MYSTERY PERSON IN THE MAP
No one in Gryffindor Tower slept that night. They knew that the castle was being searched again, and the whole House stayed awake in the common room, waiting to hear whether Black had been caught. After the Professor went, the three girls rounded up on Ron.
"Are you OK? Did he hurt you or something?", Simran asked with an extremely worried tone, the fight that happened just hours before completely forgotten.
"Yeah.", Ron said looking at the worried expression in their faces. "I mean, I screamed and alerted the others before they could do anything else."
"Thank god!", Simran exclaimed and gave Ron a hug.
Ron was in loss for words. He just looked at Natasha and Hermione and sighed. "I am sorry for using words like that, Hermione. I have no idea, what made me do it.", he apologised.
Natasha just raised her eyebrows, and Simran broke off the hug with a smile on her face. "An attack from Black made Ron change his mind?", she thought to Herself.
Hermione also looked at Ron with a shocked face and just gave him a nod. "Now seeing that we have settled our differences, there is something we need to discuss.", Natasha said. "Why in the world was Black inside the boy's dormitory, if he is after me?"
"That is a very good question.", Hermione said
"Maybe he has lost his mind.", Simran suggested. "Maybe he forgot, what your gender was due to Azkaban."
"That is a terrible theory, if he did go mad, then how did he escape from Azkaban?", Natasha argued.
"Maybe he did it for mass murder.", Ron said.
"If that was the case, then why did he escape when the room was filled with boys who are unarmed and was mostly half asleep?", Natasha asked
"Maybe he wanted kill us all without any sound, in our sleep. He might have thought that, when I screamed everyone would have been awake, and the others would inform the teachers before he could go out.", Ron said.
"Shall we stop talking about death. Its making me uncomfortable.", Simran said, and the two stopped talking.
Professor McGonagall came back at dawn, to tell them that he had again escaped.
Throughout the day, everywhere they went they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius Black; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been fired. His portrait had been taken back to its lonely landing on the seventh floor, and the Fat Lady was back. She had been expertly restored, but was still extremely nervous, and had agreed to return to her job only on condition that she was given extra protection. A bunch of surly security trolls had been hired to guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs.
Natasha couldn't help noticing that the statue of the one-eyed witch on the third floor remained unguarded and unblocked. It seemed that Fred and George had been right in thinking that they - and now only the four of them - were the only ones who knew about the hidden passageway within it.
"D'you reckon we should tell someone?" Natasha asked Ron and Hermione the next day. Though they were not talking much to each other, it was better than shouting. Simran had warmed upto Ron after the apology.
"We know he's not coming in through Honeyduke's," said Ron dismissively. "We'd've heard if the shop had been broken into, and you did hear madam Rosmetra, the whole place will be surrounded by dementors at night."
"I suggest we tell the teachers if Black tries to break in again.", Hermione said.
"I agree with her.", Simran said. "We need to give teachers all the options if this happens again."
Ron had become an instant celebrity. For the first time in his life, people were paying more attention to him than to Natasha, and it was clear that Ron was rather enjoying the experience. Though still severely shaken by the night's events, he was happy to tell anyone who asked what had happened, with a wealth of detail.
"... I was asleep, and I heard this ripping noise, and I thought it was in my dream, you know? But then there was this draft...I woke up and one side of the hangings on my bed had been pulled down...I rolled over...and I saw him standing over me...like a skeleton, with loads of filthy hair...holding this great long knife, must've been twelve inches...and he looked at me, and I looked at him, and then I yelled, and he scampered."
"Really, Ron?, Simran asked him.
"They were asking me to tell them.", Ron said.
Neville was in total disgrace. Professor McGonagall was so furious with him she had banned him from all future Hogsmeade visits, given him a detention, and forbidden anyone to give him the password into the tower. Poor Neville was forced to wait. outside the common room every night for somebody to let him in, while the security trolls leered unpleasantly at him. None of these punishments, however, came close to matching the one his grandmother had in store for him. Two days after Black's break-in, she sent Neville the very worst thing a Hogwarts student could receive over breakfast - a Howler.
The school owls swooped into the Great Hall carrying the mail as usual, and Neville choked as a huge barn owl landed in front of him, a scarlet envelope clutched in its beak. Natasha and Ron, who were sitting opposite him, recognized the letter as a Howler at once. It seems, his brother Charlie had received one during his school times, and had described it to Ron.
"Run for it, Neville," Ron advised.
Neville didn't need telling twice. He seized the envelope, and holding it before him like a bomb, sprinted out of the hall, while the Slytherin table exploded with laughter at the sight of him. They heard the Howler go off in the entrance hall - Neville's grandmother's voice, magically magnified to a hundred times its usual volume, shrieking about how he had brought shame on the whole family.
Natasha was too busy feeling sorry for Neville to notice immediately that she had a letter too. Hedwig got her attention by nipping her sharply on the wrist.
"Ouch! Oh - thanks, Hedwig."
"Whom do you think it is from?", Hermione asked while having her toast.
"Let's open and see it.", Natasha said.
Natasha tore open the envelope while Hedwig helped herself to some of Neville's cornflakes. The note inside said:
Dear Natasha and Ron,
How about having tea with me this afternoon 'round six? I'll come collect you from the castle. WAIT FOR ME IN THE ENTRANCE HALL; YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED OUT ON YOUR OWN.
Cheers,
Hagrid
"He probably wants to hear all about Black!" said Ron.
"Not everyone wants to hear about Black, Ron. Maybe its about Buckbeak.", Simran suggested.
"If it is about it, then I hope that it is good news.", Natasha said still looking at the letter.
So, at six o'clock that afternoon, they left Gryffindor Tower, passed the security trolls at a run, and headed down to the entrance hall.
Hagrid was already waiting for them.
"All right, Hagrid!" said Ron. "S'pose you want to hear about Saturday night, do you?"
"I've already heard all abou' it," said Hagrid, opening the front doors and leading them outside.
Simran gave Ron a look that said, I told you so.
"Oh," said Ron, looking slightly put out.
The first thing they saw on entering Hagrid's cabin was Buckbeak, who was stretched out on top of Hagrid's patchwork quilt, his enormous wings folded tight to his body, enjoying a large plate of dead ferrets. Averting her eyes from this unpleasant sight, Natasha saw a gigantic, hairy brown suit and a very horrible yellow-and-orange tie hanging from the top of Hagrid's wardrobe door.
"What are they for, Hagrid?" said Natasha.
"Buckbeak's case against the Committee fer the Disposal o' Dangerous Creatures," said Hagrid. "This Friday. Him an' me'll be goin' down ter London together. I've booked two beds on the Knight Bus..."
Hagrid poured them tea and offered them a plate of Bath buns but they knew better than to accept; they had had too much experience with Hagrid's cooking.
"I am sure that, you will win the case Hagrid. The truth is on your side.", Hermione said.
"Yeah. You can easily make Lucius Malfoy shut up.", Simran said.
"I had got somethin' to discuss with yeh, Ron." said Hagrid, sitting himself between them and looking uncharacteristically serious. "But seein' that, the problem is already solved-"
"What?" said Ron.
"About yeh four.", said Hagrid. "I had seen yeh all sittin' completely away from each other for so many days."
"Ah, about that-", started Natasha. She didn't want this topic to come up as she thought that, it might again lead to a fight between them.
"We have already forgiven each other, Hagrid.", Simran said. "That whole thing is long forgotten."
"Good.", Hagrid said. "It was so hearbreakin' to see yeh all like that."
They spent the rest of their visit discussing Gryffindor's improved chances for the Quidditch Cup. At nine o'clock, Hagrid walked them back up to the castle.
A large group of people was bunched around the bulletin board when they returned to the common room.
"Hogsmeade, next weekend!" said Ron, craning over the heads to read the new notice. "What d'you reckon?", he added quietly to Natasha as they went to sit down.
"Well, Filch hasn't done anything about the passage into Honeydukes..." Natasha said, even more quietly.
"Natasha!" said a voice in his right ear. Natasha started and looked around at Hermione, who was looking at her with a serious look.
"Natasha, you please don't go to Hogsmeade this time.", said Hermione.
"Why should I not?", asked Natasha.
"After what Black did just a few days ago, we certainly cannot say that, he won't attack you in Hogsmeade. I mean, he somehow was able to sneak into the castle and get out without being seen, and a good disguise can make him fit into the crowd.", Hermione argued.
"She does have a point. You yourself talked about a charm that can be used as a disguise.", Simran said.
"You are right. It might not be safe anymore to go to Hogsmeade now.", Natasha said nodding.
"Not you too Natasha!", Ron complained.
"Ron, how can you let her go with you? After what Sirius Black nearly did to you!", Hermione argued
"But-", Ron started.
"I mean it, Ron. We just cant completely say that, Hogsmeade is safe anymore.", Natasha said to Ron. "But I am going to keep the map.", she added to Hermione. "It might be useful in the future."
"That is OK, Natasha. I am sure that, the map will have its uses.", Hermione said.
Ron just looked at them weirdly. He just couldn't digest that, there was a chance of Sirius Black attacking Hogsmeade. But he thought that, if his friends thought it was unsafe it was not good to force them to do it.
On Saturday morning, Natasha woke only when the others had already gotten ready. She knew that, she had got the whole day for herself and she wanted to spend the day in reading some books in the library, and finish the essays that are pending.
"Bye!" Natasha called to her friends. "See you when you get back!"
The four of them nodded and waved. Natasha then immediately went and took bath and got ready for her day. She had missed her breakfast, but she didn't mind as she had eaten well the last night. Natasha then took parchments and Quill and started writing her essay.
"Natasha! I forgot you weren't going to Hogsmeade either!", Natasha saw that, Neville had just came out of Boy's dormitory.
"Hi, Neville," said Natasha. "What are you up to?"
"Nothing," shrugged Neville. "Want a game of Exploding Snap?"
"Er - not now – I have to finish these essays.", said Natasha pointing to the parchments. "I am doing the vampire essay given by Lupin.
"I'll do you!" said Neville brightly. "I haven't done it either!"
"Ok, Neville. You can join me.", Natasha said and told him to sit in a nearby chair. Neville then ran back to his dormitory and brought his own things. Then they sat and started working on their essay together.
Neville kept on asking Natasha doubts on the essay, that Natasha felt that he had copied half of his essay from her. But Natasha did not mind as Neville was a friend and asked her help only sometimes unlike Ron who took help from the three girls nearly every time.
By the time they finished their essays that were pending, she saw that it was nearly time for lunch, and went for the great hall to eat lunch. When she finished her lunch, she thought of going to the library to read some extra books on Arithmancy. There was one topic that, she was finding really difficult to understand and wanted to read some extra books on the topic. She had even promised Hermione that she will try and explain those concepts to her. She then went to the common room and took her things to go to the library.
"Where are you going, now?", Neville asked.
"I am going to the Library now. Have to study some arithmancy stuff.", Natasha said to Neville.
"Ok.", Neville said. Natasha then went to library. The library was nearly empty except for some Ravenclaws who were sitting in the back. Natasha went to the Arithmancy section of the library and searched for the book she needed. She found the required book she needed and started reading it. She was starting to understand the concepts, but she knew that some more effort was needed for her to understand.
Then after sometime, she was interrupted by someone tapping her back. When she turned back, she saw that it was Cedric who was standing there with a smile on his face.
"Hey, Natasha.", he said.
"Hello, Cedric. What are you doing here?", Natasha asked.
"Same thing as you, Natasha. Just wanted to read some Arithmancy.", Cedric said.
"Why didn't you go to Hogsmeade?", she asked.
"I wasn't feeling well today. But I started feeling just before lunch.", Cedric said.
"Well then, sit down.", Natasha said, as she saw that Cedric already had a book in his hand. Natasha hoped that, he will sit near her. Cedric just nodded and sat near her.
"So, which topic are you studying in Arithmancy?", Cedric asked.
"I am having trouble understanding Minauras law of magical probability. The equation for it is just not going into my head.", Natasha said. "I mean, it might be easy to mug it up, but I want to understand the concept properly."
"I will explain you the concept if you want.", Cedric offered. "We are learning the advanced concept of this topic this year, so the topic is still in my mind."
"Really!?", Natasha asked. "Please do teach me, if you can."
Then Cedric and Natasha went to a classroom and started revising the topic. Cedric explained the way how he understood the equation and some shortcuts to easily understand the concept. He even told that, there is going to be a essay type question for this topic in the exam and it was very important to understand it. So, by the time they finished the discussion Natasha understood the concept much more better. Natasha glanced at the time, and saw that it was 3. Natasha knew that, her friends would have already started coming back from Hogsmeade.
"Thank you, Cedric. For teaching me this.", Natasha said.
"You are welcome, Natasha.", Cedric said with a smile. Natasha gave a kiss in his cheeks as she got ready to go and said, "You know, your kiss gave me good luck before the match."
"Do you want one more?", Cedric asked.
"It would be nice.", Natasha said. She just couldn't believe it. She was shamelessly flirting with a guy.
Cedric smiled and gave Natasha a kiss on her forehead and said, "Bye, Natasha. I am sure that, I will see you afterwards.", he said and both of them went outside the class to their respective dormitories.
When Natasha reached the common room, she found that her friends had not yet reached the common room, and found that even Neville was not there. The common room was filled with first and second years who were playing exploding snap or just talking with themselves. Just after ten minutes, her friends came back from the trip.
"How was the trip, guys?", Natasha asked with a smile.
"It was awesome, thanks for the invisibility cloak. We had awesome fun with that.", Ron said with a smile.
"What happened? Did you go into the three broomsticks?", Natasha asked. She had given the invisibility cloak to Simran because she wanted to sneak into the three broomsticks which was not open for people below fourteen. Hermione had disapproved that plan, but Simran still took the cloak.
"Nah. We had fun with Malfoy though.", Simran said.
"He was mocking us and Hagrid. Telling that, Buckbeak will surely get executed. Hagrid will get fired, you know the usual stuff.", Hermione said.
"Me and Hermione were near the shrieking shack when this happened, and Simran had just gone to get something to eat.", Ron said trying to control his laughter.
"When I saw what was happening to them, I decided to give those idiots a scare.", Simran said with a grin. "I secretly snuck near them putting on the cloak and started scaring them out of their wits."
"I am sure that, Malfoy must have pissed on his pants.", Ron said. "He ran calling for his mom."
The four of them just sat in the common room and laughed.
"So, what were you up to the whole day?", Ron asked.
"I finished the vampire essay given by Lupin,", Natasha said to Ron. "and went to library to read about the Arithmancy topic we discussed about.", she said to Hermione.
"Did you properly understand it?", Hermione asked.
"Yeah. I did.", Natasha said. "I will explain it to you tonight while we read."
"Wonderful.", Hermione said the other three went to the dormitories to wash their faces. Even Natasha went with the girls. "I did have help for studies though.", Natasha said.
"Really? Who was that?", Simran asked as she came out of the bath area.
"Cedric.", Natasha said with a big blush in her face.
"Wow! I never thought your boyfriend was a academics kind of guy.", Simran said.
"He's not my boyfriend!", Natasha said but before they could talk something else, the other girls of the dormitory came in. Hermione and Simran looked at Natasha like, they wanted more explanation afterwards. The two of them discussed about the Arithmancy problem in the evening, but fortunately Natasha didn't have to explain anything as they were surrounded by others.
That night, they went to bed late. Natasha suddenly woke up after a very bad dream, which she forgot just after she had woken up. Natasha couldn't go back to sleep, after that for some reason. She didn't know what made her do it, but she took the marauder's map out of her drawer and opened it just to check where everyone was. She saw that, most of the teachers were in their rooms and the students were all in their common rooms or dormitories. But when she was scanning a deserted hallway near the fourth floor, she saw something really peculiar.
In the corridor, she saw a dot moving that was marked as Peter Pettigrew. Natasha was puzzled by what she was seeing as she knew that, Peter Pettigrew was her father's friend and he was killed by Sirius Back. And, as far as she knew, there was no Peter Pettigrews studying at Hogwarts. Her first thought was that, the map was malfunctioning but her curiosity was somehow making her want to investigate.
She looked at her friends, she saw that they were deep in sleep. She didn't want to wake them up, so she went down into the common room, but unfortunately she forgot to take her invisibility cloak. When she opened the common room door, she was relieved to find that, the fat lady had gone somewhere. Natasha looked at her map to see where the man was presently in the map. She saw that the dot named Peter Pettigrew was still in the fourth floor. It seemed as though it was moving really fast. She then climbed down to the fourth floor, all the while checking that there was no teachers coming nearby. The whole castle was very dark, and she had to use a lumos charm to see in front of her. Her heart was beating really fast, and she really didn't know what to expect. When she reached the fourth floor and reached a corridor full of paintings, she saw that Peter Pettigrew was coming from another path which intersected her path at a short distance. She kept her glance on the map, as she walked. At the intersection, she saw that the dot turned towards her and was closing in on her really fast. Her heart skipped a beat as she saw that, and put the wand light in front of her to see who was coming.
The strange thing was that there was no footsteps that was coming from that side, nor there was any sign that a grown man was coming towards her from that direction. But as the dot closed in towards her, she was ready for anything, well almost. Then she suddenly saw that the dot was right in front of her but she couldn't see anything. But when the dot brushed right through her lrg, she felt something in her leg and go away in the way it had come.
"What in the world was that?", Natasha thought to herself.
But when she glanced again at the map, she saw that there was a new dot coming towards her, that was marked as Severus Snape. At that moment she knew that she was in loads of trouble. She immediately turned the wand light off and tried to run back in the dark, but just after a moment, a new light illuminated the corridor and she was now face to face with Professor Snape.
"Fancy seeing you here, at this time of the night, Ms. Potter.", Professor Snape said coolly but Natasha saw that there was anger in his voice. "Care to explain why you are here, Ms. Potter?"
Natasha wanted to tell him about the map and Peter Pettigrew, but even she didn't completely believe that what she saw was even real. It might have been the map malfunctioning, and she giving the map will mean that, she might lose it forever. So she decided to give the lamest excuse ever. "I was sleepwalking s-sir. I found myself in the nearby corridor and I was going back.", she managed to say. The expression on the professor's face clearly showed that he did not believe a word she said.
"Oh really, Ms. Potter. Do you have the ability to see in the dark? Because it looked like, you didn't even have a wand light with you, and I clearly saw a wand light while coming.", Snape said with a sneer. "Care to explain me why you turned down the light."
"I- I knew someone was coming s-sir. Just didn't want to get caught.", Natasha said with her head down. The professor still did not look like he was completely conviced.
"Turn out your pockets, Potter!", he said suddenly.
Natasha didn't move. There was a pounding in her ears.
Cold with fear, she took out the parchment that was the marauders map. Snape stared at the parchment with a curious look.
"What is this?", Snape asked.
Snape had picked up the map. Natasha tried with all her might to keep her face impassive.
"Spare bit of parchment," he said with a shrug.
Snape turned it over, his eyes on Natasha.
"Let me see, let me see..." he muttered, taking out his wand and smoothing the map out on his desk. "Reveal your secret!" he said, touching the wand to the parchment.
Nothing happened. Natasha clenched her hands to stop them from shaking.
"Show yourself!" Snape said, tapping the map sharply.
It stayed blank. Natasha was taking deep, calming breaths.
"Professor Severus Snape, master of this school, commands you to yield the information you conceal!" Snape said, hitting the map with his wand.
As though an invisible hand were writing upon it, words appeared on the smooth surface of the map.
"Mooney presents his compliments to Professor Snape, and begs him to keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."
Snape froze. Natasha stared, dumbstruck, at the message. Natasha thought that she might just fall unconscious anytime. She was presently in a very bad situation with her favorite professor. She cursed her curiosity and kept looked at the map. More writing was appearing beneath the first one.
"Mr. Prongs agrees with Mr. Mooney and would like to add that Professor Snape is an ugly git."
It would have been very funny if the situation hadn't been so serious. And there was more ...
"Mr. Padfoot would like to register his astonishment that an idiot like that ever became a professor."
Natasha closed her eyes in horror. When she'd opened them, the map had had its last word.
"Mr. Wormtail bids Professor Snape good day, and advises him to wash his hair, the slimeball."
Natasha waited for the blow to fall.
"So ..." said Snape softly. "Explain me where did you get this thing!", he looked at Natasha with an angry look which he never used on her.
Then out of nowhere, Natasha saw Professor Lupin coming towards them. The Professors attention was now on Lupin.
"Well, well, well. Lupin. Out walking in the moonlight, are we?", Professor Snape asked.
Natasha easily caught the hidden meaning in her Professor's words. "Does he already know that, Lupin is a werewolf?", Natasha thought. It all made sense.
"I found Ms. Potter wandering around the corridor, apparently sleepwalking. I asked her to empty her pockets and I found that she was carrying this."
Snape pointed at the parchment, on which the words of Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs were still shining. An odd, closed expression appeared on Lupin's face.
"Well?" said Snape.
Lupin continued to stare at the map. Natasha had the impression that Lupin was doing some very quick thinking.
"Well?" said Snape again. "This parchment is plainly full of Dark Magic. This is supposed to be your area of expertise, Lupin. Where do you imagine Ms. Potter got such a thing?"
Lupin looked up and, by the merest half-glance in Natasha's direction, warned her not to interrupt.
"Full of Dark Magic?" he repeated mildly. "Do you really think so, Severus? It looks to me as though it is merely a piece of parchment that insults anybody who reads it. Childish, but surely not dangerous? I imagine Natasha got it from a joke shop -"
"Indeed?" said Snape. His jaw had gone rigid with anger. "You think a joke shop could supply her with such a thing? You don't think it more likely that she got it directly from the manufacturers?"
Natasha didn't understand what Snape was talking about. Nor, apparently, did Lupin. His expression was completely unreadable.
"You mean, by Mr. Wormtail or one of these people?" he said. "Natasha, do you know any of these men?"
"No," said Natasha quickly.
"You see, Severus?" said Lupin, turning back to Snape. "It looks like a Zonko product to me -"
"I got it when I went to Hogsmeade in October.", Natasha said quickly.
"Well!" said Lupin, clapping his hands together and looking around cheerfully. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" He folded the map and tucked it inside his robes. "Natasha, come with me. I will take you back to the Gryffindor tower."
Natasha didn't dare look at Snape as they left his office. They then started walking with the Professor to the tower.
"Professor, I -"
"I don't want to hear explanations," said Lupin shortly. He glanced around the empty entrance hall and lowered his voice. "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map," he said as Natasha looked amazed. "I don't want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back, Natasha."
Natasha had expected that, and was too keen for explanations to protest.
"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?"
"Because..." Lupin hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."
"Do you know them?" said Natasha, impressed.
"We've met," he said shortly. He was looking at Natasha more seriously than ever before.
"Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Natasha. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the Dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Natasha. A poor way to repay them - gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."
He walked away, leaving Natasha feeling worse by far than she had at any point in Snape's office. Slowly, they both reached the tower. Before going into the common room by giving the password, she said, "I think the map is malfunctioning now, Professor."
"Why did you say that?", Professor Lupin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I saw something in the map tonight. There was a dot named Peter Pettigrew shown in the castle.", Natasha said.
"That's not possible. Peter Pettigrew is dead.", Lupin said with a completely puzzled expression.
"That's what I said, Professor. I don't think that map is working properly for some reason.", she said and gave the password to the fat lady and went inside.
As Natasha passed the one-eyed witch, she remembered the Invisibility Cloak - it was still down there, but she didn't dare go and get it.
Natasha went directly into her bed feeling really guilty and fell asleep immediately. The next morning, she was very tired. Hermione noticed that, and asked her what happened. She explained what happened to the four of them during the breakfast.
"What do you mean, you saw Peter Pettigrew on the map?", Simran asked absolutely shocked.
"What do you mean, Lupin took the map!?", Ron asked terrified.
"Why did you wander in the corridors in the middle of the night?", Hermione asked angrily.
Just then, Natasha saw an owl coming towards them. It landed right in front of her. Hermione looked at the letter and then her face went from serious look to a completely horrified one.
"Hagrid lost his case. Buckbeak is going to be executed."