"𝚃𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚠 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚕𝚍 𝚊𝚐𝚊𝚒𝚗. 𝙸𝚝 𝚐𝚘𝚎𝚜, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚖𝚢 𝚝𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚋𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚘𝚗 𝚊 𝚋𝚞𝚛𝚗𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚙𝚒𝚕𝚎, 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚕𝚒𝚝 𝚞𝚙 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚝𝚘 𝚜𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎."

𝔹𝕦𝕣𝕟𝕚𝕟𝕘 ℙ𝕚𝕝𝕖 - 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕄𝕠𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣

"Well. We're fucked."

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

The excitement of the Quidditch final lasted only a few weeks. As the end of the year and June approached most people would like to be soaking in the newly warm weather and the now cloudless sky.

However, exams were upon them and everyone was in a tizzy studying. Y/N had even seen Fred and George studying for their O.W.L.s and Percy was frantically studying for his N.E.W.T.S.

Although as a third-year, Y/N was more concerned about her individual exams for each class. She was nonstop studying making Harry help quiz her anytime they were together.

"We're supposed to be relaxing," Harry groaned laying on his back and placing Y/N's transfiguration textbook over his face.

Y/N was sitting against a tree in the courtyard.

"They'll be plenty of that later," She ordered. "Keep going!"

"Fine," Harry said sitting up and rolling his eyes. "What spell turns a teapot to a tortoise?" he read.

Y/N thought for a minute before answering, "Sciphustestudo."

"Yes, now can we go get lunch," Harry whined, shoving her Transfiguration book into her hands.

"Not until we've finished Transfiguration," Y/N said pushing the book back towards him.

"You have an Outstanding in Transfiguration," Harry pointed out. "Why are you trying so hard?"

"If I get anything less than an Outstanding I might as well be disowned," she stated plainly. "Now ask me another question."

"Fine," Harry said flopping back on his back and finding another study question to ask Y/N.

The only person more anxious about exams than Y/N was Hermione.

Harry, Ron, and Y/N had stopped trying to figure out how Hermione attended multiple classes at the same time because it was driving them crazy.

But when they saw the exam schedule Hermione had written for herself they couldn't help but question her.

Monday

9 o'clock, Arithmancy
9 o'clock Transfiguration

Lunch

1 o'clock, Charms
1 o'clock, Ancient Runes

"Hermione?" Y/N had asked cautiously when the three had walked in on Hermione shuffled over heaps of parchment in the Great Hall.

"Er-are you sure you've copied down these times right?" Ron asked.

"What?" Hermione snapped, snatching the piece of parchment that had her schedule on it from Ron to take a look. "Yes, of course, I have."

"Is there any point asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once?" Harry asked.

"No," Hermione said. "Have any of you seen my copy of Numerology and Grammatica?"

The three shook their heads. Just then, an owl flew overhead and dropped a letter on the table.

Y/N picked it up studying the name written on it. "It's from Hagrid," she revealed.

She opened it carefully. "Buckbeak's appeal....it's set for the sixth."

"That's the day we finish our exams," Hermione said.

"They're coming here to do it," Harry said reading over Y/N's shoulder. "Someone from the Ministry of Magic and an....executioner."

"They're bringing an executioner to the appeal!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Thats like they've already signed Buckbeak's death sentence," Y/N said angrily.

"Yeah it does," Harry said taking the letter from Y/N's hands.

"They can't," Ron protested. "I've spent ages reading up on stuff for him; they can't just ignore it all."

"No wonder Draco doesn't seem as hurt as he used to be since the quidditch game," Y/N snarled. "His dad probably told him that Buckbeak's going to be killed."

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ─── 

Lunch was a bundle of nerves when all third years came back from taking part in their Transfiguration exams.

"Were the tortoises supposed to breathe steam?" one Hufflepuff asked his friend while walking into the Great Hall.

Y/N barely ate anything. She, like Hermione, was rereading her Charms book preparing for the next exam.

When they were tested on Cheering Charms, Harry did his charm a bit too much because of how nervous he was, and Ron who was his partner had to be put into a quiet room for an hour because of his hysterical laughter until he could try the spell himself.

After dinner, Y/N rushed back to the common room with Daphne and Tracey so they could begin studying for Care of Magical Creatures, Potions, and Astronomy.

During her potions exam, Y/N perfectly executed her Confusing Concoction which made Snape's lip curl before scribbling down her grade. However, Harry didn't have the same luck because he was unable to get his to thicken, which heavily amused Professor Snape before he scribbled down what looked like a zero.

Astronomy at midnight was torture for Y/N who just wanted to sleep. Thursday morning, however, was a more enjoyable exam given Professor Lupin had them do a sort of obstacle course for their exams.

They had to go across a pool that was filled with grindylows, cross potholes that consisted Red Caps, get through a patch of marsh while trying to ignore the incorrect directions hinkypunks were giving them, and then they had to climb into a trunk and battle with a boggart.

Y/N was much more prepared for what to come, and she and Harry received high praise from Professor Lupin. "Full Marks," he had smiled to the both of them.

Harry and Y/N sat off to the side deciding to watch Ron and Hermione complete their exam.

Ron did everything successfully until the hinkypunks confused him heavily and he ended up in a quagmire waist-deep.

Hermione did everything perfectly until the Boggart. She came out of the trunk screaming startling Harry, Y/N, and Professor Lupin.

"Hermione!" Lupin exclaimed. "What's the matter?"

"P-P-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasped. "Sh-she said I'd failed everything!"

When the four walked back to the castle Ron couldn't help but burst out laughing at Hermione's boggart but before the two could engage in an argument all four of them spotted Cornelius Fudge looking out onto the grounds.

"Hello there, Harry, Y/N," the Minister exclaimed completely ignoring Ron and Hermione's pretense.

It took everything in Y/N not to scowl at him.

"How are your parents?" He asked Y/N with a rather cheerful expression given what he was there to do.

"Fine," Y/N said shortly.

"Last I heard they were on a heavy trip for the Ministry," he said.

Y/N nodded her head, even though she had no idea that her parents were yet on another secretive trip.

"Well it's a lovely day," he smiled looking at the lake. "Pity...pity,"

"I'm here on a rather unpleasant mission," he said to the two although his face didn't show it. "The Committee for the Disposal of Magical Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in."

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron interjected.

"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon," Fudge said looking at Ron rather interestingly.

"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all," Y/N said sternly.

"The hippogriff might get off!" Ron added.

Two wizards came through the doors of the castle before Fudge could answer the two, One was tall with a thin black mustache and the other was very very old.

Y/N guessed they were from the Committee when the old wizard squinted his eyes towards Hagrid's hut as if he could barely see.

"Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this...Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"

The tall man was fingering something in his belt. The blade of a shining ax, and he was running his thumb along it smirking.

Before Y/N or Ron could say something Hermione nudged Ron in the ribs hard and Harry quickly put his hand over Y/N's mouth.

"Why'd you stop us," Ron blurted angrily once the men had left.

"Don't you see those idiots? They have the ax ready, not even giving Buckbeak a fair appeal," Y/N said in rage.

"Both your parents work for the Ministry!" Hermione exclaimed even though she looked upset as well. "You can't go saying things like that to their boss."

"I don't care, they're about to kill a defenseless animal and are practically throwing a party!" Y/N hissed before starting to walk towards the great hall.

"Hey," Harry said grabbing her arm and pulling her back. "As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak.."

"But they can, because Lucius Malfoy is just like his ignorant son and an innocent life is going to be taken from another innocent creature," Y/N protested before breaking free of Harry's grip and walking off to the Slytherin table for lunch.

Harry sighed looking after her as she angrily took a seat next to Daphne but decided not to eat.

Everyone around them was happily eating given that Exam week was so close to the end but none of them could feel happy about that when Buckbeak's life was in danger.

"How'd it go?" Harry asked cautiously when Y/N exited the Divination room after her exam, given he didn't know if Y/N was still upset about the encounter with the Minister.

"I saw absolutely nothing and made a whole bunch of shit up," Y/N said letting out a light laugh. "Pretty sure she bought the bullshit but we'll see."

Harry gave her a small smile of relief realizing that she wasn't mad at him.

"Harry Potter," Professor Trelawney called.

"I'll meet you at the black lake?" Harry muttered.

"Sure," Y/N squeezed his hand and said. "Good luck with that train wreck."

She gave him one last encouraging smile before heading down the corridor.

Harry let out a sigh and made his way into the Divination room.

"Good day, my dear," Professor Trelawney said sitting behind a crystal ball at one of the areas of chairs and tables. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb......Take your time, now.....then tell me what you see within it...."

Harry looked into the fog but he saw nothing.

"Well?" Professor Trelawney prompted. "What do you see?"

Harry thought back to what Y/N had just told him and decided to bullshit his answer.

"Er—a dark shape," Harry said.

"What does it resemble?" Professor Trelawney said. "Think now..."

"A hippogriff," he said landing on his thoughts of Buckbeak.

"Indeed!" she whisper shouted. "My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid's trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer....does the hippogriff appear to...have its head."

"Yes," Harry said his voice getting shrill.

"Are you sure?" Professor Trelawney asked like she was hoping he would see a bloody murder in the cup. "Are you quite sure, dear? You don't see it writhing on the ground perhaps a shadowy figure raising an ax behind it?"

"No!" Harry said starting to feel queasy.

"No blood? No crying Hagrid?"

"No!" Harry said longing to leave the room. "It looks fine, it's flying away....."

Professor Trelawney looked disappointed.

"Well dear, I think we'll leave it there...A little disappointing....but I'm sure you did your best."

Harry let out a breath of relief. He picked up his bag and was almost at the door until a cold deep voice spoke.

"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT."

Harry turned around, his eyes going wide. Professor Trelawney had gone stone in her chair and her eyes appeared to be white.

"S-sorry?" Harry stuttered.

But she seemed to be deaf. Harry stood there not knowing if he should leave and get someone like Madame Pomfrey.

Her eyes started rolling to the back of her head and she looked as though she was having a seizure.

"THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHANGED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT.....THE SERVENT WILL BREAK FREE AND SET OUT TO REJOIN HIS MASTER. THE DARK LORD WILL RISE AGAIN WITH HIS SERVANT'S AID, GREATER AND MORE TERRIBLE THAN EVER BEFORE. TONIGHT...BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT...WILL SET OUT...TO REJOIN...HIS MASTER..."

Professor Trelawney appeared to pass out and her face fell onto the table. Harry went pale. Surprisingly in a matter of seconds, she let out a grunting noise and snapped up quickly.

"I'm so sorry, dear boy," she said as if nothing happened. "The heat of the day you know...I drifted off for a moment...."

Harry stood there with his mouth open.

"Is there something wrong, my dear?" she asked concerned.

"You...you just told me that the...the Dark Lord's going to rise again....that his servant's going to go back to him...."

Professor Trelawney looked confused.

"The Dark Lord? He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named? My dear boy, that's hardly something to joke about...Rise again, indeed.."

"You just said it!" Harry protested, breathing heavily. "You said the Dark Lord-"

"I think you must have dozed off too dear," Professor Trelawney dismissed. "I certainly would not presume to predict anything as far-fetched as that."

Harry awkwardly nodded and made a break for it down the ladder.

He found himself running past security trolls and down to the lake where Y/N was sitting.

"Hey," she greeted kindly until she noticed Harry's flushed face. "Is everything okay?"

He leaned against a tree and slid down sitting next to Y/N. Once he started talking he couldn't stop. He began ranting about everything that had happened at his exam. The prediction that Professor Trelawney oddly doesn't remember, his fake answer to what he saw in the crystal ball.

"Well. We're fucked," Y/N sighed looking up at the clear sky.

"You're telling me," Harry said.

Suddenly they heard the rustle of footsteps and turned around to see Ron and Hermione who both looked extremely upset.

"Buckbeak lost," Ron said weakly. "Hagrid's just sent this."

He handed the note to Harry but the handwriting was barely legible as if someone had been shaking when writing it.

Lost appeal. They're going to execute. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it.

Hagrid

"Let's go," Harry said completely ignoring Hagrid's ask to not come.

The four made their way back up the castle and through the bridge.

"I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak, this is horrid," Y/N muttered.

"It just got worse," Ron said pointing to Draco, Pike, and Crabbe. They were huddled together with binoculars excited like they were getting ready to watch a funny movie.

Without thinking Hermione and Y/N made their way down to where the three boys were laughing.

Harry and Ron exchanged nervous glances before following the two girls who looked like they were on a warpath.

"Look who's here," Crabbe snickered to Draco.

"Ahh come to see the show?" Draco smirked.

"You," Hermione snarled. "You foul loathsome evil little cockroach!" she exclaimed.

Y/N and Hermione both had their wands drawn to Draco's neck while he was squirming against the rocks.

Draco started to whimper with the two girls poking their wands into his skin.

"Guys no," Ron said. "He's not worth it."

Hermione and Y/N lowered their wands making Draco and his friends laugh. They started to turn around but Y/N gave Hermione a sly smile encouraging what she did next.

Hermione whipped around and punched Draco right in the nose while Y/N smirked happily.

"Malfoy! Malfoy you okay?" Pike asked while Crabbe and he tried to help him up.

Draco retreated up the grassy incline tripping over his feet. He looked back at Hermione's scowling face.

"That felt good," Hermione smiled.

"Not good, brilliant," Ron said astonished while Y/N was proudly smiling at her.

The four scurried down to Hagrid's Hut. As they passed they saw dead ferrets hanging from a holder made out of sticks. Buckbeak was sitting casually in front of his hut surrounded by yellow and orange pumpkins.

"Yeh should've of come," Hagrid whispered gesturing the four to come inside after they had knocked on the door.

"We didn't want you to be alone," Hermione said comfortingly entering the hut.

"Dumbledore's coming down y'know," Hagrid said trying to hide his tears. "Says he wants ter be with me when they—"

Hagrid stopped short and looked out the window to where Buckbeak was laying.

"—when it happens. Great man Dumbledore."

"We'll stay with you too Hagrid," Y/N piped up while Hermione nodded her head in agreement.

"You'll do no such thing," Hagrid demanded. "You think I want you seeing something like that. No. I'll make yer all some tea then you best be off."

Hagrid tried stifling a sob as he made his way over to the cupboard.

"I'll help," Y/N said silent tears now streaking down her face. Hermione joined her, and the two began making the tea trying to hide them from Hagrid.

As Hermione picked up the jug to pour the milk in she let out a yelp.

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

Ron stood up and his jaw dropped.

"What are you talking about?"

Hermione moved the jug to the table and turned it upside down and lifted it up revealing Scabbers. He looked like he was scrambling to get back inside.

"Scabbers!" Ron said excitingly. "What are you doing here?"

He grabbed his beloved rat who looked thin and had patches of hair missing.

"It's okay Scabbers!" Ron cooed. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"

"You owe someone an apology Ronald," Hermione said crossing her arms.

"Your right," Ron sighed. "Next time I see Crookshanks I'll let him know."

Y/N rolled her eyes from where she was standing next to a small circular table when suddenly the jar laying on it busted open. She picked up a stone that had broke it and studied it. It was smooth and black with a small swirl on it.

"Ow," Harry hissed rubbing the back of his head and looking out the window to see what had hit him.

Instead, Harry's eye caught onto four men walking down. Albus Dumbledore, Cornelius Fudge, the old committee representative, and the executioner.

"Yeh gotta go," Hagrid ordered. He started to shake. "They mustn't find yeah here, especially you Harry.....Go. Now..."

Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket as there was a knock on the door.

"Be with yer in er moment," Hagrid called scrambling the students out of the hut through the back door.

Harry turned around before all four of them left.

"Hagrid!" He said breathing heavily. "It'll be fine, it'll be okay!"

Hagrid nodded like he believed him but Harry could tell he didn't.

"Go on, go on," he whispered ushering them out.

Y/N peeked out the door waiting for the four men to go inside until letting all of them retreat outside.

Against Hagrid's wishes, they hid behind a huge pile of pumpkins with crows squawking all around them, instead of going back to the castle.

They listened to the minister recite a script about Buckbeak's execution until there was a rustle and Hermione turned around quickly.

"What?" Harry asked her giving her a quizzical look.

"I thought I just saw—" Hermione said squinting her eyes at the dark never ending forest. "Never mind."

"Let's go," Ron suggested.

They followed Ron, careful to not be seen, and went up the steps back to where Hermione had punched Draco.

The four overlooked the hut and Hermione and Y/N were both on the verge of tears. Ron held on to Scabbers tightly with a sad expression on his face.

They watched the executioner stalk up to Buckbeak. Y/N was disgusted at how someone could enjoy killing innocent animals for sport.

Harry interlaced his hand with Y/N's while Ron snuck a glance at Hermione.

The executioner raised his ax and dropped it with a climatic slice. Crows fled away from the scene.

Hermione dug her head into the crook of Ron's neck wrapping her arms around him. While Y/N immediately buried her face in Harry's neck trying not to cry too hard.

"They really did it," she whispered. Harry rubbed her back comfortingly trying not to cry himself.

He and Ron exchanged glances looking at the aftermath of Buckbeak's execution.

─── ∙ ~☾~ ∙ ───

𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐟 𝐘𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝟑: 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐𝟏

A/N: Thank you for 6.5 K reads! I'm so excited for the upcoming chapters. Also, you have no idea how many times I had to stop my computer from autocorrected 'Buckbeak' to 'Buckbeans'. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it. 💕