Chapter 10

A Dark Day

EDIT: Ok, so I fixed the Whomping Willow scene near the end. That was REALLY bugging me. It is much more interesting now ^.^

A/N: (Warning: rage) Hi. It's AnimeAvarice. Here's a chapter. Yay.

-AA

Ok, not really. BUT SWEET PALADINE I'M AN IDIOT! Ok, the author's notes, the title and the general layout for chapter 10 was done (LAST MONTH) and I forgot to save. Forgot. To. Save. WHY MUST MY STUPIDITY LEVELS BE SO FREAKING HIGH?! So, in a boiling rage (worse than right now. MUCH worse) I boycotted writing FanFiction because I didn't want to redo my chapter. And now I'm giving in to guilt, shutting up, and writing. Why? Because it is unfair for you to suffer for my baka-ness. And I really do apologize for the delay. And, without further ado, CHAPTER 10! (I will try to make my next author's notes close to what Chapter 10's was SUPPOSED to be).

-AA

Ciel's POV

It was a few days after Christmas when classes resumed and for some reason, I was much less annoyed and irritable than usual. I was even able to tolerate Malfoy's idiocy. I was truly proud of myself for not strangling him the minute he started going off on what a "perfectly pure-blood holiday" he had. Does he even think about the things he says and how stupid they sound? Oh well. Sebastian must have noticed the apparent spring in my step, as he asked what was making me so cheerful. I replied with a simple, "I had a good break." That translated to "leave me alone before I go make you take a holiday in Houndsworth."

So, my first day back was pretty good. In fact, the next four MONTHS or so were pretty good. Harry and I had snuck out to Hogsmead and scared the hair off Malfoy's overly-gelled head. After that, we had gotten into trouble with Snape and were bailed out by Ron of all people, as well as Sebastian. Then... Hermione walked over.

Sebastian had been finishing up lecturing us on the responsibility of our actions, when Hermione came striding down the corridor.

She was teary-eyed and stern as she walked closer. Ron glared and asked, "Come to gloat?"

Hermione regained her composure, and said, "Hagrid lost the trial. Buckbeak is going to be executed."

We sprinted down to Hagrid's hut, ignoring the fact we should be in Potions right now. At this point, Snape could go stuff himself.

I was surprised to find I was actually worried about the bewinged monster that had decided to give me a bath in the Black Lake. I was guessing it had something to do with the three Gryffindors running behind me.

As I was reflecting on this, we made quick progress to Hagrid's. Darting up to the castle doors, we walked outside into the sunlight.

"Ugh," said Ron. Kneeling by the stones, Malfoy, Pudgy 1, and Fatso 2 were giggling like three girls at a tea party while watching Hagrid's hut.

Malfoy turned.

"Ah! Come to see the show?" he laughed.

"You! You foul, lothesome, evil little cockroach!" Hermione shrieked, grabbing her wand and pointing it at his throat.

"Hermione, no! He's not worth it," Ron said. Malfoy whimpered in agreement.

"Kill him! Kill him now!" I thought as loud as I could.

Hermione lowered her wand. Malfoy snickered. I sighed then-

WHAM!

Hermione's fist connected with the ferret-boy's face as he went slamming back into a rock.

"Malfoy! You ok?!" Pudgy asked, running to his god. Pathetic.

The three ran back up to the castle.

"My father will hear about this!" yelled Malfoy.

Ron and Harry stared at her in shock.

"That felt good," Hermione said, cracking a smile.

I shrugged. "You could have punched harder."

–

We rushed to Hagrid's hut and Harry rapped on the door.

It slowly creaked open. Hagrid stuck his head out with wide eyes.

"Yeh shouldn't be here!" he whisper-yelled. "Whad'ya think yer doin'?!"

"We came to help!" Harry replied.

Hagrid glanced around the grounds, then opened his door for us to come in.

Hagrid was wearing dark leather, and his room was shadowed and gloomy. I looked outside and saw Buckbeak, munching on a ferret in the pumpkin patch. I couldn't help but smile sadly, seeing the hippogriff so at peace.

"There's nothing at all we can do?" I asked, still gazing out the window.

"No, 'fraid there ain't. 'e lived a good life, tho'. Happy, 'e was."

I turned and saw Hagrid barely holding back tears, and had the impulse to grab Buckbeak, Hagrid, and let them fly off into the sunset.

Apparently, Harry had the same thought.

"Why don't you just set him free? Right now, before the Ministry shows up?" Harry said, standing up in defiance.

Hagrid only shook his head and said, "Then Dumbledore'd get in ter trouble. 'e's done more than enough fer me, an' with Sirius Black on the loose, 'e don' need no more trouble."

Hermione stood up angrily. "It's not fair! It's Malfoy's fault that this whole thing happened!"

"Yeah! Let him be executed!" cried Ron.

"Just dress him up in a costume, put a ferret in his mouth. Worth a shot right?" I said.

We all looked expectantly at Hagrid. He smiled and shook his head.

"'S ok, you all. He... hopefully... won' be in... any pain..." Hagrid's voice cracked, but he shook his head and regained his composure.

We sighed and flopped back onto the seats.

Ron was pacing the room when he upturned a can and there was a squeak and a yelp. Then...

"SCABBERS!"

Ron was holding his beloved rat as the rest of us stared in shock. I dimly remembered something had happened to him, but forgot up until now.

Hermione crossed her arms. "I believe someone owes someone an apology."

Ron shook his head, smiling. "It's alright. I forgive you."

Hermione seethed.

Hagrid then bolted up. "They'r 'ere."

We got up and bolted for the back door, clambering out as fast as we could.

I stole a glance at Buckbeak as we raced behind a group of Pumpkins. Pumpkins in April? I wasn't going to try figuring that one out.

The Minister and a few others went into Hagrid's hut.

We heard a snap of a branch and turned.

Hermione's brow furrowed. "That's odd.. I thought I saw... never mind."

We turned back to make sure the Minister wasn't looking and dashed away back to the castle.

Hermione stopped once we got to the top of the hill. We looked back over at the small scene below us, but were unable to see the pumpkin patch.

There was a schiff of the executioner's ax and crows taking flight.

Hermione cried into Ron's shoulder and I hung my head. A cloud passed over head as the sun began it's decline towards the horizon.

Suddenly, Scabbers sunk his teeth into Ron's finger.

"OW!" Ron yelped, dropping his rat to the grass. Scabbers darted like a madman (madrat?) towards the school. Ron dove and grabbed Scabbers by the tail.

He turned, triumphant, before looking at us in horror and terror.

"Th-th-th-th," he stuttered.

"What?" we called.

"THE GRIM!" he screamed as a large, black dog came rushing at us from behind.

Harry grabbed Hermione's wrist as I shoved them both out of the oncoming path of the monstrous canine.

It flew past us and over to Ron, who was still on the ground.

It grabbed his leg and dragged him over to..

"The Whomping Willow!" Harry cried.

Ron was dragged, still screaming, by the leg into a hole below the demonic tree.

We sprinted after him, but were stopped dead. Almost literally.

The Whomping Willow's branches snapped forward into our path, nearly sending us flying.

I backpedaled, trying not to trip over the grass, and thought I was out of reach when...

"CIEL!" Harry yelled, but was too late.

A thin branch swept across the backs of my knees and sent me sprawling to the ground.

Harry tried to run over, but a larger branch hooked him in the stomach and he went sailing into the air.

There was a scream as Hermione's hands clasped onto one of the branches and it took her into the air.

It shook like a horse trying to get a particularly annoying fly off its head.

Eventually, she came near the ground as I got up. She was getting rather close... Oh no.

Not thinking, she grabbed my shirt and took me with her.

I was now over 20 feet in the air, getting spun around by a tree, and was about to pass out.

Hermione screamed in my ear.

"OWW!" I yelled, glaring (which she probably didn't notice.)

I grabbed onto the branch and, in all my brilliance, started shimmying down the thing to the base of the tree.

Something whacked against me, and it was all I could do to hang on with one arm.

Stars flew in front of my eyes and I saw Harry being held by another branch.

He was rubbing his head, and I realized what probably crashed into me.

My eyes widened as, with a final shake, the tree threw me off its limb and I went falling to the ground. Which I hit. Hard.

Spots danced as I wheezed, clutching my chest.

I staggered to my feet, praying I wouldn't get swept up again.

"CATCH MEEEEEEE!" someone screamed, and I saw Hermione getting thrown at me. Oh s-

She crashed into my chest, sending us both to the grass, my lungs out of air again.

Harry angled himself and, in a stroke of luck, smashed his foot into a stump in the middle of the tree trunk.

It dropped him and he landed on his behind.

"That hurt..." Hermione whined.

"Hermione," I said calmly.

"Yes, Ciel?" she said, looking at me curiously, our faced maybe a bit too close.

"You are cutting off any form of circulation from my lungs. Please get off," I said calmly.

She yelped and jumped off my chest. Feeling started to come back to my limbs.

I staggered up, and Hermione caught me under the arms. I waved her off.

"I'm fine, jeez. You treat me like I'm 10."

She smiled and let go. Despite feeling rather bruised and pained, a kind of warmth filled my chest. I inwardly cursed.

After finding Harry's glasses, we walked to the base of the tree.

Looking at each other, we nodded, and Harry crawled into the tunnel. I followed, with Hermione bringing up the rear.

We walked, slightly stooped, down the narrow passage. A dank smell reached my nose as we furthered ourselves.

As Harry and Hermione's eyes adjusted to the dim lighting, I was amazed at how familiar the building was.

I saw a boarded window and peaked out. A familiar hill and forest were in the background.

"We're in..." I started.

"The Shrieking Shack," finished Hermione.

We heard groans of pain and quickly took to the stairs. We entered a room and saw Ron on the ground, his pant leg torn and bloody near the ankle.

Harry and Hermione grabbed his arms while I dragged a dusty chair over.

"I-it's him. It's a trap. Harry, run!" Ron cried. "He's the Grim! An animagius!"

The door shut behind us. We whirled and saw a man with a gaunt face, tattered robes and tangled hair standing almost triumphantly at the door.

The whisper was barely audible from Harry's lips: "Sirius Black."

The sun set and the room was cast into full shadow. This day was becoming darker by the moment.