"We need to go and see Hagrid. It sounds like things aren't going well for him!" After Harry and the others hurried off, Hermione turned to Jerry and took a deep breath. It was still early, but Hogsmeade was only so big, and she had already sneaked there with Jerry plenty of times the year before.
The two left Hogsmeade early, passed along the edge of the Forbidden Forest, and arrived at Hagrid's Hut. With the professors keeping an unusually close watch over student safety lately, their freedom had been severely restricted. They could only talk to Hagrid during Care of Magical Creatures.
"Jerry? Hermione? Just you two?" Hagrid opened the door and saw them standing outside, his voice slightly choked.
"Come inside first!"
Holding Hermione's hand tightly, Jerry entered Hagrid's Hut with her. Their eyes fell on the heavy leather coat tossed carelessly on the floor. Jerry's heart tightened. "Hagrid, has something happened to Buckbeak?"
At those words, Hagrid lost control of his emotions. Great tears spilled from his eyes, soaking his shaggy beard. "Yes, Jerry, it's all my fault!" he choked out. "All my fault!"
Hermione hurried to comfort him. "Hagrid, try to calm down. Sit down and tell us slowly." She tugged hard on his sleeve, guiding him onto a wooden stool, then poured him a cup of hot tea from the nearby kettle, hoping to calm him down.
"Thank you, Hermione. I'll never forget everything you've done to help us. The truth is, I've just come back from the Ministry of Magic. We lost the case. They've allowed me to bring Buckbeak back to Hogwarts until the day of his execution."
"Malfoy's father must have used his influence to force the committee into that decision." Tears glistened in Hermione's eyes as she looked at Hagrid. She