The garden in front of Hogwarts Castle looked like a tranquil painting. Without the Marauder's Map, finding someone had become a real nuisance, and Jerry had only found his way here by asking the portraits in the frames along the walls. Hermione was sitting alone on a bench, tears slipping silently down her cheeks.
"Here, dry your tears." Jerry spoke softly as he offered her a handkerchief, then sat beside her.
Hermione looked up and was startled to see Jerry. She hurriedly lowered her head, wiping the tears from her cheeks with the white handkerchief before looking at him again. "Why did you come out too?"
"What do you think?" A faint smile curved Jerry's lips, and he shrugged casually.
"I'm sorry, Jerry. I dragged you into this." Hermione's voice trembled slightly. "In all these years, no teacher has ever spoken to me like that. What Professor Trelawney said really hurt." She buried her face in Jerry's chest and wrapped both arms tightly around his neck. "You were right. If you hadn't been there for me lately, I really would have fallen apart!"
Jerry gently stroked her hair and comforted her in a soft voice. "You really have been looking a little worn out lately. So stop worrying about Buckbeak for now. Leave it to me."
"All right. I'll listen to you." Hermione nodded gently, her voice barely above a whisper. "But Jerry, promise me you won't do anything stupid for Buckbeak. I don't want you sent to prison over this, let alone Azkaban!"
Arrest him? Who would dare? What a joke! Did they even know what it meant to be a law unto himself? (Leaning back smugly.)
Even if Jerry agreed to plead guilty, would Grindelwald stand for it? Before the Ministry of Magic could even arrest Jerry, the