Harry Potter
Redemption of the Innocent
By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Rating: K
Pairing: N/A (as of now)
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.
Summary: Third year is approaching and Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban. It is believed that he is heading towards Hogwarts. How far are the friends willing to go, to prove the innocence of a desperate man?
Author's Note: You pretty much knows what goes here. But I will do it anyway. Chapter dedicated too: DJScales, Alieen Autarkeia, ItzKevin97, Forever Dreaming Grace and Razmend. You guys are what makes the Muggleborn Witches series so enjoyable to write.
Justice Served
"Shocking business...shocking...miracle none of them died...never heard the like...by thunder, it was lucky you were there Snape..."
Minister Fudge's voice could be heard through the crack in the door leading out of the Hospital Wing, behind which doors, lay resting the four Gryffindors and two Slytherin students. After Snape and the others had managed to locate Harry, Sirius and Charlie near the lake in the middle of the Forbidden Forest they had instantly been returned to the Infirmary where Madam Pomfrey was looking over them for any injuries. Ron, was propped up in one of the bed's his leg wrapped tightly in a splint and bandages, Hermione was sat on one side of Harry's bed waiting for him to wake up, while Riley was sat cross-legged on Ron's bed making sure the red head was okay -in all fairness Ron looked like he was enjoying the pampering- as for Charlie, she was propped up beside Marcus on the older Slytherin's own bed. The Slytherin captain, had removed his shirt and his chest was covered in white bandages; where Charlie had thought he hadnt been injured when Professor Lupin had attacked him in his Werewolf form, she had been wrong. Marcus, may not have shown signs of bleeding but if Charlie had looked deeper she would have noticed minor gashes in her friends skin.
Shifting on the bed beside the Captain, Charlie glanced at him; Marcus was lying on his back, his right arm over his stomach and his eyes were closed, but whether or not he was sleeping no one knew. His chest rose and fell giving the illusion that he was asleep.
"...Order of Merlin, Second Class?" Minister Fudge's voice sounded once more "I'd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!"
Riley glanced up and across the room at Charlie who met her gaze and smiled, both were still reeling from the events of the previous few hours. The only thing that they couldnt shake was the fact that Sirius was still a wanted murderer and any minute now the Dementors were going to perform the deadly Dementor's Kiss and leaving him soulless for the rest of his life, they could have stopped that from happening, but stupid Pettigrew had taken advantage of the full moon and one of his old best friends transformations to escape.
"...it was nothing Minister, she was just disorientated and possibly scared," Snape's cool voice drawled "I know my Snake, she'd never put her friends or herself in the presence of a murderer willingly. Oh no, I believe Charlie and her friends were simply confused, I recognized the signs immediately, definitely the Confundus Charm. Black must have used it on all of them. She seemed to think that Black was innocent and that Peter Pettigrew was to blame..."
Minister Fudge gave a short laugh "You must teach your Snake that Pettigrew is dead, Severus"
Charlie turned towards the door and glared, her hands curling into fists on the blanket beneath her. She wasnt confused and she was most definitely not confunded! How dare her favourite Professor at Hogwarts accuse her of such things!
"Of course, Minister" Snape's voice sounded again "I assure you that none of them were responsible for their actions"
The friends -those who were awake- could just imagine the Minister Fudge nodding his head as Snape spoke "What amazes me, is the Dementors" there was a pause "You sure you don't know what made them leave?" he questioned
"No Minister, all over by the time I got there" Snape answered "Black and Potter were unconscious on the ground, while Charlie knelt beside them looking exhausted. I bound Black myself, conjured up a stretcher for Potter and allocated Mr. Flint to carry Miss. Hunter back here" he paused "The Dementors had already returned to their posts at the Hogwarts gates, by then"
Charlie, Hermione and Riley exchanged looks from across the room; Minister Fudge and Snape had fallen silent, where they conversing in whispers? Or was there another reason? But before either of them could voice their own opinion's Harry started to stirr from beside Hermione. The raven-haired boy opened his eyes and sat up slowly, put on his glasses and looked around at his friends.
"Harry?" Charlie questioned
"I saw my dad," the Gryffindor Seeker mentioned
The girls frowned
"What?" Hermione asked
"He sent the Dementors away," Harry answered "I saw him across the lake"
Riley sighed "Listen, Harry they've captured Sirius" she blurted out "Any minute now the dementors are gonna perform the Kiss"
"You mean their gonna kill him?" Harry asked expectantly, jumping out of bed
"No, it's worse" Hermione answered "Way worse, their gonna suck out his soul"
Suddenly the doors at the end of the Infirmary burst open and Dumbledore strode in, behind him came Minister Fudge and Snape.
"Minister!" Harry started, the second Fudge had entered the ward "Listen, Sirius Black is innocent! You've got the wrong man!"
The friends nodded in agreement "It was Scabbers who did it!" Ron cried
"Scabbers?" Fudge frowned "Who is this Scabbers?"
"Its my rat, sir," Ron answered "He's not really a rat. He was a rat. He was my brother Percy's rat, but then my parents gave him an owl -"
Charlie cut across him "The point is, we know the truth!" she stated, turning back to her Headmaster, Head of House and the Minister "Scabbers is in fact an Animagus; his human form is none other than Peter Pettigrew! He faked his own death! We saw him tonight! He told us everything!"
"My dear, child" Minister said, shaking his head "You're very confused, you've been through a great deal tonight, just relax and know that we have everything under control"
But Charlie merely shook her head "You don't have it under control, though!" she cried "I mean no disrespect Minister, you don't know the whole story!"
"You see, Minister?" said Snape "Confunded!"
Charlie glared at her Head of House "I am not confunded!" she snapped "Ask Marcus, he was there, too! He'll tell you im not lying!"
Dumbledore smiled down at the Muggleborn Slytherin "Now, now Miss. Hunter," he soothed "Please calm yourself" he turned to Snape and Fudge "If you both would excuse me, I would like to speak with these students alone"
Fudge looked slightly offended, but agreed to leave "The Dementors must have arrived by now," he spoke, checking his pocket watch "I'll go and meet them. Dumbledore, I'll see you upstairs" he crossed to the door and held it open for Snape. But the Potions master was unmoving and staring at Dumbledore.
"You surely do not believe a word of Black's story," he whispered to the Headmaster
Dumbledore turned in his direction "I wish to speak with these students, alone, please Severus" he stated once more
"Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of 16." Snape breathed "you havent forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?"
The students gave startled gasps
"My memory is as good as it ever was, Severus," Dumbledore responded quietly
Snape glared, before turning and leaving in the infirmary. Fudge followed and the door clicked closed behind them.
"Please, headmaster," Riley squeaked "Please, say you believe us"
Headmaster glanced her way "I do, Miss. Spirit" he nodded "But im sorry to say, that the word of six students will convince few others" he moved past them and stood on Ron's side, near where the red head's leg was elevated "A child's voice, however honest and true is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen"
Charlie and Riley frowned - What did that mean?
The clock chimed midnight.
"Mysterious thing, time" Dumbledore spoke, as he looked up at the sound "Powerful and when meddled with, dangerous" the clock chimed again "Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower" the Headmaster rounded on 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"
Charlie, Harry and Riley exchanged confused glances; what was Dumbledore talking about and why would Hermione know what to do?
"If you succeed tonight," Dumbledore continued "More than one innocent life will be spared" he turned to leave, before pausing and turning back "Three turns should do it, I think" he winked and left, stopping at the doors, just before he closed them "Oh, and by the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin" he nodded "Good luck" and he closed the doors on them.
Ron leaned forward in his bed slightly "What the bloody hell was that all about?" he questioned
"Sorry, Ron" Hermione apologized "but seeing as you can't walk" she looked at the girls "Charlie, Riley come here"
The two Muggleborns hurried forward, and frowned as Hermione draped a golden chain around their necks, and lifted a golden circle up so that she could see it. Harry reached up to touch it and Hermione slapped his hand away. Charlie and Riley giggled at the action.
"Hermione, what are you doing?" Riley asked, as her friend turned the pendant inside the golden circle three times and around them everything began to change. The friends watched as people blurred past them, as jumbled up conversations reached their senses; then finally everything ceased and they were left standing in the infirmary in broad daylight, as to opposed to a few seconds ago when it was midnight.
"What just happened?" Harry asked
Hermione removed the chain from around their necks and looked up at the clock. Charlie, however, frowned "Where's Marcus?" she asked, pointing at the empty bed, where the Slytherin Captain had just been sleeping "and Ron?" she turned to the second empty bed.
"7:30," Hermione spoke "Where were we at 7:30?"
"I don't know," Harry shrugged "Going to Hagrid's?"
Hermione gripped his hand "Come on, and we can't be seen!" and she led them out of the infirmary, down the hall, down several floors, across the Entrance Hall and out into the courtyard.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"...Hermione, will you please tell me what it is we're doing?" Charlie asked, gasping for breath and finally catching her Gryffindor friend up. She had just grabbed hold of Hermione's wrist when the girl in question came to a halt causing the Slytherin to crash into the back of her. Charlie opened her mouth to retort, but was cut off when a voice reached her senses.
"There is a reason im a vegetarian,"
Riley, Harry and Charlie all frowned, and exchanged glances as they peered out into courtyard "Oh my -!" Riley exclaimed, Hermione slapping her hand over her friend's mouth.
"That's us," Harry breathed, noticing a group of six students out in the courtyard. They were just passing the place where the executioner sat, sharpening his axe "This is not normal..."
Hermione pulled the three of them back into the shadows, as the executioner looked their way "This is a Time-Turner," Hermione explained, holding up the same device she had used back in the Infirmary "McGonagall gave it to me first term, it's how I have been getting to my classes all year"
"You mean we've gone back in time?" Charlie asked
"Yes," Hermione nodded "Dumbledore obviously wanted us to return to this moment, clearly something happened that he want's us to change" she glanced back out into the courtyard "Come on, the executioner has gone and so have we..." and she led the way into the courtyard, and towards the bridge leading towards Hagrid's.
They had just reached the cliff's edge, when their past selves had crossed the threshold into Hagrid's hut "Look," Riley grinned "Buckbeak's still alive!"
"Of course," Hermione smiled "Remember what Dumbledore said? If we succeed, more than one innocent life could be spared"
Charlie glanced at her friend "You think he was talking about Buckbeak?" she asked
"Buckbeak was innocent," Riley pointed out
The Slytherin grinned "Sweet!"
"Let's go!" Hermione stated, and she pushed them towards the steps leading to into the pumpkin patch. Glancing back over their shoulders they spotted, Dumbledore, Fudge and the executioner approaching.
"Here they come," Harry spoke "I'd better hurry"
He jumped up but Hermione pulled him back down "Fudge, has to see Buckbeak first" she pointed out "Or he'll think Hagrid, set him free" she motioned for them to move down, as the three adults grew closer.
"Fudge is coming," Riley whispered "But we arent leaving, why arent we leaving?"
Hermione suddenly rose up and threw a stone in through the window of the hut, there was a smash and a scream.
"Are you mad?" Harry asked, as Hermione rose again and threw another two stones. This time she hit past Harry and Charlie, who were standing near the window.
Charlie hissed, and raised her hand to the back of her head "That hurt," she complained
"Sorry," Hermione apologized
Beyond the pumpkin patch, the front and back doors of the hut opened up "And we're coming out he back door!" Riley whispered, as her past self appeared down the steps as Fudge, Dumbledore and the Executioner entered the hut.
"Go!" Hermione pointed towards the trees. The four friends disappeared in, just as their counterparts appeared in their spaces. Peering through the trees, Hermione moved a branch and frowned "Is that really what my hair looks like from the back?" she asked
Charlie rolled her eyes "Hermione!" she snapped, as her Riley's counterpart spun around and stared directly at the spot, Hermione had been seconds before.
"What is it?" Hermione's counterpart asked
"I thought I saw..." Riley's counterpart spoke, before shaking her head "Never mind"
Ron, looked between them "Lets go!" he stated, and led the way out of the Pumpkin patch. The four friends waited until their counterparts had gone, before hurrying back out to hide behind the pumpkins.
"Okay, go, Harry" Hermione whispered to her friend "Go!"
Harry, hurried around the pumpkin patch, as Charlie followed him. Careful not to blink, the Gryffindor bowed and waited as Buckbeak bowed back. Then Charlie nodded as she untied the chain that bound Buckbeak to a wooden post beside her.
"Okay, Buckbeak. Come quickly" Harry whispered "Come with us now. Come on!"
Buckbeak didnt move
"Buckbeak!" Charlie hissed "Come on. Quickly!"
Buckbeak squaked at them and the two friends froze, but it seemed they went unnoticed. Dumbledore was still speaking from inside the house, suddenly Riley appeared at Charlie's shoulder brandishing a dead ferret, the Slytherin jumped and dropped the chain as her face turned green at the sight.
"Come on Buckbeak," Riley whispered "Come and get the nice dead, ferret"
The Hippogriff got carefully to its feet and Riley threw the ferret into the air. It was gone. Using another one Riley managed to persuade Buckbeak into the tree as Hermione pulled Charlie up and tugged her by the hand backwards, just as Mcnair, Dumbledore, Fudge and Hagrid appeared in the pumpkin patch.
"Where is it?" Fudge's questioning voice, echoed as he found an empty Pumpkin patch "I saw the beast, just now! Not a moment ago!"
"How extraordinary," Dumbledore spoke, sounding happy
The friends exchanged looks, as they watched Mcnair raise his axe and slice it down through a pumpkin. Then Hagrid howled, and they could hear his words "Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free! Beaky, yeh clever boy!"
Jenn smiled, as she patted Hagrid's shoulder "I told you Hagrid, I told you everything would be okay"
Charlie smiled, before she felt Buckbeak nudge her in the shoulder as he stared at Hagrid "Sorry Buckbeak," she sighed, patting his feathers "You can't go back out there"
The Hippogriff made a small whining sound, and the Slytherin pointed in the direction of the forest "Come on," she whispered "We got to save Sirius" and she hurried into the tree's her friends following.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
The four of the moved through the forest, darkness falling thickly around them, then they were hidden behind a clump of trees through which they could make out the Willow.
"Look," Riley pointed "Its Lupin"
Across the way they could see the DADA professor point his wand at the Whomping Willow "Immboulus!" he cried, before disappearing into the hole amongst its roots.
"And Snape," Harry pointed, and seconds later the Potions master disappeared
Hermione sighed "and now we wait," she shrugged
"Now, we wait" Charlie nodded, settling down on the grassy slope. She leaned backwards as she rested against one of the trees, Riley meanwhile, lay back against her best friends legs as Hermione and Harry, sat side-by-side. At least an hour after they had arrived, a family of bats flew out of the trees and over their heads into the night sky, some of which were caught the beak of Buckbeak who happily jumped at them.
"At least someone's enjoying himself," Hermione commented
Harry nodded "Yeah"
Charlie, however, was frowning "Harry," she mumured "There is just one thing I don't understand. Why didnt the Dementor's get Sirius? I mean, I could feel them and I knew you had reached Sirius before I had, but by the time I had gotten to the lake there was this bright white light and next thing the Dementors were all leaving" she glanced at her friend "What happened?"
"Oh, yeah, I did see someone" he told her "they cast the patronus charm. They made the dementors go away"
Charlie shook her head "Who was it?" she asked
"I think it was my dad," Harry breathed
"But Harry, your dad's -" Hermione started, but Harry cut across her angrily
"Dead! I know!" he turned away "Im just telling you what I saw"
Riley and Charlie exchanged looks, before looking back towards the Whomping Willow "Here we come," Riley mumured, getting to her feet as their counterparts started to appear.
"You see Sirius talking to me there?" Harry asked. His friends nodded. "He's asking me to go live with him"
Charlie smiled "That's great,"
"When we free him, I'll never have to go back to the Dursleys" Harry smiled "It can be just be and him. We can live in the country, someplace you can see the sky. I think, he'll like that after all those years in Azkaban"
The girls nodded
Suddenly they were bathed in moonlight, as Charlie's voice echoed "HARRY!" she was pointing over Marcus's shoulder where the full moon had appeared.
"Run!" Sirius begged them
Just like before everything played out right before the four friends, they watched as the Werewolf rounded on Marcus, Charlie and Riley and attacked the older Slytherin. They watched as Harry run after Sirius and Lupin and Charlie following him. "Pettigrew," Charlie mumured "He's in the woods somewhere! We have to find him!"
"Let's go," Harry said, pulling her by the hand through the trees, they followed their counterparts for a moment, before there was a thud and a squeak. Riley had tripped over something in the long grass.
"Scabbers!" Riley cried, grabbing the rat by the tail and holding him up "I got him!"
Charlie grinned "Sweet! No matter what happens now, we got Pettigrew, Sirius is safe!"
The look on Harry's face never looked happier; but a snarl, cut them out of their moment as Lupin bounded towards them. The four screamed and split, taking off in different directions as not to get attacked. Harry, his hand still clamped around Charlie's hand pulled the Slytherin along behind him. Reaching a small incline, Charlie screamed as her foot became stuck and she hit the ground with a thump.
"Charlie!" Harry, doubled back and grabbed her as he pulled her up off the ground and behind a tree "Are you alright?"
The Slytherins whimpered "My ankle," she moaned "It hurts" and she looked down, and touched the side of her foot "I think its twisted" she confirmed.
There was a snarling from behind their tree; which alerted them to the fact that Lupin was right behind them. Wrapping his arm around the Slytherin, Harry helped her carefully to her feet and the two moved around the tree just as the werewolf appeared seconds later. Coming out into the clearing, both Charlie and Harry froze as a snarl was heard, they spun around as Lupin bore down on them, his teeth bared and a murderous look in his eye.
"Oh no..." Charlie breathed; Harry pulled her close and moved her away from the werewolf just as it came closer. Why was it always them in life threatening situations? Why was it always them, that came close to death? One could only speculate why it was always them! Inches away from attacking, Buckbeak swooped down on the two friends and slashed his talon at Lupin's face, the werewolf roared, before turning and fleeing the scene.
"Harry!" Hermione breathed, as she slipped down off of Buckbeak's back, where she had been perched during the attack.
Riley followed her "Charlie," she sighed in relief at the relevation of her friend being alive "Are you okay?"
The Slytherin nodded "My ankle is twisted, but im okay" she looked up at Buckbeak "Thanks" she smiled, patting his feathers.
"Poor Professor Lupin's have a really tough night," Harry mumured
Hermione nodded
"Do you still have Scabbers?" Charlie asked quickly, turning to her best friend
Riley held the rat up by its tail "Hermione cast this spell on him to keep him from transforming; that and she's knocked him out so that he cant run off"
The Slytherin looked impressed "You should have been in Ravenclaw," she told her friend
Hermione smiled.
Suddenly the temperature dropped; the friends breathed out and were startled to see their breath appear in front of the eyes "Sirius," Harry breathed, looking up to see a hundred black cloaked figures flying in one direction "Come on!" and the four of them tore across the Forbidden Forest, towards the lake. On the opposite bank stood Harry's counterpart and Sirius; the Dementors swooping down on the two of them and sucking the remains of their souls into the air. Harry's counterpart raised his wand, and silver glimmers ignited, but nothing appeared.
Charlie frowned, her own counterpart would have been on the edge of the woods by now "Where's the bright light?" she questioned "It should be here by now. I was only a few seconds behind you, Harry. If it doesnt hurry up, then History changes"
Riley and Hermione stood behind their two friends and exchanged looks; if this point in History changed...how would that affect their future?
"He'll come," Harry reassured her "You'll see. My dad will come, he'll conjure the Patronus"
The dementors bore down on the two across the lake, Charlie shook her head "Harry, no one's coming" she told him
"Any minute now," Harry told her, desperately "Right there!" he pointed towards the edge of the lake "You'll see!"
But the Slytherin was shaking her head, this was taking to long. Her counterpart would be bursting through the trees any minute now on the opposite side of the bank...the light should have appeared by now "You're dying..." she shivered "...both of you"
Harry shook his head, and rushed down to the edge of the lake, his friends calling out to him from behind. He raised his wand and shouted "Expecto Patronum!"
Charlie, Hermione and Riley watched in fascination as out of the end of Harry's wand, burst a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. It looked like a horse and it was galloping silently away from them across the frozen lake, and towards the dementors on the far side. It bowed its head and took them head on with its antlers, the Dementors faded backwards into the darkness and soon...they were gone.
On the opposite bank, Harry's counterpart hit the stones and seconds later Charlie's counterpart appeared amongst the trees.
"Harry, quick come here!" Charlie whispered, urgently, pulling him by the hand and behind the trees were Hermione and Riley were waiting. Once they were hidden she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him "You did it! You conjured a corporeal Patronus! Lupin, would be proud!"
The Gryffindor smiled and nodded "Well, I knew I could do it this time" he told her "I mean, I have already done it...does that make sense?"
The three girls shook their heads "No," they answered together
Harry chuckled and shook his head "Never mind...now what?"
"It's nearly time," Hermione mumured, glancing at her watch "We've got roughly, 45 minutes to rescue Sirius and get back to the ward, before anyone realizes we are missing"
Charlie looked at the unconscious Scabbers "Can't we break Sirius out, and take him with us to the Hospital Wing?" she asked "You know, present the case to the Minister in person? How else is he gonna know?"
"If he sees Sirius, he will kill him" Riley pointed out
"Not if Sirius is in his Animagus form," Charlie responded "I can just say that he is a stray I found in Hogsmeade, and he followed me back to the castle"
Harry looked hopeful "It could work,"
"But we're supposed to be in the Hospital wing," Hermione stressed "How are you going to explain him being there with you, seconds after Snape had brought us in?"
Charlie frowned "I dunno," she cried "My mind's still reeling from figuring that out! I mean, im not used to this much thinking!"
Riley giggled "Its true," she nodded "Come on, we'll figure something out. Lets just safe Sirius first"
The others nodded and hurried through the forest, back towards the Castle. They had only made it several steps into the courtyard; before footsteps caused them to dive behind a plinth so they wouldnt seen. Peeking around the plinth, the group of four watched as Macnair hurried past them, a malicious grin on his face.
"He's gone to get the Dementors," Harry whispered "This is it!"
The girls nodded
"Hermione," Charlie turned to her friend "You go up there with Harry, break Sirius out, and meet me and Riley back down here. We'll figure out the rest of the plan when you return"
Hermione looked scared "I can't," she mumured
"Why not?" Harry asked, starting towards Buckbeak
"I don't like flying,"
Charlie sighed "Okay, Riley, you go up" she turned to her best friend "Hermione and I will wait here"
Riley nodded and followed Harry towards the Hippogriff, while Hermione and Charlie slid back into the shadows and watched the other two take off into the air. Buckbeak soared straight up, Harry gripped his flanks with his knees, as Riley wrapped her arms tightly around her friend; with Harry urging Buckbeak onwards the two quickly landed on the courtyard outside the tower.
They landed and Riley quickly located the one Sirius was inside, they didnt have time to mess about. "Stand back," she told Sirius, before pointing her wand at the metal door "Bombarda!" she yelled, there was an explosion and the gate swung open.
With Sirius free, the three of them clambered back onto Buckbeak and returned to the Courtyard below, where Charlie and Hermione had come out of hiding and were waiting for them.
"Phase two complete," the Slytherin smiled
"Phase two?" Harry asked "What was Phase one?"
Charlie turned to him "Saving Buckbeak, of course," she smiled "Now, i've been thinking over my plan. Here's what we're gonna do" she turned to Sirius "Sirius is gonna take Buckbeak and get out of here..."
"But what about -" Harry started
"Let me finish!" the Slytherin snapped "With Sirius gone, we'll take Scabbers up to the Minister and get him to reveal everything he as done; and then we're home free. That way I dont have to come up with an excuse on why I have a dog with me" she turned to Sirius "Right, Snuffles?" she asked
Sirius glared "Padfoot," he muttered
Riley and Hermione grinned
"I'll be forever grateful for this," Sirius spoke once more, gazing down at the four of them "to all of you"
"I want to go with you," Harry told his godfather
Charlie touched his shoulder
"One day, perhaps" Sirius told him "For some time, my life will be too unpredicatable"
"Not when we get back up the Infirmary and hand Fudge his real prisoner," Charlie smiled at her friend "You'll see Harry, you'll get your happily ever after. I promise"
Harry returned her smile
"And besides," Sirius added "you're meant to be here. I expect your tired of hear this...but you look so much like your father," he cupped his godfather's face "Except your eyes, you have -"
"My mother's eyes," Harry answered for him
Sirius nodded "It's cruel that I got to spend so much time with James and Lily, and you so little. But know this: The ones that love us never really leave us. And you can always find them..." he pressed his palm against Harry's chest, beneath which his heart lay beating "...in here"
Harry smiled, as Sirius backed away and clambered back up onto Buckbeak's back, he turned to the three girls who had moved back to stand beside Harry. Charlie, had wrapped her arm around her friend, as he placed his around her waist. Riley stood on Harry's other side, her arm wound around his arm and resting her head on his shoulder as she placed her arm around Hermione's shoulder.
"You take care of my godson, wont you?" Sirius asked, smiling at them
Hermione and Riley nodded
"Never fear Snuffles," Charlie grinned "He's in good hands"
Sirius glared playfully down at her "Be careful around her, Harry" he warned "She is a Slytherin after all" and with a wink at the four of them, he pulled back on Buckbeak's reigns and took off into the sky.
The friends watched him go; as the clock started to strike Midnight "We have to go," Hermione stated, as the second chim sounded.
"Go!" Riley cried, pushing Charlie towards the open doors of the castle; the four of them sprinted through them and up several more stairs, down the hall and came to a grinding halt just short of the infirmary.
Dumbledore, was just closing the door when they arrived "Well?" he asked, turning and facing them
"He's free," Harry said, breathing heavily "We did it"
"And Pettigrew?" the Headmaster asked, turning to Charlie and Riley
The Sytherin held up the rat "Unconscious, but ready to be revived"
"Excellent," Dumbledore smiled "If you will excuse me, I will go get the Minister" he nodded "I think..." he paused to listen "yes, I think you have gone, too. Get inside - I'll lock you in"
Harry, Hermione, Charlie and Riley slipped back into the Hospital Wing, it was empty except for Ron and Marcus -the latter was still asleep-; but Ron was looking startled "How did you get there -" he asked, pointing at them "- when I was just talking to you there?" and he pointed to the middle of the room, where the four new their future selves have been standing seconds ago "and now you're there"
"What's he talking about?" Hermione asked
Riley shrugged "I don't know," she sighed "Honestly, Ron. How can somebody be in two places at once?" she asked
Charlie, Hermione and Harry burst into laughter, before clambering back into the bed's they had been found in earlier that evening.
"Stop moving!" Marcus grumbled, as he rolled over and wrapped his arm tightly around Charlie as she settled down "Geeze, women!"
"Oh hush up," Charlie responded, smacking his hand "It's not like you were sleeping anyway!"
The Slytherin Captain growled, but opened his eyes nonetheless "Im injured, the least you could do is be nice to me"
"Nah," Charlie grinned, shaking her head "This is much more fun"
Suddenly a distant roar of fury echoed from somewhere above them "What was that?" Marcus asked, looking towards the door
Any minute now Charlie thought, as she heard angry voices grow louder and louder, outside the infirmary door.
"He must have Disapparated, Severus, we should have left somebody in the room with him" the Minister was saying desparately "When this gets out -"
"HE DIDNT DISAPPARATE!" Snape's voice roared "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH POTTER!"
Harry looked up at his friends "Why am I always an instant suspect?" he asked
"Because Snape hates you," Charlie offered "But we got proof that Sirius is innocent!"
Marcus frowned "You do?" he asked
"You'll see," Charlie smiled "Don't worry about a thing, we've got this covered" and she patted his head
"Don't patronize me, Charlie" he glowered
The Muggleborn grinned
BAM
The door to the Hospital wing burst open, making all occupants inside jump; Charlie squeaked as she tumbled off of Marcus's bed and hit the ground, glaring up at her Head of House as he strode in "Maybe next time you should knock" she suggested "There are girls in here, you know"
"Silence, Miss. Hunter!" Snape snarled, before rounding on Harry "OUT WITH IT, POTTER!" he bellowed "WHAT DID YOU DO?"
Riley jumped up and scurried towards Charlie "Now what?" she asked
"Phase two," the Slytherin answered "Professor Snape," she called "Before you murder my friend, I'd like you to hear the truth"
Snape turned in her direction "What truth?" he spat
"The real truth," Charlie answered "The truth about who really turned Lily and James in; the truth behind why Sirius Black was put on trial! I want you to know that Sirius was in fact innocent when he was sentanced. He didnt hand James and Lily Potter over to Voldemort, as everyone likes to think. You wouldnt give us a chance to explain everything, earlier tonight in the Shrieking Shack, and you were unconscious when we learned the truth..."
Snape frowned "What are you babbling about Miss. Hunter?" he questioned "Please, get to the point"
Charlie glared at him "Fine!" she growled, and reached into her jacket pocket where she pulled out Scabbers "Meet the real reason the Potter's are dead!" she turned to Riley and Hermione who nodded and pulled out their wands, the Slytherin held the rat by the tail and moved to stand in the middle of the room and pointed her own wand at the rat. The three of them muttered the same spell they had heard Sirius and Lupin utter; before a white light filled the ward and the rat started to transform. Charlie dropped him, and the second he hit the floor a man replaced him.
"Who is that?" Fudge questioned
Charlie poked Pettigrew with her wand, he gave a shriek cry and flew to his feet.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Fudge gasped
The Muggleborn Slytherin nodded "He's been hiding as a fugitive," she explained "With the Weasleys," she pointed at Ron "He was best friend with Sirius Black, Professor Lupin and James Potter when they were at school. He is an illegal animagus, and takes the form of rat, as you can see" she smirked "Ironic really,"
"What is, Miss. Hunter?" Dumbledore questioned
"That his animagus is a rat," Charlie answered "and he's a human rat himself! Ratted his best friends out to Voldemort, to save his own life! Pretty pathetic if you ask me"
Pettigrew looked up at her "You would have done the same," he squeaked
"No," Charlie shook her head "Im not like you...you see, if anyone tried to do my friends; it would be the last thing they ever did. I would never hand over my friends to save my own skin! I'd rather die, than know that it was my fault that they were dead" she glared at the human rat "Its a wonder how you could even live with yourself, for 12 years! But, I guess hold no remorse for what you did, do you?" she snapped, her eyes darkening with each word she spoke.
Pettigrew, by now was curled up in a ball and whimpering, as if Charlie's words were cutting him like a knife.
"Charlie..." Riley started, scared by the look in her best friends eye
"You really are by far the most loathsome, pathetic thing that has ever walked this planet!"
Riley moved forward and pulled her best friend away from the quivering man, as everyone else stared at the Slytherin in shock. Soon Fudge cleared his throat and stepped forward "I'll take this one in personally," he nodded, waving his wand and casting the same spell, that the girls had just uncast "the Aurors will have many questions for him. You should be proud of yourselves," he added to the students.
"Sir," Harry's voice echoed "With Pettigrew being alive, does that mean that Sirius Black will be cleared of all charges? I mean, why should an innocent man have to hide away from the world, when you have the real murderer in custody?"
"More to the point," Riley added "Why would an innocent man hide away for 12 years?"
Fudge looked between the students and then turned to Dumbledore "I see what you mean, when you say they are too smart for their own good" he commented
"That they are," Dumbledore nodded
The five friends exchanged looks "So does that mean -" they each asked at the same time
"We will be looking into it," Fudge nodded "Pettigrew will be questioned, under Veritaserum of course; and when we have the answers that we seek, we will make the announcement concerning Black's status. The Aurors will be working overtime tonight," he waved his wand over Pettigrew, as ropes wrapped around the man, the Minister then turned to Dumbledore and nodded once, before heading for the door with Pettigrew in tow.
Dumbledore turned "Oh Minister," he called out "the Dementors? They will be removed, surely?"
"Oh, yes" Fudge nodded "They will have to go. No need for them now, I will have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight"
The headmaster nodded, gave a swift smile to his students and left along with Fudge; Snape, however remained. All was silent for sometime, before the Potions master spoke "I don't know what you all did," he said, in a low voice "But be sure to know your place, next time" he turned on Charlie "As much as it pains me to have to say this;" a flicker of a smile appeared on his face "Well done, Sirius Black owes you a great debt. Justice has been served...I myself, could not be more proud of a Snake"
Charlie smiled "Has long as there is Justice to be served..." she responded "This Snake's not going anywhere"
The Gryffindors smiled and exchanged looks, as Marcus smirked. Snape nodded, patted Charlie's shoulder and left the Hopsital Wing.
A/N: Another chapter bites the dust. Aw, Charlie and Snape sure have a father/daughter type relationship dont they? Anyone else agree, or is it just me? Anyway, possibly last chapter coming next and then its on too my next favourite book 'The Goblet of Fire'. I know some of you are dying for answers, well I can honestly tell you that, that part of the story is drawing closer and closer; she please bare with me. Like I said last chapter, once the answers have been answered I need a new plot line; so I hope your all ready for more twists and turns.
Anyway, im going to bed now (not tired though) but I have a long day ahead of me.
Review (please)
~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to myself xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated on 31/01/2011 at 01:59am