Everyone stayed silent in the Meeting Room, their minds blown by what had unfolded. What happened that changed the game? What did they miss to let this happen? But to be fair to them, this had been happening long before they arrived.

"I had no idea that it was this serious…" Erza muttered, hands intertwined and elbows propped on the table. "Well, we can see now that we're dealing than more than a dangerous wizard. It's just like this world's Zeref…" Mira pointed out, everyone nodding at the comparison.

As the meeting droned on, Natsu leaned forward head in his arms. He didn't know what to make of all this...He closed his eyes, thinking back to last night…

Natsu ran down to Hagrid's hut as fast as he could. Well, not so much run as in take two steps down. He passed by hanging rodents on a stick, probably to feed some of the animals later. Huge juicy pumpkins grew around the field, probably to store up on Halloween items.

Then there was the beautiful creature himself, Buckbeak.

Natsu stopped at the Hippogriff, the horse like eagle lifting his head head at the dragon boy. Natsu smiled, stepping forward and giving Buckbeak a pet on his head. Buckbeak purred a bit, nuzzling its head on Natsu's hand. He was surprised as Hagrid did say that a one must earn the trust of a Hippogriff which made him wonder why Buckbeak trusted him without doing the other precautions.

It pained Natsu to see this magnificent creature tied and to be executed. He wanted to burn those ropes and let him fly free. Away from here. But he couldn't. "I have to go meet Hagrid and the others now okay?" Natsu smiled.

His nose suddenly sniffed the air. His eyes snapped over to the forest outskirts of the animal lover's house. He could smell something odd behind the trees. Three people, two of them smelling familiar but one he couldn't understand. It smelt like…

"A Dragon Slayer?!"

Natsu inched closer to where the smell was the coming from. Twigs crunched beneath his feet, going closer and closer to the trees. Happy wondered what Natsu was doing, stopping at the door but to lazy to follow him. Natsu was about to touch one of the trees, until the door opened with a thud.

"Natsu! What are you doing out here?" Natsu jumped at the sudden call of his name, and looked behind him. There stood Hagrid, his door open, his hand beckoning him to come in. Natsu looked behind him, the scent still there, but shook it off as he stepped towards Hagrid.

Once inside, Hagrid closed the door. Natsu looked around, the dull and lifeless faces of Hermione, Ron, and Harry sulking around the room. What they were thinking about, Natsu could only guess. Was it the unfairness of Buckbeak's execution? An escape plan for him? Revenge on Malfoy?

Natsu sighed, shaking his head as he took a seat at the table. He gave Harry a subtle nod of greeting, who nodded back. It was quite tense, until Natsu broke the thick silence. "Hagrid I…" He began, before trailing off. Hagrid smirked slightly, looking out the window, watching Buckbeak feast on fish and rodents.

"Oh look at him. Loves the smell of the trees and the wind that goes through him…" Hagrid reminisced in a dream like state. "Why don't we just… set him free?" Harry asked, Hagrid sadly shaking his head in response. "They'd no' it was me…. Dumbledore will get into trouble. He's coming down later Dumbledore… To be with me…."

Hagrid stopped talking as if he snapped back into reality, out of the dream that everything would be alright. "...When it 'appens….." He finished. Natsu looked at Hagrid, then down at his fists as he clenched them. He was so sick of this world's version of the Magic Council! First Norman, now Buckbeak…. He hated Malfoy for the prissy little stuck up he was… When this was all over he was going to punch him in the eye. Granted Gray already did that last year, but this was for an entirely different reason and of his own free will.

"Great man Dumbledore…." Hagrid said with a happier tone, trying to keep his spirits up, even though it was hard. He turned around to face the children, before tossing food to a squealing monster that honestly freaked Natsu out a bit. Hermione stood up, declaring that they would stay with him as well when it happened. Hagrid, of course, denied the request. "You're too young to see such things!" He said with extreme seriousness. Natsu silently agreed. They had only one or two experiences on the battlefield, not experiencing the blades to the flesh, the brutality of the lust for violence, the unfairness of heaven's judgements. They had no idea what an experience like that could be.

"You just drink your tea and be off. Oh, before you do, Ron." Harid pointed to the ginger before moving to the side. Several birds flew in, chirping as they perched on sticks or cages. Hagrid opened a blue tin box, holding up a rat as it sniffed the air. Ron sighed with an ecstatic look on his face. "Scavers!" He beamed, taking him in his hands. "You're alive!" He beamed, giving his little pet a scratch on the head.

"Better keep a closer eye on your pets Ron." Hagrid lectured. Hermione silently stepped forward, her face twisted in anger. "Guess that means you owe someone an apology." She said with a slight sneer. Ron nodded and faced her. "Right. Ahem." Ron coughed before leaning towards Hermione's face. "Next time I see Crookshanks, I'll let him know." Ron taunted with a sarcastic smile. "I meant me!" Hermione hissed. "Guys come on-" Natsu began.

CRASH!

Everyone jumped at the sudden crash. The vase smashed into pieces, ashes falling through the jaggered hole. "Blimy what was that?!" Hagrid gasped, Hermione picking up a small rock from inside the vase. It was a rock with a swirl in the corner.

"Ow!" Harry winced, feeling a thud at the back of his head and looked out the window. His hand stopped rubbing the back of his head, his eyes widened. "Oh no… Hagrid…" Harry called the gentle half-giant over, Natsu standing up to look as well. "Crikey…" Hagrid gasped, Dumbledore, the executioner, and another higher up, most likely Fudge, towards Hagrid's hut.

Hagrid's eyes suddenly widened in realization, looking at the sky. "It's late… It's almost dark…!" He muttered, turning around. "You shouldn't be here! If someone sees you outside the castle this time of night, you'll all be in big trouble! 'Specially you two!" Hagrid exclaimed as he picked up a blanket and pointed at Harry and Natsu.

The door banged with an aggressive knock, the squealing creature panicking. "I-I'll be with ye in a moment!" Hagrid called out, covering the monster with the blanket muffling its noises to sound like a far off bird hiding somewhere in the hut.

"Quick quick!" Hagrid gestured, shooing them out the back door. Before Harry left, he turned to face his friend to say it would be alright. The knocks on the door continued, as Hagrid smiled and gestured him to go away.

Hermione opened the door, peeking her head out the door. Dumbledore and Fudge had their backs turned as Dumbledore tried to point something out. Hagrid finally opened the door as the three officials stepped inside. As they did, Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Natsu -with Happy perched on his shoulder- sprinted towards the pile of large pumpkins to hide.

The men inside continued to talk as the four listened to the charges and judgement. All of them stayed to listen, until Hermione snapped her head behind, thinking she heard something. Natsu looked behind him as well, the odd scent still there.

"Hermione what's wrong?" Ron asked, now he and Harry looking in her direction. "I just thought I saw…" Hermione shook her head of the thought, forgetting about what she saw. "Never mind…." She muttered. "Let's go!" Ron hissed, the students running up the stairs, taking a last look at Buckbeak, blissfully unaware what was to happen.

They finally reached the top of the hill, ducking behind a rock to watch what would happen next. Hermione tried to hold in her tears as the executioner stepped out, heading over to where Buckbeak layed. He lifted his axe, Hermione now struggling to keep the tears in, and struck the axe down with a thud.

Hermione's face turned away, hugging Ron. "Oh no…." Harry muttered, hugging Hermione. Natsu patted Ron on the back as he watched. But something didn't seem right…

He couldn't smell any blood.

Natsu furied his brow, biting his lower lip slightly. Was this part of the plan? Was this meant to happen? Natsu tsked, deciding to keep this to himself for now.

Sudden blood finally filled Natsu's nostrils, but it wasn't Buckbeak's it was Ron's. "Ow!" He winced, dropping Scavers as the rat scurried away. "Scavers bit me…" Ron whined, holding his wound. He gasped, looking around for his rat. "Scavers!" He harshly whispered, running after the rat.

Hermione and Ron followed suit, trying keep up with Ron and the rat. Natsu's eyes widened in horror. Were they going the way he think he was going?! He swore under his breath as he followed them.

They came over the hill, gasping at what stood before them. A bare tree that Natsu, Harry, and Ron had encountered last year. Ron finally caught the cheeky rat, scolding him for the bite. Natsu's face paled. Why here?! "Harry…" Hermione gulped, her eyes still on the tree. "You do realise what tree this is…."

Harry's eyes widened, now finally realising it. "Ron! Get away from that tree!" Harry yelled. Ron looked up, his face white as a sheet. He pointed behind them, lip trembling. "Behind you! The Grim!" The three looked behind them, a black wolf growling at them, stalking them with prey filled eyes. The wolf barked, and charged at them. Hermione, Harry, and Natsu instantly ducked as the attack caught them all by surprise. But what surprised them the most, was that the wolf aimed its prey at Ron, the furthest away from it.

The creature nipped at Ron, he trying kick it away. But the wolf just grabbed him by the foot and proceeded to drag him under the tree. "RON!" Natsu yelled, running forward to try save him. Ron screamed as he clawed on the ground with his free hand.

Natsu leapt forward, almost grabbing Ron's hand, but to no avail, the wolf dragging into into the roots. "Ron!" The children yelled, as Ron disappeared into the abyss. The tree, not taking kindly to its visitors, whacked the remaining party members away with its whip like branch. Everyone grunted with the contact and the branches stretched and swayed, Ron's cries from the roots echoing through.

"Grr… come on!" Harry gritted, pulling Hermione by the wrist into battle with the tree. "Wait guys!" Natsu called out, trying to stop them. But to no avail. The two began to battle with the tree, trying to keep them away from it. They were knocked over the place, Harry losing his glasses in the process. Hermione rode one of the branches like it was a bucking bull.

Natsu sighed, gritting his teeth and ran through the area, sliding on the ground to dodge the oncoming branches, jumping left and right, getting closer to the entrance. He had to get in there before it was too late! An oncoming branch swung at his head, Natsu tsked, barrel rolling at the last second, falling into the hole as the branch slammed into the ground.

He panted, looking at the entrance with a pant. He heard the others screaming, trying to get inside. Natsu debated with himself, wondering if he should help them or find Ron first. "Natsu!" He heard Harry scream. Natsu jolted at his name, listening. "Find Ron! Agh!"

Natsu tsked, turning away from the fight and run deeper into the roots. Now with a goal in mind, he had to save Ron and keep this secret before it was too late!