A/N: Thank you Nicky15! I completely forgot about putting in the scene where Lupin learned Harry was hurt by Lockhart as well as Neville. I've included it as a flashback in this chapter. Thank you again for catching that!

Grim Prisoner

Ward 49, the Janus Thickey Ward, was for patients that were going to be at St. Mungo's for a very long time. And in some cases, like the Longbottoms, for the rest of the patient's life. Neville knew every inch of the ward, having been there many times. A kind, happy witch welcomed Neville as if he were a part of her family and introduced herself to Harry as Miriam Strout.

"It's so nice to see some of Neville's friends. He's such a sweet boy." She smiled and pat Neville on the head fondly. "Your parents are just finishing lunch. Go on in."

"Thank you." Neville mumbled. He was too tired to speak any louder, but at least he wasn't stuttering.

Harry looked around as he followed Neville. There were several large spaces that could be curtained off by the large white sheets that hung beside each section. Maybe they shut them at night, Harry thought as he spotted a sallow-skinned, mournful-looking wizard who lay in a normal looking bed. The man was staring at the ceiling and mumbling to himself. He didn't seem to be aware of anything that was around him. There was also a woman who was growing fur everywhere like Hermione once had when she accidentally used a cat hair with her Polyjuice Potion.

Neville approached the very last curtained area. Instead of being white, these curtains had small delicate pink flowers. The boys slipped by them. Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom lay in a Queen sized bed with white sheets and comforter and leaned against soft pink pillows. A carved wooden nightstand sat on one side of the bed and a matching dresser was pushed up against the far wall. Two trays had been placed in Neville's parents' laps.

"Hey, Mum. Dad." Neville collapsed in the padded recliner chair and dropped his face in his hands.

The thin man and woman on the bed smiled vaguely and mechanically lifted their spoons to their mouths. Mr. Longbottom had already finished his meal, but continued to lift the spoon again and again. Harry felt tears burn his eyes and fell away. Silas shook his shoulders to get them out of the submissive hunch Harry had them in and walked to Neville's side. He gripped the boy's shoulder bracingly.

"Neville, tell your parents what you've done. They will be proud." He looked into Neville's tearful eyes and gave a respectful nod. "I am. If it weren't for you, Harry would not have seen the slime-ball for what he was. I am grateful."

Neville giggled. How could Silas say 'slime-ball' so seriously? He wiped away his tears and looked at his parents. Slowly, he told them what happened. Silas interrupted now and then with drawling insults about Lockhart. Mr. Longbottom stopped eating air by the middle of the telling and watched his son with blank, empty eyes. Ms. Longbottom smiled and hummed.

"Can you talk about this?" Silas asked delicately when Neville fell silent.

The boy ducked his head, his mousy brown hair almost as messy as Harry's perpetually was. Silas moved to change the subject, but the boy began to speak softly. He explained that Bellatrix Lestrange along with several others had interrogated his parents when the Dark Lord suddenly disappeared.

She knew that the Longbottoms were very close to Dumbledore and was certain they would know where the Dark Lord had gone. They didn't. So she and the other Death Eaters tortured them with the Cruciatus Curse, a Dark spell that causes the victim to feel unbearable pain. They held them under for over an hour until they lost their minds.

"She is in Azkaban?" Silas asked, voice even and eyes watching the drooling Mr. Longbottom.

"Yes." Neville whispered. He stood and wiped his father's mouth gently with a napkin from the man's tray.

"Pity."

Neville looked back at Silas, unsure what he'd see. Harry's face stared back at him with a deadly seriousness and he shivered before turning back to his parents. Silas stood and went to the only window in the ward. He leaned a shoulder against the wall, his hands in his pockets (and on his wand). Neville fussed over his parents and just enjoyed his time alone with them.

Not fifteen minutes later the curtain was pulled gently aside and Severus beckoned them. Neville kissed his parents' cheeks and gave them a hug. The man and woman didn't respond exactly, but Mrs. Longbottoms' humming got a bit louder. Neville smiled and followed Silas. He pulled the curtains closed behind him.

"Why are you here?" Severus asked the alter with a raised eye-brow. Silas just stared at him. Their professor scowled, but didn't push for answers. Instead he turned to Neville. "Would you like to go back to school? We have just over half-an-hour left here. We could go into London for lunch if you would like."

Neville almost smiled at his teacher. The usually self-assured man was obviously uncomfortable, but Neville's self-preservation gave him the strength to keep the smile inside. Snape would hurt him for it, he was sure. "I'd like to go eat, please, Professor."

"Very well." He sneered and spun, leading them out of St. Mungo's and into London.

xXxXxXx

Harry woke and found himself sitting at a table in a café/diner. Snape had taken the chair against the wall, allowing him to watch the windows and door. Neville was across from him and Harry sat in-between them with his back to the window. He looked down at the menu he was holding. It offered ten different sandwiches and two soups. He glanced at his friend.

Neville's face was pale and he was tired, but there was a lightness about his shoulders that hadn't been there before. He was far from confident or happy, but there was an improvement. Harry shifted uncomfortably; he had been useless. He had blacked out three times and had hardly said anything to Lockhart.

"You were really brave." He said. "What you said to him."

Neville looked up at him startled, his brown eyes searching for something Harry could not name. He kept his emerald gaze steady and hoped Neville could see his respect. Neville saw more than that, however, for he frowned and said, "You did it too, Harry."

"Indeed." Severus said crisply. "You both saw him for the pathetic worm he was and told him so."

Neville chuckled nervously, still unsure of his professor; "Silas called him that, as well as slime-ball."

"We are in agreement then." Severus allowed himself to smile at the boy.

Neville relaxed a bit at the gesture and smiled gratefully back. The waitress came up and asked what they'd like to order. Neville turned to her and sent his glass of water flying to the floor. The waitress cried out and Neville turned beat red as he dropped to the floor to try and help clean it up. Of course he just spread the water around further.

The waitress very firmly put him back in his chair and told him to stay. Still red, he turned to look at his teacher and friend. Snape was sneering, but there was an amused glint in his dark eyes. Harry didn't even bother trying to hide it. He burst out laughing. Eventually Neville followed suit.

xXxXxXx

When they returned to the school, the headmaster and Remus were still gone. They relaxed, hoping they got away with disappearing without permission. Neville and Harry went back to the Tower only to be summoned by a note from Remus asking for them to come to his office. Harry was worried. He remembered very clearly the werewolf's reaction when he found out who else would be confronting the ex-professor.

flashback

Harry stood in the hall outside of Remus' office with Neville. They stood there for about ten minutes or so before the door opened and Snape beckoned them in. Harry looked desperately at Neville, but the boy shook his head. Harry gulped and took a step forward just as Snape said, "These two are the ones who will be accompanying me."

Harry met Remus' eyes nervously, twisting his shirt in his hands. A look of deep pain, as if Remus had been struck, crossed the man's face. His eyes went to Neville, standing pale and silent at Harry's side, but they came back to the small brunette.

"Harry?" He asked gently. This couldn't be true. Harry was here for some other reason, Remus told himself. But then the small black-haired child nodded, tears filling the green eyes that Lily had given her only son. Remus felt cold rage grip him and he turned purely gold eyes on Severus. "I am going with you."

"No." Severus said surprisingly softly. "You will keep the Headmaster away so that the boys can confront their fears."

"Please, Remus." Harry asked in a near whisper. "I…I have t-to…do this or the d-dreams won't leave me a-alone."

Remus spun and pulled both boys into his arms in a tight, loving hug. Harry and Neville cried softy into the werewolf's neck as he rocked and soothed them. Severus stood silent in the corner, patiently. The boys pulled away after a while and Remus smiled at them confidently. Severus made a note to himself not to underestimate the man's acting skills in the future.

"I know you two can do this." Remus said firmly. "I'm so proud of you. Don't worry about the Headmaster. Leave him to me."

"Thank you, Remus." Harry said and hugged him tight.

"T-t-thank you." Neville blushed.

"Go get something to eat. Dinner is starting soon." Remus ruffled their hair. The boys gave him weak smiles and left. Severus went to follow them, but the werewolf stopped him. "A moment, if you please, Severus."

The dark-eyed man turned, his blank mask firmly in place. Remus' eyes slowly went gold again and Severus had to fight a shiver of unease. Never show weakness, he was above his childhood fear, he told himself firmly.

"Hurt him for me." Remus said lowly, deadly serious.

Severus nodded and left the room, closing the door softly behind him.

end flashback

Harry and Neville went down to Remus' office and were immediately swept up into a hug. He asked them how it went. They told him the basics and he never pressed further than that. He gave them proud smiles and then soon had the boys laughing as he told them about his excursion with the headmaster.

xXxXxXx

As far as they knew, Dumbledore never caught on to their adventure off school grounds and life went back to normal. Their classes continued and everyone was busy. Ron was spending several hours dedicated to researching law to try and help Buckbeak. Hermione was always doing school work. Neville had taken to helping her while Harry was at Quidditch practice.

Harry and Neville still continued therapy twice a week, but neither had nightmares. They had the occasional bad dream, but nothing like before. Neville was cutting a lot less frequently and had taken to going with Harry when he snuck away to eat lunch with Remus. Severus still ridiculed both Harry and Neville in his class, but not as cruelly as before. He wouldn't explain why he had to maintain the evil act in class. Harry had learned to stop pressing for information.

Silas and Gabriel came Out less often, and when Harry asked them via his journal why, they answered they were just tired and catching up on some sleep. Harry hadn't bothered to ask why they even needed sleep. Rose still needed Out, however, or she'd emerge when Harry least wanted it.

He had two close calls where she had come Out in Defense Against the Dark Arts and once when he was in the dorm room getting ready for bed. Both times Neville pulled "her" away from observers and talked Rose into retreating. Harry now let her Out during every Herbology class and sometimes when he was having lunch with Neville and Remus.

xXxXxXx

April 14th rolled around and it was the morning of the final Quidditch match; Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Harry and the rest of the team entered the Great Hall and, for the second time that year, most of the school was already there. Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, and Hufflepuff all erupted in loud cheers and applause when they entered. The Slytherin team hissed at them, of course, but it was obvious that their underhand Quidditch tactics had won them no friends in the other Houses.

As soon as the team finished eating, Oliver began urging them to get to the locker rooms to get ready - though they still had an hour before the match. Neville caught Harry's eye as he stood and mouthed 'good luck'. Harry smiled and nodded, flashing a thumbs-up that his friend returned with a grin. Ron pounded him on the back and shoved him after the team, yelling encouragements. Hermione was clapping and wearing as much red and gold as she possibly could. Feeling his nerves dwindle to be replaced by pure excitement, Harry made his way to the pitch.

"No wind to speak of." Oliver remarked as he slowly examined both the sky and pitch. "Sun's a bit bright, that could impair your vision, watch out for it. Ground's fairly hard. Good, that'll give us a fast kickoff."

Oliver paced and muttered a bit more and then sent them to the locker rooms. No one spoke and Harry felt his nerves returning. Before he knew it, Oliver gave an impassioned speech, asked them to play better than ever for him in this last game of his Hogwarts career. Before Harry knew it, he was walking out onto the pitch with his Firebolt in hand. The bleachers were full to the brim and every single face was screaming and cheering. The noise was incredible, especially with no wind to dampen it.

Lee introduced both teams, though everyone knew who was who. Hooch gave the rules and the captains shook hands. After the sharp whistle, everyone shot into the air. The game exploded instantly. Alicia snagged the Quaffle only to lose it to Warrington, who immediately got slammed with a Bludger by George.

With every minute that passed, another foul was being committed. Hooch was red in the face from blowing her whistle so many times and both teams looked battered. And it was only getting more vicious: Angelina was nearly thrown from her broom when Flint slammed into her. Fred threw his beater's club at Flint, breaking his nose. Montague had grabbed Katie's head instead of the Quaffle. Bole and Derrick crashed painfully together in midair after trying to ram (and maybe even kill) Harry. Bole hit Angelina with his club; hard. George and Fred elbowed him in the face. Wood took two Bludgers in the stomach. And so on.

Throughout all this blood and mayhem, goals were being scored and Harry was fighting to keep Malfoy away from the Snitch until Gryffindor was fifty points up. It wasn't too hard. Like Cho before him, the blonde seeker wasn't looking for the Snitch himself, but tailing Harry instead.

They were seventy points up when Harry went after the Snitch for real, but Malfoy grabbed the end of his broom, slowing and distracting him long enough for the elusive golden ball to disappear again. Harry retaliated by crowding Malfoy, making him loose his temper and become flustered. But then he saw that Angelina, who was moving in to score, was about to be steamrolled by the whole of the Slytherin team pelting to her in a line.

Harry broke away from Malfoy and bombed them. The Slytherin team panicked and scattered as he shot through their formation fearlessly. He slid to a halt and did a quick flip to reverse his direction before zooming back to the middle of the field. Angelina scored, uninjured, but he looked on with horror as the Snitch re-appeared closer to Malfoy than himself. The blonde had seen it!

"Go! Go! Go!" Harry begged his broom. He was gaining! He went flat to the broom handle, twirled out of the way of two Bludgers – He was at Malfoy's ankles – He was level – Harry threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom – He knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and –

Hundreds of screams filled the air; the Quidditch Cup was Gryffindor's for the first time in eight years!

xXxXxXx

Neville stood in the shadows of the Gryffindor common room. Harry had won the Cup three weeks ago. The small brunette had been unbearably happy for almost a solid week and whenever Oliver saw the seeker in the halls he'd burst into tears and hug the third year. But now school demanded everyone's attention.

Exams were starting next week and Harry and Neville were both pretty sure they would fail if they didn't do some serious studying. Hermione was too busy to help them. Besides, she was irritated with Neville for no longer coming around to read over her essays and papers. Ron was no help either. He just didn't have a very long attention span.

Neville sighed. It was late. Almost eleven and they had therapy. He had Harry's dad's invisibility cloak and the Marauder's Map in his bag ready to go, but Harry was asleep curled up on the couch by the fire. The last four months had been hard. After stopping Neville from killing himself, confronting Lockhart, dealing with never-ending practices, the Quidditch Cup, trying to stay afloat in their classes, therapy, and working around/with his condition, it was no wonder Harry was dead to the world. Neville really didn't want to wake him. Maybe he could go to therapy by himself and stop by Professor Snape's classroom to tell him Harry wouldn't be coming.

"Neville?" Hermione asked as she came over.

Neville blushed, embarrassed at being caught off guard, and stuttered a hello.

"I was wondering, is Harry alright?" She asked and pinned him with a deeply worried look. "I know I've been busy and haven't really had time to spend with Ron and him, but I have noticed that he's seemed a bit… off this year. I asked Ron, but he's a bit clueless and Harry's so secretive. I was wondering if he's told you something. He's been hanging around you a lot recently."

Neville bristled. Harry had been 'hanging around him'? What did that mean? "I don't know." He shrugged and pulled on his most clueless expression. "We've just become friends. I don't think he would tell me anything important."

"That's true." Hermione sighed. "But maybe you just forgot? It could seem really small. Are you sure he didn't let slip anything? I'm worried he may be getting sick. He's so pale and he has bags under his eyes."

She was really starting to make him mad. "Harry looks a lot better now than a few months ago." Neville told her, trying not to glare. "And I wouldn't forget something he told me that was important. He's my friend too, Hermione."

"I know." She tried to sooth him.

"Ev'll."

Harry was now sitting up on the couch. His hair was sleep tousled and his green eyes were particularly round with worry. The boy stood and made his way over. Neville's heart stopped and his blood went cold. It was Rose. Oh no, oh no! What do I do? He thought, panicked

Hermione was watching Harry approach attentively. Neville stepped in front of her, blocking her view, while he met Harry halfway. He tapped his lips and Rose immediately stared at them. He mouthed for her to say nothing and follow him. She nodded and smiled, her hand innocently reaching to hold his. He couldn't help it and went a hot red.

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked, pushing out from behind Neville.

Rose smiled at her, saying nothing. Hermione narrowed her eyes.

"Nothing's wrong." Neville said nervously, his hands sweating. He wasn't cut out for this. "We're hungry so we're going to go to the kitchen for a snack. Want us to bring you back something?"

"The kitchen?" Hermione frowned, but before she could ask anymore questions she was distracted by Crookshanks yowling from her dorm room. When she looked back, Neville and Harry were gone. She sighed tiredly. Something was going on and somehow she'd have to find time to figure it out. She glared at the spot where Harry had been. Why couldn't the boy just tell her? It would save a lot of time.

xXxXxXx

"What's the matter, Rose?" Neville asked gently as he led Rose through the halls towards the Potions' classroom. He had the Marauder's Map activated. Unlike Harry, he got lost way too easily.

Rose tugged on his hand so that he stopped and then put her hand on his chest. She frowned and wrung her hands in an impersonation of someone unhappy and nervous. Neville watched her do this twice more before he got it. She was empathic and had sensed his mild upset while he was talking to Hermione. She grew worried and had come Out to make sure he was alright.

"I'm fine." He shrugged and continued walking. She walked a step ahead so that she could still look back and read his lips. "Hermione was just asking a lot of things about stuff she can't know about and that I'm supposed to keep secret. She didn't find…anything…out…. though…" He trailed off and came to a stop, staring in shock at Rose. The implications slowly came clear to him.

This was the first time Rose had come Out without Harry falling back and purposely summoning her and Harry hadn't been near or thinking about Professors Snape or Remus. Harry had been asleep. The only thing that had called Rose Out was Neville himself. He felt his cheeks heat and something tight squeeze his chest.

'You love me?' He mouthed, unable to actually voice it out loud.

A bright smile crossed his/her face. She nodded and clasped her hands in front of her happily. "Beh B'er." She slurred slowly, looking innocently into his eyes.

"Big brother?" Neville repeated.

Rose nodded and hugged him; he hugged her back tightly.

xXxXxXx

Exam week began and their first exam was Transfiguration. Neville came out of it feeling sick and quickly excused himself. His tortoise still had a teapot spout for a tail and a china shell. It had been his best transfiguration yet, but he knew it was still a failure. Harry went to go with him, knowing the boy was going to cut to calm himself down before the next exam, but Ron stopped him.

"Just let him be." Ron urged and wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Harry knew Neville wouldn't appreciate an audience, so he nodded. "Do you think McGonagall will take off points for my turtle breathing steam?"

xXxXxXx

Neville eventually made it down to the Great Hall for lunch and slipped into the place Harry had saved for him. He looked less ill, but still nervous. He spilt three things and his stuttering was back full-force. Hermione lectured them about things to remember the whole way to the Charm's classroom. Neville looked sick again.

"Stop it." Harry whispered. "We know this. We studied together and I know you'll do fine."

Neville didn't answer. The test included Cheering Charms and Harry over-did his, sending Ron into laughing fits for an hour. Hermione's was perfect, but both Ron and Neville's charm was a tad too weak, only inducing a large goofy smile on their partner's face. At least the first day of testing was over and they could relax for a little bit. Maybe even get in an hour or so of cramming.

xXxXxXx

The next morning the four of them marched down to Hagrid's hut for their first exam in Care of Magical Creatures. It was by far the easiest. Hagrid was hardly paying attention, too preoccupied with Buckbeak's appeal the next day. He gave everyone an Outstanding. Neville, Harry, and Ron didn't mind in the least, though they did wish Hagrid wasn't upset. But Hermione was very disappointed. She thought Hagrid should have brought in someone else to grade them, so that he could spend time with Buckbeak and give them the chance to earn their grades.

After lunch, they had Potions. It didn't go well, but it could have gone worse. Neville didn't blow up his cauldron as he had during the exams the two years previous, but his potion ended up the wrong color. Harry's wouldn't thicken. Surprisingly, Ron, as well as Hermione, got his right.

Everyone went to bed early that night because they had to wake up for Astronomy at midnight. It went well. All four of them felt confident they had given the right answers. History of Magic the next morning was a different story. Dumbledore had been giving them a wealth of information about history and it was very difficult to get all the names and dates right. Still, Harry and Neville were pretty sure they hadn't failed. Herbology was next. Rose, Neville, and Hermione passed with flying colors. Ron's grade was doubtful.

The four of them went up to the Tower that night feeling exhausted. Thankfully, they only had one more day of tests left; Defense Against the Dark Arts and Divination. Neville was nervous, but Harry and Ron were relaxed. They were sure they would do well in both classes. Hermione was nowhere to be seen and the boys hoped she was getting some much needed rest.

xXxXxXx

The DADA exam was very surprising. It was like an obstacle course and was set up outside. They had to wade across a waist deep pool with a grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way through a section of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk, and last they had to climb into a large trunk with a boggart.

Ron came out of the trunk in seconds and only lost a few marks for his mistake with the hinkypunk. Neville took longer than the others, but he didn't make a mistake. He wouldn't tell Harry what the boggart at the end had turned into for him. Harry suspected it wasn't Snape anymore.

He had asked once why it hadn't turned into Lockhart at the beginning of the year and Neville had replied that he had never doubted that Snape could take Lockhart with his hands tied behind his back. Amazingly, it was Hermione to have the most difficult time. She came out of the trunk screaming about failing all her classes. Harry cast his Patronus to protect him and was out in a few seconds like Ron.

The four trudged back to the castle. The boys were trying not to laugh at Hermione's fear and Hermione was fussing about losing points at the end because of her mistake. They all fell silent, however, when they got to the castle and found the Minister standing on the top step mopping his brow with a handkerchief.

"Hello there, Harry! Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?" The man smiled brightly, reaching to shake Harry's hand.

"Yes." Harry answered, shaking once and then quickly pulled his hand back. Neville, Hermione, and Ron had stopped a few feet short of him, but when Harry looked back begging for help Neville stepped forward. Harry smiled gratefully.

"Lovely day." Fudge said and shook his head with exaggerated sigh. "Pity I'm here on 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."

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron asked, finally stepping up to Harry's other side.

"No." Fudge frowned in confusion.

"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all!" Ron said, flushed. "The hippogriff might get off!"

Two men came out of the castle and stopped when they came to Fudge. Harry instinctively edged back away from them. One of the men looked so old it was as if he were rotting before their eyes. The other was very cold and was fingering a gleaming axe, his meaty hand almost caressing it.

xXxXxXx

Harry, Neville, and Ron were sitting below the ladder to the Divination room. They were the last to be called in to take their exam. Trelawney was having them take it one at a time. Neville went first and when he came back down, Ron asked him what it was like.

"She says the crystal ball's told her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident." Neville said nervously. "Good luck."

"Thanks." Ron said scornfully and went up for his turn. When he came back down, it was Harry's turn to ask how it went. "Rubbish. Couldn't see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced though."

"Meet you two in the common room." Harry grimaced as Trelawney called him.

The tower room was hotter than ever before and the sickly scent made Harry cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and tables. The professor sat waiting for him before a large crystal ball.

"Good day, my dear." She said softly and slowly gestured to the ball. "Take your time, now… then tell me what you see within it..."

Just like all the times before, Harry couldn't see anything. The heat was overpowering and his head was hurting from the perfumed smoke thick in the air. He decided it might be best just to pretend to see something. He didn't want to fail. He thought of the future and Buckbeak came to mind.

"A hippogriff." He said and made his voice sound distant.

"My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid's trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer! Does it have its head?"

"Yes." Harry answered, unwilling to pretend to see the hippogriff dead.

Professor Trelawney sighed, "Well, dear, I think we'll leave it there… A little disappointing… but I'm sure you did your best."

Relieved, Harry got up and began to leave. He froze however and spun around when a strangely deep voice began to speak rhythmically from behind him. Professor Trelawney was sitting in her chair, her whole body stiff, and her eyes had rolled back into her head so they showed only white.

"THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT… THE SERVANT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANT'S AID, GREAT AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT… BEFORE MIDNIGHT… THE SERVANT… WILL SET OUT… TO REJOIN… HIS MASTER."

xXxXxXx

Harry ran all the way to Gryffindor Tower. He dashed passed the security trolls and easily dodged the clubs they sent flying his way. The common room was practically empty when he arrived, panting hard. Only his three friends were still there and they were obviously waiting for him. He rushed over to tell them what Professor Trelawney had said, but Ron spoke before he could.

"Buckbeak lost." He said weakly and Hermione began to cry. "Hagrid sent a note saying he'll be executed at sunset and not to come down."

"But we have to." Hermione sniffed. "Hagrid can't just sit there on his own!"

"Sunset, though." Ron said mournfully, looking out the window. "We'd never be allowed. Especially not Harry."

Hermione opened her mouth, but Harry cut her off. "No, Hermione. Ron's right. If I go, no one will be allowed. Go without me. Someone has to be there for Hagrid."

"Are you sure, Harry?" She asked as she wiped at her face.

"Yeah." He gave them an encouraging smile.

"We'll go after dinner." Ron decided. "Come on."

They all stood and made their way to the Great Hall. Neville hung back and grabbed Harry's arm. "What are you planning, Gabriel?" He whispered.

"You'll see." Gabriel smiled.

xXxXxXx

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Neville complained as he and Gabriel snuck out of Hogwarts under the invisibility cloak. They could see Ron and Hermione going in Hagrid's Hut.

"It's for a good cause." Gabriel bumped his shoulder encouragingly. "It'll be fun."

Neville doubted that, but didn't complain again. He followed his friend up into the forest. They snuck up to the back of Hagrid's hut. Buckbeak was tied up there amid huge pumpkins and within sight of anyone walking up to the front door.

"Now what?" Neville asked in a soft whisper.

"We wait." Gabriel answered easily, hunching down where he stood. "We can't take Buckbeak until those vultures from the Ministry see him. They'd blame Hagrid for setting him free, otherwise."

"How are we going to get him to come with us?" Neville fretted.

"Calm down." Gabriel gave him a reassuring grin. "He let me ride him. I'm sure he'll follow me into the forest."

"How far into the forest?" Neville demanded fearfully.

"Shhh. Here they come."

Ron and Hermione were pushed out the back door and they could clearly hear the half-giant ordering them back to the castle. The two Gryffindors went around the house and waited for Dumbledore, Fudge, and the two other men to go inside before darting back up the path to the castle. Gabriel leapt out from the forest and went to Buckbeak. He bowed, eyes unblinking. Buckbeak bowed back and Gabriel quickly untied his rope and began tugging him into the forest. But the hippogriff wouldn't go. He kept looking back at the hut longingly. He wanted Hagrid.

Any minute they were going to be discovered. Gabriel began to curse under his breath, but was very careful not to insult the hippogriff. Neville came darting out and snagged a dead weasel from a nearby rack. Trembling he offered it to Buckbeak. The hippogriff hesitated and then took a step forward, reaching. They had just gotten the creature out of sight when the back door opened.

Gabriel laughed quietly as he led the hippogriff and an amazed Neville along the forest line back toward the school. Neville couldn't believe he had done that. Suddenly, Gabriel froze. Neville stopped too. He looked in the direction his friend was staring and saw Ron darting across the lawn toward the Whomping Willow, chasing what looked like Crookshanks. Hermione was chasing Ron and yelling something at him.

"Get away from him – get away – Scabbers, come here!" Ron's yells could just barely be made out. Gabriel turned and made a face of curiosity at Neville. But his attention went back to the scene when Ron dove to the ground, missing Crookshanks by a foot. "Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat!"

Hermione ran to help the redhead when a huge Grim leapt out from the Whomping Willow and grabbed a hold of Ron's arm. Ron screamed in pain and Hermione screamed in fear. Silas rushed Out before Gabriel could run off and put them in danger. He knew he wouldn't be able to hold sway long and thrust the hippogriff's rope into Neville's hands.

"Tie Buckbeak out of sight, then run back to the castle and get help. Hurry, Neville!"

Neville opened his mouth to protest, but Gabriel had finally over powered the Slytherin and was running recklessly down to save the other two Gryffindors. The boy hero cast a weak Lumos as he ran onto the scene. Ron was being dragged into the hollow of the tree. Hermione went to grab the redhead, but was thrown five feet into the air by a thrashing tree limb. Gabriel yelled for her to stay back and tried to get to Ron, using all of his agility and speed. He managed to avoid being hit, but could work himself no closer to the downed Gryffindor.

Ron had hooked his legs around a root to give them time to get to him, but it wasn't a very good idea. There was a loud, sickening crack and he howled with pain. In seconds, he was gone. Gabriel lunged for the hole, but had to jump back to avoid being brained by a swinging branch. Just when he was about to start throwing hexes around, Crookshanks slips through the violent tree-limbs and stepped on a root. The tree froze.

"Show off." Gabriel muttered and dove into the tree's hollow. Hermione was right behind him.

xXxXxXx

They found themselves in the Shrieking Shack some minutes later. Hermione was clutching at his arm so hard that he couldn't feel his fingers. He gently pried her hand away from him and gestured to the stairs. Her face was pale and her eyes were dark with fear, but she nodded firmly and they moved silently toward them.

Only one door was open upstairs. Wand held tightly before him, Gabriel kicked the door wide and took in the room. There was a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings. Crookshanks sat in the middle looking pleased and purring loudly. Ron was on the floor, clutching his leg, which stuck out at a strange angle. It was definitely broken. Hermione dashed to him.

"Ron! Are you okay?"

"It's a trap." The redhead moaned in pain.

"What?" Hermione asked, holding onto her friend and looking around wildly.

Gabriel was a step ahead of her and yelled, "Reducto!"

The door blew off its hinges and slammed into the wall. Or it would have if someone wasn't standing behind it. There was a smashing sound and a whine of pain. Gabriel rolled into the room, coming up facing the doorway and the enemy just as the door fell flat to the floor with a bang. He hesitated when he got a clear look at who had been hiding behind it.

A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to the man's elbows. If eyes hadn't been shinning out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were barred in a grimace of pain and he rocked back and forth, clutching his shoulder as he whimpered.

"Who are you?" Gabriel demanded, wand still level.

"It's Sirius Black!" Hermione gasped and clutched Ron tighter.

"Expelliarmus!" Black choked out, suddenly pointing Ron's wand at them.

"Tectussitum!" Gabriel said quickly. Hermione cried out as she lost her wand, but he kept his as his shield blocked the curse and broke apart in a pretty flash of sparkling light. "Expelliarmus!"

Black was slammed backward and he lost the two wands he had collected. There was a crack and the man sighed in relief. The door must have dislocated his shoulder, but it was now back in place. Gabriel gracefully caught his friends' wands and ordered the man to his knees. Black laughed and hugged himself. Gabriel frowned, reminded of Boy.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend." Black said with a voice rough from disuse. Seemingly forgetting he was being held at wand-point while he himself was helpless. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not to run to a teacher. I'm grateful… It will make everything much easier…"

"Get on your knees." Gabriel repeated, wand-tip glowing in warning. "You can be bound physically or I can do it with magic."

"No." Black hissed, eyes glittering madly at Ron. "I've waited too long… to kill the traitor… to kill the one I went to Azkaban for…" Black suddenly looked straight at Gabriel, expression now childlike. "Are you going to kill me?"

Gabriel didn't know what was going on, but Black was a threat. Ron needed treatment. He opened his mouth, but froze when Remus came hurtling into the room screaming the disarming spell. Gabriel lost all three wands and staggered backward under the force of the spell. Okay. Things just got really confusing. He backed off and Silas came Out, his eyes narrowed in icy fury.

"Wolf." He said in a cold, dangerous voice. "What are you doing?"

Chapter end.

A/N: I changed my summery hoping to get more readers, but was completely upset to find that doing so had knocked me off the C2's you all have put me on. I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for that to happen! I'd be most grateful if you could put me back in your communities. Sorry and thank you.

A/N2: Sorry for the cliffy! I promise there will be very few of these.