I have made a terrible mistake! I'm awfully sorry about the whole confusion this caused you… No! No one knows who England is, I'm sorry for the confusion! The teachers, who have a relation to Arthur, will be explained. I will call England Arthur from now on, as this is more from the student's point of view. Thank you all for the kind reviews, keep them coming!
"You mean he drank it?!" Hermione cried in disbelief when Harry told her and Ron about the potion.
"Yes, and Mr. Kirkland let him!" Harry added, starting to distrust the man. "Isn't he suspicious," he said, looking at the ground.
Hermione nodded, pulling her book out of her bag, "we ought to investigate this," she said in peculiar tone. "I heard him say he was going to be walking through the campus tonight,"
Ron and Harry stared at her. "What?" they both said, thrown off by the sudden suggestion. It was from Hermione, the trouble hater.
"I can't help but feel I've seen him before, when I was really young and before I knew I was a witch," she said, her mouth in a thoughtful pout. "Get your cloak, Harry, or give it to me, I simply need to know what this man is doing." Ron and Harry exchanged a look. If Hermione wanted to…
"Well," Harry raised an eyebrow, "I do want to visit Hagrid, maybe he will be there," Hermione smiled. She did look a bit uncertain. She seemed to hesitate for a moment as they headed out of the portrait. For a moment she drew back, common sense trickling in.
"Maybe we shouldn't," she bit her lip.
"It was your idea. Don't you want to see Hagrid?" Ron said gruffly, having liked the dangerous Hermione. The girl didn't respond and followed through. The night was filled with sounds of a light breeze, it was a tad chilly. Hiding from Peeves passing over head, Hermione had a better chance to think about what she was doing. She scolded herself thoroughly for making such a radical choice. 'Oh, Hermione, how dare you let yourself into this? You know better than this… Why is it you want to see the man so badly? You only saw him once or twice, when he visited your mum and dad to have his teeth cleaned…' she thought, and turned to follow the boys onward. 'How dreadful! I could get caught and then I'll lose my extra classes and time-turner!'
The reached Hagrid's home, quite luckily unseen and entered. Hagrid was sobbing the way a giant would and talking. "Poor buckbeak! He did nothin' wrong! He's a gentle creature, and ye know it…" he didn't appear to be talking to the Golden Trio, but rather to someone in his kitchen. They entered quietly. Hagrid looked up and saw them. Tears welled in his eyes, big shining tears that wetted his beard. "Aye hello Harry, Hermione, Ron… I'm sorry ye've got to see me like this," he said sadly, shoulders quaking.
Hermione shook her head and walked closer, "I am sorry … But we still have the trial!" she added in a more hopeful tone. Ron nodded and sat down. Harry looked into the kitchen and found a pot of tea boiling.
"Hey, Hagrid, who were you talkin—" Harry was cut off and gave a little shriek when he heard a voice that was not Hagrid's.
"What are you doing here? You aren't allowed here at this time," Arthur's voice came, in a scolding tone. Hermione gave a little yelp and looked at Arthur who had walked in the door. He wore his tweed suit and a frown. "I thought you would know better, Hermione," he turned to the girl. The girl was looking shameful.
"I'm sorry, sir, we just wanted to see Hagrid, he's a friend of ours you see…" Ron said, trying to take the blame for himself. "I thought it would be a splendid idea to come and comfort him. He really is a gentle… Man, and I would hate to see Buckbeak be taken so suddenly." Arthur studied his face. He could tell it was not all truth. Ron could feel Arthur's eyes bore into his skin and pry out the truth. He feared the man suddenly. Arthur was not a normal wizard, Hermione concluded. But then what is he?
Arthur looked at Hermione and Harry in turn, finally casting his gaze upon Hagrid. Hagrid went frigid and stopped crying at once. Even the half-giant looked frightened by this small man. His presence could bring great joy, as well as great fear, the group realized. "I understand. Would you like some tea? I had been making it when something captured my attention out the window,"
Harry felt lost. He wondered why he wasn't being punished, and why tea was suddenly offered to him. "Can you tell us why you are here?" Hermione touched the nerve to ask.
England stopped what he was doing and looked at them. His eyes were sad and, was that… Yes it was, loneliness. "Some things change… " he responded and turned away, "and sometimes for the worst."
A bit of a shorter chapter, my apologies, but I do wish to keep these as drabbles. So I can write more!
