Harry Potter x Reader

Third Year - Drama in the Shrieking Shack

"I'm going in."
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1k votes. Speechless.
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Third Person POV

Harry's mind had gone blank with shock. The four of them stood transfixed with horror under the Invisibility Cloak. The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light over the long-shadowed grounds.

Hermione had silent tears dripping down her pale face, leaning on Ron for support, who was looking miserable.

(Y/N) watched, petrified at the thought. She'd just witnessed Buckbeak's death. Harry stood still, no words or thoughts running through his mind. He could feel (Y/N) tensing up from beside him, and without thinking, he took her hand in his, and squeezed it reassuringly. He didn't expect it, but she squeezed back.

(Y/N), still shocked, held onto Harry's hand for comfort. They both looked at each other for one moment, the same look on each other's faces, upset, but still held on to their combined hands as (Y/N) lay her head on his shoulder.

Then, behind them, they heard a wild howling.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Without thinking about what he was doing, he made to turn back, (Y/N) about to go with him, but both Ron and Hermione seized their 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?"

"But --" (Y/N) started but Ron knew better.

"Come on," he said, his 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 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!"

"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 Harry had just seen -- stinking toward them, his body low to the ground, wide yellow eyes glinting eerily in the darkness -- Crookshanks. Whether he could see them or was following the sound of Scabbers's squeaks, Harry couldn't tell.

"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 Harry, (Y/N) or Hermione could stop him, Ron had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted away into the darkness.