CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
↳ he's harmless- oh no he's not

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In the past few days, the days had grown exceptionally boring to say the least. Exams were passing by quickly and slowly Lois' stash of Energy Drinks was depleting drastically. Poor Lois had to deal with the stress being held against her which resulted in her owling her mother to send some more energy drinks. Cedric even complained he was going to drop dead which all the pressure that was put on him. To summarise it shortly, they had a lot of exams which were extremely overwhelming. Potions was an atrocity in comparison to her other exams, but at least she managed to actually get the consistency correct. There were plentiful of doubts though, very confusing when you have to make a Confusing Concoction. The major irony in that Nevertheless, Elara hoped she barely passed, potions was definitely not her strongest suit at all. They had also had Astonony and Elara really found it amusing when she managed to find Jupiter's moon that she was named after. Astronomy was probably one of her favourite lessons and so she really hoped she managed to do well. However, her papa's exam was most probably her favourite exam. It captured the bizarre essence he gave them, unique and held how he managed to teach them flawlessly.

Defence against the Dark Arts seemed something else in comparison to all the other exams. How they did their exam was quite amazing. Cleverly, her papa had them wade across a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart. Elara's boggart had strangely changed, no longer stood a daunting wardrobe but instead was replaced with someone screaming extremely loud. It was no secret that Elara absolutely hated when people yelled, directly at her caused her to burst into a fit of uneven breathing. But in a way, it felt better than her previous Boggart. Being afraid of who you are will always be worst than being yelled at, Elara always acknowledged that. So when she casted the Boggart to turn into hectic laughter, it felt different. It felt nicer than witnessing a closet burst out with spontaneous confetti.

The atmosphere felt foreign in comparison to Elara's first encounter with a Boggart. It felt nicer walking out to her papa's beaming face, it felt nicer when she was told she had full marks. Everything felt better than it used to feel.

Watching others do it felt nice as well. Some came out startled, others dignified. As patiently as she could, Elara waited for Hermione to finish her exam. She tapped her foot anxiously on the floor, and the suddenly Hermione came out of the closet, screaming In terror.

"Hermione!" Gasped out Remus, startled at the girl's sudden terror. "What's the matter?"

"P-P-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione cried out. "Sh-she said I'd failed everything!"Elara immediately went to grab onto Hermione, giving the girl a warm hug in the hopes she'd feel better. Elara connoted that her fear came from disappointing the people she admired a lot. Elara knew very well how much respect Hermione had for Professor McGonagall. It must have been awful when you failed the one person you admired very much. Elara felt awful for Hermione when Ron found himself giddy, poking fun at her Boggart. But the bushy haired witch said nothing about it so Elara didn't either.

Soon enough, Ron stopped laughing. They noticed Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic, standing on the school grounds, gracing his pinstriped cloak as he stood there, slightly sweaty. He looked awful to say the least, which sounded rude but Elara couldn't care less. He really did look rough. He wasn't held together well at all. Soon enough he caught sight of the group and spoke to them - well he spoke to Harry. "Hello there, Harry!" he greeted. Elara shuffled awkwardly in place. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"

"Yes," replied Harry. The rest of the group wasn't being acknowledged at all, so they all stood by awkwardly.

Elara turned and whispered into Hermione's ear. "He looks awful, doesn't he?"

Hermione replied back in a hushed voice. "That's rude-- but yes, he does."

"Lovely day," Fudge said, carrying the conversation on and keeping it from dying."Pity... pity..." He mumbled, sighing deeply. "I'm here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous 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." Harry was the only person really being addressed, which seemed quite rude. He could've at least greeted Elara, Hermione and Ron. Then again, a position with such power does mess with your manners,

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron interrupted, stepping forward.

"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon," he looked curiously at Ron.

"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all!" said Ron stoutly. "The Hippogriff might get off!"

"Do you think they'll actually consider the fact that the Hippogriff was enticed into attacking or do you think they'll ignore that and assume stuff without having any other evidence?" Elara mused softly, her eyes averting upwards at the pale blue sky that had a few clouds painted gingerly on it. "There's a plentiful amount of evidence,"

"I'm afraid his fate has already been decided, Miss-"

Elara gave a firm smile. "Lupin. Elara Lupin."

"Miss Lupin." Fudge gave a nervous glance at the girl, who intensely stared at him. He tore his eyes away from her.

They weren't paying attention to what she said, even if Elara's point was a very good one at that, she could tell when they looked over at the two people who had emerged from the castle doors. An antiquated, greying man and a heavily built wizard entered their view. They looked grim. Elara could assume that they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. Possibly overseeing Buckbeak's execution. Bile rumbled in her stomach, as she stared at them. "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this... Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?" Elara watched, interested as the man ran one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. He didn't seem pleasant, the way he displayed himself gave a very grave mindset. He looked like an actual omen of death. Much more frightening then what she expected. Elara hoped that the blade his thumb smoothed would remain unused today.

"Why'd you stop me?" Exclaimed Ron as they entered the Great Hall for lunch. Elara had decided to sit with them today, considering how her other friends wanted to revise a bit more for their exams. By 'revising', Elara betted that they were snogging their partners like no tomorrow. "Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!" He did have a point. A very, very correct point.

"Ron, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss!" Elara rubbed the top of Hermione's hand when she looked down sadly. She smiled slightly when she saw Elara's thumb on her hand. "As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak..." she sounded so uncertain.

"And as long as they consider another side," Elara added. "The views they have are so biased, I really hope they consider a newer perspective. From what I've read, the muggle court system is at least slightly unbiased. But they also find some stuff to be biased on," p

In comparison to the rest of the hall, which buzzed with thrill and cheerfulness for the exams that would soon be over, the group was considerably quiet. Their thoughts remained too occupied with their concerns for the future that awaited Buckbeak. Luckily, their exams were soon going to be over. Divination would be the final exam taken, at least for Elara, Harry and Ron. Hermione had dropped it after the incident before the Easter holidays. When they arrived, a plethora of students sat by waiting anxiously. Some played with their hands or tapped their feet, others read more and more to hopefully gain a better understanding.

"She's seeing us all separately," Neville informed the three, reading more and more about Crystal balls. "Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?" he questioned them unhappily.

"Nope," replied Ron. Elara was going to say that she had, but she didn't want to make Neville feel more anxious. So instead, she shook her head and went to bouncing her leg nervously as she waited for her name to be called. She hated anticipating things like exams.

Finally her name was called out. "Elara Lupin," the misty, ominous voice called out. Elara stood up, breathing out as anxiety crowded in her mind. She just hoped she could do it all correctly. Her hands were pressed together as she fiddled with the nails.

"Good day, my dear," the teacher said softly. She seemed very caught up in a different world. Even if she was slightly crazy, it felt nice to see someone who wasn't so snappy and caught up in reality. Elara smiled. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb... Take your time, now... then tell me what you see within it..." Elara gazed for a moment. She focused hard, her eyes going crossed as she did so. For a moment, the mist in the ball formed nothing and Elara's shoulders fell in disappointment, after all she had expected more. However soon a shape formed in the ball.

"Well?" Professor Trelawney prompted out, curious. "What do you see?"

Elara studied the ball more and more closely. "There's- erm - there's a figure," she started out slowly. She gazed more closer into the ball. The scene seemed odd. A figure with large curly hair with a wand pointed down. They looked down menacingly at the other figure and casted what seemed to be a spell.

"What is the figure doing? What do they look like?" Professor Trelawney questioned the Hufflepuff.

Elara didn't know what they were doing. At first, they were pointing their wand's at the figure and then suddenly figure fell down. Elara had not clue where they fell, but had a bad feeling about it. The more Elara watched, the more her stomach filled with butterflies. Her stomach twisted with anxiety as she watched on at the scene, which repeated itself. She had no clue what she was witnessing, but it didn't looked good. "They're pointing their wand at the other figure and the other figure then falls down, somewhere," she told the professor. She had no clue what was happening, she was just describing the scene.

Professor Twelawney seemed quite curious, Elara could tell with the continuous scribbling on the paper. "My dear, do you see anything else?" She asked once more, her raspy voice tickling slightly at where she breathed out. "Any details that you notice?"

"Curly hair," Elara said firmly, swallowing down a sudden lump in her throat. She coughed out for a second and then continued. "Very curly hair, tied in a thick braid,"

"Is it possible you could be seeing yourself?" Professor Twelawney queried, in the same ominous voice she always had. "Or are you seeing someone else?"

"I'm certain it's someone else," Elara replied, still focusing intensely on the crystal ball. "I don't have any other indicates, but they don't look like me, I'd never tie my hair in such a way. Way too messy." Elara's stomach twisted with more and more nerves as she shuttered out a small breathe.

"My dear," Professor Twelawney started, her voice dancing in the air and reaching Elara's ear. She sounded as though she was straining herself. "Your aura reminds me of a seer that passed a little over a decade ago. Are you perhaps related to any seers?" Elara furrowed her eyes brows at the question.

"No, I don't think so?" She sounded unsure for a moment. She frowned. "My papa never brought up my birth mum or dad but seers are quite rare, so I doubt it," she replied. The teacher put down her parchment, offering a small smile.

"Well, my dear," the teacher gave a smile, well at least what looked like a smile. "You proved to be an exceptional witch in the art of divination! I'm impressed!" Elara smiled. She soon enough left the classroom and decided to just hang around outside for a while. She thought about a lot of things. Those things included what she had seen. She had no clue what was happening In that scene, she could only hope it was her mind messing with her. Her mind seemed heavily occupied with the thoughts about what she saw. Even when she was with Ron and Hermione and sitting in the Gryffindor common rooms, even when a letter was sent their way that told them how Buckbeak had lost his trial and was going to be executed. She didn't stop thinking about it, especially when Harry came panting. He seemed shocked, but that shock soon dissolved into sadness when he read over Hagrid's scruffy note:

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

Immediately Harry spoke up, "We've got to go! He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!" He seemed quite determined, the rest mirrored this determination until Ron spoke out.

"Sunset, though," his eyes looked out the window, full of sadness and defeat. "We'd never be allowed... 'specially you, Harry..."

"If only we had something that could hide us," Elara mumbled out, half hinting for the boys to do what they do best and go against the rules to get the cloak back. "What a shame..."

Harry raised his head up from the palms of his hand. "You do realise Snape will have my head if I get the cloak?" He asked, shaking his head at Elara.

Elara shrugged. "Mate, you've dealt with you-know-who and gotten away for three times, I think a greasy bat is the least of your worries," Elara turned to Hermione. "Any ideas, 'Mione? You've got a bigger brain," Ron and Harry both protested this, but realised that Hermione was their only chance of having the cloak.

"Where is it?" She asked. Harry explained where he had left it. Apparently in the passageway under the one-eyed witch. Idiot. Elara couldn't help but think. Prized possessions being left behind- your dad would have a field day if he knew you decided to leave his cloak behind.

"... if Snape sees me anywhere near there again, I'm in serious trouble," he finished. Elara snorted out. "What's so funny?" He squinted at her.

"You're always going to be in serious trouble regardless of what you do,"
Hermione ignored what Elara had said and turned all her attention onto Harry. She shifted awkwardly on her feet. "If he sees you... How do you open the witch's hump again?"

"You - you tap it and say, 'Dissendium,'" Harry said. "But -"

"Hermione Jean Granger if you're doing what I think you're doing-" Elara had a bright smile on her face.

"Elara Lily Lupin, I'm doing exactly what you think I'm doing," she was also sporting a bright smile on her face. She vanished from sight and Elara was very much hyped for what she knew Hermione was doing. For a minute, they waited. Ron and Harry seemed confused, Ron asking whether she was actually. Then, finally, the Gryffindor returned, the cloak folded neatly under her robes, out of plain sight,

"Hermione, I don't know what's gotten, into you lately!" Breathed out Ron, astounded. "First you hit Malfoy, then you walk out on Professor Trelawney -"

"Hermione Jean Granger you absolutely have my heart," Elara smiled, her eyes wide with pure adoration . However, Hermione's face had turned exceptionally embarrassed, turning away, when she had said that.

As soon as dinner had passed, the group waited for the halls to empty out. Elara was quite excited, but had a bad feeling about something. She didn't know what that thing was, but she just hoped everything would turn out okay. As soon as the halls remained deserted, Elara and Hermione poked their heads out. Elara's looking out right and Hermione looking out left. The pair turned to each other, faces close by each other and grinned.

"Okay," Hermione whispered, in a hushed voice. Elara nodded. "no one there - cloak on -" the four put the cloak over themselves, all scurrying down the front steps of the courtyard. Occasionally, Elara would hiss at Harry for stepping on her feet. They were trying to be careful, but it was quite difficult when there were four people huddled together under an invisibility cloak.

As soon as they reached Hagrid's cabin, Harry knocked on the door and they waited for a few minutes. He looked frantic when he answered, his face pale and his lips trembling slightly. His body also shook with fear. For a moment, he was confused until Harry spoke out. "It's us, we're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."

"You shouldn't have come!" Hagrid whispered out, still letting them inside and closing the door behind them. Harry pulled off the cloak and revealed the four of them. Elara was flattening her hair, grabbing a bobble from her wrist and tying her hair up in a ponytail. Finally, she turned to where Hagrid was. He wasn't blubbering, instead he was ridged. He looked so tired and didn't look the friend he always looked like. She missed his tears in a way, this new rigidness was unsettling and Elara hated it. "Want some tea?" he asked the group. His large hands shook as he reached for the kettle. Elara frowned slightly as she sat down.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione hesitated to ask, Hagrid was extremely sensitive right now and it must be awful knowing that in less than a few hours, your friend would be dead. Elara could only hope Buckbeak's last few hours were nice and peaceful for the Hippogriff.

"I - I took him outside," his hands were still shaking as he tried pouring the milk into the jug, accidentally spilling some on the counter. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' - an' smell fresh air - before -" finally he lost it and accidentally dropped the jug on the floor, the milk spilling everywhere and the jug shattering.

"Go sit down Hagrid," Elara told him softly. "I'll clean up don't worry," she grabbed a dustpan and started sweeping up the remnants of the jug. Hermione also decided to help, going to get a new jug for Hagrid. Elara was still picking up the remains of the shattered jug, cautious to avoid accidentally injuring herself.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked him fiercely, sitting down besides him. His eyes were wide, emerald coated heavily with boldness. "Dumbledore -"

"He's tried," he mumbled gravely, looking down. His eyes swam with tears. "He's got no power to overrule the Committee. He told them Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared... You know what Lucius Malfoy's like... threatened them, I expect... and the executioner, Macnair, he's an old pal of Malfoy's... but it'll be quick and clean... and I'll be beside him..." he swallowed down a sob. "Dumbledore's gonna come down while it - while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter - ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore..."

"It's not right though!" Elara exclaimed out. She was now standing up, having cleaned up the mess. "Why can't they see how biased it is and actually do a proper appeal?" She asked out, furious of how cowardice some people were.

"I wish it was that simple," Hagrid replied, solemnly. "At least it'll be quick," he tried looking on the bright side, but the trembling proved just how scared he was.

Elara turned to where Hermione was, noticing how her eyes were red and she looked like she was about to cry. The witch looked absolutely defeated and absolutely sickened by the outcome that Buckbeak would soon be forced to face. "We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she tried to convince the man, but he just shook his head,

"You're to go back up to the castle. I told you, I don't want you watching. And you shouldn't be down here anyway... If Fudge and Dumbledore catch you out without permission, Harry, you'll be in big trouble."

Elara stood by Hermione now, helping the bushy haired girl make the tea. For a moment, they were silent as they hurried around to make the tea. However when Hermione squeaked out in shock, Elara turned to her.
"Ron, I don't believe it - it's Scabbers!" And she was correct. It was Scabbers- well Pettigrew. Still the same withering old rat that looked ridiculous. He was in the milk jug. Elara breathed out in shock as she looked down into the jug with wide eyes. Bloody hell, he's desperate. She could only hope her dad would realise soon and get the rat and reveal his true identity to everyone.

"What are you talking about?" Ron asked out. Hermione walked over to him, holding the milk jug over to the table and turned it upside down. With a sudden squeak and scurrying to get back inside the jug, Scabber's, who was struggling, laid on the table. By frankly, he looked revolting and, secretly, Elara hoped he had died. "Scabbers! Scabbers, what are you doing here?" The rat struggled out of Ron's gasp. Elara choked back a cough when she saw how dreadful he appeared. Thinner, balding, the rat writhed to get out of Ron's grasp and Elara held herself back from grabbing the rat herself. "It's okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!" Thinking or cats, Elara wondered where Laurie and Crookshanks were. She assumed they could've been with Sirius, looking around for the rat. Elara hoped they'd bump into them soon and actually bring some justice for her dad.

"They're coming..." Elara turned her attention onto Hagrid who shook slightly. A group of men were walking down the castle steps, just like the four had done a while ago. A silver beard that belonged to Professor Dumbledore shone as the sun died. Cornelius Fudge stood next to him and the old Committee number and Macnair. They all looked so awful, a perfect reminder of the murder they would allow to happen. "You've got to go," said Hagrid. Every inch of him was trembling. "They mustn't find you here... Go now..." Elara straightened up as Hermione held her sweater and pulled her close. "I'll let you out the back way," said Hagrid. As fast as they could, they rushed to the back garden, a few feet away was Buckbeak. The Hippogriff was aware of something, the way he pawed the ground showed just how nervous he was. He didn't deserve such a fate. Elara could only hope a miracle would happen and somehow the Hippogriff would be free. "It's okay, Beaky," said Hagrid softly. "It's okay..." He turned to Harry, Ron, Elara and Hermione. "Go on," he ushered them away. "Get going,"

"Hagrid, we can't -"

"You've got to be joking if you think-"

"We'll tell them what really happened -"

"They can't kill him -"

"Go!" Hagrid told them once again. It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!" Hermione wrapped the cloak around Ron, Elara and Harry who seemed frozen in place.

Hermione took Elara's free hand, the over one covering her mouth, possibly holding back a loud sob. "It's okay," Hermione whispered to Elara. "Breathe, El," Elara nodded and took a few deep breathes. She heard the talking get increasingly louder and her breathe hitched. Hermione was still holding her free hand, rubbing circles on her palm in an effort to calm her.

"Go quick," Hagrid whispered to them hoarsely. "Don't listen..." he wandered back into the cabin, almost hesitantly, when someone knocked on the front door. Horrified, they moved around, Harry sometimes stepping on Elara's feet but she didn't pay much attention. She remained silent, not responding even when he apologised frantically for it.

"Please, let's hurry," Hermione mumbled out, her hand holding more tightly onto Elara's. "I can't stand it, I can't bear it..." as quickly as they could, they climbed up the sloping lawn. The sun started collapsing even faster, a beautiful purple, which contrasted to the red glow that laid delicately in the west. Elara couldn't help but think how cruel it was. A beautiful sky, ready to welcome an innocent soul.

Suddenly Ron stopped.
"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.

"Ronald Bilius Weasley, if you don't move I'm going to kill you," Elara threatened, her voice hoarse.

"It's Scabbers - he won't - stay put -" the squeaking in his pocket was loud, frantic as Ron tried making him stay put. Elara felt her heart beat more and more in her chest. Was Pettigrew really so adamant on lying? "Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, it's Ron," Ron hissed out. He was struggling. They heard a door open behind them and men's voices. Everyone was stuck in a frenzy now, anxious on whether they'd be caught.

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

"Okay - Scabbers, stay put -"

"I can't hold him - Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us -"
The squealing wasn't enough to cover the unmistakable sound of the men talking. Elara broke the hand she held with Hermione to place both of them over her ears. She didn't want to hear a murder.

Her heartbeat quickened and soon she felt Hermione sway. It was over. "They did it!" she whispered to them, tearful and hopeless. "I'd - don't believe it - they did it!"

Elara finally let out a sob, Hermione pulling her in as she cried. "Why did they have to?" She muttered out, her breathe hitching as she cried. They all stood, transfixed with terror, witnessing a fate no one deserved. Elara was still held close to Hermione, Hermione burying her tears in Elara's hair. Hagrid's wails shook, louder than Elara's but Elara's sounded more and more haunting the closer you stood.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Elara looked up, her eyes red and her nose snotty.

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

"How - could - they?" she choked. "How could they?" Elara was still crying besides her. She wiped the tears that laid on her face with her sweater and looked up at Ron who seemed to be the quietest.

"Come on," his teeth clattered together as he pulled the group away. They all walked away, shoulders sunk and faces bold with ripe tears. The sun continued to fade away, taking away a lot of things selfishly. "Scabbers, keep still," Ron rasped out, Pettigrew stressed and continued moving around, trying to free himself. Elara trembled. She couldn't help but think selfishly about the possibly of exposing the man and getting her dad back. If he broke free, there'd be no chance of proving her dad's freedom. "What's the matter with you, You stupid rat? Stay still - OUCH! He bit me!"

"Ron!" Elara yelled out, dread twisting in her stomach as blood fell down Ron's hand.

"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered out, urgency elevated in her voice. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute -"

"He won't - stay - put -"

Pettigrew was still writhing uncontrollably. Elara's stomach clenched more and more when he tried to free himself from Ron's firm grasp. He tried as hard as he could, but Ron held him firmly. Elara could see, from the whiteness of Ron's knuckles, that Ron was struggling.

"What's the matter with him?"

The sound of purring alerted Elara and she looked down to see Laurie purring, nudging her exposed ankle. Somehow he had managed to get under the cloak and was immediately by Elara's side. "Hey baby," she mumbled softly, her voice hoarse and slightly broken, her hand reaching down to scratch his head. She pulled him into her arms, cooing at the cat softly. Her tears were still falling, but the cat's presence helped her a lot. "You've seen Snuffles?" The cat meowed out, almost as if he was responding.

Before Harry could even ask who 'Snuffles' was, they heard the distinctive meowing of a beady yellow eyed cat. "Crookshanks!" Hermione hushed out. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

The closer the cat got, the more Pettigrew squirmed. He was already uptight when he saw Laurie in Elara's arms, but Crookshanks was the main issue. "Scabbers - NO!" As nimble as he was, the ugly rodent managed to scamper away, on his tail Crookshanks ran after him. Despite how dark and eerie the night was, Ron managed to follow after him, disappearing off into the darkness.

The three all looked at each other, silently agreeing to follow him and carelessly took the cloak off. Laurie was still in Elara's arms, too carefree to even care about the rat.

"Get away from him - get away - Scabbers, come here -" THUD "Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat -" sprawled out on the ground, hands held tightly over a writhing brown clump.

"Ron - come on back under the cloak -" Hermione panted out heavily, trying to catch her breathe. "Dumbledore - the Minister - they'll be coming back out in a minute -" and then Laurie started purring more and more into Elara, the thuds echoing distinctively. She turned and saw the unmissable grey eyes that belonged to her dad.

Elara saw Harry's hand reach for his wand. She immediately spoke up. "Don't worry! It's Snuffles, he's-" before she could even finish her sentence, the gigantic paws jumped onto Harry. "Snuffles!" She snapped out, Laurie still purred at sight of the dog. The large, jet-black dog didn't even bat an eye at her. Fucking bastard, I'm going to throw something at him. And, something she should have seen coming was the man going after Ron and Scabbers. Her eyes remained wide as she saw his attention dart onto the two. Then suddenly, the dog's jaws snapped onto Ron's outstretched arm, the arm he held Scabbers in.

"I THOUGHT YOU SAID THE DOG WAS HARMLESS!" Ron yelled out as the dog dragged him away. He was trying to pry himself off Snuffles, but to no avail, he hadn't managed to.

"I SWEAR HE USUALLY IS!" Elara screamed back. "Bad Snuffles! Let Ron go!" She picked up a rock and threw it at Sirius. The dog didn't even bat an eye at her and she sighed out frustrated. Suddenly, as the group tried chasing after Ron, something hit them all. Elara hissed out in pain, her nose bloody, Harry grunted and Hermione shrieked, all knocked off their feet.

"Lumos!" Harry whispered out. The tip of his wand illuminated with a bright slight, revealing the trunk of tree. The ever so violent whomping willow. Thrashing around, warning them away. But they couldn't. Not when Sirius was literally dragging Ron away. "Ron!" The tree forced him back.

"Harry! You can't!" Elara grabbed his arm. She still held Laurie in her arms as the cat playfully meowed, pawing her hair. "Bloody hell, Laurie go and be useful!" She tried to scold him, but the cat simply batted an eye at went back to playing with her hair. Suddenly an ear piercing crack echoed and Elara cringed. "Poor Ron,"

"Harry, Elara - we've got to go for help -" the top of Hermione's shoulder was bleeding. Elara could do a spell, but it was pointless when they were so close to the tree.

"No! That thing's big enough to eat him; we haven't got time -"

"Harry I don't think Snuffles wants ginger for breakfast,"

"How do you even know the dog?"

"Long story,"

"Harry, Elara - we're never going to get through without help -"

Full of determination, Harry breathed out.
"If that dog can get in, we can," he tried wirh all his night, but he couldn't avoid the trees blows.

"Come on Laurie!" Elara urged the cat. "Crookshanks you too!" She ushered the other cat as well. The round faced cat glanced at her and suddenly darted forward. Slithering through, he placed a paw on the top of the knot, the tree paralysing. It was almost as though the Basilik from the Chamber of Secrets had petrified the tree. It simply stopped moving. No longer thrashing around, still and peaceful, the only movement coming near faces was the blows of the wind.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione shrilled out uncertainly. She looked perplexed. "How did he know -?"

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

They all slid in, headfirst as they fell slightly down the slope. It was all so familiar, but this time it wasn't just Elara. "Lumos," Elara lit her wand up, holding it firmly in front of her.

Hermione was holding onto Elara's arm, clenching it tightly. "Where's Ron?" she hushed out in a terrified voice.

"This way," Harry said.

"Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione questioned as they continued walking. She looked eerily trapped in a place of unknowingness and felt helpless as she remained there.

"I don't know... 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 was heading for Hogsmeade..."

They ran in a crouch, backs aching, knees bent awkwardly. Elara felt awful. Her mind raced with endless thoughts that echoed in her mind repetitively. Was Ron severely hurt? Probably, considering how his leg was broken, he was hurt. Was her dad an idiot? Definitely, no questions needed to be asked about that.
The group had come to an opening, lit by light. They paused. Elara knew exactly where it was and she wasn't prepared. Cold, familiar, they were in the Shrieking shack. Scratches laid deeply on the wood, peeling wallpaper all around and a stench that made them scrunch their noses up in disgust. Elara sneezed out at the dust, mumbling an apology immediately.

Hermione's gingerly took Elara's hand into her own. "Harry, El," she whispered, breathing deeply. "I think we're in the Shrieking Shack."

"Ghosts didn't do that," Harry said slowly, looking at a broken chair. Elara chose to not say anything about it.

Her mouth was dry and she breathed heavily. Why now? Elara looked up at Hermione, her hand clenching hers heavily. "Darling are you okay?" Elara questioned the witch. Hermione nodded, then looked at Harry who also nodded.

Silent, almost as though they were pretending to not exist, they crept through the hall, slowly creeping up the staircase. Elara tried to remain silent, but the occasional creaks weren't very helpful. The thin layer of dust was not very helpful, Elara rubbed her eyes and sneezed every few seconds due to it. Finally they reached the dark landing.

"Nox," they whispered in unison, and the lights at the end of their wands went out, leaving them in pitch-black. Elara sneezed out. Only one door was open. There was movement. A lot of movement. Purring and groans of pain. Laurie pressed his tail in Elara's face as she sneezed, the Hufflepuff moving it away and then the cycle repeating.

As soon as Harry opened the door, well kicked it open, they moved in. Sprawled on the bed laid Crookshanks, looking pleased with himself. Laurie finally jumped off Elara and joined him, purring. Ron's leg looked exceptionally awful, sticking at a strange angle.

"Ron - are you okay?"

"Where's the dog?"

"I'm going to kill him,"

"Not a dog," Ron rasped out, teeth clenched in pain. "Harry, it's a trap -" he breathed out.

"What -"

"He's the dog... he's an Animagus."

Over Harry's shoulder, there he stood. Elara would've smiled, if he hadn't been for the fact he made it seem suspicious. She didn't even notice when the door snapped shut. She still continued sneezing, as much as she tried not to, the dust was messing with her a lot. Harry and Hermione turned, taken aback. Filthy, untamed hair and a darkened face smeared in dirt and grim stood before them. Eyes sullen, face thin and his bones prodding. His thin, pale lips contorted in a hideous grin of yellow teeth. Elara sighed out in mild disappointment, there stood in front of them was Sirius Black.

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒
OKAY SO LIKE THIS IS WELL OVER 6K WORDS- BUT LIKE I REALLY LIKED WRITING THIS BECAUSE ITS ACTUALLY GETTING SOMEWHERE-
ALSO LIKE I WATCHED THE WANDAVISION EPISODE YESTERDAY AND OH MY GOD I ACTUALLY PREDICTED IT CORRECTLY-

can we also appreciate the elmione moments in this chapter? I absolutely live for them so like elmione rights.
DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SONGS THAT REMIND THEM OF ANY CHARACTERS OR THIS BOOK AS A WHOLE? IM MAKING A PLAYLIST FOR CARPE DIEM ON SPOTIFY AND I NEED MORE SONGS-
there's going to be two playlists btw:
one for film music i listen to when writing and stuff like that
and
one for songs that remind me of certain things like characters, events etc
FEEL FREE TO LEAVE SOME SONGS BELOW

I WAS ON PINTREST LAST NIGHT AND I FOUND THIS HEADCANON AND IM GOING TO WRITE IT IN FOR OOTP AND IT MAKES ME SOFT BECAUSE ITS SO ADORABLE-
And I also got bored so I made these: