Chronicles Of Arth: Prince Of Shadows

The four of them stood transfixed with horror. The very last rays of the setting sun were casting a bloody light over the long shadowed grounds. Then, behind them, they heard howling.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered. He made to turn back, but both Ron and Hermione seized his arms.

"We can't," said Ron, who was paper white. "He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been to see him..."

Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven.

"How — could — they?" she choked. "How could they?"

Arth took off his glasses and let out a sigh.

"Complete bullshit. How one can win a trial simply by using money... how this Ministry has fallen..."

"Come on," said Ron, whose teeth seemed to be chattering.

They set off back toward the castle, walking slowly to keep themselves hidden under the cloak. The light was fading fast now. By the time they reached open ground, darkness was settling like a spell around them.

"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his c.h.e.s.t. The rat was wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket.

"What's the matter with you, you stupid rat? Stay still — OUCH! He bit me!"

"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute —"

"He won't — stay — put —"

"Just stun him or something." Said Arth with a frown.

"What's the matter with him?" Asked Harry.

There was a quiet meow causing the four of them to whip around their heads. Slinking toward them, his body low to the ground, wide yellow eyes glinting eerily in the darkness — Crookshanks.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione m.o.a.n.e.d. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

But the cat was getting nearer.

"Scabbers — NO!"

It was too late, the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers, hit the ground, and scampered away. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him, and before anyone could stop him, Ron had pelted away into the darkness.

"Ron!" Hermione m.o.a.n.e.d.

"That idiot! Wants to get expelled over a rat!"

"Get the rat! Follow Ron!"

Corvus let out a cheerful caw as he took off into the sky with Arth following right behind him.

Hermione and Harry looked at each other, then followed at a sprint; it was impossible to run full out under the cloak; they pulled it off and it streamed behind them like a banner as they hurtled after Ron; they could hear his feet thundering along ahead and his shouts at Crookshanks.

"Get away from him — get away — Scabbers, come here —"

There was a loud screech.

"Arth! Your crow is trying to eat my rat!"

"It is a raven and no it isn't!"

"SCABBERS!"

"Or maybe it is... I didn't really gave it specific instructions so maybe it is attempting to eat the rat-"

"ARTH STOP YOUR BIRD!"

"Fine."

Arth let out another whistle and Corvus reappeared onto his shoulder with Scabbers tail in his mouth.

"Err... I'm really sorry... you know Corvus is a bird... and birds are generally bird brained... they don't really understand emotions and orders."

Corvus let out an indignant caw as if being horribly wronged.

"Just — Give — me — Scabbers!"

Arth handed him back immediately.

Scabbers was back in Ron's pocket; and Ron made sure that he had both hands held tight over it.

Crookshanks was watching Arth with an dissatisfied look as if Arth had just ruined its hunt, which technically, Arth did.

"Ron — come on — back under the cloak —" Hermione panted. "Dumbledore — the Minister — they'll be coming back out in a minute —"

Something was bounding toward them, quiet as a shadow — an enormous, pale-eyed, jet-black dog.

"Oh! A dog!" Exclaimed Arth happily.

However, when Arth reached out for the dog, the dog leapt over Arth and crashed into Harry.

The dog then used Harry as a leaping pad before lunging towards Ron's outstretched arm. Harry lunged forward, he seized a handful of the brute's hair, but it was dragging Ron away as easily as though he were a rag doll.