Sorry it's been so long! I've been trying really hard to stay somewhat true to the book and this chapter was hard for some reason. I remember the movie better but I don't want it to be about the movie so I had to go back to the book and the Internet. Hope you like it! I want chapter 6 to be up sooner rather than later. I apologize for any choppiness.
The trio didn't have time to linger on the frightening (or in Ron's case, lucky) evening. No more than 5 days later, Hagrid took Buckbeak, a high-spirited Hippogriff, to his hearing. For weeks, Hermione had been doing research to ensure the success of the poor creature. Harry and Ron had agreed to help but both had been caught up in their own lives to aid Hermione in the ongoing hunt, let alone remember it was even happening. Lucy had traded in her Herbology books for books about animal hearings and cruelty and spent all her spare time with Hermione in the library. She'd been going to visit with a worried Hagrid and developed a bond with Buckbeak very similar to Harry's. Every visit, Hagrid would ask about the research because the hearing date was ever approaching but Lucy never had the results he was hoping for.
And finally it was the day of the hearing. Harry and Ron had forgotten until Hermione had reminded them at breakfast, to which she ate none. She asked Professor McGonagall if she could skip her last class to go to Hagrid's hut to see how it went but the stern teacher declined. Lucy tried to focus on her lessons but her thoughts kept straying to the innocent beast. By lunch, she'd had enough. She needed something to distract her; something that would need more energy and attention than worrying. When Lucy walked into the Great Hall and scanned the Gryffindor table, she knew just what would do the trick.
"Hi Natalie, do you mind if I sit with you?" she asked timidly.
"Oh sure, well, I mean sure you can sit here not yeah I do mind actually, go sit somewhere else. That would be rude. Anyway, how ya been? Personally, I could be better. See, I got a 60% on the last Transfiguration test. I think McGonagall's got it in for me ever since I got the wrong answer on the first day and then complained about it." Natalie pouted and Lucy took the opportunity to get on track of another topic; one that could last for eternity if Natalie could last that long.
"So Natalie, who is the best-looking guy in Hogwarts?" she asked. For a minute, Natalie was stunned that shy, quiet Lucy had asked such a mature question.
"We talking all of Hogwarts?" she asked and Lucy nodded. "Teachers included?" Lucy nodded. Gross, she thought. Natalie took a minute to compose herself for a full-on blabber-thon.
"Well, I would personally say that there isn't one specific person. You definitely have to narrow it down into subcategories. For example, 3rd year Gryffindors, it's definitely your brother. I know that seems gross but you gotta admit he has this sort of look about him like 'I'm the Seeker with tousled hair and sensitive green eyes. I'm gonna make your senses scream with electricity so let's go.' But all of Gryffindor house, it has GOT to be Oliver Wood. Quidditch players just drive me insane – in a good way. When Oliver is saving a particularly hard throw of the Quaffle, his face gets all concentrated and his eyes are so sharp and focused that I wish I could be on the receiving end of them.
Slytherin Quidditch players are another thing entirely! Most of them must be part-troll or something. The only one worth a second glance is Draco Malfoy but his chin is too pointy and his hair too blonde. No one wants kids that inherit his looks." Natalie paused to shudder. "In Hufflepuff, I'd say you're looking at Cedric Diggory or Justin Finch-Fletchley. Both quite good-looking in different ways. Cedric's more handsome Prince Charming and Justin's like the dark enemy you know you can't have and it just makes you want him more.
Now try to guess who I would kiss if given the chance?" Natalie didn't let her guess. "George Weasley!" She smiled from ear to ear. "I know he looks exactly like his brother but I get a better vibe from him. His robes could do with a cleaning and his broomsticks a little old to make him the Quidditch star but whoever marries him better count her blessings."
Before Natalie could continue her rant, the bell rang and they had to rush off to Herbology. Professor Sprout had them doing textbook work in silence so the conversation couldn't continue. Lucy worked quickly and efficiently. She finished with 10 minutes to spare and was rewarded with 5 points to Gryffindor for being first done.
When they left the greenhouse to go to Charms, Lucy caught sight of Hagrid's solitary hut. In all that time, she hadn't thought once of Buckbeak. But the worry returned with vigour once more. She asked Professor Flitwick if she could go to the Hospital Wing since she had a 'headache.' She decided she would detour to the Transfiguration classroom to wait for the trio instead of returning to class. She listened to the steady ticking of a nearby clock until the bell rang and the time had come.
Harry was surprised to see Lucy sitting outside of their classroom door. She looked nervously up at him and he returned a look of anxiety and guilt.
"Oh good, you're here," Hermione said when she saw Lucy. "Hagrid sent me a letter right after the hearing had finished. He's staying overnight at the Leaky Cauldron tonight so we can't visit him until tomorrow." She paused.
"Just hurry up and tell us what happened," Lucy pleaded, tears forming in her bright green eyes. Harry put an arm around her to comfort her. Hermione took a deep breath to steady her voice.
"Buckbeak lost. He'll have an appeal in June but if he's already lost the hearing there's not much that will change." She paused. "He'll be executed." A couple tears fell from her eyes.
"We're sorry we didn't help very much Hermione. Harry and I will go to the library every chance we get to help Hagrid." Ron offered. Hermione kept crying. "And I'm sorry I haven't been a very good friend to you recently, or to Harry. I got a little carried away with the Sirius Black thing I guess," he looked down at his feet.
"A little carried away? You were parading it around like you'd won a thousand galleons!" Hermione informed him, but she smiled anyway. "Apology accepted. Now if we want Hagrid to have any chance in the appeal, we'll have to get started right away. There were a lot of books I didn't get the chance to look in before the hearing and there might be something I missed. C'mon, we'll go right now that we've got the chance." She grabbed Ron and Harry, who was still holding onto Lucy, and ran in the direction of the library.
"Can't we at least have something to eat first?" Ron complained but Hermione didn't stop at the Great Hall. Instead, she started him off with five books to peruse while she re-searched old ones. Harry would have gladly helped but Lucy was overcome with tears and he felt the need to hug her until she calmed down enough to do some work. He was new to the whole big brother thing but he wasn't failing miserably. The four of them stayed in the library late into the night.
Over the next few weeks, Harry always knew where to find his two best friends and his sister – the library. It wasn't until the first week of May that they postponed their Buckbeak efforts in exchange for some studying and homework. Exams would be starting soon and teachers weren't going easy on the third year students. Lucy was the only one to find time every day to pop into the shelves of books and scan a few chapters at least. But even then, there was no such luck on finding anything that would save the Hippogriff. Harry was spending the least amount of time on it since he also had the final Quidditch match coming up mid-May. Oliver was working the players to the ends of the earth to try to win the cup. It was his last year and his last chance to win for Gryffindor house. Hermione was also spending less time amongst Animal Rights books while she worked steadily on passing her exams. Ron and Lucy were the most consistent.
Exams. Harry and Ron had Transfiguration and Charms on the first day and it seemed like the worst would probably be over. Care of Magical Creatures was easily the simplest exam they'd ever taken and they'd gotten a chance to speak to Hagrid.
"We'll know day after tomorrow for sure," he had said sadly. Potions were awful and Harry was sure Snape had given him a zero since his Confusion Concoction wouldn't thicken. Astronomy and History of Magic passed quickly. Herbology was the last one of the second day and the students were glad it would be over tomorrow. Defense Against the Dark Arts was first and Harry passed with full marks. Ron got stuck in the swamp by a Hinkypunk and Hermione burst out of the Boggart trunk, crying.
"Professor McGonagall told me I f-f-failed everything!" She exclaimed hysterically. And the last one, at least for the boys, was Divination. Harry was doomed to be last on this one and so he'd find out about Buckbeak last.
In his exam, he made up that he saw Buckbeak flying away from the grounds in the crystal ball. When the exam was over, he tried to make a run for it but before he had a chance to escape, something strange happened. Professor Trelawney said to him in a trance-like voice, her eyes out of focus, the following: "It will happen tonight. The Dark Lord lies aloneand 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, greater and more terrible than ever he was. Tonight... before midnight...the servant...will set out...to rejoin...his master..."
Harry stared at her as she snapped out of it, unaware of what she had just said. Harry stood for a moment until she shooed him away. Off he ran down to the Gryffindor Common room. He burst through the entrance behind the Fat Lady like no tomorrow. Ron, Hermione, and Lucy sat at a round table by the fireplace, huddled around a piece of parchment. Harry tried to catch his breath before walking over.
"You'll never believe what Professor Trelawney –" but Hermione shoved the parchment into his face for him to read.
Lost appeal. They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it. Hagrid.
"We have to go; we can't let him be by himself." Harry jumped up from the chair he had fallen into.
"Sunset though, Harry. We shouldn't risk it, should we?" Ron hesitated. Harry breathed deeply.
"If only we had the Invisibility cloak," he muttered, mentally kicking himself for leaving it under the witch's hump. "I can't let Snape see me in the corridors or he'll expel me for sure!" He told them.
"So he can't see you?" Hermione asked and Harry nodded. "I'll go get it then, just wait here for me." She ran out the door and was back within minutes. "It'll be a squeeze with the four of us but just stay close to each other and we should be good." She said as they slipped underneath. They exited the school without a hitch and Hermione led the way down the sloping grounds where they could see Buckbeak tied to the wooden post. Hagrid was inside, presumably eating a small dinner. Ron reached out and knocked on the door. They heard a yelp from inside, the scraping of a chair and then the wood door was swung open to reveal Rubeus Hagrid, who was in a terrible mess.
"Who's there?" he called into the evening light.
"It's us, let us in please," Hermione whispered. Hagrid jumped when she spoke since he could not see a face to go along with the voice. He stepped aside to let them in then shut the door with a bang. They took the cloak off the minute they were safely inside the home. Fang sniffed around them to make sure they were friends, not foes.
"What are you four doing here? It's against the rules, especially for you two," he pointed to Harry and Lucy.
"Hagrid, when have we ever followed the rules?" Ron joked but Hagrid wasn't kidding.
"I'm already hanging by a thread here as it is. I don't need the safety of three third years and a first year hanging over my head as well. Thank you for coming by, but you all need to leave… now!" He went to open the door so they could leave but the 4 students remained stationary.
"We don't want you to be alone when it happens," Hermione argued.
"I won't be alone. Dumbledore is coming down and he won't be impressed about you being here. Neither will the Minister actually," Hagrid said. Harry stood up from his seat at the table.
"The Minister of Magic will be here? Why didn't you tell us that to begin with?" He asked angrily, grabbing the cloak and beckoning the others to get under it.
"It never came up before and I wasn't about to start bragging about it," Hagrid defended. "Oh! Before you go, I have something for Ron," He strode across the room and opened one of the metal cages that adorned one side of the hut. He pulled a scrawny brown thing from inside and handed it to Ron.
"Scabbers!" He said excitedly then turned guiltily to Hermione. "Sorry," he said sheepishly. Hermione crossed her arms getting ready for a lecture but Hagrid stopped them.
"They're coming, quick go out the back door," He ushered them to the back and they just barely opened the door when a knock came at the front door. "Just a minute!" Hagrid called to the executers. Harry, Ron, Hermione and Lucy scuttled along the side of the house, trying not to make any noise and stay under the cloak. They managed to get to the top of the hill and turned around to watch. It was hard to see past the giant pumpkins but they saw the axe go up, then swing mercilessly down. Harry held Lucy while she whimpered in grief. Hermione looked like she was going to throw up.
"Ouch!" Ron jumped back, making the cloak slip off them.
"Ron!" Harry cried, trying to pull the cloak at least over himself and Lucy. Ron was sucking on his right forefinger.
"It's Scabbers, he bit me!" Ron was still holding the squirming rat but the animal was clearly trying to make a run for it.
"Hold him tighter," Harry suggested but nothing Ron did was stopping Scabbers from leaping from his hands and scurrying away. Ron chased after him. "Ron! We don't have time for this!" The other three chased Ron across the grounds. Ron made a dramatic leap and landed with a thud but with Scabbers in his hand. Hermione and Harry froze several feet away from him, Harry sticking his arm out to prevent Lucy from getting any closer.
"Ron, come quickly, get over here," Hermione whispered in fear. Ron was sitting up now and stroking Scabbers to get him to calm down. He looked up at Hermione's voice. "Ron, it's the Whomping Willow, get out of the way," She cried urgently. Suddenly, Ron's face broke out into a look of complete fear, like death was looking him in the face.
"Harry! Run, it's the Grim!" He screamed. They all whirled around to see a big, black, shaggy dog baring its teeth. It jumped into the air and hit Harry in the chest, knocking him to the ground. The dog rolled off and away from Harry and landed on Ron. It bit his leg and dragged him off towards the Whomping Willow. The two animals and the wizard disappeared into a hole in its trunk.