The Future

30: Jamie

Chapter 30 (Holy Merlin already?!)

　　"Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" Hermione breathed.
　　"Okay -- Scabbers, stay put --"
　　We walked forward; I, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble of voices behind them. Ron stopped again.
　　"I can't hold him -- Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us --"
　　The rat was squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. There was a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe. I was ready to take out my wand and kill the stupid rat on the spot.
　　Hermione swayed on the spot.
　　"They did it!" she whispered to Harry. "I d -- don't believe it -- they did it!"

　 All of them had gone blank with shock. The four of them stood transfixed with horror under the Invisibility Cloak. I put a horrified look on my face, but I knew they only hit a tree with the axe. The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light over the long- shadowed grounds. Then, behind us, was a wild howling.
　　"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Without thinking about what he was doing, I watched him make a 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...."
　　Anna and Hermione's breathing were shallow and uneven.
　　"How -- could -- they?" Hermione choked. "How could they?"
         Anna looked paralyzed, as if she spoke she would vomit.
　　"Come on," said Ron, whose teeth seemed to be chattering.
　　We 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 wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matter with you, You stupid rat? Stay still -- OUCH! He bit me!" Dammit Pettigrew, stay freaking put!
　　"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's grip.
　　"What's the matter with him?"
　　But I had just seen -- stinking toward them, his body low to the ground, wide yellow eyes glinting eerily in the darkness -- Crookshanks. Awwwww, the pretty kitty cat wants to help Sirius... How cute.
　　"Crookshanks!" Hermione moaned. "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 scampered away. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him, and before any of us could stop him, Ron had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted away into the darkness. I chased after him, a plan forming in my head.
　　"Ron!" Hermione moaned.
　　Anna, Hermione and Harry looked at each other (the three of them could see Anna and I under the spell), then followed at a sprint; but it was impossible to run full out under the cloak; they pulled it off and it streamed behind them like a banner as they hurtled after Ron; they could hear his feet thundering along ahead and his shouts at Crookshanks. I continued to run after Ron, though my breath was getting a bit to uneven.
　　"Get away from him -- get away -- Scabbers, come here --"
　　There was a loud thud.
　　"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat --" Ron had finally gotten Scabbers, and I skidded to a halt.
　　Harry and Hermione and Anna almost fell over Ron; they skidded to a stop right in front of him. He was sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers was back in his pocket; he had both hands held tight over the quivering lump.
　　"Ron -- come on back under the cloak --" Hermione panted. "Dumbledore the Minister -- they'll be coming back out in a minute --"
　　But before they could cover themselves again, before we could even catch their breath, I heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws.... Something was bounding toward them, quiet as a shadow -- an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog. Pad foot! Finally! At least I know he's innocent...
　　Harry reached for his wand, but too late -- the dog had made an enormous leap and the front paws hit him on the chest; he keeled over backward in a whirl of hair; he felt its hot breath, saw inch- long teeth. I gasped, not remembering this.
　     The force of its leap had carried it too far; it rolled off him. Dazed, looking as though his ribs were broken, Harry tried to stand up; I could hear it growling as it skidded around for a new attack.
　　Ron was on his feet. As Padfoot sprang back toward them he pushed Harry aside; the dog's jaws fastened instead around Ron's outstretched arm. Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of the brute's hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though he were a rag doll. I grabbed onto Ron's leg, which was the easiest part of him I could hold onto, but I slid down, and followed him into the Whomping Willow.