Harry Potter and the Poodle of Magic Alcatraz

Chapter 9

What if Buckbeak Continued to hear Malfoy insulting him?

By

Jason Richard

Harry was in a bad mood all week. On top of finding out that a friend of his parents sold them out to Voldemort, Hagrid was worried about the hearing with Buckbeak. He, Hermione and Ron agreed to look through wizard law to see if they could help clear Buckbeak's name, but they didn't like their chances.

And on top of that, Draco Malfoy was still being a jerk, even while wearing a sling.

"It was horrible," said Malfoy. "The fearsome beast would have ripped apart the entire class if I hadn't bravely stepped in and put my life on the line."

"Oh you're so brave," said Pansy Parkinson.

And Harry threw up into a garbage can.

"But of course some people are jealous," said Draco, smirking.

"Oh shut up Malfoy!" said Harry, getting his breath back. "You screamed like a little girl."

Malfoy: "Like you did with the Dementor?"

Harry clenched his fists.

"I don't get why you're so upset," said Malfoy. "What do you care about a stupid, ugly monster like that buckwing."

Harry: "That's Buckbeak! Malfoy, you are the most disgusting person I've ever...does anyone else hear that?"

A distant screech started quietly but got louder and louder with each moment. Out the window, something flew towards it, getting closer and closer along with that screech.

It was, of course, Buckbeak, with angry bloodshot eyes.

Malfoy ran away and went, "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!"

Buckbeak crashed through the window and chased Malfoy out of the great hall.

Harry cringed. That was going to make Buckbeak's hearing worse.

…

It was Christmas day, but Harry wasn't much in the mood. Buckbeak could be executed, and the truth about Sirius Black weighed heavily on his mind. Even as he opened his presents he knew nothing would lift his spirits. What could possibly outweigh the horror of a framed innocent being killed and a friend betraying one's own parents?

Turns out an expensive toy did the trick.

"A firebolt!" cried Harry. "Fastest broom in the world!"

Ron: "And it came right after you lost your old broom. What incredible timing!"

Harry: "I know!"

Hermione saw and said, "You're not going to keep that are you? It was probably sent by Sirius Black and is filled with hexes!"

"He's on the run," said Harry. "How would he get one?"

Hermione: "He'd steal it! I'm sorry Harry, but if you don't get rid of it, I'll have to tell Professor McGonagall."

She stood up to go do that but then fell back down in her seat, snoring.

"Uh..." said Ron. "Hermione?"

Hermione: "I'M AWAKE!"

Awkward silence.

Harry: "Um...Hermione? You're not...doing too much schoolwork this year are you?"

Hermione: "Don't be silly Harry. There's no such thing..." her eyes glazed over and her head drooped before snapping back up. "As too much schoolwork."

She walked away, but unsteadily, like a person about to fall asleep.

"Yeah," said Ron. "She won't make it halfway."

…

"Harry," said Professor McGonagall. "Miss Granger tells me you received an anonymous broomstick."

Harry and Ron: "Dang it!"

…

Harry was grumpy as he went to his first Dementor fighting lesson with Professor Lupin. As he entered the office he found Professor Lupin standing over a box that rattled and shook every once in a while.

"Ah Harry!" said Lupin. "You're here."

Harry: "Is that a boggart?"

Lupin: "Yes. I figure since boggarts turn into dementors for you then you'll be able to practice with it, as opposed to with a real Dementor. Trust me, that will be significantly less dangerous."

Harry: "I appreciate that. So what kind of spell are you going to teach me?"

Lupin: "It's called a Patronus. You see a Dementor drains a person of their happiness, leaving a person with only their worst experiences, filling them with despair. A Patronus is a sort of positive force that can protect you from them. Unlike humans, however, a Patronus doesn't feel despair, so a dementor cannot hurt it."

Harry: "How do you summon it?"

Lupin: "The Charm is Expecto Patronum. You say that and think of a memory. A very powerful and happy memory."

Suddenly a little glowing pixie flew in and said, "A happy memory? So...you think of a wonderful thought?"

Harry: "Huh?"

Lupin: "Well, sort of..."

Pixie: "Any happy little thought? Like toys at Christmas? Sleigh bells? Snow? Oh, watch me now! Here I go." it flew around the room. "It's easier than pie! You can fly! You can fly! You can fly!"

And Harry hit it with a fly swatter, smacking it out the window as it went, "AAAAAAAAAAA!"

Harry: "Man that was annoying...references to endearing Disney movies not withstanding. So, happy memory?"

Lupin: "Happy memory."

Harry: "Okay. I've got one. Let's try it."

Harry pulled out his wand and Lupin got ready to open the case with the boggart inside.

It's okay, thought Harry. It's just a boggart. It's not really a dementor. I've no reason to fear having a vision of Malfoy doing standup.

…

In the Gryffindor common room, the sound of screaming started to get louder and louder until Harry burst in, shut the door behind him, and put his back to it, a look of abject terror on his face. He took a few hyperventilated breaths and finally calmed down.

And then he realized Ron was watching him.

Ron. "So I take it the Patronus lessons aren't going well?"

Harry: "Shut up Ron."

…

Lupin: "Okay Harry," said Lupin. "Let's try again."

Harry: "Okay. I'm ready."

Lupin waited.

Harry: "For real this time."

Lupin nodded then opened the box, unleashing the boggart which...of course...came out as a dementor. Harry, naturally, selected the best memory he had, which was the day he left privet drive for Hogwarts, leaving the Dursley's behind forever.

Or, you know, for a year.

This time when Harry said the spell a silvery cloud manifested between his wand and the fake dementor. It was able to hold it off and Harry was able to drive the dementor back into the box.

"Well done Harry!" said Lupin. "Well done!"

Harry took a deep breath and said, "Thanks, professor."

They sat down and Lupin said, "Impressive Harry. Manny full grown and fully trained wizards can't even get that far."

Harry looked surprised by that. Then he grinned evilly and walked off.

Lupin: "Where are you going."

Harry: "I'm going to go brag to the school and rub my success in Malfoy's face.

And Harry Left.

Lupin: "Huh...I wonder if I've made a mistake?"