Exams
Exam week began and David was thankful for his near photographic memory. They started with Transfiguration. David and Hermione easily turned their teapots into tortoises. David was grateful for the practice he had put in with Remus. He focused the magic through his ring while waving his wand for the look of it. Hermione fussed that hers was more like a turtle. Ron was not so fortunate, his tortoise still breathed steam.
After lunch, Charms went well and then it was back to the common room to revise for the next day. Everyone found Care of Magical Creatures easy. They just had to keep a Flobberworm alive for an hour. The best way to do this was to leave the Flobberworms to their own devices and not to interfere. Instead, David, Ron and Hermione took the opportunity to talk with Hagrid.
"Beaky's still tethered in my pumpkin patch," Hagrid told them. "I thought it best to give him some fresh air. How do you explain to a Hippogriff that it's going to be killed?"
"We'll be with you when it happens, Hagrid," said Ron.
"Yes," said Hermione. "Harry can't, but we will."
"No," said Hagrid. "Ye think I want ye to see somemat like that? No, you stay in the castle."
The potions exam, under Snape's nose, was difficult to say the least. David knew he had to ace this exam or he would never hear the end of it. He knew the recipe for the Confusing Concoction but somehow it was the wrong consistency. He reached his magic into the potion and tried to feel what ingredient it needed. The extra magic caused the potion to bubble. David stopped quickly and tried the more conventional approach. He ran through his notes in his mind's eye and found the answer, more lace-wings.
Astronomy was at midnight up the tallest tower. David had the map of the main constellations in his head and it was the work of minutes to fill in his star map. Hermione was a bit put out that David not only finished before she did, but he had not skipped any questions in order to do so.
History of Magic was a washout for everyone except David and Hermione. History had been one of David's Zia studies and Hermione was the only wizarding student who paid attention in class. As he wrote an essay on the Goblins' rebellion of the eighteenth century and the role of Urg the Unclean, David was thinking thankfully of the illustrated history books at Lions' Den. They really brought the subject 'alive' the opposite to having Professor Binns (a ghost) for a teacher.
The final exam but one was Defence Against the Dark Arts. This was held out in the sunshine much to everyone's delight. It was an obstacle course of dark creatures. David finished without mishap and earned himself full marks. He had known Lupin would not have settled for less. Hermione was fine until the last hurdle; a Boggart.
"It was Professor McGonagall," she cried coming out of the trunk. "She said I had failed everything, and that Harry was top of the class."
Ron was confused by a Hinkypunk and did not finish.
The trio headed back up to the castle, on the way they ran into Cornelius Fudge, the Minister for Magic.
"Good news this, Harry," said Fudge without introducing himself to David. He was acting as if he was David's best friend. "The Hippogriff which attacked you will be dealt with and be unable to harm any other student. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures needed a witness and I was only too happy to oblige."
David's hands were balled into fists as he tried to keep to his Zia training. Anything he said would just make matters worse. Unfortunately Ron was not so restrained.
"Buckbeak is harmless," he blurted out.
Hermione stamped on his foot. They were not on speaking terms with the Minister for Magic.
"Well, well," said Fudge tolerantly. "That was for the Committee to decide. But hospitalising a student isn't a harmless pastime." He turned away and went into the castle. Ron would have said more but David and Hermione pulled him away. They headed for lunch.
"Why did you stop me?" Ron asked angrily as they sat down.
"Ron, your dad works at the Ministry, you can't argue like that with his boss!" said Hermione.
After lunch Hermione had Muggle Studies and David and Ron had Divination. David and Ron arrived at the top of North Tower to find that Professor Trelawney was taking them one at a time. The rest of the class were gathered around doing last minute revision. Nobody would say anything about the test when they came back down.
"Old Divination standby? Make it up?" Ron said to David on his way in. "You're okay, just see the Grim."
David was the last student to be called. The room was far too hot and the scent was stupefying. Professor Trelawney directed David to sit before a large crystal ball. "Please gaze into the orb, my dear," she instructed. "Take your time and tell me what you see."
David stretched out his senses. As usual he could see the Grim, or rather Sirius Black's animagus form. Then he saw Buckbeak and stopped. He had no wish to see the execution. As he drew back his senses he was left with the image of Scabbers. David took a deep breath and thought about what to say. There was no way he was going to admit to Professor Trelawney that he could See. He would never hear the end of it.
"I see a shape," he began. "A Hippogriff." He cast around for an impossible future. "I see it flying around the school grounds, cantering through the forest."
"Not writhing on the ground? No shadowy figure raising an axe?"
"No," said David confidently. "It's fine."
Professor Trelawney sighed. "I'm sure you tried your best. Perhaps we should leave it there." David was turning to go when a harsh voice spoke.
"It will happen tonight."
David whirled around and saw it was Professor Trelawney who spoke.
"Tonight the truth will set him free. The innocent has been chained these past twelve years and his enemy has stayed hidden. Tonight the enemy shall be revealed and the innocent brought into the light."
Professor Trelawney shook suddenly and then she was back to her dreamy self. "I'm sorry dear boy," she murmured, I must have drifted off for a second."
David stared at her. She had made a real prediction he was certain of that. He climbed down the ladder and went to find Ron and Hermione.
The exams were over and during supper Ron raised the issue of Buckbeak. "We must go and be with Hagrid," he said. "He needs us with that happening."
"I agree," said Hermione. "But not Harry, he can't leave the castle that late. Black is still out there. You and I'll go Ron."
"I don't think that is a good idea," said David. "You saw the Minister… it's not like nobody else will be there, you don't want to get caught at this stage of term. Detention when everyone else is having fun."
"Would that really stop you?" asked Hermione.
"No," said David. "But like you said, I daren't go. After all the work everyone is doing to keep me safe I can't just break that sort of a rule."
"You are being very mature about this," said Hermione.
"Yeah, mate," said Ron. "I'd have thought you would have wanted to go."
"I do," said David. "But I'm grateful that other people are trying to keep me safe. My parents died to save me. I can't dishonour their sacrifice."
"Well, we're going," said Ron. Hermione nodded.
"Very well," said David. "Take my invisibility cloak."
"What will you do mate?" asked Ron.
"Oh, I'm sure I will think of something."
David paid a visit on Professor Lupin. He had to distract Remus from watching the map and seeing his friends disobeying the curfew.
Remus did indeed have the map open when David entered his office. He amiably made some tea, preferring to drink it rather than the smoking liquid in a goblet on his desk. Of course, David calculated, tonight was the full moon. David glanced at the map while Remus was otherwise occupied. Hermione and Ron were with Hagrid in his cabin, no doubt with extra-large cups of tea. Remus began the conversation in French, asking David how his exams had gone. David found it hard to remember exactly what each exam had contained now that he no longer needed to know. He complemented Lupin on the obstacle course format.
Lupin was pleased and began to teach David the French names of the dark creatures they had studied that year. David glanced at the map and saw Hermione and Ron leaving Hagrid's house. Hagrid had obviously sent them away out of the back door as Dumbledore, Minister Fudge and two other wizards arrived at the front door. He was about to ask Remus a question to keep his attention from the map when he saw a third wizard in front of Ron. He had not noticed him before because Ron's dot overlapped that of the new wizard. It was Peter Pettigrew. Ron was chasing Peter Pettigrew. Maybe Hermione was right and Black was innocent. If anyone knew, it would be Pettigrew; he had been there moments before Black had been arrested.
"Pettigrew!" David exclaimed looking up at Remus and pointing at the map.
"This is not possible," murmured Remus seizing the map. David was halfway to the door.
"Wait!" ordered Remus. "I will investigate this," Remus decided. "You may come with me if you promise to do as I say. If I say run, you run back to the castle, understood?"
"I promise," said David, unconsciously fingering the Portkey pendant he wore.
Remus and David set off at a trot. Remus held the map and looked down at it every few moments. He led David towards the Whomping Willow, a tree in the grounds of Hogwarts which attacked everyone who came near it and had destroyed David's broomstick. Remus paused to pick up a long stick as they crossed the grounds. David did not ask why, he was saving his breath for running.
As they approached the tree, Remus raised the stick like a lance and touched it to a knot on the tree trunk. The attacking branches calmed and Remus led the way through them into a secret passage beneath the tree. They crept along the low passage, pausing only when they reached the building at the end. There were voices coming from the floor above.
"We're in the Shrieking Shack," explained Remus in a whisper. "Now follow me. If I say run, remember, you run back to the castle and get help."
David nodded and the pair began to climb the stairs. The door at the top was open and Ron came into view as they reached the landing. He was sitting on the floor opposite the door with one leg at an absurd angle, clearly broken.
"Harry! Run!" shouted Ron. "It's him, he's an animagus."
"I know," replied Remus, "now where is the rat?"
"Rat? What are you talking about? It's him, Sirius Black."
Remus entered the room with David in his wake. Hermione, held her wand out pointing not at the ragged man in the corner, but at Ron. Ron's own wand was on the Azkaban escapee.
"Expelliarmus!" cried Remus, taking possession of Ron's wand.
"If you want to kill Harry then you'll have to kill me too," shouted Ron, trying to get to his feet.
"Sit down Ron," ordered Hermione. "He's not dangerous. He was innocent of the death of Harry's parents. He must have been framed. Harry's in no danger."
"What about Pettigrew?" asked Ron. "He killed Pettigrew; a whole street full of Muggles saw him."
"Peter Pettigrew is not dead," stated Remus quietly.
"He's alive and in this room," said Black approaching Ron.
"Me!" exclaimed Ron. "He's mental…"
"Not you," said Remus. "That rat you have squirming in your hands."
David had been looking around the room in vain for Pettigrew and now noticed Ron had Scabbers in his hand. Of course, Scabbers had a toe missing, a toe on a rat animagus would be like a finger on a wizard.
Sirius Black reached over and tried to take Scabbers from Ron. Ron shrank back. "You can't mean Scabbers," he said. "He was in Hagrid's hut. If he was a wizard why would he stay in rat form in a hut?"
"He's supposed to be dead," said Black. "Couldn't really show your face could you Peter?" he looked down at the rat menacingly.
"We're just going to force him to show himself," explained Remus gently. "If he really is a rat it won't hurt him."
Ron held Scabbers out and Black and Remus took aim. Before they could cast a spell another cut across them.
"Expelliarmus!" came the cry and everyone in the room turned their heads. In the doorway, just pulling a familiar invisibility cloak from round him, there stood Professor Snape. He caught their four wands in his left hand, keeping his own wand pointing at Black. Snape had found the cloak in the tunnel where Hermione had left it in her dash after Ron. Snape looked livid. Black's looks mirrored Snape's. He started towards Snape, but Snape pointed his wand at Black's neck. Snape held the wands of all present.
"Give me a reason," he said chilling all there. "Give me a reason and I'll do it."
"No you can't, he's innocent!" screamed Hermione.
Both men glared at each other. Hermione began to sob. Ron was occupied with the pain in his leg. Only David looked down at the floor. There was the rat scuttling out of the room. David acted without thinking and summoned the rat into his hands. It flew across the room, tail first and David caught it. Only Remus saw what he had done and he nodded.
"Professor!" said David. "Sirius Black is innocent. This rat is Peter Pettigrew; he faked his own death after betraying my parents." He put a slight emphasis on the work 'parents,' hoping to get Snape's attention.
"Stop babbling Potter," said Snape coldly. "I see two betrayers in this room: an Azkaban escapee and his werewolf accomplice." Ron was the only one to look surprised by this revelation.
"You knew?" remarked Remus looking at David and Hermione. "How long have you known?"
"Since Professor Snape set the essay," replied Hermione, David nodded in agreement.
"Enough talk!" ordered Snape. Cords flew out of his wand and bound Remus and Sirius's hands.
"I'll come quietly," said Sirius. "As long as Harry brings that rat I'll come up to the castle."
"Oh I don't think that will be necessary. There are Dementors much nearer than the castle, I'm sure they will be happy to come and give you a little Kiss." Snape's eyes glinted with mad fury. He gestured for Sirius and Remus to start walking out the door, keeping his wand trained on them. David crossed the room and blocked the doorway.
"Get out the way, Potter, you are in enough trouble as it is," snarled Snape. David was amazed that as angry as Snape was he had not made the mistake of calling him by his real name.
"Professor," pleaded Hermione. "Black can't be guilty. The Potters supposedly chose him as both secret keeper and Harry's guardian. If he was the first then he would be dead or have betrayed them, ruling him out at the second."
"Move Potter!"
David tried to stand his ground but found his feet moving to his father's command. Snape waved his wand at Ron, binding his leg to a splint and then sent Hermione and Ron ahead while he kept his wand on Sirius and Remus. Hermione was crying and Ron was looking very grim. Snape grabbed David by the ear as he passed.
"You will do no more magic until I give you leave, do you understand?" he hissed in David's ear. David nodded mutely, but kept tight hold on the stunned rat. It should stay unconscious for a while. There was still hope. "Now follow me," ordered Snape.
They walked slowly down the passageway, Ron and Hermione were at the front and could not go very fast.
"Snape, you're making a big mistake here," said Sirius. "Just take me up to the castle, I can explain everything. Then you can get back to playing with your chemistry set."
David grimaced. It seemed Sirius had a bit of a mouth on him and David could tell that Snape was just getting more and more angry. Snape's wand flicked and Sirius did not say anything further. David could not tell exactly what had happened, but he suspected Snape had gagged him.
"Oh no!" screamed Remus as they neared the tunnel mouth. "I didn't take my potion tonight, I'm not safe." He stopped moving and Snape walked into the back of him and David into the back of Snape. "Let me back down to the shack, quickly," said Remus. "I'll be safe from you all there." He turned and Snape did nothing to stop him running back down the passage. David looked up at his father and saw fear on his face. Remus ran past, stumbling slightly since he could not use his hands to steady himself.
"Move," hissed Snape again and nobody needed telling twice this time. They ran as fast as they could, Snape even taking Ron's arm from around Hermione and helping him along. Within seconds they were out of the hole under the Whomping Willow and running away from the tree as its branches were once more attacking everything that ventured near.
Snape stopped out of range of the tree and let go of Ron who half fell back to the ground. Hermione was by his side and David ran to them, but Snape grabbed him as he tried to get past.
"No," hissed Snape. "You need to get back to the castle at once. You can send help for Weasley and Miss Granger. You're not safe while he's here."
"What will you do with Sirius?" asked David looking at the gagged and bound wizard who Snape was pointing his wand at.
"He's got a date with a Dementor," said Snape smiling.
"No," moaned Hermione. "No, no, he's innocent."
David wondered what to do, he thought Sirius was innocent too, and if things stood as they were Remus would also be in trouble. Then he remembered the portkey. He had been told he would have to touch it, what if he could get Sirius to touch it too?
"Alright," David said to his father. He put the rat into his robes pocket and pulled the portkey out from under the neck of his robes. He looked over at Sirius and hoped he would understand. "My portkey, this is the quickest way." Snape nodded, keeping his eyes on Sirius rather than David. That was all the distraction David needed to hold the portkey in one hand and lunge and Sirius with skills born on the Quidditch pitch. As soon as David had caught the portkey against Sirius's bound hands he activated it.