Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

95

The weeks ahead were long and hard with studying for exams. On top of which they learned that the appeal was on the sixth but learned that it wasn't just the Minister showing up but an executioner. It upset the entire trio at the knowledge that the appeal was already decided even though they hadn't even a chance to plead their part. Exams were stressful for Hermione. She had to make sure she was able to take all of her exams and be extra careful in not being noticed by people or herself while she was taking those exams. 

On the week of their exams, just as they were walking out of their Defense Against the Dark Arts exam and into the castle their eyes landed on a horrible sight. Cornelius Fudge stood at the top of the steps, staring over the ground until he grasp sight of them. 

"Hello there, Harry and Hermione," he said, "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?" 

"Yes," Harry and Hermione said while Ron hovered behind them in an awkward silence. 

"Such a lovely day, pity... pity..." Fudge mumbled, "I'm here on an unpleasant mission. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in." 

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron asked. 

"No, it's scheduled for this afternoon." Fudge told him. Before another word could be said, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. Hermione glared at the man with a black mustache as he was running his thumb along the blade of a shining axe. 

Harry and Ron scurried to their Divination exam without Hermione, learning they were doing it separately and that no one would say what she had told them given (according to Neville) something about a horrible accident would happen to them. Harry and Ron were both starting to believe in Hermione's thoughts about the Professor and were starting to wish they left her class as well. 

Soon it came Harry's turn where it turned disturbing. At first, Harry was lying about seeing a hippogriff and while Trelawney was insisting the hippogriff would have its head cut off, Harry claimed he saw it flying away. Then upon leaving the class Trelawney's eyes rolled back and appeared like she was having a seizure before shrieking out...

"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 HE WAS. HOWEVER, SO WILL THE GIRL WHO'S TONGUE SPEAKs THE MANY TONGUES OF BEASTS, UPON THE WINGS OF FIRE-BREATHERS, AND WITH HER LOYAL LOVERS CAN SHE DEFEAT THE DARK LORD UPON THE CHOSEN ONE'S SIDE. BUT IF SHE TAKES THE HANDS OF THE MOTHER OF DEMENTORS, BOTH THE CHOSEN ONE AND HIS FOLLOWERS WILL BE LOST TO THE ASHES AND NEVER RISE AGAIN." 

Professor Trelawney soon was in a coughing fit before shaking her head. 

"I'm sorry, my dear boy... were you saying something?" she asked him. Harry was too stunned as he shook his head and rushed out of the classroom to find Ron and Hermione. After a long time running, he entered into the Gryffindor Tower and rushed into the common room. It was completely deserted except for Ron and Hermione, who sat in a corner. 

"Professor Trelawney..." he started to pant when he took in the side of their faces. 

"Buckbeak lost. Hagrid's sent this." Ron said weakly while passing the note.

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 

Of course, the trio ignored the note and with Invisibility Cloak in hand, they set out down to Hagrid's hut. Hagrid wasn't exactly thrilled to see them but he didn't put up much of a fight as he let them inside his hut and offered them some tea. 

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione asked him. 

"I-- I took him outside. Tethered him in my pumpkin patch, thought he should see the trees and smell the fresh air-- before-- before" Hagrid choked, his hands trembling as he set the tray down on the table, until he suddenly perked up, "Oh! Ron! Got something for you," 

He hurried over to a biscuit tin and opened the lid to pull something out. Hagrid walked over as he held out Scabbers. 

"Scabbers! You're not dead!" Ron cheered as he took the rat into his hands. Hermione cleared her throat. 

"Looks like you owe someone an apology!" Hermione shot at him. 

"Yeah... when I see Crookshanks, I'll let him know." Ron told her. 

"I meant me!" She shouted, her hands tightened into fists. Before the argument could get any worse, Hagrid stood up. 

"They're coming... you guys got to go! They can't see you!" 

They turned round to see a group of men walking by. They could see Dumbledore leading the way with Fudge trotted next to him then the old man right next to the executioner, Macnair. They hurried towards the other side of the hut through the back door into the back garden. Hermione could see from the corner of her eye, Buckbeak's head shooting up from its resting place and watched them vanish behind a patch of pumpkins while they waited for the group to head into Hagrid's hut. Once they were inside, the three hurried across the yard and towards a hill. They could overheard a few indistinct male voices, a silence and without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe. 

Hermione stood to her spot as tears began streaming down her cheeks, her mind racing in disbelief that they had killed Buckbeak over nothing. However, her thoughts were short lived when suddenly Ron shouted 'ow'. Scabbers had bit Ron's finger and was slipping from his hands. Without warning there was a blur of orange rushing right after Scabbers.

"Crookshanks! No! Bad cat!" Hermione shouted at they followed behind the two animals. Ron was screaming for Scabbers and at Crookshanks. Soon enough, Ron had jumped in front of Crookshanks and was pushing the cat off of him as he gripped tightly to Scabbers. However, that wasn't the problem. Hermione noticed quickly that Ron was sitting too close for comfort near the Whomping Willow. 

"RON! Run!" Harry shouted at him. Ron shot his head up, his eyes went wide as he pointed towards behind Harry and Hermione. 

"Harry! Look behind you! It's the Grim!"