AN: I do not own Harry Potter, that honor goes to J. K. Rowling.
Chapter 20: A Dark Week
"You spent two hours talking to Sirius Black?" Ron gasped, his voice just above a whisper. "Are you mental?"
"I learned a lot about my father that I didn't want to know," Harry said with a snort. "He did give me a few ideas to try, though."
"Still on about the Patronus Charm?" Ron questioned, his eyebrows raised.
"Until I master it, yes," Harry growled. "And I will master it," he promised. They were sitting in the study classroom, watching Hermione talk to Angelina and Alicia about Conjuring Charms. Neville looked confused but took notes with Luna and Zoe at the next table. Katie was at the library, trying to get the last of her homework done.
"We're going to flatten the Ravenclaws in the next match," Ron said, his eyes wide and a fierce grin on his face. "Everyone is trying to get the last bit of their homework done so we can go practice some more."
"Isn't the match in almost three weeks?" Harry asked as he watched Angelina try to copy Hermione's wand-work.
"All the more time to practice!" Ron said with a nod. "We're going to crush them and win the Inner-House Cup by a landslide!" Harry smiled but didn't comment.
Hermione sat in her usual chair after the Gryffindor Quidditch team left to go to practice. "I just don't get why she doesn't understand how easy that spell is," she muttered under her breath. "I mean, we got it down pat in like four days."
"She didn't have the mentor we did and we helped each other," Harry reminded his friend with a smirk. "Give her some credit. She didn't conjure a chamberpot like someone I know."
Hermione shot Harry a dirty look. "You said you'd never mention that again!" she hissed.
"I said I might not," Harry shot back with a smirk. "She's trying Hermione. You had to have seen that. She's trying to make up for a lot of time by cramming all the spells and rules into her brain at the same time."
"If they'd just studied properly, they wouldn't be struggling," Hermione responded with a sniff.
"If they'd studied properly they wouldn't be the best Quidditch team in the school right now," Ginny said and sat down beside Harry. "Sorry to bother you but I really need some help. I didn't want to bother you two before, but... well... the assignment is due soon."
Harry spent the next hour tutoring Ginny and Luna. He tried to make sure they understood each concept before moving on. Hermione watched on with a curious expression as she stared at them from over the large tome in front of her.
The book Sirius told him about was hard to find; he had to ask Madam Pince. As it turned out, the book was moved to the Auxiliary Studies section of the library. Harry read the book late into the night, trying not to think about the fateful day coming up. On Thursday, more bad news arrived in the form of two tawny owls over breakfast. Stamped on the front of both of the envelopes were Harry and Hermione's names and the Ministry of Magic crest.
"Let's wait to read this," Hermione said, her hands shaking. "I... I don't think I want to read this here," she said barely above a whisper.
Harry nodded and tucked his letter away in his robes. Hermione hesitated before doing the same. The rest of breakfast passed in uncomfortable silence for the two friends. Neville and Ron tried to cheer them up but nothing could break through the heavy mood lingering in Harry's heart.
Hermione waited until after lunch to read her letter. By unspoken agreement, Harry took his out and broke the unfamiliar wax seal on the back. He knew he was right to worry as he read.
"Mr. Harry James Potter,
As of May 9th, 1994 you are officially removed from the Advanced Course. Any special privileges received by being in the course are withdrawn without recompense by the Ministry of Magic. By Educational Decree Number 105, the Ministry of Magic will forthwith disband all practices pertaining to or around the special treatment of educating students.
After the Education Decree goes into effect, all records of past and present students will be sealed. Any official mention or reference to marks, mentors, or curriculum taught will be fineable offenses. The Ministry of Magic will not reopen files on past and present students for any reason.
Mr. Harry Potter, after May 9th, 1994, you will not have access to outside mentorship while at Hogwarts, the Ministry of Magic will not provide curriculums of higher levels of learning outside what is taught inside the classroom, and you will not be able to sit your Ordinary Wizarding Level Examinations or Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test early. This decree is, by law, unable to be redacted for a minimum of ten years.
Wishing you well,
Harrold Burke, Department of Magical Education"
Harry breathed out and looked at his friend. Hermione stared at her letter, her eyes wide. Tears began to fill her eyes as she read, her eyes moving slowly over the page. After she finished, she looked up at him. "Why?" she got out before her tears fell harder.
Harry held his friend as she sobbed into his shoulder. Anger, frustration, and a sense of loss swept over Harry as he stared out the stained window of the corridor they stood in. Fat droplets of rain smacked against the glass in a regular rhythm. Hermione cried for five minutes before she pulled away, her puffy red eyes set in a glare.
"It's my fault," Harry started to say but she cut him off.
"It is the blasted Ministry's fault, Harry! I don't blame you one bit. This is the stupidest thing I've seen to date from them! Think of how many students this will affect in the future!" she raged, her fists clenched in tight balls. "I want to jinx someone so bad right now," she snarled and whipped out her wand.
Ron rounded the corner with Neville as Hermione spun on him. With a yelp, Ron jumped backward, trying to get away from Hermione's evident red-faced rage and knocked Neville over. They sprawled on the ground, Neville complaining and Ron scrambling to get back around the corner.
"I won't jinx you," Hermione announced with a sigh, her shoulder sagging.
Harry stood to one side, biting his lip. He looked at his friend and struggled to come up with something to do to help her. She stood there, watching Ron and Neville trying to get to their feet, looking lost. After a moment, he put an arm around her shoulder. "We never needed the Ministry anyway," he comforted in a low voice.
"I know that," Hermione muttered. She didn't pull away nor did she lean into him.
"We can find other things to work on," he continued after a moment. Ron and Neville had gotten to their feet and looked at Harry and Hermione with questioning looks.
"I know that, too," she whispered. "I just..." she muttered, her voice trailing off.
Neville squinted his eyes and looked from Harry and Hermione. "You two are a... thing? now?" he questioned in a soft voice.
Harry and Hermione jumped apart and looked at each other. They both laughed and once they started they couldn't stop.
"It wasn't that funny," Neville complained as he drew closer. Ron watched them laugh with wide eyes.
Neville's confused face made Harry laugh harder, which, in turn, made Hermione laugh louder. Harry struggled for breath as he wheezed, his ribs protesting his recent bout of mirth. "We aren't," he gasped out and had to stop himself from laughing again.
Hermione sat on the hard flagstones, tears streaming down her face as she laughed and hiccuped. Ron picked up Harry's dropped letter and read it, his face darkening. "You two are the smartest young witch and wizard of the age! How could they do this!" he bellowed.
"Nothing for it, mate," Harry said after he'd calmed down. Neville read the letter before passing it back to Harry. "We never needed them anyway."
"I will make them pay," Hermione promised in a voice just above a whisper. Harry turned to her to see a dark, resolute look in her eyes as she staring back at him. "For Buckbeak, for your trials, for this. I will make them wish they never set their eyes on us," she promised again.
"I'll help you," Harry said after a moment.
"I will and I'll make sure Gran does too," Neville said in a quiet voice.
"Well if you three are dead set against going against the Ministry's oh, so mighty decrees, then I'll help too," Ron joked with a lopsided smile.
Harry and Hermione skipped the rest of their classes for the rest of the day without telling anyone. Professor McGonagall found them in the library. "If you would, please come with me," she said in a low, stern voice. Harry noticed the tender look she gave Hermione. Once they were in the professor's office, Harry took the offered seat by the fire while Hermione sat in front of Professor McGonagall's desk. "Albus and I just received the letter I'm sure you both got this morning," the professor explained after everyone got settled.
"We didn't read it until after lunch," Hermione said in a slightly higher octave than she normally spoke.
"To both of you, I am deeply ashamed of the Ministry of Magic's stance. As a teacher and professor for Hogwarts for many years, you both are one of the brightest students I have ever taught. Never forget that," the professor praised with a thin smile. "I... I must take the plaques back," she admitted after a moment of silence. "You will not be permitted to use the Returning Rooms after this weekend."
Hermione froze and Harry watched her. It was this that he was dreading the most. "We... we can't go to all of our classes?" Hermione asked in a strangled voice. Harry noticed the small crack in her voice and started to get up. Professor McGonagall gave him a look so he sat down.
"I am deeply sorry, Miss Granger. You will have to choose, like everyone else, which two elective courses you wish to attend," the professor announced in a soft but firm voice.
Hermione turned to look at Harry, her eyes wide. He stared back at her and tried to give his best smile. The smile slid off his face when he saw the hurt and anguish in his friend's eyes. "We'll split the courses," he said after a moment.
Hermione blinked and cocked her head to the side a little. Harry noticed the single tear that ran down her cheek. Her eyes told him to continue. "I'll take Care of Magical Creatures and... ugh... Divination... maybe," he grunted and shook his head.
Hermione's lips quivered into a small smile. "I want Arithmancy," she said in a shaky voice. "I can't do Divination. I'll throw my book at Professor Trelawney if she keeps that nonsense up. I can do Ancient Runes or Muggle Studies," she mused after a moment.
"You have until next week to tell me," Professor McGonagall said in a soft voice. "I would like to say," she continued in a stronger tone. "While the Ministry may make thousands of Educational Decrees, we as the professors of Hogwarts and those entrusted with teaching each and every one of you to be the best you can be," she said, her voice growing stronger still, "will do everything in our power to ensure you get the education you deserve. By Monday, I will have a list of topics, spells, and subjects longer than both of you standing on top of each other, even if I have to make the list myself. You will not grow bored here at Hogwarts... if you trust me... trust us, your professors, to continue teaching you to the best of our abilities."
Harry saw the fierce look in the professor's eyes and believed her. She would do everything she said and, he suspected, more to ensure they got the best education they could. He looked at Hermione who's mouth looked like a grim slit as she stared at the professor. "Thank you," he said into the lingering silence.
"We... can pick what we want to study if it might get you in trouble," Hermione said in a quiet voice.
Professor McGonagall looked at Hermione and gave her a small smile. "The Ministry does not scare me, nor do they scare Albus Dumbledore. They may say he is senile but that is far from the truth, and they know it. Openly, we will treat you the same. However, Miss Granger... Mr. Potter, expect your homework to give you headaches and keep you up late into the night," she promised with a widening smile as she looked between both of them. "You've had one mentor. Now it is time for the very best Hogwarts has to offer, in the form of every single one of our professors' knowledge. Yes, even Severus, Mr. Potter."
Harry couldn't sleep. He knew the next day would be terrible for him. His thoughts dwelled on Buckbeak and Hagrid as he stared out of the common room window. Two open books lay in front of him but he'd lost interest in their secrets as his mind wandered. He tried to imagine what he would see in a few, short hours. The execution was scheduled for four o'clock down at Hagrid's hut. Normally, he would be in double Transfiguration with Professor McGonagall but he'd already decided he would skip the class for the day. While the professor wouldn't be happy with him and would probably give him detention, he decided that being with Hagrid and Buckbeak was where he needed to be.
Snape's usual hate-filled comments and remonstrations of Harry's potion-making blew over him like a cool winter's breeze. Malfoy's knowing smirk and suppressed laughter barely registered as his mind focused on the future. Ron and Neville didn't try and comfort him, nor did they comment when Hermione dropped her vial on the way to turn it in to the professor. Divination passed in a puff of foul-smelling tea leaves and Arithmancy floated by on a grid of triangular numbers and symbols. Professor Burbage didn't comment on Harry or Hermione's lack of attention but she did give them both a gentle squeeze on the shoulder as she passed. To Harry, it was a silent farewell.
Lunch with the Gryffindors, packed together in groups all along the long table, flitted by like the wind. Neville helped Harry milk Stinksap from the Mimbulus mimbletonia plant without a word and waited for him by the entrance of the Greenhouses when it was time to leave. "You're going down to Hagrid's?" the round-faced boy asked in a quiet voice.
"Yes," Harry answered and patted his robes. "I've got the Cloak with me."
"Can I come?" Neville asked in a low voice.
"I'd like to too," Ron said just as Hermione stepped up beside Neville. "Me too," she said in a low voice.
"We won't all fit under the Cloak," Harry said after a moment. "I'll use a Disillusionment Charm on myself. What's the worst that will happen if they catch me? Try to remove me from the Advanced Course?" he spat.
Everyone was silent for a moment. "Are we ready?" Neville asked in a low voice.
"No," Harry and Hermione said at the same time. "Not really," Ron muttered a half a second after. Everyone smirked at each other.
Harry found an alcove in the castle's walls to hide in as he fished out his Cloak. He tossed it to Neville as he drew his wand. It took him five attempts to get the Disillusionment Charm to work as he wanted it to. His nervousness and rising anger made it difficult for him to focus. Ron called to him after he took a few steps. "Mate, your trainers are still visible," he stated just above a whisper.
Harry stopped and redid the charm to ensure it covered his entire body. Remembering what Master Ogata told him about the charm, he slowly made his way down the sweeping lawn of the school. The dark clouds overhead complimented his mood and the streaks of lightning seemed to echo the torrent of feelings moving through his mind.
He heard his friends move past him, a soft swish of grass and a twig snap under someone's trainer, as they moved toward Hagrid's hut. The trip took fifteen minutes. He took his time, wading through the path of least resistance through the ankle-high grass until a light rain made him speed up. The Disillusionment Charm wouldn't wear off in the rain but anyone could see the form of his body as the rain hit him. Once he was under the cover of the large Scots pine trees, he moved slower again, careful not to disturb the scattered debris of twigs, cones, and dry leaves.
He had some success but still made more noise than he'd intended as he drew closer to Hagrid's hut. Looking around, he couldn't see any traces of his friends. When he was about to move closer to the hut, a familiar, purple-robed figure appeared in the small window. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as they seemed to lock onto Harry's from a hundred yards away. A cold sensation washed over Harry's body as he realized the Headmaster found him even while under the Disillusionment Charm.
Harry checked his body again to make sure he was still cloaked within the charm. Satisfied he was still an indistinct blur, he looked back up to see if he'd been imagining things. Dumbledore was gone from the window. Harry waited for a time, content to wait and see if the Headmaster would confront him about skipping class. He went over several scenarios in his head to answer if the Headmaster questioned him while he sat on a tree stump.
A rustle far to his left, closer to the path, told him his friends were nearby. Just as he was going to move toward them, Dumbledore emerged from Hagrid's cottage. The aging Headmaster looked around with a somber look on his face as he turned to say his goodbyes to Hagrid. The gentle giant did not come out of his home.
Dumbledore closed the door behind him with a careful, respectful motion before striding up the path. He stopped by the entrance to the garden beside the hut and waved his hand in a simple gesture. The gate creaked open, a mournful screech that roused Buckbeak from his nap. Dumbledore took one step forward before standing up to his full height and staring Buckbeak in the eyes. The Hippogriff lept to his feet and stared back for a moment. Harry watched as Dumbledore bowed deeper than he thought possible, his eyes locked on the Hippogriff in front of him. He was afraid the old Headmaster might pitch forward, but defying all logic, Dumbledore stayed in that position without moving for a full minute.
Buckbeak trilled to Dumbledore before bowing. The bow wasn't as deep, but the Hippogriff did go to one knee. Buckbeak held the bow for several seconds before standing back up again. Dumbledore rose to his full height once more. Harry noticed the small wince cross the Headmaster's face. Dumbledore spoke to Buckbeak for a few minutes in a low voice, his wrinkled hand brushing the multicolored feathers. Buckbeak seemed to nod to the Headmaster's words but Harry thought he might be imagining it.
Dumbledore stayed with Buckbeak for a few minutes longer before leaving the small garden. He closed the gate behind him and bowed his head for a moment, his back to Harry. The wind picked up, dropping a small torrent of rain down on top of Harry from the tree cover overhead. When Harry looked up, Dumbledore was gone.
Harry looked around, trying to figure out where the Headmaster went. Once he was sure Dumbledore was gone, he started to move toward his friends. "Harry," a quiet voice called from a few feet away. Harry froze and turned around on his heels, making as little sound as possible. "You may hide from some, but I have advantages that others do not," Albus Dumbledore said in a light, almost jovial voice. "Your Disillusionment Charm is far more advanced than I'd expected," he praised.
"Professor," Harry greeted as he stood to his full height. A slight tingle networked over his skin. It took him a second to realize the Headmaster cast a nonverbal spell without moving his hand.
"A little something so your friends do not hear our conversation," Dumbledore said with a small smile. "I do not believe they realize you and I are here. Your skill at staying silent and motionless is... complimentary," he finished with a wry smirk.
"Too many nights sneaking about Providence with the other cadets," Harry answered with a shrug. He realized the Headmaster couldn't see him. After thinking about it for a moment, he realized Dumbledore may be able to see him after all.
"Ah, the adventures of young boys. It has been many, many years," the Headmaster remarked with a small chuckle. "Now, to business. I will not give you, or your friends, detention for skipping class. Visiting Hagrid during one of his darkest days is an admirable thing to do. I will, however, ask you to leave this area in the next half hour or so. The Minister of Magic and his... entourage will be here shortly. Harry... this is not something you need to see. Respectfully, you are too young to see the... harsh reality of what will happen in an hour. Visit Hagrid and leave with your friends. For yours, Hagrid's, and your friend's sake if nothing more."
Harry looked at his scarred hands and wondered what too young was. "I would like to be there for Buckbeak... in his last moments," he stated with a grimace.
A prolonged silence stretched across the silent forest. "Buckbeak is a remarkable Hippogriff. He understands, in his own way, what is about to happen," Dumbledore said after a moment. "Being here, to watch what will happen, will not honor Buckbeak's memory, nor will it help the fire burning in your heart toward the Ministry," he said in a harder tone. "This is an injustice, even someone as woefully blind as Fudge will see that before the end."
"Can't you do something?" Harry asked before he realized the words were out of his mouth. Another long silence stretched between them.
"I could," Dumbledore said in a strangely serious voice. "I could make Buckbeak disappear. Save him from this horrible fate. I could place a memory charm on the Minister and his entourage so strong that Gilderoy Lockhart would sing my praises. I could do any number of things, Harry. But... I won't. As much as it pains me. I will not act," he said in a quiet voice. "I want you to tell me why I will not act, if you were in my position."
The words tumbled from Harry's mouth, his anger and frustration rising in his chest. "I would! I would do something! This is wrong. You know it, I know it, and the Malfoys, curse their rotten family, knows it," he spat, his chest heaving.
Dumbledore stood there with an impassive look on his face. "This is wrong," he agreed, his voice soft and aged. "This wrong is one wrong in the sea of thousands that I have witnessed since rising to power," he continued, his voice growing stronger. "I am in a unique position that many can only dream of being in. The world sees me as the greatest wizard alive," he continued in a deep voice. "With that title comes a deeper responsibility than you can imagine. Take a step back from the situation and look at it from an objective point of view. Is Buckbeak's life worth the lives of several witches and wizards and... the lives of hundreds or more goblins?" he questioned, his voice grave.
Harry frowned and shook his head. "I don't see how the two relate," he admitted after a moment.
"You may be aware that I helped negotiate an uneasy peace between the goblins of Albania and the Albania Ministry of Magic. If I had chosen early in my career as Supreme Mugwump to save one magical creature it might not have been remarked. As you grow older, you have to learn how to balance your decisions. Every choice, every action, has a consequence. Some, you can see immediately, while others have far-reaching results. My decision to speak against Sirius Black landed him in prison. My decision to save Buckbeak could be one of many things that may keep him from suffering the same, or worse, fate than Buckbeak. You see, I must weigh the life of Buckbeak against the life of Sirius Black."
Harry reeled and shook his head. "I don't understand. How could giving Buckbeak a pardon get Sirius executed?" he questioned, trying to understand what the Headmaster was attempting to tell him.
"I explained to you before that my power as the Supreme Mugwump within the British Ministry of Magic is actively being blocked by Fudge and high-ranking members of the Ministry. Last year's fiasco is becoming known to more and more people. While it was not my fault, I am ultimately responsible for young River's death," Dumbledore said in a solemn voice. "He was my charge, my pupil, as you all are. By failing to protect his life, my ability comes into question. Saving you from the injustice of losing your wand cost me a little more power and influence. Favors had to be called in. I do not blame you. The ebb and flow of those in powerful positions is something you grow used to. What goes up, must come down. I was truthful with you in my office. I cannot save Sirius Black, however, I still have options available to increase his chances of receiving a fair trial. I am being frank with you, Harry. I must measure everyone's life I could save versus the unknown future of people I could save. Laws can save as many lives as they can destroy them."
Harry bit his lip. He stared at the Headmaster, trying to wrap his head around what he was hearing. "You're like the generals in a war," he said after a moment, struggling to find a correlation he could understand. "You have to decide how many men you're willing to sacrifice to hold an objective and decide if it is worth holding at all."
Dumbledore's face seemed to sag. "It is not... an analogy I wish to be equated to but... it is a fair one. To a lesser extent, every adult has the same decisions, however, people's lives aren't always at stake. With more power, the more people my actions and words effect," he said in a soft voice.
"I don't want that kind of power," Harry said in a soft voice.
"You are a far greater wizard than I," Dumbledore said in a somber tone. "Far greater than you realize."
"I just want to save people, like Sirius, like Buckbeak," Harry declared as he looked Dumbledore in the eyes.
Dumbledore stared at Harry and gave him a soft smile. "Never forget that drive, Harry. After you speak to Hagrid, please head up to the castle," he requested again in a firm voice as he waved his hand.
Harry felt a slight tingle in his skin as the sounds around him rushed into his ears. He hadn't realized Dumbledore blocked out all sound while they spoke. Before his eyes, the Headmaster vanished with a small smile. Knowing it was safe to move, Harry made his way over to where he thought his friends were and called out in a soft voice, "Ron, Hermione, Neville?"
"Here, where have you been mate?" Ron called back just above a whisper.
It took Harry a second to realize where the voice came from. His friends were under the Cloak by the largest tree about twenty feet from the garden. "Got held up. We'll have to move fast to talk to Hagrid. The Minister of Magic and some other people will be here soon," he said and started for Hagrid's door.
"Wait!" Ron called out. The sound of shuffling wet leaves and cracking branches could be heard over the light rain as they tried to catch up.
Harry felt the small buzz of magic over his skin as he knew more than felt the Disillusionment Charm fade off him. He knocked on the door. "W'her is it?" Hagrid's called in a thick voice.
"Harry, Ron, Neville, and Hermione," Harry called out.
The door opened a moment later. Hagrid, wearing too-small dark robes with feathers tucked into the front pocket looked down at Harry. His red, puffy eyes widened. "Yer to be up in teh castle," he murmured.
"You and Buckbeak are more important. Can we come in out of the rain?" Harry asked. He heard his friends come up behind him.
"Yeah, it's miserable out here," Ron said and grunted. Harry had a feeling Neville or Hermione elbowed the red-headed boy.
"It'll be worse la'er" Hagrid said, fresh tears welling up in his eyes. "Com' in," he beckoned and stepped back.
Harry entered and closed the door behind his friends after they'd tramped in. "I won't ask how you're doing, Hagrid," he said after a short silence stretched on. Hagrid sat in his large chair, staring down at his hands. "Can we do anything for you?" Fang, Hagrid's large Boarhound, was curled up in a ball on the giant bed, whimpering.
"No," Hagrid said, his head coming up. "Yer doing more than yah know by visiting me," he declared. "It means a lot teh me... and teh... Buckbeak," he stated before he broke out into tears again.
"Hagrid," Hermione said just above a whisper. She strode over to him and gave the gentle-giant a strong hug around his arm.
"We'll be with you, when..." Neville announced, his voice trailing off.
"Ner yeh won't!" Hagrid demanded, his head coming up. "Yer to get back up to the castle. Yeh shou'nt be seeing this."
"Alright, Hagrid," Harry said. His friends all looked at him with wide eyes. "We'll go back up to the castle soon. We wanted to see you first."
"Right nice of yeh," Hagrid sniffled and tried to give them all a grin. His beard parted a little before it drooped back into its usual tangled mass. "It'r mean a lot teh Buckbeak too."
They stayed in companionable silence for as long as they dared. Just as Harry was about to say that they should leave, the sound of several voices came through the open window. "The Cloak," he hissed to his friends as he drew his wand. He focused all of his concentration, all of his understanding of the Disillusionment Charm, on becoming invisible because he knew he had less than a minute before Fudge arrived.
Hagrid stood, wide-eyed, as he stared at where Harry was. "Blimey, Harry," he gasped. "Yer invisible," he announced. A real smile appeared in the wiry tangles of his mustache, his teeth flashing. "Yer mum would be proud."
"Thanks," Harry hissed as he made his way toward the back door of Hagrid's hut. He saw the door open a few seconds before he got there. A loud knock came at the front door.
"A minute," Hagrid called as he turned around. "Get," he ordered. "Back up to teh castle."
Harry didn't answer as he slipped out the back door. He heard the front door open. "Rubeus Hagrid," a familiar, jovial voice called. The Minister of Magic had arrived to oversee Buckbeak's murder.
"Harry, where are you?" Hermione called just above a whisper. Her voice seemed to come from the air around two trees at the edge of the garden.
"Here," Harry answered in a whisper. "I'll follow you back," he lied. He made a little more noise than was necessary as he made his way around the garden. After he retreated deeper into the forest, he stopped in his tracks and listened hard. He thought he could hear his friend's muffled footfalls somewhere to his right, closer to the edge of the forest. They'd circled the garden to get closer to the school. He made his way toward the path, shuffling his feet a little. His friends made a great deal of noise when Ron tripped over a root from one of the massive pine trees ahead of him. He crouched low and judged every step with utmost care as he made his way toward the garden again.
Buckbeak lazed on his belly, eating from a large pile of fresh carcasses. He snapped up a skinned rabbit and downed it in three gulps. Harry tried to get a better position but something he did caught Buckbeak's attention. The large Hippogriff looked up and stared right where Harry crouched behind a rotting log. Harry stared at Buckbeak's clear grey eyes. Movement in the window of Hagrid's hut broke the spell that seemed to transfix his attention on Buckbeak. A dark, curved wand appeared moments before a red jet of light hit Buckbeak in the back. The large Higppogriff jerked his head around but two follow up Stunning Spells hit him before he turned all the way around. Buckbeak's head lolled to one side before it hit the ground with a thump.
Five people tramped out of Hagrid's hut, Cornelius Fudge in the lead. A dark-robed, sallow-skinned older wizard with gray hair appeared beside the Minister. His bleach-white skin stretched over his skull, making Harry think the wizard was almost all skin and bones. The next wizard to appear was a diminutive old wizard with dark, slick back hair. His pleasant expression seemed out of place. Albus Dumbledore appeared next, his eyes roaming over the garden. Hagrid brought up the rear. His massive frame stood in his doorway for a moment before he stepped down onto the flagstones in front of his house.
The Minister said something as the ghoulish wizard strode into the garden. Harry realized it was the executioner as a large, single-bladed axe appeared from under his black cloak. The gaunt wizard took his time, using his curved wand to arrange the still form of Buckbeak how he wanted it. Harry watched in horror as the executioner conjured a bloody u-shaped block of wood and levitated Buckbeak's nack atop it. More words were spoken from the Minister, Dumbledore, and the short old wizard from the Ministry. Hagrid cried, his echoing sobs reverberated through the trees.
Harry realized he was crying too. The taste of saltwater filled the corners of his mouth as his vision went a little blurry. "By everything you hold dear, I will make you pay, Malfoy," he promised in a low voice. "Fudge, the Ministry, all of you will pay," he continued, his voice thick with emotion.
In the end, he couldn't watch Buckbeak's final moments. He turned away, ashamed of himself, as the executioner raised his axe. A loud, hollow thunk pierced Harry's ears a moment later. Hagrid's grief, a piercing howl of pain as though the axe hit him, boomed through the forest. Harry clenched his fists and sobbed.
It was sometime later when Harry was able to get control of himself. Buckbeak's body was gone and so was the Minister and his cronies. Albus sat beside Hagrid, one wrinkled hand on the trashcan sized fist of the gentle giant. Hagrid it seemed had run out of tears. His shoulders heaved as Dumbledore spoke to him.
Harry wasn't sure how he made it back up to the castle. He didn't go to the study classroom where he knew his friends would be waiting for him, nor did he go to bed. Still cloaked within the comfortable anonymity of the Disillusionment Charm, he made his way to the owlery. Hedwig knew he was there and landed on his shoulder the moment he closed the door. Her soft hooting helped soothe his mood.
"Why? Why is it like this?" Harry asked the beautiful owl. Hedwig didn't respond but she did nuzzle his neck with the soft feathers on her head. He knew he was crying again but couldn't stop himself.
After an hour, Harry thanked Hedwig and left the owlery, feeling a little better. Hermione, Ron, Neville, Ginny, and Astoria all crowded around him when he entered the study classroom. "You stayed behind," Hermione accused, a hard edge to her voice.
"Yes," Harry admitted with a sigh.
"We would have stayed with you, mate," Ron said in a soft voice. "We wanted to go back but thought we saw Dumbledore moving along the path."
"How? Dumbledore was with Hagrid and the others in Hagrid's hut?" Harry asked with a shrug.
"Oh," Ron muttered and shook his head. "Neville I was seeing things," he said with a forced laugh.
"You were," Neville confirmed and tried to smile. "I thought it was a Hippogriff. Coming to save Buckbeak... I'd hoped it was anyway," he admitted.
Ginny stood very close to Harry, her eyes searching his face, but didn't say anything. Astoria bit her lip and spoke in a quiet voice. "What happened? The others wouldn't tell me," she asked in a soft voice as she looked at Harry.
"Draco Malfoy killed an innocent creature with Galleons to show off his wealth, power, and to sate his wounded pride," Harry spat.
Astoria blinked and took a step back, her eyes wide. "He wouldn't," she said with a gasp.
"He would and did," Ron muttered in a dark voice.
That night at dinner, it took everything Harry had not to attack Malfoy when he saw him sitting at the Slytherin table, looking pleased with himself. Professor McGonagall seemed to know trouble was brewing because she hovered near the Gryffindor table, talking to the fifth and seventh-year students about their upcoming examinations. Her eyes remained on Harry for long periods of time.
No one was up to doing much that weekend. Harry stayed in the castle while the others went to the Hufflepuff versus Slytherin game. Ginny wanted to stay with Harry but Luna dragged her off. Grateful, Harry sat in the study classroom alone, staring at the stone Dumbledore gave him. It reminded him of another stone so he took out the sigil Master Ogata gave him. He ran a finger over the rune in the center and explored the deep impressions in the smooth rock.
Slytherin won their match by ten points; Cedric got the snitch. Ron laughed himself hoarse when he retold the story of Malfoy almost falling off his broom. The twins, in celebration, wanted to send the Hufflepuffs a large crate of Butterbeer for beating the Slytherins. Harry smirked and had Dobby magic the crate into the corridor outside the Hufflepuff's common room with a note on the top from the twins.
Serious study resumed for the fifth and seventh-year students the next day. A quiet buzz of noise echoed around the library as Harry tried to concentrate on his book. "Mr. Potter," a soft voice called.
Harry looked up to see a small Ravenclaw girl standing beside him with a letter outstretched. "This is from the Headmaster," she said, her cheeks flushed red.
"Thank you," Harry muttered and took the letter. "I'm sorry, you are?" he questioned.
"Harriet," she answered just above a whisper. "Ellesmere," she continued after a moment. "I'm a first-year," she said, the blush rising in her cheeks.
"Hello, nice to meet you, Harriet," Harry greeted in what he hoped was his best smile. The young Ravenclaw witch's face turned a bright shade red. She stammered something before she ran out of the library.
"Making friends," one twin said in a jovial voice. "Or future lovers," the other twin continued as they sat down on either side of Harry.
"How is the project coming along?" Harry asked, ignoring their remarks.
"Swell," the twins chorused with identical grins. "We might need a little assistance, however," the twin on Harry's right said in a low voice.
"People willing to test your... ideas?" Harry questioned under his breath. Hermione had already looked up from her book, her eyes narrowing at him and the twins.
"With our marks, actually," the other twin answered in a lofty tone. "We must get good marks or mum will kill us," he declared with a wide grin.
Harry sighed and shook his head. "In what subject?" he asked with a sigh.
"Why, all of them," the twins chorused with identical grins.
Harry stared at them. Hermione let out a small snort before going back to her book. "I thought you were doing fine with your studies," he said with a frown.
"We are," the twins chorused. "We just need some help with a Potion," the twin on the left said with a grin. "For starters," the twin on the right finished a moment later.
Harry extended the last three fingers on his hand under the table three times. Both twins nodded, their eyes twinkling. "What potion?" he asked with a raised eyebrow.
"The Befuddlement Draught," the twin on the left said in a low voice. "Fred needs to get the concoction right."
"I must pass my O.W.L.s," Fred said with a solemn look.
Harry's mind worked fast as he tried to decipher what the twins were telling him. Their idea to make a sort of dreamlike state through magic or potions must have hit a dead end. He focused on what he knew they'd tested and tried to keep an eye on Hermione to make sure she didn't become too interested in their conversation. "Well, too much loveage might cause some problems but it is the key ingredient in the Befuddlement Draught. Maybe you're just getting the amount of ingredients wrong," he said after a moment.
George pursed his lips before he shook his head. "No, we've got the ingredients right and have triple checked our work," he said and flashed a thumbs up to Harry.
"Then maybe how you stir the potion could be messing it up," Harry prompted and made a circle with the index finger and thumb on his right hand. Fred nodded and stood.
"We'll give that a shot," George said and patted Harry on the shoulder. "Thanks!" Fred called as they moved away.
"That was odd," Hermione muttered. "I figured they'd want to drag you off for the afternoon."
"I think they did," Harry muttered and flipped over the letter. He recognized the handwriting. "Dumbledore," he mused. Hermione looked interested and leaned over the table to look at the letter as Harry opened it. "It says I'm to meet him in his office in an hour."
"I'll be here," Hermione said and flashed him a strained smile. "Good luck."
An hour later, Harry stood outside the door to Dumbledore's Office. The door opened before he could knock. "Harry, please, come in," the Headmaster called.
Harry entered and looked over at Fawkes' perch. A pile of ashes lay at the bottom of the circular dish below the bar that the phoenix sat upon normally. A baby red phoenix chirped from the middle of the ashes.
"It's Fawkes' Burning Day," the Headmaster said in a soft voice. "He is reborn from the ashes. Please, have a seat," Dumbledore said and waved to a large chair by the fire. He sat in the other chair and gazed at Harry. After Harry took a seat, he spoke in a soft voice, "you stayed to watch the execution." Harry winced and was going to speak but thought better of it. He nodded, not wanting to look the Headmaster in the eyes. "This does not leave this office," Dumbledore said in a low voice. "Hagrid has a new Hippogriff, christened Witherwings. Quite curiously the markings on the Hippogriff are astoundingly similar to the late Buckbeak," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Harry jerked back, his eyes locking onto Dumbledore's bright blue eyes. "Are... did... Ron said he thought he saw you by the forest," he muttered.
"When all options are closed to you, look for a new solution," the Headmaster said with a small smile. "I, of course, did nothing. Witherwings was found in the forest and Hagrid has adopted him. You must figure out how that happened," he continued with a brighter smile. "I'll expect the homework by this time next week. Any and all possibilities."
Harry blinked and frowned. "Then what we spoke about in the forest," he said, his voice trailing off. "Was it a test? You wanted to see what I would do?"
Dumbledore's eyes seemed to look past Harry, into a world only he could see. "I need to make you understand now, more than ever, what is coming. What you will be responsible for. What I am responsible for. Every action has a consequence. It was your words that gave me hope for the future, Harry. I pondered over your words and decided I would act. I am old Harry, far older than I appear. I am used to the intricacies of my stations and sometimes forget to see the small things. You helped me remember. For that, I thank you," he said, bowing a little at the waist to Harry.
"Uh... what? Thanks?" Harry muttered, taken aback by the Headmaster's actions and words.
Dumbledore straightened back up, his expression somber. "Sirius Black will be moved to the Ministry on Tuesday night. I would like you to see him again tomorrow, after your last class. It may be some time before you're able to speak to him again," he said in a soft voice.
Harry nodded, understanding what the Headmaster didn't say. He may never see Sirius again after Tuesday. "I don't remember the way there," he admitted after a moment.
"Professor Lupin will escort you once more," Dumbledore said with a smile. "I believe Kingsley will stay with you while you speak to Black. Professor McGonagall informed me you will be continuing your studies in Divination and Care of Magical Creatures while Hermione will take on Arithmancy and Ancient Runes, is this correct?" he questioned with a small smile.
"Yes, sir," Harry answered with a nod. "We'll split the fields of study. I really like Arithmancy and Ancient Runes but Hermione can't stand Professor Trelawney," he admitted.
"The professor has an... interesting way of expressing what she believes to be true, yes," the Headmaster allowed after a moment. "Your first, much harder assignments will begin tomorrow. Are you excited for them or shall I have Professor McGonagall hold off on her... zealous attempts to make up for the Ministry's errors."
Harry raised an eyebrow. "How hard are we talking?" Harry asked, a shiver of excitement rising in his chest.
"I believe that will be entirely up to you and Miss Granger," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. "Now, please remember to not speak about Witherwings. The more who know the secret, the more it could slip out by accident; at least until next term. Hagrid and I will find a suitable home for Witherwings where he will enjoy his life, away from potential trouble."
Harry found Hermione at the same table he'd left her in an hour before. "Good news?" she questioned, her eyebrow arching high as she regarded him.
"Some, but I can't talk too much here," he whispered.
"Everyone is busy," Hermione countered as she looked around. "Just talk quietly, I want to finish this chapter before dinner."
"They are moving Black on Tuesday," Harry announced, his eyes darting around the library.
"Really? Is it time?" Hermione asked, her voice pitched lower as two older students passed.
Harry looked up and saw Percy Weasley glare at him as he passed with his friend Robin. The stout Gryffindor nodded to Harry as he strode toward the door. "Yeah, I guess Madam Bones is ready," Harry muttered, feeling his stomach sink a little. Had Percy overheard him?
Monday flew by in a blur of activity. Master Ogata sent Harry and Hermione letters telling them that he'd secured a job as a professor in Brazil. He hoped they were well and would write more once he was settled. A wizened witch by the name of Professor Grubbly-Plank taught the class in Hagrid's stead. She went over Salamanders, their uses in everyday life, and how to care for them. Harry thought it was a good lesson but hated the fact he wouldn't be able to use the Returning Rooms to go to Ancient Runes next.
Hermione caught up with them in Transfiguration. She ignored Ron's questioning as to why she skipped Care of Magical Creatures. "It has to be this way, Ron," she answered with a huff. "Blame the Minister of Magic if you must."
Harry waited in the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom after the last bell. The others understood he wanted to talk to Professor Lupin and left him to it. Once again, the shabby professor led him through the dungeons and to Sirius' rooms. Kingsley, Moody, Proudfoot, and Tonks all greeted them when they entered the antechamber. "Follow me," Kingsley ordered and led Harry to see Sirius.
Harry tried to enjoy himself as he listened to Black ramble on about his father and any subject that came to his mind. In much more detail than Harry wanted, Sirius talked about the witches he'd dated and even joked he wanted to run off with Harry's mum more than once. "She was the life and soul of any gathering. Her smile lit up the room, Harry. Everyone who knew Lily was blessed," Sirius said in a soft voice.
"Are you scared?" Harry asked after Sirius told him a particularly dark joke they'd played on Snape in their third-year. He wasn't sure he approved nor was he happy his father engineered a prank that humiliated Snape. Black gave him information after a little probing to realize why Snape hated James so much and why the professor's hatred carried on to Harry.
"Yes," Sirius admitted after a moment. "Not the dying part," he continued with a frown. "I've accepted that I will die young and without an heir. I never wanted children in the first place. I suppose it is a sort of mental scarring from my parent's... care," he drawled as his eyes darkened. "I'm scared of leaving you above all. My friends, save Remus, are all dead. Remus and I have never been very close. James was the linchpin of our group. Everything kind of revolved around him without him even trying. Like we were the planets and he's the sun. Well, your mother was the sun. Bright, hot, and would scorch anyone who got too close when she was in one of her moods," he joked with a hollow laugh.
"I've been alone before," Harry said into the silence. "I'd rather you want to live for yourself. Go out and see the world or something. Cairo was amazing and I was only there for a month."
Sirius gave him a wan smile. "I'm too old to go galavanting across the world. I might give it a shot if I get out of this mess but it will be to find an excellent selection of joke shop items to bring back. Maybe I'll invest in the Weasley twins you told me about. Some of those ideas are brilliant," he continued with a bark of a laugh.
"If you... get out of this mess," Harry tempered with a grimace. "What do you want to do?"
Black leaned back in his chair and looked at Harry. "First, I'd like to find a nice flat in London. I've always loved the atmosphere there. Second, I'd like to find the raunchiest bird I can find for a night," he laughed when Harry pulled a face but continued, "then, I'd like to invite you to stay with me. Not as a father, but as your godfather, your friend, and maybe show you some stuff this old-stick-in-the-mud wouldn't approve of." He gestured to Kingsley who frowned back at him.
Harry glanced at Kingsley. He'd almost forgotten the Auror was in the room with them. "I'll keep that last bit in mind," he said after a moment.
"What? Don't want to see if your ol'godfather still has the moves?" Black questioned as he wiggled his eyebrows.
"He's thirteen for Merlin's sake," Kingsley growled. "Do not corrupt him."
"I know perfectly well what he's talking about, thank you," Harry retorted with what he hoped was a sneer.
Black took one look at him and laughed. "I'm sure you do," he replied with a wink. "Now, let's talk about that Patronus Charm. How far did you get?"
Harry stared out of the common room window Tuesday morning, watching the sun rise above the trees. He fiddled with the stone disk Master Ogata gave him, pondering what Sirius told him the night before. After leaving Sirius' rooms, he went back to the library and tried to work on the veritable mound of homework Professor McGonagall gave him and Hermione on Transfiguration. Some of the concepts he'd never even seen before. He and Hermione had perused through Human Transfiguration before, but not to the level the professor thought they had. They gave up after an hour of trying to decipher the complex formula on just the first page of their homework.
"What is large, brown, and protects?" he muttered to himself as he stared at his half-reflection in the glass of the window. The flashes of images that came to him during his meditation bothered him some. He fingered the disk in his left palm and looked down at the images inscribed around the edge.
"Harry, are you ready?" Hermione called.
Harry turned, putting the disk back in his pocket as he did so. Hermione stopped at the bottom of the stairs, Ginny following along behind her. "Yeah, I'm starved," he said with a smile.
"I would like all of you to join me, one by one, to display what you've learned. This will be your mock examination," Professor Trelawney called through the trap door in her ethereal voice. "Mr. Ronald Weasley, you first," she commanded.
Harry waited with the others as students ascended the ladder into the Divination classroom and then minutes later, would come back down. Ron didn't look happy with whatever the professor told him. Neville rubbed his sweaty hands on his trousers as he waited. "Harry Potter," the professor called after Lavender Brown clambered back down the ladder.
"Ah, Harry, have a seat," the professor said, her large, magnified eyes bulging behind her too-large glasses. Harry sat in front of the professor on a little stool. "Come, my boy, read the cards to me," she instructed.
Harry shuffled the deck and spread them out for the professor to choose. She started to point to the first card when she froze. Her hand whipped out and snatched a card from the offered spread, her eyes going white. The professor spoke, her voice was both raspy and grating at the same time.
"It will happen tonight... The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant, bound by fear for twelve years, will break free. He will set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again, greater and more powerful than he was before. Tonight... before midnight... the servant will..." Professor Trelawney rasped out, her fake ethereal voice replaced with a hard, throaty edge. Her pupils reappeared and she coughed. She looked first at Harry and then the card she drew. "The Devil," she murmured. "Ah, dear boy, you are supposed to have me draw six cards, not one," she chastised in her normal fake, ethereal voice.
Harry blinked and shook his head. "What did you mean the servent will rejoin his master? What about the Dark Lord? Is there more?!" he asked in a rush.
"What? What is this about He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? Harry, this is a mock examination. You must read the cards, not give pretend prophecies," she scolded, her eyes wide. "Now let us continue. You have one more try."
Harry wasn't sure what happened after that. He found himself at the bottom of the ladder a bit later. The professor was different when she spoke to him. Bound by fear? Servant? He questioned every word the professor spoke to him. Ron and Neville looked at him funny but he waved them off. He wondered if he should tell someone. After a moment, he decided he should. If he was crazy, cracked from the stress of everything in his life, then maybe Madam Pomfrey could set him right.
He left the tower and made his way toward Professor McGonagall's office. There wasn't a guarantee she would be there, but she might listen to him. Another face appeared in his thoughts, making him slow down. Professor Lupin may be able to help and would listen to him as well. He debated for a moment before deciding to tell Professor McGonagall first. She wasn't in her office when he knocked. Undeterred, he went to Professor Lupin's classroom and found it empty. He scratched his head and shrugged. Few teachers missed lunch in the Great Hall.
After Charms, he all but ran to the Great Hall. Professor McGonagall wasn't there for lunch but Professor Lupin was. "Professor," Harry said in a low voice. "Do you have a moment?" he asked. "It's important."
"Yes, for you, any time," the shabby professor said and broke away from his conversation with Professor Sinistra. The Astronomy professor gave Harry a wide smile. "What has you so worried?" Professor Lupin asked once they were in the Entrance Hall.
"I think Professor Trelawney just gave a real prophesy," Harry said in a low voice. "Tonight... tonight, I think Peter is going to escape. She said the Dark Lord lies alone and friendless. His servant, bound by fear will escape and return to his master. His master. When... when he gets to Voldemort... then... he'll rise more powerful than he was before," he finished in a soft voice.
Professor Lupin's face, already pale, seemed to go white. "Are you sure? The other professors are... less than complimentary about Sybill," he admitted after a moment.
"Yes, I think it was real," Harry insisted.
"Then I will get a message to Dumbledore," the professor said in a serious tone. "Harry... prophecies don't always come true," he said after a moment.
"I'd rather be cautious than ignore it. They are moving Black tonight," Harry hissed just above a whisper.
Professor Lupin's eyes widened. "I'll pass the message along. I just hope he's in the castle. Dumbledore has been running around a lot recently, trying to get everything ready to help Sirius."
Harry didn't want to worry his friends so he didn't tell them what the professor told him. Hermione noticed how distracted he was but didn't press him. Ron and Neville seemed content when Harry told them he would tell them when he was ready. Harry spent the entire day debating if he should do something or wait it out. He hoped Professor Lupin got the message to Dumbledore in time.
"Harry, where are you going?" Ron questioned as they entered the common room after dinner.
Harry, already headed for the stairs leading down to the boy's dormitories, looked back. "Follow me," he hissed.
Ron shrugged and nudged Neville. They followed Harry down to their dormitory. When everyone was inside, Harry locked the door behind them with magic and placed a Muffliato Charm over the room. "They are moving Black tonight," he said as he threw open his trunk. His broomstick lay on the top of his pile of spare clothes. He snatched it up.
"Okay?" Ron said, sharing a glance with Neville. "Is that why you've been all weird today?"
"No, Professor Trelawney told me that tonight Voldemort's servant would escape and return to him. He will rise again, more powerful than before," Harry answered and threw open his wardrobe. He grabbed a thick winter cloak from the rack.
"What?!" Neville spluttered.
"Mate, slow down. What are you saying?" Ron asked, his voice strained.
"Just what I said. I think Peter Pettigrew will try to escape tonight. I don't know how, but if he does..." Harry said, looking at his friends.
"Then... You-Know-Who will come back?" Neville asked. His legs wobbled for an instant before they gave out. He fell into a heap on the floor, his eyes wide.
"Neville!" Ron gasped as he turned to help his friend.
"I'm fine," the round-faced boy muttered, his face turning a brilliant shade of red. "My legs just didn't want to work," he confided in a low voice.
"Mine don't want to either," Harry admitted. "I'm going to go out onto the room and wait it out. Maybe I can see, maybe I can help if something happens tonight," he said. "I need you two to cover for me, please," he pleaded.
"Why aren't you bringing Hermione in on this?" Ron questioned.
"Because he knows she'll jinx him into a puddle and your sister would tie him up for good measure, Ron," Neville answered with a hollow laugh.
"Too right," Ron muttered and shook his head. "We'll cover for you," he promised.
"Thanks! I'll be back as soon as I know something," Harry assured and got ready. Less than a minute later, he was out the window closest to his bed and was flying toward the tallest tower.