Chapter Seventeen: Gryffindor v. Ravenclaw
I went down to breakfast the next morning to meet up with Ron and Hermione. Hary entered with the Firebolt, which got all kinds of attention, students looking and chatting in excitement. The Slytherins were looking baffled and I laughed at their mortified expressions.
"Did you see his face?" said Ron with delight, looking back at Malfoy. "He can't believe it! This is brilliant!"
Wood was also feasting his eyes on the glory of the Firebolt.
"Put it here, Harry," he said. He laid the broom down in the center of the tabl and carefully turned it so that its name faced upward. People from the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were soon coming over to look. Cedric Diggory came over to congratulate Harry on having acquired such a superb replacement for his Nimbus, and Percy's Ravenclaw girlfriend, Penelope Clearwater, asked if she could actually hold the Firebolt.
"Now, now, Penny, no sabotage!" said Percy heartily as she examined the Firebolt closely "Penelope and I have got a bet on," he told the team. "Ten Galleons on the outcome of the match!"
Penelope put the Firebolt down again, thanked Harry, and went back to her table.
"Harry — make sure you win," said Percy, in an urgent whisper. "I haven't got ten Galleons. Yes, I'm coming, Penny!" And he hurried off to join her in a piece of toast.
"Sure you can manage that broom, Potter?" said a cold, drawling voice.
Draco Malfoy had arrived for a closer look, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him.
"Yeah, reckon so," said Harry casually.
"Got plenty of special features, hasn't it?" said Malfoy, eyes glittering maliciously. "Shame it doesn't come with a parachute — in case you get too near a dementor."
Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.
"Pity you can't attach an extra arm to yours, Malfoy," said Harry. "Then it could catch the Snitch for you."
The Gryffindor team, including me, laughed loudly. Malfoy's pale eyes turned to slits, and he walked away. I watched him rejoin the rest of the Slytherin team, who put their heads together, obviously wondering whether Harry's broom really was a Firebolt.
At a quarter to eleven, as part of the Gryffindor team I set off for the locker rooms. The weather was a lot nicer than the last match against Hufflepuff. There was just a light breeze with a clear sky. My chest bubbled in excitement that I was getting a chance to play.
"You know what we've got to do," said Wood as we prepared to leave the locker rooms. "If we lose this match, we're out of the running. Just — just fly like you did in practice yesterday, and we'll be okay!"
I went out to the field. Today, I was playing a song and playing in the Quidditch match. I began,
I don't know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found myself listening
'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside
'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
And I won't be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me than anyone I ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself and so I say to you
This is what I have to do
'Cause I don't know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I don't know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
'Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
Oh, she who dares to stand where I stood
I was to sing two songs and began on the other, called Believe:
After love, after love...
[Verse 1]
No matter how hard I try
You keep pushing me aside
And I can't break through
There's no talking to you
So sad that you're leaving
Takes time to believe it
But after all is said and done
You're going to be the lonely one, oh oh
[Chorus]
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
[Verse 2]
What am I supposed to do?
Sit around and wait for you?
And I can't do that
There's no turning back
I need time to move on
I need love to feel strong
Cause I've had time to think it through
And maybe I'm too good for you oh oh
[Chorus]
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
[Bridge]
But I know that I'll get through this
Cause I know that I am strong
I don't need you anymore
Oh I don't need you anymore I don't need you anymore
No I don't need you anymore
[Chorus]
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Do you believe in life after love?
I can feel something inside me say
I really don't think you're strong enough, no
Afterwards, we walked out onto the field to a round of great applause. The Ravenclaw team, dressed in blue, were in position in the center of the field. The Seeker was Cho Chang and the only girl on the team. She was very pretty and I noticed Harry gawking at her. I shook my head. This could be a problem.
"Wood, Davies, shake hands," Madam Hooch said briskly, and Wood shook hands with the Ravenclaw Captain.
"Mount your brooms … on my whistle … three — two — one —"
I boosted into the air on my Nimbus 2001 and began to play. I had caught the ball first and was already zooming towards the goal when it was knocked out of my hands. I waited for the ball to come closer while listening to the commentary, which was being provided by the Weasley twins' friend Lee Jordan.
"They're off, and the big excitement this match is the Firebolt that Harry Potter is flying for Gryffindor. According to Which Broomstick, the Firebolt's going to be the broom of choice for the national teams at this year's World Championship —"
"Jordan, would you mind telling us what's going on in the match?" interrupted Professor McGonagall's voice.
"Right you are, Professor — just giving a bit of background information — the Firebolt, incidentally, has a built-in auto-brake and —"
"Jordan!"
"Okay, okay, Gryffindor in possession, Katie Bell of Gryffindor heading for goal …"
I flew far off to get in position so Katie could pass it to me. She did so and I threw it in, scoring the first goal of the match. The Gryffindor end of the field was filled with cheers. I was so excited I almost lost track of what I was doing.
"Show her your acceleration, Harry!" I heard Fred yelling as he zoomed by after a Bludger that was aiming for Alicia.
My eyes were on Harry as he urged the Firebolt forward and Cho fell behind. Then, I saw Harry dive and I knew he had spotted the Snitch.
"Go Harry!" I cheered. I was on the other side of the field by this time and managed to knock the ball out of one of the Ravenclaw Chaser's hands. Harry had almost reached the Snitch when a Bludger came flying towards him.
Harry swerved off course, missing it by an inch, and in those few, crucial seconds, the Snitch had vanished.
"Ooooooh" came a wave of disappointment from the Gryffindor supporters, while the Ravenclaw supporters cheered. George Weasley vented his feelings by hitting the second Bludger directly at the offending Beater, who was forced to roll right over in midair to avoid it.
"Gryffindor leads by eighty points to zero, and look at that Firebolt go! Potter's really putting it through its paces now, see it turn — Chang's Comet is just no match for it, the Firebolt's precision-balance is really noticeable in these long —"
"JORDAN! ARE YOU BEING PAID TO ADVERTISE FIREBOLTS? GET ON WITH THE COMMENTARY!"
Ravenclaw was pulling back; they had now scored three goals. One of them had flown past me but I was too slow to catch it. Gryffindor was just fifty points ahead, which means if Cho catches the Snitch they would win and we would suffer another defeat. There was a glint of gold, a flutter of tiny wings — the Snitch was circling the Gryffindor goal post —
"Over there, Harry!" I shouted so he could hear me.
Harry accelerated, eyes fixed on the speck of gold ahead — but just then, Cho appeared and blocked him —
"HARRY, THIS IS NO TIME TO BE A GENTLEMAN!" Wood roared as Harry swerved to avoid a collision. "KNOCK HER OFF HER BROOM IF YOU HAVE TO!"
When I looked over at Cho she was grinning. The Snitch was gone once more. I continued to play, and scored another goal for Gryffindor
Meanwhile Harry was just about to catch the Snitch when Cho screamed. I looked over to see three dementors, tall, black, hooded, were looking up at him.
Before I knew it Harry had reached into his pocket for his wand and shouted "Expecto patronum!"
Something silver-white, something enormous, erupted from the end of his wand. I saw it shoot directly at the dementors. Harry was continuing to pursue the Snitch and in moments he finally caught it.
Madam Hooch's whistle sounded. Harry turned around in midair as all six of us came over to hug him so hard that it almost made him fall off his broom. The Gryffindor crowd roared in triumph.
"That's my boy!" Wood kept yelling. Angelina, Alicia, and I all kissed Harry. We were disoriented from all the hugging, but managed to make it back to the ground. I got off my broom and looked up to see a gaggle of Gryffindor supporters sprinting onto the field, Ron in the lead. Before I knew it, Harry had been engulfed by the cheering crowd.
"Yes!" Ron yelled, yanking Harry's arm into the air. "Yes! Yes!"
"Well done, Harry!" said Percy, looking delighted. "Ten Galleons to me! Must find Penelope, excuse me —"
"Good for you, Harry!" roared Seamus Finnigan.
"Ruddy brilliant!" boomed Hagrid over the heads of the milling Gryffindors.
"That was quite some Patronus," said a voice in Harry's ear.
Harry turned around to see Professor Lupin, who looked both shaken and pleased.
"The dementors didn't affect me at all!" Harry said excitedly. "I didn't feel a thing!"
"That would be because they — er — weren't dementors," said Professor Lupin. "Come and see —"
He led Harry out of the crowd until they were able to see the edge of the field.
"You gave Mr. Malfoy quite a fright," said Lupin.
Harry stared. Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Marcus Flint, the Slytherin team Captain, were all lying on the ground, struggling to remove themselves from long, black, hooded robes. It was likely that Malfoy had been standing on Goyle's shoulders. Standing over them, with an expression of the utmost fury on her face, was Professor McGonagall.
"An unworthy trick!" she was shouting. "A low and cowardly attempt to sabotage the Gryffindor Seeker! Detention for all of you, and fifty points from Slytherin! I shall be speaking to Professor Dumbledore about this, make no mistake! Ah, here he comes now!"
If anything could have set the seal on Gryffindor's victory, it was this. Ron, who had fought his way through to Harry's side, doubled up with laughter as we all watched Malfoy fighting to extricate himself from the robe with Goyle's head still stuck inside it.
"Come on, Harry!" said George, fighting his way over. "Party! Gryffindor common room, now!"
"Right," said Harry, and feeling happier than he had in ages, he and the rest of the team led the way, still in their scarlet robes, out of the stadium and back up to the castle.
"Hey, Jamie," a voice called and I turned to see that it was Charlie, flashing a small smile.
My own smile faded slightly. "Hey…Charlie."
"Um...I just wanted to tell you that…" he trailed off. "You were amazing today. I can see why Wood picked you."
"Thanks," I said, though I still gazed at him uncertainly. "Well, I've got to go…you know…big celebration and all."
I started past him.
"Wait," he said.
I turned and I was startled to find his face close to mine. In an instant, he had closed the distance and a rush of energy filled my veins as I kissed him back quite fervently. I pulled away and made plans with Charlie to go to Hogsmeade together. Charlie had to leave afterwards and I saw Klaus walking over to me.
"Congratulations, Jamie," he said.
"Oh, uh, thanks," I said, feeling awkward. Did he have to show up right now? After Charlie's kiss made me forget about him for a moment.
"Look, " he said, "I've been…um…thinking a lot. About us. And well I…I miss…you."
I looked at him in surprise. "Klaus, you can't—"
"I know, I know," he said, "we messed up…a lot. And maybe you're right. Maybe we're both at fault. But I just…I want to…try again with you. Do you think we could go to Hogsmeade together?"
"Like a date?" I asked, which was probably stupid but it still confused me.
"Well...yeah…"
"What about Fiona?" I asked. "Aren't you with her?"
Klaus shook his head. "Not anymore," he said, "She spent too much time complaining about you. And she was a bit…clingy. So I ended it."
He said it as if he had done something great, as if it meant things between us could go back to how they were before.
"Well, how great for you," I said, "It looks like you're getting good at the whole dumping thing. As much as I…I appreciate the offer. I'm afraid I can't go with you, Klaus. I already told Charlie I would go with him. We're kind of a thing now."
"Oh, okay, no problem," he said and trudged away.
The next day we were in the Great Hall when Ron began telling his story about the terror in his room the night before:
". . . I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft . . . I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed had been pulled down. . . . I rolled over . . . and I saw him standing over me . . . like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair . . . holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches . . . and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered. "Why, though?" Ron added to Harry while a group of second year girls who had been listening left. "Why did he run?"
"I don't know," I said, "You would think he would want to kill you or Harry –especially Harry."
"He must've known he'd have a job getting back out of the castle once you'd yelled and woken people up," said Harry thoughtfully. "He'd've had to kill the whole House to get back through the portrait hole . . . then he would've met the teachers. . . ."
Meanwhile, Neville was completely dismayed. He had received a Howler. Neville choked as a huge barn owl landed in front of him, a scarlet envelope clutched in its beak. I recognized the letter as a Howler at once — I remembered it from the one Ron got last year.
"Run for it, Neville," Ron advised. Neville barely needed it. He grabbed the envelope and sprinted out of the hall. The students at the Slytherin table were in laughing fits. Malfoy especially was laughing. I took it as an opportunity to glower at him, which he returned with a sly grin. The Howler went off in the entrance hall and I could hear Neville's grandmother's voice booming about how much trouble he was in.
I noticed I received a letter too. It was from Renée. She had heard about the break up and kept checking up on me to make sure I was okay. I planned to write back this evening and tell her about my date. Harry received a letter too and showed it to Ron and I.
Dear Harry, Ron, and Jamie,
How about having tea with me this afternoon 'round six?
I'll come and collect you from the castle.
WAIT FOR ME IN THE ENTRANCE HALL;
YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED OUT ON YOUR OWN.
Cheers,
Hagrid
"He probably wants to hear all about Black!" said Ron.
When it turned to six o'clock that evening Harry, Ron, and I left Gryffindor Tower, passing the security trolls at a run. We went down to the entrance hall. Hagrid was already waiting for us.
"All right, Hagrid!" said Ron. "S'pose you want to hear about Saturday night, do you?"
"I've already heard all abou' it," said Hagrid, opening the front doors and leading them outside.
"Oh," said Ron, looking slightly put out.
"That's what happens when you're famous," I said.
The first thing we saw upon entering Hagrid's cabin was Buckbeak, who was stretched out on top of Hagrid's patchwork quilt, his enormous wings folded tight to his body, enjoying a large plate of dead ferrets. Averting my eyes from this unpleasant sight, I saw a gigantic, hairy brown suit and a very horrible yellow-and-orange tie hanging from the top of Hagrid's wardrobe door.
"What are they for, Hagrid?" said Harry.
"Buckbeak's case against the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures," said Hagrid. "This Friday. Him an' me'll be goin' down ter London together. I've booked two beds on the Knight Bus. . . ."
I felt guilty, while I didn't forget that Buckbeak's trial was so near, unlike Harry and Ron, who looked uneasy, I did forget to help Hagrid prepare Buckbeak's defense. The arrival of the Firebolt had driven it clean out of my mind. Hagrid poured us tea and offered us a plate of Bath buns, but we knew better than to accept it.
"I got somethin' ter discuss with you two," said Hagrid, sitting himself between them and looking uncharacteristically serious.
"What?" said Harry.
"Hermione," said Hagrid.
"What about her?" said Ron. "She's in a righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Firs' yeh weren' talking
to her because o' the Firebolt, now yer not talkin' to her because her cat —"
"— ate Scabbers!" Ron interjected angrily.
"It doesn't matter!" I cried. I was on Hagrid's side. I had come with Hermione on some of those times and it made me mad that they made Hermione so upset. It wasn't deserved.
"Because her cat acted like all cats do," Hagrid continued doggedly. "She's cried a fair few times, yeh know. Goin' through a rough time at the moment. Bitten off more'n she can chew, if yeh ask me, all the work she's tryin' ter do. Still found time ter help me with Buckbeak's case, mind. . . . She's found some really good stuff fer me . . . reckon he'll stand a good chance now. . . ."
"Hagrid, we should've helped as well — sorry —" Harry began awkwardly.
"I'm not blamin' yeh!" said Hagrid, waving Harry's apology aside. "Gawd knows yeh've had enough ter be gettin' on with. I've seen yeh practicin' Quidditch ev'ry hour o' the day an' night — but I gotta tell yeh, I thought you two'd value yer friend more'n broomsticks or rats. Tha's all."
"Well said," I said, nodding and crossing my arms.
Harry and Ron exchanged uncomfortable looks.
"Really upset, she was, when Black nearly stabbed yeh, Ron. She's got her heart in the right place, Hermione has, an' you two not talkin' to her —"
"If she'd just get rid of that cat, I'd speak to her again!" Ron said angrily. "But she's still sticking up for it! It's a maniac, and she won't hear a word against it!"
"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets," said Hagrid wisely. I laughed. Behind him, Buckbeak spat a few ferret bones onto Hagrid's pillow.
We spent the rest of their visit discussing Gryffindor's improved chances for the Quidditch Cup.
When it was nine o'clock, Hagrid walked us back up to the castle.
A large group of people was bunched around the bulletin board when we returned to the common room.
"Hogsmeade, next weekend!" said Ron, craning over the heads to read the new notice. "What d'you reckon?" he added quietly to Harry as we went to sit down.
"Well, Filch hasn't done anything about the passage into Honeydukes.. . ." Harry said, even more quietly.
"You're not thinking about going again, are you?" I asked.
"Harry!" said a voice near me. Harry started and we both looked around at Hermione, who was sitting at the table right behind us and clearing a space in the wall of books that had been hiding her.
"Harry, if you go into Hogsmeade again . . . I'll tell Professor McGonagall about that map!" said Hermione.
"Can you hear someone talking, Harry?" growled Ron, not looking at Hermione.
"Ron, how can you let him go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you! I mean it, I'll tell —"
"So now you're trying to get Harry expelled!" said Ron furiously.
"Haven't you done enough damage this year?"
"Hermione's right," I said, "It's too dangerous for Harry to go wandering around Hogsmeade. Once is enough."
Hermione opened her mouth to speak, but there was a soft hiss and Crookshanks leapt onto her lap. Hermione took one frightened look at the expression on Ron's face, gathered up Crookshanks, and hurried away toward the girls' dormitories. I followed hoping to comfort Hermione who burst into tears.
"Don't worry about Ron," I said, "He'll have to get over it soon."
"He won't," she said, "I'll lose them as friends forever."
"It's their loss," I said, "You're a great friend. You care a lot about them and it's not deserved."
That cheered her up and she gave me a hug. "You're a great friend too. I'm so lucky to have you."
At breakfast, Hermione kept shooting suspicious looks down the table at Harry, but he avoided it and I saw him sneak back up the marble staircase. Then, we all proceeded to the front doors to go to Hogsmeade. I met up with Charlie and we were off on our date.
We went to the Three Broomsticks though I would have preferred to stay outside as it was nice out. We got our Butterbeer and I began to sip mine.
"So, how have you been doing?" Charlie asked.
"Good," I lied. "I've been hanging in there. How about you?"
"I've been good too," Charlie said, "I have a lot of work though."
"I know," I said, "I know two people who are taking nearly every class…"
I stopped when I realized I was talking about Klaus.
"Oh really," Charlie said, "You mean Hermione and Klaus? Yeah I know."
"I'm sorry," I said, "I didn't mean to bring that up."
Charlie sighed.
"What's wrong?" I asked.
"You're not over him—Klaus," he said.
It was true but I protested. "No, I am," I said, "I just messed up. I'm sorry again."
"Maybe this was a bad idea," he said.
"No it's not," I said, "please don't."
"And that song you sang at the Quidditch match. That was about him wasn't it!"
I put my head in my hands. "Yes, yes," I said, finally telling the truth. "I'm sorry."
"I don't know if I can do this," he said, "I'm sorry. Goodbye."
He left, leaving his beer and enough money to pay the bill.
I curled up with my knees to my chest and started blubbering like a fool. Everything was a mess—I wasn't over Klaus and I couldn't move on with someone else like I hoped.
"Jamie?" a voice met my ears. I turned to see Klaus standing there looking a little lost.
"Hey, Klaus," I said, wiping my eyes, "Come to rub it in my face?"
"Rub what in your face?" he asked.
I was relieved to know he didn't hear. "Nothing."
"How did your date with Charlie go?" he asked.
"Well," I lied. "We're going out again."
"Oh, well, congrats," he said, and began to walk away.
"Wait," I said, "Sit down for a moment."
Klaus sat.
"What are you doing here?" I asked.
"I was lonely," he admitted. "And…I got curious." I could tell he was embarrassed about it.
I was lonely too. I didn't admit it though.
"Oh," I said, "Well, here you are. I'm alone too. I lied. It didn't work out."
Klaus frowned. "Again? Jamie, you have to stop lying. It's really not a good quality to have. I'm tired of it."
"I know. I'm sorry," I said, "I need to work on it. But I'm trying."
Klaus sighed. "I have to go."
"No, wait," and in that instant we both leaned forward. Our lips met and we were back to kissing. I held him tighter than ever before and enjoyed the familiar feeling of his arms around me. I pulled away reluctantly and held his hand across the table. It felt nice and I smiled at him. He smiled back.
"So I guess this means we're starting over?"
"Yes, yes, it does," I said.
We visited Zonko's together. It was very busy, and we ran into Ron and an invisible Harry.
"You snuck out?" I asked. "Hermione won't be happy."
"Don't tell her, will you?" Ron said.
"Alright, as long as you don't do it again," I said.
Together we shopped with Harry whispering his orders to Ron, Klaus, and I and passed gold to us.
We lightened our moneybags at Zonko's and bought all sorts of tricks and traps. I was planning how I would use mine against Malfoy. Then, we climbed a slope to visit the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. It stood a little way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden.
"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron as we leaned against the fence, and looked up at it. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick . . . he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut. . . ."
I squeezed Klaus' hand and hugged him. I was so glad we were back together and was looking forward to moving past things. Suddenly, I heard voices coming from nearby. After a moment, Malfoy came out of the woods with Crabbe and Goyle at his heels. Malfoy was speaking:
". . . should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm . . . about how I couldn't use it for three months. . . ."
Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.
"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself . . . 'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest —' . . . that hippogriff's as good as dead —"
Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Ron, Klaus, and I. His pale face split in a malevolent grin.
"What are you doing, Weasley, Murray, Baudelaire?"
Malfoy looked up at the crumbling house behind Ron.
"Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room — is that true?"
Harry seized the back of Ron's robes to stop him from leaping on Malfoy.
"Leave him to me," he hissed in Ron's ear so we could all hear.
"And Murray, looks like you and Baudelaire are back together?" he asked through his teeth. "The kiss wasn't enough to break you up? Maybe you can have your honeymoon in the Shrieking Shack."
I wanted to smack him in the face, but I trusted Harry and waited for what I knew was coming. I saw a large handful of mud up in the air and awaited it eagerly.
"We were just discussing your friend Hagrid," Malfoy went on to Ron, Klaus, and I. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his hippogriff's —"
SPLAT.
Malfoy's head swerved forward as the mud hit him; his silverblond hair was suddenly dripping in muck.
"What the — ?"
Ron had grip the fence to keep himself standing, he was
laughing so hard. I was too and so was Klaus. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle spun stupidly on the spot, staring wildly around. Malfoy was trying to wipe his hair clean.
"What was that? Who did that?"
"Very haunted up here, isn't it?" said Ron, with the air of one commenting on the weather.
"It could be a ghost," I said, "That wants revenge for what you've done to Hagrid."
Crabbe and Goyle were looking scared. Their bulging muscles were useless against ghosts. Malfoy was staring madly around at the deserted landscape.
SPLATTER.
Crabbe and Goyle caught some this time. Goyle hopped furiously on the spot, trying to rub it out of his small, dull eyes.
"It came from over there!" said Malfoy, wiping his face, and staring at a spot some six feet to the left of where I guessed Harry was.
Crabbe blundered forward, his long arms outstretched like a zombie. I was worried for a second but when he only met air, I knew Harry had dodged around him. Then, suddenly a stick was floating in the air and thrown at Crabbe's back. Crabbe did a kind of pirouette in midair, trying to see who had thrown it. As Ron, Klaus, and I were the only people Crabbe could see, it was us he started toward, but Crabbe stumbled. Harry must have tripped him. There was a sudden tugging noise and the cloak came off of Harry's face.
For a split second, Malfoy stared at him.
"AAARGH!" he yelled, pointing at Harry's head. Then he turned tail and ran, at breakneck speed, back down the hill, Crabbe and Goyle behind him.
Harry tugged the cloak up again, but the damage was done.
"Harry!" Ron said, stumbling forward and staring hopelessly at the point where Harry had disappeared, "you'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone — you'd better get back to the castle, quick —"
"See you later," said Harry, and without another word, he tore back down the path toward Hogsmeade.
We met with Harry back in the entrance hall and Hermione was coming towards us. I could tell she knew what had happened.
"Come to have a good gloat?" said Ron savagely as she stopped in front of them. "Or have you just been to tell on us?"
"No," said Hermione. She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was trembling. "I just thought you ought to know . . .Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."
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