Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. I'm just another Potter-head with a fascination for all things magical.
Farewell
I left the Weasleys via Floo Network, cheeks still flushed as my fireplace came into view and I stumbled out.
"Miss is finally home, just in time for tea!" cheered Swetty, tottering over to wipe me down with a clean towel. "Swetty hopes that Miss hasn't been working too hard …"
"I'm fine, Swetty," I smiled, running a hand through my hair as the house-elf handed me a hairbrush.
"Thanks."
I ran the comb through my hair, untangling all of the sleep mused knots from last night's impromptu sleep-over before tying it back in a quick ponytail.
"Swetty has just started running the water if Miss wants a nice bath," chimed the house-elf, eyes sparkling as I stepped out into the living room.
"You know what, Swetty? A bath is exactly what I need …"
"Bethany? I love you too …"
I shook out my hair, my heart suddenly pounding as I let my mind wander back to last night …
Don't take it seriously, I chastised myself. He was sleep-deprived for Merlin's sake. It's not like he actually meant it …
But what if he did? Another voice chimed back.
I shook my head, the floral scented candles and lavender bath-oil filling the bathroom with its sweet aroma as I eased my way into the hot water.
I gasped, a wave of relaxation washing over my senses as I sank in deeper with a blissful sigh. The rest of the world seemed a million miles away as I closed my eyes and ducked my head under the water.
I came up again, letting it soak through my hair before the shampoo levitated over. It poured itself out into my hair, running soothing lines of pressure along my scalp.
"Hmm, that's nice," I hummed, leaning backwards as it formed into a lather. My thoughts immediately flittered back to my time at the Burrow, light filtering through the blinds of Charlie's bedroom as I woke up in his arms.
Not unlike Cairo, I mused to myself before I dipped my head back to wash it out.
The feeling of his skin on mine was so much better than I could have ever imagined, and I let my head fall back to let out a short sigh. I wanted him to go further, to touch me in every place that I needed to be touched …
I shook my head, snapping myself out of my reverie as the water lapped around me before I quickly drew a towel and wrung out my hair.
Merlin, this guy really was going to be the death of me.
It was night time when a tawny owl that I recognised to be from Hogwarts came flying through the window with a crumpled letter latched to its leg. It landed on the table in front of me with an important ruffle of its feathers as I hurried to untie the letter before it promptly spread its wings and took off again.
I unfolded the envelope, my mind still groggy from a lack of sleep before I read it.
Dear Bethany,
Just got the letter from the Ministry today. We lost. I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Still waiting for the execution date. Thanks for coming along with us; Beaky really enjoyed London.
I won't forget all the help you gave us.
Hagrid
A cold wave of dread washed over me as I gripped the parchment in my hands. No, it couldn't be over. I shook my head.
What about the appeal?
Penny said that there was always an appeal … wasn't there?
I remembered the smug look dancing across Lucius Malfoy's callous blue eyes and gritted my teeth. Of course, he of all people must have had something to do with this. He had already sabotaged our defence at the Hearing – but this?
"That evil little prick," I muttered.
I slammed my hands against the table, rattling my bowl of untouched soup as I stood up. He might have already sabotaged us so far, but I'd be damned if I let him get away with it.
"Should Swetty put away the dinner for later?" asked the house-elf tentatively.
"Yes please, Swetty," I replied, anger coursing through my veins as I pulled on my coat that floated in from the cloak rack. "It seems that I still have some unfinished business to attend to …"
I apparated into the streets of Hogsmeade, my mind still a whirlwind of rage as I stepped out behind Honeydukes where I saw the official Ministry notice hammered to the door written out in large purple newsprint.
— BY ORDER OF —
THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC
Customers are reminded that until further notice, dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping well before nightfall.
Yours in Fellowship,
Sir Cornelius Fudge,
Minister of Magic
"Oh Sirius," I sighed, "What have you done this time?"
Sirius ran, his bare feet slapping against stone as he skidded down the corridor, the boy's scream still echoing in his ears.
He'd been close – so damn close.
He snarled, clenching the dagger in his mouth by its handle before he transformed into a large black dog and bounded out of the doors moments before it locked shut behind him. The dog swore, baring his teeth as he shook his head. The trail that he'd been following for the past month had long since gone cold. His fur stood on end as he leapt over the courtyard fountain and sped in the direction of the woods. Already he could sense the approaching Dementors – their foreboding chill blanketing over the castle like a heavy fog. Even in this form, the grief of his failure washed over the wizard, like a tsunami, rendering him motionless.
He had failed. He had failed his friends. Failed in doing the one thing that he'd vowed to do. His limbs shook; collapsing beneath the weight of his anguish and he hit the cold ground with a groan, the pain of it forcing him to transform back.
Red spots danced over the wizard's irises as the grass turned grey beneath him, crystallising into shrivelled ash as his breaths came out in gasps of ice.
"I'm sorry James … I'm sorry Lily," he whispered.
Sirius closed his eyes as the shrouded cloaks of death loomed over him, sucking away the little strength that he had left …
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
A blue light came bounding in from nowhere, driving the Dementors away from the man, huddling as he waited for a death that never came …
Sirius Black blinked, his vision shifting in and out of focus as another figure stepped out of the shadows.
"Sirius, you fucking arsehole."
"Out of all the stupid things that you have ever done in your entire life, that, Sirius Black, was probably the worst!" I scowled, hands trembling as I ran my wand over his broken bones.
The wizard didn't respond, his face half-hidden by the shadows of the cave as he averted his gaze.
I rolled my eyes, bandaging his leg with a hasty Ferula charm before I took out a chunk of chocolate and handed it to him.
He accepted it, wordlessly taking a bite as I sank to my knees beside him.
"You're lucky that I was coming through to check in on Buckbeak otherwise you'd be worse than …"
Dead, went the unsaid.
I sighed, breaking off a piece of chocolate for myself before our gaze finally met.
"I didn't need your help," he rasped, struggling to get to his feet but I pulled him back down.
"Sit down, Black. Your leg's still broken."
He relented, shrugging me off as he sank back into the makeshift futon that I'd constructed out of leaves and moss.
"You could've died, Sirius." I continued, shaking my head as I went back to stoking the small campfire with some extra kindling. "Now, I might not know what it was that you were up to, breaking into the Gryffindor Common Room for the second time this year. But whatever it is, it isn't worth risking your life over …"
"But it is."
His voice echoed throughout the cavern as he pushed himself up, "It is."
"What is?"
The man grew silent again, eyes darting around the cave, looking anywhere but at me.
"Sirius … Sirius, please talk to me …"
"I … I can't."
Silence hung over us for what seemed to last for an eternity before I let out a breath.
"Fine. Then I guess I can't help you." I murmured, clenching my fists as I spoke.
"This place should be safe enough for you to stay the night without being found," I said, my voice soft as glanced back at him. "If getting yourself killed is what you want to do than go ahead. I won't try and stop you." I stood up, pocketing my wand in my coat before I turned away.
"Goodbye, Sirius."
And with that, I stepped out into the cold night air and disappeared.
"Oh, Hagrid …"
It was much later than I'd planned to be by the time I made it to Hagrid's hut where he quickly let me in.
"So yeh got me letter," he sniffled, wiping his face on the wrinkled sleeve of his jacket as he sank back down into his chair with a look of despair. "I have teh keep 'im tied up outside now. Up until they decide when teh …" his lower lip trembled as he trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
"What about the appeal?" I asked, forcing myself to sound more upbeat as I bent down to rub Fang's belly. "There's always an appeal …"
"Yeah, the appeal …" he grunted miserably, "But you heard 'em before at the hearin'. It's no good. Not if Malfoy's got anythin' teh say 'bout it."
I shook my head, "If there was ever anybody that I wanted to curse more, it'll be that man." I murmured, "I could do it you know? Curse Malfoy. There's this new one that I read about not too long ago that I've simply been dying to try out on someone …"
Hagrid managed a weak smile at the sound of that. "That's sweet of yeh, Bethany, but I don't want yeh causing any trouble. Not fer my sake."
"But there must be something we can do," I implored, but the giant just shook his head.
"I meant wat I said in that letter, I'm grateful fer all the help you've given Beaky and me over these pas' few months, but it's over now. Like the muggles say yeh shouldn't cry o'er spilt … wat was it again? Spilt guts?" he frowned, "The point bein', you've done everything that yeh could to help us. Now the most we can do is make sure that he's comfortable before they …" Hagrid broke down into sobs again.
I blinked back my tears as I clutched his forearm, his shoulders heaving as he wept into my arms. In the distance the single wail of a lonely hippogriff resonated through the cold air from his post in the garden, silently breaking my heart all over again as the giant sank to his knees.
Hagrid was right. This really was the end.
I know that the chapter was a little bit shorter than the others but I swear that there will definitely be more from where that came from.
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Yours truly,
SwordGold.