Chapter 95

What was meant to come, came.

Early this morning, a letter from the Ministry of Magic arrived at Hagrid's hut.

After the last trial, Hermione had already helped Hagrid prepare a lot of materials and even had him use the newspaper to seek attention for Buckbeak.

However, there were no results; Malfoy's influence far exceeded their imagination.

Buckbeak's final verdict was delivered.

It was sentenced to death.

The execution date was set for June.

After reading the letter, Hagrid was deeply devastated.

Although there was still time left for them to appeal, he knew that hope was already slim.

After all, he had said everything he could say and done everything he could do.

The problem was no longer with them, but with Lucius.

Lucius could hinder them once or twice, so he could hinder them countless times.

Inside Hagrid's hut, Hagrid sat by the window, sadly looking at Buckbeak outside.

Buckbeak was still completely unaware of its situation, preening the feathers on its wings with its beak, occasionally letting out a few low cries.

Hagrid looked at it, his eyes slightly reddened.

Hermione and John were also sitting in Hagrid's hut, trying to comfort him.

"Hagrid, don't worry, we have already prepared a detailed appeal plan, as well as a large amount of materials."

"We still have a chance to appeal."

Hermione really couldn't bear to see Hagrid so sad and comforted him softly.

Hagrid slowly turned his head to look at Hermione and John.

"Thank you, children, but I can no longer see any hope..."

Hagrid's voice was low and hoarse, and he managed to force a bitter smile.

Hearing this, Hermione clenched her small hands, her body trembling slightly, her eyes full of unwillingness.

This kind of injustice made her feel angry and powerless.

The law was clearly a weapon to uphold justice, so why was it so fragile in the face of power?

If she could, she really wanted to change all of this with her own hands.

At this moment, John gently held Hermione's tightly clenched small hand, signaling her to calm down.

Compared to Hermione, John appeared much calmer.

After all, it was something he had anticipated long ago.

Hermione also looked at John, her eyes already slightly red.

Tears were swirling in her eyes, showing she was quite angry, and at the same time, there was some grievance mixed in.

When she saw John, she finally couldn't hold it in anymore, choked up, leaned against John's side, wrapped her arms around his neck, and hugged him helplessly.

John's body stiffened, but he also hugged Hermione in turn, patting her head gently to comfort her.

"Don't worry, Hermione, there's still a way."

Listening to John's comfort, Hermione looked up, not knowing if John really had a way or was just comforting her.

Looking at Hermione's helpless little eyes, John didn't remain silent anymore, but looked at Hagrid and spoke slowly.

"Professor Hagrid, some time ago, I saw a case in a book about a Manticore hurting someone."

"In the end, that ferocious beast was released."

"The reason was simple: because no one dared to get close to it at the time, so it ran away on its own."

Listening to John's words, Hagrid looked very confused as to why he would suddenly bring this up.

Hermione, however, was slightly stunned, understood John's meaning, and asked hesitantly.

"You mean... let Buckbeak run away?"

Hearing Hermione's words, Hagrid also understood John's meaning and shook his head, saying.

"No, John, I had already thought of this method, but it won't work."

It was nothing more than letting Buckbeak become an ownerless magical creature to escape the Ministry of Magic's sanctions.

But the problem was that doing so was illegal, and Hermione also disagreed with such a method.

John just shook his head, telling them not to be anxious, and continued to speak unhurriedly.

"Of course we can't just let Buckbeak go."

"But what if Buckbeak broke free from its restraints by its own will?"

"I mean, breaking free right in front of those executioners from the Ministry of Magic."

John's words left both Hagrid and Hermione stunned.

"You mean... create an opportunity for Buckbeak to 'escape' on its own?"

Hermione asked slowly.

This indeed had an essential difference from 'letting it go'.

"That's right. After all, the Ministry of Magic has already judged and determined that Buckbeak is a dangerous animal."

"Then, it should be quite reasonable for this dangerous animal to break free from its restraints and flee the scene when facing a life-and-death crisis, right?"

John nodded and continued.

"Moreover, there are so many Hippogriffs in the world; if this one runs away, can the Ministry of Magic really catch all of them to verify their identities?"

"So as long as Buckbeak can escape back into the depths of the Forbidden Forest, blend in with others of its kind, or simply change its habitat."

"The Ministry of Magic will no longer be able to confirm its whereabouts and identity."

"Taking a step back, even if they really had a way to find Buckbeak, they wouldn't spend so much manpower and resources to look for it."

"After all, this execution is essentially just those good-for-nothings doing it to please Malfoy; whether Buckbeak lives or dies doesn't matter to them at all."

"In the end, it will just be like the case of the Manticore hurting someone—it will be left unsettled."

After hearing John's full analysis, both Hermione and Hagrid's eyes lit up.

Although this was frantically testing the edge of the law.

It was indeed a good method.

As long as Buckbeak could escape without a trace, the Ministry of Magic would likely choose to let the matter rest.

After Hermione figured it out, she immediately broke into a smile through her tears and excitedly hugged John again.

"John, you are truly too smart!"

Hagrid was also so happy that his eyes reddened.

John felt Hermione's warm and soft embrace, also reached out to pat her back gently, a faint smile appearing on the corners of his mouth.

When Titus suggested he think about a rescue plan early, he had already started pondering it.

He searched through the entire record of cases and finally found a loophole he could exploit.

Although he didn't know if the Manticore in the case was as innocent as Buckbeak, and whether such behavior could be considered exonerating those truly ferocious beasts.

But that wasn't something they needed to consider; it was something for those good-for-nothings to consider.

They only needed to save Buckbeak.

"Alright, Hermione, we still have to plan the specific details."

After the hug had lasted long enough, John said softly to Hermione.

Hermione then reluctantly let go of the embrace, but her arms still rested on John's shoulders.

The tear stains on her face hadn't dried yet, so John reached out to wipe them away for her.

Hermione's face flushed slightly, but she didn't dodge.

Just as John was wiping her tear stains, with a clatter, the wooden door of Hagrid's hut was pushed open.

Harry and Ron ran in hurriedly.

"Hagrid, we heard that Buckbe..."

As soon as Harry and Ron entered, before they could finish their sentence, they froze at the door.

Their gazes landed on the intimate posture that Hermione and John were still maintaining.

Hermione was also stunned when she saw them; she hadn't told them about Buckbeak yet.

How did they know?

However, noticing their strange looks at her, Hermione realized she was still hugging John, immediately pulled her hands back with a blushing face, and coughed lightly, pretending nothing had happened.

John also scratched his head awkwardly and looked at the scenery outside the window.

Wow, the sky is really blue.

Harry and Ron had different expressions: one was surprised but not unexpected, the other was full of disbelief.

Hagrid didn't notice their expressions and was excitedly rubbing his hands together, saying.

"Harry! Ron! You came just in time!"