Chapter 25

It was the Hogsmeade trip that day but Atlas hadn’t gone and had instead, caught up on some well-deserved sleep. She’d been out in the fields practising some new combos and strikes for the Slytherin versus Gryffindor match they’d be having after the Easter Holidays and would have stayed out there all throughout the day and night if Minerva hadn’t demanded she catch up on some sleep.

So she had and then woke up a few hours later, full of energy and ready to go out flying again. The game was really important to her because it was important to Harry and Oliver, plus she really wanted to get back at Draco for reporting Buckbeak and it didn’t hurt that it would also make Minerva immensely proud. Which is why she had asked for all of her homework for the next few weeks in advance so she could cram it and really focus on Quidditch.

That’s what she did, all of the work assigned had been completed and as mentioned before she had absorbed herself in flying, sometimes – when Hermione hadn’t been there to watch – she would even try a few of the tricks from the book Oliver had given her for Christmas. One almost landed her in the hospital but luckily her Firebolt caught her before she hit the ground but the others, she was fairly certain she could get away with doing a few in the match.

There had been a few whispers flying around about the Slytherin team coming up with some dirty tactics so she had come up with a few of her own, ones that were less noticeable and wouldn’t get her fouled on the pitch. Luna had actually helped her when they’d bumped into each other in the library, even Cho – who’d she’d found hanging out with Cedric – piped in on a few techniques. Cedric remained quiet, he wasn’t dumb, not at all, far from it but he wasn’t one for coming up with such sneaky tricks

Atlas kicked on her shoes again and grabbed her Firebolt from her trunk, kissing Crookshanks on the head before she left her room and ventured into the common area. What greeted her when she got there, she hadn’t expected. Hermione, Ron and Harry were climbing through the portrait hole, Hermione crying, Ron with a face of thunder and Harry looking equally as mad.

“Hermione?” Atlas voiced, looking at the girl worriedly. Hermione’s head snapped up and in an instant she was upon her, throwing her arms around Atlas’s frame desperately as she broke down in her arms, “Woah, sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

“It — it’s too terrible, Atlas!” She bellowed and Atlas rubbed circles on her back, as she let her Firebolt drop beside her. She looked over at Harry and Ron, the redhead mumbling curses under his breath and Harry looking absolutely livid.

“Boys? What happened?”

“Hagrid lost his case,” Harry gritted, fists bawled as Hermione sobbed harder, “Buckbeak’s scheduled to be executed.”

“I’m sorry Atlas!” Hermione sniffled, pulling away and looking up at Atlas’s ashen white face, there were tears pricking at her eyes but she quickly rubbed them away, letting go of Hermione who did the same. “I should’ve done better research, I’m sure there were a few books I missed!”

“It’s not your fault, Hermione,” Atlas smiled, patting her head and bringing her into another hug. “You did your best.”

“Yeah!” Ron nodded and Atlas was at least a little happy to see he and Hermione had gotten past the Scabber’s incident. “And like you said, there will be an appeal! There always is! And I’ll help you this time! Atlas and Harry will be too busy training to pummel Malfoy and the rest of his Slytherins in the upcoming match!”

“No, I can help,” Atlas urged.

“Atlas, you can’t,” Hermione sniffled and Atlas looked down at her in confusion, “Hagrid told me they brought up your friendship with Buckbeak, used the…the daughter of Sirius Black card…said it was no wonder he was…violent.”

“They what!?” Atlas shouted her entire form going rigid with rage. “It was that arsehole Lucius Malfoy wasn’t it!?” Hermione nodded meekly, “–He’s always had it in for me! Ever since he had me charged and sent to–!”

“Atlas!” Hermione interjected, covering the girl’s mouth as she quivered beneath it.

“Had you sent to where, Atlas?” Harry asked and Atlas looked to the side of her, eyebrows furrowed as both he and Ron stared in silent questioning.

“To…” Atlas hesitated before resigning to her fate and dropping her head in her hand, “to Azkaban…”

“You went to Azkaban?” Ron asked and when Atlas nodded his face morphed into one of disgust, “That git Lucius Malfoy sent a kid to Azkaban!?”

“What a–” The next few words Harry spat had Ron laughing, Hermione blushing indignantly and Atlas smiling only slightly. “–I learnt those words from Uncle Vernon when the postman chucked a newspaper through our living room window.”

“But seriously Atlas, what did you even do?” Ron asked and Atlas tensed, taking in a sharp breath, “You didn’t — it was nothing bad was it?”

“Ronald! Of course, it wasn’t!” Hermione chastised and Ron held his hands up in defence.

“It was…uh…I did something when I was younger, it wasn’t bad really, only spent a few days there while they decided what to do with me long term,” Atlas told and then scowled again, “But that Lucius bastard, though he was sworn to secrecy, he’s been jumping at the chance to screw me over since it happened. No wonder he brought me up at Hagrid’s hearing. I swear next time I see him I’ll–“

“Oh don’t give him any more reason to hate you, Atty,” Hermione pleaded, punching her shoulder lightly.

“Right, yeah fine…though I bet he’s already heard from Draco about the end of our Quidditch match with the Ravenclaws,” Atlas muttered and sighed, dropping her head against Hermione’s shoulder, “he probably brought that up too…as evidence for my violent nature.”

“You’re not violent,” Hermione argued, Harry and Ron nodding along. “Far from it, you’re incredibly gentle actually! And I read that Hippogriffs don’t respond well to violent or nasty people but Buckbeak loves you and hates Draco! That should speak louder than any words Lucius Malfoy could spit!”

“Exactly!” Ron agreed and Harry smirked.

“No wonder Lucius said Buckbeak only bonded with Atlas because of her violent nature, he doesn’t know squat about them, bet he hasn’t touched a book in his life,” Harry grinned and Ron snickered, Atlas sending him a smile as Hermione herself chuckled lightly at the joke – or, well, part-truth at least.

“Even if he has touched a book, that’s assuming he can read,” Ron added, “The bloody git.”

“I should go and visit Hagrid,” Atlas said, picking up her broom again.

“You can’t. Students aren’t allowed out in the evenings unless they’re accompanied by an adult,” Hermione said, rubbing her eyes.

“Says the one who I found passed out in the courtyard last night, how’s that for unaccompanied?” Atlas retorted with a smirk.

“I wasn’t alone! I was with — Atlas!”

“W-what?” Atlas said, startled by Hermione’s outburst.

“Frog!”

“Frog?” Harry grinned as Ron snorted, Hermione sent them both a glare, though its power was lost due to the fact her eyes had become quite puffy and instead of looking intimidating she just looked quite cute. To Atlas anyway.

“Atlas, your Dire-wolf, I named her Frog,” Hermione said, turning back to Atlas as Ron’s jaw dropped and Harry looked between the three of them quizzically.

“Oh, you did?” Atlas smiled softly.

“Hold on! A Dire-wolf!? Atlas you have a pet Dire-wolf!?” Ron exclaimed.

“Dire-wolf? What’s a Dire-wolf?” Harry asked.

“Well, they say they’re descendants of wolves who were magically improved by the first wizards!”

“And witches,” Hermione muttered and Ron rolled his eyes.

“Point is, they’re brilliant! Bloody amazing they are, honestly Atlas,” Ron turned to her and the girl winced, stumbling back a bit, “you’ve got to let me see her!”

“Maybe we can get her to bite Lucius Malfoy’s head off?” Harry suggested and Atlas grinned.

“Frog wouldn’t do that!” Hermione huffed indignantly.

“I can’t believe you named one of the most feared creatures, Frog. I’ve said it before but have you gone mental?” Ron asked and Hermione punched his shoulder. “I’m surprised she didn’t bite your head off at the insult.”

“I quite like it actually,” Atlas said, “And Frog definitely likes it too.”

“See!” Hermione yelled, “Atlas likes it.”

“Atlas likes anything you–” Harry stomped on Ron’s foot and the boy yowled, “What was that for!?”

“Oh, you know, just a spider.”

“A spider!? Again!? Where!? Kill it! Kill it!”

***

All throughout Care of Magical Creatures, Atlas could tell Hagrid was absolutely distraught, he seemed numb with shock and would not meet Atlas eye, no matter how hard she tried to catch it. He just idly walked around through the lesson, mumbling instructions and sometimes bumping into things, each time one of the four would wince. Hermione had been the first to approach him at the end of the lesson, Ron going after her and Harry dragging along Atlas who had figured she should just stay behind.

Hermione patted Hagrid’s arm as the rest of the class dispersed for Charms, Ron, Harry and Atlas just staring up at the man in concern. Hagrid glanced down at Atlas once but then quickly looked away, “S’all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin’ there in black robes an’ I kep’ droppin’ me notes and forgettin’ all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An’ then Lucius Malfoy stood up an’ said his bit, and the Committee jus’ did exac’ly what he told ’em…”

“There’s still the appeal!” Ron said fiercely as they followed after the rest of the class. Ahead Atlas could see Malfoy, walking with Crabbe and Goyle, the lot of them laughing loudly in their direction, “Don’t give up yet, we’re working on it!”

“S’no good, Ron,” Hagrid said sadly as they reached the castle steps. “That Committee’s in Lucius Malfoy’s pocket. I’m jus’ gonna make sure the rest o’ Beaky’s time is the happiest he’s ever had. I owe him that….”

“Hagrid, can we–?” Before Atlas could finish the man was off, walking back to his cabin, face buried in his handkerchief, she frowned and Hermione hugged her arm reassuringly.

“Look at him blubber!” Malfoy’s drawling voice came and Atlas gritted her teeth her form going visibly rigid as she tried to contain her brewing outburst. She didn’t even notice Hermione dislodging herself and advancing on the boy. “Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?” He continued, “And he’s supposed to be our teacher!”

Atlas spun around and made toward the boy, only, she wasn’t the only one, Hermione got there before her, raised her fist and punched him straight across the face. Malfoy staggered backwards. Harry, Ron, Crabbe and Goyle stood in shock while Atlas flushed, her eyes going wide and her mouth forming into a giant grin. She went to raise her fist again.

“Don’t you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you, you foul loathsome evil little cockroach–!” She drew her wand instead.

“Hermione, no!” Ron called weakly and urged Atlas to help him but the girl was too busy grinning her head off like an absolute fool. “He’s not worth it!”

“C’mon,” Malfoy muttered, cradling his cheek and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons.

“Hermione!” Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed.

“Harry, Atty, you’d better beat him in the Quidditch final!” She shouted, furious as she turned and set her eyes on the Quidditch players. Harry was still in shock while Atlas looked as if she’d won the wizard lottery. “You just better had, because I can’t stand it if Slytherin wins!”

“We’re due Charms,” Ron said, still goggling at Hermione. “We’d better go.”

Harry nodded and followed after him, Hermione following suit, but before she could go any further, Atlas reached out, grabbed her wrist, spun her around and pulled her into a kiss. 

A forehead kiss.

When she pulled away, Hermione had the most furious of blushes on her face and Atlas grinned, hugging her quickly, “That was bloody brilliant.”

“Well, he deserved it,” Hermione spoke matter-of-factly, coughing into her fist. Atlas smiled and ruffled her hair.

“Come on, we’ll be late,” Atlas said, jogging after Ron and Harry. 

By the time they’d gotten there, they were pretty late but Professor Flitwick had waved them off and, instead, cheerily introduced their subject of the lesson ‘Cheering Charms’, Madam Pomfrey had cast a few of them on her in her younger years but she’d never learnt herself how to do one, so the lesson would be beneficial. She was so engrossed in the lesson, she hadn’t realised Hermione had been absent from the class and when she did – though only at the end of the class – she proceeded to panic slightly, even through the effects of the Cheering Charm placed on her.

Now they were at lunch and Atlas hadn’t touched any of it – the cold peach crumble in front of her tempting but completely blanked – and continued to stare at the entrance. Harry and Ron exchanged a worried look, the Cheering Charm on them also wearing off.

“Hey, Las?” Atlas startled, her eyes focusing in on Cedric who had apparently been waving in her face for quite some time, she looked at him in question, “Cho asked me to give these to you when I saw you next, she’s still in lesson but it’s my free period.”

“Oh,” Atlas took the sheets of paper from the boy and glanced them over, her mood peaking just a tiny bit, “Ah, right, thank you, Ced.”

“Yeah, no problem…uh, how are you?”

“Alright, why?”

“No reason, we just haven’t spoken a lot. I thought because…you know, you were attending Hogwarts now we would be seeing a lot more of each other but…” Cedric looked off to the side nervously and Atlas cracked a smile, well aware of both Harry and Ron staring between her and Cedric in her peripheral.

“No, I get it, you have other friends and you’re busy with your studies. I’ll see you in the kitchens though, yeah? Come visit sometime, I’ve been reading a few stories to the house Elves,” Atlas grinned, tapping the pieces of parchment against his chest. He smiled and nodded, glancing over his shoulder where a group of other Hufflepuff’s were waving him over as they left.

“Yeah, I’ll see you around,” Cedric said quickly and Atlas nodded him goodbye, studying the plans in front of her. Harry and Ron leaned over to read them too which she didn’t object to, the two of them were the least likely to snitch and call her out.

“What did he give you?” Ron asked.

“Plans for defeating Slytherin,” Atlas supplied, turning a few pages over. She wasn’t fantastic at drawing but Cho was and the girl had offered to illustrate a few moves she’d read about in a Quidditch manual they had found together in the library. The Ravenclaw Seeker was eager to see Slytherin defeated so she’d helped Atlas, no questions asked.

“And Cho gave you these?” Harry said this time, glancing upwards at Atlas.

“Yeah, we’re friends or acquaintances, I don’t know but she wants to see Slytherin defeated just as much as us,” Atlas assured, going over a few moves in her head, Ron was just gawking at the drawings.

“An-and you’re going to do these?”

“I’m going to try to,” Atlas confirmed, “I mean…the Chelmondiston Charge is a pretty easy stunt, the Firebolt has an auto retrieve system built into it, I can call for it while I fall and it will zoom by to catch me.”

“And it’ll look awesome,” Ron grinned.

“Is there any for Seekers?” Harry asked, skimming through a few pieces of parchment, “Aha!”

“What is it?” Atlas asked but Harry just tucked it in his robe.

“Just a Seeker versus Seeker thing.”

“Oh…alright,” Atlas muttered and then glanced down at her watch, “We should go and find Hermione.”

“Agreed, you don’t think Malfoy’s done anything terrible have you?” Ron asked.

“I hope not,” Atlas mumbled. Quickly getting up from her seat she moved out of the hall and hurried to Gryffindor Tower, Harry and Ron following after her. A few friendly faces waved at her as she went and she smiled back, of course but she didn’t engage in chatter.

As soon as they reached the security trolls she quickly uttered the password for the Fat Lady, “Flibbertigibbet,” and rushed through the portrait hole, Harry and Ron scrambling after her.

Atlas sighed as soon as she saw her. Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep with her head resting on an open Arithmancy book. Atlas rushed over to her, crouching down by her side as Harry prodded her awake.

“Wh — what?” Hermione startled, looking around wildly, her eyes fixed on Atlas who was looking worried again, her brows drawn together in concern, “Atlas? What’s wrong? Is it time to go? What lesson do we have now?”

“Divination, but it’s not for another twenty minutes,” Harry said. “Hermione, why didn’t you come to Charms?”

“What? Oh no!” Hermione cried. “I forgot to go to Charms!”

“But how could you forget?” Ron asked, “You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!”

“I don’t believe it!” Hermione continued. “Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh, it was Malfoy, I was thinking about him and I lost track of things!”

“You know what, Hermione?” Atlas began carefully, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow and then back up into the girls cool brown and clearly fatigued eyes. “I reckon you’re cracking up. You’re trying to do too much.”

“No, I’m not!” Hermione argued, brushing her hair out of her face and staring around hopelessly for her bag. Atlas saw it first and picked it up for her, handing it to her slowly. “I just made a mistake, that’s all! I’d better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry — I’ll see you in Divination!”

“Hermione, hold on! You should really–!”

“I’m fine, Atlas!” She shouted, sounding somewhat irritated. Deflating slightly, Atlas shut her mouth and watched her go. Harry clamped his hand around her shoulder sympathetically.

“You’ll get used to it,” He smiled.

“She’s working herself to death,” Atlas muttered, brows creased.

“Come on…let’s get to Divination,” Ron said, moving toward the portrait hole, “we can have a nice slow walk.”

“Atlas’s slow walk or your slow walk, Ronald?” Harry smirked.

“My slow walk you git.”