The Raven's Call

The Horror Show

Thursday, May 12th 1994

"BROADEN YOUR MINDS. YOU MUST LOOK BEYOND." Professor Trelawney announces, waving her hands about. Today we're looking into crystal balls. "The art of crystal gazing is in the clearing of the Inner Eye! Only then can you see!"  I look into the ball that sat on the table beside myself and Alex, resting my elbow in front of me, as clouds dance around inside of it. "Now what do we have here?" She asks, walking over to Harry, Ron and Hermione's table. "Oh! Do you mind me trying?" Hermione asks. What is she up to? She despises Divination. "The Grim, possibly." She continues. Whoop, there it is. "My dear," Professor Trelawney starts. "From the first moment you stepped foot in my class, I sensed that you did not possess the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination." She picks up Hermione's hand, seemingly reading her palm. "No, you see, there. You may be young in years, but the heart that beats beneath your bosom is as shrivelled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave." Ouch. A now offended Hermione retracts her hand from Trelawney's grasp, angrily standing, grabbing her bag before she knocks the crystal ball off its stand, sending it out through the door, Hermione following behind it. "Have I said something?" Trelawney asks, stunned. "Well?" I ask Alex. "Are you gonna go after her?" "Uh..." Alex mumbles, hurriedly collecting his things before running out of the classroom after Hermione.

***

"He will return tonight!" I hear Trelawney say as I finally finish packing up my things. Looks like Harry is returning the crystal ball Hermione had escorted out of the class. "He who betrayed his friends - whose heart rots with murder! Innocent blood shall be shed and servant and master shall be reunited once moooooooore!" Cough, cough. "Oh! I'm so sorry, dear boy. Did you say something?" She asks, snapping out of her trance. "No. Nothing." Harry speaks, obviously shaken by the whole ideal. I find my way to the door, Harry speed walking past. "Mental, that one. I'm tellin' ya." I whisper to him before he sprints away. I soon manage to catch up with Hermione in Muggle studies, Alex had managed to calm her down during lunch, which is great for me. That means I don't have to do it and can focus on classes. Muggle Studies flies by in a flash, as does Care Of Magical Creatures. Although Hagrid doesn't seem as enthusiastic today. I overhear it's because poor Buckbeak had been sentenced to death, and today is the day of his execution. How... sad. 

As I walk to my spot at the Ravenclaw dinner table, I overhear some mutterings from the Slytherins. Something about going to watch Buckbeak get decapitated tonight. How horrific. Seems Draco is going to drag Asteria along, not if I have anything to say about it! 

After dinner, I pull Alex along with me, explaining to him my plan, and just ahead of us Hermione, Harry and Ron are heading to Hagrid's too. I can only assume to comfort him before the time comes. "I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak. It's just too horrible..." Hermione mumbles. "It just got worse..." Ron responds as they stand in the archway, with Alex and I squeezing in behind them. Draco, Asteria, Crabbe and Theo are all there. The boys piled on top of one another to get a look, while Asteria is leaning against one of the stone pillars, facing toward us. She smiles as she makes eye contact with us, though her eyes are filled with tears. I can slightly hear something about Draco keeping the head and donating it to the Gryffindor common room. This sets Hermione off. She storms over to the group of Slytherins, Harry, Ron, Alex and I follow. 

"Look who's here!" Crabbe utters. "Ah! Come to see the show?" Draco hollers like a ringleader in a circus. "You! You foul, lothesome, evil little cockroach!" Hermione shouts, holding her wand to Draco's throat. "Hermione no! He's not worth it." Ron reasons. Draco whimpers as Hermione slowly lowers her wand. She turns away from him for a moment, causing Draco to snicker. Bad move. Hermione turns back around and punches him square in the nose.

Holy crickets! Hermione JUST did that! About time someone put Draco in his place. The boys hurry away from us, muttering among themselves, Asteria stays put. "Nice one, Hermione. Wish I'd done that." She smiles. "That felt good..." Hermione smiles to us. "Not good... Brilliant!" Ron exclaims. "Come on. We should be at Hagrid's" Harry announces. Hermione looks over to myself and Alex. "Do you guys want to come see Hagrid, too? We're going to try and cheer him up a bit." "Ah, no, thank you, Hermione. We'll stay here and make sure those cockroaches don't come back." I respond with a smile. She smiles and nods before the three of them take off to Hagrid's.

We stay loitering on the bridge, in a sort of patrol. Alex leans on one of the walls as we indulge in conversation. "D'you think they'll come back?" I ask the two of them. Asteria shakes her head. "Nah, he'll be in the hospital wing complaining about his nose." She says with a grin, making Alex and I laugh softly. Soon we see Professor Dumbledore, the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge and the executioner walk past. "You three better make your way back inside." Dumbledore instructs. "Yes, sir..." We all say in unison. We watch as they make their way past the pillars, then into Hagrid's hut as Harry, Ron and Hermione escape out the back door and behind the pumpkins out of sight from the Headmaster, Minister and Executioner.  We then watch as the three make their way back up to us, their faces red from their treck back up the hill. 

Standing atop of the grounds, looking over Hagrid's hut, the six of us stand and watch. We see the executioner walk out of the hut, scythe in hand. "I can't watch!" Asteria cries before wrapping her arms around me, sobbing into my shoulder. I frown, rubbing her back softly as the executioner lifts his scythe... then slams it down. The sound echoing throughout the grounds.