The euphoria of finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted for at least a week. Even the weather seems to be celebrating; as June approaches, the days become cloudless and sultry, and all anybody feels like doing is strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.

But no one can. The late exam studiers - aka, Harry, Ron, Bonnie, Amy and the rest of the Gryffindor's - have only just begun to revise their notes for each class. Even Fred and George are seen working in the Common Room of an evening, as they're studying for their O.W.L's. The O.W.L's are probably the most important tests in our schooling here at Hogwarts(with the exception of NEWT's - Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests)m and the rate I'm going now in third year, I don't know how I'll make it through fifth year. I guess I'll have to just drop a couple of subjects.

The others have given up asking Hermione and I how we're getting through all the work, plus attend our classes. But when they see our exam schedule's, they can't restrain themselves.

"Hermione, Sarah?" Bonnie says cautiously, because she knows Hermione or I could explode any moment these days from exam stress. "Er - are you sure you've copied down these times right?"

I can see where he's coming from. The first column of my schedule reads:

Monday

9 o'clock, Arithmancy
9 o'clock, Transfiguration
Lunch
1 o'clock, Charms
1 o'clock, Ancient Runes

"What?" Hermione snaps, examining her schedule. "Yes, of course I have."

"Yep," I say, examining my own. "All right."

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

"No," Hermione says shortly. "Have any of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"

"Here," I say, handing the large book which is sitting a few inches away from me.

"Thanks," she says. relieved. As soon as she gets her hands onto it she begins to pour over it, making as many notes as she can.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next week is exhausting and stressful, with the exams taking place. As soon as these are over, I'll actually be able to get some sleep.

Hermione and I had Arithmancy first, which I struggled with. I couldn't get the right numbers and I kept getting the predictions wrong. As soon as the exam is over, I reluctantly hand over my paper, extremely worried. I don't think I've passed it, not at all.

Transfiguration and Charms were easy, and I had to have passed, easily. Professor McGonagall was smiling as she wrote down what I got, and Professor Flitwick beamed with pride when I perfectly casted a Cheering Charm.

Ancient Runes went by so quickly, that I had to scramble in the last few minutes to finish the questions, trying hard to remember the correct translations. I'm pretty sure I got most of them correct, so I'm not too worried.

Through the week, I gladly check off classes that I've already finished the exams for. Care of Magical Creatures was simple; we just had to look after a Flobberworm for the entirety of the exam without it dying.

In Potions we were needed to create a Confusing Concoction. Snaoe was watching closely over me, as I made the potion to perfection. She scribbles something down on his clipboard, before moving away.

We had Astronomy up in the tallest tower; History of Magic, in which I tried to remember everything I copied down from Hermione's in-class notes. Wednesday meant Herbology in the greenhouses, in the swelling hot sun. We came back inside, our necks burnt from the blazing sun.

Our third to last exam, is Defence Against the Dark Arts. Dad has composed the most unusual exam, which turns out to be a sort of obstacle course; first we had to wade through a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish our 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. The most unusual thing about the entire time, is the fact that my Boggart has changed; it's no longer the Basilisk sized snake, it has now taken the form of a Dementor.

"Excellent, Sarah!" Dad says proudly, as I come out of the trunk, slightly shocked at the change. "Very well done, full marks!"

I smile as I join Bonnie and Amy who have already finished. They also passed, but Bonnie almost got stuck at the Grindylow and Amy almost got misguided by the Hinkypunk.

Harry did perfectly on his turn, coming out of the trunk looking very pleased with himself. However, Ron and Hermione slipped up too. Ron was successfully confused at the Hinkypunk, as it leads him sinking waist-high into the quagmire. Hermione was about to finish perfectly, until she reaches the the trunk with the Boggart. After a few moments of being in there, she screams loudly, before bursting back out of it.

"Hermione!" Dad says startled, looking up from his clipboard. "What's the matter?"

"P-P-Professor McGonagall!" Hermione gasps, pointing into the trunk. "Sh-she said I'd failed everything!"

It takes her a while to calm down, with Harry, Ron, Bonnie, Amy and I trying to soothe her. Not only was she scarred by the Boggart, she was worrying that she had now failed the exam. After she regains a grip on herself, we all head back up to the castle, ready to take their last and my second last exam; Divination.

As soon as we reach the stone steps, we see Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, standing there over watching the grounds. As soon as he sees Harry, he smiles.

"Hello there, Harry!" He says. "And Sarah too! Just had an exam I expect? Nearly finished, I suppose."

"Yeah," Harry says. I don't say anything. I've never personally met Cornelius Fudge, and I don't dare say anything considering he's the Minister of Magic.

"Lovely day," Fudge says. "Pity... pity..."

"What's a pity, Minister?" I ask politely.

He sighs deeply and looks down at Harry and I.

"I'm here on an unpleasant mission, Sarah. 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."

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

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

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

Before Fudge can answer Ron, two wizards come through the castle doors behind him. One is so ancient he appears to be withering before our very eyes; the other is tall and strapping, with a thin back moustache. I gather that they're representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because the very old wizard squints toward Hagrid's cabin and says in a feeble voice, "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this... Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"

The black-moustached man starts fingering something in his belt; I look closer to see that he's running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. Ron opens his mouth to say something once he notices, but I nudge him hard in the ribs and jerk my head toward the entrance hall.

"Why'd you stop me?" Ron says angrily as we enter the Great Hall for lunch. "Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!"

"Ron, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss!" I say.

"Sarah's right, Ron," Hermione says. "Besides, as long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak..."

But none of believe that what Hermione said is true. Judging by the axe, it's almost certain that, no matter what happens at the appeal, Buckbeak will be executed. Everyone in the Hall is chatting happily as we eat our lunch, all excited to be finished exams for the year. But the six of us are all in worry about Hagrid and Buckbeak.

As soon as lunch is finished, we all head upstairs for the Divination exam. Hermione leaves us to go to the Muggle Studies exam, in which I'll have to turn back in time to go to. As she goes off on the first floor, Harry, Ron, Bonnie, Amy and I head upstairs to the seventh floor, where many of our classmates are sitting on the spiral staircase outside Trelawney's classroom, cramming in some last-minute study.

I roll my eyes as we find a spot near the wall to wait. They're all stupid for not studying earlier, and not cramming like this, just before the exam.

"She's seeing us all separately," Neville informs us, who is sitting a few feet away from us. He has his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing. "Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?" he asks us.

"Nope," we all tell him. Ron keeps checking his watch as we wait; I know that he's just counting down the time until Buckbeak's appeal starts.

The line of people outside the classroom shortens very slowly. As each person climbs back down the silver ladder, refusing to tell anyone what to expect.

"She says the crystal ball's told her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident!" Neville squeaks as he clambers back down the ladder toward us.

"That's convenient," Ron snorts. "You know, I'm starting to think Hermione was right about her" - he jabs his thumb toward the trapdoor overhead - "she's a right old fraud."

"Yeah," I say, looking at my own watch. It's now two o'clock. "I wish she'd hurry up..."

Parvati comes back down the ladder glowing with pride. "She says I've got all the makings of a true Seer," she says excitedly. "I saw loads of stuff... Well, good luck!"

She hurries off down the spiral staircase toward Lavender and Olivia.

"Ronald Weasley," comes the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Ron grimaces at us before climbing the silver ladder out of sight. Now only Harry and I are left, with Amy and Bonnie already finished. The four of us sit against the wall, as we wait alone for Ron. Everyone else in the class have already headed off back to their Common Rooms to celebrate the end of exams.

Finally, twenty minutes later, Ron comes back down.

"How was it?" Bonnie asks.

"Rubbish," Ron says. "Couldn't see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced, though..."

"Harry Potter," Professor Trelawney calls from above. I sigh, as Harry heads up the tower.

Tapping my hands on my knee, I wait for Harry. Ron, Amy and Bonnie tell me that the'll see me soon, as they head off back to the Common Room, leaving me alone to wait.

Another twenty minutes later, Harry emerges from the tower looking distraught.

"Harry! What's-" I begin to say, but he dashes past me, ignoring me.

Before I can call after him, Professor Trelawney calls me up to take my exam. I sigh exasperatedly as I climb the silver ladder.

The tower room is hotter than ever before; the curtains are closed, the fire is alight, and the usual sickly scent that makes me want to vomit it clouding the air. I make must way through the cluttered tables and chairs to where Professor Trelawney is seated, waiting for me before a large crystal ball.

"Good day, my dear," she says softly. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb...Take your time, now...then tell me what you see within it..."

I sit down, before bending over the table and gazing into the crystal ball. I stare as hard as I can, willing it to show me something other than swirling white fog, but nothing happens.

"Well?" Professor Trelawney prompts delicately. "What do you see?"

I begin to stare hastily into the ball, but still nothing happens. I switch back to what Ron said he did earlier, and decide to pretend to actually see something.

"Er-" I say, pretending to struggle. "A dark shape...um...I can't make out what..."

"What does it resemble?" Professor Trelawney whispers. "Think, now..."

I think a both something I can pretend it be, making sure to convince her of what I'm seeing. I decide on the Grim, wanting to make Professor Trelawney happy.

"Oh - oh my!" I gasp, pretending to be shocked and scared.

"What is it, dear?" Professor Trelawney asks, seeming to get excited.

"I - I think it's the Grim!" I say dramatically. I stare back into it. "Oh yes! Professor, I see the Grim! It's coming toward me!"

"Oh well done, dear," she says, clapping her hands. "Are you able to see anything else?"

I stare back into the ball, feeling triumphed. She fell for it. Now I have to think of something else, dammit. I rack my brains, trying to think of something.

"I see..." I trail off, still not knowing what to say. "I see...I'm sorry, I don't see anything else."

Professor Trelawney sighs. "Well, you did very well. It's a pity you didn't see much else, but you tried your best."

Relieved, I get up, pick up my bag and turn to go, but then a loud, harsh voice speaks from behind me.

"IT WILL HAPPEN TONIGHT."

I quit lying turn around, panicked. Professor Trelawney had gone rigid in her armchair; her eyes unfocused and her mouth sagging.

"S - sorry?" I say, edging a little closer toward her.

But Professor Trelawney doesn't seem to hear me. Her eyes start to roll and she looks as though she's about to have some sort of seizure. He hesitate, thinking of running to the hospital wing - and then Professor Trelawney speaks again, in the same harsh voice, quite unlike her own:

"THE DARK LORD LIES ALONE AND FRIENDLESS, ABANDONED BY HIS FOLLOWERS. HIS SERVANT HAS BEEN CHAINED THESE TWELVE YEARS. TONIGHT, BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT 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 HE WAS. TONIGHT...BEFORE MIDNIGHT...THE SERVANT...WILL SET OUT...TO REJOIN...HIS MASTER..."

Professor Trelawney's head falls forward onto her chest. She makes a grunting sort of noise. I stand there, staring at her. Then, quite suddenly and as if it never happened, Professor Trelawney's head snaps up again.

"I'm so sorry, dear girl," she says dreamily. "The heat of the day, you know... I drifted off for a moment..."

I continue to stand here, staring at her.

"Is there anything wrong, my dear?"

I hesitate, wondering whether I should bring up what just happened. She doesn't seem to remember, so I excuse the thought. "N-no," I say.

"Right then, my dear, that is all for this exam. Have a good evening."

Anxious to get out, I hurry back down the ladder to the empty landing. I race back to the Common Room as fast as I can. I can turn back in time to sit my Muggle Studies exam, but I need to tell the others about what Professor Trelawney said. That had to have been a proper prediction. She wouldn't have been like that and forgotten what she'd said if it wasn't.

Five minutes later, I'm dashing past the security trolls outside the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Professor Trelawney's words still resounding in my head. By the time I reach the portrait hole and enter the common room, it's almost deserted, with the rest of the students most likely enjoying the sun before it sets. Over in the corner I see Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie and Amy.

"Professor Trelawney," I pant, as I stride over to them. "Just told me-"

I stop abruptly, seeing the looks upon their faces. What's happened?

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

Hagrid's note is dry this time, no tears are splattered across it, yet his hand seems to have shaken so much as he wrote that it's hardly legible.

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

"No!" I yell. "He can't have lost the appeal too!"

"He has, Sarah," Hermione says sadly. "We're going to go down at sunset under the cloak."

"Right," I say. "I'm definitely coming."

Looking at the other cautiously, Hermione comes over to me. "Have you taken the Muggle Studies exam yet?" She whispers in my ear, as the others look at us weirdly.

I shake my head.

"Well, you should probably go now," she advises. "You've been a while, and the exam was two and a half hours ago."

"Yep, I'm going now," I whisper back. I raise my voice so I can tell the others where I'm going. "Guys, I'm just going to see Professor Burbage about my Muggle Studies exam. I'll be back soon though."

As the others nod, I hurry out of the portrait hole. Making sure no one is around, and the others don't burst out of the portrait hole, I pull out my time turner, turning back to just after lunch.

Not looking back, I run as fast I can downstairs to the Muggle Studies classroom where Hermione and our other classmates are waiting.

"Oh, you made it!" Hermione says happily, eyeing my time turner.

"Yep," I say. "Ready for the exam?"

"I think so," she says. "I made sure to go over my notes last night, so I think I'm okay."

"Me too," I say.

A few moments later, Professor Burbage beckons us into the classroom and seats us down. She hands us the papers and tell us to begin, giving us an hour to do the exam. I scramble down all the answers, making sure to expand on them in detail. This exam is so easy.

After the exam is finished, and I happily hand over the paper, Hermione and I head out of the classroom. Making sure I don't go back to the Common Room, where the others will surely ask questions, I head to the library to read a book while I wait, telling Hermione where I've gone.

I rejoin the others at dinner, telling them that the exam had gone great, and sinking at Hermione. Harry has the cloak, which he had gotten back. He'd hidden it inside the passageway to Honeydukes when he came back from the last Hogsmeade trip as not to aid Snape in trying to expel him.

After dinner, we sneak out of the castle and down to Hagrid's hut, without been caught. Bonnie and I have to piggy pack, as do Hermione and Amy, because we can't all fit under the cloak alone.

As soon as we reach Hagrid's cabin, Harry raises a fist and knocks on Hagrid's door. He took a minute before answering, and when he does, he looks all around for his visitor, pale-faced and trembling.

"It's us," I hiss. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispers, but he stands back, and we step inside. Hagrid shuts the door quickly and Harry pulls off the cloak. As soon as it's off, Bonnie jumps off my back, and Amy does the same.

Hagrid is not crying, nor does he throw himself upon our necks. He looks like a man who doesn't know where he is or what to do. This helplessness is worse to watch than tears.

"Wan' some tea?" he said. His great hands shake as he reaches for the kettle.

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

"I - I took him outside," Hagrid says, spilling milk all over the table as he fills 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 trembles so violently that the milk jug slips from his grasp and shatters all over the floor.

"I'll do it, Hagrid," Bonnie says, hurrying over and starting to clean up the mess.

"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid says, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asks, sitting down next to Hagrid. "Dumbledore-"

"He's tried," Hagrid says. "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 swallows.

"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 gets up to help Bonnie, who can't seem to reach the milk jug in the cupboard. She reaches inside, rummaging around, until she lets out a small, stifled sob. She straightens up with the new jug in her hands, fighting back tears.

"We'll stay with you too, Hagrid," she begins, but Hagrid shakes his head madly.

"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 an' Sarah, yeh'll be in big trouble."

Silent tears are now streaming down Hermione's face, as Bonnie comes back to sit at the table, but she hides them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Then, as she picks up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she lets out a shriek.

"Ron, I don't believe it - it's Scabbers!"

We all turn to look at her as Ron gapes.

"What are you talking about?" He says.

Hermione carries the milk jug over to the table and turns it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers the rat comes sliding out onto the table.

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

He grabs the struggling rat and holds him up to he ought. Scabbers looks even more dreadful than he did before. He's thinner than ever, large tufts of hair have called out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhes in Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself.

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

Hagrid suddenly stands up, his eyes fixed on the window. His normally ruddy face has gone the colour of parchment.

"They're comin'..." He says.

The six of us whip around. A group of men are walking down the distant castle steps. In front of the pack, is Professor Dumbledore. Next to him is Cornelius Fudge. Behind then come the feeble old Committee member and the executioner, Macnair.

"Yeh gotta go," Hagrid says, with every inch of him trembling. "They mustn' find yeh here... Go now..."

Ron stuffs Scabbers into his pocket and Hermione picks up the cloak. "I'll let yeh out the back way," Hagrid says.

We follow him to the door into his. Buckbeak is sitting in the garden, surrounded by Hagrid's pumpkins and lettuces, tethered to a pole so he doesn't fly off. He seems to know something is happening. He turns his sharp head from side to side and paws the ground nervously.

"It's okay, Beaky," Hagrid says softly. "It's okay..." He turns to Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie, Amy and I. "Go on," he says. "Get goin'."

None of us move an inch.

"Hagrid, we can't-" Amy protests.

"We'll tell them what really happened-" Harry says.

"They can't kill him-" Hermione sobs.

"Go!" Hagrid says fiercely. "It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"

We have no choice but to leave. Bonnie hops back onto my back as Harry throws the cloak over the six of us. As soon as it covers us, we hear voices at the front of the cabin. Hagrid looks to where we've just vanished from sight.

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

And he strides back into his cabin as someone knocks at the front door.

Slowly, as if in a kind of horrified trance, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Bonnie, Amy and I set off silently around Hagrid's house. As we reached the other side, the front door closes with a sharp snap.

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

We make our way up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun is beginning to sink, and fast, with the sky turning to a clear, purple-tinged grey, but to the went there is a ruby-red glow from the sun. started

Ron stops suddenly, almost making the cloak fall off us.

"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione begins.

"It's Scabbers - he won't - stay put-"

Ron is now bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat is 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 hisses at the rat.

From behind us, we hear the door open and men's voices sound across the grounds.

"Oh, Ron, please let's move, they're going to do it!" I breathes, urging us to keep going.

"Okay - Scabbers, stay put-"

We walk forward, and as we walk I try not to listen to the rumble of voices behind us. Ron stops again.

"I can't hold him - Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us-"

The rat is now squealing wildly, but not loudly enough to cover up the sounds drifting from Hagrid's garden. There's a jumble of indistinct male voices, a silence, and then, without warning, the unmistakable swish and thud of an axe.

Hermione and I sway on the spot.

"They did it!" I whispered, horrified. "I - don't believe it - they did it!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~

A/N:

I told you this'd be updated in a couple of hours!

Anyway, we're getting close to the end, yay! I've got a couple of the next chapters written, ready to go, but I think I might space them out a little.

Well, k don't have much to say so,

Peace out guys, love you!

~Elise