Later. Same night. Hospital wing, out of Hermione's shadow, which ripples against the curtain that encircles Harry's bed.
A hand reaches out, Harry's hand and sweeps the curtain aside. Ron lies opposite, his leg bandaged. Hermione paces. Stops.
"Harry?"
"I saw my dad".
"What?"
"He sent the dementors away. I saw him across the lake".
Hermione exchanges a private glance with Ron, turns back. "Harry, they've captured Sirius. Any minute the dementors are gonna perform the Kiss".
"They're gonna kill him?"
"No. It's worse. Much worse. They're going to suck out his soul".
As Harry reacts, the door opens and Dumbledore enters. "Headmaster, stop them. They've got the wrong man".
"It's true. Sirius is innocent. It's Scabbers who did it".
"Scabbers?"
"He's my rat, sir. He's not really a rat. He was a rat. He was my brother Percy's rat. But then they gave him an owl..."
Hermione shake head. "The point is, we know the truth. Please believe us".
"I do, Miss Granger. But the word of three year old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true... is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen".
As Dumbledore turns to the window, a shooting star plummets silently through the sky. On cue, the midnight bell begins to chime..
"Mysterious thing, time. Powerful... and when meddled with, dangerous. Sirius Black is in the top most cell of the Dark Tower".
To Hermione. "You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen. And you would do well, I feel, to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. If you succeed tonight... more than one innocent life may be spared. Three turns should do it, I think".
Dumbledore hands Harry and Hermione each a stick of chocolate, then starts to go... stops.
"Oh, and by the way. When in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck".
He smiles, exits. Harry glances curiously at the chocolate. "What the bloody hell was that all about?"
But Hermione doesn't reply, instead looping the pendant's long chain around Harry's neck as well as her own.
"Sorry, Ron, but seeing as you can't walk..." As Ron and Harry exchange a curious glance, the bell continues to chime.
Time reverses in a dizzying backward blur, as if a tape were being rewound, every moment that occurred in the hospital room flickering by at a dizzying speed while, outside the window, darkness gives way to dusk and the sun un-sets, returning to its place low on the horizon.
At this point, the time reversal ends and the room is... Empty. Except for Harry and Hermione. As Hermione unloops the necklace, Harry glances around in confusion.
"What just happened? Where's Ron?"
Hermione ignores the question, eyes the clock on the wall. "Seven-thirty. Where were we at seven-thirty? Where were we at?"
"Huh? Dunno... going to Hagrid's? Hermione, I saw Snape grab your arm outside this room .."
Hermione grabs Harry's arm, slams through the door. "Come on. And we can't be seen".
"Hermione!"
Bridge, moment later. Harry and Hermione come to a mad, huffing halt as Harry called Hermione that she didn't listen.
"Hermione! Hermione, wait. Hermione, will you please tell me what it is we're doing?"
She holds up a hand, silencing him. Annoyed, Harry follows her gaze and blinks in disbelief.
Across the grounds... he sees himself, along with Hermione and Ron, about to confront Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle near the monoliths.
You foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!
"That's us".
Hermione, no! He's not worth it.
"This is not normal".
Dumbfounded, Harry turns. Hermione holds up the hourglass. "This is a Time-Turner, Harry. McGonagall gave it to me for the first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year".
"You mean we've gone back in time?"
Hermione nods. "Yes. Dumbledore obviously wanted us to return to this moment. Clearly, something happened that he wants us to change".
A soft smack is heard. They turn, see Malfoy land on the seat of his pants in the Sundial Garden, rub his kisser.
Harry in admiration. "Good punch".
"Thanks". She smiled. "Malfoy's coming. Run".
Hermione pulls Harry under the bridge. Seconds later, footsteps clamor over their heads.
Not a word to anyone, understood? I'm gonna get that jumped-up mudblood! Mark my words.
Eyes narrowed in anger, Hermione leans out, reaches up, and sends Malfoy sprawling.
As Harry pulls her back,Malfoy looks around in confusion, then dashes off with the others.
That felt good.
Not good, brilliant.
Come on. We should be at Hagrid's.
Seconds later, Harry emerges, marvels at the sight of himself and Hermione, and Ron heading down the slope to Hagrid's hut.
His eyes shift to the pumpkin patch. "Look. Buckbeak's still alive".
"Of course. Remember what Dumbledore said? If we succeed, more than one innocent life could be spared. Let's go".
As Buckbeak feasts on a ferret, Harry and Hermione duck behind a pile of pumpkins. Peering into the hut, Harry sees Hermione and Ron embrace awkwardly.
He grins, turns, only to find Hermione analyzing the moment with considerable fascination. Caught regards Harry defensively.
Harry looks toward the slope, sees Fudge and the others approaching in a cloud of crows. "Here they come. I'd better hurry".
"Fudge has to see Buckbeak before we steal him. Otherwise, he'll think Hagrid set him free".
Harry nods, then looks toward the hut. Inside, Hagrid is handing Scabbers to Ron.
Scabbers, you're alive!
Keep a closer eye on your pet.
"That's Pettigrew".
As he starts to rise, Hermione grabs him, speaks fiercely. "Harry, you can't".
"He betrayed my parents. You don't expect me to sit here".
"Yes, and you must!" Pointing inside. "Harry, you're in Hagrid's hut now. If you go bursting in, you'll think you've gone mad. Awful things happen to wizards who meddle with time. We can't be seen".
Hermione turns, watches Fudge and the others drawing closer. She frowns, glances into the hut.
"Fudge is coming. And we aren't leaving? Why aren't we leaving?"
Just then... on the ground beside her... Hermione notices a jagged star shaped stone.
Instantly, she grabs it, rises, and hurls it through the open window. SMASH! The sound of a glass jar shattering is heard within the hut.
"Are you mad?" Hermione ignores him, swiftly whistling a second stone through the window and CONK! off the back of Harry's head. "That hurt".
"Sorry". Crows begin to drop atop the roof. Fudge's party arrives, raps on the door. "We're coming out the back door. Go!"
Quickly, Hermione and Harry dash into the trees directly behind... Just in time to see themselves along with Ron exit the back door and slip behind the pumpkin pile where, only seconds before, they were hiding.
As Fudge appears at the window and picks his nose as before, Hermione ponders the back of her own head.
"Is that really what my hair looks like from the back?"
Hermione sees herself turn. Ducking, she accidentally stirs the branches, then peeks out and sees herself staring curiously at the branches dancing oddly.
Next she hears her own voice:
What?
I thought I just saw... Never mind.
Let's go.
Harry and Hermione watch themselves start up the slope. The coast is clear, they slip out of the trees.
"Okay, go, Harry. Go!" As Harry vaults into the patch, the crows stir, cawing at his ankles, pecking at his feet. "Get away. Get off".
As Harry approaches, Buckbeak studies him curiously, a ferret leg dangling from his beak. Harry bows. The ferret leg disappears and Buckbeak returns Harry's nod.
As Harry takes Buckbeak's chain... a flint eyed crow pecks his hand.
"Okay, Buckbeak. Come quickly. Come with us now. Come on. Keep trying. Come on. Quickly".
Buckbeak refuses to move. "Buckbeak. Okay? Quickly. Hurry up. Okay?"
The Hogwarts bell begins to toll. Harry and Hermione exchange a glance. Harry tugs harder. No go.
"Hurry up now, Buckbeak, okay? Come on". Harry pulls at the chain, straining mightily... when Hermione pops up, bows quickly, and dangles a dead ferret before Buckbeak.
"Come on, Buckbeak. Come and get the nice dead ferret. Come on. It's here. Come on, Beaky".
Harry looks at her as if she's mad, but it's... working.
As Buckbeak trots after, the cawing crows scatter. Harry and Hermione lead Buckbeak away when the back door suddenly opens.
They freeze... caught... Fudge's eyes drift their way, when as before Dumbledore raises his hand and directs the attention of the others away from Buckbeak.
Harry and Hermione shoo Buckbeak along, disappear into the forest... just as Dumbledore concludes his reverie. Hermione tosses him another ferret.
Forbidden forest, dusk moments later. Harry and Hermione race through the trees as Buckbeak lopes easily behind.
"Now what?"
"We save Sirius".
"How?"
"No idea".
Edge of forest at Whomping Willow. Later. Gliding through a thicket of trees to the forest's edge, the trees thinning, revealing... the Whomping Willow thrashing.
Hermione disappears down the hole, then a figure approaches the tree. Lupin.
"Look. It's Lupin".
Immobulus!
As the Whomping Willow begins to thrash, its violence oddly muted at this distance, Lupin takes a stick, pokes a knot on the trunk.
Instantly, the Willow calms.
"And Snape's coming".
As Lupin disappears into the gap at the base of the tree, Snape makes his way down the slope.
"And now we wait".
"And now we wait".
Look upward, see the tops of the trees etched against the darkening sky. Bats fly toward when Buckbeak snags one.
A tail twitches briefly between his beak, then SLURP! is gone. "At least someone's enjoying himself".
"Yeah".
"Hermione?"
"Yeah?"
"Before, down by the lake, when I was with Sirius... I did see someone. That someone made the dementors go away..."
"With a Patronus. I heard Snape telling Dumbledore. According to him... only a really powerful wizard could have conjured it".
"It was my dad". Hermione looks at Harry. "My dad conjured the Patronus".
"Harry, but your dad's..."
"Dead. I know. I'm just telling you what I saw".
Hermione nods, not wanting to press Harry further. There was silence between them as they waited.
Harry broke the silence. "Hermione?" She turns to Harry. "I wish to know.. what is going on between you and Snape?"
"Why are you saying that, Harry?".
"I don't know. Snape likes.. becoming more protective not for me but.."
Harry's eyes meet hers. "Over you. Something happened between you two I would like to know if you can share.. tonight while we waited ourselves out".
Hermione suddenly laughed. "There's nothing more than Professor and student".
"I know.. just something.. bothering me since Ron, the ghost, other students, even most professors saw you and Snape.. is that normal?"
Hermione sealed her lips, she just smiled as nothing happened between her and Snape, then glanced beyond the trees, toward the Whomping Willow.
"Here we come".
Shadows emerge under a full moon. Black. Harry. Pettigrew. Lupin. Hermione. Ron. Harry studies himself and Sirius.
"You see Sirius talking to me there? He's asking me to come live with him".
"That's great".
Harry nods, his voice wistful. "When we free him, I'll never have to go back to the Dursleys'. It'll just be me and him. We could live in the country... somewhere you can see the sky. He'll like that after all those years in Azkaban".
Harry!
A howl pierces the night. Hermione glances toward the Willow.
Run!
A fierce growling is heard as twin silhouettes the dog and the werewolf bound into the tall grass. Harry watches himself appear, hurl the stick as before. Thewerewolf turns, begins to stalk...
Owwwwwwwwww!
Harry wheels, sees Hermione, hands cupped to her mouth, making a loud howl. He covers her mouth. "What are you doing?"
"Saving your life".
Harry looks back to the tall grass. The werewolf is frozen. As before, it begins to approach Harry again.
"Thanks. Great. Now he's coming for us".
"Yeah, I didn't think about that". They exchange a glance and... "RUN!"
Black lake at the same time... a cyclone of Dementors whirl madly above Harry and Black.
Harry watches himself vainly attempt to conjure a Patronus as the cyclone only continues to grow...
"This is horrible.."
"Don't worry. My dad will come. He'll conjure the Patronus".
Hermione eyes Harry warily. He is transfixed, staring hungrily toward the out crop.
The wind rises. The Lake begins to freeze. One after another, Dementors drop from the sky, vanish in the cyclone...
"Any minute now. Right there. You'll see".
"Harry, listen to me. No one's coming".
"Don't worry, he will. He will come".
She looks. Nothing. Desperately, her eyes flash to the cyclone, to the pitiful sight of Harry and Black at the water's edge... wracked with pain... dying...
"Sirius. You're dying... both of you".
Harry's face changes. A riddle unravels. He draws his wand.
"Harry!"
Too late. Harry slashes through the trees, down to the rocky outcrop, to the exact spot where his father appeared.
Poisoning his wand, he looks out over the sea of Dementors on the other side of the lake.
"Expecto Patronum!"
A wisp of silver escapes his wand, hovering like a mist, then blooms magnificently.
The trees explode with light. The Lake blazes with reflected fire. Harry stood sutterly still, and extended to the heavens.
Across the lake, the Dementors retreat. Harry waits, still as a statue, until each and every one is gone. Then he simply lets his arm drop.
Harry and Hermione plunge into frame astride Buckbeak, soaring toward the castle. Outside the grounds, the Dementors wait restlessly.
"You were right, Hermione. It wasn't my dad I saw earlier. It was me! I saw myself conjuring the Patronus before I knew I could do it this time because... well, I had already done it. Does that make sense?"
Hermione contemplates this. "No". She looked down in fear. "But I don't like flying...!" She screams.
Hogwarts dark tower, Buckbeak land. Sirius paces within a small cell, a man condemned.
Spying Harry and Hermione, he stops. Stunned to see them.
"Bombarda!"
The cell door rockets to the sky. Buckbeak spirits Harry, Hermione and Sirius off the terrace and soar directly. Sirius laughs, hair blowing in the wind.
Clocktower courtyard later. Black gives Buckbeak a slap and they soar into the glittering sky. Harry and Hermione stand watching, when... DING! They wheel. Look at the Clock Tower.
"We have to go!"
As Harry and Hermione dash off, rising with them as they race up the tower stairway, then passing through the mechanism and on through to the end of... the corridor.
The clock tower bell thunders.
Harry saw an image of Snape standing, locked Hermione between it and the end of the corner outside the room.
Hermione asks him to ignore it. The times blurred as Harry couldn't hear what Snape said to Hermione.
Then the door opens. Dumbledore backs out...
As Dumbledore begins to close the door, Harry and Hermione stumble frantically forward, the door about to hit the jamb, when... suddenly... Dumbledore stops. Look up.
"Well?"
"He's free. We did it".
"Did what?" With a twinkle in his eye, Dumbledore swings open the door. "Good night".
As Harry and Hermione enter. They catch the faintest glimpse of... themselves... across the room... just as they evaporate.
Ron blinks. Turns. Frowns. "How did you get there? I was talking to you there. And now you're there".
"What's he talking about, Harry?" Ron glances to the other side of the room. Frowns. Hermione glances mischievously at Harry.
"I don't know. Honestly, Ron. How can somebody be in two places at once?"
Ron stares at them, confused. Slowly, they... GRIN.