Prophecy - H.P

15

Crookshanks really had it out for Scabbers, maybe Ron wasn't as delusional as Amelia first thought. The cat stalked closer and closer to the rat.

"No Crookshanks," Hermione moaned "Please no,"

Ron dove to the ground, capturing Scabbers in his robe, using both hands to keep him in there as the cat drew closer. 

"Get away you stinking cat," Ron spat, struggling to stand. However before he could do anything, before anyone could do anything, a big black dog appeared, it's massive paws pounding on the floor as it ran towards them. 

"Snuffles no -" Amelia cried as it launched on Harry, knocking his wand away. "I fed you," she said, rather annoyed. Amelia rushed to help Harry up, standing in-front of him as if to try and protect him from the dog. 

But the dog had already latched itself onto Ron, pulling him away as if he were a simple Ragdoll.

"You named that thing?" Harry asked, panting slightly. 

"He seemed nice enough when I pet him!" Amelia defended as she ran after Ron. However something hit her hard in the stomach, knocking he sideways, causing her breath to run out. She hit the ground with a groan.

"Did that knock some reality back into you?" asked Harry, despite the situation, slightly amused. Amelia glared at him.

"Shut it Potter," she grumbled getting back to her feet.

"Lumos," Hermione said and her wand lit up. The thing that had knocked Amelia off her feet was the whomping willow, the tree that hit back.

"Hey didn't you and Ron crash into this thing in second year?" Amelia asked. If it had been any other situation Harry would have laughed.

"Yeah, it's a mean tree," Harry replied "How are we going to get past it?"

It was at that moment that Crookshanks came streaking past as a blur of ginger, reaching up with it's paw and tapping a knot at the base of the tree.

The tree stopped completely, not a leaf nor a twig moved, not even in the breeze.

"How did he?" Hermione breathed, staring at her cat.

"He's friends with that dog, I've seen them together," Harry said grimly.

The three of them followed the cat, and one by one wiggled themselves through the narrow roots of the tree, just like the cat had done. 

The slid down a cold dark tunnel, landing in a heap in what appeared to be a very duty room.

There was a four poster bed in the corner that looked like it had seen better days, with scratches up the sides. The chair in the corner was broken, shattered, and covered in long indents.

"Harry I think we're in the shrieking shack," Hermione said fearfully. Harry looked around at the damage done to the room.

"Ghosts didn't do this," he said.

Amelia felt her heart thud against her chest loudly. She hated to admit it but she was terrified. 

Hermione's wand shone down next to the bed where they could see Ron shaking, his leg bent at an awkward angle. He was covered in blood, but alive at least. 

"Lumos Maxima," Amelia said lowly and a ball of light filled the room.

"It's a trap," said Ron weakly as he realised his friends were near "The dog he's an Animagus,"

As Amelia rounded the corner, she saw a skinny figure dressed in battered clothing. His skin was sunken and sallow, the dark circles under his eyes prominent. His ribs were sticking out revealing many old tattoos. His black hair was dark, matted and greasy, his yellow teeth bared in a sickening grin.