The TARDIS let out a violent screech as it lifted up into the air. The Doctor was at the control panel jerking switched up and down and muttering to himself. "Just hold straight for this, come on…"
The shriek grew louder as they went higher and there was a violent explosion that threw steam into the air and flooded the ship. Rushing around to the other side of the panel the Doctor cranked at a hook and drew another lever down. Sparks blasted up from the console and he aimed the screwdriver down into it. "Now!" he screamed. "Cast it now!"
Hermione started hers first and the others chimed in, wires dangling from their wands as they raised them up and shouted the incantation. "Ex-expecto Patronum!" they shouted.
A burst of green light filled the room and the tube in the center of the console filled with tiny shimmering creatures, an otter and dog racing upward, chasing one another; a stag and horse trotting in circles around the tube. The TARDIS trembled and light erupted outward from the tube marring the other shapes in the room and blotting them from sight. Expanding outward, the light gained speed and passed over the whole street, the whole area of town…until it burst out of the city limits.
From beneath the floor of the TARDIS near the door, six shadowy figures rose up through the light. They were hooded and taking raspy, panicked breath. Upon appearing it seemed they hadn't expected the power of the charm and they were pushed into the TARDIS wall and the light ate into them, stripping the darkness that was the Dementors away until there was nothing left.
The light of the Patronus crashed back into the core of the TARDIS until it was gone. The ship was calm and silent, sitting in the air with seemingly no difficulty flying now. The Doctor laughed, almost a maniacal sounding laugh. "That's it, there were some Dementors inside of the TARDIS! They must have gotten in to feed on its heart!" the Doctor said checking the monitor.
Confusion washed over the faces of the four Wizards. "Did that do it?" asked Ron. "That was wicked," he nodded.
"Wait, did you just say this thing has a heart?" asked Ginny.
"Yes," the Doctor leaned back on the control panel, "the TARDIS has a heart, it is alive. I imagine whatever made them run, made those few that were in here try and take refuge within the ship."
Hermione smiled. "So you're not going to blow up the whole of London anymore?" she asked.
"Doesn't look like it today, though that begs the question what drove the Dementors to run like that?" the Doctor said.
"And who put the watch on the windowsill?" Harry said.
"Awe, come now—that much should be obvious if you're really paying attention," the Doctor held up his pocket watch. "I'm the Bad Wolf—I take the words and spread them through time and space to lead myself back here…" the Doctor said in almost a trance like state as he stared at the watch.
"You left it," Hermione said. "But not the you we met…the future you!"
"Ten points to pretty girl with the bushy hair—did anyone ever tell that you'd be good at this time travel thing?" asked the Doctor.
Hermione's face reddened and she averted her eyes. "I tried it once, can't say it's for me…"
"So that's it then? We've fixed your ship and the Dementors are gone—I think some might have even died…" Harry said.
"I suppose you're going to want to get back to your party," the Doctor said as he tinkered with the controls and brought the TARDIS back to the ground.
"Yeah," Harry smiled.
On the ground they disembarked from the TARDIS, the four of them glancing back at the amazingly small structure as the Doctor emerged and trailed them up to the door with a small box in his hand. As he reached the steps of Number Twelve Harry handed the watch back, "I guess you're going to need this one since you won't be keeping yours much longer…" Harry said.
The Doctor laughed. "Thanks," she said as he pocketed the new one.
Ginny circled the Doctor with a smirk. "I think I had the wrong idea about you," she said. "You're alright—a little crazy, but alright," Ginny offered him a hand to shake.
He drew her in for a hug, squeezing her awkwardly around the head. "Ginny—come on," he said as he pulled her close. He let her go and hugged Ron. "And you to Don," he released him. "I just love gingers…"
Ron shot Ginny a glance and they both chuckled.
"You aren't going to come in and join us for the rest of the party…there are others coming and…" Hermione said.
The Doctor cut her off, his head tilted to the side slightly. "Beautiful, bushy haired Miss…" he started but Hermione slipped her own last name in.
"…Granger…"
"…Miss Granger," said the Doctor opening his arms to hug her too. "I wish I could, but there's something out there that scared those Dementors and almost destroyed my TARDIS and London."
"Pity," Ginny said. "We were going to introduce you to Luna—if she showed. Damn…she's probably watching the clouds again."
The Doctor took out the sonic screwdriver. "Your phone, if you've got one Hermione?" he asked.
She handed it over. "I only have it to contact my parents really—they don't accept owls," she said.
With the screwdriver down over the phone's back he used the screwdriver on it and passed it back to her. "There, you can call me now—anytime from anywhere, or anytime. My name's under The Doctor," he smiled.
Harry stepped in and shook the Doctor's hand vigorously. "I'll have to thank you, for making this, in actuality, one of my better birthdays," Harry chuckled.
"I almost forgot, I have a gift here for you," the Doctor said handing over the box. He tugged at the sleeves of his tweed coat and stood up straight as Harry took it.
Quickly Harry examined the box and then popped it open, he stared down at the contents. "Uh—thanks."
"You can keep it, I've got plenty," the Doctor said. Harry reached into the tiny box and plucked out a bowtie. "See," the Doctor said tugging on his own bowtie. "Bowties are cool," he said matter-of-a factly.
Ginny stifled a laugh, looking at Hermione who snickered too.
Ron opened the door and they all said their final good-byes as they moved up the steps into the flat. As the door closed the Doctor stood on the step for a moment examining the watch in his hand. "I'm sure I'll be see you again before all of this is over," he muttered.
As he turned to cross Grimmauld Place to the TARDIS he heard footsteps coming from the end of the street, someone was running toward him.