I don't own anything, the story belongs to Mrs Rowling.

I AM trying to update more often, it's just that my muse (My sister MY) has left me. she's gone back to shool in sweden. the good thing is that I wrote a couple of chapters during her stay. the bad thing, they're all on paper, and it takes me ages to write them in on the computer. Enjoy!

Have a little faith

Harry waited for Ron and Hermione to arrive back from Hogsmead, in the common room. He had barely avoided getting caught by Snape on his way back. Harry was beginning to believe, that Snape had placed some kind of tracking charm on him, the way he kept turning up everywhere Harry was.

Fred and George were giving him strange looks every now and then. George kept shaking his head at something Fred said, and then they turned and looked at the non-puzzled Harry. George finally walked over.

"Harry? How did you know about the map? I mean, you can't remember your dad telling you about it as a baby. Can you?" he said, looking at Harry seriously. Fred moved over as well, waiting for Harry's reply. "Eh…"Ron scrambled in through the portrait hole looking angry. "I didn't say anything about her liking me back. Did I?" he shouted at Hermione, who came climbing in after him. "Oh, come on Ron! Admit it! You couldn't stop staring at her!" she screamed back. Ron huffed, blushing at all of the looks they were getting, before storming up the stairs to the boy's dorm. Hermione sat down with a sigh. "He just can't admit that I'm right."Harry managed to hold of the laughter, the twins however, burst out in gales of laughter. "I don't like her in that way." Ron screamed, before slamming the door to the dorm with a deafening bang. Fred and George weren't the only one's to laugh now.

The twins looked at Hermione, who was looking under the table, and got up walking over to Wood, giving Harry looks that said, your not of the hook yet.

"So what are we going to do, now then?" Hermione asked, pulling out a writing pad from under the table. Harry looked at her, should he tell her the truth? On the other hand, should he just tell her of the first part of the plan? He opened his mouth after a short silence. Hermione was looking at him, pen armed and ready.

A shaking Colin, disturbed him just as he was about to speak. Hermione looked livid, after waiting for whatever Harry had been about to say, holding her breath knowing it was worth the lost air. "Pp…please?" Colin stuttered, swallowing hard. "Just one picture of it?" He now whispered, looking ready to bolt at any indication of hostility from Harry. Harry flinched. "No Colin. Leave him alone!" Harry stared gratefully at the scolding Hermione. "Jj…just one?" Colin dared to ask. Hermione stood up now, and with a disappointed look she said. "Can't you see, that he's tired of all the nagging about his Patronus?" Colin blushed now, looking uncomfortable.

"Sorry, Harry." he said before slinking away with a heartbroken face. "So?" Hermione turned back to Harry, who had changed his mind about the whole thing. "We'll let the adults handle it. We're just kids after all." Harry answered, effectively shocking her into a numb silence.

"I think I'll go up to bed now. Good night." she nodded, but didn't get up herself. The pad lay abandoned on the floor next to her feet.

The next morning, Harry was surprised to find the common room empty. "Where is everybody?" he asked. Hermione smiled at him. "Gone. It's the first day of the holidays, remember?" Harry nodded absentmindly. "Let's get some breakfast." Ron said, walking down from the dorm. He didn't stop to wait for them, or look back to see if they were following him. Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "Food, food, food. That's all you think about." Ron didn't stop, the only thing showing that he'd heard her, was his hands forming two white fists. "There are more important things you know." Hermione continued, sounding very much like the first year know-it-all girl, the boys had disliked. Harry furrowed his brows, was she looking for a fight? With Ron? Ron was still ignoring her, much to Harry's surprise.

"Why you couldn't…ouch." Harry elbowed her. "Leave it will you." she looked at him offended. "What? What did I do?" Harry rolled his eyes at her and hurried to catch up with the tall redhead.

"…doesn't stop, I'll…" Ron muttered under his breath. He didn't acknowledge Harry before they were seated at the table.

"Thanks for shutting her up, mate." he whispered. Harry shrugged, he had no idée what was up with the two of them. But he was staying as far as possible from their little quarrel as he could.

They spent the morning in tense silence. Harry and Ron played a very vicious game of chess and Hermione sat glaring at them over the top of her book, muttering about boys always siding with each other.

After lunch, where Ron had asked Hermione to pass the potatoes and she had complied, they set of to Hagrid's hut. They walked down through the castle in silence and out through the front door. Harry was getting tired of all the tension, but as he didn't want Hermione to snap at him, he kept quiet as well. It wasn't to bad really, this silence, Harry thought to himself and smiled. The Hogwarts grounds looked magical. The lawn was covered in glittery white snow, making them leave a sloppy trail behind them as they walked. The trees in the forbidden forest didn't look quite as scary as usual. They almost had a welcoming feeling about them. Most likely hiding all kinds of murderous creatures under their branches, ready to pounse, Harry thought to himself.

Ron knocked on Hagrid's door, but there was no answer. He turned around to face them and shrugged his shoulders. "Guess he's not here." "He's not out, is he? It's freezing!" Hermione asked, shivering under her cloak.

"He's in." Harry said stepping forward. Ron looked a little spooked, but placed his ear on the wooden door and listened. "There's a strange noise in there." he said after a while.

"Hagrid it's us. Let us in, it's freezing out here!" Harry banged at the door, making Ron wince as he still had his ear pressed against the door. Ron was sending Harry glares as they heard Hagrid walk towards the door. Hermione fought hard, to keep in her gasp at the sight of Hagrid, when he opened the door. He looked terrible, his eyes were swollen and red, and tears were splashing down his cheeks.

"You've heard." Hagrid sobbed. Harry nodded, and missed the confusion on Ron and Hermione's faces. Hagrid was just about to throw himself at Harry, who remembered the last time quite vividly. He'd had back pains for days after.

"Let's get inside and have a cup of tea." he said, effectively getting Hagrid's attention. "O' course. No good lettin all the heat out." Hagrid motioned for them to get inside. They all looked relived at him calming down.

"So what's wrong Hagrid." Hermione finally asked, sending Harry a look as well. Ron looked downcast. He was obviously worried that Hagrid would burst into tears again. Hagrid's eyes did tear up again and he shoved a letter towards Harry, who started reading it aloud, after Hagrid had blown his nose in a very loud affair.

Dear Mr Hagrid

Further to our inquiry into the attack by a Hippogriff on a student in your class, we have accepted the assurances of Professor Dumbledore that you bear no responsibility for the regrettable incident.

Ron started smiling, but after one look at Harry, the smile slowly melted away. Harry continued.

However, we must register our concern about the hippogriff in question. We have decided to uphold the official complaint of Mr Lucius Malfoy, and this matter will therefore be taken to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. The hearing will take place on April 20th, and we ask you to present yourself and your hippogriff at the Committee's offices in London on that date. In the meantime, the hippogriff should be kept tethered and isolated.

Yours in fellowship…

Harry stopped reading at the list of the school governors.

"Oh." said Ron in a faint voice, he looked unsure of what to say, as Harry's face, which he had been looking at, was unreadable. Finally, Ron settled for one of Hagrid's rock hard cakes, letting it soak in hot tea before trying to suck on it. There really was no point in biting it, as that would more damage to his teeth than the cake. He nearly choked on it, when a sudden sound, coming from the back of the cabin made him jump high in his seat. Buckbeak was lying there chomping on something that was oozing blood all over the floor. Ron slowly put his cake down on the table at the sight, turning a soft shade of green.

"I couldn' leave him tied up there in the snow." Hagrid said in self-defence at the look coming from Ron and Hermione.

"Of course not Hagrid. It is Christmas after all." Harry said in a somewhat sarcastic voice. Hagrid just beamed at him, whilst Ron and Hermione gave him incredulous looks.

"You will have to put up a strong defence." said Hermione, pulling out the little reporters' pad she'd had in the common room the night before. "I'm sure you can prove that Buckbeak is a good hippogriff." she said, patting his arm.

"Won' make a diff'rence." Hagrid sobbed. "Them Disposal devils, they're all in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. Scared o' him! An' if I lose the case, Buckbeak…" Hagrid drew his finger swiftly across his throat, then he gave a great wail and started sobbing again. Hermione turned to Harry for help.

"Look Hagrid. You just need to have a little faith." Ron's head turned to Harry so quickly there was a soft popping sound. Harry shock his head in a, keep-quiet kind of way and Ron settled for rubbing his sore neck. Hagrid stopped crying at the tone Harry used, and after blowing his nose once more, he was looking a little shamed of his behaviour.

"Yer right, Harry. I should ave a little faith in the ministry of magic." He didn't look quite convinced himself, but after Harry, Ron and Hermione nodded at him he seemed to feel better. And after Hermione promised to look up some facts for him he even gave them a smile when they were leaving. They all settled in for a reading night in the common room. Hermione was in heaven whilst Ron looked ready to fall asleep at any time. They both seemed to have forgotten their quarrel from earlier, Harry was still not sure what it had been about, when they all crept into bed.