Disclaimer: JK Rowling has yet to reply to my correspondence, so, no. I do not own Harry Potter.
Chapter 45
"Let the record show that I think this is a bad idea."
"Ron, there's no record. We are literally just walking to Hagrid's. Who is recording this?" Harry sighed as Hagrid's hut came into a view roughly a hundred meters down the path.
"I know there's no record, you tosspot. I just want to make it explicitly clear that I think this is a bad idea."
"Ronald, that might be the first time I've heard you use a word with more than three syllables." Hermione smirked to herself.
"You know, ever since you two started snogging you've been ganging up on me. It really makes me feel pathetic and jealous. It's like you guys don't actually care about me. Sometimes I consider abandoning you two altogether."
A pause ensued.
"You almost had me, there."
"Yeah, that was some of my finer acting." Ron snickered to himself as Harry and Hermione laughed merrily. The three third-years were huddled under Harry's Invisibility Cloak and on their way to console Hagrid just before Buckbeak's execution. "Still, the Minister of Magic is going to be here soon, along with someone from the Committee and the executioner. Even with the cloak on, I don't want to be stuck in a room with Hagrid, Fudge, some Ministry bloke, and a guy with an axe."
"Don't forget Fang." Harry said dryly as he knocked on the door and the Boarhound barked loudly. The friendly half-giant known as Rubeus Hagrid wrenched the door open and the trio quickly slipped inside.
"Yeh shouldn't be here." Hagrid sniffled, collapsing dejectedly into an armchair. "It'll be sundown soon enough. It'll be big trouble, 'specially for Harry."
"We couldn't just leave you guys here." Harry insisted. "It's horrible enough that you have to – Ron, what the hell are you doing?"
"It's Scabbers." Ron's hand darted to his shirt pocket as he fidgeted in his seat. "He won't stop squirming and he keeps biting me through my shirt!"
"Why did you bring your rat down here?" Hermione huffed, crossing her arms in vexation.
"Well, it was my day to have my pet in the common room, thank you very much." The redhead fired back. "And I didn't have time to stash him in my dorm."
"Harry had time to grab his father's cloak from the dormitory and you didn't have time to throw Scabbers onto your bed and leave him to his own devices?"
"Let me rephrase," Ron sighed, yanking Scabbers out by the tail and holding the thrashing rat at arms' length. "I didn't have time to think about stashing him in my dorm and then actually do it. You know how long it takes me to think about things."
"How in the hell is this what we're talking about right now?" Harry muttered, holding his face in his hands. Ron and Hermione instantly softened, clearly remembering that Buckbeak was minutes away from his death.
"Sorry." They mumbled in unison.
"Hagrid, is there something Dumbledore can do?" Hermione asked, her eyes reflecting her concern. "Or…or is there any way this can be delayed? Surely you can appeal to a higher court or something – "
"Dumbledore's got no power over the Committee." Hagrid shook his head, blowing his nose on a handkerchief that looked suspiciously like a tablecloth. "And that's not how the Wizarding Justice System works."
"The more I learn about it, the more I think 'Wizarding Justice System' is an oxymoron." Harry pursed his lips in frustration. There was a depressing silence for a few seconds.
"Wait, who are you calling a moron?" Ron tilted his head in genuine confusion. Harry and Hermione both rolled their eyes, not finding it in themselves to laugh.
"The three of yeh have to go. Now." Hagrid pointed out the window behind them. Sure enough, four figures had just reached the crest of the hill and were less than a minute from reaching Hagrid's hut. Reluctantly, Harry grabbed the cloak once again and ushered Ron and Hermione underneath.
"I'm so sorry, Hagrid. I wish…I wish…" Harry was at a loss for words as they paused at the back door.
"I'll be alrigh'. Thank yeh lot, for everythin' you did. I know yeh gave it your all." He sniffled again before shooing them out. Harry sighed miserably, as Ron shook his head in defeat and Hermione let out a small sob.
They reached the pumpkin patch behind Hagrid's house and Harry convinced his friends to make their way over to Buckbeak to say goodbye. Even though they were invisible, the hippogriff seemed to notice that there were people nearby. It made no effort to lash out, though, seeming to sense the depressing mood that had enveloped the area like a wet blanket. It simply grunted before laying down, curling its legs under its body. Harry saw it look up towards the sky longingly, as if it would do anything to fly amongst the clouds one more time. And then, it was as if someone had cast Lumos inside his own brain.
"You two take the cloak." He perked up suddenly.
"What?" Hermione and Ron spat out in unison. Hermione slipped her hand into Harry's and stared at him like he'd announced he was dropping out of Hogwarts.
"Harry, what did you just say?" She asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
"You two take the cloak, get yourselves back to the castle." Harry couldn't help but grin as he formulated a plan in his head. "I'm going to hide back here behind the pumpkins until they," he pointed over his shoulder to the approaching witnesses of the execution, "see Buckbeak and know he wasn't cut loose by Hagrid."
"I don't like where this is going." Ron muttered, but Harry pretended not to hear him and pressed on.
"They'll probably go inside the hut for tea or something and discuss everything for a minute. That will give me enough time to take Buckbeak and fly him out of here." He explained as if what he was proposing wasn't extremely dangerous and highly illegal.
"See, my gut told me I wouldn't like this plan. It was right." Ron sighed. "I always listen to my gut, that's why I treat him so well at meals."
"And just where are you planning on flying Buckbeak? He'll be a fugitive, and you can't exactly keep him in your dormitory." Hermione hissed, nervously eyeing the four figures who were maybe thirty seconds away.
"The Astronomy Tower. It's past curfew, and exams are over. Nobody will be there for at least the rest of the night. We'll keep him there, then once the Ministry people leave we can keep him either here at Hagrid's or in the forest until we find a better home for him. Ron, does Charlie know any hippogriff enthusiasts?" Harry asked, speaking faster and faster as time ticked away.
"Er…yeah, but that's – "
"Perfect. We'll figure the rest out later." Harry clapped his hands together. "I'll see you two back at the castle." Harry grinned again, feeling adrenaline flow through him.
"Harry, there's no way – "
"Hermione, I need to do this outrageously dangerous and risky flight." Harry squeezed her hand. "You never should have shown me Top Gun." He winked before slipping out from under the Invisibility Cloak and taking cover behind a few pumpkins the size of boulders. He sensed his invisible friends still hadn't left and waved them off, urging them to leave. His eyebrows shot towards the heavens when Hermione ducked out from under the cloak and slid next to him, nervously glancing between Buckbeak and Hagrid's hut.
"Let the record show that I think this is also a bad idea." Harry heard Ron mutter before a pair of footsteps grew increasingly quieter. Harry turned to Hermione, bewildered.
"You can't be serious."
"I'm not letting you do this alone."
"You hate flying. You refused to fly one of the hippogriffs during class."
"Everyone refused to fly one of the hippogriffs except for you."
"Which is why I should be the only one flying Buckbeak back to the – "
"Oh shut up! Honest to God, do you ever get tired of the sound of your own voice?" Hermione narrowed her eyes. "Look, they've just gone into Hagrid's. They've all seen Buckbeak, we have to go now."
Harry nodded, letting out a shaky exhale as he stood in front of Buckbeak and bowed while Hermione played look-out. Slowly, the hippogriff bowed back and Harry quickly moved forwards, stroking its feathers while muttering "Diffindo" on the ropes that kept Buckbeak bound to a post. He made a point of being more jagged than usual with his wand movements to give the illusion of them being chewed up, and eventually Buckbeak was liberated.
"Now!" He whispered, and Hermione cast one more wary glance through Hagrid's window before dashing over. She put her hands on Buckbeak's back and Harry gave her a leg up. Then he placed his foot on one of the lower branches of a nearby bush and climbed up in front of her. He pulled Buckbeak's rope back over his neck and tied it to the other side of his collar like reins.
"Are you ready?" He found himself smirking. "You better hold onto me."
"You're enjoying this too much." Hermione mumbled, but she snaked her arms around his waist and pulled herself flush against his back. Harry risked a couple seconds to enjoy the feeling of her snuggled tight against him before nudging Buckbeak's sides with his heels.
With a surprising noiselessness, the hippogriff galloped away from Hagrid's hut. Then, the beast flapped its wings a few times and soared into the air, the ground falling away from them impossibly fast. Harry jerked the reins towards the forest and they ascended above the treetops, using them as cover as the execution party exited into the pumpkin patch. Harry was barely able to restrain himself from whooping triumphantly as they circled around, giving the individuals at Hagrid's enough time to realize Buckbeak had escaped and go back inside.
"I don't like this." Hermione whispered into his hoodie, her voice trembling. "Oh no, I really don't like this." She repeated over and over as Harry directed Buckbeak towards the tallest tower in Hogwarts.
They glided silently across the grounds, and Harry was grateful that the light was fading fast – darkness would shroud the area in just a few minutes and there was nobody out and about. They reached the Astronomy Tower and Buckbeak landed with a clatter. Harry and Hermione slid off at once, the former grinning victoriously and looking cool as a cucumber while the latter panted, hands on her knees.
"That was incredibly dangerous." She finally said.
"I know." Harry shrugged nonchalantly.
"Not to mention illegal." She added, but her lips were curling into a smile of her own.
"I know."
"You flew way too fast." She was smirking now, having caught her breath.
"I know." Harry felt his heart skip a beat at the mischievous glint in Hermione's eye.
"We could get into so much trouble." She stepped right in front of Harry, her breath on his face.
"I know."
"I don't think I've ever wanted to kiss you more than I do right now."
"I – wait what?" Harry blinked just before Hermione crashed her lips into his, causing his nervous system to go haywire and his mind to go completely blank. He instinctively brought one hand up to cup her cheek while she dragged her hands up his sides, past his neck and into his hair, messing up his already wind-swept locks even more. Hermione was tenacious, as if trying to flatten his lips, and he reciprocated with an equal ferocity as every ounce of adrenaline in his veins was dedicated towards kissing Hermione Granger senseless.
"Merlin's beard!" A voice suddenly called out from behind them. Hermione staggered backwards and shrieked in surprise, and Harry whirled around so fast he almost toppled over. Professor Lupin stared in a mixture of disappointment, shock, and confusion at the two students and the hippogriff before him. "What on Earth is going on here?"
"Professor!" Hermione squeaked, her cheeks turning scarlet. "I…we…I mean – "
"We've just come back from Hagrid's." Harry blurted, as if that explained everything. Both Hermione and Lupin stared at him as if he had two heads and his face grew hot enough to melt an iceberg. "Er…and we may have made some questionable choices."
"I can see." Lupin was unamused, holding up a familiar piece of parchment. "I suspected the two of you might be up to something this evening. I was proven correct saw a few familiar names at Hagrid's hut after curfew."
Harry felt like cutting in and reminding his professor that they'd turned over the Marauder's Map so he and the rest of the faculty could hunt for Sirius Black, not so he could snoop on his students. Before he could even open his mouth, however, Lupin glanced back at the map and paled.
"Oh no…" The young professor whispered to himself, gazing intently at the map. "It can't be…oh no, oh no!" He cried out, spinning on his heel and taking off towards the stairs, the Marauder's Map flying from his hands in his rush. "I'll deal with you two later!" He hollered over his shoulder as he disappeared down the Astronomy Tower.
The moment he was out of sight, Harry dashed over, picking up the map and scanning it for what may have sent Lupin running so fast. He dragged his finger through the corridors, looking for any clues, anything out of the ordinary. Hermione appeared next to him, looking relieved beyond words that she wasn't about to be docked a hundred points from Gryffindor for at least a little while.
"What did Lupin see? There's nothing strange in the castle except Snape walking above ground instead of in hell where he belongs." Harry wondered out loud. Hermione suddenly gasped.
"It's not in the castle, Harry!" She pointed to a spot on the grounds, her breath hitching. Harry followed her finger and almost dropped the map in shock. Two dots were almost on top of one another, trudging towards the castle – Ron Weasley and Peter Pettigrew.
"What's Ron doing with a dead guy?" Harry whispered.
"I don't know, maybe Lupin just wants to see why the map is doing that?"
"Well, I want to know too. Come on!" He grabbed Hermione's hand, folding up the map in the other, and tugged her along. They sprinted down the stairs, constantly checking their surroundings and the Marauder's Map for any professors or prefects. Mercifully, they seemed to be in the clear for most of the journey. They reached the bottom of the staircase and were sprinting through the first-floor corridor when Harry glanced at the map and skidded to a halt, pulling Hermione into an alcove. She opened her mouth to question him, but he pointed to the map: Severus Snape and Remus Lupin were walking in their direction.
"Remus, I don't think I've ever seen you look so distressed." Snape drawled in his usual sardonic voice.
"I think we are both aware of why I am not in the best of spirits, Severus." Lupin said, the tiniest bit of exasperation making its way into his tone. Harry and Hermione glanced at one another. Were they both aware of Peter Pettigrew being on the Hogwarts grounds? Did Snape know about the map? Harry glanced again at the parchment clutched in his hand and saw Ron and Pettigrew were nearing the castle.
"Eager for a walk?" Harry couldn't see the Head of Slytherin but he could still tell the greasy-haired git was sneering. "Out in the moonlight?"
"Severus, thank you again for the potion. It was just as unpleasant-tasting as the last time." Remus said coolly. Harry and Hermione raised their eyebrows in realization – tonight was going to be a full moon, and Lupin had just received his Wolfsbane Potion from Snape. "But I really do have some urgent matters to attend to."
"Perfectly understandable. Just don't do anything you'll regret." Snape's voice hardened, and Harry involuntarily clenched his hands into fists. Hermione reached out and laid a hand on his arm and his rage dissipated instantly.
"Good night, Severus." Lupin replied plainly before a set of footsteps rang out across the stone floor, growing quieter and quieter. The lack of any other sounds and a peek at the Marauder's Map confirmed that Snape had yet to move.
After an agonizing amount of time that really only could have been fifteen seconds, Snape set off after Lupin. Harry and Hermione exchanged steely glances and tiptoed after them. Soon enough, they found themselves back on the Hogwarts grounds. Hermione pulled out her wand and muttered "Lumos" and they analyzed the map.
Lupin was moving towards Ron and Pettigrew, both of which could have only been a few hundred meters away from where Harry and Hermione stood, Snape even closer as he creeped towards Lupin. The two teenagers watched with bated breath as Lupin reached the two dots and stopped in front of them. Harry couldn't even imagine what was happening that prompted the map to have a dot with Pettigrew's name on it. Was Ron carrying his dead body? No, he reminded himself, Lupin told him that Pettigrew had been practically vaporized by a Blasting Curse.
"Harry!" Hermione squeaked, suddenly clinging to his arm. "Harry, look!" She pointed just south of Ron, Pettigrew, and Lupin. It was one of the passages Fred and George had pointed out, the one near the Whomping Willow. But Hermione wasn't concerned with the passage itself. She was pointing at a dot moving unnervingly fast through it, nearing the three dots on the grounds.
"Sirius Black." Harry whispered. The dot, accompanied by the name of the most wanted man in Britain, came rushing out of the passage and onto the grounds, making a beeline for Ron and Pettigrew. Harry gasped involuntarily as the three dots moved as a unit back towards the Whomping Willow, towards the secret passage. The pair stood frozen, watching with rapt interest as Lupin stood perfectly still for a moment before taking off towards the passage. He entered as well, trailing the three others. Snape followed suit moments later.
"Harry…" Hermione's grip tightened on his arm, and he was quickly losing feeling in his fingers.
"We have to go after them."
"Harry…" She repeated in a quaking voice, but he couldn't be swayed. He turned to Hermione with the most determined expression he could muster and she seemed to understand. "Alright then. Let's go."
They ran off, hand in hand, guided by the light of Hermione's wand and constantly darting glances at the map, watching the several dots in the passage move increasingly further away. Harry suddenly slipped on something and face-planted into the grass, groaning in pain. Hermione cried out in surprise and slid on her knees next to him.
"Are you alright?" She asked, rolling him over onto his back.
"Fine." Harry grunted, fumbling around on the ground for what he'd tripped on. "Do you suppose we should use this?" He smirked, holding up his Invisibility Cloak. Hermione nodded quickly, and they covered themselves with the silvery fabric, vanishing from sight. They moved as fast as they could, not needing to worry about the Whomping Willow since it couldn't see them. They found a gap in the roots that had an earthy slide that ventured below the ground, and they quickly descended into the passage. Harry had unpleasant flashbacks to entering the Chamber of Secrets but he pushed those thoughts aside.
They ran along, still invisible, until they reached a dim opening. Creeping through it, they heard voices – bickering, and the occasional moan of pain from Ron.
"A pleasure to see you too, Snivellus. I see you're still allergic to shampoo?" An unfamiliar voice taunted as Harry and Hermione crouched down outside an ajar door.
"Silence, Black." Snape retorted, and Harry's stomach plummeted. The man responsible for his parents' murder was just on the other side of that door. He tensed, as if about to lunge through, wand blazing, but Hermione tightened her grip on her arm. "Oh, vengeance is sweet. I can't wait to watch the dementors suck that vile, wretched soul out of your miserable little body."
"Maybe you can give the dementors tips on how to suck on something, Snivellus – "
"Padfoot, please!" Lupin's voice was calm and collected, but even from outside Harry could tell the room was filled with a spiteful tension. Slowly, agonizingly slowly, Harry opened the door just a bit to peek inside. Ron was lying on his back in a dusty four-poster bed, his leg bent at an unnatural angle that had Harry's stomach churning. Lupin stood next to him, looking tense but not moving. Snape stood just inside the doorframe, his back to Harry and Hermione. To Lupin's right stood a sallow-skinned man with shaggy black hair and black eyes.
"So you have been helping to smuggle Sirius Black into the castle." Snape stepped forward, and Harry saw his wand was drawn. "I told Dumbledore over and over that this was going to happen, but he claimed you, Remus, were trustworthy. Look how that turned out."
"Severus, put your wand down." Lupin's voice was still relaxed, but his hand twitched. "Allow us to explain."
"You're in league with Black, a known murderer. What else needs to be explained?"
"The fact that I never murdered a soul." Sirius Black shot back. Harry blinked, casting a confused glance at Hermione. She looked equally befuddled.
"Don't lie to me." Snape growled, his wand aimed at Black's chest. "Everyone knows you sold out the Potters. And everyone knows you murdered Peter Pettigrew along with a dozen Muggles. I wonder if I'll get an Order of Merlin for helping to turn you in…"
"I never sold out James and Lily." Sirius said defiantly. Harry's heart stopped and he hitched his breath, waiting for more. "I was their secret-keeper, but I never sold them out to Voldemort. The secret was transferred from me to Peter Pettigrew, a bluff intended to secure their safety. Voldemort would never suspect Pettigrew of being trusted with such valuable information."
"Except Peter leaked the Potters' whereabouts to Voldemort immediately." Lupin sighed, dejection seeping into his voice. "He was a spy for the Dark Lord, unbeknownst to all of us. And after Sirius here realized Peter had sold the Potters out, he confronted him. Peter, in a panic, cut off his finger and vanished after casting a fatal Blasting Curse that killed twelve people."
"Quite an elaborate story." Snape sneered. "Well-rehearsed, I can tell. But a lie, nonetheless."
"It's the truth." Lupin fired back, his eyes hardening. "Severus, holding onto whatever grudge you may hold against us will only result in an innocent life – "
"I'd hardly call him innocent." Snape spat, brandishing his wand at Sirius. "Especially when you have no proof of this pathetic fib you two have conjured. Don't try anything, Black, this wand is pointed straight at your heart."
"That is my least vulnerable spot." Sirius smirked.
"Ron." Lupin suddenly turned to the redhead, who whimpered as the three adults in the room turned to him expectantly. "May I see your rat?"
"What?" Ron blinked, clutching his broken leg. "Why?"
"Because he's not a rat, you buffoon. Hand him over, come on." Sirius hissed. Ron blanched at the words of the escapee and begrudgingly fished Scabbers out of his shirt pocket. "He's an Animagus. Has been since he and James and I learned in fifth year."
The gears in Harry's head began to turn. Scabbers had been the Weasley family rat for twelve years, the same amount of time Pettigrew had been presumed dead. Scabbers was missing one of his front toes, and Pettigrew's only remains had been a finger.
Suddenly, there was a flash of light that blinded everyone in the room, and where Scabbers had been writhing on the floor lay a short, balding man, wringing his hands and looking close to tears.
"Pettigrew…" Snape whispered in shock. Lupin and Black just nodded. Harry suddenly felt very faint, and he almost toppled over had Hermione not wrapped her arms around him instinctively.
"Hello, Wormtail." Sirius Black's voice was dripping with malice. "We've got a couple of questions for you, old friend."
"S-Sirius?" The man sniveled, looking around the room as he clambered to his feet. "R-Remus!"
"Did you or did you not sell out Lily and James Potter?" Lupin drew his wand so fast Harry was certain he would have missed it if he blinked. Peter trembled in fear and refused to answer. "Did you or did you not betray the Potters? Did you inform Voldemort of their whereabouts?"
"I had to!" The short man suddenly wailed, tears streaming down his ugly face. "He has…abilities, I had no choice, he threatened my life – "
"Then you should have died!" Sirius roared, stepping towards Peter. "As I would have! As Remus would have! As James and Lily would have for you!"
Before Harry knew it, tears were spilling down his face. Hermione tentatively brushed them away with her thumb, glancing nervously between him and the scene unfolding in front of them. Harry felt as if the rug had been ripped out from under him. Actually, he felt like the entire planet had been ripped out from under him and he was hurdling through space in a mess of confusion and betrayal as he tried to wrap his head around everything he'd just heard.
"Severus, Sirius is innocent." Lupin elucidated, his wand still aimed at Pettigrew. "You must let us give him a proper hearing, and allow Pettigrew to be tried for his crimes. Sirius has done nothing to deserve a cell in Azkaban – "
"Silence!" Snape suddenly roared, whipping his head towards Sirius again. "What is this, some feeble attempt to scapegoat Pettigrew? Trying to save your own skin by casting your former friend aside? Of course, I suppose betrayal is nothing new to you – "
"I never betrayed James!" Sirius snarled, his eyes darkening with rage. "I never betrayed Lily!"
"You're pathetic." Snape sneered. "The dementors will have a field day with you, Black." The Potions professor raised his wand, but before he could cast any sort of spell Harry and Hermione both acted on instinct.
Lunging into the room and forgoing the Invisibility Cloak, they bellowed "Expelliarmus!" simultaneously and sent Snape flying into the wall, opposite wall, collapsing in a heap on the dusty wooden floor. Ron shrieked at their sudden appearance, and Lupin blinked in surprise, while Sirius Black just chuckled to himself.
"He really does look just like James." He whispered in amusement, turning to Lupin.
"Oh my god, I've attacked a teacher!" Hermione dropped her wand in horror and ran her hands through her hair nervously. "Harry, what will we do?"
Harry didn't answer, instead stared at Black with a mixture of curiosity and confusion. "You didn't betray my parents?"
Sirius shook his head and pointed to Pettigrew, who was quivering just a few feet away. "That vermin is the one who sold them out. I would never have done that to James. He was my brother, I would have died for him and he'd have done the same for me."
"How did you escape Azkaban?" Harry asked, determined to get as many answers as he could before anyone came to their senses and realized he and Hermione were blatantly breaking about sixty school rules.
"Like this." Sirius stood up straight before suddenly transforming into an all-too-familiar shaggy black dog.
"Barrie?" Hermione gasped, clutching Harry's arm once again. Instantly, the dog transformed into Sirius once again.
"As clever as you two seem to be, you never did quite piece it together that the big shaggy dog you saw all the time in France might be the same shaggy dog you saw all the time in Britain."
Visions of a black dog lounging in the sun at a French café flashed through Harry's mind, and he paled. "You're the dog from Cannes? That was you?"
"Had to see my godson." Sirius shrugged casually. "It appears I saw my future goddaughter-in-law as well." He smirked, glancing at Hermione. She and Harry both blushed, and Ron snorted despite his pain.
"You really are innocent?" Hermione whispered, glancing between Lupin and Sirius, who both nodded.
"Then what now?" Harry asked pointedly.
"Sirius is innocent." Lupin reaffirmed. "But he is not." He gestured to Pettigrew, who whimpered. "Shall we kill him together, Sirius?"
"I suppose." He replied, but Harry stepped between Pettigrew and the pair. "Harry, don't."
"No, you don't." He fired back defiantly. "You were my father's best friends, were you not?"
"Yes, and the rat behind you is the reason he is no longer with us." Sirius said through gritted teeth. "Step aside, Harry."
"No." Harry scowled, trying hard not to feel nervous. "I won't give the Ministry a reason to send my dad's best mates to Azkaban. He wouldn't want it, and neither do I." Lupin and Sirius stared dumbstruck at him.
"Oh, thank you, Harry!" Pettigrew's nasally voice gasped from behind him. He whirled around and saw the short man groveling, tears of gratitude in his eyes. "So kind, so merciful – "
"Shut up." Harry growled, backing away. "Too much mercy often results in further crimes." He glanced at Hermione, whose eyes lit up as she recalled a pillow fight almost a year prior. "Crimes which were fatal to innocent victims if justice had not been put first and mercy second." He turned back to Pettigrew. "We're bringing you back to the castle. Dumbledore will relay the truth to the Wizengamot, and you'll have a trial and you'll be charged." He looked at Lupin with a determined expression. "Justice comes first."
"But Harry, killing him – "
"Killing him is putting vengeance first, not justice." Harry cut him off. "Let's go. If Pettigrew is charged, Sirius is a free man."
That seemed to do the trick. Lupin marched over to Pettigrew and restrained him, while Hermione levitated Snape and guided him to the door. Sirius and Harry each put an arm around Ron's shoulders and guided him towards the exit. Soon enough, the strangest looking group of individuals you could imagine was on their merry way down the hidden passage located between a notoriously haunted building and a murderous tree. It really had been a bizarre evening.
"Ron, I know your leg's broken, but can you at least try to hop on the good? Your stomach alone is a thousand pounds and Sirius here looks like he can barely lift a wand." Harry groaned after they traipsed down the tunnel for a few minutes.
"Shut up, Harry." The redhead grumbled, but he begrudgingly hopped along as Harry and Sirius shepherded him through the passage.
"Again, Ron, I'm sorry about the leg. I really was going for the rat." Sirius chimed in, grunting as he readjusted his arm around Ron's shoulders.
"It's fine. Maybe Harry and I can bond over having to drink Skele-Gro." Ron snickered, and Harry cracked a smile.
"You'll hate it."
"Don't oversell it, mate."
"Honestly, how are you all making jokes right now?" Hermione huffed, her wand still pointed at Snape's limp form. "We just found out that the most wanted man in Britain has committed no crimes, we learned that Ron's rat is the one who betrayed Harry's parents, and Harry and I both attacked a teacher, and you all feel compelled to crack jokes with each other!"
"Moony, doesn't she sound just like Lily?" Sirius asked in a wry smile. The Defense professor chuckled from behind them.
"Oh, you have no idea. Just as brilliant, too."
"Ah, no wonder you two were snogging in the Dragons section in Tomes and Scrolls."
"Sirius!" Lupin, Harry, and Hermione all cried out in surprise.
"Really, Padfoot, these are my students. I'd rather not hear about – "
"Oh, come on Moony!" The more Sirius laughed to himself and joked around, the younger he looked, and the less he resembled the wanted mass-murderer on every Wanted poster in Hogsmeade. "He's basically your nephew, it's our job to tease Harry for this stuff. And you know James is cheering his head off over Harry landing his witch sooner than he did."
"She's not my – ugh, forget it." Harry groaned, his cheeks turning Gryffindor scarlet. Mercifully, the teasing subsided as they reached the end of the tunnel. Hermione hovered Snape out before crawling out herself, followed by Harry, Ron, and Sirius, followed by Lupin and Pettigrew.
"Harry," Sirius whispered as they set off again towards the castle, "I know, you spent the summer holidays with Hermione here, right?" Harry nodded. "I can understand if you want to do that again. She seems like a nice girl, and from my limited observances you enjoyed yourself with her family." Harry nodded again, uncertain of where this conversation was headed. "But, your parents made me your guardian, as your godfather. So, perhaps I could interest you in at least part of the summer in a different home? Maybe you could split time? Hermione would be welcome to visit whenever, and vice versa, I'll happily let you visit her and her folks. But, in case you want a change of scenery, and in case her parents are on the fence about their daughter's boyfriend sleeping in the same house – "
Hermione, who had been unsubtly eavesdropping, burst into a fit of giggles, and Harry blushed. "Are…are you saying I could live with you?" He asked, feeling his stomach jump in excitement.
"If you want to. I won't force you to do anything, but – "
"Harry, you should do it." Hermione turned, still levitating Snape. "He's your family. And my dad would be much less likely to try and scare you off if you weren't spending every night under the same roof as me." Her cheeks tinged pink, but her tone was genuine.
"I've got a house. It's not the most lavish of residencies, but I reckon we could make it something close to home." Sirius smiled sheepishly. "If you're willing, of course."
"I'd love to." Harry grinned. "As long as you tell me all kinds of stories about my parents." He added.
"Deal." Sirius smirked. "Did Moony here ever tell you about the time he and Lily had to bail us out of – " But he stopped.
Just ahead, Snape was stirring, and Hermione stumbled in surprise, causing him to hit the ground with a thud. Everyone froze in surprise as the Head of Slytherin clambered to his feet, whipping his head around as he took in his surroundings.
"What is the meaning of this?" He roared, drawing his wand. "Potter! What are you doing out of the castle?"
"There's at least ten more important things going on right now than me being out of the castle past curfew, but if you must know – "
"Silence!" He fumed. "Just like your father." Snape growled before turning to Sirius. "You're not getting away, Black."
"Professor, please listen, he's innocent!" Hermione begged, but Snape waved her off.
"Be quiet, for once in your life, you stupid girl!" He hissed. Harry's blood boiled and he made to draw his wand, but Snape cast a spell at Sirius before he could do anything. Mercifully, the shaggy haired man transformed into a dog instantly, causing the spell to fly harmlessly over his head.
Unfortunately, it hit Lupin square in the chest, causing him to fly backwards a few feet and land on his back. Before anyone could even blink, Peter Pettigrew transfigured into his Animagus form, and the familiar silhouette of Scabbers took off across the grass. Instinctively, Harry sprinted after him, his wand aimed.
"Immobulus!" He yelled, but the jet of blue light missed its mark. He was faintly aware of Hermione running behind him and Snape screaming that he'd have them expelled, but he kept his attention on the rat. A blur of black shot past him towards the rat – Padfoot. Harry repeatedly cast the Freezing Charm every time he spotted Scabbers, but it was useless. The rat was too quick and Harry couldn't keep his arm steady. He couldn't even see straight; tears of anger clouded his vision as he ran, the thought of Pettigrew escaping custody infuriating him beyond belief. The man who betrayed his parents, who spied for Voldemort on his own friends, was getting away.
Padfoot suddenly picked up speed and disappeared into the darkness. Harry kept running and heard a sudden yelp of pain, and found a gear within him he didn't know existed – running faster and faster until he skidded to a halt at the edge of the lake. He saw two things that made his heart stop, and he wasn't sure which was worse. Sirius was trembling on all fours, moaning in fear. Just ahead stood Peter Pettigrew, a snide smile on his face.
"Make a choice, Potter." He taunted, walking backwards. "Chase me. Or protect your friends from them." He pointed across the lake. Harry turned and his stomach plummeted. His blood, once boiling in rage, turned to ice. Dementors, at least a hundred of them, were gliding in a black mass around the lake toward them. He spun around, the familiar, icy cold penetrating his insides, fog starting to obscure his vision; more were appearing out of the darkness on every side; they were encircling them.
"Harry please…" He heard Hermione whimper from behind him. That was all he needed. He couldn't abandon Hermione, he couldn't leave her to suffer. He ignored Pettigrew's sadistic laughter as he transfigured himself into a rat once again and ran off. He forced himself to recall that day on the pitch, with his fingers curled around the Quidditch Cup and his lips pressed against Hermione's. The unparalleled euphoria he had felt flooded through him once again, countering the icy chill that had permeated his bones. He raised his wand and steeled himself. He saw Hermione fall to her knees next to him, holding her wand out in a trembling hand, tears streaming down her face.
As if he needed more motivation to banish these dementors to the other side of the fucking planet. Nobody made Hermione cry on his watch.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
A familiar silver stag burst from the end of Harry's wand, charging the air around them with electricity as it galloped about, barreling over dementor after dementor. Its dazzling light reflected off of the now-frozen lake and gave it an almost angelic glow as it pushed the wave of dementors further back until the last hooded wraith was sent cowering away. Once again, the stag turned and bowed to Harry before dissolving, and the area fell to darkness once again.
Immediately, Sirius Black stood up straight, like he'd been struck by a lightning bolt of energy. He cackled with glee as the last trace of the stag vanished, turning to face Harry. Hermione, too, looked like she'd been submerged in liquid adrenaline.
"That was unbelievable!" She crashed into Harry's side, enveloping him in a very tight hug and peppering his cheek with several quick kisses. She eventually pulled back but kept her arms on his shoulders, turning the somewhat shell-shocked wizard to face her. "That was the most incredible use of magic I've ever seen in my life. You're a great wizard, Harry. You really are."
Harry blinked and grinned. "I'm not as good as you."
"Me?" Hermione blushed before pulling him into a deep kiss, crushing her lips against his and pouring so much passion into him he couldn't help but feel energized. She pulled back after only a few moments, resting her forehead against his and beaming at him.
"Aww…" Sirius cooed from behind them. Each of them blushed as they stiffened, and Harry nervously ran a hand through his hair. "As much as I'd love to stand here and tease you two for being adorable, I believe I am a wanted man right now."
"Oh, no!" Hermione moaned, clapping her hands to her face. "Without Pettigrew…can you still have a hearing of your own?"
"I don't know. The Wizarding World is fickle." Sirius sighed dejectedly.
"We'll make it happen." Harry insisted. "We can use Veritaserum, everyone who was there will vouch that Pettigrew confessed. We might not be able to put him behind bars yet, but we can clear your name, right?" Sirius shrugged, a hopeful glint materializing in his eye. "In the meantime, I think you need a ride out of here."
"I do. But it's alright, you don't have to give me back the Firebolt."
"I knew it!" Hermione yelled before she could stop herself, fist-pumping in the air. "You made fun of me, Harry Potter, but I was right."
"It wasn't jinxed, though. It was just my godfather making up for lost time." Harry smirked, and Sirius actually blushed. "But don't worry. I think I know a better way for you to get out of here until we can organize a hearing."
"Oh?" Sirius cocked his head in intrigue.
A half hour later, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius liberated themselves from the Invisibility Cloak once they reached the Astronomy Tower.
"Mischief managed." Harry whispered, tucking the Marauder's Map into his robes. "Sirius, meet Buckbeak."
"Quite the bird." Sirius smirked before bowing in front of the hippogriff. Buckbeak quickly bowed back, getting to his feet and crouching so Sirius could mount. "I'm sorry I'm leaving so quickly, Harry. But if Dumbledore can pull off a proper hearing, I suppose we'll be seeing each other quite soon."
"I can't wait." Harry grinned, his heart soaring at the thought of clearing Sirius's name and spending the summer with him. "We'll get you a trial. I'm sure of it."
"And Hermione. Don't let him get into too much trouble." Sirius winked. Hermione blushed but nodded. "You know, from what I've seen, you really are the Brightest Witch of your age. You picked a good one, Harry."
Before either of the teenagers could spout out what was sure to be a discombobulated response, Sirius kicked off, and Buckbeak soared into the night, his massive wings floating them higher and higher into the night sky.
Harry and Hermione stood in silence for a moment, staring at the stars above them. Hermione slipped her hand into his and stepped closer to him, leaning into his side and resting her head on his shoulder. Harry let his cheek rest on the top of Hermione's bushy mane as they relaxed for what felt like the first time in ages.
A/N: There you go. I'm very excited for the next couple of chapters