𝕀𝕟𝕟𝕠𝕔𝕖𝕟𝕥 ⇾ Harry Potter

Chapter Fourteen ✔️

Rewritten and posted on February 4th 2021

C h a p t e r F o u r t e e n
H e r m i o n e T h e L i o n e s s 

The euphoria of winning the Quidditch Cup slowly dissipated as life at Hogwarts returned to the routine of scheduled classes and exam preparation. Evelyn's first exam was due in one week's time and she was confident that Professor Lupin would give them a fair exam for Defence Against the Dark Arts, she could not say the same for Professor Snape's potion exam, which she was probably the most worried about. 

The group had went back to continuous studying the day after the Quidditch Match, which had been celebrated with a large party in The Gryffindor Tower. Even Professor McGonagall had stopped by to give a speech about how proud she was, before she bid them with a farewell and an 'enjoy the rest of the party'. That night, no members of staff came to tell the children to go to bed. 

While the upcoming exams were quite scary, there was nothing more daunting than the thought of Buckbeak's execution. The group's research had come up empty no matter where they looked; there was nothing they could use that would delay the execution or force the Ministry to conduct a retrial. Buckbeak's execution was set to take place on the last Saturday of April on Hogwarts Grounds. The whole ordeal was suppose to be discreet, but Hagrid had informed the group when they asked if there was any news. 

On the scheduled day, the teenagers decided that they should be there for Hagrid, he was their friend after all. As they made their way through the empty courtyard that afternoon, they were startled by a screeching noise that pierced through the ear, like the grinding of metal. The sound increased as they passed the fountain. There, they found the source of the eerie noise. 

Evelyn could feel the heat boiling in her veins as she set eyes on the executer dressed in black, sat sharpening the axe that was intended for Buckbeak. She felt a tugging on the sleeve of her shirt as Ron pulled her further away from the man, guiding her passed him. It was as much for her benefit as it was for the executioner's. Even as they passed the older wizard, they could feel the intense presence of his cold gaze as he watched them pass through the thin slits in his mask.

The teenagers bottled up their anger until they were well out of ear shot, along the covered bridge. "I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak. It's just too horrible," Hermione cried in disgust as they came to the bridge exit leading to Hagrid's. 

"Its a fucking disgrace," Evelyn spat under her breath, loud enough for the others to catch. 

Hermione gave her a disappointed look, unhappy with the sort of language that Evelyn used, while Harry and Ron nodded in agreement. Evelyn looked over to her brother as she noticed his steps pause in hesitation, his eyes were widened as he indicated forward with a nod of his head. "It just got worse" he announced.

The others followed his gaze to see Draco, Crabbe and Goyle hiding behind some standing stones where they had the perfect view of Hagrid's hut. They giggled amongst themselves as they peaked around the structures. Evelyn caught side of a pair of binoculars hanging from Draco's neck. She hadn't spoken to Draco since the day at The Shrieking Shack, and now, her anger had blazed into a wildfire. 

"What did I say?" They heard Draco speak. "Father said I can keep the Hippogriff's head. I think I'll donate it to the Gryffindor Common Room. This is going to be rich," he laughed.

With that, Hermione stormed down the steps towards the Slytherin trio with Evelyn hot on her heels. The sound of their arrival did not go unnoticed by the boys.