Change the Future

HBP 13

"For the last time, just forget about Malfoy," Hermione told Harry firmly. They were sitting with Ron in a sunny corner of the courtyard after lunch. Ron gave a start and tried to hide behind Hermione as a girl came around the corner. "It isn't Lavender," Hermione said wearily.

 "Oh, good," Ron said, relaxing.

"Harry Potter?" the girl said. "I was asked to give you this."

"Thanks" He took the small scroll of parchment. Once the girl was out of earshot he said, "Dumbledore said we wouldn't be having any more lessons until I got the memory!" 

"Maybe he wants to check on how you're doing?" suggested Hermione, as Harry unrolled the parchment; but rather than finding Dumbledore's long, narrow, slanted writing he saw an untidy
sprawl, very difficult to read due to the presence of large blotches on the parchment where the ink had run. 

Dear Harry, Ron, and Hermione,
Aragog died last night. Harry and Ron, you met him, and you know how special he was. Hermione, I know you'd have liked him. It would mean a lot to me if you'd nip down for the burial later this evening. I'm planning on doing it round dusk, that was his favourite time of day. I know you're not supposed to be out that late, but you can use the cloak. Wouldn't ask, but I can't face it alone.
Hagrid

"Look at this," Harry said, handing the note to Hermione.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," she said, scanning it quickly and passing it to Ron, who read it through looking increasingly incredulous. 

"He's mental !" he said furiously. "That thing told its mates to eat Harry and me! Told them to help themselves! And now Hagrid expects us to go down there and cry over its horrible hairy body!"

"Should of wrote to Rory she would of been nicer" George said smiling at Rory.    

"It's not just that," Hermione said. "He's asking us to leave the castle at night and he knows security's a million times tighter and how much trouble we'd be in if we were caught."

"We've been down to see him by night before," Harry said. 

"Yes, but for something like this?" Hermione said. "We've risked a lot to help Hagrid out, but after all Aragog's dead. If it were a question of saving him"

"You're really insensitive aren't you Hermione. He's just lost a pet he's had for over 50 years and you're saying it doesn't matter" Rory says raising her eyebrow at her.

"I'd want to go even less," Ron said firmly. "You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot." Harry took the note back and stared down at all the inky blotches all over it. Tears had clearly fallen thick and fast upon the parchment. 

"Harry, you can't be thinking of going," Hermione said. "It's such a pointless thing to get detention for." Harry sighed. 

"Yeah, I know," he said. "I s'pose Hagrid'll have to bury Aragog without us."

"Yes, he will," Hermione said, looking relieved.

"Rory and her friends are my favourites" James says looking at Harry, Ron and Hermione.

"James you can't have favourites but I do agree that you weren't very nice towards Hagrid then" Lily scolds.

 "Look, Potions will be almost empty this afternoon, with us all off doing our tests. Try and soften Slughorn up a bit then!" Hermione said. 

"Fifty-seventh time lucky, you think?" Harry said bitterly.

"Lucky," Ron said suddenly. "Harry, that's it get lucky!"