CHAPTER TEN:

Third Person P.O.V.:

In an attempt to not get too worried over Trelawney's prediction, Harry 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 that Gryffindor needed to win the match by more than that amount to win the Cup. It also meant that the burden of winning fell largely on Harry. Charlie would help by scoring as many points as he could, of course, but ultimately it would come down to Harry catching the Snitch.

The whole of Gryffindor House was obsessed with the idea of winning the match. Gryffindor hadn't won the Quidditch Cup since the legendary Jack Weasley, Ron's second oldest brother, had been Seeker. So naturally, the enmity between Malfoy versus Charlie and Harry, was at an all time high.

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.

Charlie or Harry couldn't walk to class without Slytherins sticking out their legs and trying to trip them; Crabbe and Goyle kept popping up wherever they went, and slouching away looking disappointed when they saw them surrounded by people.

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 wand and muttering to himself, Angelina and Katie were laughing at Fred's and George's jokes. Charlie was sitting with Harry, 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.

Charlie looked up to her and smiled slightly, unaware of what to respond with. He looked to Harry and could practically see the boy's stomach writhing.

"We've got this," Charlie muttered, loud enough for his friends to hear, but he didn't know if he was saying it for them or himself.

Harry nodded, convincingly, "Yeah..."

It came as a relief when Wood suddenly stood up and yelled, "Team! Bed!"

After getting a good night's sleep for the first time in ages, Charlie awoke the next morning feeling ready for the match than he had ever been. He quickly got ready before waking up Harry.

Harry, Charlie and the rest of the Gryffindor team entered the Great Hall that day to enormous applause. Charlie couldn't help grinning broadly as he saw that both the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff tables were applauding them too. The Slytherin table hissed loudly as they passed. The brown eyed boy also noticed that Malfoy looked even paler than usual.

Wood 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 left the Great Hall, everyone applauded again.

"Good luck, Harry!" called Cho Chang as they were about to leave.

Harry felt himself blushing to which Charlie, of course, had to poke fun at - they were like brothers after all.

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

As he left the room, Charlie gasped in awe as the stadium had already been filled with hundreds and hundreds of students from each House standing in support. He could see the brief outline of his grandfather in the staff stands in the far distance to which he smiled - Dumbledore hadn't missed one of his grandson's matches.

The brown eyed 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 Charlie as though she knew of the effect she had on him.

"What are you doing back here?" the boy inquired.

"I wanted to see how you were doing before the match started," Hermione explained as she moved closer to him.

Charlie smiled softly, "I'm okay, all things considered. I think we can win this."

"Well," Hermione pursed her lips, "Guess you won't be needing any extra luck then."

Charlie 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 sweet and lingering peck on the cheek.

Charlie's entire body froze for moment as heat flushed his face. His heart was beating faster than it should've been.

You know, for a girl who wanted to remain friends, she sure was sending some mixed signals in the boy's direction, but he seriously couldn't complain.

The brown eyed 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 we're 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 mimicked him with a smirk, "you know, just in case."

Before Charlie had time to process, she ran off towards the Gryffindor stands with a small, flirtatious laugh.

God, that girl was going to be the death of him -

--------------

Whatever effect Hermione had on Charlie seemed to pay off because the brown eyed boy was unstoppable on the Quidditch pitch.

He was scoring points left and right, and had single handily set up Gryffindor with a sixty point lead - all Harry had to do was catch the Snitch. It wasn't easy however, Slytherin were playing dirty.

On multiple occasions, Charlie had to calm himself down before he would snap on the Slytherin Beaters for blatantly attacking him, sometimes, when he didn't even have the Quaffle in his hand.

Nonetheless, the Beaters targeting Charlie allowed Angelina the opportunity to score, increasing the sixty point lead as the score was now ninety to twenty.

Harry and Charlie shared a happy glance from across the pitch as Angelina scored.

"Go! Go! Go!" Charlie urged his friend - if he caught that Snitch, they won.

Harry was gaining on Malfoy - he flattened himself to the broom handle as Bole sent a Bludger at him - he was at Malfoy's ankles - he was level -

Harry threw himself forward, took both hands off his broom. He knocked Malfoy's arm out of the way and -

"YES!"

He pulled out of his dive, his hand in the air, and the stadium exploded. Harry 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.

Wood was speeding toward him, half-blinded by tears; Charlie immediately flew over and seized Harry around the neck and shouted excitedly into his shoulder. The boys felt two large thumps as Fred and George jumped on them; then there were the sounds of Angelina and Katie's voices, "We've won the Cup! We've won the Cup!"

Tangled together in a many-armed hug, the Gryffindor team sank, yelling hoarsely, back to earth.

Wave upon wave of crimson supporters was pouring over the barriers onto the field. Hands were raining down on their backs. Then Charlie, and the rest of the team, were hoisted onto the shoulders of the crowd. Thrust into the light, he saw Hagrid, Plastered with crimson rosettes - "Yeh beat 'em, Charlie and Harry, yeh beat 'em! Wait till I tell Buckbeak!"

There was Percy, jumping up and down like a maniac, all dignity forgotten. Professor McGonagall was sobbing harder even than Wood, wiping her eyes with an enormous Gryffindor flag; and there, fighting their way toward Harry and Charlie, were Ron and Hermione. Words failed them.

Without saying anything, Charlie landed on his feet and pulled Hermione 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 Ron and Harry practically jumped on them in celebration.

Everyone simply beamed as Charlie and Harry were borne towards the stands, where Dumbledore stood waiting with the enormous Quidditch Cup.

Albus placed the Cup in his grandson's hands and watched with the happiest expression as Charlie gave one side to Harry before they both hoisted the Cup into the air, the crowd below them going crazy.

They did it, they actually did it!

God, too bad there weren't any Dementors around. In that moment, both, Charlie and Harry could've easily produced the world's largest Patronus.

--------------

The euphoria of 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.

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

"What?" snapped Hermione, picking up the exam schedule and examining it. "Yes, of course I have."

"Is there any point in asking how you're going to sit for two exams at once?" chuckled Charlie, softly.

"No," said Hermione, but her face softened when she realized it was his voice, and softly smiled in his direction. Things were back to normal between them, finally.

The bushy haired girl then addressed the three 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," said Ron, but very quietly. Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment, completely unaware that Harry and Charlie were trying to muffle their laughter.

----------------

Harry, Charlie, Ron, and Hermione, regardless of their exams, made plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid, especially with Buckbeak's execution approaching.

Even though he spent majority of his time with Hagrid, Charlie managed to successfully pass all of his exams. Although he didn't want to admit it, the brown eyed boy was particularly skilled when it came his school-work. Granted, he wasn't as good as Hermione, but he still exceeded expectations, if not, achieving higher.

After his final exam, the brown eyed boy decided to visit his grandfather while he waited for his friends to finish theirs.

He walked through the castle with a content smile. When he passed his fellow students, Charlie would greet them as he always did, however, it surprised him when a particular girl had stopped him to say hello.

As he was walking up a flight of stairs, Romilda Vane, a third-year Gryffindor girl, had moved in front of him, "Hey Charlie."

The boy was taken aback as he had just witnessed the girl blatantly walk away from the conversation she was having with Lavender Brown upon his arrival.

Nonetheless, he plastered an awkward smile on his face as he said, "Hi."

"I just wanted to say," Romilda spoke in a quite flirtatious tone as she walked closer to him, "that I thought you were absolutely brilliant in the Quidditch final, incredibly brilliant, in fact."

Charlie froze for a moment, unaware of what to say. After a second, he settled on, "Thanks, I guess."

Before Romilda had the chance to further pursue him, Charlie had excused himself from the conversation as he felt the utmost awkward. He kept walking up the stairs in the direction of his grandfather's office, but could hear the faint, excited squeals of Romilda and Lavender as he ascended.

When he was out of sight from the girls, he shook his head in disbelief as he approached the office. Sure, Romilda Vane was undoubtedly attractive... but she wasn't -

His thoughts were cut short as the door to his grandfather's office opened in an incredible haste. Out stepped his father, in his usual pin-striped suit and bowler hat, with his grandfather, in his famous purple robes, following quickly behind him.

"Hello there, Charles." His father said as he took in the sight of him. "Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"

"I'm done, actually," said Charlie simply, but he couldn't help but narrow his eyes.

What was his dad doing here?

"Lovely day," said Fenwick, with a twisted smile on his face. "Pity... pity..."

Dumbledore sighed deeply before looking down at his grandson. Charlie could see the pain behind his eyes.

This can't be good -

"Your father is here on an unpleasant mission, Charles. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of Buckbeak. As Fenwick needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, he was asked to step in."

Charlie's face fell, "The execution is set for today?"

"Indeed," said Fenwick, proudly. "Once we've got this god-forsaken beast out of the way, we can get back to the real criminal at large - Sirius Black."

"You can't do this." said Charlie stoutly, before attempting to plead, "Please, father. I've never asked for anything until today. Please don't kill Buckbeak, he's innocent! Malfoy's actions are unjus-"

"I'd watch your tone about one of my dear, colleagues, Charles." Fenwick warned as his eyes narrowed towards his son. "The Committee's word is final. The execution is happening today, whether you like it or not. I will not allow myself or the Ministry to suffer the consequences of another unauthorized attack-"

"But Hagrid-"

"Is lucky to still have a job!" dismissed Fenwick, very sternly, cutting his son off completely. "I mean it, Charles. You are well out of your jurisdiction. Run along now, before you say something you are sure to regret. As I can assure you, that there are consequences if you choose to defend that foul creature again."

Charlie cowered, but still looked up to his grandfather to plead with his eyes.

Before Dumbledore could answer, two wizards came through the castle doors behind him. One was so ancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin back mustache.

Charlie 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, Hawthorne?"

The black-mustached man was caressing something on his belt; Charlie looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe.

The brown eyed boy opened his mouth to say something, but Fenwick was quick to scold him once again, "Not another word."

With that, Fenwick went to address the two men at the door, leaving Charlie standing next to his grandfather.

Dumbledore spoke up when Fenwick was well out of hearing distance, "I'm sorry, Charles."

The boy simply shook his head in disbelief as he met his grandfather's eyes, muttering sadly, "This isn't justice."

Then, Charlie turned on his heel and ran out of the corridor towards the Gryffindor common room. He hadn't stopped running since the corridor, so when he got through the portrait door, he was out of breath as he stood in front of his three friends, who were coincidentally sitting by the fireplace.

"Charlie?" Hermione said startled, as she noticed the boy's state and quickly got off of the couch to comfort him, "What happened?"

The boy shrugged her off gently as he addressed the three of them, "We have to go see Hagrid. Buckbeak's execution is happening now."

Harry, Hermione, and Ron's faces had fallen as Charlie quickly darted out of the room once more. The three of them shared a worried glance before running out after their friend.

The four Gryffindors 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.

It didn't take long for the four of them to continue on their way. Charlie led Harry, Ron, and Hermione 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."

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

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

The brown eyed boy groaned, "Yeah, and it just got worse."

Harry, Charlie, 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 head?" Draco joked before turning and looking up at the Gryffindor's who were standing behind him. "Ah. Come to see the show have you?"

Before Charlie even realized it, Hermione had barrelled towards Draco with her wand in hand, "You... foul... loathsome... evil... little cockroach!"

Malfoy stumbled back up against one of the trees, closed-eyed out of fear as Hermione jabbed the tip of her wand under his chin.

"Hermione! No!" Ron yelled, "He's not worth it."

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

WHAM!

Quick as lightning, Hermione landed a looping right hook to Malfoy's jaw, putting him flat on his back.

(A/N: had to do it lol)

Stunned, Malfoy leapt to his feet, held his face, and ran back through the castle. Not long after, Crabbe, Goyle, and Zabini followed him, huffing and puffing in disbelief.

Hermione smiled victoriously as she watched them walk off, "That felt good."

Charlie stared at her in the utmost awe. If he hadn't fallen for her before, he sure as hell was now. That was probably the most amazing thing the boy had ever seen - wow.

"Not just good," he said in a tone that was a mix of stun and awe, "That was brilliant."

----------------

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?" inquired Charlie hesitantly.

"I - I took him outside," said Hagrid, 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," said Hermione 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. Harry glanced at Ron and Charlie, who both looked back hopelessly.

"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... 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 Minister Hawthorne an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, yeh'll be in big trouble, 'specially yeh, Char."

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

"Ron, 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?"

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 okay, Scabbers!" said Ron. "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 Charlie 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 Charlie was looking at. Hagrid's normally ruddy face had gone the color of parchment.

"They're comin'..."

Harry, Ron, and Hermione whipped around to join Charlie in his gaze out the window.

A group of men were walking down the distant castle steps. In front was Dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. Next to him trotted Fenwick Hawthorne. Behind them came the feeble old Committee member and the executioner, Macnair.

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

Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket instantly, while Charlie shared a glance with Hermione, who was looking sadder than ever.

"I'll let yeh out the back way," said Hagrid.

They followed him to the door into his back garden. Charlie 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. Charlie 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 Harry, Charlie 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 -"

"Go!" said Hagrid fiercely. "It's bad enough without you 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.

Charlie clenched his jaw as he heard his father give his grand speech to Hagrid as to why Buckbeak had to be executed. The brown eyed 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.

Charlie looked at him 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 four of their heads snapped towards the shuffling of the adults in Hagrid's Hut.

However, Charlie 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?" Charlie whispered.

"Nothing..." Hermione whispered, glancing between Charlie and the branches, "I thought I just saw... never mind."

Before the adults got the chance to spot them, Harry nudged his friends forward to move back towards the castle, but Charlie didn't move.

He didn't want to leave Buckbeak.

He couldn't.

He had to do something.

He had to -

"Please, Charlie," 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.

He looked at Buckbeak one last time.

I'm sorry, Charlie thought as he let Hermione pull him forward.

The four Gryffindors 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 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," Ron hissed.

They heard a door open behind them and men's voices.

"Ron, we have to move, they're going to do it." Harry breathed.

"Okay - Scabbers, stay put -"

They walked forward; Charlie, 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. "I'd - don't believe it - they did it!"

Charlie 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 her arms wrapped around his neck.

Soon enough, Harry had leaned on Hermione to comfort her further, while Ron put a comforting hand on Charlie's shoulder. The four of them looked down in disbelief...

(A/N: Who's Ron? I only know Charlie...)

All four of them couldn't hold back the tears.

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Author's Note:
*this chapter was not proof read*

Only two chapters left of Prisoner of Azkaban! Hope you're enjoying it!

I'm so excited for Goblet of Fire 😈

[insert begging of votes, comments and shares]

Love you guys! Thanks for the support! Until next time!

xo, Selena