Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

49) Sirius Black

Crookshanks darted forward suddenly, weaving through the tree limbs with ease. He placed his front paws on a knot on the trunk.

The tree froze suddenly, completely unmoving. No leaf or branch shook or twitched.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione whispered uncertainly. She was gripping my arm painfully hard. "How did he know —"

"He's friends with that dog," Harry said darkly. "I've seen them together. Come on — and keep your wand out —"

I drew my sword, walking with the others to the gap in the roots. Crookshanks slid in through the gap first, then Harry. Hermione slid in after him, and I glanced around behind me before it was my turn.

I slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of the tunnel. My friends were waiting for me at the bottom, the area illuminated by Harry's wand.

"Where's Ron?" Hermione whispered shakily.

"This way," Harry said, bent over as he walked through the small tunnel. We followed.

"Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione asked from ahead.

"I don't know," Harry said. "It's marked on the Marauder's Map but Fred and George said no one's ever gotten into it.... It goes off the edge of the map, but it looked like it ends up in Hogsmeade...."

We moved as fast as we could when we were bent over like we were. I couldn't get the sound of Ron's snapping leg out of my ears, and found myself biting my lip hard enough to draw blood.

The tunnel finally started rising ahead of us. It twisted moments later, and Crookshanks disappeared. Instead, there was a dim patch of light. We peeked through the small opening and into what lay beyond.

It was a room. It was dusty and disorderly. Wallpaper was peeling, and the windows were boarded up. Stains covered the floor, and all the furniture looked as if someone had taken a sledgehammer to it.

I recognized it as a room in the Shrieking Shack immediately.

I glanced at my friends. They both looked frightened, yet determined.

Harry pulled himself through the opening first, then Hermione. I climbed out after them.

"Guys," she whispered. "I think we're in the Shrieking Shack."

I nodded, "We are."

Harry glanced around, and his eyes landed on a wooden chair. Large chucks had been torn out of it. One of the legs were missing.

"Ghosts didn't do that," he said lowly.

There was a creak overhead. Something had moved. We stared up at the ceiling.

As silent as possible, we crept into the hall and up the staircase. Everything was dusty but the floor, which had a clear drag mark on it.

We reached the landing.

"Nox," my friends whispered, and their lights went out. All that was left was the light from my sword.

We inched towards the only open door, hearing movement beyond it. There was a low moan, and deep, loud purring.

Harry held tightly onto his wand, kicking the door open. On a bed sat Crookshanks. On the floor beside him was Ron, clutching his leg.

We dashed over to him.

"Ron — are you okay?"

"Where's the dog?"

"Not a dog," Ron groaned. "Harry, it's a trap —"

"What —"

"He's the dog... he's an Animagus...." Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. I turned around. The man in the shadows closed the door with a snap.

Filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. His eyes were shining out of dark, deep sockets. His waxy skin was stretched over his face, and I was immediately reminded of a skeleton. His yellow teeth formed a grin.

It was Sirius Black.

"Expelliarmus!" The man croaked, holding Ron's wand. My sword flew out of my hand, and my wand shot from my pocket. Harry and Hermione lost their wands, too.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend," he rasped, staring at Harry. It sounded like he hadn't used his voice in a long, long time. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you, not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful... it will make everything much easier...."

Harry started forward suddenly, and we all grabbed him, holding me back. There was something in Black's eyes that I didn't understand. Couldn't understand.

"No, Harry!" Hermione gasped.

Ron spoke to Black, "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!" He said fiercely, though he was paling from standing so long. He swayed as he spoke.

"Lie down," Black said, something flickering in his eyes. "You will damage that leg even more."

"Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, clinging to Harry to stay upright. "You'll have to kill all three of us!"

"There'll only be one murder tonight," Black's grin widened.

"Why's that?" Harry scowled, struggling to get away from us. "Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at at Pettigrew.... What's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?"

"Harry!" Whimpered Hermione. "Be quiet!"

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry bellowed, and he broke free of our restraint.

Black didn't raise the wands in time. Harry latched onto his wrist with one hand, forcing the wands to point the other way. Harry used the other hand to punch Black in the face. They fell backwards into the wall. Hermione was screaming. Ron was yelling. I was running towards them. By the time I got to them, Black's hand was wrapped around Harry's neck. I kicked him in the side, and he let go of Harry with a grunt of pain. Ron had thrown himself onto Black's wand hand, and Harry fought to get away from the tangle of bodies.

Black brought a bony knuckle hard up to my face, and I hissed, tasting blood. I took a kick for Ron when Black kicked at him, then kicked him myself. Hermione was fighting against him as well, and I could see a small cut on her lip.

"Get out of the way!" Harry shouted at us, and I didn't hesitate to move. Hermione snatched our wands away, and also grabbed my sword. Ron crawled over to the bed, collapsing on it. His face was tinted green, and he was holding his leg.

Black was leaning against the base of the wall, breathing heavily. Harry's wand was pointed right at Black's heart.

"Going to kill me, Harry?" Black whispered.

Hey. Guess what day it is. Wednesday, right? Yeah I guessed wrong. I thought it was Tuesday. Very sorry to everyone who was looking forward to the chapter on my other series, but I do not have time to write it tonight, which is my own fault. Things have been hectic lately, and I've just been super distracted. So you guys know how my mom's ex did bad stuff to Emblem, yeah? Well, he got arrested for it. That was super cool. Then my mom bailed him out of jail. I guess he's not her ex. It's just... sucky. And I don't want to just kick mom out of my life and all, but at this point it seems necessary. Especially if she's not gonna get her shit together. I'm just... kinda tired. So I'm sorry if I forget to post, or seem grumpy in the comments or on here. Things have been bad.

I hope you guys have had a good Wednesday, and I will see you on Friday. Love ya!