white roses // neville longbottom

thirty-one

"she's gone mental, hermione has. but that she wasn't always mental." ron says as we walk out of divination class. hermione had an outburst when professor trelawney said she didn't think hermione would ever be good at divination. "hang on." harry says and picks up a crystal ball, the one that hermione launched off of our table to be exact. "we better take this back." harry says. "i'm not going back." ron says. "fine. see you later." harry says. "see you." ron and i say. "oh, ron. look at this spell i learned." i say and grab a feather from my bag. "avifors." i say. the feather turns to a bird and flies from my hand. "bloody hell y/n, where'd you learn that?" ron asks. "oh just one of the many book hermione has." i say.

-later that day-

we walk outside to a man in all black sharpening an axe. he creepily smiles at us as we walk past. i reach for hermione's hand and we walk faster. "i can't believe they're going to kill buckbeak. it's just too horrible." hermione says. we walk out and draco and his friends are standing by some rocks. "just got worse." ron says. draco is looking through binoculars. "look who's here." crabbe says. "ah, come to see the show?" draco asks. "you! you could, loathsome, evil little cockroach!" hermione says and pushes draco against the tall rock. she forces her wand to the soft spot under his chin. "hermione, no! he's not worth it." ron says. draco whimpers with his head pointed up. she slowly lowers her wand. draco laughs as she turns around. she quickly turns back around and punches him square in the nose. he groans. "malfoy, are you okay?" crabbe asks. they quickly run away. "that felt good." hermione says. "not good, brilliant." i say. we all smile.

we walk down stone steps to hagrids hut. we see buckbeak all tied up. we enter hagrids hut and hagrid is look out of the window at buckbeak. "look at him. loved the smell of the trees when the wind blows through them." he says. "why don't we just set him free?" harry asks. "they'd know it was me, and then dumbledore would get into trouble. he's coming down y'know, dumbledore. says he wants to be with me when they..when it happens." hagrid say. "great man, dumbledore. a great man." hagrid adds and sits down. "we'll stay with you too hagrid." hermione says. "you'll do no such thing! think i want you seeing something like that? no. you just drink your tea and be off. oh. before you do, ron.." hagrid says and walks to a drawer. hagrid turns around with a rat in his hands. "scabbers! you're alive!" ron says and grabs the rat. "keep a closer eye on your pet." hagrid says. "i think you owe someone an apology." hermione says. "right. next time i see crookshanks, i'll let him know." ron says. "i meant me!" hermione says. the pot next to hermione breaks. "blimey. what was that?" hagrid asks. hermione picks up a rock from the table. another one comes in and harry gets hit in the back of the head. "ow!" he yelps. "it's late. it's nearly dark. you shouldn't be here. someone sees you outside this time of night, you'll be in trouble. big trouble! particularly you harry." a knock comes from the door. "with you in a moment! quick quick!" hagrid ushers us out. we exit from a back door. we hide behind a patch of pumpkins. a twig snaps behind us and hermione and i turn around. "what?" harry asks. "i thought i just saw...nevermind." hermione says. "let's go." ron says. we scurry off and run to the same rocks hermione punched draco at. buckbeak is hidden by a tree but we can still see the executioner. he lifts the axe in the air. he swings the axe back down and i turn into harry. he hugs me. ron let's out a quick yelp. "he bit me! scabbers." ron says. he chases after the rat. "ron. ron!" hermione says. we gives eachother confused looks and chase after ron. "scabbers! come back!" ron shouts. "wait!" harry shout after ron. ron catches scabbers under the whomping willow. "scabbers, you bit me!" ron says. "harry, you do realize what tree this is?" i ask. "that's not good. ron, run!" harry shouts. ron looks up at us. "harry, hermione and y/n run!" he shouts pointing at us. we all turn around to see a black wolf. "it's the grim!" ron shouts. it dashes after us but jumps over us to go to ron. ron ducks out of the way and the grim grabs him by the leg. "harry!" ron shouts. the grim drags him. we chase after him shouting his name. "harry! help!" ron cries. harry dives on the floor to try and reach his hand but barely misses. the grim pulls ron into a tunnel. the whomping willow brings down one of its branches and knocks us back. we hit the ground hard. we can hear ron cry still. i grab hermione and harry's hand as we dash towards the entrance. we dodge one of the branches. i have to let go of their hands to dodge another. "duck!" hermione shouts as another comes towards us. harry doesn't and it knocks him back. hermione and i jump over one that comes right at our feet. i duck down when one comes straight at our middle's. a branch comes and picks me up off of the ground. i hold on for dear life in fear of being dropped. i get flung all around. i let go at the perfect time so i get flung right into the hole. harry comes flying in after me landing straight on me. he tries to get up but hermione falls in knocking him back on to me. "i'm sorry." hermione says helping us up. "where do you suppose this goes?" hermione asks. harry looks at me. "i have a hunch." he says.