"Beautiful day..." Hermione said as the three of them walked out of the castle into the courtyard
"Gorgeous," Ron said. "Unless of course you've been ripped to pieces."
"Ripped to pieces?" Harry asked. "What are you talking about?"
"Ronald has lost his rat." Hermione told him.
"I haven't lost anything, your cat killed him." Ron insisted.
"Rubbish." Hermione said.
"Harry, you've seen that bloody beast of burden hanging around all the time and Scabbers is gone." Ron almost sounded like he was going to cry.
"Well, you should take better care of your pets." Hermione said.
"You're cat killed him!" Ron countered.
"Did not!" Hermione.
"Did too!" Ron.
"Did not!" Hermione.
"Did too." Ron.
Erin wasn't paying much attention to Ron and Hermione bickering back and forth about their pets, she was a bit preoccupied stealthily watching Harry. He happened to be wearing a blue sweatshirt with the sleeves rolled up...and Harry happened to have a very nice body hidden underneath all that. Erin barely noticed when someone spoke to her since she was admiring Harry's chest and wished she could see what was under that shirt...
"Erin?" Hermione asked again. "Hello, Erin? Are you there?" She asked with a giggle. It was like she was staring off into space or something. Oh, if only she had noticed what she was actually staring at. "I think we've lost her." She said with a giggle.
Harry glanced her way curiously. "You okay?" He asked.
Erin jumped and blushed. "Um...yeah...perfectly." She looked around to see if anyone had noticed what she had been doing. Ron had seen actually and was trying hard not to laugh.
Erin blushed even deeper.
Harry just looked at her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then he just smiled a little at her and looked back to the path that led down to Hagrid's. Hermione gave Ron a look and playfully swatted his arm. "What is so funny?" She asked teasingly.
Ron leaned over not caring if Harry heard or not. "Erin was checking Harry out."
Hermione's eyes widened. "No!" She whispered. "Are you serious?"
"Dead serious. I was watching her; she had her eyes glued to him. I'm surprised she could see where she was going." It seemed that Ron and Hermione had forgotten all about Scabbers.
Hermione almost started with the giggling again, it was an unconscious side effect sometimes of her and Ron getting along. Plus, well, the gossip was good today. Harry had gotten ahead of them by now. "Are you all coming or not?" He asked, apparently not having caught on again. Which just made it all the more amusing to the other two.
Erin was still red and glared at them as she hurried to catch up with Harry. "You didn't hear what they were saying did you?"
"Well I suppose if they are teasing you then we can..." He started in a conspiratorial tone before he turned around and spoke so they could hear him. "…Point out how cozy you two are getting back there." He called. It was true, they had suddenly been walking very close, practically holding hands and grinning sillily at each other. Ron was being funny and Hermione couldn't help laughing, of course not until Harry had pointed their behavior out, did Hermione look especially frightened and step away from Ron, to act like it never happened. "I knew that would work." Harry said with a little grin before taking Erin's hand in his, helping her down the hill. "Come on we're almost there."
Erin smiled at Harry and followed him laughing. "Those two...won't they ever figure out how they feel about each other?"
"I think they already know... they're just too afraid to admit it." Harry said. "Careful on the last couple steps, sometimes they're slippery." Not as if he needed to remind her, but he was careful to give her an extra hand for support in case she needed it. Maybe Harry was the pot calling the kettle black, or maybe he was just a person better with actions than words.
Harry's help didn't do much good though since the step really was slippery. Erin stumbled right into him and found her face about two inches from his.
And though Harry caught her from falling, the moment was awkward at best, and also very brutal. His hands had unthinkingly gone to her waist to steady her and they just froze like that staring at each other. Harry felt like he could neither exhale nor swallow. He almost kissed her then.
"Well, well, well." Ron said. "Look who's cozy now, Hermione? You'd think they were alone and not on a hillside where anyone could see them..."
Erin looked up blushing but also grinning. She didn't want to move though and seeing as Harry's hands were still around her waist she doubted he wanted her to move either. She looked at Ron. "Ron, I'm going to kill you."
Harry had started to smile a bit, but Erin speaking allowed his brain to somehow begin functioning once more. He cleared his throat a bit and still held her by the waist, not letting go until he was sure her feet were securely on more even ground. Then he let go and shot a little glare at Ron also that promised painful death if he didn't quiet down. "No you won't." Hermione said in response to Erin. "You love him too much, but not as much as Harry."
Erin grinned. "You mean Harry loves Ron more than I do?" She looked at Harry. "Harry, why didn't you ever tell me?"
Ron looked shocked. "Hey, that's not funny!"
"What?" Harry looked appalled.
Hermione burst out in loud laughter, that wasn't what she meant, but it was far funnier. "Harry and Ron-ald sitting in a tree..." She began to sing, skipping away from Ron quickly to avoid punishment for the teasing.
Erin laughed and then put an arm around Harry. "I'm sorry, it was just too funny to pass up." She kissed his cheek. "Last one there has to kiss a flobberworm!" She took off.
"Hey!" Harry took off after Erin with a laugh, to which Hermione squealed lightly and ran after them, not wanting to be last at all.
Ron ran after Hermione and soon overtook her. Everyone knew that Hermione was the slowest of the lot. Erin touched Hagrid's hut first. "Well, I don't want to kiss a flobberworm." She said winking at Harry. "Although I wouldn't mind kissing something else."
Harry touched the hut second, coming in close to Erin with a grin, but he didn't take advantage. Hermione looked very disturbed at the idea of losing, but she couldn't outrun Ron now. "Not fair! You won't really make me do it will you?" She called before Ron had even officially beaten her.
"Finally something Hermione isn't all that good at." Harry kidded.
Hermione pouted a bit. "That's not funny, Harry." She slightly whined.
Erin smiled. "Don't worry, Hermione you can kiss the second best thing to a Flobberworm."
Hermione grimaced. "What's that?" She asked, afraid to even know.
Erin gave Harry a wiggle eyebrow look and grinned. "What do you think, Harry, is that good enough?"
"I think that's more then good enough." Harry agreed with a nod.
"Then it's settled then, Hermione you have to kiss Ron." Erin grinned.
Ron's mouth dropped. "What-you can't-what are you two playing at?"
Hermione blushed furiously; her pale cheeks turned a rosy color. "Oh I...no… besides that's mean. Ron's much nicer than an old flobberworm." She said defensively of the red-haired boy.
"Then you won't mind kissing him." Harry said.
"Harry!" Hermione protested. Erin was rubbing off on him now. Good grief!
"Come on, Hermione." Erin said. "You lost fair and square and Ron came in third so it's fair."
Ron's face had taken on the shade of his hair. "Er-in…"
"Well actually you already had a head start before you even decided on the terms so really it wasn't fair. So I say that you have to..." She looked around trying to decide what was fair. "Have to... have to kiss Harry!" Hermione shot back.
"Ok." Erin nodded. "I'll kiss Harry if you kiss Ron."
Ron looked even more like he was going to wet his pants.
Hermione raised her chin defiantly. "Ok, fine then." Hermione approached Ron, but her nerves came back so she very hesitantly leaned in and planted a quick kiss on his cheek.
Ron took on a grin and a giggle that wasn't very manly. Erin giggled herself and then looked at Harry. She took him by the shirt and pulled him to her kissing him full on the lips.
Harry was at first very helpless to the insistence of Erin, more surprised than anything, but then he did begin to kiss her back, to which Hermione dropped her jaw. She had never even seen older students kiss like that before. She didn't know what to think.
Ron was still gibbering like a madman.
Erin let go of Harry's shirt and instead put her arms around his neck. Hey, he had to end the kiss if he wanted to. Erin was aware that Hermione was watching them and she also knew what Hermione must have been thinking. She also heard Ron still giggling over that cheek kiss, just imagine what he would do if Hermione had really kissed him.
After a few more minutes Harry slowly broke the kiss with some reluctance but he didn't wish to make anymore of a scene then he had already. Hermione had since picked up her jaw from the ground and was standing uncomfortably next to Ron, ignoring his flabbergasted look. "Well..." Hermione glanced around. Harry and Erin were still so close. "Perhaps we ought to go inside." She said with a slight shy smile.
Erin grinned. "I think so too." Erin went up the steps and tried the door. It was locked. "Hey, Hagrid did say just to come in when we got here...but it's locked." She turned at looked at the others with a puzzled expression on her face.
"Since when does Hagrid lock his door?" Hermione wondered.
Harry shrugged helplessly. "Maybe he isn't here."
Ron turned when he heard something by the lake. "Hey, what's that?" Erin turned surprised Ron had actually gotten control of himself.
"What's what?" She asked and then she heard the sound too.
Harry was the first to head down in the direction of the lake where they heard the sounds. Which were a lot like blubbering and splashes. They soon discovered Hagrid standing ankle deep in the lake, throwing rocks by himself. "Hagrid?" Hermione asked softly.
The large man turned. "Oh, hi, you four. I've just gotten back from the hearing..." He paused and threw another rock across the lake.
Erin sat down on a rock noting something in Hagrid's voice and knowing she didn't want to be standing when she heard the news.
"How'd it go, Hagrid, the hearing?" Hermione asked when no one else would. She looked concernedly around at her friends and then back to Hagrid waiting to hear the news.
"Well, first off the committee members took turns talking about why we were there. I got up and said my piece, that Buckbeak was a good hippogriff, always cleaning his feathers. Then Lucius Malfoy got up there, well you can imagine, he said Buckbeak was a deadly and dangerous creature that would kill you as soon as look at you."
Erin took Harry's hand unconsciously as she could almost see what had taken place by Hagrid's words.
Hermione looked down at her sneakers already knowing that things would not be good. Harry stood behind Erin, still holding her hand without giving it much thought, only reacting by taking it in his. "What did they decide?" He asked cautiously.
"He asked for the worst, old Lucius did."
"They're not sacking you?" Ron asked.
"No, I am not being sacked." Hagrid suddenly got very emotional. "They've sentenced Buckbeak to death." Hagrid started to cry.
Erin cried out and turned to Harry sobbing. Harry did his best to comfort Erin, gently wrapping an arm around her and stroking her long hair. Hermione was teary too, but she was quiet. She glanced at Ron before quietly coming up beside Hagrid, standing on a rock over the water. She watched him throw another stone before she put a hand on his arm. Poor Hagrid. Poor Buckbeak. What terrible news.
Ron was in shock and not knowing what to do. He looked at Harry and Erin and then at Hagrid and Hermione. He took a step forward and gently took Hermione's hand not saying a word.
Hermione looked over in surprise, but then had to smile at Ron, giving his hand a little squeeze. "Is there nothing we can do?" Harry asked from behind them. "Set him free or something? Before they come for him..."
Hagrid shook his head. "No, we can't. I'd be in more trouble...they might even send me to...you-know-where again." Hagrid shuddered. "And Dumbledore would be in trouble too. No, don't worry, you four. I know how much yeh care about me and 'bout Buckbeak...but there's nothin' you can do."
Hermione looked up at their friend. "I'm sorry Hagrid." Breaking away from Ron just a moment to give Hagrid a hug. "It's not fair."
"No, it's not. It's getting late, though." He said brushing some tears from his face. "Yeh should be back at the castle."
Hermione nodded sadly. "Okay..." She glanced at Ron. Harry guided Erin to get up. "Come on, Erin." He whispered, rubbing her shoulder.