A sharp gust of wind swept past from behind. A streak of red light brushed by Harry's ear, and with a loud crack, he turned his head with difficulty to see that a thick tree branch had been severed in mid-air.
Unknowingly, in their pursuit of Ron, who had been dragged away, they had entered the range of the Whomping Willow. Its branches lashed wildly as if caught in a gale, swinging back and forth to block their advance.
There was no time to thank Augustus. Harry fumbled for his wand, igniting a faint light in the dark night.
There, right by the tree roots, was the black dog dragging Ron toward a large opening in the roots. Ron was furiously struggling, but his head and torso had already disappeared into the hole.
"Ron!" Harry yelled, attempting to follow, but a massive tree branch came crashing down, forcing him to retreat again.
Augustus stepped forward, signaling Harry to stand back. He raised his wand slightly, his expression steady as though facing an old rival. The Whomping Willow's branches moved without wind, lashing furiously.
A sharp, blade-like gust gathered at the tip of Augustus's wand, growing into a massive wind blade. The next moment, it tore through the air with a deafening roar, slicing through the Whomping Willow's trunk as if it were paper. Without any resistance, the tree was felled, its ancient existence obliterated in a single strike.
Harry approached cautiously, awe etched on his face. "Mr. Augustus, if Ron's in danger, returning to the school isn't an option now. Rescuing him should be our priority."
Hermione, still shaken, joined them, glancing nervously at the severed remains of the Whomping Willow. "That black dog attacked Ron, but Crookshanks seemed to know it. We have to find where they've gone, or Ron might truly be in grave danger."
Augustus nodded slightly, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. In that case, we'd better split up to search—it increases our chances."
Just as he finished speaking, Crookshanks suddenly appeared before them, as though ready to guide the way. The ginger-colored cat glanced back at them, then headed toward the base of the Whomping Willow.
In seconds, they reached the roots. Before they could enter the opening, Crookshanks flicked its bushy tail and disappeared inside. Harry followed immediately, sliding headfirst down a dirt slope into a narrow tunnel. The cat's eyes gleamed faintly in the light of Harry's wand. Moments later, Hermione stumbled down beside him.
"Where's Ron?" she asked fearfully.
"This way," Augustus said, pointing ahead. The three of them continued following Crookshanks deeper into the tunnel.
"Where does this lead?" Hermione asked breathlessly from behind Augustus.
"If I'm not mistaken, it connects to Hogsmeade," Augustus replied, his gaze flickering as he watched the cat ahead. His expression carried an enigmatic air.
They pressed on, their backs hunched low. Crookshanks's tail bobbed ahead, now visible, now hidden. The seemingly endless tunnel twisted and turned before finally sloping upward. Through a small opening, Harry spotted a faint glimmer of light.
"We're here. As expected," Augustus said calmly, a faint smile curling his lips.
They found themselves in a decrepit house, the air thick with dust and decay. Wallpaper peeled from the walls, and grime marred the floors. Broken furniture lay scattered about, and wooden boards covered the windows.
The room appeared empty, but a door on the right stood ajar, leading to a dark corridor. Hermione grabbed Augustus's arm.
"Mr. Augustus," she whispered, "I think we're in the Shrieking Shack."
Harry scanned the surroundings, his eyes settling on a nearby chair with a missing leg and chunks of wood torn from its frame.
They carefully ascended the rickety stairs, following a trail of marks on the dusty floor—something had been dragged upward. At the landing, they paused before entering a room.
Inside was a luxurious four-poster bed, its curtains coated in dust. Crookshanks lay sprawled on the bed, purring contentedly. On the floor beside it, Ron clutched his unnaturally twisted leg, grimacing in pain.
Harry and Hermione rushed to his side.
"Ron, are you alright?"
"Where's the dog?"
"It's not a dog," Ron rasped through gritted teeth. "Harry, it's a trap..."
"What?"
"He's not a dog… He's an Animagus…"
A figure appeared in the doorway. Harry and Hermione turned sharply. Augustus remained seated in a chair, a faint smile playing on his lips.
"If I'm not mistaken, that black dog must be your Animagus form—Sirius Black," Augustus said.
The man in the doorway was gaunt and unkempt, his matted hair reaching his elbows. Deep-set, glowing eyes peered from hollow sockets, and his skeletal face stretched with a ghastly grin. Sirius Black bared his yellowed teeth, his ragged appearance evoking more specter than human.
Black lazily raised his wand, pointing it at the group. "Expelliarmus!" he rasped. Harry and Hermione's wands flew out of their hands, landing in Black's grasp. His gaze flicked to Augustus, an odd glint in his eyes.
"The scion of the Julius family," Black said, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Even in Azkaban, your reputation reached me. Twice you've defeated Voldemort, vanquished nearly a hundred Dementors single-handedly. It seems the tales weren't exaggerated."
Augustus chuckled softly. "You're standing before me now for two reasons. First, I need to uncover the truth of what happened years ago. Second, I need to confirm whether that rat is what I suspect. So, you'd best not waste any more time."
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