In third-year halls, their paths first crossed,
A Raven boy, a Blonde girl lost.
"Stay out of my way," she warned with a glare,
But something lingered in the frosty air.
Crimson with his scar and fame,
Emerald with her secrets untamed.
Two worlds ap...
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Aria's mind had gone blank with shock. The four of them stood transfixed with horror underthe Invisibility Cloak.
The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light over thelong-shadowed grounds. Then, behind them, they heard a wild howling.
"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Without thinking about what he was doing, he made to turn back, but both Ron and Hermione seized his arms.
"We can't," said Ron, who was paper-white. "He'll be in worse trouble 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 to keep themselves hidden under the cloak.The light was fading fast now. By the time they reached open ground, darkness was settling like a spell around them.
"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat was wrigglingmadly.
Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's thematter with you, You stupid rat? Stay still — OUCH! He bit me!"
"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently.
"Fudge'll be out here in a minute —"
"He won't — stay — put —" Scabbers was plainly terrified. He was writhing with all his might, trying to break free of Ron'sgrip.
"What's the matter with him?"
But Aria had just seen — stinking toward them, his body low to the ground, wide yellow eyesglinting eerily in the darkness — Crookshanks.
Whether he could see them or was following thesound of Scabbers's squeaks, Aria couldn't tell.
"Crookshanks!" Hermione shouted.
"No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"
But the cat was getting nearer —
"Scabbers — NO!" Too late — the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers, hit the ground, and scamperedaway. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him, and before Harry or Hermione could stophim, Ron had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted away into the darkness.
"Ron!" Hermione screamed.
She, Aria and Harry looked at each other, then followed at a sprint; it was impossible to run full outunder the cloak; they pulled it off and it streamed behind them like a banner as they hurtled afterRon; they could hear his feet thundering along ahead and his shouts at Crookshanks.
