The Prisoner of Azkaban Read online

  ‘What?’ snapped Hermione, 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?’ said Harry.

  ‘No,’ said Hermione shortly. ‘Has either of you seen my copy of Numerology and Grammatica?’

  ‘Oh, yeah, I borrowed it for a bit of bedtime reading,’ said Ron, but very quietly. Hermione started shifting heaps of parchment around on her table, looking for the book. Just then, there was a rustle at the window and Hedwig fluttered through it, a note clutched tightly in her beak.

  ‘It’s from Hagrid,’ said Harry, ripping the note open. ‘Buckbeak’s appeal – it’s set for the sixth.’

  ‘That’s the day we finish our exams,’ said Hermione, still looking everywhere for her Arithmancy book.

  ‘And they’re coming up here to do it,’ said Harry, still reading from the letter. ‘Someone from the Ministry of Magic and – and an executioner.’

  Hermione looked up, startled.

  ‘They’re bringing the executioner to the appeal! But that sounds as though they’ve already decided!’

  ‘Yeah, it does,’ said Harry slowly.

  ‘They can’t!’ Ron howled. ‘I’ve spent ages reading up stuff for him, they can’t just ignore it all!’

  But Harry had a horrible feeling that the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures had had its mind made up for it by Mr Malfoy. Draco, who had been noticeably subdued since Gryffindor’s triumph in the Quidditch final, seemed to regain some of his old swagger over the next few days. From sneering comments Harry overheard, Malfoy was certain Buckbeak was going to be killed, and seemed thoroughly pleased with himself for bringing it about. It was all Harry could do to stop himself imitating Hermione and hitting Malfoy in the face on these occasions. And the worst thing of all was that they had no time or opportunity to go and see Hagrid, because the strict new security measures had not been lifted, and Harry didn’t dare retrieve his Invisibility Cloak from below the one-eyed witch.

  *

  Exam week began and an unnatural hush fell over the castle. The third-years emerged from Transfiguration at lunch-time 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. 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 had a spout for a tail, what a nightmare …’

  ‘Were the tortoises supposed to breathe steam?’

  ‘It still had a willow-patterned shell, d’you think that’ll count against me?’

  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. 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. 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 Harry, Ron and Hermione plenty of opportunity to speak to Hagrid.

  ‘Beaky’s gettin’ a bit depressed,’ Hagrid told them, bending low on the pretence of checking that Harry’s Flobberworm was still alive. ‘Bin cooped up too long. But still … we’ll know day after tomorrow – one way or the other.’

  They had Potions that afternoon, which was an unqualified disaster. Try as Harry might, he couldn’t get his Confusing Concoction to thicken, and Snape, standing watching with an air of vindictive pleasure, scribbled something 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 Harry scribbled everything Florean Fortescue had ever told him about medieval witch hunts, while wishing he could have had one of Fortescue’s choco-nut sundaes with him in the stifling classroom. Wednesday afternoon meant Herbology, in the greenhouses under a baking hot sun; then back to the common room once more, with the backs of their necks sunburnt, thinking longingly of this time next day, when it would all be over.

  Their second from last exam, on Thursday morning, was 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, where 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, Harry,’ Lupin muttered, as Harry climbed out of the trunk, grinning. ‘Full marks.’

  Flushed with his success, Harry hung around to watch Ron and Hermione. 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!’ said Lupin, startled. ‘What’s the matter?’

  ‘P-P-Professor McGonagall!’ Hermione gasped, pointing into the trunk. ‘Sh-she said I’d failed everything!’

  It took a little while to calm Hermione down. When at last she had regained a grip on herself, she, Harry and Ron went back to the castle. Ron was still slightly inclined to laugh at Hermione’s Boggart, but an argument was averted by the sight that met them on the top of the steps.

  Cornelius Fudge, sweating slightly in his pinstriped cloak, was standing there staring out at the grounds. He started at the sight of Harry.

  ‘Hello there, Harry!’ he said. ‘Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Harry. Hermione and Ron, not being on speaking terms with the Minister for Magic, hovered awkwardly in the background.

  ‘Lovely day,’ said Fudge, casting an eye over the lake. ‘Pity … pity …’

  He sighed deeply and looked down at Harry.

  ‘I’m here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad Hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in.’

  ‘Does that mean the appeal’s already happened?’ Ron interrupted, stepping forwards.

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

  ‘Then you might not have to witness an execution at all!’ said Ron stoutly. ‘The Hippogriff might get off!’

  Before Fudge 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 black moustache. Harry gathered that they were representatives of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, because the very old wizard squinted towards 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 fingering something in his belt; Harry looked and saw that he was running one broad thumb along the blade of a shining axe. Ron opened his mouth to say something, but Hermione nudged him hard in the ribs and jerked her head towards the Entrance Hall.

  ‘Why’d you stop me?’ said Ron angrily, as they entered the Great Hall for lunch. ‘Did you see them? They’ve even got the axe ready! This isn’t justice!’

  ‘Ron, your dad wor
ks for the Ministry. You can’t go saying things like that to his boss!’ said Hermione, but she, too, looked very upset. ‘As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can’t possibly execute Buckbeak …’

  But Harry could tell Hermione didn’t really believe what she was saying. All around them, people were talking excitedly as they ate their lunch, happily anticipating the end of exams that afternoon, but Harry, Ron and Hermione, lost in worry about Hagrid and Buckbeak, didn’t join in.

  Harry and Ron’s last exam was Divination; Hermione’s, Muggle Studies. They walked up the marble staircase together. Hermione left them on the first floor and Harry and Ron proceeded all the way up to the seventh, where many of their class were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney’s classroom, trying to cram in a bit of last-minute revision.

  ‘She’s seeing us all separately,’ Neville informed them, as they went to sit down next to him. He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal-gazing. ‘Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?’ he asked them unhappily.

  ‘Nope,’ said Ron, in an offhand voice. He kept checking his watch; Harry knew that he was counting down the time until Buckbeak’s appeal started.

  The queue of people outside the classroom shortened very slowly. As each person climbed back down the silver ladder, the rest of the class hissed, ‘What did she ask? Was it OK?’

  But they all refused to say.

  ‘She says the crystal ball’s told her that, if I tell you, I’ll have a horrible accident!’ squeaked Neville, as he clambered back down the ladder towards Harry and Ron, who had now reached the landing.

  ‘That’s convenient,’ snorted Ron. ‘You know, I’m starting to think Hermione was right about her’ (he jabbed his thumb towards the trapdoor overhead), ‘she’s a right old fraud.’

  ‘Yeah,’ said Harry, looking at his own watch. It was now two o’clock. ‘Wish she’d hurry up …’

  Parvati came back down the ladder glowing with pride.

  ‘She says I’ve got all the makings of a true Seer,’ she informed Harry and Ron. ‘I saw loads of stuff … well, good luck!’

  She hurried off down the spiral staircase towards Lavender.

  ‘Ronald Weasley,’ said the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Ron grimaced at Harry, and climbed the silver ladder out of sight. Harry was now the only person left to be tested. He settled himself on the floor with his back against the wall, listening to a fly buzzing in the sunny window, his mind across the grounds with Hagrid.

  Finally, after about twenty minutes, Ron’s large feet reappeared on the ladder.

  ‘How’d it go?’ Harry asked him, standing up.

  ‘Rubbish,’ said Ron. ‘Couldn’t see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don’t think she was convinced, though …’

  ‘Meet you in the common room,’ Harry muttered, as Professor Trelawney’s voice called, ‘Harry Potter!’

  The tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made Harry cough as he stumbled through the clutter of chairs and tables to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for him before a large crystal ball.

  ‘Good day, my dear,’ she said softly. ‘If you would kindly gaze into the Orb … take your time, now … then tell me what you see within it …’

  Harry bent over the crystal ball and stared, stared as hard as he could, willing it to show him something other than swirling white fog, but nothing happened.

  ‘Well?’ Professor Trelawney prompted delicately. ‘What do you see?’

  The heat was overpowering and his nostrils were stinging with the perfumed smoke wafting from the fire beside them. He thought of what Ron had just said, and decided to pretend.

  ‘Er –,’ said Harry, ‘a dark shape … um …’

  ‘What does it resemble?’ whispered Professor Trelawney. ‘Think, now …’

  Harry cast his mind around and it landed on Buckbeak.

  ‘A Hippogriff,’ he said firmly.

  ‘Indeed!’ whispered Professor Trelawney, scribbling keenly on the parchment perched upon her knees. ‘My boy, you may well be seeing the outcome of poor Hagrid’s trouble with the Ministry of Magic! Look closer … does the Hippogriff appear to … have its head?’

  ‘Yes,’ said Harry firmly.

  ‘Are you sure?’ Professor Trelawney urged him. ‘Are you quite sure, dear? You don’t see it writhing on the ground, perhaps, and a shadowy figure raising an axe behind it?’

  ‘No!’ said Harry, starting to feel slightly sick.

  ‘No blood? No weeping Hagrid?’

  ‘No!’ said Harry again, wanting more than ever to leave the room and the heat. ‘It looks fine, it’s – flying away …’

  Professor Trelawney sighed.

  ‘Well, dear, I think we’ll leave it there … a little disappointing … but I’m sure you did your best.’

  Relieved, Harry got up, picked up his bag and turned to go, but then a loud, harsh voice spoke behind him.

  ‘It will happen tonight.’

  Harry wheeled around. Professor Trelawney had gone rigid in her armchair; her eyes were unfocused and her mouth sagging.

  ‘S-sorry?’ said Harry.

  But Professor Trelawney didn’t seem to hear him. Her eyes started to roll. Harry stood there in a panic. She looked as though she was about to have some sort of seizure. He hesitated, thinking of running to the hospital wing – and then Professor Trelawney spoke again, in the same harsh voice, quite unlike her own:

  ‘The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight, the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant’s aid, greater and more terrible than ever before. Tonight … before midnight … the servant … will set out … to rejoin … his master …’

  Professor Trelawney’s head fell forwards onto her chest. She made a grunting sort of noise. Then, quite suddenly, her head snapped up again.

  ‘I’m so sorry, dear boy,’ she said dreamily. ‘The heat of the day, you know … I drifted off for a moment …’

  Harry stood there, still staring.

  ‘Is there anything wrong, my dear?’

  ‘You – you just told me that the – the Dark Lord’s going to rise again … that his servant’s going to go back to him …’

  Professor Trelawney looked thoroughly startled.

  ‘The Dark Lord? He Who Must Not Be Named? My dear boy, that’s hardly something to joke about … rise again, indeed …’

  ‘But you just said it! You said the Dark Lord –’

  ‘I think you must have dozed off too, dear!’ said Professor Trelawney. ‘I would certainly not presume to predict anything quite as far-fetched as that!’

  Harry climbed back down the ladder and the spiral staircase, wondering … had he just heard Professor Trelawney make a real prediction? Or had that been her idea of an impressive end to the test?

  Five minutes later he was dashing past the security trolls outside the entrance to Gryffindor Tower, Professor Trelawney’s words still resounding in his head. People were striding past him in the opposite direction, laughing and joking, heading for the grounds and a bit of long-awaited freedom; by the time he had reached the portrait hole and entered the common room, it was almost deserted. Over in a corner, however, sat Ron and Hermione.

  ‘Professor Trelawney,’ Harry panted, ‘just told me –’

  But he stopped abruptly at the sight of their faces.

  ‘Buckbeak lost,’ said Ron weakly. ‘Hagrid’s just sent this.’

  Hagrid’s note was dry this time, no tears had splattered it, yet his hand seemed to have shaken so much as he wrote that it was hardly legible.

  Lost appeal. They’re going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don’t come down. I don’t want you to see it.

  Hagrid />
  ‘We’ve got to go,’ said Harry at once. ‘He can’t just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!’

  ‘Sunset, though,’ said Ron, who was staring out of the window in a glazed sort of way. ‘We’d never be allowed … specially you, Harry …’

  Harry sank his head into his hands, thinking.

  ‘If we only had the Invisibility Cloak …’

  ‘Where is it?’ said Hermione.

  Harry told her about leaving it in the passageway under the one-eyed witch.

  ‘… if Snape sees me anywhere near there again, I’m in serious trouble,’ he finished.

  ‘That’s true,’ said Hermione, getting to her feet. ‘If he sees you … how do you open the witch’s hump again?’

  ‘You – you tap it and say, “Dissendium”,’ said Harry. ‘But –’

  Hermione didn’t wait for the rest of his sentence; she strode across the room, pushed the Fat Lady’s portrait open and vanished from sight.

  ‘She hasn’t gone to get it?’ Ron said, staring after her.

  She had. Hermione returned a quarter of an hour later with the silvery Cloak folded carefully under her robes.

  ‘Hermione, I don’t know what’s got into you lately!’ said Ron, astounded. ‘First you hit Malfoy, then you walk out on Professor Trelawney –’

  Hermione looked rather flattered.

  *

  They went down to dinner with everybody else, but did not return to Gryffindor Tower afterwards. Harry had the Cloak hidden down the front of his robes; he had to keep his arms folded to hide the lump. They skulked in an empty chamber off the Entrance Hall, listening, until they were sure it was deserted. They heard a last pair of people hurrying across the Hall, and a door slamming. Hermione poked her head around the door.

  ‘OK,’ she whispered, ‘no one there – Cloak on –’

  Walking very close together so that nobody would see them, they crossed the Hall on tiptoe beneath the Cloak, then walked down the stone front steps into the grounds. The sun was already sinking behind the Forbidden Forest, gilding the top branches of the trees.