Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter but I do own Jamie black this story relates to my other time-travel Harry Potter fanfic. It is not necessary to read that first but if you do want to read than you are most welcome. Also I own my other OC
A/N: I know I'm supposed to work for 'Trip To Past Can Change' but I just wanted to try 'Reading Books' fan fiction, It's starts from Prisoners of Azkaban since many people didn't wrote with OC in other books except for Philosopher Stone. Also there would be some twists and turns. Following Format for the books:-
Prisoner of Azkaban (only few main chapters though)
Goblet of Fire (This too consists of few chapters)
Order of Phoenix ( this would start from beginning to end)
Half Blood Prince (Main chapters again)
And lastly whole Deathly Hallows.
Hope you enjoys!
Summary : Dolores had yet again found an evil twisted way to expose Harry Potter and his friends. Can he survive whatever she was planning ? And what's with Jamie and Fred ? And who are the kids who came in Flash. And Sirius reunited by his...love ?
Dolores Umbridge had a plan. A great plan indeed to expose the attention-seeking-lying-brat Harry Potter. Just because he had a stupid scar over his forehead doesn't mean that he is special. And what to say about his crime in partner class-disturbing-brat Jamie black, murder's daughter and Potter's crime in partner, she was n exception too.
Umbridge took every chance she got to discriminate them and show whole student body of Hogwarts that Potter is nothing but lying brats and to prove this she had got a set of books from few people who claimed to be future well wishers. Apparently that, morning Umbridge got documents about Harry Potter and two whole books about he and she had already checked to find out that Harry was not as he claimed to be.
She had called up whole Hogwarts to read the books that afternoon along with some ministry officials and few people those well wishers wanted to bring up. Perhaps to show that He-who-must-not-be-named had not returned and Potter and Black are two lying brat.
Umbrigde took the documents as well as books carefully in her hand with her awfully girly smirk. She examined the books and documents from afar and then smirked, not her usual girly smirk but her evil smirk.
Harry waked down the corridor leading to Great Hall. Jamie, Hermione and Ron were walking on either side of him. All classes were cut short today, and they were told to be gathered in Great Hall for something important
The quartet walked into Great Hall and made their way to Gryffindor Table. Taking seats next to Neville and Ginny.
Harry looked around Great Hall his eyes' fell upon ministry officials. Then minutes later, ex-Auror Moody, Tonks, Remus Lupin along with snuffles, Bill, Charlie, Molly and Arthur arrived in hall Before Jamie or Hermione could ask him 'what's happening?' Umbridge stood up and made a 'hem, hem' noise and the hall fell silent at that stupid sound.
Once Umbridge had full attention from students she started talking, "Well" in her sick false sweet tone, "Today we will finally know the truth about Harry Potter."
Then in instant students started muttering and turning to Harry who looked uncomfortably shifted in his seat. Beside him Hermione gasped and murmured something like, 'that evil twisted cockroach' Harry paled.
"Everything. About Sirius Black and tournament. Everything" Umbridge smiled her sickening sweet smile at Harry. Beside him Jamie was constantly cussing the evil pink toad. The order members glared at her even thee twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes was gone. Snuffles growled at her.
"This is not good mate" whined Ron. Harry was barely listening, everything thing would be revealed...then they would know about Voldemort and...
"We shall start now" Umbridge announced.
"Professor Trelawney's Prediction" Umbridge read.
"She actually makes a real prediction?" Fred asked Harry in surprised.
Harry nodded staring into nothing
Harry's euphoria at finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gob stones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.
But they couldn't. Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to stay inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows. Even Fred and George Weasley had been spotted working; half of the Hall looked shocked to the Weasley Twins' had been working, while the Professors' rose they're eyebrows.
They were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered.
As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings.
The Weasleys' looked angry at the reminder of their brother.
In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than Percy was Hermione.
Harry and Ron snorted, that was nothing new. Hermione glared at him.
Harry and Ron had given up asking her how she was managing to attend several classes at once, but they couldn't restrain themselves when they saw the exam schedule she had drawn up for herself. The first column read:
Monday
9 o'clock, Arithmancy 9 o'clock, Transfiguration
Lunch
1 o'clock, Charms
1 o'clock, Ancient Runes
"What?" nearly everyone in the Hall asked.
The quartet only smirked. Umbridge and Fudge looked annoyed, that they were still managing to keep secrets from them. But it wouldn't be like that for long.
"Err — are you sure you've copied down these times right?"
"What?" snapped Hermione, picking up the exam schedule and examining it? "Yes, of course I have."
"Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once?" said Jamie.
"No," said Hermione shortly. "Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"
"Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading," said Ron, but very quietly.
Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment around on her table, looking for the book. Just then, there was a rustle at the window and Hedwig fluttered through it, note clutched tightly in her beak.
"It's from Hagrid," said Harry ripping the note open. "Buck beak's appeal - it's set for the sixth."
The Slytherins' smiled smugly at the mention of the beast.
"That's the day we finish our exams," said Hermione, still looking everywhere for her Arithmancy book.
"And they're coming up here to do it," said Harry, still reading from the letter. "Someone from the Ministry of Magic - and an executioner."
Everyone except the Ministry Members, the trio, and Professors' gasped.
Hermione looked up, startled.
"They're bringing the executioner to the appeal! But that sounds as though they've already decided!"
"Yeah, it does," said Harry slowly.
"They can't!" Ron howled. "I've spent ages reading up stuff for him, they can't just ignore it all!"
But Harry had a horrible feeling that the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures had had its mind made up for it by Mr. Malfoy.
Draco, who had been noticeably subdued since Gryffindor triumph in the Quidditch last, seemed to regain some of his old swagger over the next few days.
Harry, Jamie, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny growled.
From sneering comments Harry overheard, Malfoy was certain Buck beak was going to be killed, and seemed thoroughly pleased with him for bringing it about.
It was all Harry could do to stop himself imitating Hermione and hitting Malfoy in the face on these occasions.
"Why didn't you hit him?" Cho asked making Harry flush. Malfoy glared at Harry from across the hall. If his father knew about this...
And the worst thing of all was that they had no time or opportunity to go and see Hagrid, because the strict new security measures had not been lifted, and Harry didn't dare retrieve his Invisibility Cloak from below the one-eyed witch.
Harry groaned as everyone in the Great Hall turned to look at him. One of his secrets came out.
"Invisibility Cloak?" someone from the Ravenclaw table asked. Harry remained silent, becoming angry that one of his secrets' had come out.
"Aha! Minister a silly child like Potter cannot keep a precious gift like invisibility cloak" said Umbridge in her sweet voice as if addressing to a child.
"Harry's not silly!" exclaimed Ron, his siblings were shocked by his outburst, and even Ron himself was shocked.
"Besides! You evil Toad, you cannot take Harry's cloak it's his Family Heirloom!" exclaimed Jamie while the smug face of toad turned into a sweet voice again.
"Detention! Miss Black tonight at 8" said the toad. That was last for Hermione she snapped and she was about to yell at Umbridge but stopped when Ron squeezed her hand.
Jamie sent them both a knowing look, but only Ron saw that and he looked away blushing. Jamie smirked at him.
Exam week began and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third-years emerged from Transfiguration at lunch-time on Monday limp and ashen-faced, comparing results and bemoaning the difficulty of the tasks they had been set, which had included turning a teapot into a tortoise.
Hermione irritated the rest by fussing about how her tortoise had looked more like a turtle, which was the least of everyone else's worries.
"Mine still had a spout for a tail, what a nightmare ..."
"Were the tortoises supposed to breathe steam?"
A few students' laughed at this.
Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Hermione had been right; Professor Flit wick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms. Harry slightly overdid his out of nerves and Ron, who was partnering him, ended up in fits of hysterical laughter and had to be led away to a quiet room for an hour before he was ready to do the Charm himself.
The Gryffindor table laughed while Ron blushed. Some people were staring at them, was the 'Golden Quartet' just like them?
After dinner, the students hurried back to their common rooms, not to relax, but to start revising for Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Astronomy.
Hagrid presided over the Care of Magical Creatures exam the following morning with a very preoccupied air indeed; his heart didn't seem to be in it at all. He had provided a large tub of Flobberworms for the class, and told them that, to pass the test, their Flobberworm had to still be alive at the end of one hour.
Umbridge glanced at Harry. He gave his coldest glare to Umbridge, who stared back hard at him while Harry glared at her.
As Flobberworms flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam any of them had ever sat, and gave Harry, Ron and Hermione plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid.
"Beaky's gettin' a bit depressed," Hagrid told them, bending low on the pretense of checking that Harry's flobberworm was still alive. "Bin cooped up too long. But still… we'll know day after tomorrow — one way or the other —"
"They're going kill Buck beak" Cho said disgusted.
They had Potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Try as Harry might, he couldn't get his Confusing Concoction to thicken while Jamie's Potion was perfect, and Snape, standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure, scribbled something that looked suspiciously like a zero onto Harry's notes before moving away towards Jamie and grudgingly giving her full marks.
Jamie looked smirked at that, Snape looked at Jamie and glared. That kid was nothing like her mother.
Then came Astronomy at midnight, up on the tallest tower; History of Magic on Wednesday morning, in which Harry scribbled everything Florean Fortes cue had ever told him about medieval witch-hunts, while wishing he could have had one of Fortes cue's coconut sundaes
Ron stomach growled loudly at that, making the people sitting close to him laugh.
With him in the stifling classroom.
Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology, in the greenhouses under a baking-hot sun; then back to the common room once more, with sun burnt necks, thinking longingly of this time next day, when it would all be over.
Their second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun,
"It was fun," Neville said softly.
where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart.
"What if someone freezes up?" Fudge snapped.
No one bothered to answer him.
"Excellent, Harry," Lupin muttered as Harry climbed out of the trunk, grinning. "Full marks."
Hermione beamed at that.
Flushed with his success, Harry hung around to watch Ron and Hermione. Ron did very well until he reached the Hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist-high into the quagmire.
Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the Boggart in it. After about a minute inside it, she burst out again, screaming.
"What happened?" The Twins' and Ginny asked worried.
"Hermione!" said Lupin, startled. "What's the matter?"
"P-P-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. "She-she said I'd failed everything!"
Everyone busted out laughing while Hermione hit Harry and Ron at the back of their heads.
As for Jamie she did excellent in Defense she did almost everything correct.
It took a little while to calm Hermione down. When at last she had regained a grip on herself, she, Harry, Jamie and Ron went back to the castle. Ron was still slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's Boggart, but an argument was averted by the sight that met them on the top of the steps.
Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, was standing there staring out at the grounds. He started at the sight of Harry.
"Hello there, Harry!" he said. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"
"Yes," said Harry. Hermione and Ron, not being on speaking terms with the Minister of Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background.
"Lovely day," said Fudge, casting an eye over the lake. "Pity… pity…"
Harry looked at Fudge who was avoiding his eyes. Why won't Fudge accept that he was back...?
He sighed deeply and looked down at Harry.
"I'm here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad Hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in."
"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Jamie interrupted, stepping forward.
"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon," said Fudge, looking curiously at Ron.
"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all!" said Ron stoutly. "The Hippogriff might get off!"
Before Fudge could answer, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin back mustache. Harry gathered that they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures,
"Buck beak wasn't dangerous!" Harry, Ron, Jamie and Hermione partially yelled
Because the very old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice, "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this… Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"
The black-mustached man was fingering something in his belt; Harry and Jamie looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head toward the entrance hall.
"Why'd you stop me?" said Ron angrily as they entered the Great Hall for lunch. "Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!"
"Ron, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss!" said Hermione, but she too looked very upset.
Ron in the room opened his mouth to say something, but snapped it shut when Harry gave him a glare.
"As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buck beak…"
But Harry could tell Hermione didn't really believe what she was saying. All around them, people were talking excitedly as they ate their lunch, happily anticipating the end of the exams that afternoon, but Harry, Ron, and Hermione, lost in worry about Hagrid and Buck beak, didn't join in.
Harry's, Jamie's and Ron's last exam was Divination; Hermione's, Muggle Studies. They walked up the marble staircase together; Hermione left them on the first floor and Harry, Jamie and Ron proceeded all the way up to the seventh, where many of their class were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney's classroom, trying to cram in a bit of last-minute studying.
Hermione looked at Harry, Jamie and Ron in a disapproving way. They always did thing last minute.
"She's seeing us all separately," Neville informed them as they went to sit down next to him. He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing. "Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?" he asked them unhappily.
"Nope," said Ron in an offhand voice. He kept checking his watch; Harry knew that he was counting down the time until Buck beak's appeal started.
First one among Harry, Jamie and Ron was Jamie. She reckoned that her exam was average neither good nor bad, but when Ron and Harry asked her what Trelawney asked, Jamie refused to say anything. The line of people outside the classroom shortened very slowly. As each person climbed back down the silver ladder, the rest of the class hissed, "What did she ask? Was it okay?"
But they all refused to say.
"She says the crystal ball's told her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident!" squeaked Neville as he clambered back down the ladder toward Harry and Ron, who had now reached the landing.
Hermione rolled her eyes. Why didn't they just drop the class like she did? It was just a bunch of non-sense.
"That's convenient," snorted Ron. "You know, I'm starting to think Hermione was right about her" — he jabbed his thumb toward the trapdoor overhead — "she's a right old fraud."
"Yeah," said Harry, looking at his own watch. It was now two o'clock. "Wish she'd hurry up…"
Parvati came back down the ladder glowing with pride.
"She says I've got all the makings of a true Seer," she informed Harry and Ron. "I saw loads of stuff… Well, good luck!"
"You have to predict death, and you'll pass with flying colors," Lee said.
"Should've done that..." Ron mumbled.
She hurried off down the spiral staircase toward Lavender.
"Ronald Weasley," said the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Ron grimaced at Harry and climbed the silver ladder out of sight. Harry was now the only person left to be tested. He settled himself on the floor with his back against the wall, listening to a fly buzzing in the sunny window, his mind across the grounds with Hagrid.
Finally, after about twenty minutes, Ron's large feet reappeared on the ladder.
"How'd it go?" Harry asked him, standing up.
"Rubbish," said Ron. "Couldn't see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced, though…"
"Meet you in the common room," Harry muttered as Professor Trelawney's voice called, "Harry Potter!"
The tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made Harry cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and table to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for him before a large crystal ball
Everyone listened excitedly. It wasn't everyday you heard what happened to Harry Potter in class.
"Good day, my dear," she said softly. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb… Take your time, now… then tell me what you see within it…"
Harry bent over the crystal ball and stared, stared as hard as he could, willing it to show him something other than swirling white fog, but nothing happened.
"Make it up, Harry" George said and Fred and Jamie nodded. They both ignored Hermione's and the Professors' looks.
"Well?" Professor Trelawney prompted delicately. "What do you see?" The heat was overpowering and his nostrils were stinging with the perfumed smoke wafting from the fire beside them. He thought of what Ron had just said, and decided to pretend
The professors' and Hermione looked at Harry and Ron in a vert disapproving way.
Harry and Ron looked at them innocently; Only Harry's innocent look actually looked innocent; Ron just looked guilty.
"Err —" said Harry, "a dark shape… um…"
"What does it resemble?" whispered Professor Trelawney. "Think, now…"
Harry cast his mind around and it landed on Buck beak.
"A Hippogriff," he said firmly.
"Indeed!" whispered Professor Trelawney, scribbling keenly on the parchment perched upon her knees. "My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid's trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer… Does the Hippogriff appear to… have its head?"
People with weak stomachs' looked sick.
"Yes," said Harry firmly.
"Are you sure?" Professor Trelawney urged him. "Are you quite sure, dear? You don't see it writhing on the ground, perhaps, and a shadowy figure raising an axe behind it?"
"No!" said Harry, starting to feel slightly sick.
"I think we all are," Katie Bell said looking slightly green.
"No blood? No weeping Hagrid?"
"No!" said Harry again, wanting more than ever to leave the room and the heat. "It looks fine, it's — flying away…" Professor Trelawney sighed.
"Well, dear, I think we'll leave it there… A little disappointing… but I'm sure you did your best."
Relieved, Harry got up, picked up his bag and turned to go, but then a loud, harsh voice spoke behind him.
"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT."
Everyone glanced at each other. The Ministry Members looked curious.
'What was happening?' was in everyone's mind except Harry's.
Harry wheeled around. Professor Trelawney had gone rigid in her armchair; her eyes were unfocused and her mouth sagging.
"S — sorry?" said Harry.
But Professor Trelawney didn't seem to hear him. Her eyes started to roll. Harry sat there in a panic. She looked as though she was about to have some sort of seizure. He hesitated, thinking of running to the hospital wing —
And then Professor Trelawney spoke again, in the same harsh voice, quite unlike her own: "THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT…
THE SERVANT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANT'S AID, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT… BEFORE MIDNIGHT… THE SERVANT… WILL SET OUT… TO REJOIN… HIS MASTER…"
Everyone gasped, a few glancing at Harry who didn't seem to notice.
Professor Trelawney's head fell forward onto her chest. She made a grunting sort of noise. Harry sat there, staring at her. Then, quite suddenly, Professor Trelawney's head snapped up again.
"I'm so sorry, dear boy," she said dreamily, "the heat of the day, you know… I drifted off for a moment…"
"She doesn't know that she made a prediction." Cho quickly realized.
Harry sat there, staring at her.
"Is there anything wrong, my dear?"
"You — you just told me that the — the Dark Lord's going to rise again… that his servant's going to go back to him."
Professor Trelawney looked thoroughly startled.
As did everyone in the Great Hall.
"The Dark Lord? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? My dear boy, that's hardly something to joke about… Rise again, indeed —"
"But you just said it! You said the Dark Lord —"
"I think you must have dozed off too, dear!" said Professor Trelawney. "I would certainly not presume to predict anything quite as far-fetched as that!"
Harry climbed back down the ladder and the spiral staircase, wondering… had he just heard Professor Trelawney make a real prediction? Or had that been her idea of an impressive end to the test?
"I don't think so Brother" Jamie said shaking his head.
Dumbledore was looking at Harry. Why didn't he tell anyone? Is that how much he didn't trust people?
Five minutes later he was dashing past the security trolls outside the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Professor Trelawney's words still resounding in his head. People were striding past him in the opposite direction, laughing and joking, heading for the grounds and a bit of long-awaited freedom; by the time he had reached the portrait hole and entered the common room, it was almost deserted. Over in the corner, however, sat Ron and Hermione.
"Professor Trelawney," Harry panted, "just told me —"
But he stopped abruptly at the sight of their faces.
"Buck beak lost," said Ron weakly. "Hagrid's just sent this.
"NO!" The three houses cried except Slytherin, Umbridge, and Fudge who were grinning from ear to ear at that.
Hagrid's note was dry this time, no tears had splattered it, yet his hand seemed to have shaken so much as he wrote that it was hardly legible.
Lost appeal. They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it.
Hagrid
"We've got to go," said Harry at once. "He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"
"Sunset, though," said Ron, who was staring out the window ill a glazed sort of way. "We'd never be allowed… especially you, Harry…" Harry sank his head into his hands, thinking.
"If we only had the Invisibility Cloak…"
"Can we borrow your invisibility cloak Harry?" The Twins asked. A lot of people were staring at him excepting.
"No" was the response.
"Where is it?" said Hermione.
Harry told her about leaving it in the passageway under the one-eyed witch.
"… if Snape sees me anywhere near there again, I'm in serious trouble," he finished.
"That's true," said Hermione, getting to her feet. "If he sees you… How do you open the witch's hump again?"
"You — you tap it and say, 'Dissendium,'" said Harry. "But —"
Hermione didn't wait for the rest of his sentence; she strode across the room pushed open the Fat Lady's portrait and vanished from sight.
"She hasn't gone to get it?" Ron said, staring after her.
She had. Hermione returned a quarter of an hour later with the silvery cloak folded carefully under her robes.
"Hermione, I don't know what's gotten, into you lately!" said Ron, astounded. "First you hit Malfoy, and then you walk out on Professor Trelawney —"
The Professors' raised their eyebrows. Hermione flushed when several people turned to look at her.
"Yes! I have corrupted you!" cried Jamie.
"We like the new Hermione" The Twins said smiling at her.
Hermione looked rather flattered.
They went down to dinner with everybody else, but did not return to Gryffindor Tower afterward. Harry had the cloak hidden down the front of his robes; he had to keep his arms folded to hide the lump. They skulked in an empty chamber off the entrance hall, listening, until they were sure it was deserted. They heard a last pair of people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming.
Harry and Jamie glanced at each other, they heard themselves going to into the broom closet.
Jamie poked her head around the door.
"Okay," she whispered, "no one there — cloak on —"
Walking very close together so that nobody would see them, they crossed the hall on tiptoe beneath the cloak, and then walked down the stone front steps into the grounds. The sun was already sinking behind the Forbidden Forest, gilding the top branches of the trees.
They reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute in answering, and when he did, he looked all around for his visitor, pale-faced and trembling.
"Poor Hagrid," Ginny said upset.
"It's us," Harry hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."
"Yeh should've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and they stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Harry pulled off the cloak.
"Please Harry let us borrow your cloak?" The Twins pleaded. Harry just ignored them.
Hagrid was not crying, nor did he throw himself upon their necks. He looked like a man who did not know where he was or what to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than tears.
"I don't want to ever see Hagrid like this again," the quartet said, barely above a whisper.
"Wan' some tea?" he said. His great hands were shaking as he reached for the kettle.
"Where's Buck beak, Hagrid?" said Hermione hesitantly.
"I — I took him outside," said Hagrid, spilling milk all over the table as he filled up the jug. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he ought to see the trees an' — an' smell fresh air — before —"
Everyone (except Snape, Umbridge and Fudge) looked sad.
Hagrid's hand trembled so violently that the milk jug slipped from his grasp and shattered all over the floor.
"I'll do it, Hagrid," said Hermione quickly, hurrying over and starting to clean up the mess.
"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid said, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked back hopelessly?
"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore —"
"He's tried," said Hagrid. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buck beaks all right, but they're scared… Yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like… threatened 'em, I expect… an' the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's… but it'll be quick an' clean… an' I'll be beside him…"
Hagrid swallowed. His eyes were darting all over the cabin as though looking for some shred of hope or comfort.
"Dumbledore's gonna come down while it — while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter — ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore…"
Dumbledore's Army nodded in agreement.
Hermione, who had been rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard for another milk jug, let out a small, quickly stifled sob. She straightened up with the new jug in her hands, fighting back tears.
"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she began, but Hagrid shook his shaggy head.
"Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway… If Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble."
Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she hid them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Then, as she picked up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out a shriek.
Everyone listen intently.
"Ron, I don't believe it — it's Scabbers!"
The Weasleys' glared at the book, at the mention of that rat.
Neville wondered why they were glaring at the mention of the rat. It was just a rat.
Ron gaped at her.
"What are you talking about?"
Hermione carried the milk jug over to the table and turned it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.
"Scabbers!" said Ron blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"
He grabbed the struggling rat and held him up to the light. Scabbers looked dreadful. He was thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed in Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself
"I wished your cat ate him Hermione," Harry whispered to her.
"Its okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"
Hagrid suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on the window. His normally ruddy face had gone the color of parchment.
"They're comin'…"
"Get out of there quick!" Collin said loudly, absorbed in the book.
Fudge wondered how the 'beast' managed to escape. Now he was going to find out.
Harry, Ron, Jamie and Hermione whipped around. A group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came the feeble old Committee member and the executioner, Macnair.
"Yeh gotta go," said Hagrid. Every inch of him was trembling. "They mustn' find yeh here… Go now…"
Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and Hermione picked up the cloak. "I'll let yeh out the back way," said Hagrid.
They followed him to the door into his back garden. Harry felt strangely unreal, and even more so when he saw Buck beak a few yards away, tethered to a tree behind Hagrid's pumpkin patch. Buck beak seemed to know something was happening. He turned his sharp head from side to side and pawed the ground nervously.
"Its okay, Beaky," said Hagrid softly. "It's okay…" He turned to Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Go on," he said. "Get goin'."
But they didn't move.
"Hagrid, we can't —"
"We'll tell them what really happened —"
"They can't kill him —"
"Go!" said Hagrid fiercely. "It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"
"You guys are really good friends to Hagrid," Cho and Luna said looking at the quartet. They smiled, they really missed Hagrid.
They had no choice. As Hermione threw the cloak over Harry and Ron, they heard voices at the front of the cabin. Hagrid looked at the place where they had just vanished from sight.
"Go quick," he said hoarsely. "Don' listen…"
And he strode back into his cabin as someone knocked at the front door.
Slowly, in a kind of horrified trance, Harry, Ron, and Hermione set off silently around Hagrid's house. As they reached the other side, the front door closed with a sharp snap.
"Please, let's hurry," Hermione whispered. "I can't stand it, I can't bear it…"
They started up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun was sinking fast now; the sky had turned to a clear, purple-tinged gray, but to the west there was a ruby-red glow.
Ron stopped dead.
"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.
"It's Scabbers — he won't — stay put —"
"That rat." Ron said in a dangerously low voice.
Ron was bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat was going berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and flailing, tries to sink his teeth into Ron's hand.
"Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, its Ron," Ron hissed.
They heard a door open behind them and men's voices.
"Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" Hermione breathed.
"Okay — Scabbers, stay put —"
They walked forward; Harry, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble of voices behind them. Ron stopped again.
"I can't hold him — Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us —"
Umbridge looked at the quartet, who glared at her before her starting to read again.
The rat was squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning,
Everyone tensed, they knew what had happened.
The unmistakable swish and thud of an axe.
Hermione swayed on the spot.
"They did it!" she whispered to Harry. "I'd — don't believe it — they did it!"
The twinkle in Dumbledore's' eye had gone out.
Umbridge looked gleeful that Harry Potter's secrets were coming out as she turned to the next chapter.
"Cat, Rat, and Dog" she read.
'Odd chapter title' Umbridge thought
Review Please I'll update the story anyway but it would be good to get a review or two to know what am I actually doing. Hope you enjoyed. Also read my Trip to past can change anything, that's Harry Potter fanfiction too.
XxNikkiGilbert180Xx