I went down to dinner with everybody else, but did not returnto Dungeons afterward. Harry had the cloak hidden downthe front of his robes; he had to keep his arms folded to hide the lump. 

We skulked in an empty chamber off the entrance hall, listening, until we were sure it was deserted. we heard a last pairof people hurrying across the hall and a door slamming. Hermionepoked her head around the door. 

"Okay," she whispered, "no one there — cloak on —"

 Walking very close together so that nobody would see us, we crossed the hall on tiptoe beneath the cloak, then walked downthe stone front steps into the grounds. The sun was already sinkingbehind the Forbidden Forest, gilding the top branches of the trees. 

We reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute inanswering, and when he did, he looked all around for his visitor,pale-faced and trembling."It's us," Harry hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Letus in and we can take it off.

""Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back,and we stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly and Harrypulled off the cloak.Hagrid was not crying, nor did he throw himself upon theirnecks.

 He looked like a man who did not know where he was orwhat to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than tears."Wan' some tea?" he said. His great hands were shaking as hereached for the kettle.

 "Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" said Hermione hesitantly.

 "I — I took him outside," said Hagrid, spilling milk all over thetable as he filled up the jug. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch.Thought he oughta see the trees an' — an' smell fresh air —before —" Hagrid's hand trembled so violently that the milk jug slippedfrom his grasp and shattered all over the floor.

I'll do it, Hagrid," said Hermione quickly, hurrying over andstarting to clean up the mess. 

"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid said, sittingdown and wiping his forehead on his sleeve. I glanced at Harry, Harry glanced at Ron, both looked back hopelessly."Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry askedfiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore —" 

"He's tried," said Hagrid. "He's got no power ter overrule theCommittee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they'rescared. . . . Yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like . . . threatened 'em,I expect . . . an' the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's . . . but it'll be quick an' clean . . . an' I'll be beside him. . . ." 

Hagrid swallowed. His eyes were darting all over the cabin asthough looking for some shred of hope or comfort."Dumbledore's gonna come down while it — while it happens.Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter — ter be with me. Greatman, Dumbledore. . . ."

 Hermione, who had been rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard foranother milk jug, let out a small, quickly stifled sob. She straightened up with the new jug in her hands, fighting back tears."We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she began, but Hagrid shookhis shaggy head. 

"Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yehwatchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway. . . . If Fudge an'Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Harry, Emma yeh'll be inbig trouble."Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but shehid them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea.

 Then, as she picked up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out ashriek. 

"Ron! I — I don't believe it — it's Scabbers!"

 Ron gaped at her."What are you talking about?" 

Hermione carried the milk jug over to the table and turned itupside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to getback inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.

 "Scabbers!" said Ron blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doinghere?"He grabbed the struggling rat and held him up to the light.Scabbers looked dreadful. He was thinner than ever, large tufts ofhair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed inRon's hands as though desperate to free himself. 

"It's okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "No cats! There's nothing here tohurt you!"Hagrid suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on the window. Hisnormally ruddy face had gone the color of parchment."They're comin'. . . ."

Me, Harry, Ron, and Hermione whipped around. A group of menwas walking down the distant castle steps. In front was AlbusDumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next tohim trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came the feeble oldCommittee member and the executioner, Macnair. 

"Yeh gotta go," said Hagrid. Every inch of him was trembling."They mustn' find yeh here. . . . Go now. . . ."Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and Hermione picked upthe cloak.

"I'll let yeh out the back way," said Hagrid. We followed him to the door into his back garden. I feltstrangely unreal, and even more so when I saw Buckbeak a fewyards away, tethered to a tree behind Hagrid's pumpkin patch. 

Buckbeak seemed to know something was happening. He turnedhis sharp head from side to side and pawed the ground nervously. 

"It's okay, Beaky," said Hagrid softly. "It's okay . . ." He turnedto Me,Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Go on," he said. "Get goin'."But qw didn't move. 

"Hagrid, we can't —"

"It's not fair--"

 "We'll tell them what really happened —" 

"They can't kill him —" 

"Go!" said Hagrid fiercely. "It's bad enough without you lot introuble an' all!" We had no choice. As Hermione and I threw the cloak over Harryand Ron, we heard voices at the front of the cabin. Hagrid lookedat the place where we had just vanished from sight.

 "Go quick," he said hoarsely. "Don' listen. . . ."

 And he strode back into his cabin as someone knocked at thefront door.Slowly, in a kind of horrified trance,Me, Harry, Ron, and Hermioneset off silently around Hagrid's house. As they reached the otherside, the front door closed with a sharp snap.

 "Please, let's hurry," Hermione whispered. "I can't stand it, Ican't bear it. . . ." 

We started up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun wassinking fast now; the sky had turned to a clear, purple-tinged grey,but to the west there was a ruby-red glow. 

Ron stopped dead. 

"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.

 "It's Scabbers — he won't — stay put —"Ron was bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but therat was going berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and flailing, trying to sink his teeth into Ron's hand. 

"Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, it's Ron," Ron hissed. We heard a door open behind them and men's voices.

 "Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" Hermionebreathed.

 "Okay — Scabbers, stay put —" 

We walked forward; I, like Hermione, was trying not tolisten 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 upthe sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. 

There was a jumble ofindistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning, theunmistakable swish and thud of an axe.Hermione swayed on the spot. 

"They did it!" she whispered to me. "I d — don't believe it —they did it!" I grasped Harry's hand. He squeezed mine back.

My mind had gone blank with shock. The four of us stood transfixed with horror under the Invisibility Cloak.The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light overthe long-shadowed grounds. 

Then, behind them, we heard a wildhowling.

 "Hagrid," I muttered. Without thinking about what I was doing, I made to turn back, but both Ron and Hermioneseized my arms. 

"We can't," said Ron, who was paper-white. "He'll be in worsetrouble if they know we've been to see him. . . ."

 Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven.

 "How — could — they?" she choked. "How could they?" 

"Come on," said Ron, whose teeth seemed to be chattering.

 We set off back toward the castle, walking slowly to keep ourselves hidden under the cloak. The light was fading fast now.  

By the time we reached open ground, darkness was settling like aspell around us. 

"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over hischest. The rat was wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matterwith you, you stupid rat? Stay still — OUCH! He bit me!"

 "Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently. "Fudge'll be outhere in a minute —" 

"He won't — stay — put —"Scabbers was plainly terrified. He was writhing with all hismight, trying to break free of Ron's grip.

 "What's the matter with him?"But I had just seen — slinking toward them, his body lowto the ground, wide yellow eyes glinting eerily in the darkness —Crookshanks. Whether he could see us or was following thesound of Scabbers's squeaks, I 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, Crookshankssprang after him, and before Me, Harry or Hermione could stop him,Ron had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted awayinto the darkness. 

"Ron!" Hermione moaned. 

She Harry  and I looked at each other, then followed at a sprint; itwas impossible to run full out under the cloak; we pulled it off and it streamed behind us like a banner as we hurtled afterRon; we could hear his feet thundering along ahead and hisshouts at Crookshanks. 

"Get away from him — get away — Scabbers, come here —" 

There was a loud thud.

 "Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat —"

Me, Harry and Hermione almost fell over Ron; we skidded to astop right in front of him. He was sprawled on the ground, butScabbers was back in his pocket; he had both hands held tight overthe quivering lump. 

"Ron — come on — back under the cloak —" Hermionepanted. "Dumbledore — the Minister — they'll be coming backout in a minute —" 

But before we could cover ourselves again, before we couldeven catch our breath, we heard the soft pounding of giganticpaws. . . . Something was bounding toward us, quiet as ashadow — an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog. 

I reached for my wand, but too late — the dog had madean enormous leap and the front paws hit me on the chest; I keeled over backward in a whirl of hair; I felt its hot breath, sawinch-long teeth — 

But the force of its leap had carried it too far; it rolled off me.Dazed, feeling as though my ribs were broken, I tried to standup; I could hear it growling as it skidded around for a new attack.Ron was on his feet.

 As the dog sprang back toward them hepushed Harry and me aside; the dog's jaws fastened instead around Ron'soutstretched arm. Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of thebrute's hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though hewere a rag doll —

Then, out of nowhere, something hit me so hard across theface I was knocked off my feet again. 

Harry screamed.

I heard Hermione shriekwith pain and fall too. 

I groped for my wand, blinking blood out of my eyes —"Lumos!" I whispered.The wandlight showed me the trunk of a thick tree; we hadchased Scabbers into the shadow of the Whomping Willow and itsbranches were creaking as though in a high wind, whipping backward and forward to stop us going nearer.

 And there, at the base of the trunk, was the dog, dragging Ronbackward into a large gap in the roots — Ron was fighting furiously, but his head and torso were slipping out of sight —

 "Ron!" Harry shouted, trying to follow, but a heavy branchwhipped lethally through the air and he was forced backwardagain.

 All we could see now was one of Ron's legs, which he hadhooked around a root in an effort to stop the dog from pulling himfarther underground — but a horrible crack cut the air like a gunshot; 

Ron's leg had broken, and a moment later, his foot vanishedfrom sight.

 "Emma--Harry — we've got to go for help —" Hermione gasped; shewas bleeding too; the Willow had cut her across the shoulder.

 "No! That thing's big enough to eat him; we haven't gottime —" 

"Harry — we're never going to get through without help —" 

"We'll get in--"

Another branch whipped down at us, twigs clenched likeknuckles."If that dog can get in, we can," I panted, darting here andthere, trying to find a way through the vicious, swishing branches, but I couldn't get an inch nearer to the tree roots without being inrange of the tree's blows.

 "Oh, help, help," Hermione whispered frantically, dancing uncertainly on the spot, "please . . ."Crookshanks darted forward. He slithered between the batteringbranches like a snake and 

placed his front paws upon a knot on thetrunk.Abruptly, as though the tree had been turned to marble, itstopped moving. Not a leaf twitched or shook.

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

 "He's friends with that dog," said Harry grimly. "I've seen themtogether. 

I caught my breathe."Come on — and keep your wands out —" 

We covered the distance to the trunk in seconds, but beforethey had reached the gap in the roots, Crookshanks had slid into itwith a flick of his bottlebrush tail. Harry went next; he crawled forward, headfirst, and slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of avery low tunnel. 

I followed

Crookshanks was a little way along, his eyes flashing in the light from Harry's wand. Seconds later, Hermione slithered down beside us.

 "Where's Ron?" she whispered in a terrified voice. 

"This way," said Harry, setting off, bent-backed, after Crookshanks."Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione asked breathlessly from behind him.

 "I don't know. . . . It's marked on the Marauder's Map but Fredand George said no one's ever gotten into it. . . . It goes off the edgeof the map, but it looked like it was heading for Hogsmeade. . . ."  I said.

They moved as fast as we could, bent almost double; ahead of us, Crookshanks's tail bobbed in and out of view. On and onwent the passage; it felt at least as long as the one to Honeydukes. . . . 

All I could think of was Ron and what the enormous dog might be doing to him. . . .Like I said, I'm loyal to my friends and family. I was drawing breath insharp, painful gasps, running at a crouch. . . .And then the tunnel began to rise; moments later it twisted, andCrookshanks had gone. 

Instead, I could see a patch of dimlight through a small opening. Me,Harry and Hermione paused, gasping for breath, edging forward. 

We raised our wands to see what lay beyond.It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peelingfrom the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece offurniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it.

 Thewindows were all boarded up.Harry glanced at Me and Hermione, who looked very frightened butnodded, so did I.Harry pulled himself out of the hole, staring around.I came after him.

 The roomwas deserted, but a door to our right stood open, leading to ashadowy hallway. Hermione suddenly grabbed my arm again.Her wide eyes were traveling around the boarded windows. 

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

 I looked around. My eyes fell on a wooden chair nearthem. Large chunks had been torn out of it; one of the legs hadbeen ripped off entirely.

 "Ghosts didn't do that,"I said slowly.At that moment, there was a creak overhead. Something hadmoved upstairs. All of us looked up at the ceiling. Hermione's  grip on my arm was so tight I was losing feeling in my fingers. 

I raised my eyebrows at her; she nodded again and let go.

 Quietly as we could, we crept out into the hall and up thecrumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dustexcept the floor, where a wide shiny stripe had been made by something being dragged upstairs. 

We reached the dark landing.

 "Nox," we whispered together, and the lights at the end of our wands went out. Only one door was open. 

As we crept toward it, we heard movement from behind it; a low moan, and then adeep, loud purring. We exchanged a last look, a last nod.Wand held tightly before him, Harry kicked the door wideopen.

 On a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings layCrookshanks, purring loudly at the sight of them. On the floor beside him, clutching his leg, which stuck out at a strange angle, wasRon.

Me, Harry and Hermione dashed across to him. 

"Ron — are you okay?" 

"Where's the dog?" 

"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth were gritted with pain."Harry, Emma it's a trap —"

 "What —"

 "He's the dog . . . he's an Animagus. . . ."Ron was staring over Harry's shoulder. 

Harry and wheeled around.

 With a snap, the man in the shadows closed the door behind them.A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. If eyes hadn'tbeen shining out of the deep, dark sockets, he might have been a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of hisface, it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were bared in a grin.

 Itwas Sirius Black.