Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. Halfblood heroes (Book 3)

Chapter 12

The three of themstood transfixed with horror. Then, behind them, they heard a wildhowling.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Without thinking about what hewas doing, he made to turn back, but Percy grabbed his arm.

"No Harry."

"But..."

"We can't," said Ron, who was paper-white. "He'll be in worsetrouble if they know we've been to see him. . . ."

Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven."How — could — they?" she choked. "How could they?"

"Come on," said Ron, whose teeth seemed to be chattering.

They set off back toward the castle, walking slowly. The light was fading fast now. By the time they reached open ground, it was dark.

"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat was wriggling madly. "What's the matterwith you, you stupid rat? Stay still — OUCH! He bit me!"

"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently. "Fudge'll be outhere in a minute —""He won't — stay — put —"

"What's the matter with him?"

Percy and Harry have seen it. Crookshanks.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione moaned. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

But the cat was getting nearer —

"Scabbers — NO!"

the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers,hit the ground, and scampered away. In one bound, Crookshankssprang after him, and before anyone could stop him,Ron had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted awayinto the darkness.

"Ron!" Hermione moaned.

She and Harry looked at each other, then followed at a sprint; itwas impossible to run full out under the cloak. Percy however, was full on sprint invisible.

"Get away from him — get away — Scabbers, come here —"

There was a loud thud.

"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat —"

Harry and Hermione almost fell over Ron; they skidded to astop right in front of him. He was sprawled on the ground, butScabbers was back in his pocket; he had both hands held tight overthe quivering lump.

"Ron — come on — back under the cloak —" Hermionepanted. "Dumbledore — the Minister — they'll be coming backout in a minute —"

But before they could cover themselves again, before they couldeven catch their breath, they heard the soft pounding of giganticpaws. . . . Something was bounding toward them, quiet as ashadow — an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.

At first, Percy thought it was a hellhound, but then it hit him that it's eyes weren't red. Then it must be the grim.

Percy reached for his wand, but too late — the dog had madean enormous leap and the front paws hit Harry. Then the dog sprang back toward them hepushed Harry aside; the dog's jaws fastened instead around Ron'soutstretched arm. Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of thebrute's hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though hewere a rag doll —

Then, out of nowhere, something hit Percy so hard across the chest, he was knocked off his feet.. He saw Harry hit something on the face

"Lumos!" he whispered.

The wandlight showed him the trunk of a thick tree; they hadchased Scabbers into the shadow of the Whomping Willow and itsbranches whipping backward and forward to stop them going nearer.