Disclaimer: All of the characters and world recognised below belong to J.K Rowling. I do not own any of it, this is pure entertainment.

A Shining in the Shadows

Chapter 1: Bury My Future Behind

So when I'm ready to be bolder,
And my cuts have healed with time
Comfort will rest on my shoulder
And I'll bury my future behind

Home - Gabrielle Aplin

'Now, pay attention,' said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly. 'Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you. You must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law - you know what is at stake… you - must - not - be - seen.' (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, 1999, p. 288).

Sore, tired and panicked, Hermione Granger and Harry Potter ran towards the shelter of the Forbidden Forest. Heart beating in her chest, Hermione tried to focus on the task ahead despite Harry's panicked rambling. They had to save both Buckbeak and Sirius. The events of the evening - which they were reliving - still wheeled in her mind. Sirius Black was innocent, Professor Lupin transformed into a werewolf right before her eyes, Peter Pettigrew was alive and she attacked a teacher! Not to mention the Dementor attack. She felt sorry for Sirius, facing the Kiss, wrongly imprisoned for twelve years. It was vital that she and Harry did not fail the task Dumbledore gave them, saving both Buckbeak and Sirius Black. The plan was simple, wait until the Ministry officials saw Buckbeak, then release him, wait for Sirius to be locked up again and then release him too.

They watched their younger selves and Ron enter Hagrid's hut. They were so foolish, she admonished, to have visited Hagrid just a few hours ago, but as the events in Hut set everything in motion, she couldn't help but think that it was fate.

'Hermione', said Harry suddenly, 'what if we - we just run in there, grab Pettigrew -'

'No Harry' she hissed, 'we are breaking Wizarding Law! You heard Dumbledore, we cannot just waltz in there and grab Scabbers? We'll think we've gone mad!'

'Right, OK!' Harry hissed, 'It was just an idea'. He shrugged. Hermione felt bad for the way she reacted, she had almost an entire year to get to the use of time-travel, Harry did not have that luxury. He was doing well considering he just found out that the person responsible for his parent's murder shared a dormatory with him for three years.

'I'm sorry Harry,' Hermione apologised, 'I didn't mean to snap, but you have to understand, we cannot be seen, Professor McGonagall told me that bad things happen to wizards who meddle in time. We may make things worse for Sirius.' Harry reached over and grabbed Hermione's hand, squeezing it tight, wordlessly accepting her apology. Hermione let out a rugged breath she did not realise she was holding; her relationship with Harry had been strained this year, especially with the whole Firebolt debarcule, and she felt so insecure to whether Harry was still her friend. It had been getting better though, Harry apologised for his behaviour, realising that Hermione was right, not to mention, the Firebolt was not harmed in any way. It was difficult; for Hermione, Harry was her best friend, whilst Harry had Ron; those weeks without talking to either of them was lonely and brought Hermione back to first year, when she did not have any friends.

The moment - and Hermione's musings - were interrupted with the door opening.

'We're about to come out!' Hermione breathed. They ran deeper in the forest, remembering that their younger selves hid within the forest and waited for them to leave. Once they were gone, Hermione made a move to go to Buckbeak, when Harry stopped her with his arm.

'I'll go.' he told her and she watched as he stealthily - three years of Quidditch, not to mention late night escapades in the castle, had paid off - made his way through the pumpkin patch to entice Buckbeak with dead ferrets. Buckbeak was not moving despite Harry's insistence and Hermione felt her breath catch in panic as Macnair began to make his way outside.

'Hurry Harry,' she motioned, not taking the risk to speak too loudly lest they be discovered. She darted out from her tree, seizing the rope with Harry, hoping that the combined weight of them moved him faster. They managed to go deeper within the forest, Hermione only relaxing when they could no longer see Hagrid's garden at all.

'Now what?' Harry asked. Hermione looked around the forest, realising how quiet it was.

'Now, we wait.' she shrugged and sat down, Buckbeak's rope still firmly in her hand. 'We need to make sure Buckbeak stays firmly out of sight until we can break Sirius out.'

There was a pause, Harry, still standing, nudged a raised tree root with his shoe. 'Hermione,' he said, the tone was soft, inquisitive, and caused Hermione to look up. Harry looked visibly nervous.

'Yes, Harry,' she said softly. Harry remained focused on the root underneath his foot, as though it were the most fascinating thing in the world.

'I know we have to stay out of sight, but what if we - what if we were able to stun Pettigrew, and prevent him from getting away?' Harry inquired. Hermione breathed in. He looked so innocent and hopeful, and she hated to always be the one that seemingly took that away from him.

'Harry we have to be so careful. I know you want to free Sirius-' Harry cut her off.

'No, you don't Hermione, you do not understand. Sirius asked me to move in with him, if Sirius was proven innocent and Pettigrew taken, perhaps I could finally leave the Dursleys, have a home - a family that actually loves me!' Harry's outburst made Hermione jump up in an attempt to quieten her friend. Harry looked so forlorn - so sad - that it broke Hermione's heart. Tears stung her eyes and she moved to embrace Harry.

'Oh Harry, that's great news. You both deserve some happiness in your lives. Perhaps - oh Harry - we can try, but we mustn't be seen!' she urged. Her mind started to turn, figuring out a way that they could prevent Pettigrew's escape. It all hinged on the moment that Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf. If somehow they could - while not being seen - recapture Pettigrew, they could deposit him outside Dumbledore's office before they went back to the Hospital Wing. The answer seemed to be enough for Harry, who gave her a quick, but emotion-filled hug before suggesting that they move in order to see the willow.

'Look, there's Ron!' Harry pointed out as they saw the black grimm like dog - Sirius - dragging him down the trunk of the Whomping Willow. Watching their battle with the tree moments after had Hermione feeling the aches from the wallops. They watched as Lupin, then Snape - with the invisibility cloak, followed. Harry inched closer, still hidden in the forest, impatient for their earlier counterparts to exit from the Shrieking Shack.

'Harry,' Hermione asked, 'One thing I don't understand… Why didn't the Dementors get Sirius? I remember them coming… then I passed out.' Harry looked back at his friend, expression grave.

'It was my dad, Hermione, he - he drove them away with his patronus!' he exclaimed. Hermione stared back, mouth open, expression perplexed and alarmed.

'Harry, I hate to remind you… but your dad - well - he's dead!' she said dumbfounded.

'Yes, I know that Hermione,' Harry answered hotly, looking away 'but I know what I saw!'

As they went back into a semi-uncomfortable silence, Hermione reflected on what Harry told her. She did not believe that somehow James Potter miraculously came to life and saved them all, but she also trusted Harry - had known him long enough - to know that he was no liar. She trusted Harry with her life, he was her best friend. The night was already so complex with them using the time-turner and she did not doubt there was a part of this that she was missing.

Suddenly, Buckbeak moved, and pulling Hermione out of her reverie, she could see the distant figures of Professor Lupin, Sirius and Peter Pettigrew - bound - making their way up from inside the Whomping Willow.

'Here we come,' she told Harry. He looked up.

'How are we going to do this Hermione?' he asked. Hermione hesitated. A miscalculation on her part could cause serious disaster, not only breaking hundreds of laws, but could mean someone ended up dead. She shook her head, she could not let that happen!

'When Professor Lupin turns into a wolf, one of us - both of us - needs to stun Pettigrew.' Harry nodded. They watched with bated breath as the moon moved out of the cover of the clouds. Hermione could see the panic that crossed Professor Lupin and Sirius Black's faces.

'He's transforming!' Hermione whispered. The screaming, chaos that caused Professor Lupin to let go of Pettigrew. 'Now! Harry.' her whisper was more forceful as she drew her wand, Harry doing the same in her peripheral vision. Quietly, but deliberately, Hermione casted

'Petrificus Totalus.' In her vision, she could see Pettigrew go down before he could reach for Professor Lupin's wand. Her heart unclenched. They succeeded.

''Hermione,' Harry said hurriedly, 'We have to move!'

'What? Harry, I told you we can't -'

'Professor Lupin is headed this way!.' Tearing her eyes from Pettigrew's stunned form, she noticed that Harry was completely correct, Professor Lupin, in his menacing werewolf form was heading into the forest, Sirius Black on his heels, leading him away from the forms of younger Hermione, Harry, Ron and Professor Snape. Hermione quickly turned to Harry.

'You get Pettigrew, tie him to you. Make sure he cannot escape. I'll distract Professor Lupin.' Harry looked as though he was going to argue, his lips hardening into a thin line; he simply nodded though and ran in the opposite direction.

Hermione started running, deeper and deeper into the forest with Buckbeak trailing behind her. She could hear Professor Lupin stalking her. Feeling her legs burn, breath ragged, she cursed her unfit state. If I survive this, I'm going to start exercising more often. She rationalised. She stopped behind a big oak tree. Looking back, she couldn't see Professor Lupin anymore. She let out a big breath, trying to slow her racing heart. She must have lost him.

Turning around, she figured she needed to go find Harry, so that they could bring Pettigrew to Dumbledore and Minister Fudge. She doubted she needed to free Sirius, perhaps his escape was not conducive to getting his name cleared, but something needed to be done about Buckbeak.

Slowly moving away from the tree, Hermione began to trudge back to the school, grateful that whilst she was in the forest, that the moonlight revealed the way back to Hogwarts. She took a couple of steps when she heard the crack of a twig. Jumping, she turned to see the werewolf form of Professor Lupin behind her. Her heart began to race once more as she realised that she was defenceless against the creature. Taking a deep breath, she was torn between staying completely still or running. She knew that she could not outrun the werewolf and tried to steady her breathing. Professor Lupin stalked closer, sniffing her out. His eyes shone amber in the light. Hermione stiffened in fear. This is it. This is where I die. She hoped Harry was able to get Pettigrew to Dumbledore; that he freed Sirius and that Professor Lupin would not hate himself forever for something he could not control. She closed her eyes and felt Professor Lupin's hot, rancid breath on her face. She did not dare open her eyes to meet his.

Suddenly, she heard a sound behind her and opened her eyes to see Buckbeak charge forward, taking down Professor Lupin. She took that moment to run as fast as she could, back towards the school. She could hear growls and shrieks behind her, and felt sorry for Professor Lupin; between Sirius and Buckbeak, tonight was a rough one for him.

Hermione did not stop running until she made it to the clearing near the Whomping Willow. Ahead she could see Dementors. She inwardly cursed, she needed to find Harry, they were running out of time! Swarms of Dementors headed towards the Black Lake and Hermione picked up the discarded invisibility cloak on the floor and followed, instinctively knowing that Harry would be there, hopefully out of sight, to attempt to see his dad.

She saw him on the precipice of the Black Lake. Peter Pettigrew still stunned at his feet - Thank Merlin - and his younger self and Sirius at the mercy of the Dementors. She could see that they were quickly running out of time, the Dementors' swarming viciously, swooping and sucking out their soul. She could see her younger self passed out within the tree line, and even her own body was suffering from the chill and darkness the creatures brought. Past Harry attempting - and failing - to cast a patronus. Weakening with every attempt.

'Harry,' she yelled, desperation seeping into every crevice of her voice, hoping that Harry could hear her. 'Do something!' Harry seemed to give up on the waiting game - realising that his father was not going to show up - and stepped forward. Despite the distance, she could hear the power in his voice and he shouted.

'EXPECTO PATRONUM!' A brilliant white stag leaped from his wand, knocking away the fleets of Dementors. They scurried back, shrieking in fear from the light and happiness that splayed from Harry's wand. Everything then went quiet, and she saw Harry slump against the tree.

Deciding that they needed to act, Hermione ran forwards towards her friend, 'Harry, are you - you did it!' she said, the excitement preventing her from finishing a whole sentence.

'It was me -' Harry trailed off, 'I thought I saw my dad but… it was me.'

'I'm so proud of you Harry,' Hermione smiled, 'That's very, very advanced magic!' Harry hugged her. Harry was not the type to be overly affectionate - being raised by the Dursleys meant he mostly kept to himself - and the hug stirred something within Hermione that she had never really felt before; the feeling of home.

'Thanks,' Harry said shyly, pulling away. Footsteps in the distance alerted them of Snape, now regaining consciousness, approaching with stretchers for the fallen Harry and Sirius; signalled to Hermione that they did not have enough time and could possibly be seen. She looked down at her watch, they had less than an hour to make sure Pettigrew was captured; which he could possibly wake up in that time. She grabbed Harry's arm and levitated a - luckily - still stunned Pettigrew, leading them back towards the castle. If they were not at risk of being seen by Snape, the only person who could completely botch the mission, Hermione would have left Pettigrew near Sirius and younger Harry to be found, but instead they raced back to the castle. They were headed to Dumbledore's office when Harry stopped Hermione.

'What if we put him in Flitwick's office, with Sirius? We know that the ministry officials are heading there!' he suggested. Hermione frowned.

'Will it be safe, with Sirius?' she asked. Harry shrugged. Having witnessed Sirius Black's melodrama, Hermione wondered if the wrongly convicted wizard would use the opportunity to kill Pettigrew. He did start to see reason at the end, and if Hermione believed one thing, she knew that Harry could convince his godfather that his freedom was more important than revenge.

Running up the stairs - wishing that they thought of this plan earlier and could fly on Buckbeak's back - Hermione and Harry, under the guise of the invisibility cloak entered Flitwick's office with a quick Alohamora. Sirius sat there, as dirty and forlorn as the last time they had seen him. Fresh scratches littered his arms from battling Professor Lupin and keeping them safe. He was sad and dejected, the effect of the Dementors. He looked up as though he had surrendered. Sirius was confused slightly, not being able to see anything, but having clearly heard the door. He shook his head and Hermione wondered if the extended time he had served in Azkaban had affected him more than what was initially evident.

'Sirius,' Harry whispered as he pulled the cloak of them. Sirius looked up in surprise. Hermione could see the hope in his grey eyes, almost as though they sparkled with gold. He smiled, making him seem younger than his thirty five years - Hermione then saw how enigmatic and attractive Sirius Black must have been in his youth - before the expression hardened again when his eyes settled on the starting to move Pettigrew. Hermione looked back and before even she could react, Harry yelled 'Petrificus Totalus!'

They paused for a few seconds, not only ensuring Pettigrew was still stunned but to check that no one was coming.

'How, what? Harry are you okay? Last I saw you, you were passed out!' Sirius asked his godson, standing up. Harry hesitated and Hermione realised that an explanation would take too much time. She cut in as Harry opened his mouth to speak.

'I have a time turner, we went back to help you escape and ended up capturing Pettigrew.' she rushed and Sirius's eyes widened in surprise, a smirk made his face deviously handsome. Hermione blushed slightly.

'You are a smart witch Hermione,' he complimented, turning to Harry, 'And you really are your father's son.' Harry stared back bashful.

'We haven't got that much time,' Hermione cut in, checking her watch. They had ten minutes before Dumbledore locked the door to the Hospital Wing and headed to Flitwick's office, and they needed to make sure Sirius did not commit the crime he was imprisoned for. 'The Minister and Dumbledore are heading this way. If they find Pettigrew alive, they will have to accept that you did not kill him. You will be able to demand a proper trial and they will need to question you and Pettigrew under veritaserum. Please Sirius, for Harry, make sure they do this!' The desperation in Hermione's voice was not just for Harry receiving justice and a home - but also for Sirius himself, to be able to have another chance at the life that was cruelly taken from him.

Sirius's expression became grave, his expression darkened slightly, looking almost haunted, the ghosts of Azkaban fraught in his eyes. He nodded slowly. Hermione hoped that their gamble paid off, to ensure that Sirius never had to go back to that place.

Hermione set Pettigrew down on the floor. She motioned to Harry that they needed to get to the Hospital Wing. Before she could slip the Invisibility Cloak on herself, she noticed Harry and Sirius paused - looking at each other - both shy as though they do not know how to act around each other. Hermione's heart fell slightly at the thought of the lost opportunity the pair had to grow up together. Harry would have been a changed person - a more confident and successful wizard - if he had the love and support he deserves, and he did not obviously obtain from living with the Dursleys.

'I'll see you soon Harry,' Sirius croaked, 'I promise.' Harry stepped forward and Hermione felt voyeuristic standing there at the tender moment. Then the clock chimed, signalling that they had mere minutes to get back to Dumbledore.

'I will -' Harry stumbled as Hermione put the cloak over him. They left Sirius standing there - Pettigrew at his feet - and locking the door they raced back to the Hospital Wing, clutching the cloak, but not caring if it flew open to reveal them. They just made it as Dumbledore was closing the door.

'Professor Dumbledore sir,' Hermione said quietly from under the protection of the cloak, 'I think you should take Minister Fudge to Flitwick's office - seems as though a rat has been caught.' Dumbledore walked away as though he had not heard anything, but out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw him send a patronus towards his office as he headed the way they came. Walking into the room, seeing their younger selves disappear, Hermione felt all the tension she held in her body leave. Falling to the floor, barely caught by Harry, she let go.

A/N: Hi, it's been a while. I will definitely try to finish this story. I've got ten chapters written already and will update weekly.

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Dani x