Card the moon
Chapter 45 – Let's try this again
…
The lights came on slowly, that was bad. The memories came back quickly, that was worse.
His head throbbed as he tried to sort out what had happened. Dementors, that was his first realization. He worked his way backward from there, back to the madness. Sirius, his godfather. Remus, a werewolf. Snape, still a slimy git.
The world was a blur when he opened his eyes, a voice whispered from nearby, "They're on the table on your left."
He fumbled for his glasses, on the table on the left. The world clarified and he found Hermione on his right, worn and dirty, just like he felt.
"You okay?" he asked.
"I'll live."
"What happened? I remember everything up to the dementors and, well, anyway, what happened?"
"They arrested Sirius. They're holding him in Flitwick's office. Harry, they're going to give him the kiss."
They, being the Minister of Magic himself who chose that moment to come waltzing in with the headmaster and everyone's least favorite potions professor. The yelling began quickly and was just as quickly dismissed.
He was controlling you, confounded you, don't know what you're talking about, you.
By the time Madam Pomphrey shooed them out Harry had already realized he was going to have to save his godfather. He was not prepared for Dumbledore to get involved.
"Time, is such a funny thing. Three turns ought to do it, don't you think Miss Granger?"
"Is he suggesting what I think he's suggesting?" said Harry once they were left alone.
"He'd be the only other one who would know," she said, sliding out of bed and pulling out her time turner.
Harry looked rueful at the unconscious body on the bed next to hers, "Sorry Ron, have to go this one without you mate."
With his leg like it was he wouldn't have been any help anyway, though it was going to be a royal pain explaining this on top of everything else they needed to tell him when it was all over. Harry suspected he'd be a bit annoyed.
The trip backwards with the time turner was very different from his other time travel experience. Where his looping time simply reset each morning when he got up, standing under the time turner as it spun back time allowed him to watch as everything that had happened, did so again but in reverse and faster.
It was a bit disorienting, tell the truth.
They came to a stop in a very empty hospital wing, the sun showing through the windows suggested it about midday.
"So, when are we?" he asked as they stealthily fled the hospital wing before they were seen.
"If my math is right, we should be heading out to see Hagrid."
"That's, a few hours then?"
"Yes. We'll need to stay out of sight. We didn't know we were doing this then, so we can't let our past selves know we're doing it now."
"Time travel," Harry groaned quietly, so she knew he was listening.
It was important she didn't look back and see his face, if she did, she'd know he was up to something. And if she were really keen, she'd know she wasn't going to like what he was up to.
They arrived at the entry hall before they arrived. Ron's very loud indoor voice giving them just enough time to stow away in a broom cupboard to avoid being seen.
"I think we've gone."
They brushed off, straightened out, then looked at each other.
"We should follow us, stay close but out of sight."
"You do that," he said, "I've got a letter to write."
"What!"
His plan, half baked, was still better than the alternative so far as he could see. "I'm going to do everything in my power to save my godfather. Rules be damned Hermione. You follow us. I'll catch up."
She was not having that, and her mouth opening froze when he called to his Clow card and the world stopped moving.
"Sorry Hermione, but I've got to do this."
It was desperate, no kind of guarantee, but if his information was accurate, it just might work. If it didn't, well, that didn't bear thinking about just then.
Sprinting through Hogwarts he headed for Gryffindor tower. He needed to write a letter, quickly. It was a surreal run, passing dozens of frozen people. He was so busy gawping at a pair of Ravenclaws frozen mind snog he nearly ran into Professor McGonagall.
"Eyes forward Harry."
His plan ran into its first snag when he reached the portrait hole and realized he had to unfreeze time in order to get in.
"Bollocks!"
The fat lady jumped at his, to her, sudden appearance, but he barely gave her a glance and bolted through the opening hole as soon as he could squeeze through. No one was in the tower, the weather was too nice and with the stress of finals off their shoulders, who wanted to be indoors.
Dashing up the steps to his dorm he dug out parchment and a quill then stopped, took a breath, and in his most legible hand, began to make out a desperate letter.
"Dobby!" he shouted as he sealed the letter.
"Master is calling Dobby?" the little elf said, appearing without a sound.
"Dobby, I need you to take this to someone," he said, handing his elf the letter. "A man's life is at stake."
He quickly explained the relevant details, and with a grave look the elf was gone.
Harry collapsed into his chair.
"Oh bloody hell," his heart was pounding and his legs shook, but it wasn't over, he wasn't done. "On your feet Potter. This is no time for lollygagging!"
Channeling his own Sgt. Evil kitty, he hustled down the stairs and back out the portrait of the very put out fat lady. The sun was already dipping ominously, and he needed to get a long way quickly.
Serendipity intervened.
"Hullo Harry."
The sudden appearance of Luna was a surprise in how much he wasn't surprised. It was just so like her to pop up like that.
"Sorry Luna, can't talk I'm…"
"In a hurry. You need to get out of the castle or it's all going to fall apart."
A brief pause was forced, "How did you know?"
"Magic?"
"Of course," added the plushy sitting on top of her head.
He should have known better.
"Much as I'd love to continue this discussion, I really do need to get out there. Lives are on the line."
"Would you like some help?"
All the help he could get, "I need to get out to the lake without being seen."
Luna nodded, then pulled out her key and a couple of cards, "I know just what to do."
She wasn't bragging. They went the fast way through the castle, THROUGH the castle. Problematically they were not on the ground floor when they got out, but she was ready for that even if Harry was momentarily startled by his plummet.
FLOAT carried them safely to the ground as the sun fell and darkness swept over Hogwarts.
"We're running out of time," he mumbled, just as a bone chilling howl shook the night.
They ran as another howl replied.
The werewolf was fast, but DASH was faster. They caught up to him and Hermione just as Lupin tackled the youma.
"Of all the times for one of those to show up."
In a weird way, it was actually. The youma was physically strong, manhandling the werewolf and sending him running. It was also fast, as it proved when Harry put a piercer through its shoulder which sent it running.
"Shit! We don't have time to chase it."
"I'll take care of it," said Hermione. "It is my job."
He wanted to argue, but the sudden chill in the air cut him off and this time it was Hermione who was gone before anything else could be said.
"So that's what that feels like."
Harry and Luna ran. The dementors were swarming when they arrived at the edge of the lake and they could see the other Harry trying to conjure his Patronus.
"He should be here," Harry said, looking around for the one he'd seen when that was him flailing helplessly.
"He is here," said Luna.
"Where?" he looked around.
"Right here."
Harry stared blankly, "Luna, there's just us."
A smile crept over her face as realization hit him. He ran to the edge of the lake.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
His magic swelled at the end of his wand, but something was wrong. He could feel it trying to escape but something was holding it back.
A soft body slid next to him, a small hand reached out to his, "You can do it," she whispered, and the dam exploded.
Light like a tangible thing shook the world, cascading in shockwaves that assaulted the dementors like vicious thugs. He could feel it at the edge of his mind, the twinge of something, something familiar. This was no normal Patronus, and he saw them, as the spell wound down.
His mighty stag trotted up to the white one who stroked the beast with a gentle hand. The dark one found this quite amusing.
"We found them," said Luna.
"Them?" the twinge of familiarity was there but it had yet to trip.
"LIGHT and DARK."
The two cards smiled at them and floated down to their level.
"We have been waiting," said LIGHT.
"Waiting, for what?"
"To be together," said DARK.
"That is out nature."
"Where goes one, so goes the other, always."
The pair looked expectantly at Luna. Harry noted a hint of reluctance when she peeled herself off him and performed the sealing. The two cards floated knowingly into her hand.
"And that, is the last of them," said Kero, nearly forgotten in all the excitement but still sitting on Luna's head.
"Wait, you mean, we've got them all?" it seemed too good to believe.
Luna nodded, "LIGHT and DARK were the last."
"So… it's over then?"
The idea felt kind of good. It was nice to have at least one adventure all wrapped up. He really should have known better.
"No," she said solemnly, "now we must be judged."
A cry from above drew their attention.
"Is that, Hedwig?" his brow furled in confusion.
What was his owl doing here?
