Harry Potter Alternate Universe: Year Three
A/N: Okay, I hope you wont be too disappointed that I sneaked a little Luke-Steph moment in there. And this chappie should make up for that. Great reviews! (And dont worry about your internet not working all the time, mine does it too!)
Harry's eyes fluttered open as he woke up. He saw two familiar brown eyes filled with worry and concern staring back down at him.
"Hermione?" Harry asked sitting up, Hermione handed him his glasses.
"Harry, we've got to hurry. Pettigrew escaped – don't ask me how, but he did. And the ministry is bringing in a dementor to give Tristan the kiss tonight." Hermione said as she glanced at the door.
"What about Becca and Ron?" Harry asked as he got out of the bed and hurried over to Ron.
"They're fine." Luke said, he was sitting on Ron's bed next to Becca.
"And Steph?" Hermione asked, Luke smiled, glad his friends liked her.
"She's been better, but right now its about Tristan." Luke said, Harry smiled and nodded. Everyone turned to the door when McGonagall came into the room. She let out a sigh of relief when she saw Harry was awake.
"Professor, Tristan is innocent! It was Pettigrew, he escaped from Azkaban." Hermione and Harry protested at once, McGonagall held up her hands, effectively quieting them.
"I know that, but the Ministry wont believe the word of two thirteen year-olds." McGonagall said, Harry let out a frustrated sigh and raked a hand through his hair while McGonagall gave Hermione a pointed look. "What we need is more time." Hermione nodded in understanding. "Three turns should do it, Miss Granger." McGonagall turned and left the hospital wing.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked, Hermione shook her head as she grabbed the necklace from under her shirt and looped it around both their necks.
"Sorry Ron, but seeing as you cant walk, and the less people that go the better." Hermione said, Luke nodded while Becca, Ron and Harry looked confused. She twisted the end of the necklace three times. Everything started rushing backward. Harry looked around and saw that time was reversing itself with Harry and Hermione standing in the middle of the whole thing. They finally stopped and Hermione yanked the chain off of Harry's neck and tucked it back into her jacket.
"Hermione…" Harry trailed off, still confused about what was happening.
"We don't have time." Hermione said, Harry sighed.
"Okay, we have to save Buckbeak right now." Harry said and the pair took off running. They stopped when they saw their friends and them standing at the stone circle with Pansy and her two friends. "Great punch by the way." Hermione smiled.
"Oh, she's coming this way." Hermione said, they both rushed to the gap between the structures and jumped down, hiding behind the stones.
"It's okay, Steph. You heard what Draco said, his dad paid them off." They heard Luke say, they looked at each other.
"I love you, Luke." Steph said, Luke kissed her while Harry and Hermione smiled surprised.
"I love you too." Luke said before they continued on. They watched their other selves hurry down to Hagrid's hut while the two of them slipped through the pumpkin patch, staying low and behind the largest pumpkins on the way.
"You know, I kinda feel bad for listening to Steph and Luke's first 'I love you's." Harry said, Hermione saw their other selves coming and they hurried into the forest. Soon, their other selves hurried away, allowing Harry and Hermione to rush toward Buckbeak. Harry grabbed the chain that was tied loosely to the post and slipped it off before he bowed in front of Buckbeak. Buckbeak watched him for a second before he bowed back. "Come on, Buckbeak." Harry pleaded as he tugged on the chain to no avail. Hermione walked over with a couple dead ferrets and threw on to Buckbeak, who caught it in his mouth. She dangled another ferret in front of Buckbeak.
"Here boy, come and get the nice dead ferret." Hermione tempted quietly, Buckbeak stood up and followed the prize away from the hut and into the forest just before the Ministry stepped out. Harry and Hermione hurried behind the trees and watched as they noticed Buckbeak was gone.
"Where's the hippogriff?" Fudge demanded as he looked around, Hagrid was looking around too.
"My, it looks like he must have escaped." Dumbledore said with a small smile.
"I'd better call out some men to search the grounds." Fudge said with a nod but Dumbledore held out a hand.
"Search the skies, you mean." Dumbledore said, Fudge looked put out. "Executioner, it looks like we wont be needing your services today." He then turned to Hagrid. "I wouldn't mind a spot of tea."
"I have brandy in the cupboard, Professor." Hagrid said and Dumbledore smiled.
"Excellent." Dumbledore said as Hagrid led him back into the hut. Macnair lost his temper and brought the axe down onto a nearby pumpkin.
"Now, we wait." Hermione said, they moved to a small patch where they could watch the Whomping Willow. Hermione wrapped her arms around herself, waiting for the questions that would no doubt come.
"I missed you this year." Harry said, Hermione looked over at him. "I feel like this is the most time we've spent together in a long time."
"I've just been busy, Harry, we've all been busy." Hermione said, he looked over at her.
"I know, so, next year, we'll be not so busy. We'll spend time with each other, and get to know Steph a bit more." Harry said taking her hand, Hermione smiled.
"Steph's great." Hermione said, Harry nodded as he stepped closer to her.
"I'll take your word for it." Harry said before leaning down and his lips softly brushed against hers. They pulled away quickly when screaming filled the air. Hermione saw Lupin, the werewolf, was about to hit Harry. She covered her mouth and howled, causing Harry to reach over and covering her mouth as the werewolf looked in their direction. "What're you doing?"
"Saving your life." Hermione shot back before she howled once more, this time drawing the werewolf away from 'past' Harry.
"Thanks." Harry said, she nodded. "Now its heading for us!"
"Yeah, didn't think about that one." Hermione said before grabbing Harry's hand and running off deeper into the forest. They reached the largest tree they could find before hiding themselves behind it. The werewolf sniffed the air as he walked around. Harry and Hermione tried to keep the tree between them and the predator, hoping that the werewolf would just go past them without looking back. Harry peered around the tree and saw that it was clear. He pulled Hermione behind him but stopped when he saw the werewolf. Lupin was about to jump towards them when Buckbeak came out and started flapping his wings like mad and lifting himself up on his hind legs, squawking loudly. The werewolf let out a whine in the back of his throat and ran off. Hermione rested her head on Harry's chest, sighing in relief.
"Poor professor Lupin, he's not having a good night." Harry said, Hermione just shook her head.
"That was horrible." Hermione whispered, Harry rubbed her back lightly until they felt the air get noticeably colder.
"Tristan." Harry said as they both ran off in the direction of the lake to where they saw Becca fall to the ground next to Tristan. "No ones coming." Harry whispered before he ran out. He whipped out his wand and pointed it toward the Dementors. "Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted as the memory of kissing Hermione flashed in his mind. A bright light shot out of Harry's wand before it turned into a stag. It sprang off towards the Dementors almost before it was fully formed and started to hit them with its antlers. The Dementors let out screeches of agony; unable to deal with the pure happiness that was attacking them. First one and then increasing numbers flew off to get away from he stag. Harry watched as the stag came back over to him and stood in front of him, he petted it softly. "Prongs." He whispered as the stag bowed its head before it disappeared.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as he came back over to her. "You just produced a Patronus!" Harry smiled.
"I know. I remembered how everyone kept saying how much I look like my dad, and that's why I thought it was my dad when I really saved us." Harry said with a smile.
"Come on, we have to save Tristan." Hermione said and they hurried to Buckbeak. They rode Buckbeak up to the highest tower and Tristan smiled when he saw them.
"Get on!" Harry called out, Hermione tighten her hold on Harry as Tristan got on behind her. As soon as they landed, Harry and Hermione jumped off. "You know where to go?"
"Take care." Tristan said, they nodded. "I love you Harry."
"You too, uncle Tristan." Harry said with a smile, they watched Tristan and Buckbeak flew off. Hermione took Harry's hand and they quickly ran back to the hospital wing. They got there as soon as their other selves left. They closed the door behind them.
"How did you…you were there and now you're there." Becca said standing up, Hermione turned to Harry.
"I have no clue what you're talking about, do you Harry?" Hermione asked with a smile.
"No clue." Harry said with a smile back.