𓏲 . THE BOY WHO LIVED . .៹♡
                                                  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
                                             ─── CHEERS & TEARS

In an attempt to not get too worried over Trelawney's prediction, Charlus put all of his focus into the last Quidditch match of the season. The Gryffindor vs. Slytherin match would take place on the first Saturday after the Easter holidays.

Slytherin was leading the tournament by exactly two hundred points. This meant Charlus had to catch the snitch as quickly as he could. It also meant that Bletchley couldn't let in as many goals as he had last time.

The whole of Slytherin House wanted to win the match at all costs. So naturally, the enmity between Harry and Malfoy , was at its highest point ever.

Never, in anyone's memory, had a match approached in such a highly charged atmosphere. By the time the holidays were over, tension between the two teams and their Houses was at the breaking point. A number of small scuffles broke out in the corridors, resulting in a nasty incident in which a Gryffindor fourth year and a Slytherin sixth year ended up in the hospital wing with leeks sprouting out of their ears.

The Potter twins were having a particularly bad time of it. Harry couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and trying to trip him up; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever he went and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw him surrounded by people. Charlus, on the other hand, had gotten a lot of insults and dirty looks anytime he entered the Gryffindor Tower.

All usual pursuits were abandoned in the Gryffindor common room the night before the match. Even Hermione had put down her books. "I can't work, I can't concentrate," she said nervously.

There was a great deal of noise. Fred and George Weasley were dealing with the pressure by being louder and more exuberant than ever. Oliver Wood was crouched over a model of a Quidditch field in the corner, prodding little figures across it with his wanda nd muttering to himself, glaring at Charlus every now and then.

Angelina and Katie were laughing at Fred's and George's jokes. Charlus was sitting with Harry, Alistair, Ron and Hermione, removed from the center of things, trying not to think about the next day, because he didn't want to get too in his head about the whole thing.

"You're going to be fine, you know," Hermione told him, noticing the boy's trouble state while he was sat in the chair next to her. Charlus looked up to her and smiled slightly, not able to find the words to reply. He would have believed Hermione too, if she didn't look as though she was positively terrified.

"You've both got firebolts," Ron said encouragingly. Harry nodded, his stomach writhing ,"Yeah..."

It came as a relief when Wood suddenly stood up. "Team! Bed!" he yelled. With that, Charlus and Alistair said goodnight to the others, and headed back down to the Slytherin Dungeon.

After getting a good night's sleep , Charlus awoke the next morning feeling ready for the match than he had ever been. He quickly got ready.

Charlus and the rest of the Slytherin team entered the Great Hall that day to enormous applause. He couldn't help grinning broadly as he saw quite a few Ravenclaws and even some Hufflepuffs applauding them as well. The Gryffindors, minus a few, glared at them as they passed. The light brown-haired boy also noticed that Hermione had gotten her hands on a Slytherin scarf.

Flint spent the whole of breakfast urging his team to eat, while touching nothing himself. Then he hurried them off to the field before anyone else had finished, so they could get an idea of the conditions.

As they were about to leave, the Gryffindor Team stand up as well. Everyone applauded again. "Good luck, Harry!" Cho Chang called. Harry felt himself blushing, much to Charlus' amusement.

But that was all forgotten about when they reached the pitch. Flint was pacing, muttering things to himself whilst the team watched on. Finally, they saw the front doors of the castle open in the distance and the rest of the school spill onto the lawn.

"Changing rooms," Flint said tersely.

The entire Slytherin team failed to speak to one another as they changed into their green robes; they were all too nervous. Charlus even had to step outside of the locker room for a moment to get some fresh air.

As he left the room, Charlus gasped in awe as the stadium had already been filled with hundreds and hundreds of students from each House standing in support.

The light brown-haired boy took a deep breath and exhaled as he titled his head down. He was feeling a whirlwind of emotions at the current moment: anxiousness, nervousness, happiness, joy, fear-

"You okay?" a familiar voice from behind him spoke in a comforting tone.

As he looked up and turned, his eyes lit up and suddenly, everything was okay. Everything that worried him a minute ago, evaporated into thin air simply because there she was... Hermione Granger, smiling up at Charlus as though she knew of the effect she had on him.

"What are you doing back here?" the boy asked. "I wanted to see how you were doing before the match started," Hermione explained as she moved closer to him.

Charlus smiled softly, "I'm okay, all things considered. I think I can win this." "Well," Hermione pursed her lips, "Guess you won't be needing any extra luck then."

Charlus raised a brow at her tone before teasing, dangerously, "I'll take any luck I can get."

He thought that would be the end of the conversation. He thought she would laugh, say good luck, and leave...

Imagine his surprise when the bushy haired girl stepped even closer to him, grabbed him gently by the neck, pulled him down to her level, and gave him a soft, lingering peck on the cheek.

Charlus' entire body froze for moment as heat flushed his face. His heart was beating faster than it had before any game of Quidditch. The light brown-haired boy didn't open his eyes for a moment after her lips left his cheek. Instead, he whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Okay, now I know I am going to win."

Hermione giggled bashfully. She honestly couldn't believe that she had just done that, but it ended up having the effect she wanted it to, so she couldn't fight the blush the appeared on her face. "For good luck," she said quietly in his ear, "you know, just in case."

Still frozen, Charlus watched as Hermione ran off towards the Gryffindor stands with a small, flirtatious laugh. Only when Malfoy came out did Charlus move and in what felt like no time at all, Flint was saying, "Okay, it's time. Let's go."

The Slytherin's walked out onto the field to a tidal wave of noise. Three-quarters of the crowd were wearing scarlet rosettes, waving scarlet flags with the Gryffindor lion upon them or brandishing banners with slogans such as 'Go Gryffindor' and 'Lions For The Cup!'

Behind the Slytherin goalposts, however, two hundred people were wearing green; the silver serpent of Slytherin glittered on their flags, and Professor Snape sat in the very front row, wearing green like everyone else, and a very grim smile.

"And here come the Slytherin team, led by Captain Flint. He's made some changes in the lineup and seems to be going for size rather than skill-"

Charlus had to agree with Lee. Malfoy and himself were easily the two smallest people on the Slytherin team; the rest of them were enormous.

"Captains, shake hands!" Madam Hooch said.

Flint and Wood approached each other and grasped each other's hand very tightly; it looked as though each was trying to break the other's fingers.

"Mount your brooms!" Madam Hooch said. "Three... two... one."The sound of her whistle was lost in the roar from the crowd as fourteen brooms rose into the air. Charlus felt his hair fly back off his forehead. He glanced around, saw Harry on his tail, and sped off in search of the Snitch.

"And it's Gryffindor in possession, Alicia Spinner of Gryffindor with the Quaffle, heading straight for the Slytherin goal posts, looking good, Alicia! Argh, no -- Quaffle intercepted by Warrington, Warrington of Slytherin tearing UP the field -- WHAM! -- nice Bludger work there by George Weasley, Warrington drops the Quaffle, it's caught by -- Johnson, Gryffindor back in possession, come on, Angelina -- nice swerve around Malfoy -- duck, Angelina, that's a Bludger! SHE SCORES! TEN-ZERO TO GRYFFINDOR!"

Angelina punched the air as she soared around the end of the field; the sea of scarlet below was screaming its delight-

"OUCH!" Angelina exclaimed as she was nearly thrown from her broom as Marcus Flint went smashing into her. "Sorry," Flint said, as the crowd below booed. "Sorry, didn't see her!"

A moment later, Fred chucked his Beater's club at the back of Flint's head. Flint's nose smashed into the handle of his broom and began to bleed.

"That will do!" Madam Hooch shrieked, zooming between them. "Penalty to Gryffindor for an unprovoked attack on their Chaser! Penalty to Slytherin for deliberate damage to their Chaser!"

"Come off it, Miss!" Fred howled, but Madam Hooch blew her whistle and Angelina flew forward to take the penalty. "Come on, Alicia!" Lee yelled into the silence that had descended on the crowd. "NO! She's missed! Ten-zero to Gryffindor."

Charlus turned the Firebolt sharply to watch Malfoy fly forward to take the Slytherin penalty. He faked a shot left and threw the Quaffle right. "So it's all square. Slytherin ten, Gryffindor ten," Lee said dejectedly.

Charlus clapped along with the crowd before he zoomed away, gazing around for the Snitch, but still making sure he caught every word of Lee's commentary. "Gryffindor in possession, no, Slytherin in possession -- no! Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell, Katie Bell for Gryffindor with the Quaffle, she's streaking up the field -- THAT WAS DELIBERATE!"

Malfoy had swerved in front of Katie, and instead of seizing the Quaffle had grabbed her head. Katie cart-wheeled in the air, managed to stay on her broom, but dropped the Quaffle. 

Madam Hooch's whistle rang out agains as she soared over to Malfoy and began shouting at him. A minute later, Angelina had put another penalty past the Slytherin Keeper. "TWENTY-TEN! TAKE THAT, YOU DIRTY, CHEATING-" Lee Jordan shouted.

"- Jordan, if you can't commentate in an unbiased way -!" Professor McGonagall said sternly. "I'm telling it like it is, Professor!" Lee Jordan replied.

Harry felt a huge jolt of excitement. He had seen the Snitch - it was shimmering at the foot of one of the Gryffindor goalposts- but he mustn't catch it yet. And if his brother saw it...

Faking a look of sudden concentration, Harry pulled his Firebolt round and sped off towards the Slytherin end. It worked. Charlus went haring after him, clearly thinking Harry had seen the Snitch there...

WHOOSH.

One of the Bludgers came streaking past Harry's right ear, hit by the gigantic Slytherin Beater, Derrick. Next moment -

WHOOSH.

The second Bludger grazed Harry's elbow. The other Beater, Bole, was closing in. Harry had a fleeting glimpse of Bole and Derrick zooming toward him, clubs raised - He turned the Firebolt upward at the last second, and Bole and Derrick collided with a sickening crunch.

"Ha haaa!" Lee Jordan yelled, as the Slytherin Beaters lurched away from each other, clutching their heads. "Too bad, boys! You'll need to get up earlier than that to beat a Firebolt! And it's Gryffindor in possession again, as Johnson takes the Quaffle - Flint alongside her - poke him in the eye, Angelina! - it was a joke, Professor, it was a joke - oh, no - Flint in possession, Flint flying towards the Gryffindor goal-posts, come on, now, Wood, save -!"

But Flint had scored; there was an eruption of cheers from the Slytherin end and Lee swore so badly that Professor McGonagall tried to tug the magical megaphone away from him. "Sorry, Professor, sorry! Won't happen again! So, it's all tied, twenty points to twenty, and Gryffindor in possession --"

It was turning into the dirtiest match Charlus had ever played in. Enraged that the match was tied, the Slytherins were rapidly resorting to any means to take the Quaffle. Bole hit Ali​cia with his club and tried to say he'd thought she was a Bludger.

George Weasley elbowed Bole in the face in retaliation. Madam Hooch awarded both teams penalties, and Bletchley pulled off a  spectacular save, making the score thirty-twenty to Slytherin. The Snitch had disappeared again. Charlus was still keeping close to Harry as they soared over the match, looking around for it.

Katie scored. thirty-thirty. Fred and George Weasley were swooping around her, clubs raised, in case any of the Slytherins were thinking of revenge. Bole and Derrick took advantage of Fred and George's absence to aim both Bludgers at Wood, they caught him in the stomach, one after the other, and he rolled over in the air, clutching his broom, completely winded.

Madam Hooch was beside herself. "You do not attack the Keeper unless the Quaffle is within the scoring area!" she shrieked at Bole and Derrick. "Gryffindor penalty!"

And Angelina scored. forty-thirty. Moments later, Fred Weasley pelted a Bludger at Warrington, knocking the Quaffle out of his hands. But Malfoy seized it and put it through the Gryffindor goal: forty-forty.

The Slytherin crowd below were screaming themselves hoarse - It was a tie, and if Charlus caught the Snitch now, the Cup was theirs.

Charlus could almost feel hundreds of eyes following him as he soared around the pitch, high above the rest of the game, with Harry speeding along beside him.

And then he saw it. The Snitch was sparkling twenty feet above him. Charlus put on a huge burst of speed, the wind roaring in his ears. Unfortunately, Harry had seen it as well and was right beside him.

"It seems the Potter twins have spotted the snitch!"

Charlus rammed into the side of his brother. He heard deafening screams from the stands as he rammed into Harry again, causing him to lose his balance. Then he stretched out his hand and-

"YES!"

He pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Charlus soared above the crowd, an odd ringing in his ears. The tiny golden ball was held tight in his fist, beating its wings hopelessly against his fingers.

 Then Flint was speeding toward him, half-blinded by tears; he seized Charlus around the neck and sobbed unrestrainedly into his shoulder. Charlus felt two large thumps as Derrick and Bole jumped on them; then there were the sounds of Warrington's, Bletchley's, and Malfoy's voices, "We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup!"

Tangled together in a many-armed hug, the Slytherin team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth. Harry hurriedly flew towards his brother and got off his broom. "Congratulations, Charlus!" he told him, clapping him on the back. "That was some impressive flying."

Wave upon wave of green and silver supporters was pouring over the barriers onto the field. Hands were raining down on their backs. Then he, and the rest of the team, were hoisted onto the shoulders of the fans. Thrust into the light, he saw Hagrid, plastered with crimson rosettes -- "Well done,  Charlus!  I might not av' wanted yer' to win, but I'm happy for yer! Wait until I tell Beaky!"

There was Adrian and Matthew, jumping up and down like maniacs, all dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall sobbed harder even than Oliver Wood and wiped  her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag, while Professor Snape grinned triumphantly next to her. And Alistair, Ron and Hermione fought their way to Charlus. They couldn't get a word out.

Without thinking about it, Charlus made his way to Hermione and pulled her into a passionate hug. The girl sighed contently, but didn't have as much time as she would've wanted to enjoy the moment as Harry, Alistair and Ron practically jumped on them in celebration.

Everyone simply beamed as  Charlus was borne toward the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup.

Albus handed the Cup to a sobbing Flint, who lifted it into the air. But then he passed it to Charlus,who eagerly accepted it. He pressed a kiss to the Cup with a smile.

He did it,he actually did it!

God, too bad there weren't any Dementors around. In that moment, Charlus felt he could have easily produced the best Patronus in the world.

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Slytherin's euphoria at finally winning the Quidditch Cup lasted at least a week. Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice.

But they couldn't.

Exams were nearly upon them and all the students had went into a serious studying mode. Even Fred and George had been spotted working; they were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels).

Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings.

In fact, the only person who seemed more anxious than Percy was Hermione.

Charlus, Harry,Alistair and Ron had given up asking her how she was managing to attend several classes at once, but they couldn't restrain themselves when they saw the exam schedule she had drawn up for herself. The first column read:

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

"Hermione?" Alistair said cautiously, because she was liable to explode when interrupted these days. "Er - are you sure you've copied down these times right?"

"What?" Hermione snapped, picking up the exam timetable and examining it. "Yes, of course I have." "Is there any point asking how you're going to sit two exams at once?" Charlus asked, chuckling softly.

"No," Hermione replied shortly, but her face softened when she realized it was his voice, and softly smiled in his direction. The bushy haired girl then addressed the four boys in front of her. "Have either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Gramatica?"

"Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading," Ron said, but very quietly. Hermione started shift​ing heaps of parch​ment around on her table to look​ for the book , completely unaware that Charlus and Harry were trying to muffle their laughter. Alistair looked at the twins with a smile, also trying not to laugh.

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As exam week began, an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third years emerged from Transfiguration at lunchtime on Monday limp and ashen-faced, comparing results and bemoaning the difficulty of the tasks they had been set, which had included turning a teapot into a tortoise.

Charlus had aced the task, earning highest results. Hermione irritated the rest by fussing about how her tortoise had looked more like a turtle, which was the least of everyone else's worries.

"Mine still has a spout for a tail, what a nightmare . . ."

"Were the tortoises supposed to breath steam?"

"It still has a willow-patterned shell, d'you think that'll count against me?"

"I wanted to keep mine, but Minnie wouldn't allow it."

Then, after a hasty lunch, it was straight back upstairs for the Charms exam. Hermione had been right; Professor Flitwick did indeed test them on Cheering Charms. Alistair did very well with this test. Matthew Scamander, his partner, also aced this as well.

 Harry slightly overdid his out of nerves and Ron, who was partnering him, ended up in fits of hysterical laughter and had to be led away to a quiet room for an hour before he was ready to perform the Charm himself.

Charlus was partnered with Hermione. Although he didn't want to admit it, the light brown-haired boy did quite well. Not as good as Hermione, but still good nonetheless.

 After dinner, the students hurried back to their common rooms, not to relax, but to start revising for Care of Magical Creatures, Potions and Astronomy.

Hagrid presided over the care of Magical Creatures exam the following morning with a very preoccupied air indeed; his heart didn't seem to be in it at all. He had provided a large tub of fresh Flobberworms for the class, and told them that, to pass the test, their Flobberworm had to still be alive at the end of one hour.

As Flobberworms flourished best if left to their own devices, it was the easiest exam any of them had ever sat, and also gave Charlus, Harry, Alistair, Ron and Hermione plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid and see how he was doing.

They had potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Once again, Charlus thought he had done well, despite Snape standing watch with an air of vindictive pleasure as he scribbled something down that looked suspiciously like a zero onto his notes before moving away.

Then came Astronomy at midnight, up on the tallest tower; History of Magic on Wednesday morning, in which Charlus scrib​bled everything Hermione had told him. Herbology was in the afternoon, in the greenhouses under the baking hot sun; then back to the common room once more, with sunburnt necks.

Finally on Thursday morning, for Charlus, was his final exam. Defence Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun.

They had to 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, ignoring the misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart.

"Excellent, Charlus," Lupin muttered as Charlus climbed out of the trunk with a grin. "Full marks."

Charlus and Harry gave each other proud smiles and high fives since he had gotten full marks as well. They hung around to watch their friends. Alistair, like them, got full marks. Ron did very well until he reached the Hinkypunk, which successfully confused him into sinking waist-high into the quagmire.

Hermione did everything perfectly until she reached the trunk with the Boggart in it. After about a minute inside it, she burst out again, screaming.

"Hermione!" Charlus said, startled, rushing to her. "What's the matter?" "P-​P-​Pro​fes​sor McG​ona​gall!" Hermione gasped, point​ing in​to the trunk. "Sh-​she said I'd failed everything!"

It took a little while to calm Hermione down but with some encouraging words and a hug from Charlus, she had regained a grip on herself. The five made their way back up to the castle. Ron still felt a slight urge to laugh at Hermione's Boggart, but the urge was instantly extinguished when Charlus gave him a deadly glare.

However, his heart sank when he saw a familiar face. Cornelius Fudge, a little sweaty under his pinstriped cloak, was standing there, staring out at the school grounds.  "Hello there, Charlus, Harry,Alistair!" he said as he took in the sight of them. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"

"Yes, sir," Charlus said simply ,but he couldn't help but narrow his eyes. What was Fudge doing here?  Hermione and Ron, not being on speaking terms with the Minister of Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background.

"Lovely day," Fudge said, casting an eye over the lake. "Pity... pity..."

The Minister sighed deeply before he looked down at Charlus, Harry and Alistair, "I'm here on an unpleasant mission, boys. The Commission for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures has requested a witness for the execution of the mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the progress of the Black and White-Riddle case, I've been asked to carry out this task."

"Buckbeak isn't a mad Hippogriff," Charlus interrupted. "If Malfoy had listened to Hagrid then -"

Before Charlus could finish her sentence, two wizards came through the castle doors behind Fudge. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin black moustache.

Charlus gathered that they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because the very old wizard squinted toward Hagrid's cabin and said in a feeble voice, "Dear, dear, I'm getting too old for this...Two o'clock, isn't it, Fudge?"

The black-moustached man was fiddling with something in his belt; Charlus looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. The light brown-haired opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione nudged him gently in the ribs and jerked her head toward the entrance hall.

"Why'd you stop me?" Charlus asked and shook his head an​gri​ly, as they en​tered the Great Hall for lunch. "Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't jus​tice!" "I know," Hermione said softly, but she, too, looked very upset. "But you can't go saying things like that to the Minister of Magic."

All around them, people were talking excitedly as they ate their lunch, happily anticipating the end of exams, but Charlus, Harry, Alistair, Hermione and Ron, lost in worry about Hagrid and Buckbeak, didn't join in.

Harry,Alistair and Ron's last exam was Divination and Charlus would be joining them if he hadn't walked out after Hermione so he opted to wait outside the Muggle Studies classroom for Hermione to finish her last exam.

Once she was finished the two made their way back to the Gryffindor Common Room where they were chatting with Alistair and Ron, asking how their Divination exams went.

A few moments went by when Harry barged into the Common Room. "Harry?" Charlus said startled, as he noticed the boy's state, "What happened?"

The boy shrugged his brother off gently as he addressed the four of them, "We have to go see Hagrid. He can't be left there alone, waiting for the executioner."

Charlus, Alistair, Ron and Hermione had stood up as Harry quickly stormed out of the room again. The four of them shared a worried glance before they ran out after the boy.

The  three Gryffindors and the two Slytherins ran through the castle before stumbling upon the courtyard. While there, they heard the spine-chilling calls of a crow, which happened to be lurking around the executioner, who was sat on a stump, sharpening the axe in his hand. As he looked up and saw the kids staring at him in horror, he gave them a wicked smile.

"That's not creepy at all." Charlus said sarcastically.

It didn't take long for the five of them to continue on their way. Charlus, Harry, Alistair, Ron and Hermione ran through the castle a little further until they were on the castle grounds. "I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak!" Hermione said aghast, "This is just too horrible."

Ron stopped as he could hear the familiar laughs of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle in the close distance.

Sure enough, as they turned the last corner before Hagrid's Hut, the five of them witnessed the familiar Slytherin trio lurking behind a group of monolithic menhirs, with binoculars in hand.

The red-haired boy groaned in hatred,"Yeah, and it just got worse."

Charlus, Harry, Alistair, Ron and Hermione had moved closer to Malfoy and his goons, allowing them to eavesdrop on their conversation.

"Do you see that big blubbering oaf?! Oh, this is going to be rich. Did I tell you that my father said I can keep the Hippogriff's head? I think I'll donate it to the Gryffindors' common room." Draco joked before turning and looking up at the golden five who were standing behind him. "Ah, come to see the show?"

Before Charlus could confront him, Hermione had barrelled towards Draco with her wand in hand, "You... foul... loathsome... evil... little cockroach!"

Malfoy stumbled back into a rock and closed his eyes in fear as he whimpered like a baby at the feeling of Hermione's wand under his chin. "Hermione! No!" Ron yelled, "He's not worth it."

The bushy haired girl gave a reluctant nod  before she lowered her wand and turned back to her friends. Malfoy, much to his unknowing of what was to come, began to laugh at the girl's bluff, until...

SMACK!

Quick as lightning, Hermione spun around and punched Malfoy in the face with all the strength she could muster. The boy's head hit the rock at the impact, which caused him to slide down to the floor.

Groaning in pain, Malfoy leapt to his feet, held his nose, and ran back through the castle. Not long after, Crabbe and Goyle followed him, huffing and puffing in disbelief. Hermione smiled victoriously as she watched them walk off, "That felt good."

Harry, Alistair and Ron were shocked,  but Charlus stared at her in the utmost awe. If he hadn't fallen in love with her before, he certainly was now. That was probably the most amazing thing the boy  had ever seen in his life - wow.

"Not good," he said in a tone that was a mix of stun and awe, "That was bloody amazing." "Thanks," Hermione muttered quietly, a deep red blush quickly forming on her cheeks.

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They reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute in answering, and when he did, he was pale-faced and trembling. "Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and they stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly.

Hagrid was not crying, nor did he throw himself upon their necks. He looked like a man who did not know where he was or what to do. This helplessness was worse to watch than tears.

"Wan' some tea?" he said. His great hands were shaking as he reached for the kettle. "Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Alistair asked hesitantly.

"I — I took him outside," Hagrid said, spilling milk all over the table as he filled 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 trembled so violently that the milk jug slipped from his grasp and shattered all over the floor. "I'll do it, Hagrid," Hermione said quickly, hurrying over and starting to clean up the mess.

"There's another one in the cupboard," Hagrid said, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve. Har​ry glanced at Ron, then Charlus, then Alistair, who all looked back hope​less​ly. "Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore -"

"He's tried," Hagrid said. "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 hut, as though looking for some shred of hope of 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 head.

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

Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she hid them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. Charlus had instantly moved over to her in the kitchen, silently comforting her, but not bringing too much attention to it out of risk of upsetting Hagrid further.

 Hermione smiled through her tears at the light brown-haired boy. 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!" Ron said blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"

He grabbed the struggling rat and held him up to the light. Scabbers looked dreadful. He was thinner than ever, large tufts of hair had fallen out leaving wide bald patches, and he writhed in Ron's hands as though desperate to free himself.

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

SMASH!

A glass jar on the shelf had shattered. As Hermione moved to scoop up the jagged-shaped stone, a second stone had come in the window and hit Charlus hard on the back of the head. The boy turned and his eyes fixed on the window, his face falling at the sight.

 "Uh, Hagrid..."

The half-giant stood up and moved to see what Charlus was looking at. Hagrid's normally ruddy face had gone the color of parchment.

"They're comin' . . ."

Harry,Alistair, Ron, and Hermione whipped around to join Charlus in his gaze out the window. A group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Albus Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Cornelius Fudge. Behind them came the feeble old Committee member and the executioner, Macnair.

"Yeh gotta go," Hagrid said. Every inch of him was trembling. "They mustn' find yeh here...Go now..."

Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket instantly, while Charlus shared a glance with Hermione, who was looking sadder than ever. "I'll let yeh out the back way," Ha​grid said.

They followed him to the door into his back garden. Charlus felt strangely unreal, and even more so when he saw Buckbeak a few yards away, tethered to a tree behind Hagrid's pumpkin patch. Buckbeak seemed to know something was happening. He turned his sharp head from side to side and pawed the ground nervously.

Charlus felt a wave of sadness flash over him as he took in the fantastic beast's appearance - he didn't want Buckbeak to die. "It's okay, Beaky," he said softly. "It's okay..."

Hagrid turned to Charlus, Harry, Alistair , Ron, and Hermione. "Go on," he said. "Get goin'."

But they didn't move.

 "Hagrid, we can't -"

 "We'll tell them what really happened -"

 "They can't kill him -"

"This isn't fair -"

"Let us stay with you -"

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

They had no choice, but to leave. Slowly, in a kind of horrified trance, Hermione pulled the boys forward. They heard voices at the front of the cabin as they crouched behind a very large pumpkin. Hagrid looked at the place where they had just disappeared to before he strode back into his cabin as someone knocked at the front door.

Charlus clenched his jaw as he heard Fudge give a grand speech to Hagrid as to why Buckbeak had to be executed. The light brown-haired boy seethed with anger, he couldn't believe that this was actually going to happen.

He had to act quick if he wanted to save Buckbeak, so he moved to take a step forward out of their cover towards the Hippogriff, but Harry was quick to grab his arm. "What the hell are you doing?" he whispered, but his tone was still slightly raised.

Charlus looked at his brother in disbelief, "What? We're just supposed to let him die?" "There's nothing we can do!" Ron argued.

The small debate was cut short as the five of their heads snapped towards the shuffling of the adults in Hagrid's Hut. However, Charlus jumped slightly as he saw, out of the corner of his eye, Hermione whip her head back in the direction of the forest behind her. She stared curiously at the branches as they danced oddly.

"What? What is it?" Charlus whispered to her. "Nothing..." Hermione replied, glancing between Charlus and the branches, "I thought I just saw... never mind."

Before the adults got the chance to spot them, Harry nudged his brother and his friends forward to move back towards the castle, but Charlus didn't move. He didn't want to leave Buckbeak. He couldn't. He had to do something. He had to do-

"Please, Charlus," Hermione pleaded. "I can't stand it, I can't bear it..."

The boy met Hermione's tear-filled eyes and knew that he had to leave. As much as he didn't wanted to leave the Hippogriff, he definitely didn't want to see the bushy haired girl cry.

 Charlus looked at Buckbeak one last time. I'm sorry, he thought as he let Hermione pull him forward.

The three Gryffindors and the two Slytherins started up the sloping lawn toward the castle. The sun was sinking fast now; the sky had turned to a clear, purple-tinged gray, but to the west there was a ruby-red glow. Ron stopped dead. "Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.

"It's Scabbers - he won't - stay put -" Ron grunted. He was bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat was 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,"

They heard a door open behind them and men's voices. "Ron, we have to move, they're going to do it." Alistair breathed. "Okay - Scabbers, stay put -"

They walked forward; Charlus, like Hermione, was trying not to listen to the rumble of voices behind them. Ron stopped again. "I can't hold him - Scabbers, shut up, everyone'll hear us -"

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

Hermione came to an abrupt halt on the spot, and turned around to face the horror. "They did it!" she whispered to them. "I d-don't believe it — they did it!"

Charlus didn't waste any time before pulling Hermione into his embrace as he stared down the hill towards Hagrid's Hut. He let her cry and tremble into his shoulder as she wrapped  her arms around his neck.

Soon enough, Alistair had leaned on Hermione in hope of comforting her further, while  Harry placed a comforting hand on Charlus' shoulder and Ron kept his gaze ahead. The five of them looked down in disbelief, barely able to hold back the tears.

Buckbeak was dead. That poor, innocent, creature was gone.

━━ AUTHORS NOTE

Ahhh, it's happening! We will get a reunion in the next chapter!

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it. Please, don't forget to vote and share If you did, and if you want, comment too ! I'd really appreciate it <3

Thank you for reading this far.

Until next time, much love to you all!