she was in high spirits as may began to blend into june. the second to last exam, on thursday morning, was defense 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 while ignoring misleading directions from a hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with anew boggart.

"excellent, elara," lupin muttered as she climbed out of the trunk, grinning. "full marks."

harry and elara 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 init. 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,the four 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. elara, hermione and ron, not being on speaking terms with the minister of 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?" elara interrupted, stepping forward.

"elara lestrange! it's been twelve years! you know, i was part of the wizengamot that ruled your aunt andromeda as your primary guardian. but no, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon." fudge said, looking curiously at elara.

"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 soancient he appeared to be withering before their very eyes; the other was tall and strapping, with a thin back mustache. harry 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, fudge?"

the black-mustached man was fingering something in his belt; elara 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 toward 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 works 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 elara 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 the exams that afternoon, but elara, harry, ron, and hermione, lost in worry about hagrid and buckbeak, didn't join in.

harry's, ron's and elara's last exam was divination; hermione's, muggle studies. they walked up the marble staircase together; hermione left them on the first floor and the trio 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 studying.

"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 any 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; elara and harry knew that he was counting down the time until buckbeak's appeal started.

the line 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 okay?"

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 toward elara, 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 toward the trapdoor overhead — "she's a right old fraud."

"yeah," said harry, looking at his own watch.

"what's the time?" elara asked nervously, peering over harry's shoulder as best she could.

"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 the trio. "i saw loads of stuff... well, good luck!"

she hurried off down the spiral staircase toward lavender.

"ronald weasley," said the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. ron grimaced at harry and elara, then climbed the silver ladder out of sight.

the duo were now the only people left to be tested. they settled themselves on the floor with their backs against the wall, listening to a fly buzzing in the sunny window. they chatted idly about hagrid, voicing their concerns.

"rubbish," said ron. "couldn't see a thing, so i made some stuff up. don't think she was convinced, though..."

"see you in the common room," elara waved as professor trelawney's voice called, "elara lestrange!"

elara cast a look at harry as she began to climb the ladder. the tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made elara cough as she stumbled through the clutter of chairs and table to where professor trelawney sat waiting for her 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..."

elara stared at the crystal ball, and much to her surprise, she saw many shapes. it took a little to decipher, and professor trelawney grew impatient.

"well?" professor trelawney prompted delicately. "what do you see?"

the heat was overpowering and her nostrils were stinging with the perfumed smoke wafting from the fire beside them.

"there's two wolf-like figures... merlin, they're fighting!"

"indeed!" whispered professor trelawney, scribbling keenly on the parchment perched upon her knees. "continue on...."

the fog inside the glass swirled again, and this time, almost hundred of figures appeared in the ball. elara drew a breath, catching professor trelawney's attention.

"what? what do you see?" she asked almost breathlessly

"dementors." elara gazed into the ball with wide eyes. "hundreds of them."

"my dear, you may very well be seeing the capture of sirius black! look closer, do you see them surrounding a man?"

five shadowy figures appeared slowly in the ball. three men, two women. "i see... five people."

professor trelawney scribbled vigorously on her piece of parchment. "i have not sensed such a magnificent aura as yours, elara. you will do great things in the future... great things."

elara climbed back down the ladder to find harry dozed off, leaning against a statue. she prodded him awake. he started, looking around wildly.

"did you see anything?"

"surprisingly, yes. do you want me to wait for you?" elara added as professor trelawney called for harry.

"uh, sure. i'll be down soon." harry had a funny look on his face as he climbed up to meet professor trelawney.

elara settled in the spot harry was just sitting and began to mess with her hair. it was no easy feat, but she was able to plait her wild black curls into two dutch braids by the time harry clambered back down the ladder.

he looked disheveled and panicked.

"harry? what's happened?"

"we have to find ron and hermoine. now." his words rushed out and he spent no time explaining before he grabbed elara's hand and tugged her after him as he dashed towards the gryffindor tower.

"you're making me worried! what happened with trelawney?" elara's voice had a slight edge to it and harry yanked her around corners and through students.

"she made a real prediction, i'm sure of it. she talked about voldemort -- " harry stopped his explanation to tell the fat lady the password.

harry pulled elara into the common room with him. it was almost deserted. over in the corner, however, sat ron and hermione. harry tugged elara over to them, and she stumbled quite a bit trying to get over to her two friends.

"professor trelawney," harry panted, "just told me —"

but he stopped abruptly at the sight of their faces. elara wanted to know why harry just pulled elara along with him at a sprint for five minutes, but ron and hermoine looked absolutely dejected.

"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 elara at once. "he can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"

"sunset, though," said ron, who was staring out the window ill 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 them 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 open the fat lady's portrait 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 gotten, 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 afterward. 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. elara poked her head around the door.

"okay," 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.

they reached hagrid's cabin and knocked. he was a minute in answering, and when he did, he looked all around for his visitor, pale-faced and trembling.

"it's us," harry hissed. "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 and harry pulled off the cloak.

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?" said hermione 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 allover the floor.

"why don't i make the tea, hagrid?" elara spoke up reassuringly, getting up to clean the mess.

"there's another one in the cupboard," hagrid said, sitting down and wiping his forehead on his sleeve.

"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... threatened' em, I expect... 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..."

elara, who had been rummaging in hagrid's cupboard for another milk jug, let out a small sigh. she straightened up with the new jug in her hands.

"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."

silent tears were streaming down hermione's face, but she hid them from hagrid. elara's lips were cocked into a small frown as she was bustling around making tea. then, as she picked up the milk bottle to pour some into the jug, she let out a shriek.

"bloody hell, ron! i don't believe it — it's scabbers!"

ron gaped at her.

"what are you talking about?"

elara 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 color of parchment.

"they're comin'..."

harry, ron, elara and hermione whipped around. a group of men was walking down the distant castle steps. in front was albus dumbledore, his silver beard gleaming in the dying sun. next to him trotted cornelius fudge. 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... gonow..."

ron stuffed scabbers into his pocket and hermione picked up the cloak. "i'll let yeh out the backway," said hagrid.

they followed him to the door into his back garden. elara felt strangely unreal, and even more so when she 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.

"it's okay, beaky," said hagrid softly. "it's okay..." he turned to harry, ron, elara and hermione."go on," he said. "get goin'."

but they didn't move.

"hagrid, we can't —"

"we'll tell them what really happened —"

"we can prove he's innocent -- "

"they can't kill him —"

"go!" said hagrid fiercely. "it's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"

they had no choice. as elara threw the cloak over harry, ron and hermoine, they heard voices at the front of the cabin. hagrid looked at the place where they had just vanished from sight.

"go quick," he said hoarsely. "don' listen..."

and he strode back into his cabin as someone knocked at the front door.