Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Truth be told after the ominous conversation Harry and I had earlier that day, it made something in my gut twist, like something bad was going to happen. Even while hanging out with Amie, John, and Ellie, I still couldn't find it in myself to concentrate, "Hagrid is going through some dark times right now... Could you come and help us support him?" Hagrid? The giant man who was known to never carry a chip on his large shoulders? Hell, I had seen him cry over stepping on a moth for crying out loud!

"Oz!" El snapped her thin fingers in front of me, making me shake my head, "Ah, s-sorry!" I gasped as I came too.

"Ozzie, what's going on?" Amie leaned forward, her expression filled with concern. I couldn't bring myself to worry anyone, "Oh it's nothing really, just... thinking about my last lesson with Harry! Gotta make sure he passes his last test!"

Amie chuckled, "You sure do fill up your time quite a bit!"

Ellie didn't look so convinced, "Mhm..."

"Ah, leave him be! If he's helping the boy who lived study then I say that's an accomplishment!" John defends with a hearty laugh. I shook my head as he chuckled and Amie pushed him over the bench, landing on the soft grass below. I began to tune them out however when I saw the three standing on the hill by Hagrid's. Without another moment the three rush down the dirt path, toward the Whomping Willow.

This wasn't good, I needed to get to them, I knew that tree. That tree didn't like many people and by the way it swayed, I could tell that it wouldn't be happy with those three running up on it like that. I gulped and jumped up from the wooden bench, almost stumbling over it as I did, "S-sorry guys! I'll catch up with you later!"

Without having said anything more I took off in a hurry. My legs carried me as fast as I could. I panted, I was not an athlete by any means. Finally, I stopped meters from them, panting and trying to catch my breath. I heard a twig snapping beside me, and out came a black dog from the bushes, growling and snarling lowly, "Hey!" I yelled trying to tell them about the rabid dog, but Ron beat me to it, sobbing out, "Harry, Hermione run! It's the Grim!"

The dog gave another growl, barking as it ran up to them, then jumped over the two as they ducked, and bolted straight for Ron. It grabbed his leg and began yanking him toward the tree like a ragdoll where a hole lying on its side. I had never seen that hole before...I ran up to the two as the tree began to thwack around its branches like whips, launching Harry and Hermione back into me. We all fell to the ground with a loud Oomph! They groaned and got up as quickly as they could.

"Oz...!" Harry gasped trying to gain breath back, he clenched his hand over his stomach with a groan. I stood and rested a hand on their shoulders, panted heavily, "What... were you all...doing?"

Hermione stood up straight with a grunt, "We went to Hagrids to give him support, and we were rushed off because Dumbledore and the Minister showed up."

"The... Minister?! What... was he doing there?"

"They executed Buckbeak...." Harry muttered.

"The Hypogriff?" My eyes widened, I recalled the night Draco Malfoy paraded around the Great Hall claiming that he was a hero for going up against a Hypogriff. I grit my teeth, "That slimy-" I stopped myself from going any further around the kids, "Alright... Well, we need to get inside... just leave it to me..."

I stood up straight, trying not to hurt myself, and began making my way over to the tree.

"Oz!" Harry called out in a panic, "Come back!"

"Ozwald! What are you doing?!" Hermione yelled, but I didn't listen to either of them. I approached the tree, "Hello, Willow..." Its branches shuddered and groaned, "It's okay... I know..." It shivered a bit more. I rested my hand on its trunk and laid my forehead on it too, "Please let us through... we need to get to Ron..."

Almost instantly it calmed and split its branches, parting for a way for us to get through. I smiled up at the tree and gave it a pat, "Harry, Hermione, go through the hole!" I called back, not bothering to look back at them, I wouldn't be surprised if they were shocked.

I heard their footsteps come closer and saw out of the corner of my eye as they ducked into the hole.

"Oz!" Hermione called out. I gave the tree one last pat before making my way down too, quietly thanking the Willow for letting us go through. The tunnel was long and dingy and dirty. It seemed like forever before we reached the shrieking shack. We ducked through roots that dangled overhead. After the silence, Harry spoke, "I never thought I'd see someone talk to the Whomping Willow..."

I let out a soft snort as Hermione continued, "Neither did I... and for someone to be able to calm the tree down for that matter..."

"Who knows, maybe I'm good with plants..." I muttered.

"You think?" Harry muttered. We paused for a moment looking around. The tunnel ended. I gazed up, "There..." I muttered it was a way out through a small opening. One by one we all pulled ourselves up out of the hole. We took a second and checked our surroundings once more. The wallpaper peeled and the halls echoed howls of wind. Dust seemed to gather on every surface, and doors loose on their hinges creaked back and forth. "The Shrieking Shack..." Hermione muttered, "Why are we in the Shrieking Shack?"

Neither of us answered as we continued to look around, where did that damn dog go? Harry makes his way to a narrow staircase, where dirty pawprints covered the ground, along with streaks of blood. We made our way up the stairs and listened to the wind wail and the entire house creak.

We came out to a room, a small one, and in the corner, Ron held his foot sobbing in pain. Relief flooded the group as we rushed over to him, "Ron!" We called out.

"Ron, the dog... where-"

"It's a trap! He's the dog! He's an animagus!" Ron pointed frantically behind us. Dread washed over me as quickly as the relief had come. We slowly turned to look behind us and as our eyes followed the pawprint. Our eyes settled on the door that the prints led us to. The door slammed shut and behind was a ragged-looking man, a familiarly haunting one that were sharp and angry. The sames one's from the newspaper. With tattoos across his chest, sunken eyes, and scruffy, long, black hair. Sirius Black... In the flesh... we were fucked.

"If you want to kill Harry you'll have to kill us too!" Hermione stated boldly as she threw herself in front of Harry, with my wand ready I stood firmly beside them. Then he graveled and growled out, "No, only one will die tonight," After all the research I had done, I thought I would have been ready to face a killer like him, but seeing his sickening sneer I found myself nearly frozen.

"Then it'll be you!" Harry rushed forward and took Sirius Black by the collar and threw him to the floor, pointing his wand in Black's face. It was incredible to see the courage these kids had, but Black only cackled, "Are you going to kill me, Harry?"

"Expelliarmus!" I gasped and looked up, it was Professor Lupin, who shot Harry's wand out of his hand. He nudged his wand motioning for Harry to move out of the way. I stepped forward, took hold of him, and put me between him and the men.

"Well, well Sirius, looking rather ragged aren't we?" Lupin eyed him intensely, "Finally the flesh reflects the madness within!"

Sirius smirked, "Well you would know all about the madness within, wouldn't you Remus?" Remus? The air is thick with tension before Lupin lowers his wand and helps him up with a hand stretched outward. My eyes widened in horror as the two hugged, Sirius chuckling madly. No, no... this can't be happening... I remembered back to my question to him, "Did you know Sirius Black?" His tension, his inability to answer me.

"You bastard..." I growl lowly. Lupin and Sirius stop for a moment. I could feel tears welling up in my eyes. Lupin shakes his head softly. How could I have ever trusted him? He made it easy... I made it easy...

"Let's kill him!" Sirius whispered, still giddy.

"I know..." Lupin shushed him gently.

"No!" Hermione yelled, "We trusted you! And all this time you've been his friend..." She balled up her fist and pointed at Lupin, "He's a werewolf! It's why he's been missing classes!"

It somehow got worse....