𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍𝐒 - Harry Potter x Fem!Reader¹

18.. THE DAY SILVERWING FLIES FREE

When Y/N, Hermione, Harry, and Ron left the hospital wing at noon the next day, it was to find an almost deserted castle. The sweltering heat and the end of the exams meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit. Neither Hermione nor Ron felt like going, however, so they and Y/N and Harry wandered onto the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night and wondering where Sirius and Buckbeak were now.

Sitting near the lake, watching the giant squid waving its tentacles lazily above the water, Y/N lost the thread of the conversation as she looked across to the opposite bank. The sparrowhawk had soared toward her from there just last night with the stag...

A shadow fell across them and they looked up to see a very bleary-eyed Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and beaming down at them.

"Know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night," he said. "I mean, Black escapin' again, an' everythin' — but guess what?"

"What?" they said, pretending to look curious.

"Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin celebratin' all night!"

"That's wonderful!" said Hermione, giving Ron a reproving look because he looked as though he was close to laughing.

"Yeah... can't've tied him up properly," said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. "I was worried this mornin', mind... thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night..."

"What?" said Harry quickly.

"Blimey, haven' yeh heard?" said Hagrid, his smile fading a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in sight. "Er — Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin'...Thought everyone'd know by now... Professor Lupin's a werewolf, see. An' he was loose on the grounds las' night... He's packin' now, o' course."

"He's packing?" said Harry, alarmed. "Why?"

"Leavin', isn' he?" said Hagrid, looking surprised that Harry had to ask. "Resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin' again."

Harry scrambled to his feet.

"I'm going to see him," he said to Y/N, Hermione, and Ron.

"But if he's resigned —"

" — doesn't sound like there's anything we can do —"

"I don't care. I still want to see him. I'll meet you back here."

Y/N got up. "I want to come with you."

Harry nodded.

They rounded a corner and ran straight into Jonathan Potter who was walking in the opposite direction, looking dejected.

"Hey," Harry greeted him. "What's going on?"

"I just came from Remus's office," said Jonathan sadly. "I made him explain. He's already starting to pack. If you're quick enough, you'll probably still catch him."

"He's really leaving?" said Y/N softly.

"Yeah... It's all happening so fast," Jonathan mumbled gravely. "He said something like he's putting everyone at risk, and I guess he thinks it's best this way. I don't think he even bothered packing a single thing that wasn't related to work. Guess that's what happens when you're a werewolf and you've got to put on a show."

"We need to hurry then," said Harry.

Lupin's office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The grindylow's empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk and looked up only when Harry knocked on the door.