"Buckbeak lost his appeal. That means he'll be executed at sunset."
"We have to go to Hagrid," Harry said urgently. "We can't leave him sitting there all alone, waiting for that damned executioner."
"But sunset..." Ron looked out the window, worry in his eyes. "They probably won't let us go over there. Especially you, Harry."
Harry frowned, racking his brain for a way around it.
"What about the Invisibility Cloak?" Jerry suddenly asked.
"The Invisibility Cloak? Oh, I left it in the passage beneath the One-Eyed Witch Statue." Harry scratched his head in frustration. "I haven't gone back for it. I'm afraid Professor Snape will catch me there again."
"I'll get it now!"
Fifteen minutes later, Harry hurried back with the silvery Invisibility Cloak tucked beneath his robe.
Harry kept the Invisibility Cloak hidden in the folds of his robe, holding his arms tight against his chest to conceal the obvious bulge. They hid in an empty room beside the Entrance Hall and listened until they were sure no one was outside.
When they heard the last two people cross the Entrance Hall and a door slam shut, Hermione cautiously poked her head out.
"All right," she whispered. "It's safe now."
They edged along the wall to avoid being seen, then crept through the Entrance Hall, down the stone steps, and out of the Castle.
The sun had slipped beyond the Forbidden Forest. Its brilliant golden light brushed the treetops, making them look almost dreamlike.
They reached Hagrid's Hut and knocked on the wooden door. A full minute passed before it slowly opened. Hagrid stood behind it, surprise and worry filling his eyes.
"What are you doing here?" he growled, his brow furrowed. "Didn't I warn you over and over not to come? It's too dangerous!"
Harry quickly lowered his