Chapter 317: Execution of Buckbeak, Who Says I Didn't Save It?
Aaron took a deep breath, suppressed the shock in his heart, and walked up to Professor Trelawney.
"Begin," Professor Trelawney said, full of enthusiasm, "Let me see what you can see."
Aaron focused his attention on the crystal ball, layers of mist parted, and a moment later he came back to his senses, his expression becoming particularly strange.
"Professor, I seem to see a very weak patient."
"A patient? What kind of patient?"
"He is in darkness, and I cannot see what he looks like.
But I can feel that it is not an ordinary weakness; to describe him as barely clinging to life would not be an exaggeration."
Professor Trelawney was slightly stunned, then looked at Aaron with a surprised gaze, "Gaius, you have a talent for divination, but it will take some time to make accurate predictions.
My inner eye tells me that your prediction is not wrong, but it differs slightly from what you intended."
Aaron scratched his head in embarrassment; he wanted to know the whereabouts of the murderer of Harry's parents, Sirius Black, but he didn't expect such a scene to appear.
"I will practice more, Professor."
"Practice is essential," Professor Trelawney suddenly said, "But more important is the method; I suggest you start with small things and not bite off more than you can chew."
Aaron was silent for a moment, then nodded heavily.
Professor Trelawney showed a satisfied smile, then took out her grade book, "Your grades are the best in the Third Class."
Aaron waved his hand awkwardly and walked out of the classroom on his own.
Before, he might have cared about his divination grades, but now he was more concerned about Professor Trelawney's prediction.
If Lord Voldemort truly were to make a comeback, then he would have to prepare early.
Lord Voldemort in his prime was at the peak of a Great Archmage, only half a step away from the Saint Realm. With his current strength, facing the Dark Lord in his prime, even retreating safely might be a stretch.
Besides becoming stronger, he also had to find a way to add one or two more trump cards, otherwise, he wouldn't be able to sleep soundly.
But then, Aaron realized he might not need to worry too much.
After all, he had a particularly prominent shield in front of him; as long as Harry Potter didn't die, Lord Voldemortwouldn't target him for a while.
Moreover, Albus Dumbledore was still hale and hearty; at worst, he would just hide in Hogwarts and not go out, and he didn't believe Lord Voldemort would dare to kill his way into the school.
If it truly came to the worst, he could only lock himself in his Castle.
With the defensive power of Gaius Castle, let alone Lord Voldemort, even if Salazar Slytherin were resurrected, he wouldn't be able to do anything to him.
Thinking this, Aaron felt much calmer.
There was still some time before Lord Voldemort's resurrection, and besides, when the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up.
As long as Dumbledore was alive, Hogwarts would be safe, and he would have enough space to sign in.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Just then, the cawing of crows sounded in his ears, followed by a particularly piercing noise, like cat claws scratching glass.
Aaron followed the sound and saw a burly man dressed in pure Black clothes sharpening a huge blade with a stone.
Executioner?
Aaron looked at the burly man and couldn't help but frown.
Hagrid had probably lost the appeal again, and it was a complete defeat; Buckbeak's execution day was likely today.
After hesitating for a few seconds, Aaron silently made a decision and walked towards the Forbidden Forest with Abey.
Arriving at Hagrid's Hut, he knocked several times before Hagrid opened the door.
"Aaron, what are you doing here?" Hagrid asked in a low voice.
"Honestly, I don't really care about Buckbeak's fate, but… well, it's a blessing you know me.
I, I personally think you might need a little help today, so I came over."
Hearing this, Hagrid pursed his lips and choked up, trembling.
Just as he was about to give Aaron a hug, Aaron stopped him with an outstretched hand.
"Don't come closer; if you had changed into cleaner clothes, it would be fine, but these are too messy," Aaron said with a hint of distaste, then looked at Hagrid, "How many times have you cried?"
"I don't know." Hagrid opened the window and looked at the Hippogriff tethered in the pumpkin patch outside, "Buckbeak has been sentenced to death, and Dumbledorecan't save it.
Malfoy arranged for Macnair to come and carry out the execution, and Fudge and representatives from the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures will also be there."
"Is it really necessary?" Aaron's mouth twitched slightly, "It's just a magical creature, and they even invited the Minister for Magic to witness the execution."
"He was already coming to Hogwarts to check on Black's situation, so he was roped in as a witness," Hagrid said bitterly, "You shouldn't stay here; this scene would be a nightmare for a young Wizard like you."
Hearing this, Aaron scoffed.
Just beheading a magical creature—this might be quite nauseating for others, but for him, it was a minor scene.
To be honest, the executioner probably hadn't killed as many lives as he had.
"No, you must leave." Just as Hagrid was about to say something, he heard a knock at the door.
Aaron, worried that Hagrid would cry upon seeing Fudgeand the others, opened the door for him, but there was no one outside.
Aaron frowned slightly, then sighed, "Harry, Sirius hasn't been caught yet; do you know how dangerous it is for you to come out of the Castle at this time?"
"I know, but I had to come now," Harry said carefully, "Let us in first."
"We, us?" Aaron suddenly felt a headache coming on, "Hermione, you promised me you'd watch Harry; is this your promise?"
"I only promised not to let him go to Hogsmeade," Hermione said, feeling a bit guilty, "I'm sorry, but Hagridreally needs comforting right now."
Aaron rolled his eyes helplessly, took a step back, and after letting them in, closed the door.
"Why did you all come?" Hagrid said, trembling.
"We came to be with you, Hagrid," Hermione said, feeling a little heartbroken.
"No, you must go back." Hagrid's attitude became much firmer, "Especially you, Harry; Dumbledore will come to be with me through that moment later.
Besides him, Fudge will also be here.
If they find you here, you'll be in big trouble."
"We have the Invisibility Cloak," Ron said, "They won't find us."
"Oh, come on!
Don't forget what happened last year; the Invisibility Cloakmight fool Fudge, but can it fool Dumbledore?"
"Exactly, you all should leave quickly!
But before you go, Ron, you need to take this with you."
Hagrid opened a box and took out a rat.
"Scabbers, you're alive!" Ron joyfully took his pet, but it looked much thinner and had lost a lot of fur.
"Watch your pet, Ron."
"Looks like you owe me an apology," Hermione snorted.
"Apologies can wait," Aaron said, looking out the window, "They're here."
Dumbledore's beard sparkled in the sunset, followed by the Minister for Magic, members of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures, and the executioner Macnair, who held a gleaming, polished axe blade in his hand.
"You must leave quickly!" Hagrid said anxiously, "They can't find you here, go, quickly!"
"Actually, I'm staying…"
Just as Aaron was about to speak, Hagrid pushed him to the back door, "Things are already troublesome enough; I can't drag you all into this too, go, quickly!"
Aaron:... The four of them exited through the back door and walked along the sloping lawn towards the Castle.
They reached a high point and watched from a distance.
Hagrid and the others walked out of the Hut; Dumbledoreand Fudge were saying something, while the executioner walked towards the pumpkin patch with his axe blade.
Their view was obstructed by a wall, but they could still clearly hear a dull thud and see flocks of crows flying in all directions.
Harry and Ron's faces turned pale; although they hadn't seen Buckbeak's head fall with their own eyes, they could imagine the scene, and fear instantly flooded their hearts, their stomachs churning.
Hermione directly rested her head on Aaron's shoulder, sobbing and crying, "I can't believe they actually did it."
She pounded Aaron's chest repeatedly, "You could have saved it.
If you had just spoken up, Malfoy would definitely have given you that courtesy."
"I'm also helpless, but some precedents cannot be set," Aaron said in a deep voice, "There are countless miscarriages of justice like Buckbeak's case; I can't ask others for leniency just for a magical creature I've only met once. That's making too much of a fuss.
Besides, don't jump to conclusions too soon. Who said I didn't save it?"
Hermione was slightly stunned; just as she was about to ask something, Ron next to her let out a cry of pain.
"Ouch!" Ron let go of his rat; there was a small tooth mark on his right index finger, and bright red blood dripped from it.
"Scabbers, it bit me."
Scabbers seemed startled by something and quickly scurried away, and Ron, its owner, immediately chased after it.
Harry and Hermione didn't think much of it and followed closely; since they couldn't run fast while wearing the Invisibility Cloak, they tore it off and chased at full speed.
Aaron looked at the setting sun, sighed deeply, and followed them.
He genuinely didn't want to get involved in such troublesome matters, but thinking of Professor Trelawney's prediction, he had no choice but to participate.
Tonight he will return; tonight, the one who betrayed his friends, the one who became a murderer, will break free from his chains, and the blood of the innocent will flow… This was a prediction she made in an unconscious state, and its accuracy was as high as ninety-nine percent.
This meant that Sirius Black would make a move against Harry Potter tonight; he would most likely fail, but he would suffer no losses and might even escape unscathed.
It was almost dark; guarding Harry Potter was like waiting for a rabbit by a tree stump, definitely much better than him painstakingly searching for someone with a compass.
Moreover, the Castle was full of people and prying eyes; someone might discover the secret of the compass, and then things would become troublesome; Dumbledore might even have to talk to him.