Good day lovely readers! It's June 14th, and do you know what that means?
HAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEE! Yep, it's my birthday and I'm suuuuper happy because I've got loads of adorable birthdays wishes - in more than three languages! Awesome! And to celebrate, I HAVE AN UPDATE! Now... This chapter came out SUPER long, so I hope you all don't mind!
And as usual, thanks to my reviewers...
BlueGreen216 - Well, I don't want you to think that I approve of this - because I don't - it's just something that happens a lot :/ I won't change it now, because I wouldn't be able to! hahaha.. But it kind of happened because neither managed to be responsible... (and because Elena had a few secret intentions along with it ;x - SPOILER ;x) aaand about Harry and Jess flying... Well, something like that will happen - SOON!
MeganAllard - Voce ja respondi, mas eu gosto de responder de novo. HAHAHHA. Tambem adoro a Trelawney... Ela nao regula - naaadinha! O SIRIUS APARECE! Bom, na verdade quem aparece é o Scruffy... Mas ah, ta valendo. O proximo tem Sirius Black MESMO sem duvida alguma! Sim, a Lila vai descobrir... ela é foda que nem o Josh pra essas coisas (mas ele ainda supera ;x)... Ermm se voce gostou do tapa do Draco... Ai coitado. Ele ta sofrendo na parte 3 (vai ver que é por isso que ele sera um fdp na parte 4 :o) aiai Draco, voce nao aprende ne? aish...
Okay, let's get to it, shall we? ENJOY! ^^
A Game of Prediction
Easter came round faster than they had expected, but the third years barely had enough time to rest with the amount of homework the teachers had given them. Some of the students were close to breaking down or pulling out their own hair.
"Call this a holiday? The exams are ages away, what're they playing at?" Seamus Finnigan roared in the common room one afternoon.
But nobody had as much to do as Hermione. Even after officially dropping Divination, she was taking more subjects than anybody else. She was usually the last to leave the common room at night and first to arrive at the library the next morning. She had dark circles under her eyes, like Professor Lupin, and seemed constantly close to tears. Ron had taken over responsibility for Buckbeak's appeal. When he wasn't doing his own work, he was pouring over enormously thick volumes with names like 'The Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology' and 'Fowl or Foul? A Study of Hippogriff Brutality'. He was so absorbed; he even forgot to be horrible to Crookshanks. Jessica, meanwhile, had to deal with all her work and detention with Snape. Unfortunately for her, Pansy Parkinson had told Professor Snape she'd lashed out on Draco in front of his friends. He'd called her out during his lesson and decided to give her detention during the holidays. She partially wondered whether or not Snape had anything better to do with his time, rather than spend it with a very bored – and slightly furious – thirteen year old. Harry had to fit in his homework around Quidditch practice every day, not to mention endless discussions of tactics with Wood. The Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match would take place on the first Saturday after the holidays. Slytherin was leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. This meant – as Wood constantly reminded his team – that they needed to win the match by more than the amount to win the cup. It also meant that the burden of winning fell largely on Harry, because capturing the Snitch was worth one hundred and fifty points.
"So you must catch it only if we're more than fifty points up." Wood told Harry, constantly. "Only if we're more than fifty points up, Harry, or we win the match but lose the Cup. You've got that, haven't you? You must catch the Snitch only if we're-"
"I get it, Oliver!" Harry said, glaring furiously at his team Captain. The whole Gryffindor House was obsessed with the coming match. Gryffindor hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since the legendary Charlie Weasley (Ron's second oldest brother) had been Seeker.
Harry was just getting back from yet another tactics discussion with Wood and the rest of the team when Jessica was heading out.
"How many more detentions have you got?" Harry sighed.
"No idea... You know Snape; he'll make me go for the rest of the school year if he feels like it." Jessica said, rolling her eyes. "But it doesn't matter. I won't apologise to Draco until he convinces his father that Buckbeak doesn't deserve to be executed."
"Do you really think Draco Malfoy could make his father change his mind?" Harry asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Why not? Lucius Malfoy does anything Draco asks – I seriously don't know who's worse." She huffed.
"Neither do I." Harry smirked.
"Well, I best get going... I just hope he doesn't make me reorganise his cabinet again." Jessica groaned.
Not only did Professor Snape ask Jessica to reorganise his personal cabinet, but he made her clean the Potions classroom itself, including everything that was in it. She'd only slapped Draco across the cheek – and she wasn't the strongest of people – so she couldn't understand why she had such a terrible punishment. Draco was indeed Snape's favourite.
"Ah, Severus! There you are, I've been looking everywhere for you!" Professor Dumbledore said, as he walked into the classroom. Jessica gave the Headmaster a wide grin and an eager wave, which was returned with a very graceful bow. Snape merely looked up from the book he was reading and stared at the Headmaster with his usual bored and icy eyes.
"What do I owe the pleasure, Headmaster?" Snape asked.
"I'd just like to remind you that I'm going to need you to cover for Remus once again." Dumbledore said. Jessica was unable to suppress the groan that escaped her lips. Professor Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Miss Selwyn, I suggest you mind your own business and focus on what you need to get done." Snape said.
"Now, now, Severus, is this punishment really necessary?" Dumbledore asked, as he walked toward Jessica. "I believe it was just a little quarrel between friends. I'm certain Miss Selwyn and Mr. Malfoy are familiar with these arguments. Am I right, Miss Selwyn?"
"Oh yes, Professor." Jessica nodded, as she scrubbed the cauldrons clean. "Draco and I used to fight all the time – and Blaise Zabini too! They once put a huge rat under my bed, and there was that time when they put a spider on my head... I'd always get them back, though."
"You see, Severus? I think after tonight, no more detention is necessary." Dumbledore smiled.
"She slapped him, Headmaster. Surely we shouldn't reward a student for physically hurting another." Snape said, through gritted teeth.
"I only hit him because he deserved it, Professor Dumbledore, Sir. I wouldn't ever hurt Draco without a good reason." She said, innocently.
"You shouldn't hit, Miss Selwyn, with or without a good reason." Snape said, glaring furiously at her. Dumbledore's smile never faded. He seemed very much amused by the entire situation.
"It won't happen again, I promise!" Jessica said, raising her hands.
"Well, Severus, are we agreed? I trust Miss Selwyn can be true to her words." Dumbledore said, now turning back to face only Professor Snape. Snape, for a few good seconds, looked as though he could murder somebody. However, Jessica already knew that he was going to agree with Professor Dumbledore. He was, after all, the Headmaster.
"Very well, but I do not want to hear of this ever again."
Later that night, Jessica entered the common room jumping and cheering. Most of the students there were fifth years, and they stared at her as if she were insane. Of course, everyone knew she was Joshua's younger sister, so it wasn't exactly surprising.
"Either you've just won a heap load of money, or you've graduated." George said, as he threw himself onto the sofa.
"Why would I be happy if I graduated? I love it here." Jessica said, giving him a look that meant he'd said something absurd. She turned to face her brother, ready to tell him that they had the greatest Headmaster ever, but he stood up and dashed up the stairs before she could get a chance to say anything. She then frowned and turned back to George Weasley. "Is he alright?"
"Well, he was just a moment ago." George shrugged. Jessica sighed and took a seat on the armchair, opposite George.
"Where's your better half?" Jessica asked, smirking.
"Oh, he's – hey! I'm the better half, not him. Honestly, Selwyn, you need to get your facts right." George said, as he threw the cushion, that he was using to rest his head on, at her.
"Where is he then?" Jessica asked once again.
"Probably snogging Melody Thomas in the library." George smirked. "But we've already told him not to do anything other than that. You know, like what happened with Josh and Lila. I bet last thing Lupin wants to see is-"
"Oh God, George! Shut up!" Jessica said, dramatically, as she covered her ears. "I really don't want to hear about what happened in that library."
"But it's a natural course of life! We're born, we grow up, we get urges-"
"GEORGE!"
"Seriously man, shut up." Josh chuckled as he jumped down the last few steps.
Joshua crouched down beside his sister and took a deep breath. If things went down how he wanted them to, he'd be alright. At least until she caught up with things. But for now, this would do... He hesitated for a slight moment, but he couldn't turn back now.
"Here." He said, forcing his nerves away.
"What's that?" Jessica asked, raising an eyebrow, as he held out a reasonably large clump of parchment. Joshua gave her his typical 'isn't it obvious?' look and practically shook the parchment in her face.
"You wanted dad's letters, didn't you? They're here."
"Oh!" Jessica said, giving him a rather surprised look. "Oh... Well, I don't want them. Dad sent me two large Easter eggs, so I'm not mad at him anymore. Besides, you said so yourself that he spent most of his ink on scolding you. As much as I find it funny when you get told off, I wouldn't be bothered to actually read it."
And with that, Jessica stood up, gave Joshua a little pat on the bag, and skipped up the stairs to the girl's dormitories. Joshua was left beyond astounded.
"Brilliant, mate." George said, fighting back the urge to laugh.
"Can you believe it?" Josh said, still unable to comprehend what just happened. "She didn't want them."
"Isn't that a good thing?" George asked, giving him a confused – yet amused – look.
"Well, yeah... Of course it is. But I just wish she would've told me this before I used the covering up charm on most of it." Josh groaned.
By the time the holidays were over, tension between the two teams and their houses was reaching breaking point. A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, culminating in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year ended up in the Hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears. Harry was having a particularly bad time of it. He couldn't walk to class without Slytherin's sticking out their legs and trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever he went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded by people.
"They should be more careful. Jess might end up slapping them as well." Ron commented, giving Jessica a little nudge. She narrowed her eyes at the back of Crabbe and Goyle's heads almost immediately.
"No, Ron! Don't give her any ideas! She was lucky she managed to get out of detention, but now she has to be on her best behaviour." Hermione scolded.
Wood had given instructions that Harry should be accompanied everywhere he went, in case the Slytherin's tried to put him out of action. The whole of Gryffindor house took up the challenge enthusiastically, so that it was impossible for Harry to get to classes on time because he was surrounded by a vast, chattering crowd. Harry was more concerned for his Firebolt's safety than his own. When he wasn't flying it, he locked it securely in his trunk and frequently dashed back up to Gryffindor Tower at break times to check that it was still there.
All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common room the night before the match. Even Hermione had put down her books.
"I can't work, I can't concentrate." She said nervously.
There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George were dealing with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant than ever. Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch field in the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wand and muttering to himself. Angelina, Alicia and Katie were laughing at the twin's jokes. Harry was sitting with Jessica, Ron and Hermione; removed from the centre of things, trying not to think about the next day, because every time he did, he had the horrible sensation that something very large was fighting to get out of his stomach.
"You're going to be fine." Hermione told him, though she looked positively terrified.
"Yeah, you've got a Firebolt!" Ron said.
"Yeah..." Harry said, his stomach writhing.
"I could always threaten Draco, or something." Jessica wondered, a hint of mischievousness in her eyes.
There was an enormous applause the following day, once the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall. Harry couldn't help but grin broadly when he saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were applauding them too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as they passed. Draco Malfoy even looked paler than usual. Wood spent the entire breakfast urging his team to eat, while touching nothing himself. Then he hurried them off to the field before anyone else had finished, so they could get an idea of the conditions. As they left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again.
"Good luck, Harry!" Cho Chang called out. Harry suddenly felt himself blushing.
x.x
"Hello fellow students of Hogwarts! Today is the day we've all been anxiously waiting for – my return to the commentaries!" Josh bellowed through the microphone. Behind him, preparing her things, Lila rolled her eyes. "Of course, I've missed you all too, and I'll be signing autographs later on."
"Oh stop being so cocky." Lila groaned, as she took her place next to him. "Well, it seems as though most of the students are supporting Gryffindor; I'm seeing quite a lot of scarlet red."
"Of course they are, babe, they're the smart ones. LIONS FOR THE CUP!" Josh yelled and the crowd erupted in cheers and chants – "GO! GO! GRYFFINDOR!"
"Sorry to say this, babe, but I'm hoping Slytherin wins. We're ahead anyway... Either way, I'm certain it's going to be quite an interesting game."
Jessica made her way across the mass of students and eventually found Ron, Hermione, Neville, Dean, Seamus and Ginny. They were on the very front row of the stands, so Jessica leaned against the railings and started chanting along with the crowd. She was certain Gryffindor would win today – the match and the cup.
"And here come the Gryffindor's!" Josh cried. The two teams walked out onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. "Potter, Bell, Johnson, Spinnet, Weasley, Weasley and Wood."
"Here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Marcus Flint. He's made some changes in the line-up-"
"Probably choosing size over skill." Josh teased. Lila glared at him.
"Captains, shake hands!" Madam Hooch said. Flint and Wood approached each other and grasped each other's hand very tightly; it looked as though each was trying to break the other's fingers."Mount your brooms! In three... Two... One..."
"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinnet has the quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good, looking good... NO! DAMN YOU WARRINGTON!" Josh said, angrily.
"Warrington is tearing up the field!" Lila said, quite excitedly.
"YES! PERFECT HIT GEORGE! Warrington drops the quaffle, it's caught by... JOHNSON! YES!" Josh was on his feet, leaning against the railing, and in high risk of dropping the microphone onto the field. Lila pulled on his shirt, to keep him from tipping over.
"Joshua, please sit down, we don't want an accident to happen." Professor McGonagall said, feeling as though her heart would jump out at any moment.
"SHE SCORES! TEN POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!" Josh bellowed, still leaning against the railing.
The Gryffindor supporters erupted in a cheer so loud, that it blocked out the Slytherin's boo's completely. Jessica jumped up and down, waving Roary in the air.
"We can do this. We can win this!" Hermione chanted to herself.
Harry narrowly avoided crashing into Marcus Flint, who ended up almost knocking Angelina Johnson off her broom.
"Sorry!" Flint said, as the crows below booed. "Sorry, didn't see her!"
A moment later, Fred Weasley chucked his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.
"Serves you right, Flint! You're just lucky it wasn't my fist!" Josh said, threateningly.
"Joshua James Selwyn, I will not allow you to threaten your classmates!" McGonagall scolded.
"It seems as though Madam Hooch is going to interfere this time." Lila said.
"That will do!" Madam Hooch shrieked, zooming between them. "Penalty shot to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty shot to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!"
"Yep, it definitely looks like a penalty. Gryffindor's up first, let's see what Alicia's got." Lila said.
There was a sudden moment of silence within the crowd. They all waited, anxiously, to see what would happen...
"YES! SHE'S BEATEN THE KEEPER! TEN MORE POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!" Josh yelled. The crowd went wild.
"And now it's Slytherin... Can Marcus Flint make the shot?" Lila wondered, very anxiously.
"Come on, Wood. You can do this." Harry whispered to himself. "You can do this. You're the brains of this team. You can do this."
He watched as the entire crowd, once again, fell to a complete silence – shortly followed by a very loud cheer. Something that loud could only mean –
"SAVED! WOOD'S SAVED IT! LIONS FOR THE CUP!" Josh bellowed.
Feeling extremely relieved, Harry zoomed away, gazing around for the Snitch, but still making sure he caught every word of the commentary. It was essential that he hold Malfoy off the Snitch until Gryffindor was more than fifty points up –
"Gryffindor's in possession – no, wait, Slytherin is in possession – no, hold up! Gryffindor is back in possession and it's Katie Bell this time. She's got the quaffle, she's streaking the field, she's-" Josh jumped back when he saw that Montague, a Slytherin Chaser, had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the quaffle, he'd grabbed her head. Katie cart wheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the quaffle. Madam Hooch's whistle rang out again as she soared over to Montague and began shouting at him. A minute later, Katie had put another penalty past the Slytherin Seeker. "THIRTY POINTS AGAINST ZERO! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING, SON OF A-"
"JOSHUA! What did I tell you about language?" McGonagall said, irritably.
"I'm just too honest, Professor. I can't help myself." Joshua sighed.
Harry felt a huge jolt of excitement. He had seen the Snitch, it was shimmering at the foot of one of the Gryffindor goal posts, but he couldn't catch it just yet. Faking a look of sudden concentration, Harry pulled his Firebolt around and sped off toward the Slytherin end – it worked. Malfoy went haring after him, clearly thinking Harry had seen the Snitch there...
WHOOSH!
One of the bludgers came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick, and then...
WHOOSH!
The second bludger grazed Harry's elbow. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in. Harry had a fleeting glimpse of Bole and Derrick zooming toward him with their clubs raised.
"MOVE HARRY! MOVE!" Jessica and Ron roared, both leaning anxiously against the railings.
Harry turned the Firebolt upward at the last second. Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch.
"HA! TAKE THAT YOU IDIOTS!" Josh yelled.
"Joshua, please narrate the game instead of letting us in on your personal comments?" McGonagall sighed.
"Gryffindor's in possession again, Johnson takes the quaffle – Flint is alongside her – Flint is now in possession! Flint is flying toward the Gryffindor goal posts... SCORE!" Lila got up on her feet and screamed through the microphone. "WHO'S CHEERING NOW?"
It was turning into the dirtiest game Harry had ever played. Enraged that Gryffindor had taken such an early lead, the Slytherin's were rapidly resorting to any means to take the quaffle. Bole hit Alicia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a bludger. George elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties.
"Can he do it? Come on Wood... Don't let them score! Please... YES! THAT MEANS IT'S FORTY AGAINST TEN! LIONS FOR THE CUP!" Josh cheered.
The Snitch had disappeared again. Malfoy was still keeping close to Harry as he soared over the match, looking around for it once Gryffindor was fifty points ahead –
"KATIE BELL HAS SCORED! FIFTY POINTS TO GRYFFINDOR!" Josh bellowed
"Oh, come on guys! We can do better than this!" Lila said, frowning.
Fred and George Weasley celebrated with Katie, with their clubs raised in case the Slytherin's wanted revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of the twin's absence to aim both bludgers at Wood; they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded. Madam Hooch was beside herself.
"YOU DO NOT ATTACK THE KEEPER UNLESS THE QUAFFLE IS WITHIN THE SCORING AREA!" She shrieked at Bole and Derrick.
"That's another penalty for Gryffindor." Lila groaned. "Honestly, Flint, you should start listening to your fellow housemates. Next time we tell you not to put someone in the team – DON'T PUT THEM IN THE TEAM!"
"Couldn't agree with you more, babe." Josh nodded. "Angelina's up... Will she do it?"
"SCORE!" Ron, Seamus and Dean shouted.
"We've got sixty points! If Harry gets the Snitch, we win!" Jessica grinned.
Not a moment later, Fred pelted a bludger at Warrington, knocking the quaffle out of his hands. Alicia seized it and –
"SEVENTY POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR!" Josh yelled. He suddenly felt himself being pushed to the side, by a reasonably strong force. It was Professor McGonagall and she was attempting to take the microphone from him.
"POTTER! GET THAT SNITCH!" The woman yelled. Josh and Lila were very much surprised to see Professor McGonagall this eager about the game.
Harry could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he soared around the field, high above the rest of the game, with Malfoy speeding along behind him. And then he saw it. The Snitch was sparkling twenty feet above him. Harry put on a huge burst of speed; the wind was roaring in his ears. He stretched out his hand, but suddenly, the Firebolt was slowing down... Horrified, he looked around. Malfoy had thrown himself forward, grabbed hold of the Firebolt's tail, and was pulling it back.
"Why you little-"
Harry was angry enough to hit Malfoy, but couldn't reach. Malfoy was panting with the effort of holding on, but his eyes were sparkling maliciously. He had achieved what he'd wanted – the Snitch had disappeared again.
"And that's yet another penalty to Gryffindor... I actually liked Draco on the team, but I'm now having second thoughts." Lila said, shaking her head.
Alicia took Gryffindor's penalty, but she was so angry she missed by several feet. The Gryffindor team was losing concentration and the Slytherin's, delighted by Malfoy's foul on Harry, were being spurred onto greater heights.
"SCORE! TEN MORE POINTS TO SLYTHERIN! YES! FORGET WHAT I SAID ABOUT YOU EARLIER! JUST FIND THAT SNITCH DAMMIT!" Lila cried.
Harry was now marking Malfoy so closely their knees kept hitting each other. Harry wasn't going to let Malfoy anywhere near the Snitch.
"Get out of here, Potter!" Malfoy yelled in frustration as he tried to turn and found Harry blocking him.
"Angelina Johnson is in possession. Can she do it? Will she do it? I personally hope not." Lila said, earning a glare from Josh. "What?"
"Gryffindor is the best and you know it." Josh smirked.
"I know nothing." Lila huffed.
"Lions for the cup!" Josh sang.
"EIGHTY POINTS FOR GRYFFINDOR!" Professor McGonagall shouted.
Harry, who had almost pelted headlong into the stands – thanks to Flint being the usual cheater – skidded to a halt in midair, reversed, and zoomed back into the middle of the field. Then he saw something that made his heart stand still. Malfoy was diving, a look of triumph on his face – there, a few feet above the grass below, was a tiny, golden glimmer. Harry urged the Firebolt downward, but Malfoy was miles ahead.
"I think they've found it!" Lila screeched.
"GET IT HARRY!" Josh and McGonagall shouted in unison.
"GO! GO! GRYFFINDOR! GO! GO! GRYFFINDOR!" The crowd chanted.
Harry urged his broom forward. He was gaining on Malfoy. He flattened himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a bludger at him. He was at Malfoy's ankles – he was level – he threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom, and knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way...
"I don't believe it..." Ron said, in complete shock. "We... We..."
"GRYFFINDOR WINS!" Josh bellowed through the microphone, leaning so forward against the railings that he almost fell off – thankfully, Lupin had jumped forward and pulled him back just in time.
Harry pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Harry soared above the crowd, an odd ringing in his ears. They tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist, beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers. Then Wood was speeding toward him, half blinded by tears; he seized Harry around the neck and sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Harry felt two large thumps as Fred and George hit them. The girl's soon appeared, chanting along with the crowd. Tangled together in a many armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth.
"We won!" Jessica beamed, as she ran into Harry's arms and almost knocked him to the ground.
Professor McGonagall was sobbing harder even than Wood, wiping her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag. Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Neville, Dean and Ginny appeared soon afterwards and embraced the players tightly.
"That was one hell of a game!" Seamus yelled.
"LIONS OWN THE CUP!" Josh shouted, the microphone still in his hands as he jumped toward the other players.
They beamed as Harry was taken toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup.
x.x
The euphoria of finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake. However, they couldn't do any of that. Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows.
"Urgh... I'd give anything for a little sun on my skin." Jessica groaned, dropping her head in her book.
"I promise I'll let you go outside for a few minutes once we've finished this chapter." Hermione sighed. It was almost like a mother persuading her child to do their schoolwork.
"But this chapter is so long." Jessica groaned.
Even Fred, George and Josh had been spotted working; they were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings. In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than Percy was Hermione.
Jessica was still trying to understand how Hermione managed to attend so many classes at once. She was slightly suspicious toward the long necklace Hermione always wore, but never showed. Jessica had caught a glimpse of it one night and tried asking about it, but Hermione had changed the subject almost immediately. This only made the suspicion grow, but Jessica couldn't bring her mind to focus on any of that – not when the exams were on the way. Harry and Ron had given up on comprehending Hermione's busy schedule a long time ago, but they couldn't restrain themselves when they saw her exam timetable, lying around on the table. The first column read:
Monday
9:00 – Arithmancy
9:00 – Transfiguration
Lunch
13:00 – Charms
13:00 – Ancient Runes
"Hermione?" Ron said, cautiously, because she was liable to explode when interrupted these days. "Er... Are you sure you've copied down these times right?"
"What?" Hermione snapped, picking up the exam schedule and examining it. "Yes, of course I have."
"Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once?" Harry asked, amused.
"No." Hermione said, shortly. "Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"
"Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading." Ron said, sarcastically. Jessica silently observed her friend's actions. Hermione looked extremely exhausted and like she was hiding something – something important.
Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment around on her table, looking for the book. Just then, there was a rustle at the window and Hedwig fluttered through it, a note clutched tight in her beak.
"It's from Hagrid..." Harry said, ripping the note open. "Buckbeak's appeal – it's set for the sixth."
"That's the day we finish our exams." Hermione said, still looking everywhere for her Arithmancy book.
"And they're coming up here to do it." Harry said, still reading from the letter. "Someone from the Ministry of Magic and... And an executioner."
Jessica, Hermione and Ron all looked up at Harry instantly.
"They're bringing the executioner to the appeal? But that sounds as though they've already decided!" Hermione screeched.
"Yeah... It does." Harry said, slowly.
"They can't do this!" Jessica groaned, frustrated.
"I've spent ages reading up on stuff for him. They can't just ignore it all!" Ron huffed.
Harry had a horrible feeling that the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures had its mind made up by Mr. Malfoy. Unfortunately for them, they were unable to go visit Hagrid, due to the new strict security measures, and Harry didn't dare retrieve his Invisibility Cloak from behind the one-eyed witch.
Exam week began and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third years emerged from Transfiguration at lunchtime on Moday, limp and ashen-faced, comparing results and bemoaning the difficulty of the tasks they had been set, which had included turning a teapot into a tortoise. Hermione irritated the rest by fussing about how her tortoise looked more like a turtle, which was the least of everyone else's worries.
"I can't believe I managed that... Though it did take me longer than I had expected. I am completely low on energy. I-need-sleep!" Jessica whined.
"Mine still had a spout for a tail..." Ron frowned.
"Were the tortoises supposed to breathe steam?" Seamus wondered.
"I'm just happy yours didn't explode, Seamus." Jessica said, patting the Irish boy on the back.
Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Hermione had been right; Professor Flitwick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms. Harry slightly overdid his out of nerves and Ron, who was partnering him, ended up in fits of hysterical laughter and had to be led away to a quiet room for an hour before he was ready to perform the charm himself. Jessica and Hermione worked perfectly well together, and most likely aced the exam with tops marks – Hermione's being the highest, of course.
"Remind me to work with you every year; you're like a good luck charm." Jessica beamed alongside Hermione.
After dinner, the students hurried back to their common rooms, not to relax, but to start studying for Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Astronomy.
Hagrid presided over the Care of Magical Creatures exam the following morning with a very preoccupied air indeed; his heart didn't seem to be in it at all. He had provided a large tub of fresh flobberworm's for the class, and told them that to pass the test; their flobberworm had to still be alive at the end of the hour. As flobberworm's flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam any of them had ever taken, and also gave Jessica, Harry, Ron and Hermione plenty of time to speak to Hagrid.
"Beaky's gettin' a bit depressed. Been cooped up too long. But still... We'll know day after tomorrow – one way or the other." Hagrid told them, bending low on the pretence of checking to see if their flobberworm's were still alive.
They had Potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Jessica had a lot of trouble getting her Confusing Concoction to thicken, much like many of the other students, and Snape, standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure, scribbled something that looked suspiciously like a zero onto his notes.
"Thicken you damn little thing. Just thicken!" Jessica hissed at the liquid in her cauldron.
"Add more scurvy grass to it." Jessica nearly jumped when she heard the quiet voice – barely a whisper – behind her. She knew for a fact, seeing as she'd given him a short nod when she walked in, that working behind her was none other than Draco Malfoy. She also knew that he was still quite bitter about losing the Quidditch Cup. She was almost certain he was trying to get her to fail... And then he hissed again. "Hurry up before it gets to a higher temperature, otherwise it'll go rotten."
She took a deep breath and added a little more scurvy grass – Snape, realising this, casually made his way back and watched as the liquid slowly thickened. With his lips tight, he gave her a small glare and wrote a few more things down – she'd passed!
Then came Astronomy at midnight, up on the tallest tower – possibly passed; History of Magic on Wednesday morning, Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology, in the greenhouses under a baking hot sun; then back to the common room once more, with sunburnt necks, thinking longingly of this time next day, when it would all be over.
"Where are you going? You need to study!" Hermione called out, as Jessica dashed down the stairs and out of the portrait hole. Hermione huffed in annoyance. "Honestly, you'd think she'd at least look back."
"She's probably going to make the most of her time left before curfew." Ron shrugged.
Jessica dashed across the corridors, down the endless stairs and headed toward the Slytherin dungeons. Being there again brought back the memories of her second year – ones she slightly wished she could forget – but this was for a pretty decent cause. Luckily enough for her, Blaise was just about to head into the common room.
"BLAISE!" She yelled, breathlessly, as she ran toward him. Blaise turned and looked at her, rather surprised.
"Who died?" He asked, sighing.
"What?" Jessica asked, eyes wide.
"Well... I can't really think of any other reason for you to be down here." He smirked.
"Could you get Draco for me, please?" She asked, ignoring his ridiculous comment.
"Why?" He wondered, curiously.
"Does it really matter? Just go get him!" She said, pushing him toward his portrait.
"All right, all right." He sighed.
Jessica waited for a good ten minutes outside the Slytherin common room. She even contemplated on leaving after the first five, but she waited. If he didn't come out five minutes before curfew, then she'd have no other choice but to leave. However, Draco did eventually step outside, and he seemed quite surprised that she was there.
"Took you long enough." Jessica huffed.
"I was in the shower." Draco said, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh... Well..." Jessica scratched the back of her head, sheepishly. She eventually cleared her throat and held out a medium sized box. "It's nothing much and I hope you don't get mad or anything... I've had it with me for a while, so it was before we won the Cup. If you don't want it, you can give to someone else, though. I really don't mind. I mean, I do, but I don't... And-"
"Jess... Breathe for a bit." He said, smiling slightly. He sighed and opened the box. Inside was a broom-cleaning kit. He had many cleaning products for his broom, but he didn't say anything.
"Happy fourteenth birthday, Draco." She said, suddenly walking up and giving him a hug. There was a slight awkwardness between them, but neither seemed to care.
"Thanks." He said, still a bit surprised she was there at all. They pulled apart and stood in a moment of uncomfortable silence. "You didn't have to give me anything, though... I mean, we've not exactly been on the best of terms lately."
"I'm sorry I slapped you." She sighed. "You totally deserved it, but I'm sorry."
"Right..." He looked back down at his present once again and raised an eyebrow. "There's a packet of pumpkin pasties in here."
"What? How did that get in there? No wonder I couldn't find it! I must've put it in there when I was getting your present ready-" She made a sudden move to get it back, but was blocked by Draco's arm.
"You aren't going to take them back, are you?" He said, almost teasingly.
"Of course I am! They're mine and were put in there by mistake." She said, stubbornly. Draco noticed the packet was open, pulled out one, and ate it.
"Hmm... They taste really good. It's the one you got from Hogsmede, isn't it?" He smirked.
"Draco Malfoy, you give those pasties back!" She said, reaching out and trying to get them away from him. He, however, raised his arm and continued to eat them. There were definitely many good things about being much taller. Even with her being persistent and jumping, his upper body strength and natural balance kept him practically intact. And then she used the dirtiest trick she'd ever invented – she pouted. He was more than certain she already knew how much that worked. He tried his very best not to give in, but it was just too-darn-adorable – and he'd never admit such a thing. He groaned and lowered his arm once again, allowing her to take the pasties. Her chocolate brown eyes were wide and sparkling with joy.
"You're addicted." He said, shaking his head.
"Am not." She said, with her mouth full.
"And disgusting." He smirked. "You should go back, it's almost curfew and I doubt you want detention with Snape again."
"Good point." She nodded. "Well, happy birthday then."
"Thanks." He said. He watched as she turned around, skipped down the corridor and disappeared from view.
"Did you tell her?" Blaise asked, walking out of the portrait hole.
"What?" Draco asked, confused, though he didn't turn around to look at his friend. In his head, he could still see that weird and cheerful little creature, bouncing back to her dormitory.
"About the letter you sent to you father... About the Hippogriff?" Blaise said. Draco slowly shook his head in response. Blaise then sighed and turned to head back inside. "Idiot."
Their second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was DADA. Professor Lupin had complied the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart. Harry passed everything with excellent marks; Ron had done well up until the Hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist high into the quagmire; Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk. After about a minute inside, she burst out again, screaming.
"Hermione, what is it?" Professor Lupin startled.
"P-P-Professor M-McGonagall!" Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. "Sh-she said I'd f-failed everything!"
Lupin had been nice enough to lower the level of any liquid when it was Jessica's turn – seeing as she'd expressed her thoughts on drowning quite dramatically. She did reasonably well during the obstacle course, though she was certain she took the longest – surpassing even Lavender. She did exceedingly well with the Boggart, however, which happened to turn into a gigantic mutant spider – it also had wings – but it soon melted away to nothing. She was quite relieved it was much better than the first experience with the Boggart.
Ron was still slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione's Boggart, as they walked back up to the castle, but an argument was averted by the sight that met them on the top of the steps. Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, was standing there staring out at the grounds. He startled at the sight of Harry.
"Hello there, Harry!" He said. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"
"Yes." Harry said. Hermione and Ron, not being on speaking terms with the Minister of Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background. Jessica was highly tempted to give the man a piece of her mind, but was literally being held back by Hermione.
"He could call all this off if he wanted to." Jessica said, glaring furiously at the Minister – who didn't seem to notice anything at all.
"I know that, Jess, but you still need to show him some respect." Hermione scolded.
"Has the appeal already happened?" Ron asked – only he'd been listening to the ongoing conversation between the Minister and Harry.
"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon." Fudge said, looking at Ron curiously.
"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all!" Ron said. "The Hippogriff might get off!"
Before Fudge could answer, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin black moustache. Harry quickly assumed they were the representatives of the Committee.
"Come on then, we should get something to eat." Harry said, making sure he got Jessica and Ron out of there before they decided to attack one of the wizards.
Jessica, Harry and Ron's last exam was Divination; Hermione's was Muggle Studies. They walked up the marble staircase together – Hermione left them of the first floor – and proceeded all the way up to the seventh floor, where many of their class were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney's classroom, trying to cram in a bit of last minute studying.
"She's seeing as all separately." Neville informed them as they went to sit down next to him. He had his copy of 'Unfogging the Future' open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing. "Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?"
"Nope" Ron said, in an offhand voice. He kept checking his watch; Harry knew that he was counting down the time until Buckbeak's appeal.
Jessica started to get nervous and fidgety as the line of people outside shortened. Harry attempted to calm her, by randomly talking or playing around with her curls, but nothing worked. She silently worried about seeing something she couldn't understand in the crystal ball, and kept thinking she'd fail for not being able to explain anything. She was acting much like Hermione at that moment, but she couldn't help it. Even though she wasn't a complete bookworm like Hermione, she still needed good grades. Both her parents would have her head if she did poorly – and that was something she'd rather avoid. She saw Ron glancing at his watch again. It was now two o'clock.
"Ronald Weasley." Said the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Ron grimaced at Jessica and Harry and climbed the silver ladder out of sight.
"Just us now." Harry sighed. Jessica nodded. "You'll be fine... Besides, it's not like this is that serious."
Finally, after about twenty silent minutes – in which Harry spent it all on twirling and un-twirling Jessica's curls – Ron's large feet reappeared on the ladder.
"How'd it go?" Harry asked him, standing up.
"Rubbish." Ron said. "Couldn't see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced, though... I'll see you two in the common room."
"Jessica Selwyn." Professor Trelawney called.
"Good luck." Harry said, giving her a small pat on the back.
Jessica climbed the ladder uneasily and soon caught sight of Trelawney. She was waiting patiently for Jessica, with a small smile on her face.
"Good afternoon, my dear, please take a seat. I'd like you to gaze into the orb... You make take your time... Just tell me what you see."
Jessica sat down in front of the crystal ball, without uttering a single word, crossed her arms on the table, rested her head on them and gazed into the orb. She remembered doing the same action last time she saw something and wondered if it would work – then again, did she really want to see anything? What would she do if she couldn't explain it?
"Relax your mind, my dear, there's no need to be nervous."
Trelawney's words were surprisingly soothing and somewhat helped. Jessica allowed her mind to go blank. She watched as the fog swirled around and tried to form images. She watched them patiently. Finally, after about fifteen minutes of fog twirling, she realised it began to take shape. She furrowed her eyebrows slightly and tried to comprehend what was happening.
"You don't need to know the meaning, just tell me what you see, my dear."
"I... I-I see a dog. A black dog – it's not the Grim, though." She said, rather quickly, just to assure that it wasn't an omen of death she was witnessing. "It reminds me of a stray dog I saw at home last year, I named him Scruffy."
"And what is this dog doing, my dear?"
"I... I don't know. He's on the grass, underneath the Whomping Willow, and it looks as though he's talking to a cat – but that doesn't make sense, of course. Dogs can't talk to cats, right?"
"Is there anything else? Does the image keep changing in any way?" Trelawney asked, sounding quite interested. Jessica fell silent and continued to watch the orb. After another five minutes, it changed.
"Words..." Jessica said, confused. Trelawney seemed extremely excited now.
"Read them, my dear! Read them!"
"It doesn't tell me much, though... It only says 'tonight, before midnight'. It's written inside a dark... A dark cloud, I think." Jessica said.
"Alright. Very well, my dear, very well indeed. You, my dear, have a natural talent for this. You should consider a career, perhaps? You, my dear, might have the power to see into your own future! Do you understand how great this is, my dear?"
Harry started to climb the stairs just as Jessica was halfway down. He noticed she looked quite glum and figured the worst.
"It's alright, it's just one subject." He said, hoping it would help somehow.
"I'll wait for you." She mumbled, sitting down on the bottom step.
Those three words hadn't left her mind since the moment she'd read them – 'tonight, before midnight'. What could it possibly mean? Jessica hugged her knees and buried her head in her arms. She didn't want the power to see into the future. Sometimes, not knowing things was much easier to explain afterward. Besides, the future was constantly changing. If she knew something bad would happen, she'd change it, but then something worse could happen. She groaned, rather loudly, and tried to force her mind to think of something else. It was useless, however, because all she could think about was her sudden discovery and those three little words. They felt like a sign. Was it Buckbeak? Was he going to die tonight? Perhaps he would be set free tonight?
"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT."
The sudden harsh voice, coming from upstairs, shook her from her thoughts almost immediately. Without thinking twice, she dashed up, hoping she wouldn't get lower marks for interrupting Harry's test. Harry jumped when he heard her come in.
"What's wrong with her?" Jessica asked, rather terrified. Professor Trelawney's eyes started to roll. She looked as though she was about to have some sort of seizure. "We should call someone, or get help, or-"
"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, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER BEFORE. TONIGHT... BEFORE MIDNIGHT... THE SERVANT... WILL SET OUT... TO REJOIN... HIS MASTER..."
Professor Trelawney's head fell forward onto her chest. She made a grunting sort of noise. Jessica and Harry stood there, quite pale and stared at her with eyes wide. Then, suddenly, the woman's head snapped up again.
"I'm so sorry, my dear." She said, dreamily. "The heat of the day, you know... I drifted off for a moment. Oh, and what are you still doing here Miss Selwyn? Is there anything wrong? You two look like you've seen a ghost."
"I think we did." Harry said, uneasily.
"We'll be leaving now, Professor. Have a lovely nap." Jessica said, pulling Harry by the arm.
x.x
Jessica and Harry found Ron and Hermione sitting inside the empty Gryffindor common room, both looking extremely tired and glum.
"Professor Trelawney..." Harry panted. "Just told me-"
"Buckbeak lost." Ron interrupted, his voice weak and defeated. "Hagrid's just sent this."
Hagrid's note was dry this time, no tears had splattered it, yet his hand seemed to have shaken so much as he wrote that it was hardly legible.
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've got to go." Harry said at once. "He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"
"Sunset... I think we can make it back just before curfew." Ron said, knowingly.
"Then it's settled. We might even be lucky enough to get the Committee to change their mind." Jessica said, thoughtfully.
"I doubt they'll listen to us, but I agree... We should be there for Hagrid." Hermione sighed.
"Alright, let's get out of our uniforms and head down." Harry said.
They casually made their way out of the common room and across the corridors; few students were outside their dorms. There wasn't a single teacher in sight, and they felt quite grateful for it. They were still allowed outside, but it was much easier getting around without someone asking them what they were up to.
"We'd best keep an eye out for Snape." Ron mentioned at some point.
"We won't need to worry about him for a while. Josh managed to get another detention with him, so they'll both be indoors all night." Jessica smirked.
"We won't be staying out all night, though." Hermione said, in a very motherly tone.
They finally reached an exit to the hills, where Hagrid's hut stood at the very bottom, took a deep breath and walked out. There, just a few feet away from them, at the top of the hill, were Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle and Pansy Parkinson.
"When you think things can't get any worse." Ron muttered.
"I want its head." Goyle snickered.
"Do we really have to be out here for this?" Blaise asked, uncomfortably.
"Well you can go inside, Zabini; I'm dying to see the look on Hagrid's face. That vicious creature deserves to get his head chopped off after what it did to Draco." Pansy said, in a very irritating high pitched voice.
"We shouldn't stay too long out here, though. It's almost curfew." Draco muttered.
"Who cares? Snape can bail us all out later." Pansy grinned.
"Oh boy..." Blaise sighed. Not too far off from them, stood the Golden Quartet – at least that's how nearly everyone in the school viewed them. Blaise had to admit, those four always managed to get themselves into trouble, but to give their little group a name? That was a little too much, even for him.
"Come to see the show, have you?" Pansy called out.
"Please let me pull her hair out." Jessica said through gritted teeth.
"No." Harry and Ron said, though they both silently agreed it would be quite amusing.
"Let's just go." Blaise said. Draco looked at him for a moment. He knew it was probably the best, but he'd also never hear the end of it.
"Just a few more minutes, alright?" Draco said. He would've kept quiet if he'd known what was coming for him not a moment later.
"YOU FOUL, LOATHSOME, EVIL LITTLE COCKROACH!" Hermione, uncharacteristically bellowed, as she skidded down toward Draco Malfoy. Her three friends stood frozen, completely shocked by what had just happened. Hermione had her wand in her hands and pointed it directly at Draco's face. His eyes were wide and he looked extremely terrified. Behind him, his friends also froze.
"Hermione, don't! He's not worth it!" Ron called out, as he too skidded down.
"Yeah, trust me; he's really not worth it." Blaise said, with his hands raised and hoping to ease the tension. Draco glanced at him for a moment, quite angrily. "Let's all just calm down for a bit and-"
"DON'T YOU DARE TELL ME TO CALM DOWN!" Hermione screeched. Jessica, Harry and Ron were beyond bewildered. Her wand was still aiming directly at Draco's face. "This is all your fault! If you hadn't gone blubbering to your father, none of this would be happening!"
"That thing attacked poor Draco! It deserves what's coming to him!" Pansy said, her voice just as loud as Hermione's.
"You'd better shut it, Parkinson, unless you want Hermione's wand on your face too." Jessica smirked.
"Let's just go, Hermione." Ron said, as he slowly approached her.
Hermione took a deep breath and lowered her wand. Draco stared at her. There was a certain unexplainable look on his face. Jessica couldn't tell whether he was relieved, surprised or just acting smug. She silently hoped it wasn't the last option. He'd definitely be getting it if it were...
WHAM!
Hermione punched Draco right in the nose. Jessica jumped and flinched as soon as she'd heard it. There was a slight cracking nose, followed by quite a lot of blood dripping down his face. He yelled, angrily, as he desperately clutched his nose. Ron and Harry didn't really know what to do next.
"Make sure you father hears about that too!" Hermione spat, as he backed away from her and headed back into the castle. Pansy followed him, sobbing uncontrollably. Crabbe and Goyle dashed ahead of Draco, both terrified they'd be next in line. Blaise was the only one that stood, staring at Hermione. He couldn't believe his eyes.
"That was uncalled for." Blaise eventually said.
"Do you want some of that too?" Hermione asked, already making her way toward him.
"Okay! Let's go!" Jessica said, dashing forward and pulling Hermione by the arm. She struggled slightly, but managed to get her friend under control. Blaise gave Jessica a short nod before running back up to the castle.
"That... Was bloody brilliant!" Ron grinned.
"Literally." Jessica muttered.
x.x
"You look like sh-"
"Language, Joshua." Remus Lupin warned. "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be in detention or something?"
Joshua casually crossed the DADA classroom, stopping opposite Professor Lupin, who sat on his desk, going through his notes. The man was quite proud to know that nearly all his students passed with high marks.
"It hasn't started yet. You know Snape; he enjoys detention further into the night... I think it's something about us sleeping poorly that makes him feel fantastic." Josh shrugged. "Any news?"
"On your matter, no. I've been a little busy with something else lately." Remus muttered, not taking his eyes off his desk.
"Busy with what?" Josh asked, curiously.
"Just some school business, Joshua. Things I cannot share with my fifth year student." Remus looked up and smiled. "Now hurry along, I can't chat today."
"Someone's in a bad mood." Josh mumbled.
As Joshua left the room, Remus pulled out the parchment that he'd quickly hidden inside his drawer just as the teenager had walked in. He scanned through it, anxiously searching for something – anything. And then he saw it. Four names heading out of the castle. Remus sighed.
Joshua lazily walked around the reasonably empty corridors. He was just about to head to the stairs when he saw something that caught his attention. Draco Malfoy, closely followed by a wailing Pansy Parkinson, was rushing to Madam Pomfrey, with his hand on his face and covered in blood. Josh furrowed his eyebrows and followed the third years.
"She's mental, she is! She should be expelled!" Pansy cried. It was possible to hear her yells from outside of the large room. Joshua casually walked in, earning a slight glare from Madam Pomfrey.
"What happened to your face?" Josh asked, once he'd got a good look at Draco. Whatever happened most certainly broke his nose. Draco looked away, refusing to answer.
"Hermione Granger, that's what! She's mental! She should be expelled!" Pansy bellowed.
x.x
"Yer shouldn't 'ave come." Hagrid said, as he allowed the four inside his hut. "Anyone wan' some tea?"
"We weren't going to leave you at a time like this, Hagrid." Jessica said, sitting down.
"Why's Buckbeak outside?" Harry asked. He was the last to enter the cabin.
"I tethered him in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an'-an' smell fresh air... Before..." Hagrid's hand trembled so violently, that the milk jug he'd been holding slipped from his grasp and shattered all over the floor.
"I'll clean it up, Hagrid." Hermione said, quickly hurrying over.
"There's another one in the cupboard." Hagrid said, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked back hopelessly.
"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked, as he sat down next to him.
"Yeah..." Jessica nodded. "Someone like Dumbledore-"
"He's tired. He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared. Yer know what Lucius Malfoy's like... Threatened 'em, I expect... An' the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's. It'll be quick an' clean... An' I'll be beside him..." Hagrid swallowed. His eyes were darting all over the cabin as though looking for some shred of hope or comfort. "Dumbledore's gonna come down while it... While it 'appens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter... Ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore..."
"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid!" Hermione said.
"Yer will not! Yer'll drink yer tea and be off." He practically ordered. "Oh... But before yer do... Ron, I've got somethin' fer ya."
Hagrid went over to the cupboards, where Hermione was putting away the things she'd used to clean up, and opened up a little box. He stuck his hand inside and pulled out a little small creature.
"SCABBERS!" Ron yelled, excitedly. He dashed toward Hagrid and took hold of his little pet. Scabbers looked dreadful. He was thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed in Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself.
"Oh fantastic, the rodent's back." Jessica muttered, mostly to Harry, who gave her a small smirk.
"Well, I guess that means you owe somebody an apology." Hermione said, irritably.
"You're right." Ron sighed. "Next time I see Crookshanks, I'll let him know."
"I meant me!" Hermione spat, angrily.
"Careful Ron." Jessica said, rather amused. "She's already broken one nose-"
CRASH!
They all fell silent when a little pebble suddenly crashed into one of Hagrid's vases.
"Ow!" Harry suddenly yelled. Another pebble had hit him in the head. Jessica suddenly wondered if it was Draco and his friends, planning their revenge. But Harry managed to shake her from her thoughts a little too quickly. "We need to go."
Jessica, Ron, Hermione and Hagrid whipped around. A group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge.
"Yer gotta go now. I'll let yer out the back way." Hagrid said. Every inch of him was trembling. Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and they all got ready to go. There was a sudden knock on the front door that startled all of them. "Be with you in a momen'!"
They nodded at Hagrid and headed out the back door. They had to stay put on the top step, practically hugging each other so the other wouldn't fall off, waiting for the last person to enter Hagrid's hut before they could run off. Hagrid opened the door and allowed the men inside; he waited outside on his porch, and gave the four their signal. They dashed out into Hagrid's garden, passed Buckbeak, and hid behind a wall of large pumpkins.
"Can you hear anything?" Jessica whispered, as she got on her tiptoes to look over the pumpkins. Hermione suddenly spun round, with her wand ready in her hand.
"What is it?" Harry asked, his voice completely hushed.
"I... I thought I saw..." She furrowed her eyebrows and stared at the forest in front of her. "Never mind."
"Let's get out of here." Ron said, as he sped up the hill.
Ron was the first up the hill, then Hermione, then Harry, and finally – extremely breathless and almost ready to collapse – Jessica. They silently watched as the executioner made his way out of Hagrid's hut. There was a rather large tree blocking where Buckbeak was lying, so they wouldn't actually be able to see anything – and for that, they were all extremely grateful. There were a few moments of silence, which was soon followed by the swift movement of the axe. Jessica was suddenly unable to control her tears. She turned and buried her head in Harry's jacket. He pulled her closer and held her tightly, allowing her to cry as much as she felt the need to. He rubbed circles on her back, in attempt to sooth the pain – if only just a little. Trelawney's words suddenly rang in his mind. He wasn't sure why he started to think of that at that moment, but he had the feeling their night wasn't yet over. He had a strong feeling that something was about to happen.
"OUCH!" Ron suddenly yelled, startling everyone from their thoughts. "He bit me! Scabbers!"
The rat had dropped to the ground and was now speeding off across the field. He was heading anywhere but the castle.
"Ron?" Hermione called, as Ron started to chase after his rat. "RON!"
"You okay?" Harry asked, turning to Jessica and wiping a stray tear from her cheek. She sniffed and nodded in response. "Then let's go."
Ron's voice could be heard in the distance – "SCABBERS! COME BACK!" – and Jessica felt like screaming at him for making her run so much. First it was down the hill, then back up, and now across the school field – that place was just too big for such a small person sometimes.
Hermione suddenly stopped, just a few feet away from Ron, who was sitting on the grass, celebrating that he'd successfully caught his rat. Harry and Jessica nearly crashed into her as they approached, but they managed to stop just in time. They looked at her curiously, wondering what she was staring at. Jessica followed her eyes and...
"Oh no..." She said, panting.
"This can't end well." Hermione said, worriedly.
"RON! RUN!" Harry called out.
Ron looked up at them, with a slight confused look on his face. He'd caught Scabbers, there was no need for running anymore. Or so he thought... Just as he was about to ask them what they were on about, he spotted the black dog, growling behind him. There was no doubt about it. Professor Trelawney had been right all along.
"YOU LOT RUN!" Ron said, desperately pointing at the creature behind them.
"What?" Hermione wondered, confused. Jessica turned around and was quite surprised at what she saw behind them.
"Scruffy?" She wondered, tilting her head slightly.
"That's Scruffy?" Hermione asked, quite surprised.
"I'm absolutely certain it is!" Jessica said.
However, the dog didn't seem as friendly as it had once before, and Harry was pretty sure it was the same dog that had been haunting him a few times before. What if –
"IT'S THE GRIM! RUN!" Ron bellowed.
Just as they heard it, the dog came dashing toward them, jumped over them and headed straight for Ron. It grabbed Ron by his leg and started dragging him toward the Whomping Willow.
"HARRY!" Ron yelled.
"RON!" Hermione screamed.
"Let's go." Jessica said, feeling unusually confident all of a sudden.
PHEW! And finally, after reading over 10K words, you've all reached the end - SIRIUS BLACK APPEARS IN THE NEXT CHAPTER! \o I'm a Black fan, so yeah... I'M EXCITED!
Don't forget to let me know if you want anything specific on the Special Marauders! - Sirius Black, Elena Graham (OC), Rebecca James (OC... You haven't met her yet!), Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, James Potter & Athos Selwyn (OC).
Until next time! XOXO