Chapter 64: Hogsmeade Fun

When I finally arrived at Hogsmeade, I made a straight shot to Honeydukes so I could meet Harry.

I walked into the store that had slowly made its way into my heart and waited by the chocolate section. I lingered there for what felt like way too long, then made my way over to another section of the store. I looked over and sighed at the sight of the box of sugar quills.

Suddenly, I felt a poke at my back.

"It's me." Harry muttered in my ear

"What kept you?" I hissed.

"Snape was hanging around."

We left the store and set off up the High Street. I had to keep asking was Harry there. It felt weird appearing as if I was walking by myself.

We went to the post office where I pretended to be checking the price of an owl to Bill in Egypt so that Harry could have a good look around. Then we visited Zonko's, which was so packed with students that I was scared that Harry would freak one out by accidentally bumping into one. Harry told me what to get and passed me some gold from under the cloak. We left Zonko's with our money bags considerably lighter than we had been on entering, but our pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece.

The day was fine and breezy, and neither of us felt like staying indoors, so we walked past the Three Broomsticks and climbed a slope to visit the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain. It stood a little way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden.

"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," I said as we leaned on the fence, looking up at it. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick and he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut."

Suddenly, we heard voices nearby. Someone was climbing toward the house from the other side of the hill; moments later, Malfoy had appeared, followed closely by Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy was speaking.

"...should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm...about how I couldn't use it for three months..."

The two fat asses snickered.

"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself...'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest -'...That Hippogriff's as good as dead -"

Malfoy suddenly caught sight of me staring him down. His pale face split in a maniacal grin.

"What are you doing, Weasley?" he asked. "Suppose you'd love to live here, wouldn't you, Weasley? Dreaming about having your own bedroom? I heard your family all sleep in one room - is that true?"

I was about to leap k to the bitch, but Harry seized the back of my robes just in time

"Leave him to me." he hissed in my ear.

"We were just discussing your friend Hagrid" Malfoy continued. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Do you think he'll cry when they cut off his Hippogriff's -"

SPLAT!

Malfoy's head jerked forward as a mud ball hit him in the back of his head. His silver blond hair was suddenly dripping in muck.

"What the -?"

I had to hold onto the fence to keep myself standing, as I was laughing so hard. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle spun stupidly around, looking every which of way. Malfoy trying to wipe his hair clean.

"What was that? Who did that?"

"Very haunted up here, isn't it?" I said, chuckling.

Crabbe and Goyle were looking scared. Malfoy was staring madly around at the deserted landscape.

SPLATTER!

Crabbe and Goyle caught some this time. Goyle hopped furiously on the spot, trying to rub it out of his small, dull eyes.

"It came from over there!" said Malfoy, wiping his face, and staring at a spot where some nasty sludge was located. I fell over with laughter.

Crabbe moved forward, his long arms outstretched like a zombie. A stick floated out of nowhere and struck Crabbe on the back. Crabbe did a kind of pirouette thing in mid air, trying to see who had thrown it. As I was the only person Crabbe could see, he started towards me, but tripped over what seemed like air. His foot came down on Harry's cloak, exposing his face.

For a split second, Malfoy stared at him.

"AAARGH!" he yelled, pointing at Harry's head. Then he turned tail and ran, at breakneck speed, back down the hill, Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

"Harry!" I said, stumbling forward. "You'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone - you'd better get back to the castle, quick -"

"See you later." I heard Harry say. And then, silence.

I rushed back to where the carriages were and took one. I didn't wanna get back too quickly to arouse suspicion, but I didn't want to be so slow that I couldn't speak for Harry in case something happened. So halfway through the trip. I hopped out the carriage, and ran the rest of the way.

I ran and ran until I reached the school. When I got inside, I hesitated. I really didn't know where to go. However, thinking of Malfoy, something told me to go to Snape's office.

I made a beeline for it, not caring who was in my path. I reached the office and slung open the door. I was completely out of breath, and stopped just short of Snape's desk, clutching the stitch in my chest and trying to speak as six pairs of eyes stated at me intently.

"I - gave - Harry - that - stuff." I choked. "Bought - it...in Zonko's... ages - ago..."

"Well!" said Lupin, clapping his hands together and looking around cheerfully. "That seems to clear that up! Severus, I'll take this back, shall I?" He folded up a piece of parchment that he had in his hand and tucked it inside his robes. "Harry, Ron, come with me, I need a word about my vampire essay - excuse us, Severus -"

Harry didn't dare look at Snape as they left his office. We walked all the way back into the entrance hall before speaking. Then Harry turned to Lupin.

"Professor, I -"

"I don't want to hear explanations," said Lupin shortly. He glanced around the empty entrance hall and lowered his voice. "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map" he said as Harry and I looked amazed. "I don't want to know how it fell into your possession. I am, however, astounded that you didn't hand it in. Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around. And I can't let you have it back, Harry."

Harry looked pretty defeated.

"Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers?" asked Harry.

"Because..." Lupin hesitated, "because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school. They'd think it extremely entertaining."

"Do you know them?" said Harry, impressed.

"We've met," he said shortly. He was looking at Harry more seriously than ever before.

"Don't expect me to cover up for you again, Harry. I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously. But I would have thought that what you have heard when the Dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you. Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive, Harry. A poor way to repay them - gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks."

He walked away, leaving us standing there. Slowly, he and I went up the marble staircase. I felt horrible and guilty over what happened.

"It's my fault," I said abruptly. "I persuaded you to go. Lupin's right, it was stupid, we shouldn't have done it -"

I stopped talking as I saw that Hermione was walking toward us. One look at her face convinced me that she had heard what had happened. I was really not in the mood for her scolding Harry.

"Come to have a good gloat?" I snapped as she stopped in front of us. "Or have you just been to tell on us?"

"No," said Hermione. She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was trembling. My expression quickly changed as I could sense that something wasn't right.

"I just thought you ought to know, Hagrid lost his case." said Hermione, looking at the ground. "Buckbeak is going to be executed."

Both Harry and I stepped back, as if an invisible force had pushed us.

"He sent me this," Hermione said, holding out the letter.

Harry took it. The parchment was damp, and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read.

Dear Hermione,

We lost.

I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts. Execution date to be fixed.

Beaky has enjoyed London.

I won't forget all the help you gave us.

Hagrid

"They can't do this," said Harry. "They can't. Buckbeak isn't dangerous."

"Malfoy's dad's frightened the Committee into it." said Hermione, wiping her eyes. "You know what he's like. They're a bunch of doddery old fools, and they were scared. There'll be an appeal, though, there always is. Only I can't see any hope...Nothing will have changed."

"Yeah, it will." I said fiercely. "You won't have to do all the work alone this time, Hermione. I'll help."

"Oh, Ron!"

Hermione flung her arms around my neck and broke down completely. I froze up, not knowing what the bloody hell to do. I was not used to crying girls hanging over me and...crying. I really didn't know what to do, so I patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head. Finally, Hermione drew away.

"Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers..." she sobbed.

"Oh, well...he was old." I said, feeling both relieved and for some reason a bit sad that she had let go of me. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, Mum and Dad might get me an owl now.

Hermione smiled brightly at me as she wiped her tears. I couldn't help but to smile back.

It was going to be okay. I was whole once again.