Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters.

A/N: Thanks to MaeSilverpaws1, who is beta-ing this story.

Chapter Seventy-One

Hermione's Secret

"Oi! Wake up you lot!" a voice was saying as Harry felt someone shake him.

"Huh?" Harry grumbled as his eyes blinked open. He couldn't quite remember where he was or what he was doing for the moment, but it slowly came back to him. He even remembered when the Dementor lowered his cloak and was leaning closer to him. He shook his head to rid himself of that image.

"What happened?" the voice asked this time and Harry slowly realized that it was Fred.

"We were attacked … Dementors," Harry muttered and realized by how dark it was that they were still in the forest. This wasn't comforting, knowing that they could still be in danger by any number of creatures that were in there.

"I thought I saw their figures flying away …" Fred said. "And it was the silvery light we followed to find you lot."

"So how long have we been out?" Sirius asked.

"Don't know … but I've been trying to wake you all for the last twenty minutes," Fred answered.

"Damn," Sirius hissed.

"Er … am I missing something?" Fred questioned.

"Pettigrew … he got away," Ron guessed because Sirius wasn't saying anything, he was just looking towards the direction that he had last seen the rat.

"Where's Remus?" Harry asked.

"In the Shrieking Shack," Fred answered and Sirius turned to look at him with a raised eyebrow.

"Why is he there?"

"If you haven't noticed, it's a full moon today," Fred said looking at the sky, though the moon hadn't risen yet … it was only a few minutes away from that time.

"But the others are in the passageway!" Ron gasped; worried about the three girls.

"Er …" Fred said, "well, Hermione said that they would be okay."

"When did I say that?" Hermione voice could be heard mere seconds before she became visible in the light of Fred's wand.

"When you wrote me that note," Fred said rolling his eyes. "Honestly, I don't know if we should call you Athena if you can't even remember that … wasn't she supposed to be smart."

Hermione glared at him, "I don't know what you're going on about … I only wrote to you and George and that was ages ago."

Fred's burrow furrowed as he looked at her. He could tell that she really didn't have any idea what he was talking about, but he couldn't see how that was possible. He had read her words … it was in Hermione's handwriting … What was going on?

"What I want to know is who sent the Dementors away?" Harry asked the group at large. "Was it any of you?"

"No," several people said at the same time, but Sirius looked at him oddly.

"I thought you did that," Sirius said.

"Me?" Harry said shocked. "No … I could barely keep one of them at bay."

"I swear I heard your voice," Sirius said.

"Fred … are you sure I wrote to you?" Hermione questioned him looking thoughtful all of a sudden. Something odd was happening here, and she was starting to realize what that might be. If she was right, she was in some serious trouble.

"Of course, I'm sure," Fred said. "I was just talking to Remus when the map I've been burrowing form Harry heated up. The writing was in the brown color that marked that you were the one talking … not to mention it was definitely your handwriting. I don't get how you don't remember that, but it was a good thing you did, Remus forgot to take his potion today … he said so himself when I gave him your warning …"

"He forgot his potion!" Harry groaned, knowing that meant that Remus's transformation was going to be particularly bad today.

"Yeah … and he said that he couldn't risk going back to the castle to get it," Fred said. "It would be too dangerous if he were to transfigure while on the grounds."

"I've got to go to the shack," Sirius said getting up, like Harry, he knew his friend was in for a painful transformation and he wanted to be there to ease his pain. However, he looked at the seven children he was with and groaned; he couldn't leave them on the grounds alone. "But first we've got to get back to the castle."

"Sirius, no. Remus needs us now," Harry argued, already trying to think about transforming himself so he could be there for the werewolf. He gulped as he realized that he really would be meeting a werewolf this time, but that only made him more determined. After all, wasn't this the reason why he was learning to become an Animagus?

"No way, Harry!" Sirius said firmly, his eyes narrowing at the messy haired boy. "I don't care …"

"Sirius … are you really sure that you heard Harry?" Hermione asked.

"What? Er … yeah," Sirius said confused, being more worried about Harry trying to be with Remus while his friend was in his werewolf form than anything else. "Harry I don't care if you have learned to become …"

"We don't have time for this right now," Hermione said biting her lip, "or maybe we have too much time for this, it's just not in the right place."

"What are you talking about?" Sirius asked looking at the girl who wasn't making much sense as he saw her pull out the little golden chain and he almost gasped. He looked up at her shocked. "Do you really think you have to …"

"It would explain a few things," Hermione said.

"You do realize that this is against the law," Sirius said to her.

Hermione shuddered at the idea and had to take several deep breaths to steal up her nerve. When she did she looked determinately up at Sirius and said, "And if I don't do this people I care about will be hurt … maybe even killed. I can't let that happened."

"Good," Sirius said smiling at her proudly and she wondered if he was just testing her resolve to do this. "I think I'll be omitting this part of what happened when I write my report to the Auror's office."

"Right," Hermione gulped, forgetting just for the moment that the person she was talking to was actually an officer of the law and therefore should be arresting her, not encouraging her. Pushing that thought out of her mind, she turned to Harry and put the chain necklace over his head.

"What are you doing?" Harry questioned.

"It's obvious I'm going to need your help, Harry," Hermione said, and then started muttering to herself trying to figure out how far back they should go.

"Help in what?" Harry asked but got no answered as Hermione started flipping the little hourglass that was at the end of her necklace. Harry had the peculiar feeling of falling backwards as he saw imagines of things flashing pass him. When everything came back into focus he was standing in the castle near the Divination's classroom. He didn't have time to think before Hermione pushed him down the stairs so no one could see them.

"What's going on here? What are we doing inside of the castle? Why is it daylight?" Harry asked.

"Be quiet, we can't be heard," Hermione hissed at him, tucking the necklace into her shirt, and then pushed him into an empty classroom. "We've gone back in time."

Harry just looked at her with an open mouth for several seconds before he repeated slowly, "we've gone back in time … how …?"

"Haven't you wondered how I was getting to all my classes this year?" Hermione questioned and he nodded his head slowly, still dazed. "Well I've been using a time turner to relive hours so that I could make all of my classes."

"And now … now you're using it to do … what?" Harry said, trying to follow what she was saying, it made sense and didn't make sense at the same time. "Why have you brought us back here?"

"Well to start, I had to pick a time that we were both together," Hermione said. "Or you would have ended up at a different place and wouldn't know what to do. I picked the time that we were waiting for the Divination final as you probably figured out."

Harry nodded his head to that, though of course he had not thought of that … he just wasn't about to tell her she was wrong when she was giving him credit for it.

"I also thought this would be a good time for us to get to a place that we will be safe," Hermione said. "I know when I was in the passageway with Ginny and Luna, that one of us was constantly looking at the map trying to figure out what was happening. We were also trying to get out of there … it was horrible just waiting there knowing that you and Ron were in danger."

"I know," Harry said, grabbing her arm in a supportive way because she was looking worried. "But we're okay now. So, where do you think we should go?"

"Isn't it obvious … we have to go back into the Forbidden Forest," Hermione said. "That's the only place that we would be off of the map … and we're going to have keep a close watch on you … er … your other self, to make sure that we'll be able to help him in time."

"Er …" Harry said looking confused.

Hermione bit her lip, trying to think of how to explain this better but Harry shook his head.

"Look, you don't have to say more right now … we should get to the forest and you can tell me what you're thinking then," Harry said and she nodded her head and they ran through the castle, not stopping until they got into the forest by the quickest means possible. Hermione took out her map so she could make sure that they were hidden and noticed that she and Ron had just made it to the grounds near the lake.

"We better get as near to the Whomping Willow as possible," Hermione said. "That's were all the action will take place."

"Sure," Harry said, looking at the map thoughtfully, his eyes scanning the castle and not looking where he was heading, instead just following Hermione's lead.

"Harry? What are you thinking about?" Hermione asked warily. When his eyes met hers she could see what it was without him saying a word what he was thinking. "Harry we can't …"

"We can stop Peter Pettigrew from escaping," Harry said. "You heard what I told you … he's going to help Voldemort raise."

Hermione shivered at that but she was shaking her head. "We can't change what happened …"

"Why not … isn't that what we're doing here?" Harry grumbled. "Changing what happened?"

"No … not really," Hermione answer shocked him. "Harry don't you get it. There was always a pair of us, you and me, in the forest at this time, making sure that things worked out the right way."

"What?"

"I've been reading about time travel and there is more than one way to do it," Hermione said. "Where the time turner is concern, however, it's clear that it falls under the cause and effect clause. Yes, Harry you can go out there and it will change the time line but that could lead to drastic things to happen … not to mention that we might be seen …"

"And what would happen if we were seen?" Harry said. "Especially, if we're only seen by ourselves."

"Honestly Harry, what would you do if you suddenly saw yourself?" Hermione asked.

Harry didn't answer because he knew what he would do and it wouldn't be pretty. "Maybe we can catch Peter when he tries to run away."

"Maybe," Hermione said looking sad. "But we have things we have to do first."

"Like send Fred a message," Harry said.

"Yes … but it has to be at the right time," Hermione said, "I'm not exactly sure when I wrote to Fred and George the first time … but we have to write to him …"

"I'm sure you'll figure that out," Harry said not really wanting to hear her work that out. "But first things first, Hermione … we've got to get our wands back."

"Argh … I forget about that," Hermione said. "We should probably get closer to the lake first and then we can move towards the Whomping Willow … argh, but how are we going to find you guys if we're not watching the Willow?"

"I'm sure we'll work it out … we have about an hour before that happens," Harry said. "In the mean time, maybe we should practice our Animagus transformation."

Hermione looked at him oddly, "Er … don't you think that's a bit much …"

"You said … er … or Fred said that you said that Remus is going to be in the Shrieking Shack alone and without his potion," Harry said.

"And you're hoping that you will be able to help him," Hermione sighed. "I understand why Harry … but I don't think we're quite ready for the actually transformation …"

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, Ron managed to do it," Harry shrugged.

"What? He transformed!" Hermione gasped and then looked down. She hated the jealousy that run through her at the fact that she hadn't been the first to transform … especially since she had been the one that was farthest along in said transformation. She only had to transform her head, but she seemed to have been stuck on that for the last few weeks.

"Yeah … I was shock too," Harry said, "Pettigrew was cursing me and then suddenly Ron was turning into a lion …. It was the only thing that he could have done seeing as we didn't have wands to fight the rat, and it worked. Of course George and Sirius showing up when they did also really helped us. I guess I've got to thank you and the others for that."

"All I did was write in the map," Hermione sighed.

"And now you've brought us back in time to make sure we continue to stay safe," Harry pointed out and Hermione smiled at him, but she was still looking down. "What's the matter?"

"Don't tell Ron this," Hermione said and took a deep breath, "but I never expected him to transform first."

"Honestly neither did I … I was hoping to be the first one," Harry sighed and she grimaced at him. "But I supposed you didn't expect it to be me either."

"Well …" Hermione started to say.

"It's okay … I think we all thought it would be you … or the twins because they're older," Harry shrugged. "I think it helped that my life was in danger though. You know what Ron is like when his friends are in danger … he's able to pull off magic that he isn't normally able to do."

"Well, that's something you have in common with him," Hermione pointed out.

"I hope so, because I really want to learn how to transform before the end of this night … I've got to help Remus," Harry said.

"We should worry about saving you and the others first," Hermione shook her head but didn't say anything more to him as he obviously tried to work on his transformation while they waited for the other Harry to arrive and things to start happening. He worked most of the hour on the transformation and was glad that he didn't need his wand to help him with this, but by the end of his work, he still wasn't able to fully transform. Hermione on the other hand, didn't even bother and Harry swore he saw fear in her eyes when she said that she shouldn't try right now. He wasn't sure if that was because they might be in danger or because of something else but he knew now wasn't the time to ask her about that.

Hermione held his arm when they saw Peter approaching on the map and they walked slowly toward the lake, taking special care to make sure that they weren't seen by anyone, especially not the group of people that were about to be captured by the rat. They held up behind a tree where they were able to see what was going on, but not hear anything.

"Tell me when it's over," Harry hissed, not being able to stand watching, feeling like he wanted to do something rash right now.

"I think we can go now," Hermione said as she watched Ron's red hair disappear from view. "We better be quick, if we're seen …"

"Right," Harry agreed, having already been warned he didn't need to hear it again. He ran out from behind the tree straight to where he had been standing moments ago … or was that hours ago? "We should take Ginny and Luna's wand too, right?"

"That would probably be best … we wouldn't want anyone else to take them," Hermione agreed as she picked up her own wand. "Harry, where are you going?" she added as she noticed him going towards where Ron had been when he had been first captured. She looked at the spot Harry was looking at and she sighed. "Poor Scratch."

"I wonder if he noticed Pettigrew spying on us," Harry sighed as he watched Hermione cast a spell on a flower, changing it into a box and then she levitated the rat into it. Harry turned to raise an eyebrow at her.

"I'm sure Ron will want to say goodbye to him," Hermione said sadly, before putting the rat in with her school bag where she had left it the first time they were taken. "We better get back into the forest."

"Right," Harry agreed and they quickly got back to the forest and made their way towards the Whomping Willow. They had passed the tree, but before they could find Peter, Harry and Ron, Hermione made them wait.

"Sirius and Remus have just left Hogwarts … I think I was sending Fred and George the other message around now." Hermione said and then looked at Harry. "How long do you think I should wait until I write to Fred?"

"Five minutes," Harry shrugged, not really sure if that was long enough or not, hoping it would be enough. "And remember that he has my map, so you have to write to me."

"I know," Hermione said as they waited where they were before Hermione started writing. She made sure to write down everything that Fred had eluded that she had said before turning back to Harry and they made their way into the forest. It took them awhile to find what they were looking for but as soon as the argument between Harry and Pettigrew broke out they found their way. Harry grabbed Hermione's hand once they were there, leading her silently in the direction that he though Pettigrew might use to flee.

"If you can … try and make sure Pettigrew doesn't escape," he said in her ear barely more than a whisper. He stayed close to her as the conversation went on and was able to cover her mouth as she gasped in what would have been a much too loud sort of way.

She looked at him (his hand still covering her mouth) and he could see the shock and pity she had that Pettigrew had using the torturing curse on him. She turned back on the scene when she heard the lion's roar and saw that Harry was telling the truth about Ron's transformation. She realized why Harry was still covering her mouth, though she was trying to control herself from screaming as well. As soon as Pettigrew cursed Ron first with the stunning charm and then tried to do what looked like the Killing Curse, though they will never know because George had disarmed him before Pettigrew could finish.

She didn't feel any pity for Pettigrew as Sirius jumped on him, nor when he was bitten. The stupid rat had just tortured her best friend … had tried to kill her other best friend. Suddenly she could hear Sirius yelling at Pettigrew, call him all sorts of foul names and wishing the Dementors would be even more vicious to him now that he had escaped. It seemed to have taken Sirius several minutes to calm himself down as George told the others what had happened.

And then they felt it. The chilling cold that meant the Dementors were coming. Harry could feel their effects on him, though it wasn't nearly as strong as it was previously since he wasn't as close to the foul creatures this time.

"Harry … now's the time, you're going to have to stop them," Hermione said to him.

"What?" Harry questioned. "Hermione you know I've never produced a real Patronus before … I can't …"

"Yes you can … you already have … or you're about to do it," Hermione said and Harry knew she was trying to talk about the time difference. He knew she was right … he knew that he had conjured the Patronus that had saved them before, but he didn't know how to do it now. He looked at the scene before him, Pettigrew had just turned into a rat and Sirius was looking after him. Harry could see in Sirius's eyes that he wanted to chase his old friend, but he was going to try and protect Harry and the other first. Sirius was reaching for his wand and Harry could see the hooded figures moving closer to his other self … to Ron and George … to Sirius …

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

The cry came without him even thinking about it. He wouldn't have said that he was happy, it was more like the will he had to protect those that he loved was coming straight out of him and filling into the shinny light that was to drive away the creatures that fed off the darkness. The Patronus that he had conjured charged out of his wand straight for the Dementor holding Sirius, knocking it away, and then going on to do the same to the one that was holding Ron, George and then himself. After that, the Patronus circled around the others until the Dementors fled the scene.

Harry smiled as he watched the Patronus turn back to him; he knew immediately what it was representing to him. The stag had big antlers and it walked proudly towards him, filling him with warmth.

"Dad," Harry whispered, just being able to touch the silvery stag before it disappeared.