"Scabbers!" Ron shouted anxiously.
"Crookshanks?" Hermione stood rooted to the spot in disbelief, not quite understanding what had happened.
"I'll chase after them and take a look. Neville, go back to the Castle and get a professor." Wand in hand, Harry set off in pursuit.
"Which professor?" Neville asked, bewildered. He did not have Harry's rich imagination, which could make the connection to Animagi and Sirius Black. He was still rather puzzled about why Harry needed a professor to deal with a dog and catch a rat.
"Professor McGonagall or Professor Lupin!" Harry shouted as he chased after them.
"Why does Harry seem even more anxious than me?" Ron asked in puzzlement. "And what's he getting a professor for?"
Although he did not understand what was going on, Ron quickly followed Harry, chasing the cat and dog.
"Hey..." Hermione finally came to her senses. After a moment's hesitation, she ran after them too. Only Neville remained, looking rather puzzled, but after hesitating briefly, he turned and headed toward the Castle.
Harry might enjoy joking around, but he would not joke about getting a professor. It was not April Fools' Day, either.
Since Harry thought they should get a professor, Neville trusted his judgment. With that thought, he quickened his pace a little. Neville did not know what was going through Harry's mind, or he would certainly have been running for dear life rather than merely walking a little faster.
Harry had let his anxiety go to his head. He was thinking only that the big black dog might be Black in disguise, forgetting that although he had thought of it, he had not told his friends. All he wanted now was to charge after the dog and get to the bottom of it.
The big black dog and Crookshanks had