Refitting Pieces
FOR A MOMENT ALL Harry could do was stare at the letter in Will's hand. Freya was looking at it in a way identical to the look of horror and fear she had gotten in their previous year when her mum had sent an owl. Hesitantly, Harry grabbed for it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.
Dear Will,
We lost.
I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed. Beaky has enjoyed London.
I won't forget all the help you gave us, you and Freya and Harry tried too. You three are the best so you best be together when I get back, ya hear? Because you're far better together.
Hagrid
"They...they can't do this!" said Harry fiercely, shaking his head. "They can't! Buckbeak isn't dangerous."
"Malfoy's dad frightened the Committee into it," said Will, his jaw clenched tightly as he stared at the letter as though he could cause it to burn. "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope...Nothing will have changed."
"Like bloody hell nothings going to change," said Freya, her eyes flashing as she grabbed the letter and ripped it into pieces. "Because we're not going to be looking over the same info to be giving to Hagrid separately anymore. Two pairs of eyes are better then one obviously, so I guess..." she glanced at Will frowning, "I guess since Harry's always busy with dementor studying and flying there's only one person to work with."
"Me?" asked Will, his hard stare softening into a bit of surprise and a bit of hope.
"No," said Freya dryly. "I meant Malfoy."
There was a small pause and then Will smiled slightly as he let out a huff of laughter and Harry grinned as Freya was attempting to keep her frown to her face. Will noticed as his features faltered.
"Freya," Will scratched the back of his neck. "Scabbers was an utterly useless and ugly rat-"
"Will," whispered Harry.
"But I'm really really really sorry he's dead."
For a moment Harry and Will looked to Freya who stared at Will frowning.
Then she sighed, "I'm accepting your apology only because homework goes a lot easier when it's being done with you."
Harry kicked Freya lightly.
Still staring at Will, she kicked him back harder, because of course.
"And also, because, well, Harry missed you."
Harry aimed another kick that Freya dodged. "Frey-"
"It's okay." Will put a hand on Harry's shoulder to stop him and when Harry faced him, the smile that broke out on Will's face almost made Harry sad as he just realized how much he'd missed seeing it on his friends' face. "She's a bit hopeless. remember?"
"One of my finer attributes," joked Freya and she grinned a grin that was more complete than the other smiles she'd been showing for the past few weeks, as if all the happiness in it were back now. "Come on, let's go to the Gryffindor common group in all our mended friendship glory so Dean and Seamus know they can talk to you in front of me again."
"Is that why they've been avoiding me?" asked Will scandalized as they walked, Harry laughing as everything was the perfect amount of noisy once again.