Exam week began and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third years emerged from Transfiguration at lunchtime 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?"

"It still had a willow-patterned shell, d'you think that'll count against me?"

Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Was Professor Flitwick tested them on Cheering Charms? After dinner, the students hurried back to their common rooms, not to relax, but to start studying 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 fresh 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. As flobberworms flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam any of them had ever taken.

They had Potions that afternoon, where Naruto and Hermione's Confusing Concoction had been the best in the class that Snape had no choice but to give them high marks, Then came Astronomy at midnight, upon the tallest tower; History of Magic on Wednesday morning, in which Naruto scribbled everything he could think of just so he could get out of the classroom. Much to the later chastising of Hermione. Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology, in the greenhouses under a baking-hot sun; then back to the common room once more, with sunburnt necks.

Their second to the 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, where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of RedCaps, 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.

"Well done, Naruto," Professor Lupin said as Naruto finished the course. Since the last bogart he faced exploded Naruto did not need to enter the trunk but was still given full marks. As Naruto hung back he watched Harry, Ron, and Hermione's attempts at the obstacle course.

Harry like him had received full marks while 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.

"Hermione!" said Lupin, startled. "What's the matter?"

"P — P — Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. "Sh-she said I'd failed everything!" It took a little while to calm Hermione down.

"You two go will catch up," Naruto said as he waited for Hermione to get a hold of herself. Ten minutes late they were making their way back up to the school.

"You must think I'm so silly," Hermione muttered to herself looking very downcast. "Being afraid of failure, unlike you you not afraid of anything." Naruto hated to see Hermione beating herself up, thanks when he got an idea on how to cheer her up.

"You know I don't think I ever told you," Naruto started to say getting her attention. "But back home, in the village, you had to pass this special exam to become a Shinobi,"

As Naruto told his story Hermione gave him her undivided attention. Not often did Naruto ever openly talk about his old life to her. Hermione know that if she asked the blond would tell her everything she wanted to know. However, she could never bring herself to after seeing the sadness in his eyes the few time it was mentioned.

"An I failed it three times, three times people told me I should quit three times I had to watch others pass while I didn't," Naruto said with a sad look in his eyes. "But I never gave up, so Hermione being afraid of failure is so bad as long as you don't let it stop you." He finished telling there with a sincere smile on his face. Hermione her trouble forgot couldn't help but smile right back at the boy.

Once they made it back to the castle and joined Harry and Ron for lunch there were given tHe news about the Minister and the committee being at the school.

"As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues is case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak. . . ." But they could tell Hermione didn't 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 Buckbeak, didn't join in.

Harry, Ron, and Naruto's last exam was Divination; Hermione's, Muggle Studies. They walked up the marble staircase together; H Hermione left them on the first floor and Harry, Ron, and Naruto proceeded 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.

"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.

"My reflection," Naruto said lamely.

"Nope," said Ron in an offhand voice. He kept checking his watch; Harry and Naruto knew that he was counting down the time until Buckbeak's appeal started. Naruto too had been so occupied with his worry for Hagrid and Buckbeak that he failed to notice his name being called.

"Naruto Uzumaki," called out the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Naruto quickly glanced over at Ron and Harry before climbing the silver ladder out of sight.

The tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made Naruto cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and tables to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for him before a large crystal ball.

"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. . . ." Naruto bent over the crystal ball and stared he looked need into it hoping he would see something, just then the smoke from within seemed to lessen.

"Well?" Professor Trelawney prompted delicately. "What do you see?" Naruto couldn't believe it he was seeing something. He sat up rigid trying to focus.

"I see myself — I'm older," said Naruto, "I can see the Black Lake . . . I'm . . . Some were high, in a stone room." It was so strange as Naruto looked in the crystal ball it was like bits and pieces of a dream he was trying to remember.

"What does it resemble?" whispered Professor Trelawney. "Think, now . . .is it Gryffindor Tower."

"it's the Astronomy Tower" Naruto's heart was pounded with excitement he couldn't believe what he was seeing.

"Indeed!" whispered Professor Trelawney, scribbling keenly on the parchment perched upon her knees. "My boy, you're having a premonition of your future self, what else can you see,"

"I'm not alone," said Naruto. "There are others. . . but I can't seem them. . . it's like they're covered in shadow,"

"Are you sure you can tell who they are?" Professor Trelawney urged him. "Are you quite sure, dear?"

"Yes," Naruto said growing frustrated till finally a figure because clear. "Wait I can see, I can see one of them. . . It's. . .it's Dumbledore," and there he was now clear as day standing around from him in the stone room atop the Astronomy Tower.

"Yes, the headmaster, tell me my boy what do you see" Professor Trelawney was on the edge of her seat now as she scribbles away madly on her parchment. What happened next caused Naruto to grip the side of the table for support, his knuckles were white from the force of his grip, and all the color seemed to have drawn from his face.

There clear as the day he could see his older self raising a wand at a defenseless Dumbledore there was a flash of bright emerald green light and nothing. The vision within the crystal ball vanished and all that was left was its smokey core.

"Nothing. . . I can see anything," Naruto whispered still shocked at what he has seen.

"Nothing at all?" Professor Trelawney prompted.

"Nothing!" said Naruto, starting to feel slightly sick. "Nothing at all!" said Naruto again, wanting more than ever to leave the room and get away from the crystal ball.

Professor Trelawney sighed.

"Well, dear, I think we'll leave it there. . . I'm sure it's for your best. These things can be tiresome on those untrained to open their mind's eye." Without needing any more prompting Naruto quickly left the room descending the silver ladder and completely rushing past Ron and Harry without saying a single word to either of them.

Naruto couldn't understand what he had seen, was it real, was it the future he had seen. Why was with Dumbledore atop the town and what had been that green light he had seen? Nothing as making any scenes he now wished he had paid more attention doing their Divination lessons on crystal ball gazing. Naruto had been so wrapped up in his thoughts that he failed to notice where he was been walking towards.

"Great," He muttered to himself upon realizing that he was heading in the opposite direction of Gryffindor Tower.

Fifteen 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 Harry and Ron.

"Buckbeak lost," said Harry. "Hagrid's just sent this." 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 go., Naruto said needing to take his find off the crystal ball vision.

"We are, Hermione', s gone to get my invisibility cloak," Harry said and quickly he and Ron clued in Naruto on what they were planning to do. 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 cloak.

They skulked in an empty chamber off the entrance hall, listening, until they were sure it was deserted. They heard the last pair of people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming. Hermione 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, 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.

"It's us," Harry hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and they stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Harry pulled off the cloak. 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.

"Wan' some tea?" he said. His great hands were shaking as he reached for the kettle.

"Where's Buckbeak, 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 oughta see the trees an' — an' smell fresh air — before —" 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.

"I got it." Naruto quickly said getting up wanting to feel useful 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 —" at the mention of the headmasters 'name Naruto almost tripped over himself.

"He's tried," said Hagrid.

"He's got no power to overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's 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. . . ."

Hermione, who had gone over to help Naruto look through 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, as Naruto pulled her into a quick hug before she started bustling around making tea.

Just then Naruto pickled eggs up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, And that was when he saw it. this couldn't be happening there was no way he was this lucky besides himself with joy Naruto let out a triumphant

cry.

"I got you! I don't believe it — I got you now Peter." everyone in the hut was looking at Naruto as if he had lost his mind as he reached a hand into the jug and pulled out.

"Scabbers!" Ron gaped. No one could believe what they were seeing. with a frantic squeak, and much scrambling tried to break free but Naruto had an iron grip on the rat and was squeezing it with all his might.

"Scabbers!" said Ron shouted. "Scabbers, what are you doing to him?" rushed over to Naruto but the blond teen hand pushed past him as he tried to run out of the hut.

"Naruto stop., Harry called out as he tried to help Ron grab the struggling rat out of the blond teen's grip. all the while the rat squeaked and thrashed about desperate to free himself.

SMAKE!

"Harry!" Hermione screamed as Naruto punched the boy across the face to get him out of the way.

"Stop!" Hagrid called out as Fang started to bark loudly, but it was too late as Naruto had been able to make his escape out the front door of Hagrid's hut and took off running across the school lawn's.

"Get back here!" Ron bellowd as he gave chase.

"Wait Ron!" Hermione, called out as she helped Harry to his feet.

"Come one we have to stop him." Harry said as grabbing the invisibility cloak the took off as well. leaving behind a confused Hagrid.

As Naruto sprinted across the darkening school grounds he brought his fingers to his lips and gave two loud whistles into the night a few moments later Téme had arived.

"Get the knot," Naruto shouted at the bird before taking his wand out and pointing it over head fired off red and gold sparks high into the night sky. with any luck Sirius would have seen the signal.

"Let go of him — get away — Scabbers!" Naruto heard Ron shout at him right as he was tackled "Gotcha!"

Harry and Hermione almost fell over the wrestling Naruto and Ron; they skidded to a stop right in front of him. They were sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers was still being held ferm with in Naruto's hands.

But before they could cover themselves again, before they could even catch their breath, they heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws. . . . Something was bounding toward them, quiet as a shadow — an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.

"About time you showed up, I got Peter get Ron off of me." Naruto shout,d at the Dog. Harry reached for his wand, but too late — the dog had made an enormous leap and the front paws hit him on the chest; he keeled over backward in a whirl of hair; he felt its hot

breath, saw inch-long teeth — But the force of its leap had carried it too far; it rolled off him.

Dazed, feeling as though his ribs were broken, Harry tried to stand up; he could hear it growling as it skidded around for a new attack. Ron and Naruto were back on there feet. As the dig sprang back toward them he pushed Harry aside; the dog's jaws then fastened instead around Ron's leg. Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of the brute's hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though he were a rag doll, with Naruto close following right alone its side.

Harry and Hermione were helpless as they watched Naruto and the dog, dragging Ron

backward into a large gap in the roots of the Whomping Willow. Ron was fighting furiously, but his head and torso were slipping out of sight.

"Ron!" Harry shouted, trying to follow, but a heavy branch whipped lethally through the air and he was forced backward again. All they could see now was one of Ron's legs, which he had hooked around a root in an effort to stop the dog and Naruto from pulling him farther underground — but a horrible crack cut the air like a gunshot; Ron's leg had broken, and a moment later, his foot vanished from sight.