.⊹⁀➷ CHAPTER EIGHT !
↳❛the grim❜

                             ANNABETH LET HER gaze wander around the room, seeing Seamus and Dean, looking rather helpless while they stared holes into their Crystal Ball.

The brunette smirked slightly before her gaze wandered off to Malfoy and his friends, who seemed to make fun of one of the other students, while snickering loudly.

The girl rolled with her eyes, when stuff Professor Trelawnys voice caught her attention.

"Now, what do we have here?", the woman questioned the four with a curious look.

"Oh, do you mind me trying?", Hermione suddenly spoke up, which made Annabeth frown suspiciously.

"Oh!", the Professor smiled at her, but Hermione just sat up straight and looked at the crystal bowl. "The Grim, possibly?"

Professor Trelawny gave her a sympathetic look while she leaned towards the young girl, touching her arm. "My dear, from the first moment you stepped foot in my class I sensed that you did not possess the proper spirit for the noble art of Divination."

She slowly grabbed Hermione's hand and turned to look at the palm, "No, you see, there." The woman pointed at a part of Hermione's palm.

"You may be young in years, but your heart is shriveled as an old maid's, your soul as dry as the pages of the books to which you so desperately cleave." The woman clapped her comforting onto her hand before she smiled.

Annabeth's mouth dropped open and Hermione quickly pulled her hand back and hit the crystal ball from the table before she stormed out.

Everyone looked over to their table and Annabeth shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

Professor Trelawny have her a questioning look, as if she didn't knew what she had done. "Have I said something?"

Annabeth's eyes widened, but she remained silent until the woman went on to the next table. The rest of the lesson, Annabeth spent on staring out of the window.

"She's gone mental, Hermione has. Not that she wasn't always mental but now it's in the open for everyone to see", Ron stated while they made their way down the stairs of the Divination classroom.

"Shut up, Ron. What Professor Trelawny said was rather rude", Annabeth stated before she suddenly spotted the crystal ball on the next step.

"Hang on", the girl grabbed the crystal ball and looked at her friend. "We better take this back."

Ron gave her a wide eyed look, "I'm not going back there." And Harry just shook his head at his twin.

"Alright, then I'll go alone", the firm sighed before she hurried up towards the classroom.

She held the crystal ball firmly in both of her hands while she stepped into the classroom.

Everyone had already left and the room was completely silent. Annabeth let her gaze wander around the room before she carefully placed the crystal ball onto Professor Trelawnys table.

The brunette wanted to turn and leave the room but them she caught sight of a face inside the crystal ball. It was far away and she couldn't really see who it was, but her heart suddenly started to go faster.

The brunette leaned down to get a better look at it, even though her brain told her to get out of there as quick as she could.

Suddenly a whisper in the tone of a deep male voice reached her ear, "Annabeth Potter."

"Annabeth!"

Goosebumps errupted all over her body and the girl began to exhaled deeply.

And then out of nowhere a hand was placed on her shoulder and the girl fliched in surprise.

Spinning around she released a relived breath, realizing that it was only the Professor, who had come back into the classroom.

But after a moment she saw the distant look on the Professor face. "Professor Trelawney?"

The woman inhaled very heavily joke she grabbed onto the girls shoulder, staring off into the distance.

Her voice was rather husky when she spoke, "He will return tonight."

"Pardon me?", Annabeth gave her a questioning look, but the woman seemed to be in a daze.

"Tonight, he who betrayed his friends, whose heart rots with murder shall bream free! Innocent blood shall be split and servant and master shall be reunited once more!", the woman predicted to her.

Annabeth eyes widened in shock while Professor Trelawney started coughing and snapped back into reality.

The woman gave her an innocent look, "Oh, I'm so sorry dear. Did you say something?"

The woman seemed completely confused and Annabeth slowly made her way past her, "No, nothing, Professor. I'll be on my way now."

The Professor gave her one last smile before Annabeth hurried down the stairs.

Her heart was still beating loudly on her chest when she arrived in the common room.

Only a couple of days later, it was already the day of Buckbeaks execution.

"I can't believe they're going to kill Buckbeak. It's just too horrible", Hermione stated while they walked towards Hagrid hut.

"It just got worse", Ron stated when he spotted no other than Draco Malfoy, standing on the hill, looking down to Hagrid shack.

"What did I say? Father, said I can keep the Hippogriff's head. I'll donate it to the Gryffindors' Common room", Malfoy's voice reached Annabeth's ear. The brunette could believe what he'd just said.

She didn't look back at the others while she stormed down the hill towards the three Slytherin boys.

Crabbe was the first one to notice her, alarming the other's, "Look who's here."

Draco turned to Annabeth, who was now nearly by them, a angered expression on her face. The boy smirked at them arrogantly, "Ah! Come to see the show?"

Annabeth glared at him while she pulled out her wand and held the blond boy at wandpoint. You! You foul, loathsome, evil, little cockroach!"
Malfoy was leaning against the stone behind him, his face looked like he would begin to cry every second.

"Annabeth, no! He's not worth it!", Ron exclaimed when they'd finally reached her. Hermione placed a hand on Annabeth's shoulder, glaring at Malfoy as well.

Annabeth shot the boy one last look before she slowly relaxed and took her wand away from Malfoy.

She slowly turned to her friend when she heard the nasty laughing behind her. The brunnette felt that wave of rage wash over her once more and she spun around, punching Draco hardly into the face.

Malfoy stumbled back against the stone, grunting in pain while Grabb and Goyle grabbed him by his arms in shock.

"Malfoy, are you okay?"

"Let's go! Not a word to anyone!", Annabeth could hear Malfoy's voice while the three disappeared.

Annabeth sighed deeply, her eyes closed, "That felt good." Ron smiled at her widely, "Not good. Brilliant!"

"I wanted to do that!", Hermione exclaimed while the two girls smiled at each other.

The four then quickly made their way down towards Hagrid shack.

"Look at him! Loved the smell of the trees when the wind blows through them", Hagrid told them while they watched Buckbeak from the window.

"Why don't you set him free?", Harry questioned the half-giant curiously.

He sighed defeated, "They'd know it was me, and then Dumbledore would get into trouble. He's coming down you know, Dumbledore. Says he wants to be with me when they- when it happens."

There was a small silence before Hagrid turned towards the others, "Great man, Dumbledore! A great man!"

"We'll stay with you too", Hermione suddenly Satzes while she stood up. Hagrid gave her a pointed look, "You'll do no such thing! Think I want you seeing something like that? No! You just drink your tea and be off."

His gaze snapped to Ron, "Oh! Before you do, Ron-" Hagrid pulled Scabbers out of a box.

"Scabbers! You're alive!", Ron shouted at his rat happily. He jumped onto his feet and grabbed the fat from Hagrids hands.

"Keep a closer eye on your pet", Hagrids warned the ginger haired boy.

"I think you owe someone am apology", Hermione stated while she took a step forward, glaring at Ron.

But Ron remained calmly, whole he gave Hermione a annoyed smile, "Right. Next time I see Crookshanks, I'll let him know."

"I mean me!"

Suddenly the vase behind them exploded into a half. "Blimey! What was that?!"

Suddenly Harry rubbed the back of his head, "Ow!" The boy spun towards the window, "Hagrid!"

"Oh, crikey! It's late. It's nearly dark. You shouldn't be here", the half-giant exclaimed while they looked out of the window, watching Dumbledore, the executer any the Minister approached his shack.

"Someone sees you outside this time of night, you'll have be in trouble! Big trouble! Particularly you, Harry and Annabeth!"

There was a loud knock at the door. "With you in a moment", Hagrid exclaimed at the door.

"Ouick! Quick!", he let them out the back door. "Hagrid! You'll be fine. It'll be okay", Harry quickly tried to comfort him before he went after the other's.

Hermione was the first one that left the house, right when Dumbeldor, the Minister and the executer entered.

The other's followed quickly, hiding behind the large pile of pumpkins.

Annabeth could hear the voices coming from the shack. Hermione suddenly spun around, narrowing her eyes at the woods that played behind them.

They all looked at her questioning, "What?"

The brunette seemed rather unsure, her eyes still focused on the trees, "I thought I just saw- never mind."

Ron was the first one to make his way up the stone stairs towards the castle, "Let's go!"

The other's followed quickly after him. Not looking back until they had hidden behind the large stones on top of the hill.

After a moment Dumbledore, the Minister, Hagrid and the executer stepped out of the shack.

Annabeth still panted heavily while she stood in-between Harry and Hermione, watching the four wizards.

The executer raised his gigantic axe into the air before he executed Buckhead with one swing.

Annabeth squeezed her eyes shut while Hermione buried her face in Ron's neck, sobbing quietly.

Annabeth and Harry exchanged a sad look before they went in for a group hug, looping their arms around Ron and Hermione.

There was a moment of silence between the four friends, just the wind that brushed through the trees could be heard.

But then Ron let out a loud yelp, the other's ended the hug and gave him a questioning look.

"He bit me. Scabbers!", the ginger haired boy exclaimed before he quickly hurried after his rat.

"Ron? Ron!"

The boys completely ignored his friends calls, "Scabbers, come back!"

He was so quickly down the hill, that the three had to hurry not to loose him.

When the three had finally reached the top of the hill, Annabeth eyes widened when she saw the tree that was not far away from them.

Ron didn't seem to realize in what kind of danger he'd just gotten himself into. He threw himself at his rat and finally caught it. "Scabbers, you bit me!"

"Harry, you do realize what tree that is, right?", Annabeth questioned her brother while her thoughts rushed back to their second year.

"That's not good! Ron, run!", Harry immediately exclaimed while he stared at his friend.

Ron looked up at them with a relived face expression, but that expression quickly changed into one of pure fear.

"Harry, Annie, Hermione, run!", the boy exclaimed while he pointed at the three with wide eyes.

Annabeth frowned before she turned around, Ron's voice in her ears when she caught sighed of the large black dog that was standing behind them.

"It's the Grim!"

The dog suddenly started barking loudly while it made it's way towards the three friends.

Harry and Annabeth stumbled backwards but the dog jumped right over their heads, running straight towards Ron.

The boys eyes widened in shock while the dog bit into his leg and dragged him towards the tree.

The boy started screaming in fear, "Harry! Help!"

"Ron! Ron!"

The three ran towards Ron, but they weren't nearly fast enough and couldn't reach him before he was down the hole beneath the whomping willow.

"Ron!"

They could still hear his screams echoing to the surface when the first large twig stared moving towards them.

Annabeth's eyes widened while she inhaled sharply. Hermione helped Harry stand up, but as soon as the brunnette boy was back onto his feet, the whomping willow hit them all into the gut.

When Annabeth collided with the floor, she let out a loud grunt. Her stomach was hurting and the girl had hit her head pretty hardly.

The three quickly got back onto their feet, watching the tree move around. Goosebumps made it's way onto Annabeth's arms when she heard Ron scream once more.

"Come on!"

Harry grabbed Annabeth's and Hermione's arms and made his way with them towards the tree.

The whomping willow tried to hit them with her twigs, but the three could avoid them, at least for a small moment.

After that Harry was hit to the side and Hermione got lifted into the air before the twig decided to swing her around.

The girl began to scream loudly but Annabeth took her chance and quickly made her way towards the hole, sliding right in when the willow wanted to hit her.

She could hear Hermione's screams from outside when suddenly Harry was coming down towards her.

A moment later Hermione followed, landing on him. "Ohh I'm sorry."

The two stood up slowly, grunting in pain, "Don't worry."

"Where do you suppose this goes", Hermione questioned the other's with a curious look on her face while she scanned their surroundings.

Harry let the way through the dark underground corridor, "I have a hunch. I just hope I'm wrong."

                         WHEN THE THREE teenagers had finally reached the end of the long underground tunnel, they climbed through the opening.

The wooden floor was dusty, only the dog footprint could give a hint to what the floor once looked like.

The Shack was making weird noises and Annabeth felt the cold air hit her face.

"We're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?", Hermione stated while they carefully made their way through the old house.

Harry grabbed onto the girls arms once more, leading them towards the stairs. "Come on."

Now they could hear Ron's pained voice again, leading them towards the room he was in.

"Ron!"

When the three spotted the boy, sitting on an old, rotten couch they immediately approached him. "Ron, you're okay?"

"The dog. Where is it?", Annabeth questioned the boy while she came to a stand infront of him.

Ron's eyes were wide again while he pointed at the door. "It's a trap! He's the dog! He's an Animagus."

Annabeth slowly turned to face the door, her eyes traveling over the dog footprints which lead exactly to no other than Sirius Black, who had been hiding behind the door.

The door fell shut and the man stared at them with a dark look on his face.

He looked exactly like the Photos I'm the daily prophet. His hair was dirty and his cloths were ripped and very old.

Hermione stepped in front of Annabeth and Harry, "If you want to kill either of them, you have to kill us too!"

Black seemed completely calm while he slightly shook his head, "No. Only one will die tonight."

Annabeth frowned at his words, one will die. That made no sense, but before she could think about it more, Harry pushed Hermione to the side. "Then it'll be you!"

He dashed towards Black, grabbing him by his throat in pure rage. Black stumbled backwards before Harry wrestled him to the floor, his hands still on the man's throat.

The brunette boy then grabbed his wand, pointing it at Blacks face.

The man suddenly smirked widely, laughing amused at Harry, "Are you going to kill me, Harry?"

Out of nowhere the doors suddenly burst open, revealing Professor Lupin, who immediately exclaimed, "Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand flew out of his hand and the four teenager stared at Lupin in surprise and shock.

Harry got quickly onto his feet and hurried back over to Annabeth and Hermione.

Lupin's gaze wandered towards Sirius, who still laid on the ground. Approaching him he started smirking, "Well, well, Sirius. Looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflect the madness within."

Sirius gaze up to him, smirking as well, "Well, you know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?"

The professor then lowered his wand, the smirk changing into a genuine smile. He held out his hand and helped Sirius up onto his feet.

The two of them hugged while smiling. "I found him!", Sirius exclaimed in a rather mad sounding voice.

"I know", Remus tried to make him clear that he had finally understood what had happened that night on Godrigs Hollow.

"It's him."

"I understand."

"Let's kill him!"

"No!", Hermione's voice broke through their conversation. "I trusted you! And all this time, you've been his friends!", the girl then exclaimed before she turned towards the other's. "He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes!"

Remus and Sirius face expression darkened, the smiles disappearing from their faces. Remus turned to look at them, "How long have you known?"

"Since professor Snape set the essay", Hermione answered him. Annabeth gave Remus a disappointed look, "I kept your secret as well. I shouldn't have trusted you, Professor."

"Well, well, well girls. You really are the brightest witches of your age I've ever met", Remus stated while he eyed the two girls.

"Enough talk, Remus!", Sirius suddenly exclaimed from behind the Professor. "Come on, let's kill him!"

"Wait!"

The long haired man spun around to Lupin, his voice loud, "I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!"

Lupin's gaze wandered towards Harry before he slowly handed Sirius the wand. "Very well. Kill him. But wait one more minute. Harry and Annabeth have he right to know why."

"I know why!", Harry's voice echoed through the room. "You betrayed my parents! You're the reason their dead!"

Lupin shook his head at the teenagers, "No, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents- but it was somebody who, until quiet recently, I believed to be dead!"

"Who was it then?!", Annabeth exclaimed, her face showing her confusion and anger at once.

Sirius voice rose once more shield he spat out the name, "Peter Pettigrew!"

"He's in this room! Right now!", the man continued his eyes wandering around his surroundings. "Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"

In the blink of an eye Snape stood besides Sirius and Remus, "Expelliarmus!"

Sirius flew the wand out of his hands and the two turned towards Snape, surprised looks on their faces.

"Vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you", Snape stared at Black with hatred in his eyes.

"Severus-", Lupin wanted to approached the man, but Snape pointed his wand at him, making him step back.

"I told Dumbeldor you were helping a friend into the castle. And now, here's the proof", the black haired man stated.

"Brilliant, Snape. You've put your keen mind to the task and come to the worng conclusion", Sirius hissed at him, while he gave the man a glare.

"Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to", Black shouted outraged while he approached Snape.

Snape then held him at wandpoint, narrowing his eyes at him, "Give me a reason. I beg you!"

Lupin shook his head, "Severus, don't be a fool."

"He can't help it. It's habit!", Sirius snapped while he still stared at Snape.

"Sirius, be quiet!"

"Be quiet yourself, Remus!", Sirius shot back at his old friend in anger. Snape shot Remus a look, but he wand remained pointed on Sirius, "Oh, you two quarreling like an old married couple."

"Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry toys!", Sirius commented before Snape pressed the wand into his throat.

"I could do it, you know. But why deny the Dementors? They're so longing to see you."

Sirius face fell while he took a couple of steps backwards, followed by Snape, "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes. A Dementor kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

"Severus, please."

Annabeth felt how her wand slowly got pulled out of her pocket and befzshe could react, Harry shot a spell at Snape. "Expelliarmus."

Snape crashed through the old bad and everyone's eyes widened. "Harry! What did you just do?"

"You attacked a teacher!", Hermione exclaimed, but Harry ignored them. "Tell me about Peter Pettigrew!"

Remus didn't waste any time, "He was at school with us! We thought be was our friend!"

"No, Pettigrew is dead! He killed him!", Harry shouted at the two before he pointed his wand back at Sirius.

Remus shook his head before he stepped infront of Sirius, "No, he didn't. I thought so too, until you, Annabeth mentioned Pettigrew on the map!"

"The map is wrong!", Annabeth exclaimed while he gave them a disbelieving look.

"The Map is never wrong!", Sirius exclaimed at her loudly. "Pettigrew is alive! And he's right there!"

The man pointed at Ron, who's eyes shot wide open. "Me?! He's mental!" Sirius rolled with his eyes in annoyance, "Not you! Your rat!"

Ron couldn't seem to believe that, "Scabbers has been in my family for-"

Sirius raised his eyebrows at the boy, "Twelve years? Curiously long life for a common garden Rat! He's missing a toe, isn't he?"

Sirius approached Ron with a mental smile in his face. "So what?", Ron questioned them while shrugging.

"All they could find of Pettigrew was his-"

Sirius faced Harry and Annabeth, "Finger! The dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead! And then he transformed into a rat!"

"Show me!", Harry suddenly demanded, his wand still at the ready.

Sirius wanted to grab the Raz from Ron, but Ron wouldn't let go. Annabeth grew annoyed with the boy, "Give him the rat, Ron!"

Ron was scared for his rat, "What are you trying to do to him?"

Sirius finally succeed to take the rat from Ron and placed it onto the old, dusty piano.

Hermione held Ron back by his arm, "Leave him alone! What are you doing?!"

The rat stared running and Sirius and Remus immediately tried to hit it with some sort of spell. The rat wanted to escape through a little hole in the wall, but then it suddenly transformed back into a human being.

Remus and Sirius hurried to pull the man out of the hole and revealed him to the twins and their friends.

The blond, dirty and rather small man looked at the two men infront of him, "Remus! Sirius! My old friends!"

He dashed towards them and wanted to push through them, but Sirius and Remus made him stumble backwards.

Pointing their wands at them they eyed Peter closely. The blond man let his gaze wander back and forth between the four teenagers.

"Harry! Annabeth! Look at you! You look so much like your father James. We were the best of friends-"", the man stated while he approached the two.

Suddenly Sirius jumped in-between them, "How dare you speak to Harry and Annabeth! How are you talk about James infront of them!"

Peter hid behind the piano, fear in his eyes while he looked at Remus and Sirius.

"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort!", Remus have him a disgusted look.

Peter began whining loudly, "I didn't mean to. The dark lord. You have no idea the weapond he possesses!"

He then turned towards Sirius, "Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?"

"I would've died! I would've died rather than betray my friends!", Black exclaimed, all his emotions bubbling up inside of him.

Peter ducked under the piano and wanted to make a run for it, but Harry stepped in-between him and the door.

Peter held onto Harry, a pleading look on his face. "Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed! You're dad would have spared me! He would have shown me mercy!"

Sirius and Remus pulled him off of Harry. "You should realized if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would! Together!"

"No!"

Annabeth's voice let Remus and Sirius stop. Remus looked to the ground, his wand pointed at Peter, "Annabeth, this man-"

"I know!", Annabeth stated while she stared at the two men. "But if you'll do this you can't go back. We'll take him to the castle."

Peter sunk to his knees while he gazed up to her, "Bless you, girl!"

"Shut up!", Annabeth shouted in Anger. "I have nothing but spite for you. As I said we take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you."