The Gift From Death Year 3

Chapter 17: Third year Part 12

Right what's happening is that the security on the castle was getting tighter everyday and Neville wasn't allowed to know the password for the tower." Harry explained.

"Which I deserved." Neville sighed.

"No you didn't, we can't explain now but it will be explained soon." Hermione informed him.

"Then we got an invitation to Hagrid's for tea and he came and got Harry and I from the entrance hall." Ron added, "We weren't talking to Hermione again."

"Actually I was you weren't." Harry smirked, "When we were at Hagrid's he reminded us about Buckbeak going on trial which we had forgotten about."

"Don't forget Ron wouldn't stop telling the story of how Sirius nearly killed him." Ginny giggled, "He made it even more ridiculous every time he told it." Ron glared at her.

"Oh yes we can't forget that." Harry chuckled, "Wasn't there one about how he was about to stab you when you shot a curse at him and he ran away?" Ron blushed as the others snickered.

"I assure you I wouldn't have stabbed you." Sirius chuckled.

"I was just showing off." Ron muttered. "Why didn't you stop me Harry?"

"It wasn't often people paid more attention to you than me and I prefered not being in the spotlight." he shrugged, "I figured I'd let you have your fun."

"And now we get just as much attention as you and we don't like it very much." Hermione frowned.

"True. We now understand what you meant by it's annoying." Ron agreed.

"I told you so." Harry chuckled, "It's not fun being stared at. Anyway, when we were at Hagrid's he actually gave us a lecture about how we had treated Hermione. He told us that she was terrified that Ron might have been killed and that her heart was in the right place, as always." he smiled at Hermione who blushed. "He also said that he thought that her work was getting to her."

"It was." Hermione sighed, "I can see now that I was trying to do too much."

"We're sorry about that by the way, Hermione. We shouldn't have treated you the way we did." Ron apologized, Harry nodded.

"It's fine." she replied. "After that when they got back to the castle they saw there was another Hogsmeade visit and I overheard them planning for Harry to sneak out again."

"And tried to talk me out of it." Harry nodded, "Which didn't work. I sneaked out under the invisibility cloak and me and Ron walked around for a bit, I got him to get me a few things from various shops. We ended up going to see the Shrieking Shack and that's where were starting. Mainly because I think you'll find it amusing." he chuckled.

The day was fine and breezy, and neither of them felt like staying indoors, so they walked past the Three Broomsticks and climbed a slope to visit the Shrieking Shack, the most haunted dwelling in Britain.

The Marauders shook their heads as did the Golden Trio.

It stood a little way above the rest of the village, and even in daylight was slightly creepy, with its boarded windows and dank overgrown garden.

"Even the Hogwarts ghosts avoid it," said Ron as they leaned on the fence, looking up at it. "I asked Nearly Headless Nick... he says he's heard a very rough crowd lives here. No one can get in. Fred and George tried, obviously, but all the entrances are sealed shut..."