Rufus Scrimgeour was in a state of urgency, having dispatched additional Dementors to Hogwarts. Since assuming his role, he had promised to abandon mere rhetoric. Yet, nearly half a year had passed without any sign of Sirius Black. The disappearance of a dozen Dementors, attributed to Sirius, only added to the Ministry of Magic's embarrassment. Now, capturing Sirius seemed the only way to remove the 'interim' label from his title and restore the Ministry's credibility.
John encountered a grim-faced Scrimgeour within the castle walls, clearly in a foul mood. Scrimgeour's arrival, flanked by witnesses and executioners from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, was a significant event. For a man of Scrimgeour's background—an Auror known for his toughness—being involved in such a matter seemed beneath him. It was evident he had a specific agenda in mind.
"I wonder if Johnny's Silver Hand is deemed unreliable, prompting him to seek a new ally?" John mused, watching Scrimgeour head towards the headmaster's office for a discussion. "It's a shame. As Minister of Magic, one might wield significant influence. But Scrimgeour, still only the interim minister, has yet to win Dumbledore's approval."
"The execution at sunset? Buckbeak has become a pawn in their game," John thought, recalling Hagrid's letter. He felt a pang of sympathy for Hagrid.
"Time to seek solace," John sighed, making his way to the Society of Stars' secret chamber. With the holidays approaching, there were matters within the chamber that required his attention.
Upon reaching the fourth floor, John inspected the enchantments he had left in place. Although others had entered the vicinity, they remained oblivious to the secret door's magic, which didn't concern John at the moment.
Inside, he found the Firebolt, meticulously maintained and returned to its rightful spot—clearly Malfoy's handiwork. John then proceeded to the armory's secret passage, summoning the Silver Wick sword. Noticing an additional crack in the super magic crystal, he completed his inspection and glanced at the new shoes on the table before putting them on.
His attention then turned to the Ring of Spells. The ring, now as black as ink, with its gem completely darkened, resembled an abyss. "The Soul Devouring Curse must be used sparingly," he reminded himself, observing a tiny crack in the ring. A ring, after all, was not designed to contain immense magical power and could break under the strain, just as the magic power crystal had.
John packed the Heart of Silence and the newly crafted Ring of Spells into a small bag. These items were not casually sold at Johnny Silver Hand's store; customers were carefully vetted before purchase. Of course, some dark wizards managed to acquire them—Knockturn Alley thrived on such grey market dealings, albeit at a steep price.
The bag, enchanted with the No Trace Stretching Charm, did not reduce the weight of its contents. However, an alchemical product from Nicolas Flamel, it was also enchanted with a floating charm, keeping it perpetually light. Originally intended for Madame LeMay, it had been gifted to John as the couple departed this world.
With everything packed, including ten magic crystals—five from the Chamber of Secrets and five crafted by John himself—he made his way to dinner, arriving on time for once.
Upon entering, he noticed Malfoy, fresh from exams, boasting with an air of nonchalance. It was a performance designed to impress, suggesting everything was effortlessly within his grasp. John quietly observed, taking a seat to watch Malfoy's charade unfold. Perhaps sensing John's scrutinizing gaze, Malfoy settled down with an awkward smile, barely managing to sit before John's unyielding stare. John remarked, "Is your training task complete?" as he observed Malfoy, whose expression was one of surprise, seemingly unprepared for the final exam's practice. Upon locking eyes with John, Malfoy quickly responded, "I'll go right away!" and dashed off, followed closely by Goyle and Crabbe who hastily crammed bread into their mouths before leaving.
Daphne was taken aback by John's punctuality at mealtime and his lack of preparation for his own meal. As she moved to demonstrate her culinary skills, John, in a panic, stuffed his mouth with bread, claiming he was full. He noticed the trio had finished their meal, their faces etched with concern as they discussed Hagrid and decided to leave. Unbeknownst to them, John followed closely behind.
Passing a broom cupboard, John paused, puzzled. "Who would be so bold?" he mused, finding the choice of location for a date peculiar. Shaking his head, he moved on. Moments later, the cupboard emitted two sighs of relief, with a boy's voice questioning if they had been seen, and a girl's voice responding uncertainly.
Outside Hagrid's hut, John noticed the Interim Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, descending the stairs with a stern look, flanked by two members of the Dangerous Animals Committee. This delayed John slightly. Upon arrival, he saw Buckbeak in the pumpkin patch and deduced that Harry and the others were inside, comforting Hagrid. Hearing jars break inside, he sensed Hagrid's distress.
Approaching Buckbeak, John bowed, receiving a bow in return. He contemplated freeing Buckbeak but decided against it to avoid implicating Hagrid. "Go in peace," he whispered, patting Buckbeak before turning to leave, choosing not to intrude on Hagrid's sorrow.
As he turned away, John paused, drawn to the woods behind the pumpkin patch. His keen eyes detected movement, prompting him to investigate. However, the presence in the woods retreated. John, now curious, considered exploring further.
Suddenly, the quiet was broken by distant voices. Checking his pocket watch, John noted the time and observed the setting sun over the Forbidden Forest. A group, including the Dangerous Animals Committee, Scrimgeour, and Dumbledore, approached from the castle. Realizing he couldn't conceal the truth from Dumbledore, John decided to leave.
Shortly after, Harry, Hermione, and another emerged from Hagrid's hut under an invisibility cloak. In the woods, Harry and Hermione, both sporting hemostatic stickers, were puzzled by John's perceptiveness. Hermione, with a glint in her eye and an hourglass pendant around her neck, hinted at a plan, recalling Dumbledore's words. Harry was taken aback. What had Dumbledore meant? Seeing his puzzled expression, Hermione, with the sternness of a concerned mother, reminded him, "If everything goes well, you can save more than one innocent life tonight. Should you face any obstacles, don't hesitate to seek help." She took a deep breath before adding, "We need help, Harry."
Meanwhile, in Hagrid's hut, a grim scene was unfolding. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures had convened to deliver Buckbeak the Hippogriff's death sentence. "The Committee has ruled that Buckbeak, herein referred to as the Creature, is to be executed at sunset on June 6th..." The decree continued, detailing the manner of execution, "…sentenced to be beheaded, with Walton McNeil, the executioner appointed by the Members' Association, to carry out the sentence."
Scrimgeour wore a somber expression, contrasting sharply with Dumbledore's enthusiastic demeanor. Dumbledore seemed unfazed, engaging Scrimgeour as if their earlier disagreement in the headmaster's office had never occurred. Unbeknownst to them, as the sentence was being read, a figure stealthily approached from the woods, making their way into the pumpkin patch.
Upon seeing the newcomer, Buckbeak bowed gracefully, a sign of respect among Hippogriffs. The figure bowed in return, acknowledging the creature's gesture. It was a silent exchange of trust and understanding.
"Buckbeak, let's go!" Harry called out, seizing the moment of distraction. His voice was firm, filled with a mix of urgency and hope. The plan was set into motion, a daring rescue under the fading light of the setting sun.
_________
If you are tired of reading I also have this converted to an audio novel on my youtube
https://www.youtube.com/@NovelAudioForge/featured
Direct Link to playlist
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_Hg-qsW4rM&list=PLKskshYG-OcPTR4-Nw7IWFEBZm07D8pBV&ab_channel=NovelAudioForge