After leaving the Charms classroom, Jon spent several hours in the library browsing through files such as Handbook of Hippogriff Psychology, Poultry or Monster?, A Study of the Savagery of Hippogriffs, and others.
Most of these works were written by Mrs. Alice Scamander—Newt Scamander's mother—one of the foremost Hippogriff experts of the past few centuries.
Of course, Jon's research was more symbolic than practical... He knew very well that Buckbeak would not be able to escape the death sentence.
Although Lucius Malfoy's influence wasn't what it once was—he couldn't even handle a half-giant anymore—having a magical creature executed was still within his power. Professor Dumbledore certainly wouldn't waste time arguing with him over something like that.
And besides, there was no real need to prevent Buckbeak's execution. In the end, the Hippogriff would be saved by the Chosen One anyway.
...
Jon didn't return to his dormitory until around ten o'clock at night. He could still hear the noise drifting from Gryffindor Tower.
After all this time, they were still celebrating.
He collapsed onto his bed and read for a little while... before long, he drifted into sleep.
But even in his dreams, he didn't seem to enjoy more than a few hours' rest.
"Huh?" Jon suddenly felt someone calling his name.
Struggling to open his eyes, he was surprised to see Cedric Diggory sitting at his bedside, looking straight at him.
"What do you want?" Jon asked groggily.
Cedric shook him firmly, jolting him awake.
"Get up quickly—Black has been spotted inside the castle again. All teachers and students are gathering in the Great Hall!" Cedric's tone was urgent and concise.
"Alright..." Jon nodded dully.
Only after making sure Jon was fully awake did Cedric leave the dormitory and head to the room next door, where Zacharias Smith slept.
A moment later, Jon could already hear Zacharias wailing from the next room. By then, he had finished dressing.
Close to a hundred Hufflepuff students gathered in their common room in the dead of night. Professor Sprout arrived quickly, accompanied by Professor Charity Burbage, their Muggle Studies teacher, who they rarely saw.
"Everyone, follow me!" Professor Sprout instructed.
Escorted front and back by the two professors, they made their way toward the Great Hall.
"What's going on, Cedric?" someone whispered along the way.
"Percy Weasley from Gryffindor just woke me," Cedric replied, his face slightly grave. "He said his youngest brother saw Sirius Black break into the Gryffindor common room and was attacked. Professor McGonagall told him to notify every house and gather all the students in the Great Hall."
"Oh my God, Black again?"
"How is he even managing this?"
...
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore was already waiting when they arrived.
"I've received Professor McGonagall's report. We'll be conducting a thorough search of the castle," Professor Dumbledore told the students.
Meanwhile, Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick had already sealed the Great Hall doors.
"For your safety, you'll have to spend the night here," Dumbledore explained. "I want the Prefects to stand guard at the entrances, and the Head Boy and Head Girl to remain inside and supervise. If anything happens, report to me immediately—send a ghost if necessary."
He was about to leave when he paused. "Oh, yes—you'll need these..."
With a casual wave of his wand, the four long tables slid to the sides of the hall, lining up against the walls. Another flick, and hundreds of purple sleeping bags appeared across the floor.
"Rest well."
As Dumbledore left, the Great Hall erupted into a low buzz of whispers and murmurs.
Ron Weasley of Gryffindor became the center of attention, surrounded by several older girls from different houses.
Through the noise of the crowd, Jon could make out fragments of Ron's voice.
"…I was asleep, then I heard the sound of something tearing... At first I thought I was dreaming, you know... but then a cold draft woke me up. I saw that one side of the curtain by my bed had been ripped down..."
Ron's voice rose in triumph. "Of course I rolled over... and guess what I saw? Sirius Black standing right in front of me! He looked like a skeleton, with a great mess of filthy hair... and he was holding a massive knife—at least twelve inches long... He looked at me, I looked at him, and then I screamed, and he ran off!"
"Everyone, into your sleeping bags!" Percy Weasley marched over and shouted. "Hurry—no talking. Lights out in ten minutes!"
He scattered the group of girls and all but dragged his youngest brother into a sleeping bag.
...
Jon quickly slipped into his own.
Black's two intrusions had disturbed his sleep twice already—how irritating!
Fortunately, according to the original story, there wouldn't be a third time.
Which meant, at least, he wouldn't be dragged out of bed again.
And with only a few months left in the term, the only thing he really needed to worry about now was the date of Buckbeak's execution.
Jon closed his eyes and soon drifted off, faintly overhearing Hannah and Susan whispering about why Black had fled instead of killing those boys outright.