Chapter 14:

Juliunna Pov

Hours later, I got back before Ron, Harry and Hermione, and even my brother. So, I decided to go visit my Uncle to tell him the good news. While I was hiking across the grounds, I noticed that their was something squeaking in the grass. Mere inches from my feet.

I turned my head a barely noticeable inch to the right, and my suspicions were confirmed. Scabber's was watching me curiously. Hmm. Stupid rat.

"Scabber's!" I snapped playfully, with the voice of a pet owner cooing to her naughty pet.

"Ron has been looking for you all over the place! Have you been hiding from Crooshanks?" I cooed, and I looked around the empty grounds. Scabber's, or Peter, whatever, squeaked and just pretended to act like a rat.

"Well you better scurry off to the castle, before I send Ron out here. I'm looking for Nibbles and Crooshanks anyway, and you probably don't want to be here when I find them."

And it worked, for Scabber's scampered as quickly as he could to the castle, my disgusted expression on him all the way. Hopefully he thinks it's because he's a rat.

I continued to the Whomping Willow, and smiled when I got there. Sirius will be so happy when he hears what I've got to say! I picked up a very long stick and held it to the knot in the tree. (Sirius had told me a few days ago) Immediately, the swinging branches froze.

I lowered myself to the ground, and just as I was about to crawl forward, I heard a drawling, curious sounding voice.

"Why, Juliunna, what are you doing?"

I turned around in horror, and saw my father standing behind me. Oh come on! Talk about bad timing.

"Daddy, what are you doing here?!" I squealed, and racked my brain for excuses as to why I was about to crawl in between the roots of a tree.

"I asked first." He smirked, and studied the tree closely. I hope that he doesn't notice that the hole was big enough to call a passage.

"Well, I was looking for my necklace. I dropped it yesterday around here somewhere, and I couldn't find it. So I decided to look again." I lied, but he spotted the lie instantly.

"Surely Juliunna, you realize that I just saw you press that stick to the tree, and it stopped moving. Surely you wouldn't have to do all that just to try and find a, necklace." He raised an eyebrow mockingly, and I groaned. I wish he wasn't as good spotting lies.

"Well I had dropped it over here while I was hanging with my friends. Obviously I had thought to check here."

"Hmm, well can these so called friends confirm that?" He smirked, and I nodded. Draco would do anything for me.

"Of course. Draco was with me. He can confirm that." I smirked. Father shrugged.

"Ah, well never mind that. I supposed you asked why I was here?" He asked, making me nod.

"Well I'm here to talk to that old fool about the Hippogriff. You know, the one that attacked your brother. The oaf teaching Care of the Magical creatures class will be fired right away-!"

"NO!" I screamed, making him jump a little. "What, what do you mean no?" He asked, astonished at my outburst.

"You can't fire Hagrid daddy! And you can't do anything to Buckbeak! I won't let you!" I yelled, and his eyes flashed dangerously.

"What is wrong with you?… Oh, I forgot about your little fascination with dangerous out of control creatures," My mouth dropped open widely at his words.

"Buckbeak isn't dangerous Daddy, it was all Draco-!"

"Sweetheart, you know those talks we have every once and a while about keeping our mouths shut and our attitudes to a minimum? Well these are one of those times." Father said slowly, as if I was an infant.

"But-!"

"Bite your tongue. Now Princess, would you like to accompany me back to the castle?" He asked nicely, making me scowled angrily. "Of course not. I don't even want to look at you right now." I snapped. Turning around so I couldn't see him, I heard him chuckle. Ugh! I hate when people laugh at me when I'm being serious!

"Well Christmas time is coming up, you'll definitely be wanting to see me then-!"

"I doubt it! I'm staying here for Christmas. My friends asked me to." I snapped, not wanting to hear what he had to say.

"Well even so, you know my reasons for doing what I'm doing. Listen, if I were just to brush this off as an accident, I'd be a joke! Our whole family-!"

"Wouldn't be effected at all by that. Please daddy, Buckbeaks my friend too." I begged, still turned around.

"Listen sweetheart, this will all blow over, you won't even remember the birds name by next year! And as for that oaf… don't you dare run away when I'm talking to you!"

Well, Sirius can wait a few more minutes. I ran away from the Willow and rounded around my father. He shouted at me to come back, but I bolted for the castle. I don't need to listen to him.

Oh I'm going to be in so much trouble when he catches me!

I ran up the castle steps, round the corners, and ran straight into the girls bathroom. I hid in a stall, and didn't dare back a sound, or even move. I'm so scared. Running away was pretty stupid.

I am so dead.

Normal Pov (In Hogsmead with Harry, Ron, and Hermione)

Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood gaping at each other, on account of what they had just heard. The three of them had been talking in the Three Broomsticks, when the teachers, Minister of Magic, and Hagrid had walked in. Hidden behind a Christmas tree, they listened quietly as the teachers talked about how Sirius Black had betrayed his best friend, and sold out Harry's parents to Voldemort.

Harry felt himself go cold and lifeless, having just learned that his parents were betrayed. That they trusted the man who was after him, who had once been friends with them.

"We should tell Jules. Harry, I'm really sorry-!" But Harry didn't wait to hear the rest of Hermione's pity speech, for he needed to talk to Jules. And talk to her quick.

(A/N: Just a quick little chappie that I had to get out of the way. Todays the last day of Christmas break, and I won't be able to update for two weeks! Two weeks! But anyway, we see more of Sirius in the next chapter. And Harry and Jules have a real heart to heart moment. Goodbye. And merry Christmas!)