THE SAFTEY MEASURES IMPOSED on the students since Black's second break-in made it impossible for Harry, Freya, and Will to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings. Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons. He seemed numb with shock at the verdict.

"S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Will. And the thingy about that one dragon trial, Freya! An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em..."

"There's still the appeal!" said Freya fiercely as she hit Hagrid's large arm a couple a number of times as if trying to distract him from his sadness. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"

"Yeah," said Harry earnestly. "I mean, if Freya's working hard on something that involves books and the sort, that's when you know miracles can happen, Hagrid!"

The kick that earned him was worth it to hear Hagrid laugh.

After, they had to walk back up to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead they could see Malfoy, who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle, looking back at them, smirking as Goyle and Crabbe laughed loudly.

"S'no good, Freya," said Hagrid sadly, the somberness of the situation getting to him once again, as they reached the castle steps. "That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that "

Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin, his face buried in his handkerchief.

"Ah, look at him blubber."

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors, listening.

"Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?" said Malfoy. "And he's supposed to be our teacher!"

Harry and Will both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Freya got there first -

SMACK!

She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster and Malfoy staggered back as consequence.

Harry, Will, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Freya raised her hand again.

"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic." said Freya, her voice cold and calm as she stared at Malfoy. "Don't you ever call him something so low."

"Why?" Malfoy for his part after flinching first in surprise, was standing almost relaxed, not even glancing at her threatening hand as he raised a pale brow at her. "Because it hits too close to home? Resembles your family's status to much?"

"On the contrary, it's because Hagrid being pathetic would make him equal to you and Hagrid is not that low." hissed Freya her hands clenching into fists. "Nodecentperson is."

"Freya." Will had spoken up now and he stepped slightly forward as he grabbed her raised hand and lowered it, "Freya, he's not worth it."

"Get off, William!"

In a flash of an instant, Freya had pulled out her wand. Malfoy tilted his head. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered.

"You're not going to hex me," said Malfoy after a moment.

"And maybe you're right." replied Freya, just as conversationally.

"Why would I be? Is it because you've realized you're not that good of a witch to cast even the simplest spells?"

"It's because for some reason even though you're a harsh reality," Freya spat, backing away as she pocketed her wand,"I can't stop re-calling a certain dream."

An emotion spasmed on Malfoy's face, too quick for Harry to catch, before suddenly he was staring at the wall, bored again.

Sighing, he gestured over his shoulder at Crabbe and Goyle. "C'mon."

He was walking for a moment before suddenly, Malfoy tripped. He stared up, confused, to see Will looking down at him as both Freya and Harry stared at Will in surprise.

"I don't know why she didn't hex you, but just so you know next time you say anything false about Hagrid, I'll have a go at you." said Will tightly. "And I, despite being a mudblood as you say, know quite a few spells that you would rather not be subjected too."

Malfoy picked himself up and shook his head at Will but didn't say anything else as he strode off, Crabbe and Goyle following behind as they cast menacing looks backwards at them.

They watched them go for a moment before Harry sighed. "It's not fair."

"What that prat's father is doing with Buckbeak's trial?" asked Will sharply.

"No, I mean, yes." said Harry, "But, also why didn't I get to have a go at Malfoy?"

Will and Freya raised their brows at him before beginning to laugh.

"Oh my god, Harry, you have a go at him all the time." said Freya, amused.

"Yes, but this time you slapped him, and Will tripped him and if this was going to be a team effort-"

"Next time, Harry." said Will, amused and exasperated, as he shook his head. He looked to Freya, grinning. "Good slap."

"Excellent trip." she said back generously.

"You know what really seemed to trip him up though? That thing that you said." Will stared at her quizzically, "What did you mean by the dream?"

Freya's stared at them surprised for a moment and then the bell rang.

"Oh my goodness, there's the bell." said Freya hastily as she shouldered her bag and hurried off, "Come on, you know how I hate being late for class."

"You love being-" Harry started but she had already left. Harry shook his head, "She was obviously lying, right Wi-"

Blinking, Harry looked to his left to see, unexpectedly, Will was gone.

"Seriously, first a fighting duo and now a disappearing act..." muttered Harry as he started up the stairs, "If we're going to be doing something can I please know beforehand, like..."

"Harry." he paused and looked up at Freya who was staring down at him bemused. "Seriously, stop mummering and hurry the bloody hell up. Where's Will?"

"I don't know, I thought you'd both left me behind."

"I so rarely leave people behind, my good sir." Freya winked. "But, no, seriously. Flitwick is going to kill us, let's go!"

And side by side, they both ran, ignoring a passing Nearly Headless Nick's calls about how they could die, running in the halls.