Chapter 25
The Prediction
"There is great creativity in mischief. But also great risk."
General (ret.) Jigme Dorji Wengshuk
Rachel was finally allowed to leave the hospital wing the night before exams began on Monday. She also forgave Marcus for the using the flame charm, which fully brought Marcus out of his slump that weekend. However, the good mood was punctuated by a note from Hagrid.
"Buckbeak's appeal," Harriet said, reading the note. "It's been set for the 9th*."
"That's the day we finish our exams," Hermione said, looking for one of her Arithmancy textbooks.
Hermione had once again puzzled everyone with her odd exam timetable. That Monday, she was scheduled to take both the Arithmancy and Transfiguration finals at the same time. Along with the Charms and Ancient Runes finals as well. By this point, Harriet and the rest had given up asking how Hermione was doing so many things at the same time (and yet not doing them at the same time).
"Yeah," Harriet said reading on. "Someone from the Committee, a witness from the Ministry, and… and an executioner."
"They're bringing the executioner to the appeal!?" Kieran asked, aghast.
"That sounds as though they've already decided!" Hermione declared.
"They can't!" Ronnie moaned. "We've spent ages looking up stuff for him! They can't just ignore it all!"
"Somehow… I think Draco's dad's already made the Committee's mind up for it," Dora grumbled.
Harriet had to agree. The Ministry, so far in her experience, had shown itself to only be capable of ineptitude or being pushed around by people with money. Justice didn't matter; not upsetting the right people did. Harriet remembered Hagrid complaining about the Ministry messing up when he took her to Diagon Alley for the very first time.
"Ministry of Magic messin' things up as usual." Well, a punishment such as execution that was so entirely disproportionate to the crime was a mess up in Harriet's book.
Harriet didn't have time to brood on Hagrid's behalf. The following morning, exam week began. The first exam, Transfiguration, was particularly tough. Professor McGonagall assigned them all to turn a teapot into a tortoise. Hermione's biggest concern was her tortoise looking more like a turtle. For everyone else, the worries were willow-patterned shells, breathing steam, and having spouts for tails.
The Charms exam went slightly better. Professor Flitwick tested them on Cheering Charms, which had the positive effect of cheering everyone up greatly. However, it also had some setbacks. Harriet overdid her Cheering Charm on Ronnie, and as a result Ronnie was reduced to such an overpowering fit of giggles she had to wait an hour for the effect to wear off before she could perform the charm herself.
Tuesday was Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Astronomy. Hagrid was so miserable that Professor Grubbly-Plank was overseeing the exam. Fortunately, she picked Porlocks as the subject, which everyone still remembered well as it was a lesson Erica had given them, and everyone came away with a positive sense of how well they had done. However, Harriet couldn't help but keep stealing glances at Hagrid's cabin the whole time, hoping for at least a glimpse of her big shaggy friend.
Potions was indifferent as ever. Harriet managed a passable Confusing Concoction in her own mind. True to form Professor Snape passed by without even glancing at her cauldron and scribbled a grade on his notes before passing on. Then there was Astronomy that night at midnight, followed by History of Magic the next morning.
Fortunately, Professor Stratton had taken a small amount of pity on them all and had pre-assigned them all an essay on their chosen Greek god or goddess for their final exam. This meant all the students who had been up at midnight for their Astronomy exam simply had to make their way to his classroom to hand it in that morning and then could return to their common rooms to catch up on sleep or revision.
Herbology was that afternoon. There seemed to be a small division growing in the Hufflepuffs after the incident at the event for Erica. Smith and his friends it seemed weren't speaking to anyone who was remotely friendly to Jeremy.
Thursday was the final day of exams. The first one that morning was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin set up a practical exam as opposed to written; an obstacle course in the grounds where they had to defeat a grindylow in a paddling pool, pass a series of potholes full of redcaps, struggle through a small marsh and ignore a hinkypunk, and then climb into a large trunk and face a boggart.
"Excellent, Harriet," Professor Lupin said cheerfully as Harriet climbed back out of the trunk. "Full marks."
Harriet beamed and waited to watch the rest. Kieran had to skip the marsh portion on account of his leg, Professor Lupin let him write a short essay on the nature of hinkypunks instead. Ronnie meanwhile was fooled by the Hinkypunk and got stuck, needing to be rescued by Professor Lupin before the hinkypunk got to her. Hermione on the other hand burst out of the trunk in a panic, pointing back into the trunk and shrieking about how Professor McGonagall had told her she'd failed every exam and was going to have to repeat third year. Finally Marcus made it all the way through, though his impatience almost got the better of him while dealing with the redcaps. As redcaps lurked in places of bloodshed, they weren't as put off by flame charms, and instead seemed attracted to them.
Ronnie was still teasing Hermione about her boggart when they paused at the entrance. There, standing at the top of the stairs to the entrance to the school, was Cornelius Fudge.
"Ah, hello Harriet," Fudge said looking solemn. "And you, John," he went on addressing her reluctant bodyguard.
"Minister," Dawlish said in greeting. "Has something else happened?"
"Oh no, no nothing like that," Fudge said. "Just making a scheduled check on the situation and well…" he sighed and looked off towards Hagrid's cabin. "On a very unpleasant mission, indeed."
He turned back to Harriet. "As I was coming here anyway, I was asked by the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures to act as the witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff."
"The appeal's already happened?" Ronnie asked, aghast.
"No, no," Fudge said. "It's scheduled for this afternoon."
"Then you might not have to witness one after all, will you?" Ronnie declared. "The hippogriff might get off!"
Fudge began to respond but at that moment the door to the school opened and two men stepped out. One was so old and frail he looked as though he was going to poof into dust at the lightest touch. The other was strapping and middle-aged, with a thin black moustache.
"Dear oh dear, I'm getting too old for this," the old man said in a voice that sounded as frail as he looked. He reminded Harriet of a still living Professor Binns. "Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"
"That's right," Fudge replied.
Harriet took the newcomers to be the Committee members Hagrid had written about. The moustached man was fingering something in his belt. Harriet felt her throat clench as she looked down and realized he was plucking one of the tips of a large, single-bladed axe on a long-handle. Even more ominous, right beside it hung a brutal looking, yet intricately engraved scythe.
Ronnie opened her mouth to say more but Hermione grabbed her arm and pulled her into the school.
"Why'd you stop me?" Ronnie asked. "This isn't justice, this is just wrong! Fudge just admitted they don't think Hagrid's going to win the appeal!"
"Ronnie shut up," Hermione hissed. Behind them, Dawlish was clearly trying to listen in.
They entered the common room, leaving Dawlish behind when Hermione finally explained. "Ronnie, Fudge is your father's boss, you can't go saying things like that to him. You could get your family in trouble," Hermione explained. "We just have to have faith that if Hagrid can keep his head this time, they can't possibly decide to execute Buckbeak."
Harriet could tell Hermione didn't really believe that. But there wasn't time to dwell or worry. They had their final examinations to contend with. They went down to lunch and then Harriet and Ronnie headed off to Divination. They waited on the landing underneath the classroom as Professor Trelawney called them up one by one to crystal gaze.
It seemed to take ages. Harriet kept looking at her watch. Harriet felt even more aggravated when Professor Trelawney bypassed her in the list alphabetically. Neville looked as though he'd seen a ghost as he came down, and said he wasn't allowed to tell anyone what he had seen, or he'd have a horrible accident.
"Typical," Ronnie muttered as Neville left. "You know, Hermione's right this time… Trelawney really is an old fraud."
"Yeah," Harriet agreed. "I was thinking… next year, wanna talk to Professor McGonagall about transferring? Maybe Muggle Studies…? Professor Spring seems so fun, and with your dad, and me having lived with Muggles we probably wouldn't have to catch up much."
"Yeah," Ronnie said smiling. "Yeah I'd like that."
Parvati came down next. She irritated everyone who remained by exclaiming how Professor Trelawney had said she had all the makings of a true seer. The next to be called was Marcus.
"Of course she'd save me for last," Harriet muttered as Marcus climbed the ladder.
She sat in silence with Dawlish as Ronnie went up after Marcus, and finally climbed back down and Professor Trelawney called her name. Harriet ascended the ladder and entered the ever stifling common room. It was hotter than ever, with the windows and blinds closed, and the perfumed fire blazing.
Professor Trelawney was waiting at a small table with a crystal ball upon it right next to the fire. Harriet made her way over and sat. She wanted nothing more at this moment than for the exam to be over.
"If you would kindly gaze into the orb," Professor Trelawney said in her mistiest voice, "and tell me what you see."
Harriet gazed as told. As with every other time she'd crystal gazed before, she saw nothing but swirling mist.
"Well, what do you see?" Professor Trelawney asked.
Harriet decided it was best to fall back on the old Divination stand-by she and Ronnie had come up with that year, and pretend.
"Uh… a dark shape," Harriet said.
"What does it resemble? Just relax dear, let the visions flow."
The only thing on Harriet's mind was Hagrid and the appeal.
"A hippogriff," she said.
"Indeed!" Professor Trelawney gasped, looking very excited. "My dear girl, you may be receiving visions of poor Hagrid's case before the Committee! Look closer, does it appear to have its head?"
"Yes," Harriet said, almost defiantly.
"Are… are you sure?" Professor Trelawney asked, sounding disappointed. "No blood, no weeping Hagrid? It's not writhing on the ground, a man standing over it raising an axe?"
"No!" Harriet said, disgusted. "It's… it's flying away, it's escaped."
Professor Trelawney sighed. "Well, I think we will leave it there, dear. I'm sure you tried your best."
Relieved to have the exam finally be over, Harriet rose and picked up her bag, eager to depart. She had just reached the door when a harsh voice spoke from behind her.
"It will happen tonight!"
Harriet spun around. Professor Trelawney was sitting rigid in her chair, her head tilted to the side, mouth sagging, eyes rolling.
"Uh, Miss?" Harriet asked.
Professor Trelawney did not respond. Harriet felt herself starting to panic. What if she was about to have a seizure? She went back for the door to summon Dawlish when Professor Trelawney spoke again. Her voice was hoarse and deep, completely unlike any time Harriet had heard her speak before.
"The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless. Abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight… the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with her servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight… before midnight… the servant… will set out…to rejoin… his master!"
Professor Trelawney slumped again before her head jerked back up and she smiled at Harriet. "Oh, so sorry, my dear, I must have dozed off with the heat of the day."
Her voice had gone back to normal. Harriet kept staring at Professor Trelawney, unable to think of a response.
"Is something wrong, dear?"
"Uh… you… you just said that the Dark Lord was going to rise again… that his servant was going to go back to him…"
Professor Trelawney blinked in surprise. "The Dark Lord? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? My dear girl that is nothing to joke about! Rise again, indeed…"
"But, but you just said it!"
"I think you must have dozed off too, my dear. I certainly would never predict anything as far-fetched as that!"
Harriet climbed back down the ladder. Kieran, Hermione, Ronnie, Dora, Marcus, and Scott were all there. All of them looked miserable. Harriet was about to tell them what had happened when the look on their faces stopped her. She didn't need to ask. Hermione threw her arms around Harriet's neck and broke down. Harriet hugged her back, feeling her own tears welling up. She let go of Hermione and Kieran handed her a note from Hagrid.
It was almost illegible with how much his hands had shaken. But unlike the previous note, there were no tear-marks on it.
Lost appeal. Execution set for sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down.
Hagrid.
"We have to go," Harriet said.
"We can't," Ronnie muttered, glaring at Dawlish. "We already asked…"
Harriet glared at him too but then remembered. Their silver-bullet for breaking the rules. She gave her friends a significant look and they headed off for the common room. There was a unanimous yet unspoken agreement amongst them to get Harriet's cloak to go see Hagrid.
However, they were stopped up halfway back by Jeremy and Isabella. Jeremy was looking dreadful once more, heading in the direction of the hospital wing, Isabella struggling to help support him. Kieran, Scott and Marcus all exchanged looks and turned to the girls.
"You uh… you guys go do what you can for Hagrid, we're gonna go help Jeremy," Kieran said.
"O-okay," Harriet said and watched as the boys hurried off after the departing Hufflepuffs.
They reached the common room and Harriet hurried up to the dormitory to fetch the cloak. However, she paused while passing the first year girls' dormitory. She could hear sniffling and sobbing inside. She nervously pushed the door open.
"Hello?" she asked looking around.
The dorm was empty, except for Emma, sitting on her bed.
"Emma, what's wrong?" Harriet asked, hurrying over.
Emma slowly turned and looked at Harriet with bright red, watery eyes. Her lip wobbled and she managed to speak in a croaky, cracking voice. "Can I tell you a secret?"
"Of course," Harriet said, sitting next to the willowy first year.
Emma sniffed and finally let it pour out.
"I can't find Snuffles!" she wailed burying her head in Harriet's shoulder. "He's my puppy and I've been caring for him all year but he's gone! He's always been waiting in the little hidden spot in the wall since the first Quidditch match for me to bring him food and to help me feel better but he's gone! I haven't seen him since Sirius Black took Erica and what if he did something to Snuffles too!? What if Snuffles tried to stop him and he killed him!?"
"Oh Emma," Harriet said hugging the girl tighter.
"He's been so good and kind to me. He's so gentle, he takes food right from my hand without biting and would play fetch and his foot would kick when I scratched his ears."
At that point, Emma broke down and said no more. Harriet grimaced looking towards the door. She was running out of time.
"I'm sorry, love," she said stroking Emma's hair. "He sounds wonderful… I'm sure he'll turn up."
"You think so?" Emma asked.
"I know so," Harriet said, feeling slightly dishonest. "The forest is a big place, I'm sure he's out there. Who knows maybe…?" Harriet searched around for an explanation. "Maybe he found a nice girl doggy and maybe he'll come back with puppies? So maybe you'll get a bunch of Snuffles?"
Emma sniffled again. "Yeah… maybe… Thanks Harriet… and… don't tell Dora… k?"
Harriet nodded. "I won't, promise."
Harriet hurried up to the common room and fetched the cloak. She took a little longer, changing into her hoodie she'd received from Kieran, the jean overalls she'd received from the McIntyres' that summer, a plain white tee-shirt and her white tube-socks with the blue canvas trainers. She stuffed the cloak into the hoodie pouch and hurried off to the others.
"Why'd you change?" Dora asked.
"These shoes are quieter for sneaking past Dawlish," Harriet said.
"Good idea," Ronnie agreed.
Harriet pulled on the cloak and the other girls opened the portrait hole.
"Where's Harriet?" Dawlish asked the three visible girls.
"In bed. She wasn't feeling well knowing what's about to happen to Buckbeak," Dora said, making up the lie on the spot and delivering it flawlessly.
Dawlish grumbled. Harriet snuck along with the other girls and they broke into a run when they got far enough away, hurrying to get down to Hagrid's. The entrance was still open, tired looking seventh years, just finishing their NEWTs, limping in from the grounds. Harriet supposed their Defence Against the Dark Arts NEWT must have been a practical one as well. They ducked into a side corridor and all climbed under the cloak.
"You know, it's kinda lucky the boys aren't here," Dora whispered as they waited. "We wouldn't have fit with them under here."
They watched as the last auror closed the door after the students filed inside. They waited until it sounded like the entrance hall was empty. There was the pattering of a last pair of feet, a slamming door, and all was silent.
"Are the aurors still there?" Ronnie asked.
"No, looks like they've gone in for dinner," Harriet said.
"Okay, let's try the door," Dora whispered.
They crossed the entrance hall and Harriet pushed on the door. To her relief, it swung open.
"What the devil?" asked a gruff voice.
Harriet barely stopped herself from shouting in fright as an auror stepped into the doorway, looking around.
"Coulda swore I heard it click shut," the other auror said, also studying it.
"Well it's old," the first auror said and put a hand on the door. "Just close it extra tight this time."
Harriet took Dora's hand and pulled. They rushed forward on tip toe as the auror went to push the great door closed. It closed shut with an ominous thud and the latch clicked shut behind them.
"That did it," the auror said tugging on the door again.
"Yeah, just have to watch that in the future," the other auror said.
Harriet gave a deep sigh of relief that was echoed by the other three. Silently, they crept down to Hagrid's, keeping an eye out for anyone patrolling, winding their way slowly through the sea of signs that still dotted the lawn in front of the entrance. Finally, they were free enough they felt safe hurrying across the grounds.
They reached Hagrid's cabin and Harriet knocked. Hagrid took a minute in answering, and Fang didn't even bark. When Hagrid opened the door, Harriet's chest clenched. Hagrid looked dreadful. He was very pale, and trembling. His clothes were wrinkled and he looked as though he'd not changed or washed for days. He smelled it too. If he'd been so depressed he couldn't even manage to clean himself up for the appeal, no wonder he'd lost.
Hagrid looked around nervously.
"It's us," Harriet said. "We're under the cloak. Let us in so we can take it off."
"I told yeh not ter come," Hagrid said, but he still stepped aside.
Harriet and the rest shuffled in and Hagrid shut the door behind them. Harriet pulled off the cloak and looked around. Hagrid's dishes hadn't been washed, his bed not been made. Fang was skulking near the table, his massive head drooping. Hagrid meanwhile did not look distraught or crying. Instead, he looked completely and utterly helpless.
"Tea?' Hagrid offered, thought without much enthusiasm.
"Where's… where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione asked.
"Outside in the pumpkin patch… thought he oughter see the trees and smell fresh air before…"
Hagrid's hand trembled so much he dropped the jug of milk he was carrying.
"I'll get it, Hagrid," Hermione said and started cleaning the mess.
"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harriet asked as Hagrid sat down and wiped his forehead. "Not even Dumbledore?"
"He's tried… but he's got no power ter override the Committee. Told 'em Beaky's alright, but you know Lucius Malfoy… threatened all the members I 'spect. And the executioner, Macnair… he's an old friend'r Malfoy's… but it'll be quick… and I'll be berside 'im…"
Hagrid swallowed. "Dumbledore's gonna come down ter be with me while it… while he…" he sighed. "Said he wanted ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore…"
Hermione gave a little sob in the corner where she was getting another jug of milk. She turned back to Hagrid, not bothering to hide her tears anymore.
"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she said.
"No," Hagrid said. "Yer teh go back up ter the castle, I told yeh I don't want yer watchin'. Yer not supposed ter be down here anyway. If Fudge and Dumbledore catch yeh out 'ere, 'Arriet, yeh'll be in big trouble."
Hermione turned back to the tea, getting ready to pour another jug of milk. However, she let out a tiny shriek.
"Ro-Ronnie! I… I don't believe it!" She exclaimed looking into the jug. "It's… Scabbers!"
Ronnie gaped. "What? What are you talking about?"
Hermione hurried over with the milk-jug and upended it on the table. There was a little squeak and the clattering of little claws and with a little plop, Scabbers the rat slid down onto the table.
"Scabbers…?" Ronnie said. "Scabbers? What… what are you doing here?"
She picked up the squirming, frantic rat, holding him up to the light. Scabbers looked worse than ever. He was rail thin now, and big patches of fur had fallen out. Sure enough, one of his big-toes was missing on his back feet. He was writhing in Ronnie's hands as though terrified out of his wits.
"It's okay, Scabbers!" Ronnie said stroking the rat's back soothingly. "There's no cats here, nothing's going to hurt you."
At that moment, Hagrid rose and moved to the window. His skin had gone even paler than it was before.
"They're comin'…"
Harriet, Dora, Ronnie and Hermione spun around. They went up to the window and looked out too. A group of men was walking towards them. Professor Dumbledore was in front, Cornelius Fudge beside him and the members of the Committee in tow.
"Yeh gotter go, now," Hagrid said, ushering them to the back door. "They can' find yeh here, go."
Ronnie was still struggling with Scabbers as Dora fetched the invisibility cloak.
"I'll let yer out the back way," Hagrid said.
He shepherded them out the back door. Buckbeak was there, watching them from the pumpkin patch where he'd been tethered to the fence. He seemed to sense something was wrong, shuffling and tossing his head.
"'Sokay, Beaky, 'sokay," Hagrid said before turning back to the girls.
"Go on, get goin'. I don't want yer hearing this, you got me? Nor seein'."
"But Hagrid."
"No," he said more forcefully. "It's bad enough already without you lot in trouble too. Go!"
There was nothing to be done. Dora threw the cloak over them all and there was a knock at his front door.
"Go quick. Don't listen," Hagrid said and turned back inside.
Beside her, Ronnie was still fighting with Scabbers. They moved as silently as they could past the cabin. They couldn't quite make out the voices coming from inside the cabin as they snuck by.
Hermione ushered them along, pushing, desperate to get away from the scene. The sun was setting now, ruby-red over the trees to the west, with purple stretching over them. They made it a few yards away when Ronnie paused, fighting with Scabbers.
"Scabbers, stay put," Ronnie muttered.
"Please Ronnie, let's hurry," Hermione moaned.
"It's Scabbers, he won't stop struggling."
"Here," Harriet said numbly. "I'll take him."
Ronnie handed over the struggling rat and Harriet managed to stuff him into the pouch of her hoodie. The rat did seem to quiet down once inside, though Harriet could still feel him trembling. The door opened again behind them and the voices became louder.
They started hurrying along again. There was a sudden silence in the voices behind them and they all stopped dead when they heard the unmistakable sound of a heavy axe thudding into wood.
Hermione staggered. "They did it," she whispered, trembling. "I don't believe it… they did it…"
Harriet's mind went blank with shock. Dora's face was full of horror and disbelief. Behind them, Hagrid gave out a loud howl.
"Hagrid," Harriet said and automatically turned back.
"We can't, Harriet," Ronnie said taking Harriet's arm. "He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been there."
"How could they…" Hermione muttered.
"I… don't know…" Dora croaked. She sounded on the verge of tears.
"C-come on," Ronnie muttered.
They started toward the castle again. The sky seemed to get darker with every step. They made it almost half-way to the cabin when Harriet had to stop. Scabbers had begun struggling frantically again, trying to get out of her pouch.
"What is it?" Dora asked.
"Scabbers," Harriet said simply. "He's trying to get away again."
"Here, I'll take him back," Ronnie said. She attempted to extricate the rat from Harriet's pouch but yelped and jumped back, putting one of her fingers in her mouth.
"Ow! He bit me!" Ronnie exclaimed.
"Ronnie, quiet!" Hermione hissed. "Fudge will be coming back out in a minute!"
"What's the matter with him?" Ronnie asked.
Harriet, however, spotted the problem. She could just make him out in the dying light. Low to the ground, slinking towards them, was Crookshanks.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione moaned. "No, Crookshanks! Go away!"
Crookshanks continued on, undaunted by his owner's protests.
"No!" Harriet cried as the rat finally shot from her pouch, hit the ground and shot off in the opposite direction. Without thinking, Harriet started off after the rat, ducking out from under the cloak. Ronnie had already lost Scabbers once, and Hagrid had just lost Buckbeak. She wasn't going to let another friend lose another pet if she could help it.
"Harriet!" Hermione groaned.
Harriet could hear the sound of the other girls running after her as she chased down the rat. Harriet leapt and managed to catch the rat in her outstretched hands, just as she would a Snitch. She winced as the flop knocked the wind out of her and she gasped trying to breath as she sat up, holding onto the scrambling rat. Meanwhile, Crookshanks had caught up and was pouncing at her hands trying to get at Scabbers.
"Get off," Harriet managed to gasp.
Hermione, Ronnie and Dora skidded to stops next to her as Harriet feebly got to her feet and managed to put Scabbers back into her pouch. "Got him" she gasped, trying to get her breathing back.
"Quick, Harriet, back under the cloak," Hermione panted. "Before Fudge and Dumbledore come back—"
Hermione cut herself off. Harriet heard it too. There was the rapid pounding of large, padded feet coming towards them. They spun around and saw it coming towards them. It was a massive, jet black, yellow-eyed dog.
Harriet and the others reached for their wands but it was too late. The dog sprang towards them, its front paws outstretched and its massive jaws open. Harriet, still winded, couldn't cry out as the dog's jaws closed on the hood of her hoodie, and jerked her backwards off her feet. She thudded onto her backside but had no time to react as the dog ran off, dragging her behind it as if she were weightless. She could only manage a wide-eyed look of shock at her friends as they started to run after her.
Harriet tried to punch the dog's side, to pull its hair, anything to get it to let go, but the dog was relentless. Harriet managed to turn enough to see that the dog was dragging her towards the Whomping Willow. She started to panic now, flailing and trying to free herself. The branches began to flail but the dog moved too quickly for the swinging branches. It was now dragging her towards a large hole in the roots Harriet had never been close enough to notice.
She reached out and just managed to catch hold of one of the roots. Harriet finally managed to cry out, though this time in pain as it felt like the dog nearly pulled her arm out of its socket, but it let go of her hoodie. Harriet managed to pull herself up and look back at her friends. Ronnie got close but was knocked backwards by one of the swinging branches, as were Dora and Hermione.
Harriet cried out but was suddenly stifled. A hand had clamped over her mouth from behind. A thin, but strong hand that felt like how a skeleton's would. In her shock, she let go of the root and the hand dragged her backward and her friends disappeared from view. Harriet struggled but there was a flash of light as the tip of her wand lit. But she hadn't lit it. Her wand was now being held by someone else, who had hold of her tightly from behind.
Her assailant spun her around and Harriet found herself face to terrible face with none-other than Sirius Black. He looked every bit as horrible as his wanted posters. His face was as a skull covered in thin flesh. His beard was scraggly and unkempt, as was the rest of his matted, overlong hair. He wore poorly fitted clothes he'd undoubtedly stolen and a black and ragged cloak.
"Quiet, Harriet, I'm not going to—oh no you don't!" Black cried.
He pointed Harriet's wand down the tunnel they were now in and a jet of purple light shot off. There was a squeak and a popping noise. Black's hand was clenched on Harriet's arm like a vice as he pulled her down the tunnel in the direction of the fired spell.
Harriet was panicking again. After everything, Black had caught her. She wanted to be back in the castle. She wanted to be safe in bed. She wanted Aurochius there. She wanted Daniel there. She was never going to see her friends again, never going to see anyone she knew again. Black had won, her only choice was to keep fighting now until he decided to kill her. That had to be the only way.
"Stop struggling," Black growled and Harriet shouted again as he tugged on her already sore arm. "I'm not going to hurt you. I'm not going to do anything to you. You're not who I'm after."
"What?" Harriet asked. "Then why did you drag me in here?" she growled, still struggling.
Black paused and bent down. He rose again holding up a small metal cage, and inside it, was Scabbers. A wild, manic grin broke out on Black's face.
"Hello, Peter… thought you could run forever did you?" Black said.
His look was so bestial as he studied the rat that Harriet felt her sense of dread growing. He was a madman, completely deranged. How could she hope to escape him? She kicked at his shin and caught him hard. Black cried out and finally let go of her arm. She turned to dart for the end of the tunnel but Black was too quick.
There was a flash of light and Harriet tripped, landing hard on her chest again in the muddy ground. Black was on her at once, forcing her down on her stomach and hauling her hands behind her back.
"Let me go!" Harriet shouted but Black paid no mind and Harriet felt tight ropes being lashed around her wrists, tighter than anything she'd managed to do on her own. The ropes bit down and Harriet knew struggling out of them would be futile. Black pulled her up to her feet, spun her around, and hoisted her up over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"Put me down!" Harriet shouted, struggling as Black carried her away from the tunnel entrance.
"Quiet," Black growled. "I'd hoped to get a hold of him without involving anyone else…"
"What have you done with Erica?" Harriet demanded, still trying to free her hands.
"She's perfectly safe. Probably still studying for her OWLs."
Harriet was dumbstruck. "What?" she asked.
"I've been helping her study for them so she wouldn't go into them blind when I finally let her go," Black replied as he continued carrying her off.
Harriet couldn't handle it. Everything going on was insane. Black was helping Erica study for her OWLs? He'd kidnapped her now too although he said he didn't want to, and he'd caught Scabbers in a cage and called him Peter. She looked around.
"Where's the dog?" Harriet asked. "How did you get a Gurt Dog to work for you of all people?"
"You're looking at him," Black said. He grumbled. "And it's not a Gurt Dog… it's a Padfoot…"
Harriet blinked. "What?"
"I'm an animagus. I can turn into a Black Dog."
"Oh…" Harriet said, feeling foolish. Then she blinked. "Wait, so you were the one with Emma all along!" Harriet shouted. "She trusted you! She called you Snuffles! And now she's crying in the common room because she thinks you killed Snuffles!"
"Yes!" Black snapped, his temper obviously rising. "Yes I know! Not my brightest idea but I felt bad for scaring her at Halloween and the cat told me she was often alone and didn't have many friends!"
Harriet blinked. She didn't know how to process what was going on. Sirius Black was Snuffles, and he'd befriended Emma as a dog because he felt bad for scaring her. And he could talk to Crookshanks. This had to be another of Harriet's nightmares. It just had to be. Buckbeak's death, being kidnapped, everything. It was all just wrong.
Meanwhile, the tunnel seemed to go on forever. It felt like it was at least as long as the tunnel to Honeydukes. It wound around too, up and down, and Black was starting to breathe heavily from the effort of carrying Harriet so far.
"Ah, here we are," Black said.
Harriet managed to look around enough to see they had reached the end of the tunnel. Black pushed on the roof of the tunnel and a trap-door just like the one under Honeydukes opened up. Black lifted Harriet up, sitting her on the edge before climbing up himself. He pulled Harriet up to her feet and kicked the trap-door shut behind them.
Harriet looked around the room they were now in. It was disorderly and dusty. Most of the paper had peeled off the walls, and every piece of furniture had been smashed and broken, though some had been repaired and looked recently used. There was a stack of school books on the nearby coffee table, and scattered pieces of parchment.
"Welcome to the Shrieking Shack," Black said, gesturing around.
"The-the Shrieking Shack?" Harriet asked looking around.
"The one and only," Black said and took Harriet's arm again, leading her towards the staircase.
"But the ghosts?"
"There are no ghosts here. Never were. But that's a story for another day," Black said enigmatically and pulled Harriet after him, leading her up the stairs.
Harriet grunted and kept struggling, refusing to give in that easily. "What are you going to do with me?" she asked, defiantly. "Turn me into your Dark Mistress or something?"
Black looked back at Harriet with a flabbergasted expression on his skull-like face. "Where the hell did you get that idea?"
"Um," Harriet muttered, caught off guard by Black's reaction. "It's… what everyone thinks you're doing?"
Black shook his head and continued up the stairs. They reached the top and turned left, pausing in front of a door. He unlocked it and pushed it open.
"Hey, Sirius," said a familiar voice that at once filled Harriet with relief, and yet more shock. "You're back earlier than you said, did you catch him this time?"
It was Erica, but she didn't sound upset. In fact, she sounded pleasantly surprised. What was going on?
Black grinned again, that same diabolical grin. "Yes… yes I did…"
"You did!" Erica exclaimed and stepped into the doorway. She was still wearing her uniform, though it looked a bit lived in. Her shirt was untucked, and she'd removed her tie and shoes.
Erica's smile vanished in a moment the second she saw Harriet.
"Oh, Sirius," she said and gave him a disappointed look.
To Harriet's surprise, Black now looked rather awkward.
"Ah, well, it uh… it wasn't exactly how I planned on it happening but… I had to roll with what came at me…"
"Erica… what's going on?" Harriet asked.
Erica grimaced. "Well… now we've both been kidnapped… so there's that…"
Sirius pulled Harriet into the room. He tossed the cage onto the bed carelessly, Scabbers squeaking as he was rattled around inside it.
"Sirius!" Erica exclaimed rushing over to the rat. "Don't do that!"
"What's it matter? I'm going to kill him anyway," Sirius said as he pulled over a chair and pushed Harriet into it.
Harriet grunted and glared up at him as Black turned back to Erica.
"Well, Erica, it's been fun getting to know you the past couple of weeks… but… my mission's over… I've caught him at last…"
"So, you'll let us go now?" Erica asked.
Harriet was relieved to hear a distinct tone of relief in her voice at the prospect of release. If Harriet hadn't known better when Erica had first spoken, she and Sirius were friends now.
"Yes, please sit on the bed," Black said. He jabbed Harriet's wand at the bed and a pile of ropes appeared on it.
Erica groaned. "Do you have to?" she asked.
"Yes." Black said, simply.
Harriet looked back and forth between them, transfixed. Erica sighed and sat as Black picked up some of the ropes. As Harriet watched, Black took one of the coils and tied Erica's hands behind her back as he had to Harriet. But he went further, tying more around Erica's chest, pinning down her arms, then her ankles and above her knees.
In spite of it all, despite the danger and the shocks of the attack and being dragged into the tunnel, Harriet felt an odd sensation in her stomach as she watched. It wasn't disgust, it was more akin to the feeling she got whenever Wood praised her. Harriet looked away as Black forcibly stuffed a rag into Erica's mouth and picked up another white one, pulling it straight and pulling the middle tight between Erica's teeth, tying the ends tight behind her head.
"Omw, nomt smoo roumff," Erica grunted into the gag Sirius had tied on her.
"Sorry," Black said as he turned to Harriet. "Old habits."
Harriet felt different now. And she wasn't sure she necessarily liked, nor understood the feeling. She had felt defiant, but now after seeing Erica being restrained, she felt less impulse to escape. Less of an urge to get away. It was partly helplessness, but something else. But she didn't want to be helpless. Or did she? She felt her head sway a bit as she was just so overwhelmed.
"Shhhhhh," Black whispered as he kneeled in front of Harriet. "Just relax, I'm not going to hurt you, you or Erica. You'll both be back at the school in no time. I doubt it'll even take twenty minutes."
Harriet swallowed and watched, transfixed, as Black took more of the rope and tied her ankles as he had tied Erica's. He was much better at it than Harriet was at tying her own. He then tied her knees too before moving around behind Harriet.
"Feet back," Black ordered.
In spite of all the synapses in her brain telling her to resist, Harriet slowly moved her feet back under the chair. She felt Black take hold of them and another rope slip through the bonds, tying them off to her bound wrists. He finished with more rope around her chest too as he'd done with Erica, tying her down to the chair.
"Don't worry, girls," Black said, conjuring up another rag and taking Harriet's green scarf from her hair. He stuffed the rag in Harriet's mouth. "Once I'm far enough away with the rat, I'll send a note to the school on where to find you."
He tied Harriet's scarf down tight over her mouth. He was definitely better at that than Harriet had been too. Harriet kicked herself for thinking that way but she couldn't help it. Black looked relieved and stepped back over to the bed, picking up the cage with Scabbers in it.
"Erica, it's been a delight getting to know you. I hope your OWLs go well and you remember all I taught you."
Erica rolled her eyes. "Fmnks fmor thme lemmfums," she muttered into her gag.
"And Harriet…" Black said turning slowly to Harriet. His face looked strained, as if holding back a great burst of emotion. "I'm… I'm sorry we had to meet this way… under these circumstances… I wish I could really explain—"
"EXPELLIARMUS!"
Black was thrown forward into the room, crying out and dropping the cage. Scabbers squeaked in fright and pain as the cage bounced on the floor and Harriet's wand went flying. It made an arc and was caught by—
"DMORA!" Harriet cried into her gag.
Dora was standing in the open doorway, her face red with rage, her eyes burning. Her wand was trained on Black, Harriet's own wand in her other hand. Behind her, Hermione and Ronnie had their own wands trained on Black. Hermione lowered hers and rushed past Dora to Harriet, attempting to find the knots to release her.
Black meanwhile managed to roll over, grunting in pain. He looked up at Dora, squinting. There was a large bump forming on his forehead where it'd hit the floor and he looked to be in a daze.
"No… it can't be you…" Black muttered. "Jessica?"