𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐍 | 𝘍𝘳𝘦𝘥 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘺

Chapter 44 - Black Theatrics

Suddenly, a large handful of mud began to float behind the three unsuspecting Slytherins. Betelgeuse narrowed her eyes.

"We were just discussing your friend Hagrid," Draco kept talking. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his Hippogriff's —"

SPLAT!

Draco's head jerked forward as the mud hit him; his silver blond hair was suddenly dripping in mud. "What the —?"

Betelgeuse's eyes widened. Ron had to hold onto the fence to keep himself standing; he was laughing so hard. Draco and the two other Slytherins spun on the spot, staring wildly around, "What was that? Who did that?"

"Very haunted up here, isn't it?" Ron asked, with the air of one commenting on the weather. Crabbe and Goyle were looking scared. Draco was staring madly around at the deserted landscape.

SPLATTER!

The two Slytherin gargoyles caught some this time.

"It came from over there!" Draco yelled, wiping his face and staring at a spot some six feet from him. One of his goons blundered forward, his long arms outstretched.

Betelgeuse saw a stick raise from the ground and lobbed itself at the boy's back. The muscled Slytherin started toward Ron but stumbled — Betelgeuse's mouth fell open as his huge, flat foot caught the hem of something akin to an invisible barrier. Harry's face was revealed at once.

An Invisible cloak!

Her fascinated stare was broken when her cousin emitted a shrill yell and turned tail and ran, at breakneck speed, back down the hill, Crabbe and Goyle behind him.

Potter tugged the cloak up again, but the damage was done.

Betelgeuse advanced on the two younger Gryffindors.

"Wondrous," she breathed, leaning forward into space where Harry's head had been. "Potter, you truly possess an Invisible Cloak? I find that remarkable."

Ron covered his mouth to hide his shock, "Bel, space!" he said.

"What?" Betelgeuse turned to the red-haired boy as if suddenly realising another person was present.

"You're invading it," Ron explained, as Harry lose the cloak around his head. Betelgeuse was indeed very close to the boy. "Oh? I do apologise, Potter."

"Harry!" Ron hurriedly spoke, "you'd better run for it! If Malfoy tells anyone — you'd better get back to the castle, quick —"

"See you later," Harry replied.

"I will accompany you, Potter," Betelgeuse added, and without another word, she tore back down the path toward Hogsmeade. She marched into Honeydukes, down the cellar steps, across the stone floor, through the trapdoor — Betelgeuse saw Harry pull off the cloak, tuck it under his arm, and ran with her along the passage.

They did not slow down until they reached the stone slide.

"Leave your cloak here, Potter," Betelgeuse ordered. He hid it in a shadowy corner, then started to climb, fast as he could, after the older girl. Betelgeuse reached the inside of the witch's hump, tapped it with her wand, stuck her head through, and hoisted herself out; the hump closed, and just as Harry jumped out from behind the statue, they heard quick footsteps approaching. It was Snape.

He approached the two Gryffindors at a swift walk, his black robes swishing, then stopped in front of them. "So," he said. There was a look of suppressed triumph about him. "Come with me, Potter. Black if you may," Snape said.