Chapter 23: Buckbeak

Cinnamon flew in and landed in front of Dawn depositing an envelope. Dawn looked at hers and Willow's owl and smiled. "Thank you, Cin," she said. Dawn opened the envelope expecting a letter from Buffy but found it was from Hagrid instead.

Dear Dawn and Willow,

How about having tea with me this afternoon 'round six?

Cheers,

Hagrid

Dawn showed Willow the letter and Willow nodded. So, at six o'clock that afternoon, Dawn and Willow left the castle and down to Hagrid's cabin. Dawn knocked as Hagrid opened the door and ushered them in.

The first thing they saw on entering Hagrid's cabin was Buckbeak, who was stretched out on top of Hagrid's patchwork quilt, his enormous wings folded tight to his body, enjoying a large plate of dead ferrets.

Willow noticed a gigantic, hairy brown suit and a very horrible yellow-and-orange tie hanging from the top of Hagrid's wardrobe door. "What are they for, Hagrid?" she asked.

Hagrid let out a sigh, he was sure that Harry, Ron and Hermione had told them about Buckbeak and what happened during one of his lessons. "Buckbeak's case against the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures," said Hagrid. "This Friday. Him an' me'll be goin' down ter London together. I was wonderin' if you could …"

"Portal you and Buckbeak to London?" Dawn asked. "Of course, Hagrid. In fact, I will go with you."

Hagrid poured them tea and offered them a plate of Bath buns, but they knew from Harry that it was better to avoid Hagrid's cooking so they politely declined the Bath buns.

"I got somethin' ter discuss with you two," said Hagrid, sitting himself between them and looking uncharacteristically serious.

"What?" said Willow.

"Hermione," said Hagrid.

"What about her?" wondered Willow.

"She's in a righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Ron hasn't talkin' to her because her cat—"

"—ate Scabbers?" Dawn interjected with a sigh. "We heard. We've seen her a few times since the incident. She's taking this a bit hard, cried on our shoulders a few times. We've been trying to smooth tensions between her and Ron."

"Good," said Hagrid. Behind him, Buckbeak spat a few ferret bones onto Hagrid's pillow. They spent the rest of their visit discussing Gryffindor's improved chances for the Quidditch Cup. At nine o'clock, Hagrid walked them back up to the castle.

On Saturday morning, Willow met Harry and Ron for breakfast. Dawn, had yet to return from London with Hagrid and Buckbeak.

After breakfast they headed down to the village. They visited Zonko's, which was so packed with students. There were jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams. They left Zonko's with their money bags considerably lighter than they had been on entering, but their pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece.

"Now," Willow said. "Don't let me catch you two using any of that."

"Promise, Aunt Willow," Harry replied.

The day was fine and breezy, and none of them felt like staying indoors, so they walked past the Three Broomsticks and climbed a slope to visit the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. It stood a little way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden.

"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron as they leaned on the fence, looking up at it. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick… he says he's heard a very rough crowd live here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut…"

It was then they heard someone climbing toward the house from the other side of the hill; moments later, Malfoy had appeared, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy was speaking.

"…should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm… about how I couldn't use it for three months…"

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.

"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself…'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest—'…that hippogriff's as good as dead —"

Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Willow, Harry and Ron. "We were just discussing Hagrid," Malfoy said. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his hippogriff's—"

Willow frowned and before she could do anything she saw that Harry had a ball of mud in his hand and was throwing it. It hit Malfoy and his head jerked backward; his silver-blond hair was suddenly dripping in muck.

"What the—?"

Ron had to hold onto the fence to keep himself standing, he was laughing so hard. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle glared at Harry and Willow.

"You would let him do that, Professor!" Malfoy said angrily. "After all family get special treatment don't they?"

"You are lucky that is all you got," Willow said. "I would have marched you back to the castle and given you detention for egging my nephew and his friend."

"My father will here of this," Malfoy said as he, Crabbe and Goyle went back in the direction they had come.

When they got back to the castle, Snape was waiting for them.

"So," he said.

There was a look of suppressed triumph about him. "Come with me, Potter," said Snape. "You too, Willow."

"For what, Severus?" Willow asked.

"Mr. Malfoy has just been to see me with a story of favoritism," said Snape. "He tells me that he was up by the Shrieking Shack when he ran into you three. He told me how you stood by and let your nephew hit him with a ball of mud. And that you standing there did nothing to punish your nephew."

"That's right," Willow said.

"So," Snape said. "Everyone from the Minister of Magic downward has been trying to keep famous Harry Potter safe from Sirius Black. But famous Harry Potter is a law unto himself. Let the ordinary people worry about his safety! He can even do things with no thought for the consequences because his aunt is not only a professor at this school, but also on the Wizengamot. I intend to talk to the headmaster about seeing you and your wife removed from your position." He turned and stalked off.

"Albus won't fire us," Willow said as she escorted Harry and Ron to the Gryffindor tower. They met Dawn just outside the Gryffindor Common Room. "When did you get back, Dawn?"

"Just now," Dawn said with a sigh. "Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed. I just told Hermione and wanted to see you three before I went to see Buffy. I have a plan to save Buckbeak."

"You're hoping Buffy will agree to offer sanctuary to Buckbeak?" Harry asked hopeful.

"Yes," Dawn said. "Also, Ron, Hermione told me she is sorry about Scabbers."

"Oh—well—he was old," said Ron. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now."

Since the next day was Sunday Dawn portaled to the ISC shortly after breakfast. She found Buffy in the library. "I have a request, Buffy," Dawn said.

Buffy knew Dawn well enough that her sister would not make a request if it was not serious. She stood and led Dawn out of the library and to her office. "What is it?" she asked as she closed the door behind them.

"I sent you a letter explaining what had happened with Hagrid's gryphon, remember?" Dawn asked as Buffy nodded. "I portaled Hagrid and Buckbeak to the hearing and Lucius Malfoy was there."

Buffy shook her head. She had heard about Draco's father from Dobby. "Let me guess he persuaded them to have the poor creature killed?"

Dawn sighed and nodded. "Yeah."

"Then I know what the request is," Buffy said. "Tell him that Buckbeak can stay at our Scotland castle. That the ISC will protect him."

"Thank, you, Buffy," Dawn said as she hugged her sister.

When Dawn returned to Hogwarts, she immediately went to see Hagrid.

"S'all my fault," Hagrid said. "And with the appeal committee in Lucius Malfoy's pocket, there is no hope for an appeal. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that…"

"Hagrid," Dawn interrupted. "Buckbeak is safe. With your permission we will transfer him to the ISC's Scotland castle. Buffy said that he can have refuge there. The ISC will protect him."

"They will," Hagrid said happily. "Of course, they have my permission. But won't that mean …"

"Willow and I are not Fudge's favorites since we stood up to him over the summer when he wanted us to keep Harry basically under house arrest," Dawn explained. "This won't change nothing. Besides he really can't touch us and he knows it. Azkaban won't be able to hold us."

"Because of your portal ability?" Hagrid asked as Dawn nodded.

"Yes," she said.