So sorry for not uploading as much as I have! Assignment season is just wrapping up and I'm almost done. But at least I wrangled up this short chapter to conclude the time arc saga.
With that said, let's go!
The cloud fogged their views, but Happy and Buckbeak knew where to go. Whether it be animal intuition or memory of the sky, they were confident in their abilities.
"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'd already done it! Does that make sense?!"
"No!" Hermione yelled over the roaring wind in her face. Natsu rolled his eyes slightly, until a ping went in his brain. He flew close to the duo so they could him in the almost muted sky. "Wait, wouldn't that mean time got stuffed up?!" Natsu yelled both out of fear and sound. "What do you mean?!" Harry asked, blinking his hair tips out of his eye. "Didn't Professor Dumbledore say we can't be seen?! What does that mean for us?!" Natsu yelled. Hermione and Harry gave a horrified look at each other, their faces pale with fear. All three of them pat their bodies down for any signs of dissolutions to their physical body, Happy frantically checking his wings, or any warped changes to the sky or earth beneath them.
But nothing happened.
"Wait… what…?" Harry looked around with that still tense look in his eyes. "N-Nothing happened…. Oh thank goodness we're not turned to dust!" Natsu cheered. "M-Maybe it's because Harries past encounter was on the brink of unconsciousness…" The ginger haired girl justified. "Maybe, but right now we still gotta save Sirius! Let's go!"
"Aye sir!" Happy chirped and nose dived towards Hogwarts. "B-But I don't like fly-" Hermione screamed as Buckbeak dived after the exceed and dragon boy, Harry whooping along with the dive. Natsu and Happy landed earlier than the other two hot on their trail. "Sirius!" The boy grasped the bars with a rattle, startling the non-fugitive inside.
"N-Natsu! By Merlin's beard what are you doing here?!"
"We're here to break you out! I'd used my fire magic to melt the bars but I think they'd get it sorted."
At that second, Hermione and Harry ran around the corner, Natsu running backwards to get out of the way as Hermione flicked her wand at the lock. "Bombarda!" She yelled. The door exploded into dust, everyone on the outside facing away from the debris. "Come on!" Harry reached at his Godfather's sleeve and all of them ran to the side where Buckbeak was patiently waiting. "You guys go ahead! I'll stay behind and give you cover!" Natsu smirked, Happy stretching his wings and flapped with full force into the sky. The duo scanned the area with a full view of the area, no one in sight. Seeing out of the corner of his eye, and the hearing canal of his ear, Buckbeak and the others were flying away to a safer location.
"Thank goodness they're safe. We better scan the perimeters just in case."
"Aye sir!"
The duo flew around the outline of the castle and over the treetops under the cloak of night. There were no mysty black ghosts, no alarm raised, no one patrolling in the dark.
That was until steady beats of wind came from behind his ears. Happy swiftly turned Natsu around, the boy's fist raised and ignited for the fight to come. The flying beast screeched from surprise, reeling its body back.
"Woah woah Buckbeak! Steady!" The man riding him soothed, stroking the Hippogriff's neck to calm him down. "Sirius! I'm sorry I didn't see you there…" Natsu gasped and lowered his fists. "No no it's alright. It was my fault for sneaking up on you so. I think this is the first time I've seen your true magic Mister Dragneel. It is truly incredible. I've heard rumours that some wizards don't need one, but you told me the night we met, you are not from this world. You'll have to show it to me in depth the next time we meet."
"Oh, you're leaving already."
"Aye. If I stay I will die. I can't let your efforts go to waste." Sirius smirked. "You should head back to Hermione and Harry now. I do not wish for you to be punished for my burdens." He continued, Buckbeak itching to fly away into the moon's cloak. Natsu nodded and gave his toothy smile. "You got it man! But the students don't know about us yet. Thought you should know."
"Ah yes I thought that was the case. Don't worry I didn't tell them." Sirius reassured. "I better move before they find us. Farewell for now, Mister Dragneel."
And with that, he disappeared into the night, only Buckbeak's faint yet strong flaps only to be heard.
"Come on Happy, we better get going."
"Aye sir!"
It didn't take long for Natsu and Happy to reach the two patiently waiting for him. Once he landed, the two ran up to him with smiles of relief. "Glad you're alright." Hermione said with a nod. "Course! I'm not that easy to get rid of! That and there wasn't a Dementor in sight. Hopefully Sirius will make it back alright."
The clock chimed the second Natsu had wished Sirius well. The trio looked back at each other, before they boys looked at Hermione for guidance. "Come on, we have to go!" She exclaimed, pulling at the boys' sleeves slightly and ran inside.
The three, plus Happy, ran up to the doors of the infirmary, Dumbledore ready to take his leave. "Sir!" Hermione yelled as she ran towards the wise man. "Sir we did it!" She finished, everyone panting behind her.
"Did what?" Dumbledore asked with a tilted head and left without another word. The three looked at each other before giving a shrug and peeped through the door. With a split view of their past selves vanishing, they burst through the door, welcomed by a baffled Ron.
"Wait- how- you…. You were there how are you here?!" He demanded, looking to and fro from them to the spot they were in just a second ago. Everyone blinked, before Natsu pulled a cheeky grin with a fist on his hip.
"I don't know what you're talking about. After all, it's impossible for us to be in two places at once."
Ron, the poor baffled boy, looked like he was about to lose his mind soon, and the reaction just made everyone laugh.