Dawn Rivera

Cat, Rat and Dog

My mind has gone blank with shock. The five of us stand transfixed with horror under the Invisibility Cloak. The very last rays of the setting sun are casting a bloody light over the long-shadowed grounds. Then, behind us, we hear a loud howling.

"Hagrid," Harry mutters. He and Danny make to turn back, but Ron, Hermione and me seize their arms.

"We can't," says Ron, who is paper-white. "He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been to see him..." He's dropped me, which is fine. It was getting embarrassing. He takes my hand instead. My brother was watching...my brother was watching...oh God!

Hermione's and I's breathing is shallow and uneven.

"How - could - they?" I choke. "How could they?"

"Come on," says Ron, whose teeth seem to be chattering. He laces our fingers together.

We set off back towards the castle, walking slowly to keep ourselves hidden under the Cloak. Light is fading fast now. By the time we reach open ground, darkness us settling like a spell around us.

"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hisses, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat is wriggling madly. Ron comes to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. He nearly stumbles and he puts one arm around me for support. "What's the matter with you, you stupid rat? Stay still - OUCH! He bit me!"

"Ron, be quiet," Hermione whispers urgently. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute -"

"He won't - stay - put -" he says. I take Ron's hand as he struggles with the rat.

Scabbers is plainly terrified. He is writhing with all his might, trying to break free of Ron's grip.

"What's the matter with him?" Ron says, and doesn't even seem to notice when I put my arm around his waist.

But I've just seen - slinking towards us, their bodies low to the ground, wide yellow and green eyes glinting eerily in the darkness - Crookshanks and Lizzie. Whether they can see us, or are following the sound of Scabber's squeaks, I can't tell.

"Crookshanks! Lizzie!" I moan. "No, go away, Crookshanks, Lizzie! Go away!"

But the cats are getting nearer -

"Scabbers - NO!" Ron shouts. I lean my back against Ron. He can't go chasing the rat. We'll be found.

Too late - the rat has slipped between Ron's clutched fingers, hits the ground and scampers away. In one bound, Crookshanks and Lizzie spring after them, and before Harry, Danny, Hermione and I can stop him, Ron has thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelts away into the darkness.

"Ron!" Hermione moans.

She, Harry, Danny and I look at each other, then follow at a sprint; it is impossible to run full out under the Cloak; we pull it off and it streams behind us like a banner as we hurtle after Ron; we can hear his feet thundering along ahead, and his shouts at Crookshanks and Lizzie.

"Get away from him - get away - Scabbers, come here -" I manage to get near enough to him to kiss him on the cheek, but it doesn't do anything. I was hoping to kiss him. That would get him to stop. But I can't get close enough. I soon fall behind again.

There is a loud thud.

"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cats -" I've raced forward and pecked Ron on the lips, but I fall back again to avoid the collision -

Harry, Danny, Hermione and me almost fall over Ron; we skid to a stop right in front of him. He is sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers is in his back pocket; he has both hands held tight over the quivering lump.