Professor Trelawney's Prediction

The euphoria at finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted well into sunny June, but died down at the start of exams. Even Dean finally settled down to do some work, though Sherlock was still thoroughly disinterested.

They received a note from Hagrid informing them of Buckbeak's appeal date. It was just after their exams and an executioner was coming.

'But that sounds like they've already decided!' Ron cried. 'I've spent ages reading up stuff for him, they can't just ignore it!'

Transfiguration was the first exam they all had together. They had to turn a teapot into a tortoise. Sherlock's, of course, was perfect. As was Hermione's, though she insisted on finding fault with it. Castiel's was almost exactly right, the only thing wrong with it was that its skin was smooth rather than scaled.

John looked sadly at his. He'd managed to get it to grow legs and a shell, but try as he might, he could not get rid of its handle and spout.

After a hasty lunch, they hurried up to Professor Flitwick's classroom for the Charms exam. They were indeed tested on Cheering Charms, but John felt confident with his after the practice he'd had with Hermione. Harry overdid his a little and Ron spent the following hour in fits of hysterical laughter.

The next morning was Care of Magical Creatures with Hagrid. He provided a large tub of fresh Flobberworms and told them that, to past the test, the Flobberworms had to still be alive by the end of the hour. Since Flobberworms flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam they'd ever sat. Though there was nothing much to do, John began to feel an anxious churning in his stomach.

They had Potions that afternoon and Castiel looked very pale as they waited outside. He kept as far away from the cauldron as possible, and the fact that he fought through a panic attack during the exam was success enough for him.

Fortunately, they had Astronomy that night, which was easily one of Castiel's favourite subjects. John was also surprised at how well he'd done in Astronomy, almost completely filling out his star chart.

Wednesday morning was History of Magic. John found that he knew the answers to all of the questions, though he was shaking so badly he could barely hold his quill. He got the feeling that his writing wasn't quite legible. Thankfully the shaking had calmed down by their Herbology exam that afternoon. There were no accidents with any of the tools, or with the Venomous Tentacula.

Finally, they were on their last day of exams, beginning with Defence Against the Dark Arts. John had not slept at all the night before. Every time he'd closed his eyes, he felt his heart pounding in his chest and he couldn't quite catch his breath. He'd tried gazing into the fire, but again, nothing happened. He put it down to exam nerves and spent the rest of the night studying his notes. He managed to pull himself together in time for the exam.

It was an obstacle course of all the creatures they'd studied that year, out in the grounds. John made it all the way through, to a Boggart inside an old trunk. Again, it did not show John his fear. This time it showed him a sort of floating orb, and he left feeling very confused.

The Boggart left Sherlock trembling slightly, and Castiel fell out of the trunk crying, but he'd defeated it.

'That was excellent, Castiel,' Professor Lupin said kindly. 'You've done really well.'

It affected Hermione worst of all. She burst out of the trunk screaming.

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

'P-P-Professor McGonagall!' Hermione gasped. 'She told me I'd failed everything!'

Ron was slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's Boggart, but an argument was averted by the sight that met them at the top of the castle steps.

Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly, was standing there, staring out at the grounds. Mycroft was stood beside him.

'Hello, there, Harry!' said Fudge. 'Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?'

'Yes,' said Harry.

'Lovely day,' said Fudge, casting an eye over the lake. 'Pity…pity…' He sighed deeply and looked at Harry. 'I'm here in 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.'

'Need I remind you that we do not yet know the results of the appeal, Minister?' Mycroft said stiffly.

'Yes, yes. Do relax, Mycroft,' Fudge said dismissively.

Just then, John felt horribly nauseous and put a hand to his stomach.

'John?' said Sherlock.

John heaved and clapped a hand over his mouth, then ran inside to find a bathroom.

Sherlock chased after John, bumping into Dean as he came out of the door.

Dean looked utterly bewildered as they raced past him. 'You think they have something against me? They're always running away from me,' he joked. 'Oh, hey, Minister.'

'Dean, my boy,' said Fudge, clearly grateful for the distraction. 'What are you doing out here?'

'On my way to Care of Magical Creatures exam.'

'Excellent, excellent. Well, we'd better be on our way. Good luck in your exams.' He and Mycroft went into the castle.

'What was that about?' Dean asked.

'He's here to witness Buckbeak's execution,' Hermione said bitterly.

'What? Did he lose the appeal already?'

'No.'

'Oh,' he said, understanding what she meant. 'Well, there's not much we can do now. What exams do you guys still have?'

'I've finished,' said Cas. 'I'm going up to the hospital wing to assist Madam Pomfrey.'

'We've got Divination,' said Harry, indicating to himself, John and Ron.

'Muggle Studies,' said Hermione.

'But you're Muggle-born, aren't you?' said Dean, confused again. 'Why do you need Muggle Studies?'

'I thought it would be interesting.'

Dean shook his head. 'Well, good luck, I guess.' He walked off and they all went to their final exams.

John and Sherlock were already outside Divination when Harry and Ron got there. John was looking quite pale and sweaty, but insisted he could do the exam. 'I'll feel fine when it's all over,' he said.

'Forgot you took Divination,' Ron said to Sherlock, who shrugged.

'She's seeing us all individually,' said Sherlock.

'Sherlock Holmes,' a misty voice called from above their heads.

Sherlock took a deep breath and ascended the ladder. He emerged about twenty minutes later looking thoroughly amused.

'How'd it go?' asked Ron.

'Abysmally,' said Sherlock. 'I'm certainly no Seer. I'm not likely to be taking it next year.'

'Ronald Weasley,' Trelawney called.

'Good luck,' Sherlock smirked.

Ron climbed up the ladder and Sherlock turned to John. 'I'll meet you later. I want to go and find Mycroft.'

'Yeah, fine,' John shrugged 'See you later.'

Sherlock walked off.

Ron returned not long after.

'How was it?' Harry asked.

'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 Trelawney called his name.

Ron left the same way Sherlock had and Harry climbed the ladder, leaving John alone on the landing.

His stomach was still churning and he tried to calm it with some slow, deep breaths. It worked for a while, but it lurched horribly when the trapdoor opened again.

Harry came down looking shaken and immediately ran off, seemingly having forgotten that John was there.

'John Watson,' Trelawney called.

John steadied himself and climbed up into the hot room. The sweet scent cleared his head and calmed his stomach. He made his way over to Trelawney, who was sitting at a table with 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.'

'Is Harry okay?' he asked as he settled down in the chair opposite her.

'Oh, yes, he's fine. He just had quite a vivid daydream, I believe.'

John nodded, then crossed his arms on the table, chin resting on his arms. He stared into the swirling fog. It's like cloud watching, he reminded himself. The fog began to clump together to form shapes.

'What do you see?' Trelawney prompted.

'I see a- I see a dog,' he said. 'It's walking along…'

'Is it the Grim?' Trelawney whispered.

'No – no I – there's something else.'

'What is it?'

'It – it's Crookshanks! Hermione's cat. They're playing together and walking towards – something,' John squinted and watched the fog form more shapes.

'Something?'

'Yeah, er, it's big, it has branches… I think it's the Whomping Willow, and there's a full moon…' John's head pulsated and he squeezed his eyes shut.

'I think that will do for now,' said Trelawney. 'You did well. Perhaps a nice dinner would be best now, though I would suggest you hurry. I sense that it has already started.'

John climbed down the ladder and his head felt as though it was in a clamp. The pressure was almost unbearable.

Down at dinner, Sherlock dropped his cutlery as the pain shot through his head.

'What is it?' said Hermione.

'Something's happening with John,' he said, looking towards the Entrance Hall.

'Should we go and find him?' she said.

'I- no, I don't think so,' Sherlock said uncertainly, eyelids fluttering. 'I need to go to Hagrid's with you. I don't think he knows he's doing it, but he keeps showing me Hagrid's cabin.'

Once dinner was finished, they hid out in the Entrance Hall. They waited until they were sure that everyone had gone, then threw on the Invisibility Cloak, that Hermione had retrieved from behind the statue of the one-eyed witch. Then they slipped out of the front door.

'We're under the Cloak,' Harry hissed when they arrived at Hagrid's. 'Let us in.'

'Yeh shouldn't have come!' Hagrid whispered, but stepped aside to let them in.

Mycroft was inside, looking through the notes that Ron had sent Hagrid. He looked up and frowned slightly when they took off the Cloak. 'I ought to teach you the Disillusionment Charm. You won't all be able to fit under that forever.'

Hermione went rummaging around in Hagrid's cupboard for things to make tea with. Sherlock was beginning to wonder why he was here, when Hermione let out a shriek.

'Ron! I – I don't believe it – it' Scabbers!'

Ron gaped at her. 'What are you talking about?'

Hermione carried a milk jug over to the table and turned it upside-down. With a squeak and much scrambling to stay inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.

Mycroft looked at Sherlock, wondering why on earth everyone was fussing over a rat, and a very skinny, ill-looking rat at that.

Sherlock indicated with a blink and a slight shake of his head that he would explain later. When he looked at Scabbers, the rat was shimmering before his eyes, like a mirage.

Ron scooped him up, but he continued to struggle, desperate to get free.

'It's okay, Scabbers!' said Ron. 'No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!'

'You must leave,' Mycroft said suddenly. 'They're coming.'

Harry whipped around and saw the Minister, Dumbledore a member of the Committee, and an executioner.

Sherlock had already picked up the Cloak and arranged it over the four of them, as Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket.

Hagrid let them out the back door and it was very surreal seeing Buckbeak tied up in the pumpkin patch.

They started up the lawn, going as fast as they could while still keeping the Cloak on. Ron, however, was still having trouble keeping Scabbers still. He was twisting and flailing, trying to sink his teeth into Ron's hand.

They heard Hagrid's door open again, accompanied by a rumbling of men's voices.

'Come on, Ron!' Hermione hissed. 'I don't want to listen…'

'Okay – Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us – '

Scabbers was squealing loudly, though not loudly enough to cover the sound of the voices behind them.

There was a sudden silence and then, without warning, the unmistakeable swish and thud of an axe.

'They did it!' Hermione whispered to Harry. 'I d-don't believe it – they did it!'

Welcome back everyone! Thanks again to Deany-Elle, Sherlock Harry Winchester and Keysmash5955. I hope everyone's enjoying themselves and I'll see you all again soon!