Judgment

It is well known that the Ministry of Magic has historically been inefficient, but this time it was surprisingly fast.

Less than a night after the Hogsmeade Blood Night, they began a full-scale investigation into the cause of the incident. However, Su Yu remarked, "Letting those useless fools find out anything will take forever."

So he had members of the Shadow Compass Society, who had been hiding within the Ministry of Magic for several years and had graduated, also begin to follow up on this investigation.

However, Empress of Heaven, the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures sent a formal notice to Hogwarts that Buckbeak's case would be heard next Wednesday.

"Those old fogies certainly know how to pick their timing." Malfoy stood in front of the fireplace in the common room, another notice between his fingers, his gray eyes full of mockery. "While everyone's attention was on the Goblin, they secretly closed the case."

"Your father is quick on his feet too." Blaise leaned back on the sofa, a glass of red wine in his hand. "Before the Goblin matter was even cleared up, he had already moved on to Hagrid's case."

Malfoy glanced at him but said nothing.

When Hermione told Su Yu that they were going to visit Hagrid, it was already Saturday. She rushed to the Slytherin Common Room early in the morning, and it wasn't until almost noon that she saw Su Yu coming out of the dormitory with Ka-jie in his arms. He looked like he had just woken up, and anyone who didn't know better would have thought that he had been working hard all night.

While eating lunch, Hermione told Su Yu about what happened when she and Harry went to find Hagrid.

When they knocked on Hagrid's Hut, the door didn't open. Harry knocked a few more times, and Hagrid's muffled voice came from inside. "Go away."

"Hagrid, it's us," Harry said. "Harry and Hermione."

After a long silence, the door slowly opened.

Hermione said she saw Hagrid standing at the door with his eyes swollen like walnuts, his nose red, and tears still clinging to his beard. He was still wearing the brown suit he'd worn to the Ministry of Magic the day before, but his tie was ripped off, his shirt collar was open, and he looked like a tree struck by lightning.

"We lost." Hagrid's voice was so hoarse it was almost inaudible. "They say Buckbeak is guilty and should be executed."

Hermione covered her mouth, her eyes instantly reddening, while Harry stood rooted to the spot, his hands clenched into fists.

"They said it was lucky that the Malfoy family kid was strong enough to avoid getting hurt. If it were any other student, a dangerous creature like Buckbeak would have caused a huge disaster long ago. That's why they can't stay at the school." Hagrid turned around, stumbled back into the house, and plopped down on the huge wooden chair. The chair creaked as if protesting his weight.

Hermione followed him in and sat down opposite Hagrid. "Did you read your defense statement?"

Hagrid lowered his head. "I read the first few lines and then forgot them. They sat there staring at me, Malfoy's father sat next to me laughing, and I couldn't remember anything after that."

Harry stood at the doorway but didn't go in.

Hermione pulled a neatly folded piece of parchment from her pocket, unfolded it, and handed it to Hagrid. "This is the appeal process. I checked, there's still a chance—"

"It's no use." Hagrid pushed the parchment away, not taking it. "The committee's verdict is final, and the Minister for Magic has signed it. Appeal? The line will be open until next year, and Buckbeak can't wait that long." He buried his face in those huge hands, his shoulders heaving silently, but Hermione knew he was crying.

Hermione stood up, walked over to Hagrid, and placed her hand on his broad, trembling shoulder. Hagrid didn't move or look up.

"I won't let it die." Hermione's voice wasn't loud, but it was firm.

Hagrid lifted his face from his palm, his red eyes looking at her. "What did you say?"

"I said, I won't let Buckbeak die."

Harry walked in through the door and stood next to Hermione. "Me neither."

Hagrid looked at the two of them, his lips trembled, and he lowered his head again.

"You're all good kids," his voice muffled in his hands, "But you can't help with this."

Hermione didn't reply. She refolded the parchment containing the appeal process, stuffed it into her pocket, and pulled Harry out of the hut. The door closed behind them with a dull thud.

They walked back along the path in silence. Hermione walked ahead, her steps quick, while Harry followed behind, nearly stepping on her heels several times.

"What are you going to do?" Harry asked.

"I don't know," Hermione said without turning her head, "But there's always a way."

"He lost," Hermione said to Su Yu. "Hagrid forgot his lines, he forgot everything. We prepared his defense for three weeks, and he couldn't even get the opening right. Lucius Malfoy, sitting in the audience, spoke ten times better than him." She lowered her head, circling her finger on the table. "I wish I could go, I could speak for Hagrid, but they won't let me. I'm still a student..."

Su Yu didn't say anything. Did he not know that Buckbeak couldn't die? He could only keep comforting Hermione.

Kurama pushed the unfinished cheesecake in front of her. Hermione glanced at it, shook her head, and lowered her head again.

"Your efforts haven't been in vain." Daphne sat down next to Hermione, placing her hand on Hermione's shoulder. "You've done everything you could."

Hermione leaned against Daphne and closed her eyes.

Divination.

In the classroom at the top of the North Tower, Professor Trelawney was explaining the secrets of crystal ball Divination in her uniquely sleepwalking voice. The curtains were drawn tightly, and the fire in the fireplace cast flickering shadows in the dim light.

"The crystal ball is one of the most difficult artifacts in the world to master." Her eyes, magnified several times over, gazed at the crowd through lenses as thick as the bottom of a wine bottle. "It doesn't require skill, but talent—a talent that most of you probably don't possess."

Hermione looked up from the crystal ball, glanced at her, then looked down at the transparent sphere in front of her. "Now, let's begin, dear. Stare into the crystal ball and tell me what you see."

The classroom fell silent. Ron leaned closer to the crystal ball, his nose almost touching the glass. "I see white mist." He leaned even closer, squinting exaggeratedly. "Maybe there's a thick fog tonight?"

A few suppressed laughs came from around them. Harry wiped his crystal ball with his sleeve, but saw nothing, only a murky white mist. Hermione's crystal ball was also shrouded in white mist. She didn't laugh, but just stared at the white mist, her brows furrowed tightly.

"Miss Granger, what did you see?" Professor Trelawney floated in front of Hermione and asked in that echoing voice.

"White mist," Hermione answered truthfully.

"Your Third Eye hasn't been opened yet, it's alright." With that, she floated away.

Hermione's knuckles turned slightly white as she gripped the base of the crystal ball tightly. Su Yu squeezed her little hand beside her. Kurama squatted next to the crystal ball and poked at its surface with his claws. The white mist surged for a moment before returning to calm.

"Me neither! Does that mean I have no talent? No, it must be that this crystal ball is broken. I strongly demand a replacement!" She licked her paws, protesting with a disgruntled expression.