As Hagrid, Orion, and Draco disappeared beyond the castle gate, the tension at the creature enclosure finally erupted.

"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!" shouted a Slytherin, Theodore Nott, his voice laced with outrage. "A professor who can't control his creatures! He should be fired immediately!"

"DRACO! MY DRACO!" Pansy Parkinson wailed, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling as Crabbe and Goyle held her back. "LET ME GO WITH HIM! I NEED TO KNOW HE'S ALRIGHT! HE'S HURT!"

"Exactly!" another Slytherin piped up, pointing at Draco's arm. "Look at him! That giant should be tossed out of the school!"

Anger rippled through the Slytherin ranks. One of their own—Draco Malfoy—had been injured during a professor's lesson. It was a humiliation they could not abide.

"Enough!" a Gryffindor voice snapped. Seamus Finnigan stepped forward, cheeks flushed with indignation. "It's Malfoy's fault! Hagrid told him to respect the creatures. He didn't listen, so he got what was coming. Don't blame Hagrid for this!"

Dean Thomas nodded in agreement. "Seamus is right. It was an accident, not Hagrid's fault."

"SHUT UP, YOU FILTHY MUD BLOOD!" Pansy screamed through her sobs, pointing straight at Seamus. "YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! HE'S IN PAIN!"

The two groups clashed in a storm of accusations, defenses, and insults. Gryffindor defended Hagrid and blamed Draco's arrogance; Slytherin demanded punishment, with Pansy orchestrating the outcry with cries and shrieks of outrage.

Caught in the crossfire, Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained silent. They could not fully dispute Seamus and Dean, yet they could not stand idly by while Hagrid was dragged into trouble. The complexity of the situation left them powerless.

"Let's go," Hermione finally said, tugging Harry and Ron along, ignoring Pansy's wails. "Arguing here won't solve anything."

They left, the din gradually fading behind them. Students dispersed in all directions—Slytherins muttering and consoling the crying Pansy on their way back to the dungeons, while the others returned to Gryffindor Tower or their respective dormitories.

The door of the infirmary closed behind Madame Pomfrey, leaving Orion and Draco in a hush, only the sound of Draco's soft breaths filling the room. Orion didn't sit. He leaned against the wall at a careful distance, watching without crowding him. His face was weary, his robes smeared with blood and torn.

Draco lay still, eyes closed, but his twitching lashes betrayed his awareness. The room felt frozen.

"The wound will heal," Orion finally said, calm and steady, without accusation. "No scar."

Draco drew a slow breath, still keeping his eyes shut. "I don't care."

"I know," Orion answered simply. A quiet acknowledgment. He understood Draco's pride was far greater than his pain.

The silence stretched. Orion's gaze wandered to the window, night having fallen. "Lucius sent a letter," he said, casually. "He wants Buckbeak dealt with."

This time Draco opened his eyes, a spark of mischief—and something darker—flickering in them. "Naturally. Dangerous creatures must be removed."

Orion did not argue. He only furrowed his brow, as if weighing something carefully. "Sometimes, removing something only proves you aren't strong enough to face it." He paused, then added softly, "Rest now, Draco. You need your strength."

Before Draco could respond, Orion had turned, leaving the infirmary. The door closed behind him, leaving Draco alone with tangled thoughts and the weight of Orion's parting words.

'Maybe I should check on Hagrid,' Orion thought.

He found the giant in Buckbeak's pen. Hagrid sat on the ground, head bowed, shoulders trembling. Buckbeak, chained, stood still in the corner, eyes red and furious. Signs of the students' earlier presence—fresh footprints—were scattered across the floor.

Orion remained silent for a long moment, letting Hagrid's sobs run their course. Then he lowered himself beside him, offering no empty words of comfort.

"They'll kill him, Orion," Hagrid choked out, voice breaking. "All because of me..."

"It's not your fault, Hagrid," Orion said firmly, looking straight at the Hippogriff. "He's magnificent. Proud. Like some children I know."

Hagrid lifted his tear-streaked eyes to Orion in surprise. Orion's voice softened, steady and unwavering. "I can't promise to save him. But I can promise they won't have an easy time killing him. Sometimes, victory isn't in the outcome, but in how hard you fight."

Orion's words didn't erase the pain, but they sparked a small flame in Hagrid's desperate eyes. In the dark, beside a condemned creature and a broken heart, Orion Potter made his first promise at Hogwarts—not a sweet one, but a cold vow of determination.

The Gryffindor common room gradually emptied. Harry sat slouched by the fire, shoes still on, staring at the dying embers. The image of Orion rushing through the Slytherin mob, pale, hands soaked in Draco's blood, haunted him.

"Does he... care about Malfoy that much?" Harry muttered, frustration sharpening his tone. "Malfoy's my enemy. He knows that, doesn't he?"

Ron was untying his tie, nodding in agreement. "Exactly! It's ridiculous. Malfoy wouldn't give him a second thought, and yet he—"

"Harry." Hermione's voice cut through, calm but firm. She sat beside him. "Talk to me. What are you feeling?"

Harry took a deep breath, trying to untangle the mess of emotions inside him. "I... I feel weird. Like... Orion is my uncle, and suddenly... he's Malfoy's uncle too. And when he worries about Malfoy like that... I feel... pushed out." He looked down at his shoes, embarrassed. "Sounds childish, doesn't it?"

"Not at all," Hermione smiled, comforting. "Harry, feelings aren't like a cake. Caring for one person doesn't mean there's less for someone else. Orion worrying about Draco doesn't mean he cares for you any less. It's just natural—seeing someone you care for hurt, even if they're an enemy."

Ron still looked irritated. "But—"

"And remember," Hermione continued, looking at Harry, "what did Orion do in Divination? He stood by you. He's here to protect you. Caring for Draco doesn't change that. It just proves... his heart is big enough."

Her words washed over Harry like a cool breeze, scattering the dark clouds. He realized his jealousy was selfish. Perhaps having a real family, with all its messy, overlapping relationships, was a lesson he needed to learn slowly.

"Besides," Hermione added teasingly, "you were just staring blankly this morning, not believing Orion was your uncle. And now you're jealous of Malfoy? You're weird, Harry."

Late at night, the common room glimmered with only a few dying candles. Orion entered, weary under the dim light. He was not surprised to find Harry still there, perched by the near-extinguished fire, waiting.

He said nothing, simply sat opposite. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the crackle of the last embers.

"You alright?" Orion finally asked, voice hoarse with fatigue.

Harry nodded, eyes fixed on the ashes.

"I... I understand." He hesitated. "I understand you have to care about Draco too. It's just... hard to accept at first."

A tired but gentle smile curved Orion's lips.

"I know. Family... it's like a maze with no map, Harry. But I'm here for you. That will never change."

He leaned forward, eyes gray and serious.

"But you need to understand. Protecting you doesn't mean I'll ignore everything else, or always take your side. Sometimes I'll do things you don't understand... things that might even disappoint you."

Harry looked up, meeting Orion's gaze. For the first time, he saw a rare resolve and maturity in his "uncle."

"I can't promise to be a perfect uncle," Orion said softly, with weight behind every word.
"I can only promise to always try my best for our family, in my own way. And our family, Harry..." he paused, emphasizing the words, "...now includes you."

His promise was not sweet, but honest, rough, and full of responsibility. Harry realized family wasn't unconditional agreement, but accepting complexity and finding a way through it together.

"I understand," Harry said quietly, but firmly. A strange sense of peace settled over him.

"Good." Orion stood, patting Harry's shoulder lightly. "Go to bed. Tomorrow is long, and we still have a Hippogriff to save."

Leaving Harry with his new thoughts, Orion climbed the stairs. Saving Buckbeak was no longer just for Hagrid—it had become a promise, a new thread connecting them in the family they were trying to build.