Chapter 5 The Boys Are Back In Town

Hagrid's face broke out in a huge grin. "Beaky, Beaky." He hollered as he ran toward the hippogriff. "Bless my stars. It's Beaky." He stopped short and bowed to Buckbeak.

Buckbeak's head jerked around at the sound of Hagrid's voice. He did a little dance and pranced in a circle as Hagrid approached and the normally fierce orange eyes had a definite sparkle to them. He quickly bowed back and Hagrid embraced the hippogriff.

"Beaky, Beaky, boy have I missed you. I can't believe yer here." Hagrid gushed hugging Buckbeak as the hippogriff nuzzled Hagrid, obviously glad to see him.

"Where did he come from?" Said Harry.

"Who cares." Hagrid cried, "All that matters is that Beaky's back."

"Wait a minute." Said Hermoine, her face turning slightly pale. "If Buckbeak's here, that means that."

"SIRIUS IS IN TROUBLE!!!" Shouted Harry and Ron in unison.

"Oh my giddy aunt!" exclaimed Hagrid, "Yer right. Sirius musta sent him away. If he'd wanted Beaky to stay and fight, Beaky woulda defended him to his dyin' breath and there's no way Beaky woulda left on his own. He musta come back here 'cause he knew we'd help him."

At that, Buckbeak reared slightly, stamped the earth and spread his wings looking to the north.

"I think he wants us to go with him." Said Ron.

"Hold on." Said Hagrid. "We can't be goin' off half cocked. We need a plan. First of all, Beaky can't stay here. If Draco Malfoy sees him he'll be on to his dad. Beaky is still under an execution order, remember?"

Harry, Ron and Hermoine nodded.

"And I ain't havin' him take ya back to where he left Sirius either." He went on, "No telling what you might fall into if we do that."

"So what do we do?" Asked Harry helplessly.

"It musta been bad or Sirius woulda never told Beaky to scram." Hagrid mused. "I figure either the ministry or You-Know-Who caught up with him. If it was You-Know-Who, ain't no telling where he is, but if it's the ministry, we got a pretty good idea where he's at."

"Azkaban!" Said Harry grimly.

Hagrid just nodded.

"Yeah, if the hit wizards didn't kill him on the spot." Said Ron. "But if that happened I think we'd have heard about it."

"Good point." Murmured Hagrid.

"Well we can't just sit here." Wailed Hermoine desperately.

"We need a plan." Hagrid muttered half aloud while pacing back and forth. "Okay, Harry, get yer Firebolt and yer invisibility cloak. You and Hermoine take Beaky and Midnight and get to Professor Lupin's. Midnight knows the way and it's not very far. I'll send an owl ahead to tell him to expect you and explain the situation. Also we'll try sendin' an owl to Sirius. Ron you got that little one. What's his name?"

"Pig." Said Ron "Short for Pigwidgon."

"Right! He may be able to slip into Azkaban or wherever Sirius is without anyone seein' him. We'll let Sirius know to get to Lupin if he can. Ron and I will poke around here and see what we can find out. Leave Beaky and Midnight with Professor Lupin and ride the Firebolt back. Sound good ta you?"

"Pig will find him wherever he is." Said Ron determinedly. "He may be small but he has a big heart."

Professor Remus Lupin had been their Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in their third year. Most Hogwarts students considered him to be the best they ever had. Lupin was forced to resign, however, when it was revealed that he was a Werewolf.

"Why Hermoine and me?" asked Harry. "And why are we taking Midnight?"

"Because, Beaky knows and trusts you two and you've had the most experience handlin' him." Hagrid explained. "An' as far as Midnight goes, if I tell him to listen to you, he will. Besides, an invisible flyin' horse might come in handy."

Harry and Hermoine looked at each other and nodded.

"Good." Said Hagrid, "Off with ya now and get yer stuff together. We'll meet back here in 30 minutes, got it?"

"Got it." They answered and ran toward the castle.

Night was falling when, thirty minutes later, Harry and Hermoine were breathlessly knocking on Hagrid's door. "All right you two?" Hagrid asked.

"All right." Said Harry. "Ron is sending an owl to both his Dad and his brother Percy to see if they know anything. They both work for the ministry."

Since Harry's first meeting with Sirius, the entire Weasley family knew about him and the circumstances surrounding his case. Even the normally stuffy Percy had to admit that he saw no reason for Sirius to continue to be pursued by the ministry.

"Very good, ya best be on yer way." He turned to Midnight. "Midnight," He said, "Ya mind Harry and Hermoine an' do what they tell ya. An' when ya get to Professor Lupin, ya listen to him too."

Midnight tossed his head and snorted.

"Good boy." Said Hagrid.

"By the way, Hagrid." Said Harry, "How does the invisibility work?"

"Oh yeah." Said Hagrid. "Well when ya want him to disappear ya say 'Absensia'.

At that Midnight vanished from sight.

"Not yet ya big dummy." Hagrid growled. "Oh well, an' when ya want him to re-appear ya say 'Animis'." Midnight reappeared.

"Just be careful how and when ya say it." Hagrid whispered. "If he hears the word, he's gone. One more thing, anyone ridin' Midnight will be invisible whenever he is."

Hagrid saddled up Midnight and Buckbeak.

"I thought Buckbeak didn't like saddles." Said Hermoine.

"Well," replied Hagrid, "It's true, he's not real crazy about 'em, but he'll be okay. Just talk to him an' that'll keep his mind off it. Okay, anything else? Nope? Then get a move on. I'll get with Professor Dumbledore and tell him what's going on with us."

"Thanks, Hagrid." Said Harry, "We'll be back as soon as we can."

"Safe trip." Said Hagrid, "Fill me in when you get back."

Harry and Hermoine urged their mounts. Midnight and Buckbeak spread their gigantic wings and took off into the air.

"Lupin, Midnight." Called Hagrid, "Go to Professor Lupin." Midnight took a turn to the west and Buckbeak followed.

Hagrid watched them until they were out of sight then turned and went into his hut. He rummaged around under his bed until he found what he was looking for. It was a tubular container about five feet long. "Sirius can make better use of this that I can." Hagrid thought," 'Specially if he's in the can. All I got to do is figure out how ter get it to him. Maybe Professor Dumbledore's got an idea."

With that he slung it over his shoulder, left his hut and walked toward the castle.