HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRED AND GEORGE WEASLEY! This is my present to the most amazing pranksters ever! I love you two!
Chapter 20
"Just set him free then."
Alexia looked up from her cup of tea and glanced at Harry and Hadgrid standing at the window. They were both looking out at Buckbeak, chained to a garden post, his beak currently filled with ferret meat. He looked happy. Alexia blinked her tears back as she thought of what was going to come.
"Yeah Hadgrid," Ron agreed. "Why can't we just let him go?"
Hadgrid just shook his head.
"No," he replied "They'd know it was me. 'Sides," he added with a sigh "It'd get Dumbledore into trouble. He's comin' down yeh know, Dumbledore," he added. "Said he wanted to be with me when....when it 'appens."
"We'll stay too, Hadgrid," Alexia offered.
"Yeh will do no such thing!" Hadgrid exclaimed. "Think I want yeh all to see somethin' like this? No. Yeh all jus' drink yer tea and be off. Oh!" he said suddenly and walked over to a small flour box on the shelf next to Ron and Hermione "Almost fergot. I think this belongs to yeh Ron."
Ron's eyes lit up upon seeing a very familiar brown rat in Hadgrid's hands.
"Scabbers!" he cried happily "You're alive!"
"Yeh should take better care of yer pets, Ron," Hadgrid scolded.
"Looks like you owe someone an apology, Ron," Alexia glanced over at Hermione.
"Right," Ron nodded and looked Hermione in the eye. "When I see Crookshanks, I'll let him know."
"She meant me!" Hermione fumed.
Alexia was about to give Ron a whack on the head when suddenly, crash! A vase on the table was shattered by a small rock.
"What the?" Alexia muttered when another rock nailed Harry on the back of the head.
"Ow!" he yelled, rubbing his head, his green eyes glancing towards the window. His face fell. "Hadgrid!" he called and pointed out the window.
There, coming down the hill, was Dumbledore, the Minister of Magic and the Executioner. Hadgrid became suddenly flustered as he shooed the foursome out towards the back door, slightly panicked.
"Yeh got to go! It's almost dark. Anyone sees yeh outside the castle it'll be trouble! Big trouble! 'Specially you, Harry-"
Bang! Bang! Bang! The sound of the knocking door interrupted the solemn gamekeeper and Alexia could hear him sniffling. She gave him a gentle, apologetic smile.
"It's gonna be okay, Hadgrid," she patted his shoulder.
He nodded back silently, and after one more glance at her friend, Alexia followed the trio out the back door just as Dumbledore and the others greeted Hadgrid at the front.
"C'mon!" Harry whispered and waved the others over behind the enormous pumpkins lining the back side of the garden.
They hid behind them for a few seconds as they waited for the threesome to enter Hadgrid's house.
"All right, they're gone," Alexia whispered. "Let's go!"
She lead the others back around to the front of the hut, then all scurried up the grassy slope back over to the look out at the top of the hill. As they turned back around, they caught of glimpse of the executioner's axe gleaming in the setting sun as the distant clock tower began to strike eight.
Hermione's hand had suddenly grasped onto Alexia's and she squeezed it even more tightly. Harry laid his hand onto Alexia's shoulder, while Hermione's head found her way onto Ron's shoulder; her quiet sniffles adding to the sombre mood surrounding them as they watched the axe rise into the air and then fall to the ground with a sickening slice.
"They did it," Hermione whispered. "I can't believe they did it...."
A loud yelp from Ron broke up the sad affair.
"Ow!" he yelled, holding his finger; Scabbers rolled onto the ground. "He bit me!" Ron pointed to his blooded, bite-marked, finger. "Scabbers!" he yelled following after his rat.
"Ron?" Hermione was puzzled. "Ron!" she called louder as Ron rushed past her and the others, following after his rat.
"Ron!" Harry began running after his friend, the girls on his heels.
"Scabbers!" they heard Ron call. "Come back!"
"Wait, Ron!" Alexia yelled trying to keep up, then, without really noticed, bumped into the Harry's back.
"Ugh," she groaned. "Harry, why'd you stop?" She blinked and then saw what was in front of them. Ron was standing right under the waiting branches of the Whomping Willow. "Uh oh...."
"Harry,"Hermione grabbed Harry's sleeve. "You do realize what tree this is?"
"That's not good," Harry muttered. "Ron!" he shouted. "RUN!"
Ron's face suddenly became absolutely terrified.
"Hermione, Alexia, Harry, run!" he shouted, pointing a trembling finger behind them.
The threesome all turned around and froze. Alexia's eye widened. There, standing there behind them, was a huge, black-furred dog; teeth bared and blue eyes glowing madly.
"It's the Grim!"
Sorry the chapter was super short! I just really wanted to post something for Fred and George's birthday.
Review!