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rom a joke shop 〃
〃Indeed？〃 said Snape。 His jaw had gone rigid with anger。 〃You think a joke shop could supply him with such a thing？ You don't think it more likely that he got it directly from the manufacturers？〃
Harry didn't understand what Snape was talking about。 Nor； apparently； did Lupin。
〃You mean； by Mr。 Wormtail or one of these people？〃 he said。 〃Harry； do you know any of these men？〃
〃No；〃 said Harry quickly。
〃You see； Severus？〃 said Lupin； turning back to Snape。 〃It looks like a Zonko product to me 〃
Right on cue； Ron came bursting into the office。 He was pletely out of breath； and stopped just short of Snape's desk； clutching the stitch in his chest and trying to speak。
〃I gave Harry that stuff；〃 he choked。 〃Bought it。。。 in Zonko's。。。 ages ago。。。〃
〃Well！〃 said Lupin； clapping his hands together and looking around cheerfully。 〃That seems to clear that up！ Severus； I'll take this back； shall I？〃 He folded the map and tucked it inside his robes。 〃Harry； Ron； e with me； I need a word about my vampire essay excuse us； Severus 〃
Harry didn't dare look at Snape as they left his office。 He。 Ron； and Lupin walked all the way back into the entrance hall before speaking。 Then Harry turned to Lupin。
〃Professor； I 〃
〃I don't want to hear explanations；〃 said Lupin shortly。 He glanced around the empty entrance hall and lowered his voice。 〃I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr。 Filch many years ago。 Yes； I know it' s a map；〃 he said as Harry and Ron looked amazed。 〃I don't want to know how it fell into your possession。 I am； however； astounded that you didn't hand it in。 Particularly after what happened the last time a student left information about the castle lying around。 And I can't let you have it back； Harry。〃
Harry had expected that； and was too keen for explanations to protest。
〃Why did Snape think I'd got it from the manufacturers？〃
〃Because。。。；〃 Lupin hesitated； 〃because these mapmakers would have wanted to lure you out of school。 They'd think it extremely entertaining。〃
〃Do you know them？〃 said Harry； impressed。
〃We've met；〃 he said shortly。 He was looking at Harry more seriously than ever before。
〃Don't expect me to cover up for you again； Harry。 I cannot make you take Sirius Black seriously。 But I would have thought that what you have heard when the dementors draw near you would have had more of an effect on you。 Your parents gave their lives to keep you alive； Harry。 A poor way to repay them gambling their sacrifice for a bag of magic tricks。〃
He walked away； leaving Harry feeling worse by far than he had at any point in Snape's office。 Slowly； he and Ron mounted the marble staircase。 As Harry passed the one…eyed witch； he remembered the Invisibility Cloak it was still down there； but he didn't dare go and get it。
〃It's my fault；〃 said Ron abruptly。 〃I persuaded you to go。 Lupin's right； it was stupid； we shouldn't've done it 〃
He broke off； they reached the corridor where the security trolls were pacing； and Hermione was walking toward them。 One look at her face convinced Harry that she had heard what had happened。 His heart plummeted had she told Professor McGonagall？
〃e to have a good gloat？〃 said Ron savagely as she stopped in front of them。 〃Or have you just been to tell on us？〃
〃No；〃 said Hermione。 She was holding a letter in her hands and her lip was trembling。 〃I just thought you ought to know。。。 Hagrid lost his case。 Buckbeak is going to be executed。〃
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE QUIDDITCH FINAL
He sent me this；〃 Hermione said； holding out the letter。
Harry took it。 The parchment was damp； and enormous teardrops had smudged the ink so badly in places that it was very difficult to read。
Dear Hermione； We lost。 I'm allowed to bring him back to Hogwarts。 Execution date to be fixed。 Beaky has enjoyed London。 I won't forget all the help you gave us。
Hagrid
〃They can't do this；〃 said Harry。 〃They can't。 Buckbeak isn't dangerous。〃
〃Malfoy's dad's frightened the mittee into it；〃 said Hermione； wiping her eyes。 〃You know what he's like。 They're a bunch of doddery old fools； and they were scared。 There'll be an appeal； though； there always is。 Only I can't see any hope。。。。 Nothing will have changed。〃
〃Yeah； it will；〃 said Ron fiercely。 〃You won't have to do all the work alone this time； Hermione。 I'll help。〃
〃Oh； Ron！〃
Hermione flung her arms around Ron's neck and broke down pletely。 Ron； looking quite terrified； patted her very awkwardly on the top of the head。 Finally； Hermione drew away。
〃Ron； I'm really； really sorry about Scabbers。。。〃 she sobbed。
〃Oh well he was old；〃 said Ron； looking thoroughly relieved that she had let go of him。 〃And he was a bit useless。 You never know； Mum and Dad might get me an owl now。〃
The safety measures imposed on the students since Black's second break…in made it impossible for Harry； Ron； and Hermione to go and visit Hagrid in the evenings。 Their only chance of talking to him was during Care of Magical Creatures lessons。
He seemed numb with shock at the verdict。
〃S'all my fault。 Got all tongue…tied。 They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me； Hermione。 An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit； and the mittee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em。。。。〃
〃There's still the appeal！〃 said Ron fiercely。 〃Don't give up Yet； we're working on it！〃
They were walking back up to the castle with the rest of the class。 Ahead they could see Malfoy； who was walking with Crabbe and Goyle； and kept looking back； laughing derisively。
〃S'no good； Ron；〃 said Hagrid sadly as they reached the castle steps。 〃That mittee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket。 I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had。 I owe him that。。。。〃
Hagrid turned around and hurried back toward his cabin； his face buried in his handkerchief。
〃Look at him blubber！〃
Malfoy； Crabbe； and Goyle had been standing just inside the castle doors； listening。
〃Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic？〃 said Malfoy。 〃And he's supposed to be our teacher！〃
Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy； but Hermione got there first SMACK！
She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster。 Malfoy staggered。 Harry； Ron； Crabbe； and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again。
〃Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic； you foul you evil 〃
〃Hermione！〃 said Ron weakly； and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back。
〃Get off； Ron！〃
Hermione pulled out her wand。 Malfoy stepped backward。 Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions； thoroughly bewildered。
〃C'mon；〃 Malfoy muttered； and in a moment； all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons。
〃Hermione！〃 Ron said again； sounding both stunned and irnpressed。
〃Harry； you'd better beat him in the Quidditch final！〃 Hermione said shrilly。 〃You just better had； because I can't stand it if Slytherin wins！〃
〃We're due in Charms；〃 said Ron； still goggling at Hermione。 〃We'd better go。〃
They hurried up the marble staircase toward Professor Flitwick's classroom。
〃You're late； boys！〃 said Professor Flitwick reprovingly as Harry opened the classroom door。 〃e along； quickly； wands out； we're experimenting with Cheering Charms today； we've already divided into pairs 〃
Harry and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags。 Ron looked behind him。
〃Where's Hermione gone？〃
Harry looked around too。 Hermione hadn't entered the classroom； yet Harry knew she had been right next to him when he had opened the door。
〃That's weird；〃 said Harry； staring at Ron。 〃Maybe maybe she went to the bathroom or something？〃
But Hermione didn't turn up all lesson。
〃She could've done with a Cheering Charm on her too；〃 said Ron as the class left for lunch； all grinning broadly the Cheering Charms had left them with a feeling of great contentment。
Hermione wasn't at lunch either。 By the time they had finished their apple pie； the after…effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off； and Harry and Ron had started to get slightly worried。
〃You don't think Malfoy did something to her？〃 Ron said anxiously as they hurried upstairs toward Gryffindor Tower。
They passed the security trolls； gave the Fat Lady the password （〃Flibbertigibbet〃）； and scrambled through the portrait hole into the mon room。
Hermione was sitting at a table； fast asleep； her head resting on an open Arithmancy book。 They went to sit down on either side of her。 Harry prodded her awake。
〃Wh what？〃 said Hermione； waking with a start and staring wildly around。 〃Is it time to go？ W which lesson have we got now？〃
〃Divination； but it's not for another twenty minutes；〃 said Harry。 〃Hermione； why didn't you e to Charms？〃
〃What？ Oh no！〃 Hermione squeaked。 〃I forgot to go to Charms！〃
〃But how could you forget？〃 said Harry。 〃You were with us till we were right outside the classroom！〃
〃I don't believe it！〃 Hermione wailed。 〃Was Professor Flitwick angry？ Oh； it was Malfoy； I was thinking about him and I lost track of things！〃
〃You know what； Hermione？〃 said Ron； looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow。 〃I reckon you're cracking up。 You're trying to do too much。〃
〃No； I'm not！〃 said Hermione； brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag。 〃I just made a mistake； that's all！ I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry。。。 I'll see you in Divination！〃
Hermione joined them at the foot of the ladder to Professor Trelawneys classroom twenty minutes later； looking extremely harrassed。
〃I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms！ And I bet they e up in our exams； Professor Flitwick hinted they might！〃
Together they climbed the ladder into the dim； stifling tower room。 Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist。 Harry； Ron； and Hermione sat down together at the same rickety table。
〃I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term；〃 Ron muttered； casting a wary eye around for Professor Trelawney； in case she was lurking nearby。
〃Don't plain； this means we've finished palmistry；〃 Harry muttered back。 〃I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my hands。〃
〃Good day to you！〃 said the familiar； misty voice； and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows。 Parvati and Lavender quivered with excitement； their faces lit by the milky glow of their crystal ball。
〃I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned；〃 said Professor Trelawney； sitting with her back to the fire and gazing around。 〃The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb； and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice。〃
Hermione snorted。
〃Well； honestly。。。 'the fates have informed her' who sets the exam？ She does！ What an amazing prediction！〃 she said； not troubling to keep her voice low。 Harry and Ron choked back laughs。
It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face was hidden in shadow。 She continued； however； as though she had not。
〃Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art；〃 she said dreamily。 〃I do not expect any of you to See when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths。 We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes〃 Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise 〃so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious。 Perhaps； if we are lucky； some of you will see before the end of the class。〃
And so they began。 Harry； at least； felt extremely foolish； staring blankly at the crystal ball； trying to keep his mind empty when thoughts such as 〃this is stupid〃 kept drifting across it。 It didn't help that Ron kept breaking into silent giggles and Hermione kept tutting。
〃Seen anything yet？〃 Harry asked them after a quarter of an hour's quiet crystal gazing。
〃Yeah； there's a burn on this table；〃 said Ron； pointing。 〃Someone's spilled their candle。〃
〃This is such a waste of time；〃 Hermione hissed。 〃I could be practicing something useful。 I could be catching up on Cheering Charms 〃
Professor Trelawney rustled past。
〃Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb？〃 she murmured over the clinking of her bangles。
I don't need help；〃 Ron whispered。 〃It's obvious what this means。 There's going to be loads of fog tonight。〃
Both Harry and Hermione burst out laughing。
〃Now； really！〃 said Professor Trelawney as everyone's heads turned in their direction。 Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized。 〃You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations！〃 She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball。 Harry felt his heart sinking。 He was sure he knew what was ing
〃There is something here！〃 Professor Trelawney whispered； lowerng her face to the ball； so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses。 〃Something moving