I've been fighting with my computer for the past few days because I can't open my word documents, so I'm struggling a bit to get my writing done! Don't worry, I have some pre-written work, but my main focus is trying to get my school-work back on track (I haven't been able to access any work I did on Word) so this'll be it for now.

Chapter 20

Back Home

"Harry!" Hermione said sharply. "Rachel, Lukas—We've got exactly ten minutes to get back down to the hospital wing without anybody seeing us—before Dumbledore locks the door—"

Rachel looked over; Hermione was staring anxiously at her watch.

"Okay," said Harry, finally wrenching his gaze from the sky, "let's go…"

They slipped through the doorway behind them and down a tightly spiraling stone staircase. As they reached the bottom of it, they heard voices. They flattened themselves against the wall and listened. It sounded like Fudge and Snape. They were walking quickly along the corridor at the foot of the staircase.

"…only hope Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties," Snape was saying. "The Kiss will be performed immediately?"

"As soon as Macnair returns with the dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet that we've got him at last… I daresay they'll want to interview you, Snape… and once young Harry's back in his right mind, I expect he'll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him…"

Rachel huffed, and when their footsteps died away, Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Lukas waited several moments before running again, until they heard a cackling ahead.

"Peeves!" Harry muttered. "In here!"

They tore into a deserted classroom to their left just in time. Peeves seemed to be bouncing along the corridor in boisterous good spirits, laughing his head off.

"Oh, he's horrible," whispered Rachel, her ear to the door. "I bet he's all excited because the dementors are going to finish off Sirius…"

Hermione checked her watch again. "Three minutes, guys!"

They waited until Peeves's gloating voice had faded into the distance, then slid back out of the room and broke into a run again.

"Hermione—what'll happen—if we don't get back inside—before Dumbledore locks the door?" Lukas panted.

"I don't want to think about it!" Hermione moaned, checking her watch again. "One minute!"

They had reached the end of the corridor with the hospital wing entrance. "Okay—I can hear Dumbledore," said Hermione tensely. "Come on, this way!"

They crept along the corridor. The door opened. Dumbledore's back appeared.

"I am going to lock you in," they heard him saying. "It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

Dumbledore backed out of the room, closed the door, and took out his wand to magically lock it. Panicking, Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Lukas ran forward. Dumbledore looked up, and a wide smile appeared under the long silver mustache. "Well?" he said quietly.

"We did it!" said Harry breathlessly. "Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak…"

Dumbledore beamed at them.

"Well done. I think—" He listened intently for any sound within the hospital wing. "Yes, I think you've gone too—get inside—I'll lock you in—"

The four slipped back inside the dormitory. It was empty except for Ron, who was still out in the end bed. Rachel snuck back to her bed as the lock clicked behind them, crawling onto the sheets, ready for a long night of sleep. A moment later, Madam Pomfrey reappeared.

"Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?"

She was in a very bad mood. Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Lukas thought it best to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure they ate it. As Rachel accepted a fourth piece of chocolate from Madam Pomfrey, a distant roar of fury echoed from somewhere above them.

"What was that?" said Madam Pomfrey in alarm.

Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the door.

"Really—they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they're doing?"

Rachel was trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were drawing nearer—

"He must have Disapparated, Severus. We should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out—"

"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Snape roared, now sounding very close. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS—HAS—SOMETHING—TO—DO—WITH—POTTER!"

"Severus—be reasonable—Harry has been locked up—"

BAM.

The door of the hospital wing burst open.

Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm. Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself.

"OUT WITH IT, POTTER!" he bellowed. "WHAT DID YOU DO?"

"Professor Snape!" shrieked Madam Pomfrey. "Control yourself!"

"See here, Snape, be reasonable," said Fudge. "This door's been locked, we just saw—"

"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Snape howled, pointing at Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Lukas. His face was twisted; spit was flying from his mouth.

"Calm down, man!" Fudge barked. "You're talking nonsense!"

"YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!" shrieked Snape. "HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT—"

"That will do, Severus," said Dumbledore quietly. "Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?"

"Of course not!" said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. "I would have heard them!"

"Well, there you have it, Severus," said Dumbledore calmly. "Unless you are suggesting that Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Lukas are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further."

Snape stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward.

"Fellow seems quite unbalanced," said Fudge, staring after him. "I'd watch out for him if I were you, Dumbledore."

"Oh, he's not unbalanced," said Dumbledore quietly. "He's just suffered a severe disappointment."

"He's not the only one!" puffed Fudge. "The Daily Prophet's going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that hippogriff's escape to get out, and I'll be a laughingstock! Well… I'd better go and notify the Ministry…"

"And the dementors?" said Dumbledore. "They'll be removed from the school, I trust?"

"Oh yes, they'll have to go," said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. "Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy… Completely out of control… no, I'll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight… Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance…"

"Hagrid would like that," said Dumbledore, smiling at Harry, Hermione, Rachel, and Ron. As he and Fudge left the dormitory, Madam Pomfrey hurried to the door and locked it again. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.

There was a low moan from the other end of the ward. Ron had woken up. They could see him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around. Rachel smiled, happy that her friend is okay.

"What—what happened?" he groaned. "Harry? Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?"

Rachel looked at Harry, Hermione, and Lukas.

"One of you explain," said Harry.

At noon the next day, they left the hospital wing, finding an almost deserted castle. Of course, everybody went to Hogsmeade. Lukas left to find his friends at the little wizarding town, but Ron, Hermione, and Rachel stayed with Harry and wandered onto the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night. Rachel wondered where Sirius and Buckbeak were now. They sat down near the lake, and Rachel rested her head against Ron's shoulder, closing her eyes contently, the sun warming her face.

A shadow fell across them and Rachel opened her eyes to see a very bleary-eyed Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and beaming down at them.

"Know I shouldn' feel happy, after wha' happened las' night," he said. "I mean, Black escapin' again, an' everythin'—but guess what?"

"What?" they said, pretending to look curious.

"Beaky! He escaped! He's free! Bin celebratin' all night!"

"That's wonderful!" said Hermione, giving Ron, who looked close to laughing, a reproving look.

"Yeah… can't've tied him up properly," said Hagrid, gazing happily out over the grounds. "I was worried this mornin', mind… thought he mighta met Professor Lupin on the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin' las' night…"

"What?" said Harry quickly.

"Blimey, haven' yeh heard?" said Hagrid, his smile fading a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in sight. "Er—Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin'…Thought everyone'd know by now… Professor Lupin's a werewolf, see. An' he was loose on the grounds las' night… He's packin' now, o' course."

"He's packing?" said Harry, alarmed. "Why?"

"Leavin', isn' he?" said Hagrid, looking surprised. "Resigned firs' thing this mornin'. Says he can't risk it happenin' again."

Harry scrambled to his feet.

"I'm going to see him," he said to Ron, Hermione, and Rachel.

"But if he's resigned—"

"—doesn't sound like there's anything we can do—"

"—he's probably already made up his mind, Harry—"

"I don't care. I still want to see him. I'll meet you back here."

Harry ran off. Hagrid said his good-byes to Ron, Hermione, and Rachel and then left, too. Rachel leaned back against Ron's shoulder, still tired.

"I wonder who we're getting as a teacher next year, then," said Ron.

"Hopefully nothing too crazy," murmured Rachel. "I think I'm quite done with all these adventures every year…"

Nobody at Hogwarts now knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Ron, Hermione, Rachel, Lukas, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached, Rachel heard many different theories about what had really happened, but none of them came close to the truth.

Malfoy, Rachel was pleased to see, was furious about Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling the hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged that he and his father had been outwitted by a gamekeeper. Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject of Sirius's escape.

"If I manage to get into the Ministry, I'll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!" he told the only person who would listen—his girlfriend, Penelope.

The exam results came out on the last day of term. Rachel, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Rachel good top marks in Potions, surprisingly, even though Snape looked furious every time he saw her, Harry, Hermione, or Lukas. That didn't matter, though; her Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts marks were also very good.

Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.T.s; Fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.L.s each. Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated.

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave Harry, Ron, and Rachel some surprising news.

"I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided to drop Muggle Studies."

"But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent!" said Ron.

"I know," sighed Hermione, "but I can't stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. I've handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again."

"I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it," said Ron grumpily. "We're supposed to be your friends."

"I promised I wouldn't tell anyone," said Hermione severely.

"Are you quitting Divination, Rachel?" said Ron then.

"Yes," said Rachel. "I fixed it with Professor McGonagall a few days ago."

She looked around at Harry; he looked very depressed as he stared out the window.

"Oh, cheer up, Harry!" said Hermione sadly.

"I'm okay," said Harry quickly. "Just thinking about the holidays."

"Yeah, I've been thinking about them too," said Ron. "Harry, you've got to come and stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now—"

"A telephone, Ron," said Hermione. "Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year…"

Ron ignored her.

"It's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work."

This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a great deal, it seemed.

"Yeah… I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come… especially after what I did to Aunt Marge…"

Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Rachel played several games of Exploding Snap, and Rachel bought a very lunch from the witch with the tea cart. In the late afternoon, a surprise dropped by.

"Harry," said Hermione suddenly, peering over Harry's shoulder out the window. "What's that thing outside your window?"

Rachel looked outside. A tiny owl was flying just outside the window, carrying a letter. Harry pulled down the window and caught it, and the owl dropped its letter and zoomed around the compartment. Hedwig clicked her beak, Remo purred at the sight, and Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron snatched the owl safely out of harm's way when he saw this.

Harry picked up the letter and ripped it open, and shouted, "It's from Sirius!"

"What?" said Ron, Hermione, and Rachel excitedly. "Read it aloud!"

"Dear Harry,

"I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don't know whether they're used to owl post.

"Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won't tell you where, in case this owl falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about his reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job.

"I believe the dementors are still searching for me, but they haven't a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.

"There is something I never got around to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt—"

"Ha!" said Hermione triumphantly. "See! I told you it was from him!"

"Yes, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?" said Ron. "Ouch!" The tiny owl, now hooting happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.

"Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from my own Gringotts vault. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays' worth of presents from your godfather.

"I would also like to apologize for the fright I think I gave you that night last year when you left your uncle's house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.

"I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.

"If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me.

"I'll write again soon.

"Sirius."

Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope and took out another slip of paper. He read it and then happily passed it to Rachel and Hermione.

I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter's godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade on weekends.

"That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" said Harry happily. He looked back at Sirius's letter.

"Hang on, there's a P.S…"

"I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it's my fault he no longer has a rat."

Ron's eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly.

"Keep him?" he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl for a moment; then, to Rachel's, Harry's, and Hermione's great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.

"What do'you reckon?" Ron asked the cat. "Definitely an owl?"

Crookshanks purred.

"That's good enough for me," said Ron happily. "He's mine."

The rest of the ride back home passed quickly. They passed through the barrier together and greeted Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, thanking them for the presents they'd gotten.

"I'll call about the World Cup!" Ron yelled after Harry as Harry bid him, Rachel, and Hermione good-bye, then went to his aunt and uncle and cousin.

"Have fun in America," said Hermione, hugging Rachel tightly.

"Yeah, let me know when you're going to be back!" said Ron. "You and Lukas have got to come to the World Cup."

"I can't wait," grinned Rachel, and then Lukas called for her and she said her good-byes and then wheeled her trolley toward her family.