AUTHORS NOTE :P

Hey everyone! Here's the new chapter! Hope everyone like likes it!

Now to answer some reviews...

Brightcloud of the Clans: I'm not sure. Probably some dog like animal, like a wolf, or an actual dog.

AnikaandAj: Did I actually write that? Wait, let me check... OMG WHY DID I WRITE THAT? I'm sooo sorry! I did not mean to write `he seemed upset at the fact that I hadn't jumped at the chance to MARRY HIM'. I did not mean to write marry. I feel so stupid! I was watching a show about weddings when I wrote it, so that's probably why i wrote it... god im so stupid! i'll fix that now... Oh and about Sirius's reaction, I was trying to make it seem like he was so happy to have Max and Harry that he didn't really mind. But he will get angry about it soon... promise...

And thanks to everyone else that reviewed!

Oh, and this is directed to teenbooks4eva... update!

That is all.

Love you!

"Enjoy!

-Rach ;)


Max's POV

"By Merlin... Shocking business, shocking... It's a miracle their all still alive! Never heard of such a thing before... It was a very lucky thing you were there, Snape..."

"Thank, you Minister."

"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I say. First Class, if I can manage it!"

"Thank you very much, Minister."

"Nasty cut you have there, Snape. Black I suppose?"

"In face, it was Potter, Ride, Weasley, Granger, Martinez and Griffiths, Minister."

"No!"

"Bewitched. I saw it from the first moment I lay my eyes on them. The Confundus Charm, I think. They seemed to think Black was innocent. They weren't responsible for their actions. They clearly thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. I'm afraid to say they've gotten away with a lot before this. They seem to have a very high opinion of themselves. Especially Miss Ride. And of course, Potter has always been allowed do whatever he wants, by the Headmaster."

"Well, you know Snape- Harry Potter- we all have a soft spot where he's concerned. And the other children- Miss Ride, and Martinez, and Griffiths, and the rest of them- well, you know their story Snape. Sad, very sad..."

"But is it good to give them special treatment? Personally, I act the same way towards them then any other student. Any any other students would of been suspended, for leading their friends into such dangers. Consider, Minister, after all the precautions put in to keep them safe- not only Potter, but the fre- hybrids as well- out of bounds , with a werewolf and a murderer... And I have reason to believe Potter was visiting Hogsmeade without permission too."

"We shall see Snape. The children have undoubtedly been foolish..."

I was listening to this seriously stupid conversation with my eyes closed, breathing in and out slowly, and feeling extremely groggy and disorientated. I just wanted to stay in this comfortable bed forever. But, knowing my luck, that would never happen.

"But what really shocked me was the behavior of the Dementors. And you don't know why they retreated, Snape?" The Minister said.

"No, Minister. When I arrived, they were already heading back to their posts outside the grounds."

"Extraordinary. And yet, the two girls and the Harry...?"

"They were all unconscious by the time I reached them, including Martinez and Griffiths, who were found by the Whomping Willow. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, then conjured up stretchers and brought them all back to the castle."

There was a pause, and I opened my eyes, blinking a few times at the sudden bright light. I looked around the hospital wing (where else would I be?). At the very end of the ward, Madam Pomfrey was bent over someone else, her back towards me. I could see Ron's bright red hair from under her arm.

I turned my head to the right. In the bed beside me was Harry, looking quite strange without his glasses. He was awake too, and when he saw me, he smiled, but raised a finger to his lips. In the bed to his right was Hermione, who was also awake. She looked petrified. When she saw me, she pointed to the door of the hospital wing, where Snape and Fudge's voices were coming from.

Before we could talk, Madam Pomfrey came bustling over to our beds. She was carrying the biggest block of chocolate I have ever seen before in my life. Hmm, so maybe something good did come from this.

"Ah, your all awake!" she said, looking at me, Harry and Hermione.

"Hows Fang? And Iggy? And Ron?" I asked, sitting up. "They'll live," Madam Pomfrey said, trying to force me to sit down, but I wouldn't budge. I was much stronger then the average adult. The whole flock were, even five-year old Angel. "Although, none of them are going anywhere anytime soon. Weasley's leg is broken, and both Martinez and Griffiths have major concussions. But they'll be fine in a few days."

That was one thing I liked about Madam Pomfrey. She wouldn't try to sugar everything for us. She tells us how it is, and what's wrong. "And as for you three- your staying here until I'm happy with you. Miss Ride, the cut on your forehead became mildly infected but I- Potter, where do you think your going?" she asked. Harry was pulling the blankets off him, and swinging his legs off the bed. I was glad we were still in our clothes from before. Hospital gowns freak me out. Well, anything that has to do with hospitals freak me out, except for this one. Madam Pomfrey uses herbs and magic to heal people, not medicine or anesthetic, so there wasn't the same smell as there was in the School. Thank God, or else they would have to send me in the loony bin.

Harry was pushing his glasses onto his face and picking up his wand when he answered, "I need to see the Headmaster." He looked at me and Hermione. "We all do."

"Potter, it's alright," Madam Pomfrey said soothingly. "Any minute now, the Dementors will perform the kiss on Black-"

"WHAT?" I jumped out of my bed, feeling as if I just got a huge electric shock. She had to be yanking our chain. There was no way they were going to get the Dementors to do the kiss on my dad!

Hermione got out of bed too and stood beside me. She was covered in dirt and bruises, and her lip was cut and swollen, but other then that she seemed fine. Our shouts seemed to have been heard out in the corridor because next second, Fudge and Snape strolled in, not as if they were sentencing an innocent man to such a horrible fate.

"Harry, Harry, whats this?" Fudge said, smiling as if we were all children. Well we were children but- well, you know what I mean! "You should be in bed! Have you given him chocolate?" he asked Madam Pomfrey, as if me or Hermione weren't there at all. Seriously? This dude was running the magical community? Wow, great choice there!

"Minister, listen," Harry said, "Sirius is innocent! Peter Pettigrew fake his own death. We all saw him tonight! You can't let the Dementors do that to Sirius-"

"See, Minister," Snape drawled, "Clearly confunded-"

"We aren't confunded!" I snapped. "Sirius is innocent! If the Dementrors give him the kiss, you'll be killing of an innocent man, instead of trying to find the one that's actually guilty!" See? Whoever said bird-kids couldn't make good points, or sound intelligent?

"Little girl, listen to me. You've been through a terrible ordeal, so you should just lie down and rest," Fudge said, which only made me more mad. "Little girl? I told you my name less then four hours ago. And your the one running the magical community? And I've been thorough worse then what happened tonight," I said, doing my best to sound bored and uninterested. Kinda hard when your voice is shaking from rage.

"Oh, I seriously doubt it, miss," Fudge said. "What happened tonight was terrible." I rolled my eyes, hoping that would annoy him. By the look on his face, it did. "Worse then being raised in a lab? Worse then spending the first ten years of your life in a dog-crate, getting painful experiments done to you? Worse then living in fear that you could die any minute, just because you did something wrong?" I looked at Fudge's face. It only seemed to dawn on his now that I was one of the magnificent bird-children. "Didn't think so," I added, and was pleased when Fudge blushed.

What a moron.

"Minister, please listen," Hermione said, probably afraid that I was going to do something stupid. With the way Fudge was going on, I would of done. "You have the wrong man. I saw him too. He was Ron's rat- well, he was an Animagus, but- Pettigrew, I mean-"

"Minister, Professor," Madam Pomfrey said in a calm voice. "These three are my patients. They should not be distressed."

"We're not distressed!" I yelled. "We're trying to tell these nimrods what happened, but they're too narrow-minded to listen! They're never going to believe kids, just because we're kids! If we were adults, they'd be all over trying to get Pettigrew back. But no, these two are too stupid to understand that kids are important too!" I didn't know I was going to say all that until it came out of my mouth. Oops, I tend to do that a lot.

Another thing I tend to do was get under people's skin. And I was doing it here with Fudge and Snape. Haha, what can I say, its' a gift.

Before I could open my mouth to recite all the rights that children had (I memorized it when Jeb said we weren't allowed watch a scary movie. Boy did he get a talking to), Madam Pomfrey stuffed a huge lump of chocolate into my mouth. When I was coughing and spluttering, she forced me down onto my bed, saying, "Please. These children need to rest. Please leave."

The door opened again, and this time, Dumbledore walked in, his long silver beard tucked into his belt. Harry stepped forward immediately and said, "Professor, Sirius Black-"

"For heavens sake!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked. "Is this not a hospital wing? Headmaster, I'm going to have to ask you to-"

"I apologize Poppy," Dumbledore said, "But I need to word with Mr Potter, Miss Ride and Miss Granger. I've just been talking to Sirius Black-"

"I suppose he told you the same ridiculous story he told the children," Snape sneered. "About a rat being Pettigrew or something absurd like that." Dumbledore nodded, looking calm. "That is exactly what he told me," he said, surveying Snape over his half-moon spectacles.

"And does my evidence stand for nothing?" Snape asked. "Peter Pettigrew was no where in the Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him in the grounds."

"Well, it would be hard to see someone, or hear something, when you were knocked out Professor," I snarled.

"MISS RIDE, FOR ONCE IF YOUR LIFE, HOLD THAT SARCASTIC TONGUE OF YOURS!" Snape shouted. I raised an eyebrow, trying not to smile.

"Severus, please, the girl is clearly distressed," Fudge said, looking at me as if I was a patient at a mental hospital. Well, isn't he considerate.

"I would like to speak with Max, Harry and Hermione alone, please," Dumbledore said. "Cornelius, Severus, Poppy- please leave us." I looked at Dumbledore, impressed. He just gave a direct order to the Minister of Magic. Way to go, Dumbledore.

"But- Headmaster, they need treatment!" Madam Pomfrey said. "This cannot wait, Poppy," Dumbledore said. Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and stormed off into her office, slamming the door so loud that I felt the bed vibrate underneath me. Fudge pulled out a gold pocket watch from his pocket, and said, "The Dementors should be arriving at any minute. I'll meet you upstairs, Dumbledore." Then he pocketed the watch, and strode from the hospital wing.

Snape, however, remained where he was. "You don't believe Black's story?" he asked, looking astounded. "I wish to talk to Max, Harry and Hermione alone," Dumbledore repeated, not meeting Snape's eyes. Snape took a step closer to Dumbledore.

"Black showed that he was capable of murder when he was sixteen," Snape hissed. "Surely you haven't forgotten?"

"My memory is as good as if always was," Dumbledore replied simply.

"And what about her?" Snape spat, pointing at me. "What about me?" I asked. Snape completely ignored me and turned back to Dumbledore. "She's his daughter. What will happen to her?"

"Nothing, Severus. Last time I checked, no one got in trouble for having a convicted criminal for a father. This won't affect Max at all," Dumbledore answered. I was glaring at Snape. Was he serious? He wanted me to get, like, expelled or something, just because my dad was Sirius Black. What a butthead!

Without a word, Snape turned on his heel and marched from the hospital wing. I resisted shouting `Drama Queen!' after him. Just barely though.

As soon as he was gone, me Harry and Hermione burst into explanations. "Scabbers was Pettigrew-"

"He cut off his own finger-"

"Pettigrew attacked Ron and Fang, not Sirius-"

"He escaped when Lupin turned into a werewolf-"

Dumbledore calmly raised his hand, and we all stopped talking at once. I know, Maximum Ride, doing what she was told. But for once in my life, I respected an adult. No hating, but there was just something about Dumbledore. Anyone would respect him. Hell, an Eraser would.

"It's your turn to listen, and i beg you not to say anything until I am finished. There is very little time," he said quietly. "Apart from your word, there ins;t a shred of proff to support Black's story. And I'm sad to say that the word of three thirteen-year old wizards won't convince many people. There was a street full of people that swore they saw Black kill Pettigrew. I myself even gave evidence to the Ministry that Black was the Potter's Secret-Keeper."

"But, Professor Lupin could tell you-" Hermione said, seeming unable to stop herself. That was Hermione. If she thought she had something figured out, there was no stopping her from telling everyone about it.

"Yes, but Miss Granger, Professor Lupin is currently deep in the woods, unable to tell anyone anything," Dumbledore said, and Hermione blushed a deep red. "And by the time he changes back, it will be too late and Sirius would be worse then dead. And I might say that werewolves are seriously mistrusted within our kind, and whatever he says will count for very little."

"But-"

"Max, listen to me. It is too late. I am sorry, but that's just as it is. I know he's your father but there's nothing we can do for him. Also, Snape's version of events are much more believable then yours."

"He hates Sirius," Harry spat. "All because he played a stupid trick on him-"

"Sirius hasn't acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady, then entering the Gryffindor tower with a knife. Without Pettigrew dead, or alive, there is no way to overturn his sentence."

"But you believe us?" Hermione asked.

"Yes I do," Dumbledore said. "But sadly, I don't have the power to make the other men see the truth, or to overrule the Ministry of Magic." I stared up at his grave face and felt like the floor was falling from under my feet. I just found my father, and now he was being ripped away from me. God forbid I should get anything easily. Oh no, that would just be too simple for the mutant freak.

"What we need," Dumbledore said slowly, staring intently at Hermione, with a glint in his eyes, "Is more time."

"But you just said-" I started, but was cut off from Hermione, who exclaimed, "OH!"

"Now pay attention," Dumbledore said, stepping closer to us, looking very serious, "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all things go well, you should be able to save more then one innocent life tonight. But remember this, the three of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law. You-must-not-be-seen."

I didn't have a clue what was happening.

Dumbledore turned on his heel and marched to the door. I turned to Hermione, about to ask a million questions, when Dumbledore turned around again and said, "I will lock you in. It's-" he looked at his watch, "Five minutes to midnight. Three turns should do it, I think. Good luck." Then he closed the door behind him. I heard the click of the lock.

"Three turns? Good luck? What's he talking about?" Harry asked.

"How are we meant to save two lives if we're locked in here?" I asked.

But Hermione was too busy messing with the neck of her jumper, then she pulled out a long, thin, gold chain. "Harry, Max," she said, sounding anxious and urgent. "Come here. Quick."

"What about Fang, Iggy and Ron?" I asked, moving over to Hermione. She rolled her eyes, and said, "Yeah, because it really looks like there going anywhere." I smirked, despite everything. True enough, the three boys were still unconscious. I hope they woke up soon. It felt strange without Fang's comforting presence beside me, or Iggy's relaxed humor, making everything seem better, or Ron's stupid sarcasm.

Hermione held the chain out more. This time, I noticed the tiny, sparkling hourglass at the bottom. "Here-" she said, throwing it around me and Harry's necks.

"Ready?" she asked. I nodded, not really thinking about what was going to happen. "What are we doing?" Harry asked, voicing my own thoughts. For an answer, Hermione just twisted the hourglass three times.

The dark hospital wing around us dissolved. I got the same feeling in my stomach as when me and the flock went flying, then folded in our wings and dropped from the sky like a rock, then snapping our wings out again. Talk about an adrenaline rush.

A blur of colors and shapes rushed past. My ears were pounding. I tried talking, but my voice just got carried away.

Then my feet touched solid ground again. The three of us were standing in the Entrance Hall. I looked around wildly, seriously confused. Hermione was putting the chain back under her shirt. "Hermione, what-?" Harry started, but Hermione grabbed me and Harry's hand, and dragged us over to the broom closet we hid in earlier. "In here!" she squealed, pushing us in with all the brooms and mops.

"Hermione, what just happened?" I asked, starting to feel panicky from being in such a small space. Hey, you would to if you grew up in a dog crate!

"We've gone back in time," Hermione said absently. "Three hours back." Beside me, I felt Harry tense.

"But how-" he started to ask, but Hermione slapped her hand over Harry's mouth, the thing we often do to Nudge. "Shh!" she hissed. "Listen, there's someone coming! I think- I think it might be us..." she said, pressing her ear against the door. "But... we were in this cupboard before we left for Hagrid's," I whispered. "How can we be out there now?"

"Because we've already left this cupboard. We we're probably walking to the door when we showed up and we never noticed us," Hermione explained. I frowned, trying to figure out what the hell she meant. This was all so confusing.

"Are you trying to say," Harry said, while I tried to get my breathing under control, "That we're in here, but we're out there too?" Hermione nodded, acting like everything was completely normal. Huh, and I thought she was the only normal one in our little weird gang.

"Yes," she said, listening, "It sounds like us. Six footsteps, walking slowly... We're going down the steps..." she turned around to me and Harry, then sat on an upturned bucket, looking nervous. "I'm not sure what Dumbledore wanted us to do," she admitted. And knowing Hermione, it took a lot for her to say she doesn't know what to do.

"Where did you get that hourglass thingy?" I asked, trying not to think about the small, tight space.

"It's called a Timeturner," Hermione explained. "I got it from McGonagall on our first day back. I've been using it to get to all my classes. I couldn't tell anyone, McGonagall made me swear I wouldn't. The amount of time's I almost told Max... She had to write loads of letters to the Ministry of Magic, telling them I was a brilliant student and would never use it for anything other then my lessons. I've been going back hours, and was able to do my lessons. Do you see?" Harry and I nodded. I couldn't believe she kept something like that from me. But, I guess we all need to keep some secrets.

"I don't get why Dumbledore told us three hours. How can going back three hours help Sirius?" I asked. "There's obviously something here he wants us to change," Harry said slowly.

"All Dumbledore said was that another innocent life could be saved..." I said, frowning. The flock were taught all about breaking codes, and seeing things in riddles that others wouldn't be able to see straight away. Jeb taught us.

Suddenly it came to me. "Buckbeak!" I exclaimed.

"What?" Hermione asked. "We've got to free Buckbeak!" I said. "How will that help Sirius?" Hermione asked.

Harry came up with the answer before me. "Dumbledore told us where Sirius was being held. We've got to fly Buckbeak up there. They can escape together!"

Hermione looked absolutely terrified. "If we can do that without being seen, it will be a miracle!" she chocked. I grinned and said, "Where's the fun in that?"

Without waiting for anyone to say anything to me, I opened the door and leaped out into the Entrance Hall. I didn't once think of anyone walking around, or seeing me. I just wanted to get out of that tiny space and rescue my father. But of course, things weren't that easy. I heard small, light footsteps coming from the Great Hall, towards the Entrance Hall, where I was standing like an idiot. I started moving back to the evil cupboard, but I was too late.

The doors to the Great Hall opened, and out walks... Nudge?

I thought she left before we did? Maybe she was meant to come with us, and this was her chance. Or something like that.

She looked over at me, and her eyes widened. "Max? I thought you already left. Where are the others?"

Behind me, Hermione and Harry stepped out of the cupboard. She saw them, and gasped. "Are you on one of you weird, dangerous adventures again? Like the one's you do at the end of every school year?" Oh crap, I thought. Nudge is like my sister, heck she is my sister! But what happened to us tonight was not something she should go through.

Nudge saw the look creeping onto my face, and said, "No. Your not going to go all big sister/leader on me!" she said. "I'm eleven, and I think I should have a choice whether or not I go with you." I stared at her. That was the most mature thing I've ever heard Nudge say. And she says a lot of things. I turned back to Hermione, who looked worried, but she nodded anyway. She knew we could trust Nudge.

"Fine. If you want to, you can come. Do you have your wand? Just in case?" I asked. Nudge nodded, and pulled out her small wand. "Now listen. We're from the future. Three hours in the future. We came back to save a Hippogriff and my father that has been in prison for the last twelve years. Let's roll."

And with that, I jogged over to the door, checking that the cost was clear, leaving Nudge with her mouth hanging open behind me.

Sorry for the long wait, and boring chapter. This was more of a filler chapter then anything else.

Anyway, I've been busy with studying and our gaelic training has been moved to three days a week. So updating might be later then usual. This chapter was pretty long in PoA, so I'll continue on from there. Like I said, this was more of a filler chapter for the next one.

Everyone that reviews gets free cookies and butterbeer, so...

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-Rach ;)