* My hands can't ype anymore... So sore... Why I write so much in a day?! Also, got sorted into my Ilvermorny House! I'm a Wampus, yaaaaaaay!
John blinked and opened his eyes. He looked down at his body, only to find that it wasn't there. Panic rose in John's chest, until he saw something.
It was the same woman, the old man, and a new one… A young boy who was obviously scared and shivering on his bed.
The man sighed audibly. "Let me tell you about scared. Your heart is beating so hard - I can feel it through your hands! There's so much blood and oxygen pumping through your brain, it's like rocket fuel. Right now, you could run faster and you could fight harder. You can jump higher than ever in your life. And you are so alert, it's like you can slow down time. What's wrong with scared? Scared is a super power! It's your super power! There is danger in this room, and guess what? It's you. Do you feel it?"
The little boy nodded in agreement. He shuddered. The old man jolted his head toward the bed.
"Think he feels it? Do you think he's scared? Nah. Loser."
John coked his head. It was obviously another dream… But he was just watching. Dreams were like that; you never knew what was going to happen.
Then, John felt light touch his eyelids. It was like the dream was pushing him to shore…
"...It was lucky you were there, Snape…"
"Thank you, Minister."
Minister? Where was he? Where was John?
"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I'd say!"
"Thank you again, Minister," Snape's voice said coolly.
"Nasty cut you've got there… I presume it to be Black's work?"
John couldn't really see anything, except the white of the ceiling. It was like the whole world was blinking. It seemed that room was flickering, or something. Ugh, such a terrible analysis, John noted.
"Actually, it was Potter, Granger, Weasley, and Oswald. Mr. Smith seemed to have been part of it as well…"
"No!" Harry's voice moaned from somewhere.
"I saw it immediately, the Confundus Charm. They seemed to think that Black was innocent! They weren't responsible for what occurred. But, had they not meddled and thought they could catch Black themselves, perhaps Black would not have escaped. Obviously, they are all used to being the 'heroes' especially Potter. There seems to be a blindspot when it comes to the boy."
"We all have a blindspot for Potter, Snape," the Minister reminded.
"But is it goof for him? I try to treat him like any other student, that's what a good professor would do. He should be suspended! Consorting with a murderer and werewolf! Breaking dozens of school policies, and endangering many students!"
"Yes, yes. But, what awes me is the fact that all the dementors retreated! Do you have any idea why?"
"No, Minister, but I came 'round and found the Black, Harry, Smith, and the two other girls, all unconscious."
John gulped. He tried to speak, but it came out all sluggish. He turned his head a bit, and saw Madam Pomfrey tending to Ron. Harry was keeping still, and Hermione was lying in the bed next to his. Clara was to John's right, and he noticed her gripping the mattress of the bed, but her eyes were open. Hermione put her finger to her lips, and pointed at the door with was open. Now John knew where the voices were coming from.
The voices were getting quieter, and quieter. When it was safe, John pushed himself up. The room suddenly began to spin.
"Mr. Smith!" Madam Pomfrey scolded. "Back in bed!" But, John couldn't take her seriously, for in her hand was a big block of chocolate.
Harry was also up. "Please, I need to go see the Headmaster!"
Madam Pomfrey whipped around. "There really isn't any need, Potter. They've got Black, and he's locked away. Should be receiving the kiss any moment now…"
"WHAT?" everybody yelled, including John. Clara practically fell out of her bed, and John was suddenly at attention, and on his feet. Hermione and Harry were standing now too.
Minister Fudge and Snape entered the ward.
"My, my, Harry. What's this? Have you had your chocolate?" Fudge asked.
"Minister! Sirius Black is innocent! Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! You can't let the dementors-" Harry panted.
Fudge shook his head, with an apologetic smile on his face. "Harry dear, you're very confused. You've been though a lot. Now, lie down, have some chocolate… Everything is under our control…"
"SIR! YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!" Harry bellowed.
"Minister, please!" Hermione begged. "I saw him! It was Scabbers, Ron's rat. He's Peter Pettigrew, an Animagus!"
"See? Confunded!" Snape confirmed.
Clara walked over to their side. "Sir," she said carefully, "If we were supposedly Confunded, and Black were capable of that, doesn't it mean that Snape would have been Confunded too?"
John joined them. "She's got a valid point."
Snape's temper was rising. "I assure you, I was not Confunded. You are clearly confused-"
"SIR, WE WERE NOT CONFUNDED!" Harry yelled, enunciating each syllable. He was however, cut off, by a sudden piece of chocolate in his mouth. Madam Pomfrey forced back into bed. Madam Pomfrey tutted as Harry tried to swallow, then turned toward Snape and Fudge. "Please, this is a hospital wing. No arguments! Minister Fudge, I'm going to have to ask you to leave imm-"
John turned to the sound of the door opening. Dumbledore strolled in, humming.
Harry jerked up from the bed. "Professor, Sirius black-" he stuttered.
"Good Lord!" Madam Pomfrey said angrily, "Sir, they are sick-"
"Ah, my apologies, Poppy," Dumbledore said. "But I need a word with the students who were caught up in the events. You see, I have been talking to Sirius Black…"
Snape snarled. "Did he lie saying that there was a ratm and Peter Pettigrew being alive?"
"Yes, yes, Severus. That is Black's story," Dumbledore answered.
"And what about what I have to say? Pettigrew was not in the Shrieking Shack, and I have never seen any evidence of him on school grounds-" Snape retorted.
"Sir, you were unconscious, remember?" Clara reminded him.
"WOULD YOU ALL JUST HOLD YOUR TONGUES?" Snape bellowed.
"Snape, now. They've suffered from trauma. We must be careful…"
Dumbledore nodded. "Yes, yes. Now I must speak with the students…"
"Sir!" Pomfrey protested. "They need treatment and-"
"Poppy, I'm afraid this is quite urgent and cannot wait," Dumbledore explained. "I must insist."
Madam Pomfrey made a flat line with her lips and sighed. She left, and literally slammed the door behind her.
Fudge looked nervous. He pulled out a gold fob watch, and sighed. "The dementors will be arriving about now. I must go."
Fudge exited the room, which basically left a bunch of students in the wake of Dumbledore and angry Snape.
"You don't believe Black's story, do you?" Snape hissed.
"I must speak to the children alone," Dumbledore said.
"Sir, Sirius Black has showed signs of potential homicide wince sixteen! He tried to kill me once, remember?"
"My memory does serve me well, even now, Severus," Dumbledore almost whispered.
Snape scowled, and left the room. Once the door closed, Dumbledore turned to the four teens.
Everybody began talking, which caused Dumbledore to raise his hand for silence.
"You must listen carefully, for there is little time," Dumbledore said. "You children have no proof of Sirius's innocence, except for your word. But the word of you four isn't much right now."
Harry interrupted him.
Dumbledore shook his head. "Professor Lupin is deep in the forest, away from causing you any harm. However, he will not be able to give any proof in the meantime. Also, werewolves are some of the most mistrusted of our kind. Along with the fact they were close friends…"
"But-" Harry said.
"Listen. Professor Snape's version of it all far more convincing than yours."
Clara opened her mouth. "It's all because of the stupid prank from when they were in school. Snape hates Sirius," Clara explained separately.
"Sirius right now, seems as guilty as possible. Attacking the Fat Lady, entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife… We simply have no solid evidence."
"Do you believe us though," John asked urgently. That was honestly the most important part.
"Yes," Dumbledore whispered. "But my word isn't much either."
John rubbed his hands together. He had to make sure that this innocent man was going to have his soul from being sucked out.
"What we need, is more time," Dumbledore exclaimed slowly. He was eyeing Hermione… John realized what was happening.
"Waoh, woah, woah!" John said. "We're doing exactly what now?"
Hermione's eyes were as large as marbles. "Oh, ok…"
"Sirius is currently locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the West Tower, actually. Perhaps, if all goes well, two innocent lives will be saved tonight. Miss Granger, and Mr. Smith, you must not be seen!"
John's heart was pounding. It wasn't because he was scared… No… He was anxious to travel through time again.
Dumbledore was leaving the room when he said, "Three turns should do it, good luck! And, it's five minutes 'till midnight."
Clara looked confused. "What are we doing?"
Hermione pulled out the gold Time Turner. "Something. Now, um, grab the chain," she instructed.
They all did her bidding.
"Seriously though," Clara asked again. "What did he mean?"
"Clara," John said. "We're going to travel through Time."
"Excuse me?"
"No time to explain!" Hermione said. "Now!" She turned the hourglass at the end of the chain three time, and everything around John dissolved.
It was a weird feeling. John had time-travelled before, but there seemed to be less of a capsule this time. Colours blurred past John, and there were voices that were heard too. Then, he landed on the ground again, and he groaned.
"Silly little excuse for Time-Travel," John muttered.
Hermione paid him no heed. "In here!" she hissed, and she pushed them all into a broom closet.
It was small, and cramped, and John felt uncomfortable pressed against three bodies.
"What did we just do?" Harry panted,
"We've gone about three hours back in time, Harry," Hermione explained.
Clara laughed. "Oh my goodness…"
"Yeah," was all John could wheeze out. Hermione was elbowing John.
"I always wanted to travel through Time!" Clara exclaimed.
"Believe me, I've had better experiences," John muttered.
Clara was fidgeting, and it was extremely uncomfortable. "Why only three hours though?"
Hermione frowned. "Because, there is still past us out there, and the more exposure you have to Time Travel, the more of a risk there is of something occurring. Like, something bad."
John wanted to cross his arms, but he couldn't. "Actually, if you had a temporal capsule that protects you from the Time Vortex, no actual damage is done to you physically. Your body will pick up some background radiation, but it's harmless…"
"Please, not now, John!" Hermione said.
"Fine, fine. But you really ought to know the physics of it all… We shouldn't be stupid and cause any more paradoxes."
"More paradoxes?" Hermione squeaked.
"What did you expect? Time Travel always causes paradoxes! But, Time sorts herself out, and we don't feel anything."
"OK, phew." Hermione shook her head, which caused hair to fly into John's face. "We're getting off topic."
She pushed herself against the broom closet door. "We've just walked down to Hagrid's…"
"Wait, we're out there?" Clara asked.
"Yes, pay attention," John exclaimed.
"Where did you get the hourglass thingy? And how does John know about it?" Harry asked.
Hermione blushed. "It's called a Time Turner, and I got it from Professor McGonagall. I had to swear I wouldn't tell anyone, and I had to sign a bunch of papers to the Ministry…"
John cut her off. "We wanted to do more classes, so forms signed, promises made, and we had Time-Travelling devices! I only got one because I haven't done that much. Though, my parents were contacted…"
Hermione sighed. "I just don't know what we're supposed to do! I mean, three hours? Why?"
Clara smiled. "Oh, come on! Isn't it obvious?"
John stared at her face. "No…?"
Clara pressed her ear against the door too. "We're going to save Buckbeak!"