Chapter 11
Harry and Ginny reached Buckbeak outside. He was lying in a bed of straw, chewing on a dead rat.
"Come on," Harry said as he jerked his head toward the hippogriff. Ginny smiled and they walked to him and bowed. He bowed his head in return. They approached him and climbed on his back. Ginny wrapped her arms around his middle and he grinned to himself.
Just then, Malfoy sprinted out of the house.
"Ginny! You can't go! How can you just abandon me like this?" he shouted desperately. Buckbeak ruffled his feathers. Malfoy hadn't bowed. Buckbeak started screeching.
"Malfoy! Bow!" Harry shouted over the noise, but no one could understand what he was saying.
"What? Shut up Potter!" Malfoy yelled back, "What's wrong with this thing?"
"Bow!" Ginny tried to shout but was cut off by the noise.
"What?" Malfoy yelled stupidly. Buckbeak reared up on his hind legs. Malfoy fell back and tried to shield his face. Ginny started to slide off the back and screamed. Harry tried to grab her before she did but her hand slipped. She fell to the ground with a thud.
"Ginny!" Harry shouted and jumped from the angry hippogriff. He knelt by Ginny. She was unconscious.
Suddenly, Harry heard another scream. He whirled around and saw Buckbeak trying to trample Malfoy. Malfoy was crawling on the ground away from him. Harry rushed to calm Buckbeak down. He stood between them and held up a rat. Buckbeak amazingly stopped and Harry threw the rat. He caught it and carried it back to his straw bed. Harry sighed in relief and noticed Malfoy cringing in pain and fear on the ground. Harry raced back to Ginny.
"Malfoy!" he called, "Help me get her inside!" Malfoy hurried toward them. Harry lifted her from the ground and Malfoy walked nearby just in case.
"Open the door," Harry said heavily. Malfoy did so and darted ahead of them to get help. Harry slowly carried her to the stairs. He knew he couldn't reach her room so decided to lay her on a moldy couch. A few seconds later Dumbledore, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Sirius, and Snape came bustling in the room. They all hovered over Ginny and accidentally pushed Harry out of the way. After a few minutes, they all stepped back. Dumbledore said something and turned to face Harry.
"How did this happen?" he asked sternly.
"Is she going to be alright?" Harry asked ignoring the question.
"Harry, she'll be fine," he said with a smile, "Now how did this happen?"
"Well, me and Ginny were getting ready to take Buckbeak out for a ride and Malfoy came out and didn't bow so Buckbeak went on a rampage. Ginny fell of when he reared up," he explained in a hurry. Dumbledore nodded his head and shared the news with the others. Harry heard many sighs of relief.
"Harry why don't you take Ginny up to her room?" Dumbledore said.
"What? But she-"Harry started to say but realized she was sitting up. He did what he was told and let her lean on him for support. She got in bed and Harry pulled up a chair next to her.
"Are you alright?" Harry asked anxiously.
"Yes, but, Harry I don't know if we should do this," she said sadly.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked. His stomach flipped.
"I mean every time we're "together" something bad like this happens," she answered unhappily.
"Oh, well in that case I'll go get Malfoy," Harry said and got up. Before he reached the door she said, "Harry, you're not mad are you?"
He hesitated for a moment and decided not to upset her condition, "No," he said quietly and left the room. He went to Malfoy's room and told him to go sit with Ginny. He rushed past the door and did so. Harry walked back to his room and found Ron and Hermione in a heated conversation.
"No Ron! We can't. Let's just wait until the war's over," Hermione pleaded.
"But what if something happens? Please Hermione, I love you," Ron said. Harry's eyes bolted open. He had never heard the word "love" come out of Ron's mouth. Now he felt like he was intruding. Ron saw him as he tried to leave quietly without being noticed.
"Harry," he said uncomfortably, "We were just, um, what are you doing here?" he said changing the subject, "I thought you were supposed to be out with Ginny."
"Well I was and then Malfoy ruined it," Harry said coldly.
"Well what happened mate?" Ron asked.
"Long story. All that's for sure is there's no chance for me and Ginny," Harry answered profoundly. Hermione shifted and finally shouted, "You see! We need to wait until this war's over! No relationship can last right now!" Harry looked at them in shock.
"Hermione," Ron said through gritted teeth, "We promised not to talk about this in front of people."
"Who cares? It's Harry. He's our best friend. We can trust him," she replied. The rest of the night was very awkward. The three of them didn't speak during dinner, not even when Tonks was entertaining the others with her transfiguration.
That night, they all went to bed without so much as a "Good night".
Harry lied in bed quietly.
"What do you think about Hermione?" Ron asked suddenly.
"What?" Harry asked in amazement.
"What do you think about her?" Ron asked again.
"Well, Ron, she, um," Harry struggled to say something. He didn't know. He never thought of Hermione like that.
"Ah never mind. Maybe she's right," Ron said more to himself than to Harry. Harry turned away and quickly fell asleep.
"Alright, we have to do this………" Harry dreamed again. He woke up quickly and looked over at Ron. He couldn't hear him snoring. He quickly got out of bed and shook Ron fiercely.
"What are you on about?" Ron moaned angrily. Harry sighed.
"Why are you up?" Harry finally asked.
"I can't sleep. I keep thinking about Hermione," Ron groaned. Harry was starting to get sick. He couldn't believe his best friends could be……. It was just a weird thought. He'd known them for so long. It was very strange to think about. He crawled back in bed and went to sleep only to be disturbed again.
I'm sorry this chapter is so short but the next one shouldn't be. I'll try to write it ASAP! Reviews would be nice!
