Creperum

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Summery: Exams are upon the students of Hogwarts while despair looms in the future for the gentle giant, Hagrid. In an act of kindness and respect, Harry soon finds himself in a world of possible danger and deceit.

Notes: I cut this chapter in half again since it was getting long and I wanted to update. I'm already five chapters into chapter 15 and will have it done soon, unless I have to shut off the computer due to weather. Gotta love thunderstorms.

Chapter 14
The Prophet's Rat

The reveling of Slytherin House lasted nearly a week as May days drifted to lazy June evenings. The days were cloudless and soon became a temptress to the students, beckoning them to lounge about the plush, green grass with pints of icy cold drinks and watch the Giant Squid drift idly near the surface of the cool, blue lake. But this was a temptress the students fought against unwillingly as the cruelest force of education loomed above them...exams. Instead of lying around the grounds, they were stuck inside trying to beat nine months worth of knowledge into their brains. The Slytherin students did have one advantage over those of the other three houses, however. Their house was deep within the dungeons, beneath the lake and windowless as a result. They could isolate themselves away from the rest of the school and the temptations of summer and study in deafening silence.
Exam week soon fell upon the students of Hogwarts and they rather quickly became frazzled with stress and nerves. As Harry would run through the corridors, studying as he did so, he noticed that Hermione was in the worst shape; she looked as though she hadn't slept in weeks and could possibly break down into tears at any given notice. No one had quite figured out yet how she had managed to get to all of her classes.

On Monday, the third year students marched from the Transfiguration room looking defeated and weak, as though they had just been sentenced to death. As they headed down for a quick lunch, they compared results, moaning about the difficult tasks, including turning a teapot into a tortoise. Harry still couldn't get over the fact that Selene was deliberately forcing her to screw up.

After a very hasty lunch, the third years went straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Professor Flitwick, true to his hints, tested them over Cheering Charms. Selene's partner was very nervous, from the exams or being partnered with a Slytherin Harry wasn't quite sure, and performed the Charm wrong. Instead of cheering Selene up, he made her miserable and she started sobbing hysterically. She had to be led to an empty room until the spell wore off before she could have a turn. After dinner, it was back to the common rooms for another round of studying. Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, Herbology, History of Magic, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Astronomy, Ancient Runes...it just never ended! When Harry tried to sleep that night, he kept seeing the spiky symbols and the terms flashing through his mind.

The next morning, Hagrid presided over the class in a distracted manner. They merely had to take care of flobberworms for their exam; a living flobberworm meant you would pass the exam. It had to be the easiest exam in Hogwarts history!

"I jus' wanted teh thank yeh," Hagrid started as Harry, Ron and Hermione took the chance to discuss Buckbeak, "fer everythin' yeh did fer Buckbeak."

"It's nothing, Hagrid," Harry told him, smiling sadly at the gentle man. He couldn't imagine something like this happening to Hedwig. "It's unfair what they're doing. We'll get him off somehow."

"Good lad, yeh are," Hagrid nodded, clapping a massive hand on Harry's shoulder nearly forcing him to the ground. "Parents would be proud of yeh."

They had Potions that afternoon and Harry could relax slightly. Snape favored the Slytherins after all and weren't going to be as hard on them as the Gryffindors, but he still demanded their best. Thankfully the Confusing Concoction wasn't too difficult, though Harry was very glad he was a Slytherin; Snape lurking over your shoulders looking for the slightest mistake was unnerving.

Astronomy came at midnight, up in the highest tower. Harry had gazed at the stars often as a child and knew quite a few constellations by heart. The moon was nearly full and bright; the night was perfect. Early the next morning was History of Magic and Harry struggled to stay awake, after a long night hunting, as he wrote down all he knew on witch-hunts. He started confusing the witch-hunts with vampire hunts and had to scratch out many things.

The afternoons Herbology class was pure torture however. They were trapped within the greenhouses under a baking sun until dinner. Everyone emerged as the sun was slowly setting feeling dirty and gritty with sunburned necks. Anything that touched the burnt flesh caused Harry to hiss in pain; he and Selene skipped dinner and hid in Slytherin Tower all night. They rotated home remedies on their skin until it healed early in the morning, studying once more and dreaming of when this would all be over. A sunburned vampire is never a good thing...

They emerged Thursday morning, with healed necks, for their second to last exam. Professor Lupin had created the most interesting exam by far, outside on the grounds. A obstacle course had been set-up, once more in the sun, where they had to wade across a deep wading pool containing a grindylow, cross potholes full of Red Caps, make their way across a squishy patch of bog while ignoring the hinkypunk and finally climb into a trunk with a boggart. It was the most fun Harry ever had taking an exam!

"Wonderful Harry," Lupin muttered as Harry emerged from the trunk. "Full marks."

Grinning at himself, Harry stuck around to see how his friends would do. Draco had gone before him, so he was unsure about him, but Ron did very well until he followed the advice of the hinkypunk and got stuck up to his waist. Selene did everything perfect, but had a little difficulty at the beginning; she slipped in the wading pool and fell onto her back, splashing water everywhere and getting herself soaked. Hermione too did perfect until she reached the boggart's trunk. After nearly a minute she burst out screaming.

"Hermione!" Lupin said, nearly dropping his clipboard in shock. "What's wrong?"

"P-P-Professor McGonagall," she gasped, shaking. "She said I failed everything!"

They calmed Hermione down and the four students started walking back to the castle for their final exam; Ron had Divination while Harry, Hermione and Selene had Ancient Runes. The group parted and soon Harry was translating the spiky shapes. As an hour passed, they all started looking identical and he had to start over on the third page. Finally, he was finished and left the classroom, deciding to see how Draco was doing in Divination.

As he walked up the spiral steps to the north tower, Harry saw Draco sitting on the floor reading over his notes.

"She's seeing us separately," he drawled as Harry approached. "The old bat is full of it, I swear."

Harry sat across from him on the floor, dropping his bag next to him. Soon, the trap door dropped and Blaise walked down, shaking his head pitifully. Draco's name was called and Harry was left alone once Draco disappeared through the trap door and Blaise left for the dungeons. Silence fell around him as Harry waited for his friend. He shifted from his spot on the floor, to leaning against the wall, tempted to hang upside down and finally lying down, using his bag as a pillow, while counting the cracks in the ceiling above him.

"Crazy old bat," Draco grumbled a century later as he too appeared from the trap door. He loosened his tie as he walked down the stairs. "Couldn't foresee the future of a rat, even if it bit her on the nose."

Draco continued grumbling as Harry stood up off the ground, brushing dirt from his pants. As they got ready to leave the tower, Harry heard a dull thumping sound as though someone were bouncing a ball above them. Harry turned around, wondering if Draco heard it as well since he seemed to have bad luck at hearing things no one else could, and saw a smooth crystal ball roll onto the stone floor.

"The old bat probably dropped it," Draco grumbled. "Let's go."

Harry, however, walked over and picked up the ball. "I'll run this up," he said, "go on ahead. Pansy's looking for you."

"Suit yourself," Draco shrugged as Harry started to climb up the ladder through the trapdoor.

He walked slowly into the strange, cluttered classroom. Mismatched chairs, squishy ottomans and frilly tablecloths were every as a cloud of incense loomed above him, making the room seem even more stifling.

"Professor?" Harry called, trying to remember the woman's name. "Professor Trelawney?"

Harry walked further into the room and spotted the eccentric woman, slumped over in an armchair. "Professor?" He said louder.

"Tonight," she croaked in response, the bangles on her wrist clinking together as her hand fell limp. Before Harry could speak, she continued, looking up at him with eyes as white as the moon. "For twelve long years, the Dark Lord has lied alone, abandoned by those that followed. For twelve long years, his servant has remained…chained in solitude. Tonight…before midnight…tonight, before midnight…he will set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise once more, stronger and more terrible than before…"

Harry stood in rigid silence, the crystal ball still in his hand as the woman started coughing, her eyes blinking rapidly. Finally, she looked up, her eyes large and bug like behind her glasses, spotting Harry for the first time.

"Oh my dear boy," she gasped. "Heat of the day…must have dozed off. How can I assist you?"

"You…" Harry started to say slowly, staring at her, "dropped this," he finally finished, offering her the gazing orb. She took it from him gently and Harry left without another glance.

Harry ran through the school, trying to get to the dungeons as Trelawney's words repeated constantly through his mind.

"Harry!"

Harry stopped and slid across the stone floor, almost falling from the sudden stop. He turned around, after regaining his balance, and saw Hermione and Ron walking towards him, looking upset and flustered.

"What's wrong?" He asked, pushing Trelawney aside for the moment.

"They're here," Hermione said weakly. "The executioner is here with the Minister; they're going to kill Buckbeak tonight."

"Let's go see him," Harry said quickly, loosening his green and silver tie. "Maybe we can figure out a way to get Buckbeak off."

"But, Harry, the curfew," Hermione reminded him as he started walking back the way he came.

"A Herbology exam just finished," Harry told her. "The students are just getting back for dinner, we won't be noticed."

Hermione nodded and grabbed Ron's arm. "Let's go."

The three friends quickly pushed their way through the throngs of students, all pleased that their strenuous exams were finally over. The blazing sun was starting to set as they ran across the grounds, the shimmering blue sky was bathed in warm oranges and pale pinks; the image was reflected atop the still lake. As they ran down the hill towards the paddock and Hagrid's hut, Harry could've sworn he saw two people watching him from the forest.

"Hagrid?" Hermione called as Ron pounded ruthlessly on the heavy door. "Hagrid, please, open the door."

Hagrid's large dog, Fang, could be heard howling at Ron's insistent knocking and the dark hound came barreling out once Hagrid opened the door, nearly knocking Harry over when he jumped up on him.

"Yeh shoudn' be here," Hagrid said glumly, ushering them quickly into his home; Hagrid looked around outside before he shut the door.

"We've come to be with you, Hagrid," Hermione told him. "We'll stay with you."

"I can' let yeh do tha'," Hagrid told her. "If yer caught here withou' permission, yeh'll be in big trouble."

Ron started to protest, but Harry stepped on his foot, while trying to push Fang away.

"I'll make you some tea, Hagrid," Hermione said after a moment, biting her lip. "It will keep you calm." She turned around and busied herself, letting out a small sob, as she rummaged through the cupboard for the tea pot. Harry was watching Buckbeak through the window where he was tethered in Hagrid's pumpkin patch.

"Hermione!" Ron shouted, standing from his chair and knocking it over as Hermione shrieked, dropping the tea pot.

"Ron!" She gasped, pointing to a furry lump on the table. "It's Scabbers!"

Ron looked at her as though she were mad then looked at the quivering lump of fur. "It is Scabbers!" He grinned, picking up the creature; Harry realized it was a thin, sickly looking rat.

"Crookshanks didn't eat him," Hermione told him smugly.

Ron however wasn't listening to her. He was busy trying to keep a grasp on the rat. Scabbers was scratching and biting Ron's hands, trying to get away from him. "Calm down, Scabbers. There is no cat here, nothing can hurt you," Ron kept saying, trying to sooth his pet.

"What are you two talking about?" Harry blurted out, rubbing his temples while looking to Hagrid for an answer.

"Crookshanks is," Hagrid started to say when someone pounded loudly on the door; all of them jumped, Hagrid's seat creaked loudly.

"Hagrid? Is someone there with you?" A man called, the knocker still pounding. "Hagrid?"

"Quick," Hagrid whispered urgently, grabbing Harry and Ron by the arm. "The backdoor."

Hagrid nudged it open with a massive boot and looked out while the knocking grew louder. "Get back ter the castle," he ordered. "Don' stay."

Harry jumped down the high stone steps, Ron struggling to get Scabbers into a pocket, and helped Hermione down quickly. She turned as she stepped onto the soft ground.

"It will be alright, Hagrid," she said assured him.

They snuck through Hagrid's pumpkin patch quietly, Buckbeak raising his large head from his talons to look at them curiously. The voices of Dumbledore and Fudge could be heard from an open window as they walked past the large hut. Ron was still struggling with Scabbers as Hermione tried to hurry them on, herself on the brink of tears; Harry noticed the setting sun was colored blood red almost.

"Ron, please," Hermione begged as they could hear voices exit Hagrid's hut; they were far enough away, Harry didn't have to worry about them being found.

"It's Scabbers. He won't stay put," he snapped, trying to put the rat in his pocket. "Scabbers, you idiot, it's me!"

The rat was squealing by now, but not loud enough that the voices from Hagrid's garden could be ignored. Male voices jumbled together before silence fell upon them like a spell, then without any warnings, the distinct swish and thud of a large sharp axe.

Hermione gasped sharply, and clasped onto Harry's arm. She swayed on her feet and Harry grabbed her shoulders to steady her.

"I can't---I can't believe...they did it!" She moaned, her hand covering her mouth, Ron looked up from his wrestling match with the rat and looked sadly towards the hut.

Scabbers let out the loudest, shrillest squeak Harry had ever heard and acted as though he couldn't hide himself quick enough. He scrambled from Ron's grasp and up his arm towards the pocket in his shirt.

"Scabbers, you idiot, what's wrong?" Ron asked, covering the quivering pocket with his hands. Harry, however, was looking around in the darkness. While the world around them, the details were becoming lost to the eyes of his friends. For him however, the world was in perfect clarity. Harry kept looking around them; he kept hearing the soft pounding of gigantic paws. It grew louder as Harry turned around; spotting the massive, pale-eyed black stray he had seen several times. Its pearl white teeth were bared in a menacing growl.

It snarled at them and broke into a run, its paws pounding out a staccato rhythm as it lunged towards Harry. Harry moved to pull his wand from its holster, but the dog hit him hard in the chest, knocking them down. Before Harry could throw him off, the dog leapt off his chest, he could feel the sharp claws dig into his skin; the dog's weight made his ribs feel as though they'd shattered.

Hermione was screaming as the dog slid in the dewy grass, turning for another attack. Harry sprung to his feet as the dog lurched around him and clamped its jaws around Ron's leg. Ron shouted in pain as Harry grabbed onto the dog's dirty fur; as much as Harry wanted to, he couldn't pull the dog off of Ron without hurting his friend even more. Harry could smell the blood already and if he were to pull the dog off, Ron's leg would be shredded to bits.

The dog drug Ron along as though he were a rag doll, leaving Harry and Hermione no choice but to chase after it through the darkness. As the stray quickly moved the screaming and kicking Ron, Harry saw something swing before them. He slid to a stop in the grass, grabbing Hermione at the same time, narrowly avoiding the swinging branches of the Whomping Willow.

"The Whomping Willow," Hermione whispered, gasping for breath. She fumbled for her wand, but Harry could still see Ron at the base of the tree, the bleeding leg was against the root of the tree, being drug down through a large gap backwards; the dog must have changed positions to get them down easily.

"HELP ME!" Ron screamed as a horrible sound like a gunshot pierced the night. Harry's stomach lurched, knowing that a bone in Ron's leg just snapped painfully.

"We have to go for help," Hermione whispered frantically.

"There's no time," Harry told her. "We have to get in there."

"But how? Those branches won't let us through," Hermione pointed out.

Harry watched the branches swinging before them, Hermione's wand casting a small light before them. Harry could probably dodge the branches and get to the trunk, but Hermione couldn't. Not unless he...was it worth the risk, though?

Harry quickly made a decision, deciding to take the risk for his friend. "Hold on Hermione," Harry told her, wrapping an arm tightly around her small waist. He watched the movements of the branches and quickly sprinted forward, turning so he took a sharp blow from the branches instead of Hermione. The two of them collided with the thick trunk, a long, whip like mark on Harry's back. Much to his surprise, the wound did not heal, which only happened when a wound was caused by iron or magic. But then again, normal willow trees didn't swing its branches at people like giant clubs.

"Come on," Harry said, ignoring the stabbing pain on his back. He quickly helped Hermione down the hole, noticing a few bleeding scratches on her cheek, and climbed down after her. Hermione's wand was once more in her hand and Harry pulled out his.

"Ron," Hermione whispered as his faint shouting reached their ears.

They ran as quickly as they could, the light from their wands lighting the way as they ran down the earthen passage. They ran for what seemed eternity when the earth slowly gave way to stone and wood. Steep stone steps were before them, a trap door open, letting in the slightest sliver of light.

"Where-where do you think-we are?" Hermione panted as Harry cautiously climbed through the trap door.

"The Shrieking Shack," he answered, helping the breathless Gryffindor through the trap door. All around them, furniture was destroyed; scratches and gouges covered the walls like wallpaper, shattered glass covered in years of grime. "Ghosts can't do this," Harry mumbled.

Harry took Hermione's hand after he extinguished the tip of his wand. Slowly, he led her through the darkness and up a pair of broken, creaking wooden stairs. They could hear Ron as they stood on the landing; Harry looked down the dark, ravaged hallway, towards a broken door, swinging on its hinges; light could be seen from that room.

"Stay behind me," Harry whispered, leading the way to the door. Wand held tightly in his wand, he kicked open the door. Before him, Ron was slumped on a majestic, four-poster bed, clutching his leg.

"Where's the dog?" He asked quickly, rushing over to check on his leg.

"Not a dog," Ron groaned, looking ill with the pain. "Animagus...a trap..."

"What-"

Ron pointed to something over his shoulder, Harry wheeled around to look. With a snap, the door was closed, shutting off the exit. His filthy, matted hair, hung down past his shoulders, gray fathomless eyes staring intently at them. Sirius Black grinned at them with yellow teeth as he pointed Ron's wand at them.

It was the person on the other side that had his attention. She was dressed in smooth, black pants and a top of hunter green silk, a brocaded corset laced tightly around her torso. She leaned leisurely against the doorframe, arms crossed and with her hand held loosely in her grasp. Sleek black hair framed her face, a smirk toying at her crimson lips.

"Hello Harry," Selene whispered, her dark blue eyes gleamed as though laughing at him.

I'll be writing chapter 15 over the next two weeks, but its State Jazz and spring break so my typing time will be very limited. I hoped you enjoyed chapter 14 and reviews are always appriciated. As I promised, I will tell you the main ship. This story will ulimately be shipped Harry/Selene. Until this ship is made reality in this story...anything can happen. evil grin Cheers!