Written In The Stars III -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Seventeen: Under The Whomping Willow.

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Was the first thing Hagrid told them.

He let them in anyway, and they took off the cloak while Hagrid walked around the place giving the impression that the walls were closing around him.

"Wan' some tea?" He asked.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione inquired while sitting down at the table.

"I — I took him outside. He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an' — an' smell fresh air — before —"

He let out a strangled sigh before dropping the milk, causing them to jump.

"I'll do it, Hagrid," Hermione got up again to help him.

"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid sat down, nothing but defeat in his voice.

Harry, Ron, and Mel shared the same expression.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore —"

"He's tried," said Hagrid. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee. He told 'em Buckbeak's all right, but they're scared... 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 as though 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. Great man, Dumbledore..."

Hermione, who had been rummaging in Hagrid's cupboard for another 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 shook his shaggy head.

"Yeh're ter go back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don' wan' yeh watchin'. An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway... If Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble."

Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she hid them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Then, as she picked up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out a shriek.

"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 it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers the rat came sliding out onto the table.

"Scabbers!" said Ron blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"

Mel reached out to get the rat, the brief second her fingers curled around the animal's tail she felt overwhelmed by panic and the inexplicable need to run away. She dropped the creature in spite of Ron's complaints and held her hand up closer to the light.

"It's okay, Scabbers!" said Ron, picking up the rat again. "No cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"

"Mel," Harry put a hand on her shoulder, the feeling immediately easing her heart. "Are you okay?"

She took a moment, trying to understand what'd just happened.

"I... I think so," She cleared her throat, rubbing her wrist. "Doesn't matter– Thought I saw... nevermind."