Change the Future

POA 15

Before long Rory noticed the sun was already sinking behind the Forbidden Forest. There was a knock on Hagrid's cabin door. He looked at Rory quickly as she hid behind the curtain.

"It's us," Harry said as Rory came out from her hiding place. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered, but he stood back, and they stepped inside. Hagrid shut the door quickly as Harry pulled off the cloak looking at Rory. Hagrid 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.

"Rory what are you doing here and where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione said hesitantly.

"I mean she's allowed there if you are" Barty Crouch Jr said looking at Hermione who shrunk slightly in her seat after watching her past self.

"You do realise I visit Hagrid a lot right Hermione just never with you lot" Rory glares at her.

"Rory gets pissed at Hermione a few times this night" Ron told everyone.

"I.. I took him outside," Hagrid said, spilling milk all over the table as he filled up the jug. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought heoughta see the trees an' an' smell fresh air" 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," Hermione said 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, who looked back hopelessly.

"Isn't there anything anyone can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked fiercely, sitting down next to him. "Dumbledore"

"He's tried," Hagrid told him. "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. threatened 'em, I expect. an' thee xecutioner, Macnair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's but it'll be quickan' 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 Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh out without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble you to Aurora." Silent tears were now streaming down Hermione's face, but she tried to hide them from Hagrid, bustling around making tea. 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!" Hagrid suddenly stood up, his eyes fixed on the window. His normally ruddy face had gone the colour of parchment.