. Look," he touched a piece of bedraggled fur, "You're all... weird."

Hermione strolled over, "Lemme see!" she grinned as the terrified rat stared at her, "Good to have you back Scabbers..."

Ron raised an eyebrow, "Uhh... Hermione? Are you okay?"

Hermione looked up, "Yeah, why?"

"You-" Ron was cut off as Hagrid suddenly stood up, eyes fixed on the window.

"They're comin'. Yeh gotta go! They mustn' find yeh here, 'specially you Harry. Go!"

Ron stuffed Scabbers in his pocket as Harry picked up the invisibility cloak and threw it over them.

"I'll let yeh out the back." Hagrid whispered.

He led them to the door into his back garden and Harry suddenly stopped at the sight of Buckbeak, tied up outside.

"Hagrid," he said, "They can't do this. We'll tell them what really happened!"

"No," Hagrid growled, making shooing gestures, "It's bad enough as it is. Go."

Hermione dragged Harry around the hut and towards the sloped lawn up to the castle.

They were half way up the lawn when Ron stopped dead.

"Hurry up!" Hermione hissed.

"It's Scabbers! He won't stay put! Scabbers, it's me you idiot."

Hermione sighed and pushed him forward.

All three stopped suddenly at swish and thud of the executioners axe.

"Oh my god," Harry breathed.

"They did it," Ron added, looking distraught.

Hermione sighed, "There was nothing we could do. Come on."

She continued walking up the hill, trying to ignore the sudden howling being emitted form Hagrid.

Harry made to turn back, but she grabbed his arm, "No, Harry. We can't."

With wide eyes he nodded.

She led them towards the castle as darkness began to fall.

A/N

What do you think?

This chap is really short [cause the next is quite long] and more based on the book than others, but still... thoughts?

~HPA