Authors Note :p

How is everyone? Here is the new chapter, hope everyone likes it :)

But first, to answer some reviews...

AnikaandAj: Max definitely has defiance issues, as do I. That's really cool, my friends say I'm like her too :)

Nico-the-Neko: But isn't 85 really good? And to be honest, I'm not sure how many more chapters. A few extra at the end, but I'm not sure how many. Sorry I don't live in America, I live in Ireland. But I was there a few years ago and it was really nice. What's Japan like? Thanks for the review :)

florafan199914: thanks. I knew I really needed to involve her more then I was, so that was the perfect opportunity!

And thank you to everyone else who reviewed, I really appreciated it.

We're so close to 300! Please review!

Thanks!

Enjoy!

-Rach ;)


Max's POV

Looking left and right, we darted out the front door and down the stone steps. The sun was setting, shadows were lengthening, and the Forbidden Forest was being painted in gold and red. Little poetry there from your featherly.

"If anyone's looking out the windows..." Hermione squeaked as we jogged across the grounds. "What would happen?" Nudge asked. "Bad things," was all Hermione said. Nudge swallowed, but still looked ready for a fight. That's my little trooper.

"We'll run for it," Harry said, "Straight for the forest. We'll hide behind a tree or bush or something and hide out, then wait." I nodded, but said, "We'll have to go by the greenhouses though. If we go straight on, we'll pass Hagrid's door and we'll see us." I was finally understanding all the time travel stuff. That's progress people! Harry and Hermione nodded and we changed direction. "Wait, so your here, but down there too?" Nudge said, running along beside me. I nodded, and grinned, "The joys of time travel."

"Did you say your dad was here? And you need to rescue him?" She asked, her tawny eyes wide. I nodded. "And he was in prison for twelve years?" she added. I nodded again, waiting for her to figure it out. After about five seconds of silence (which is unusual if Nudge is with you) her mouth dropped again, and her eyes went wider. "Sirius Black!" she shouted.

"Nudge! Keep it down!" I snapped, but I was grinning. "Sirius Black is your father?" Nudge gasped. "Yup," I said, popping the `p'. "But he's a-a- a murderer!" she snapped, looking pretty dangerous. "And what he did to Harry's parents! Why are we rescuing him?" In a low voice as we sprinted towards the greenhouses, I told Nudge everything that happened in the Shrieking Shack. About Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew. Then what happened after Lupin transformed. When I finished, we were at the greenhouses, ready to sprint again to the forest.

Nudge looked absolutely disgusted. "I can't believe I thought that rat was cute!" she said, hopping from foot to foot and brushing her clothes off, as if wiping off all the times she's held Pettigrew as a rat. And Nudge didn't even once think I was making the story up. She believes everything I say, because she's just so trusting. Plus, I think the state me, Harry and Hermione were in kinda made the story more real for her.

"Where are Fang, Iggy and Ron?" she asked, still looking sick. "They couldn't go back with us," I said. "They were too hurt, but there fine!" I added when Nudge's eyes filled with tears. "They just couldn't go with us. The three of them are fine, sweetie," I said, pushing some of her uncontrollable hair behind her ear. She sniffed, and nodded.

When we were ready to run again, we sprinted as fast as we could to the forest. We skirted past the Whomping Willow, then rushed into the safely of the trees in the Forbidden Forest. When I suggested that me and Nudge could fly overhead and get to Buckbeak that way, Hermione shot me down. "You'll definitely be seen then!" she hissed. "And besides, we can't get Buckbeak right now. We have to wait until the Minister and the committee people see Buckbeak first, or else they'll think Hagrid set him free."

There's no arguing with Hermione's logic.

"We need to sneak over to Hagrid's," Nudge said, getting in with the plan. "Don't get seen!" Hermione added fiercely. "Stick to the trees!"

We silently walked through the trees, careful not to make too much noise. I looked around me to my friends- no, my family. Nudge looked like she doing all she could to not ask the questions that were undoubtedly running through her mind. Hermione was determined, yet anxious. Harry was- well, I couldn't tell. Maybe he was thinking about earlier at the lake where he saw his father and I saw my mother.

Yes, that's who I think saved us from the Dementors. I've seen pictures of James Potter, and from the light of the Patronus, I kinda saw his face. It looked just like him. Who else could it be? And even though I've never seen pictures of Grace, my mother, I was told I look just like her. And the Patronus put light on her face too, and who else would look like that?

But more on that later. Right now, we had a Hippogriff to save.

We moved fast, and when Hagrid's hut came into view, and came to a stop by a large oak tree. We saw Hagrid standing at his door, looking pale and shaky. "Poor Hagrid," Nudge whispered. I nodded, looking around me in case of some threat coming our way. I'm just paranoid like that.

Then we heard Fang's voice in the distance. "Hagrid! It's us!" Oh, such a man of many words.

"We're under the Cloak!" past-Harry hissed, and Hagrid frowned even more. Present Harry just seemed freaked that he heard his own voice.

"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid howled, then he stepped out of the way. Then the door closed, and we all looked at each other. "I just heard you from over there... But your right here..." Nudge whispered, staring at Harry. She broke into a broad grin and squealed quietly, "This is so freaking awesome!"

"This is the strangest thing we've ever done," Harry said. "I couldn't agree more," I said.

"Let's move on," Hermione said. "We've got to get closer to Buckbeak!"

We crept quietly around the trees, until we were right in front of Buckbeak, who was tethered to the pumpkin patch, looking nervous. He didn't notice us, and I hoped he wouldn't. He could start a big fuss, make lot's of noise that was draw attention to us. Not something we wanted happening. Well, the flock are all skilled in sticking to the shadows, keeping the low profile.

Looking at Buckbeak, I realized how much the Gasman and Angel would just love him. My heart ached for being away from them for so long, but I knew it wasn't long before we got to see each other again. I wonder how they would take to me finding my father. Being the two youngest, and only real siblings, I think they were the ones that wanted to find their parents the most. Even though Angel was only five, she knew too much about what happens in the world.

"Now?" Harry whispered, eyeing Buckbeak with a fierce look.

"No! Remember what I just said to Max? The Committee people have to see Buckbeak. Or else they'll think Hagrid set him free. We have to wait until they see him tied outside," Hermione said. "That will give us about a minute," I said. Suddenly, things were starting to look impossible.

Right then, there was the loud crash from inside Hagrid's hut. It was Hagrid breaking the mug. Ina a minute, Hermione was going to find Scabbers's, and I was going to burn Iggy...

Sure enough, in a minute, we heard Hermione shriek, then Iggy cry in pain. I felt guilt boil through me all over again.

"Guys," Harry said suddenly, "What if I just run in and grab Pettigrew, then-"

"No!" Hermione snapped. "Don't you get it? We can't be seen! We're breaking one of the most important wizard laws! Nobody is meant to mess with time, no one! You head Dumbledore, if we're seen-"

"We'd only been seen by ourselves and Hagrid!" Harry insisted.

"Harry, what would you think if you saw yourself bursting into Hagrid's house?" Hermione said, raising her eyebrows. Harry sighed, looking at Hagrid's hut. "I'd think- I'd think I'd gone mad," he said, "Or else that some Dark Magic was going on."

"Exactly!" Hermione said, waving her arms around, desperate for me, Harry and Nudge to see what was wrong with getting Pettigrew. "You wouldn't understand! You could even attack yourself! McGonagall told me some of the terrible things that has happened to people that have meddled with time. Loads of them ended up killing their past or future selves!"

Nudge looked disgusted with the thought, but then said, "But I'm not in there! I could run in and grab Pettigrew, then come back out!" I smiled, impressed by how fast Nudge was thinking. "You can't do that either! For one thing, how would you of known we were down there? We never told you about Buckbeak being executed today. And it's past curfew! You never break curfew! And why would you want Scabbers in the first place? I'm sorry Nudge, it was a good idea, but there would be too many questions asked. We can't be seen! And that goes for you too!" Hermione said.

I looked around again, still checking for any oncoming threats. I looked over in the direction of the castle, and groaned. "Trouble. Eleven o'clock," I said. Harry and Hermione looked at the castle, but Nudge looked the other way. I poked her shoulder, and pointed in the direction of the castle. She grinned at me sheepishly, and I winked at her. What, we never got any education! The mad scientists never thought about us ever having social lives, or successful carriers.

Anyway, enough bird-kid rambling. Dumbledore, Fudge, Macnair, and the Committee member were walking through the grounds towards Hagrid's hut. "We're about to come out!" Hermione whispered.

Sure enough, seconds later, the back door opened and I saw Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fang, Iggy and myself standing there with Hagrid. Seeing myself was...strange. Looking at me now, then at myself three hours ago, there was a huge change. Three-hours-ago-me was wearing the same clothes I was wearing, but they were clean, whereas mine were torn and filthy. Also, three-hours-ago-me's long, curly blond hair was clean of mud or blood. My hair now was so covered in mud it looked dark brown, with patches of blood in it from the cut on my forehead, which was now thankfully magically stitched closed.

We watched as we all gave Hagrid a big hug, then disappearing under the Invisibility Cloak. There was a knock on Hagrid's front door, and I heard the footsteps of the six of walking around the pumpkin patch. Eventually, our footsteps grew dimmer and dimmer until I couldn't hear them again.

The four of us, though, could hear what was being said inside Hagrid's hut through the back door.

"Where's the beast?" came Macnair's deep, unnerving voice.

"Out-outside," Hagrid chocked. I balled my hands into fists, wanting to kick Macnair into the middle of neck week. Actually, I wanted to do that to everyone in that hut, except for Hagrid and Dumbledore of course.

Then we heard Fudge's voice saying, "We have to read you the official notice of execution, Hagrid. I'll be sure to make it quick. And then you and Macnair will be required to sign it. And Macnair, your to listen as well. That's procedure..."

I stuck my head around the tree's, and looked at the windows in Hagrid's hut. I just looked in time to see Macnair's head disappearing from the window. "Wait here," Harry whispered, "I'll do it now."

"I'll help," I said, not liking the idea of a boy doing all the hard work. Harry looked like he was going to argue, but I was already sneaking slowly out from behind the trees, my footsteps silent. When Fudge started talking again, Harry followed me. His footsteps were much louder then mine. I rolled my eyes to myself. Ameture.

I hopped the fence surrounding the pumpkin patch, where Buckbeak was tied up and approached him.

"It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the hippogriff known as Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall be executed on the sixth of June at sundown..." came Fudge's voice from the hut.

Careful not to blink, I stared into Buckbeak's fierce orange eyes, looking so much like the sunset around me. When I felt Harry stand beside me, I nodded slowly without taking my eyes off Buckbeak. Together we both bowed. Buckbeak sank to his knees, then stood back up again. I ran forward, Harry right beside me, and we both started untying the tight knot on the rope. Every once in a while, our hands touched, sending tingles running through my body. I tried ignoring it, tried to focus on the task at hand.

"...sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the Committee's appointed executioner, Walden Macnair..."

"Come on Buckbeak... move your big feathery butt!" I snarled, tugging hard on the rope. "We're trying to help you!" Harry added, pulling on the rope with all his strength.

"...as witnessed below. Hagrid, you sign here.."

I threw my whole weight onto the rope, digging my heels into the dirt. Then I noticed that Buckbeak had done the same. "Oh...my...God..." I groaned, felling like my shoulders were going to pop from my sockets. Seeing as the whole flock were extraordinarily strong, this was something I wasn't used to. God, how much did Buckbeak weigh!

"Well, lets get it over with," came a old voice of the Committee member from inside Hagrid's house. "Hagrid, maybe it'll be best if you stay inside." Yeah, like that would happen.

As expected, Hagrid's answer was, "No. I- I wan' ter be with him," Hagrid said, sounding completely broken. That only made me more determined to free Buckbeak. "I don' wan' him ter be alone..."

Footsteps echoed inside the cabin. "Buckbeak I swear if you don't move right now-" I started, but then thankfully, Buckbeak started walking slowly, rustling his wings irritably. We were still about ten feet away from the edge of the forest, right in the middle of Hagrid's garden, in plain view of everyone that wanted to see us. Well, this seriously sucked.

"We need to move faster!" I hissed. "You think I don't know that?" Harry growled.

"One moment, please Macnair," Dumbledore was saying. "You need to sign as well." I let out a relieved breath, but didn't slow down. We still had to go faster, but Buckbeak still wasn't moving even half as fast as we needed. Nudge and Hermione's pale face's was sticking out from behind the trees. "Harry! Max! Hurry!" Hermione mouthed. "You think we're having a lovely stroll here?" I said quietly, dragging Buckbeak behind me. Buckbeak started to do a slow trot. Still wasn't fast enough, but it would do for a second.

Finally, we reached the trees. "Quick, quick!" Hermione said, grabbing the rope around Buckbeak's neck and pulling it as well. Nudge reached out as well, grabbing the rope and adding her weight to pulling Buckbeak along. I looked over my shoulder and it felt like a huge weight was lifted from my winged shoulders when I saw we were blocked from sight. I couldn't see Hagrid's house or garden.

"Stop!" Harry said, "They might hear us!"

Hagrid's back door opened with a bang. Me, Hermione, Harry and Nudge all remained motionless. Even Buckbeak was still and quiet. It seemed like he was listening intently. There was silence, then-

"Where is it?" Macnair shouted. "Where's the beast?"

"I saw it only a moment ago!" said the old Committee member. "I saw it! Just there!"

"How extraordinary," Dumbledore said, a hint on amusement in his voice. I rolled my eyes. Only Dumbledore.

"Beaky..." Hagrid said huskily as if he was chocking back his tears. There was a swishing noise, then the thud of an axe. It sounded like he swung it in anger into a pumpkin. Jeez, someone had anger problems.

Then came the howling. But this time, we could hear Hagrid's words through the sobs. "Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free! Beaky yeh clever boy!" Buckbeak started pulling against the rope, trying to get to Hagrid. I dug my heels into the ground again and tightened my grip on the rope, the others doing the same.

"Someone untied him!" Macnair shouted. "We should search the grounds, the forest!" I shared a shocked look with Nudge, ready to run with Buckbeak if we needed to. Nudge looked like she was doing all she could not to say something. I gave her a look, and she nodded, focusing on keeping Buckbeak from running off.

"Macnair, if someone indeed set Buckbeak free, why would they let him go on foot? Search the skies if you must. Hagrid, if you will, I would like a nice cup of tea, or a large brandy," Dumbledore said, still sounding amused. "O'- o' course, Professor," Hagrid said, sounding overjoyed with happiness. It sounded so much different then before, I let my grip loosen for a moment. But only for a moment.

We waited and listened closely. We heard footsteps, the loud angry cursing of Macnair, then the snap of the door. Then silence.

"Now what?" Nudge asked, patting Buckbeak's head and cooing. "We'll need to hide here," I said, going into leader mode. "We've got to wait till gramp's and angry guy are gone back to the castle. Then we wait, and fly Buckbeak up to Sirius's window. He's not going to be there for another few hours..." I said. Hermione gasped and said, "This is going to be so difficult!"

"We're going to have to move," Harry said, "We need to see the Whomping Willow or else we won't know what's happening.

"Okay," Hermione said, tightening her grip on Buckbeak's rope. "Just remember we can't be seen!" We moved around the trees in the forest, darkness starting to fall around us, until we were hidden behind a huge clump of tree's and bushes close to the Whomping Willow, where we had a good view of what was happening. We waited a few seconds, then Nudge exclaimed, "There's Ron!" And sure enough there was Ron, running after Pettigrew in the darkness, shouting after him.

After another few seconds, I saw me, Harry, Hermione, Fang and Iggy appear from no where, sprinting after Ron. I watched myself throw the Cloak over at Harry, and sprinting ahead of the others. From where I was standing, I couldn't see anything on my back, not a bulge or anything. It looked like I was completely normal. If only.

You wouldn't be happy if you were normal, The Voice chimed in. Imagine how bored you would be. You wouldn't be Max without the wings. I rolled my eyes, wondering if the Voice would be able to see it. "There's Sirius!" Harry said, pointing. The huge black dog bounded out from behind the branches of the Whomping Willow. We watched him jump over Harry, seize Ron...

"It looks even worse from here," Hermione gasped, watching with wide eyes. Nudge was looking at what was happening with her mouth open and her massive brown eyes wider then Hermione's.

"Ouch, Max just got hit by the Whomping Willow..." Harry said, observing what was happening. I looked at past me sprawled on the ground, groaning slightly. "Oh and now I did... So did everyone else...This is so freaking weird," Harry continued, his emerald eyes sparkling in the half light.

The Whomping Willow was swishing here and there, and the four of us stared as we watched ourselves darting here and there, getting hit by the branches, or else dodging them. Then the tree froze.

"That was Crookshanks pressing the knot," Hermione said. "And there we go," Harry said, "We're in."

"So what do we do now?" Nudge said. "We wait," I said simply. She nodded, then took my hand. I griped her's tightly, grinning at her. We've seen so little of each other this year. I was determined to change that. A moment later, the tree started moving again. Only seconds later, Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge and Gramps were walking back to the castle.

"Only right after we went down the passage!" Hermione said, "If only Dumbledore could of come with us!" Harry frowned, then said, "Yeah, and Fudge and Macnair would of come too," he said. "I bet you my Firebolt Fudge would of ordered Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot."

"I wouldn't of let him," I growled. "But you didn't know he was innocent then," Hermione said. "Wouldn't of mattered," I said. "I still wouldn't of just let them kill him."

"And that's why your such a great leader, Max," Nudge said, smiling sweetly. I smirked at her. Nudge was just such a great kid. But honestly, that mouth of her's could turn Mrs Weasley into a mass murderer. It's just a good thing that she had so many kids to deal with.

For a few minutes, the scene was deserted. Then-

"There's Lupin," I said, watching as he strode frantically across the grounds. I looked up at the sky. The clouds were obscuring the moon entirely. If only I could run over to him, and remind him to take his potion. But of course, Hermione wouldn't let me do that.

Lupin bent over, and picked up a broken branch from the ground. He moved forward slightly, then prodded the knot on the trunk. The tree froze again, and Lupin disappeared into it.

"If only he grabbed the Cloak," Harry said, staring at it in the distance. "It's just lying there-" he stopped talking suddenly. I looked around, wondering if someone did something to him. But I couldn't hear or see anything unusual. "Hermione, what if I just run out and grab the Cloak? Snape would never be able to sneak up on us!"

"No!" Hermione nearly shouted. I was glad I didn't ask her if I could talk to Lupin. The look on her face was frightening. "We mustn't be seen! How many times do I have to say that?" "How can you stand there and not do anything?" Harry snapped fiercely. "Just standing there like nothing happened?" Harry hesitated, then stood up and said, "I'm going to get the Cloak."

"Harry no!"

Hermione reached out and grabbing the back of Harry's jumper. And not a moment too soon, if you ask me. Hagrid walked through the grounds, singing happily at the top of his voice, swinging a bottle from his hands. "See?" Hermione said, "See what would of happened? We need to stay out of sight. No Buckbeak!"

Buckbeak was making frantic attempts to get to Hagrid. The four of us held onto the rope tighter then before, ignoring the burning feeling in our hands. We waited until Hagrid slowly made his way to the castle, stumbling here and there. Then he was gone. Buckbeak stopped fighting. His head dropped sadly, and I patted him soothingly. "It's okay Beaky," I said, "You'll see Hagrid soon." Buckbeak stared at me with his orange eyes, as if questioning me. "I promise," I added. I don't know why I thought of it, but I shrugged my shoulder, and extended my wings. When he saw my wings (which are damn awesome if you ask me) he seemed to calm down.

I turned around and saw Harry staring at me with a strange expression. He was giving me a sort of half-grin thing that made my heart race. I blushed, and was glad that it was so dark here.

I decided to keep my wings out, because it was relaxing and comfortable. Nudge did the same, spreading out her tawny wings beside mine.

A few minutes later, the castle doors opened again. With my raptor vision, I was able to see that it was Snape, running towards the Whomping Willow. He looked like an extremely ugly bat with his cloak flapping behind him. A bat that needed a shower.

I saw Harry tense up when Snape skidded to a halt beside the Cloak. Snape grinned when he picked it up. He threw it over himself and disappeared from sight.

"And that's it," I said, "The whole gang are down there. Now we just wait till we all come back up again." Hermione stood up and tied Buckbeak's rope around the nearest tree.

"There's something I don't understand about your story," Nudge said, absently picking at the grass around her. "Why didn't the Dementors get Sirius?"

"Yeah, I was wondering that as well," Hermione said. "I remember seeing them, then passing out. There was so many of them..."

Harry and I shared a look. I know we both saw, and thought the same thing about what happened. But did we want to talk about it? Talking helps everything, Max, the Voice said. Oh, aren't you fairly chatty tonight! I thought. Talk things out, Max. It will help everything. Maybe you should tell Harry that for the future. the Voice said. I frowned. Huh? I thought. And of course, I got no answer.

I looked at Harry. He raised his eyebrows. I hesitated, then nodded slowly. He started telling Hermione and Nudge what happened and what we saw. Their jaws were hanging open when he stopped talking. "But what was it?" Nudge asked, referring to the bright silver light we saw. I noticed he left out the part about seeing my mother and his father. Hmm...

"A Patronus," I said. "A real one. A really powerful one." Hermione frowned. You could practically see the wheels turning in her head. "But who conjured it?" she asked. I looked over at Harry. I still didn't know how I could of seen my mother. It was impossible. She was dead, right? And so was James Potter.

"Did you see what they looked like?" Hermione insisted. "Was it teachers?"

"No. They weren't teachers," Harry said distantly. "Well, it must of been a really powerful wizard to drive away all the Dementors. If the Patronus's were shining so brightly, surely you must of seen something? Couldn't you see-?"

"Yeah, we saw them," I said. "We weren't thinking straight though. Passed out afterward..."

"Who do you think it was?" Nudge asked.

"I think-" Harry said, looking like he couldn't believe what he was going to say. "I think I saw my dad. And Max's mom." I looked over at Nudge and Hermione. Their jaws were even wider now then before. If that was possible. They were looking at us with expressions of alarm and pity. Two things I hated.

"But your dad, Harry... Max, your mom... Well, their dead." Hermione said quietly. "We know that," we both said at the same time. "You think you saw their ghosts?" Hermione asked. I shook my head. "No. They looked... well, solid."

"But then-"

"Maybe we were seeing things," Harry said. "But from what I saw, it looked like him. I've got pictures of him."

"Everyone said I look like my mom," I said. "She looked like me...but different."

Hermione and Nudge were staring at us like we were crazy. "I know it sounds mad," Harry said, staring at his shoes. I looked behind me and Buckbeak, who was running his beak through the ground, looking for worms. But I wasn't seeing Buckbeak. I was thinking about my father, and his three friends. The Marauders. Was it possible all four Marauders were at Hogwarts tonight? And my mother?

We waited in somewhat silence for over an hour. Nudge would sometimes try to pick up conversation, but it wouldn't last very long. After about half an hour, she started shivering from the cold so I pulled off my torn hoodie and put it around her shoulders. She smiled happily at me, and I sat down again. When I started feeling the cold, I just pulled my wings in around my body. It was warmer then any jumper or jacket any day.

Finally, after over an hour, we started hearing voices and footsteps from the Whomping Willow. "Here we come!" Hermione whispered anxiously. The four of us got to our feet cautiously. Even Buckbeak raised his head, knowing something was going to happen. We saw Fang, Iggy, and Pettigrew climb out awkwardly, then came Snape, his head on his chest, then Lupin, then Sirius, followed by me, Harry, Hermione and Ron. We all started walking to the castle.

I watched as I walked ahead of the others, toward Sirius with a spaced look on my face. Oh, so that's what Fang means when he says I look weird talking to the Voice. We watched as me and Sirius walked away from the others, so I could tell him about my wings. When I told him, I was too distracted about his reaction to notice how he looked. Well, lets just say he wasn't happy. He was furious.

He looked completely outraged. I wondered why I didn't see that before. Oh, I thought, Now I get it. Sirius was so happy about having me and Harry back in his life that he wasn't going to let my past get in the way of it.

We watched as we all walked back up to the castle. I glanced up at the sky and gulped. Any minute now, that cloud was going to move aside and the moon would be in full view...

"Harry, there isn't anything we can do," Hermione said, "We've all got to stay put. We can't be seen."

"Jeez, Hermione that's your new catchphrase," I muttered. "Shut up," Hermione said.

"Are we just going to let Pettigrew escape again?" Harry said darkly. "How do you possibly expect to see a rat in the dark?" Hermione said, whipping her head around to stare at Harry. "So... Sirius is still going to be a fugitive?" Nudge said, looking at me out of the corner of her eyes. "Most likely...I'm sorry, Harry, Max," Hermione said, smiling sadly.

The moon slid out from under the cloud. We saw the small figures freeze, watching Lupin transform. I watched as I ran forward, trying to free Fang and Iggy. "Merlin, Max. That was so brave! You just ran in front of a werewolf!" Nudge gasped. "Thanks sweetie," I said. "Plus it's not like we haven't faced werewolves before." Nudge nodded, her big eyes on what was happening in front of us.

We watched as I freed Fang and Iggy, then as Lupin hit Iggy into the tree, Pettigrew hitting Fang with the rock, then cursing Ron. The as Sirius transformed, leaped at Lupin, then Lupin as he turned and started running towards-

"Guys, we need to move!" I said urgently. "No, Max, I keep telling you we can't interfere!" Hermione said. "It's not to interfere!" I said, climbing to my feet. "Wolf-Lupin is heading straight for us!" I shouted. Hermione gasped, and Harry said, "Crap! Move, now!" He grabbed Nudge's arm to pull her to her feet, as Hermione scrambled to untie Buckbeak. "Where do we go?" she asked. "The Dementors will be here any minute!"

"Back to Hagrid's!" Harry said, pulling Nudge to make her hurry up. She seemed in a daze watching Lupin. "It's empty now!"

We sprinted back to Hagrid's, Buckbeak trotting quickly behind us. We could hear the werewolf howling behind us. We reached Hagrid's cabin and I reached out and pulled the door open. "In! Fast!" I shouted. The other flashed by me, Buckbeak seeming happier now that he was back at Hagrid's. Fang the dog started barking from where he was lying in front of the fire.

"Shh Fang it's us!" Hermione said, rubbing Fang behind the ears. "That was really close," she said, turning back to us. "Yeah," Harry said, looking out the window.

I walked over and looked out the window beside Harry. I couldn't see much from here, even with my raptor vision. "We should go back outside," Harry said, squinting at the window. "Can't see what's happening from inside here." Hermione looked over at him, and eyebrow raised. "I won't interfere! But we have to know when it's time to save Sirius!" Harry said.

"Well, alright then," Hermione said. "I'll wait with Buckbeak. Be careful, Harry." she said. "I'm going to," I said. Hermione stared at me. "I won't interfere!" I snapped. "I'll stay here too," Nudge said. She stood us and handed me back my hoodie. "See you in a minute," I said, and opened the door, Harry hot at my heels.

We edged around the hut, as quietly as possible. We could hear yelping in the distance, meaning the Dementors were closing in on Sirius. Me, Harry and Hermione would be running down there any minute...

"Harry...whoever made the Patronus' would be there any minute," I said, grinning at the thought of meeting my mother and father in the same day. How freaking awesome would that be? Harry looked at me, a strange look playing across his face.

"We can't be seen," he said slowly. "But, honestly, we wouldn't be seen...We'd be doing the seeing... I really want to know, Max."

"I do too," I said. For a fraction of a second, we stood outside Hagrid's hut, not knowing what to do. And if you know me, that doesn't happen a lot.

Then there were the Dementors, gliding creepily through the darkness at every direction, towards the lake. I started running as hard as I could, Harry following me. I wasn't thinking about much except for my mom...if it was my mom...I hope it was my mom...I had to know...had to find out... I only started sprinting...

The lake was coming in closer and closer, but I couldn't see anything. On the opposite bank, I could see the silver lights of me and Harry's attempts at a Patronus. There was a large bush on the side of the lake, edging the water. Me and Harry threw ourselves behind it, waiting anxiously for someone to come. I peered over the bush, and saw myself falling on my side, gripping Harry's hand. A jolt of excitement shot through me. Any minute now, and I might see my mother... any minute now...

"Come on..."Harry whispered beside me, "Come on! Where are you, Dad? Come on!"

But no one was coming. On the opposite side of the lake, the Dementors were lowering their hoods, about to perform the kiss on us. It was around now that the rescuers appeared...But no one showed up...No one suddenly appeared...No one was coming to help...

Then it hit me like one of Gazzy's little mishaps, or namesakes. Don't ask about it...It's a tab bit disturbing...

I didn't see my mom, or Harry's dad performing the Patronus... I had seen me and Harry.

At the exact same time, Harry and I flung ourselves from behind the bush, pointing our wands at the Dementors.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" we shouted.

This was completely different from the other times we tried to do a Patronus. Out of the end of my wand, came not a shapeless shape but a dazzling silver animal. I squinted my eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a huge dog, but more...wolfy. It was a wolf. My patronus was a wolf.

Oh irony, you are a kick in the butt.

The blinding silver wolf was running away from us across the lake. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw that Harry's Patronus was an animal as well. It looked like a horse, but it had antlers. A stag? I frowned, then focused back on my own wolf. I saw it open it's mouth in a silent roar, charging for the Dementors on one side of the lake, while Harry's stag thing went on the other side. The Dementors were falling back, scattering all over...And they were gone.

The Patronus' turned and started running back to me and Harry. Now that Harry's was closer, I saw it was indeed a stag, and mine was a wolf. A female wolf by the looks of her. Harry stared at the stag with wide green eyes, and Harry whispered, "Prongs." I stared at him, smiling.

I looked back at my own Patronus. I stretched out my fingers to touch it, but before my fingers reached it, it vanished. So did Harry's stag.

I heard hooves behind me and turned around. Hermione and Nudge was standing behind me in the trees with Buckbeak. "What did you do?" she asked. "You were only meant to keep a lookout."

"We just saved all our lives," Harry said. "Come here, behind this bush, I'll tell you."

The four of us crouched behind the bush and Harry explained what we just did. "Did anyone see you?" Hermione asked, her mouth hanging open. "Only us," I said, pointing to me and Harry. "Oh, look Snape!" Nudge said, pointing behind us. True enough, Snape was making his way down to where past-us were lying unconscious. He started conjuring stretchers and lifting out limp forms onto them. Three other stretchers, with Ron, Fang and Iggy, were hovering behind him. With a wave of his wand, all the stretchers started moving back to the castle, Snape following.

"It's nearly time," Hermione said, checking her watch. "We have forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks the hospital wings door. We need to save Sirius and get back before anyone realizes we were gone."

We waited, watching the clouds moving across the sky. Buckbeak started looking for worms again in the ground.

"D'you think he's there yet?" Harry asked. He turned around and started counting the windows to the right of the West Tower. "Look!" Hermione said, pointing. "Who's that?" Someone was walking from the castle towards the front gates. "It's Macnair," I said, seeing the glint of the shiny axe in his belt. "He's gone to get the Dementors. It's time, guys."

Nudge and I spread our wings wide, while Hermione placed her hands on Buckbeak's back. Harry crouched down and gave her a leg up on Buckbeak. Then Harry pushed himself up in front of her. He maneuvered the rope around Buckbeak's neck so they were like reins. "Ready?" he said. Nudge and I nodded, and Hermione put her arms around Harry's waist.

Nudge and I started running, then after ten steps, we leaped into the air, moving our wings up and down hard to keep us up. It felt amazing to be flying again. We didn't get much chances at Hogwarts.

My hair was whipping around in front of my face, and my face and hands stung from the cold night air, but it was all worth it to be flying again. Nudge was beside me, and Buckbeak was behind us with Harry and Hermione.

When we reached the West Tower, I started counting the windows. When I reached the right one, I backpedaled, waving my arms and legs stupidly. "Whoa!" Harry shouted behind me, trying to get Buckbeak to stop before we crashed into me and Nudge and make a bird-kid sandwich with the wall. "He's there!" Harry shouted. I went closer to the window, looking out in case I hit my wings against the wall, then tapped on the window.

Not the best move, but there you have it.

Sirius stood up, and his jaw dropped open. He started laughing when he saw me and Nudge, then Harry and Hermione on a Hippogriff. He jumped off the chair he was sitting in and tried to open it but it was locked.

"Move!" Nudge shouted, pulling her wand from her jeans pocket. "Alohomora!" she shouted, and the window burst open. "How-how?" Sirius gasped, staring at me and Nudge, then at the Hippogriff.

"Get on the Hippogriff, we're wasting time!" I said. "The Dementors are on their way to kiss you."

Sirius placed a hand on either side of the window frame and heaved his head and shoulders out of it. It was lucky he was thin, or else he wouldn't of been able to get out. In seconds, he was able to climb onto Buckbeak behind Hermione. I started flying away again, and Buckbeak was rising away from the castle. I flew up to the top of the West Tower. I landed before the others, then Nudge landed, then Buckbeak. Harry, Hermione slid off him, but Sirius stayed on.

"Sirius, you should go," Harry said. "Any minute, their going to find out your not there. Go!"

"What happened to the other boys? Fang, Iggy, and Ron? And who are you?" he added, looking at Nudge. "They'll be alright. That's Nudge. Now go!" I said.

"I really am sorry about what happened to you," Sirius said, looking at me and Nudge. "I swear, I will try to stop them." He had the same furious look as before. "Yeah, that's all great and noble. Now leave!" Sirius smiled, then said, "How can I ever thank you-"

"LEAVE!" the four of us shouted.

Sirius smiled again, and wheeled Buckbeak around.

"We'll see each other soon," Sirius said, looking at me and Harry in particular. "I promise. You really are your father's son, Harry. And Max- I can't be more proud of who you have become." He squeezed Buckbeak's sides with his heels. The four of us jumped back so we woudn't get hit by Buckbeak's massive wings. Then Buckbeak flew off into the air... Him and Sirius became smaller and smaller. With my raptor vision, I was able to see them for longer then the others.

Then a cloud drifted over them and they were...gone.

I'm really sorry this chapter took so long. I've been really busy with homework, testes, my mom's birthday, day, then mothers day and everything else I've been doing! So I am SORRY!

Oh, and get this. We're doing magnetism in science at the moment, and the last day our teacher told us most birds have magnetite in their brains so they can know where they're going when they migrate. What if that's what the flock have for their direction thingy? I feel proud that I might of figured it out on my own :)

Anyway, this chapter is SUPER long and I hope you enjoy it!

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-Rach ;)