Two weeks later. It was the middle of March. There had been no news on Black or on the hearing. It seemed like the world had gone silent. Dead silent. Hogwarts seemed to have slowed down. The Ministry had slowed down. It was as if everything was trying to come to a gentle stop.

…

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

"AHH!"

"Whoa!"

"Ow!"

"Damn it!" came the cries of the third year Gryffindor boys in their dormitory. It was Saturday morning and an alarm had gone off, waking everyone up and making some fall out of their beds. Those who fell included Harry Potter. He stood up rubbing his head where it had hit the floor, and glared at Ron Weasley, the owner of the alarm that had gone off.

"RON!" the other boys yelled.

"Sorry. I don't know why it's on. I didn't turn it on," Ron apologized, turning the alarm off.

"What time is it?" Dean Thomas yawned. He too had fallen out of bed, but was lying down again.

"Quarter to eight," Ron replied. The others stared at him.

"You woke us up before eight o'clock on a Saturday?" Seamus almost growled.

"It wasn't me! I didn't set the alarm!" Ron defended. The boys glared at him. "AHHHHH!" Ron yelled, running from the dormitory, the boys after him. Neville, Harry, Seamus, and Dean chased Ron out the portrait door and around the school. "Someone help!" Ron cried.

"What is going on?" Remus Lupin furrowed his eyebrows as Ron ran by him with other third year Gryffindors chasing him. The Gryffindors paid no attention to the professor. Remus saw familiar messy black hair in the lead and grinned. He grabbed the boy's arm, making him stop abruptly and the other boys ran into him. They all fell to the floor groaning. Ron disappeared.

"Ow," Harry groaned. "What was that for?" he looked up at Remus who was still grinning.

"I didn't know how to make you stop. I was going to pull you aside and let the others keep going, but I figured I should stop all of you."

"It couldn't have been a less painful way?" Seamus asked and fell back to the floor from his sitting position.

Remus laughed. Harry glared at him. "I fail to see the humor."

"From your position, probably," Remus nodded. He had to admit, the boys looked like someone had brutally killed them. All you needed was blood.

"What happened?" Hermione frowned. She was heading to the library and stopped beside Remus, staring at the boys. The boys just pointed at Remus who chuckled.

"They were chasing Ron for some reason and I didn't know how to stop them. I grabbed Harry's arm and made him stop quickly. The others ran into him and they haven't moved much since then," Remus told her.

Hermione rolled her eyes and walked away. "Boys," they heard her say.

"Come on. Time to get up. This wouldn't look good for any of us if McGonagall were to show up," Remus helped the Gryffindors. He smiled a bit when Harry took his hand and got up without flinching at the touch.

"I'm going to breakfast. Anyone coming?" Seamus said.

"I'll come," Neville answered.

"I'll be there later. I'm going back to bed," Dean stated and headed back to the seventh floor. Neville and Seamus continued down the Grand Staircase.

"You have no idea how much that hurt," Harry told Remus.

"Actually, I think I do. In our fifth year, I think, we had just played a prank on some Slytherins and when we ran away, we split up. We were going to meet back in the common room. We did meet up but not in the common room. We all knew different ways to get to Gryffindor Tower. Turns out being able to run fast has its disadvantages. Even though each way came out somewhere different, we all ran fast and crashed into each other in the hallway. We didn't move for, I bet, almost ten minutes. Of course, McGonagall found us on the floor and we got detention. We almost made it to the Tower, just a bit farther and we would have made it," Remus told Harry who laughed.

"How many detentions did you four get?"

"Lost count. I lost count after forty-eight. I don't know about the others. James and Black probably know. I also wasn't in all the detentions they were," Remus replied. "Why were you chasing Ron anyways?"

"Because his alarm woke us all up. It made me and Dean fall out of bed," Harry responded.

"Sounds like a prank Black and I played on your father. It was Christmas holidays. Black and I set James' alarm clock to go off at two-fifteen in the morning. We put a silencing charm around the dorm so no one but James would be woken up. He wanted to kill us when he found out we were the ones who did it," Remus reminisced.

"You tell lots of stories."

"Believe me, there are millions of stories for me to tell."

"Cool. I like hearing them. I should get down to breakfast and assure Ron he gets to live. See you later," Harry began walking down the stairs.

"Bye. By the way, don't worry over the hearing results too much. They'll come," Remus smiled.

"How…I don't want to know. You scare me sometimes," Harry waved it off and walked away. Remus laughed and went into his office.

Harry entered the Great Hall and walked to Hermione and Ron, sitting down. "Don't worry, Ron. You get to live," he patted Ron on the shoulder.

"Gee, thanks. After chasing me through the school," Ron said sarcastically.

"When do you think the results will come, Harry?" Hermione asked.

"Not sure. Hopefully soon. I'll go crazy if they don't come soon," Harry answered.

"It must be hard to wait," Hermione said.

"Extremely," Harry nodded.

Entry 19
I have no idea why I'm writing right now. Class starts in about three minutes. Divination. Hermione's going to Ancient Runes, having dropped Divination. Ron and I are worried about Hermione. She's driving herself mental with all her classes. She's still hiding something from us. It's beginning to bug me now.

March is almost over. Six days and we're in April already. After dinner, me, Ron, and Hermione are going down to see Hagrid. Buckbeak's getting executed tonight. Hagrid's so upset. We're sad too.

I'm going crazy. The results from the hearing still haven't come. I don't know if it's a good or bad thing.

There goes the bell. Have to go.

Harry

Harry quickly threw his things in his bag and ran to Divination with Ron. "I still can't believe Buckbeak's getting killed tonight," he sighed as they sat at their table.

"I know. I wonder how Hagrid's holding up? Can't be too good," Ron nodded, whispering. Trelawney had started the class so Harry and Ron lowered their voices to whispers.

"Stupid Malfoy. If it wasn't for him, this wouldn't be happening," Harry replied.

"Yeah. Here comes Trelawney," Ron said and the professor appeared at their desk.

"Let me guess. The Grim," Harry said dully. Trelawney looked at Harry with big, sad eyes then went to another table. "What does that mean?"

"Maybe she's finally given it up," Ron guessed.

"I hope so. The Grim is so annoying. Hey. Did Hermione ever tell you why she was researching the Grim?"

"Nope. She never mentioned it or anything. It's like it never happened or something," Ron shook his head.

"Weird. She's been so strange this year. I think it has to do with whatever she's hiding from us," Harry stated.

"Yeah. I wonder why she won't tell us?" Ron wondered aloud.

"Who knows?" Harry shrugged. Like always, Divination dragged by. When the bell rang and Harry stood up, his bag fell over, all its contents spilling out.

"Need help, mate?" Ron asked.

"No, go on ahead. I'll catch up," Harry replied. Ron nodded and left the class. Harry knelt on the floor and began cleaning his things up. He jumped when a hand fell on his shoulder. "Professor Trelawney. You scared me."

"It will be tonight. The blood will be spilt of the innocent when he returns tonight," Trelawney said in a strange, far-off voice.

"P—P—Professor? Are—are you all right?" Harry stuttered.

"Beware! Servant and master will be reunited again," she said then her head slumped forward. A few seconds later, she came around. "Oh. So sorry, Mr. Potter. Better hurry. Can't be late," her regular voice was back. Harry grabbed his bag and quickly left the classroom.

What was that about? Did she just make a real prediction? He thought as he walked to Herbology. Scary. As soon as he entered the greenhouse, the class started.

"Just made it," Harry sighed and stood between Ron and Hermione. Herbology went by fairly quickly and when class was over, they dropped off their bags in Gryffindor Tower then went for dinner.

"Poor Hagrid. I can't believe this is happening to him," Hermione sighed as they sat down.

"It's horrible. Maybe someone will be staying with Hagrid when it happens," Ron stated.

"Maybe McGonagall or Dumbledore or maybe even Lupin," Harry replied.

"Hopefully. Hagrid needs all the comfort he can get," Hermione nodded.

"Do you want to go now? Before it gets dark?" Harry suggested.

"Yeah, let's go," they agreed and they walked outside. They slowed down when they saw a man sharpening a blade on an axe in the Entrance Courtyard.

"I know him," Ron gasped when he saw the man.

"Really? How? Who is he?" Harry asked.

"I don't know how, but his name is McNair. Walden McNair. Obviously he's an executioner. I don't know how I know him."

"Come on. It'll be dark soon," Hermione said and they ran down to Hagrid's hut. "Hagrid, it's us. Open up," she knocked.

"Come on in, guys," Hagrid opened the door. Buckbeak was tethered in the pumpkin patch.

"How are you?" Harry wondered. He leaned against a counter, his back to an open window.

"All right, I guess. Dumbledore's comin' down ter be with me when it happens," Hagrid stated.

"We'll stay too," Ron spoke.

"No you will not! You three will go back ter the school," Hagrid shook his head.

"OW!" Harry suddenly cried.

"What's wrong?"

"Something hit me in the head. It really hurt," Harry turned to look out the window. "Uh oh. They're here."

"You three have ter go. Now. Out the back," Hagrid said. The trio went to the back door and opened it just as Fudge knocked on the door. When Fudge, Dumbledore, and the executioner entered the house, the trio ran out and hid in the pumpkin patch.

"Let's get back to the school before we get caught," Harry whispered. Hermione and Ron agreed and they ran back to the top of the hill in the Stone Circle. They looked down at Hagrid's. They could see everything. As much as they didn't want to watch, none of them could look away. The Trio watched as McNair walked over to Buckbeak. He raised the sharpened blade high in the air then brought it down.

"No!" Hermione cried, turning into Ron who hugged her with Harry.

"Bye, Buckbeak," Harry muttered very quietly.

"Poor Hagrid," Ron mumbled. He frowned. He could feel something on his foot. He looked to the ground and saw a rat. "Scabbers!" he exclaimed. He bent to pick up Scabbers, but the rat scurried off. Ron ran after it.

"Ron? Ron, come back," Hermione and Harry shouted, running after their friend.

"Got'cha," they heard Ron say. They ran over a hill and saw Ron on the ground holding Scabbers who wouldn't stay still. There was a familiar tree behind him.

"Harry. It's the Whomping Willow," Hermione informed.

"Oh no. Ron, move!" Harry yelled.

Ron looked up and his eyes grew wide in fear. "Hermione! Harry! Look out! It's the Grim!"

"The Grim?" Hermione frowned. They spun around and saw a big, black, shaggy dog growling at them. Harry stopped breathing. The dog ran towards them and jumped over them, going for Ron.

"Ron!" Harry cried.

"Scabbers!" the rat freed itself from Ron's grasp and ran into the trunk of the tree. The dog ran right in after the rat. "No! Scabbers!" Ron scrambled into the tree as well.

"RON!" Harry and Hermione yelled.

"Harry, we have to get help," Hermione said.

"We can't leave him. That dog could kill him," Harry replied. "We have to get in there."

"How? We'll get hit if we get any closer."

"Dodge. Let's go," Harry took her hand and they ran forward. "Look out!" he shouted as a branch came down between them.

"Harry, duck!" Hermione cried as a branch flew over her but hit Harry. He went flying. "Harry!" she jumped over a branch and ducked under another, but then one hit her in the stomach. She held on, screaming as the branch flailed around.

"Hermione?" Harry called. He didn't have time to move before Hermione grabbed his shirt and brought him with her.

"You want in? Here you go," she threw him into the base of the tree.

"That hurt," Harry groaned. "I'm not having good days. Always getting hurt lately." Just as he was about to get up, Hermione slid in and landed on top of Harry.

"Sorry, Harry. I didn't mean to," Hermione apologized and helped Harry up.

"I'm okay. Let's go," Harry started walking down the dark passageway.

"Where do you think this ends?" Hermione asked.

"I think I know, but I'm hoping I'm wrong," Harry sighed. They continued along the long passage. Both of them fell a couple times. Hermione cut her wrist badly and Harry cut his knee. Finally they came to a trapdoor in the ceiling. "I'll look. Stay here," Harry whispered. He raised himself through the door. He quietly got out of the passage and looked around. It was empty. "Come on," he whispered again and helped Hermione.

"Is this the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione realized.

"Yeah, I think so. We have to find Ron," Harry nodded and started up a staircase.

"AHH!" Ron yelled. Hermione and Harry ran up the rest of the stairs and to the last room. They ran in and over to where Ron was sitting on an old bed, Scabbers in his hands. His left leg was extended and bloody. He had been bitten by the dog.

"Ron, are you all right?" Hermione knelt to examine the bite.

"Where's the dog?" Harry asked.

"It's not a dog, Harry! It's an Animagus!" Ron pointed to the doorway, terrified.

"Hello," a voice came from the doorway. Harry and Hermione spun around as the door swung open and revealed a man. The man had long, stringy, black hair, a sunken face, and electric blue eyes with a haunted look in them. He wore old, shabby, torn prison robes. The man was…

"Sirius Black," Harry spat the name and pulled his wand. Black pulled out a wand too.

"Your friend was very helpful. He had a wand," Black looked at Ron.

"Leave him alone," Harry growled, walking towards Black.

"Harry, what are you doing? Come back here," Hermione said.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted and Ron's wand flew out of Black's hand. Harry backed him into a wall, his wand at Black's neck.

"Are you really going to kill me, Harry?"

"I have good reason to," Harry said through clenched teeth. There was a noise downstairs which turned into someone running up the stairs.

"Expelliarmus!" Harry's wand flew across the room. He looked at the doorway and saw Remus.

"Remus," Harry breathed.

"Get back to your friends, Harry. Now," Harry backed and when he was close enough, Hermione pulled him back the rest of the way.

"Hello, Remus," Black stated.