Silver's euphoria at finally winning the Sky Chase 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 Xorda propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake. But they couldn't. 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. Even Mighty and Ray had been spotted working; they were about to take their G. (Grand Exam Marks). Hamlin was getting ready to take his S.H.A.R.D.S (Scaringly High Assessments Requiring Drastic Studying) the highest qualification Soleanna offered. As Hamlin 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 Hamlin was Coral. Silver and Razor had given up asking her how she was managing to attend several classes at once, but they couldn't restrain themselves when they saw the exam schedule she had drawn up for herself. She had two different exams at nine O'clock and another two at One O'clock "Uh, Coral, are you sure you've copied these down right" "What?". Coral picked up the timetable and examined it "Yes, of course". Silver rolled his eyes "Is there any point in asking how you're doing two exams at once" "No. Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?" "Oh, yeah, just borrowed it for late night reading" Razor said.
Their Magical Creatures exam made it easy to talk to Big. He would leaned down pretending to exam their work "Volt's gettin' a bit depressed. Bin cooped up too long. But still... we'll know day after tomorrow one way or the other". They had Potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Try as Silver might, he couldn't get his Confusing Concoction to thicken and Infinite, standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure, scribbled something that looked suspiciously like a zero onto his notes before moving away. Then came Astronomy at midnight, up on the tallest tower; History of Magic on Wednesday morning, in which Silver scribbled everything Dan Green had ever told him about medieval witch-hunts, while wishing he could have had one of the choco-nut sundaes with him in the stifling classroom. 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.
Their second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Knuckles had compiled 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 Gillman, cross a series of potholes full of Pit Beasts, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring the misleading hallucinations from the Bogeyman, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Mimic Ghost. Knuckles applauded Silver as he climbed out of the trunk "Excellent, Silver. Well done. Full marks". Flushed with success Silver stayed to watch Razor and Coral. Razor did very well until he reached the Bogeyman which managed to confuse Razor to the point he couldn't finish. Coral meanwhile didn't everything perfectly until she reached the trunk. After spending a minute she burst out screaming. Knuckles was startled "Coral, what's the matter?" "Pro-Professor Echo… She-She said I failed everything". It took a while to calm Coral down. Once she finally got a hold of herself the three went back up to the castle. Razor was tempted to laugh at Coral's Mimic but the argument was averted when at the entrance hall they met Max the Chipmunk. He smiled when he saw them "Silver, good to see you. Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?" "Yes, sir". Coral and Razor weren't on speaking terms with the Minister and just hovered awkwardly.
Max gave a sigh "I'm afraid I'm here on unpleasant business. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad Black Hawk. As I needed to visit Soleanna to check on the Elias Acorn situation, I was asked to step in" "Does that mean the appeal already happened?" Razor interrupted. Max stared curiously at him "No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon" "Then you might not have to witness an execution at all, Minister". Before Max could answer, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. One was an ancient goat, he appeared to be withering before their very eyes. The other was a large purple walrus with a scarred face and wearing a blue outfit with fur. Silver gathered that they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because the old goat squinted toward Big's cabin and said in a feeble voice "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this... Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?". The Walrus was fingering something in his belt. Silver looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. Razor opened his mouth to say something, but Coral nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head toward the entrance hall. The three sat down for lunch in the Great Hall. Razor still looked angry "Why did you stop me. Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!" "Razor, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss! As long as Big keeps his head this time, and argue his case properly, they can't possibly execute Volt". But Silver could tell Coral didn't believe what she was saying. The three of them were the only ones in the school who weren't excited that exams were nearly over.
Silver and Razor had Divination last while Coral had Muggle Studies. Pyjamas was seeing them all separately but there was a lot of waiting. Razor kept checking the clock waiting for the time the appeal was starting. Every time someone came out after their exam people would ask what it was like but none of them answered "She said if a I told you what I saw I'd be in a horrible accident" Antione said. Razor scoffed "That's convenient. You know I'm starting to think Coral was right about her". Lyco came out next "She said I had all the signs of a true seer. Good luck!" she said proudly to them. Razor was next leaving Silver alone for twenty minutes. Finally he came out "How'd it go?" "Rubbish, I just made stuff up. I think she was convinced" "Well, see you in the common room". Silver went up next, the curtains were drawn, the fire lit, and the familiar scent was now so strong Silver coughed as he walked over and sat opposite Pyjamas. She smiled "Good day, my dear. Would you kindly gaze into the Orb... Take your time, now... then tell me what you see within it". Silver stared it not he orb trying to ignore his sore throat. All he could see was fog so he took Razor's advice "I see… A shape… A Black Hawk". Pyjamas scribbled keenly on her board "Indeed. My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Big's trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer... Does the creature appear to... have its head?" "Yes" "Are you quite sure, dear? You don't see it writhing on the ground, perhaps, and a shadowy figure raising an axe behind it?". Silver was starting to feel sick "No… It's flying away".
Pyjamas sighed "Well, dear I think we'll leave it here A little disappointing... but I'm sure you did your best". Silver nodded and got to his feet but then suddenly Pyjamas grabbed his arms ""IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT!" she spoke in a loud harsh voice. Her eyes rolled into the back of her head, she looked like she was having a seizure. Silver panicked thinking he should run to the hospital wing but her grip on his arm was too tight "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 SERVANTS AID, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER HE WAS. TONIGHT... BEFORE MIDNIGHT... THE SERVANT... WILL SET OUT... TO REJOIN... HIS MASTER ONCE MORE". Pyjamas fell forward and then suddenly shot back up looking around "Oh, sorry, dear. The heat. Must have dosed off". She noticed Silver's expression of terror "I'm sorry, dear, is something wrong". Silver gulped "No… Nothing…" he practically ran out of the classroom. His mind was racing, did she just make a real prediction or was that some kind of joke. He made it to the Common Room. He found Coral and Razor and was about to tell them what he heard but then saw their faces "What?" "Volt's lost the appeal". They handed him the letter. The writing was so bad Big's hand must have been shaking while he wrote it.
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.
Big
"We've got to go. We can't just sit here" Silver said immediately. But then he remembered "My Emerald. I still don't have it" "Where is it?" Coral asked. Silver told her about the one eyed walrus "If Infinite sees me or Razor near it he'll know what's up" "How do you open it?" Coral asked. Silver was surprised "You stand in front of the statue and say "Dissendium using your Talisman". Coral set off at once and then returned 15 minutes later with the Emerald. Razor stared at her "Coral, I'm surprised with you. First you hit Rutan, then you walk out of Divination and now this". Coral looked flattered.
The three went down to dinner but didn't return to the Common Room with he rest of the Shinobi afterwards. They hid in an empty chamber until the last o the students were gone. They set out, invisible, to the grounds. The sun was already sinking behind the Deep Woods as they approached Big's cabin. They knocked on the door, Big opened and upon seeing no one knew who it was "Yeh shouldn've come!". He let them in and they reappeared. Big looked horrible, he wasn't crying or hugging them. He looked like he didn't know where he was or what to do. The sight of him so helpless was worse than if he was crying "Tea?" he asked. He put the kettle on as Coral hesitantly asked "Where's Volt, Big?" "I…I took him outside. He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an'- an' smell fresh air… before". His hands trembled as he poured the tea "I'll do it, Big" Coral said taking the kettle. Silver moved next to Big "Is there anything we can do, Big. Locke?" "He's tried. He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Volt's all right, but they're scared... Yeh know what Clutch's like... threatened 'em, I expect... an' the executioner, Tundra, he's an old pal o' Clutch's... but it'll be quick an' clean... an' I'll be beside him... Locke's gonna come down while it- while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter be with me. Great man Locke...". Coral gave a small sob "We'll stay too, Big" "Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway... If Max an' Locke catch yeh out without permission, Silver, yeh'll be in big trouble". Coral wiped her eyes and went to put the kettle away in the cupboard. Then there was a shriek "Razor… I don't believe it. It's Wacky" "What?".
Coral took a jug out of the cupboard and tipped Wacky out onto the table. He seemed to be panicking and tried to jump back inside. Razor grabbed him "Wacky… You're alive. What're you doing here?". Wacky looked worse than ever, very pale and almost skeletal with how skinny he was. He kept writhing in Razor's hands "It's okay, Wacky, no other Chao. Nothing can…" Razor paused and looked up at Coral. He gave a very guilty look "Aw… Coral, I'm sorry". Suddenly the jug on the table smashed "What was that?" Big said. As Silver stared at it something hit the back of his head "OW! What the?". Someone has thrown something through the window. They looked outside and saw them, Locke, Max, Tundra and the goat were coming down the hill towards the cabin "They're coming". Big's whole body was trembling "Yeh gotta go. They mustn' find yeh here... Go now! Out the back!". They followed him to the door into his back garden. Silver felt strangely unreal, and he couldn't even get one last look at Volt as they were going out of sight "Big, they can't do this" "Go! Go!". They had no choice, Silver used the emerald to turn them all invisible again. In a kind of horrified trance they ran back up the hill away from the cabin "Please, hurry! I can't stand it!" Coral said. Razor stopped dead, "Please, Razor" "I can't. Wacky won't stay put". Wacky was hysterical, it looked like he was trying to bite Razor "Wacky, what's wrong with you? It's me, Razor" "Razor, come on. We can't stay here". Once they made it to the top of the hill they heard the unmistakable whoosh of an axe coming down. The three of them stopped dead "They did it… I can't believe they did it" Coral cried.