Yay! Im finally uploading it. I would've done it last night, but it was around 4:53 when I finished and my eyes were so bloodshot the darkness hurt them. But its 5 in the afternoon now xD Anyway, I own nothing except Ruby. Thank you everyone who has faved my story. Without further ado, ON TO THE STORY!
Prisoner of Azkaban
POV: Hermione Jean Granger
Ah, Diagon Alley. It's a rather swell place, you know. Aside from the dirty marble ground and creepy people you sometimes meet. But, here I was, with Ruby and Harry, buying my books. I seemed to be loaded up to my max with books. I told Harry and Ruby, "Go on and get your stuff, I'm just going to get an owl." They obliged and I ran to the shop animals were sold in. The bell above to door rang 3 times when I stepped in. "Welcome! What can I interest you in mi'lady?" A short man with a large handelbar mustache approached me. I smiled and looked around. "Well, I was looking to buy a..."
I stopped when I saw a fat, ginger cat looking at me from a cage. I walked over to it, petting its small head. "I think I want this cat." The man nodded and picked up the cage, beckoning me to follow him to the register.
Just then, Harry and Ruby walked in accompanied by Ron, who was holding his rat, Scabbers. I paid for the cat and turned to them. "Look! I was going to get an owl but I just fell in love with this adorable cat. Her name is Crookshanks."
Crookshanks, who had been looking bored, hissed at Ron's rat. This obviously offended Ron. As we walked out of the store, making sure we had everything, I was forced to stay on the other side of Harry so Crookshanks wouldn't try to eat Scabbers.
We all agreed to spend the rest of the few days we had left at the Burrow. As we were about to start there, I was bumped into by someone, dropping all my books and almost dropping the cage. The person turned immediately, prepared to shoot an insult. Upon seeing it was Draco Malfoy, I dropped to my knees and started to pick up my many books, not expecting an apology or help.
"Sorry- let me help." He kneeled down too. Once or twice, we tried picking up the same book. How cliché, I thought. In the end I thanked him and scurried off to catch up with my group.
At the burrow, Molly stuck me, Ruby, Harry and Ron in the same room. It was a tight fit, and me and Ruby had to share a bed, but it was cozy. Almost everything about the Burrow was. I was still wary about the book-dropping thing, but I had a great time. We helped cook one night, but the food ended up either exploding or already burnt. It was all fun and laughs...
When we arrived at Hogwarts, I was the first to the table, to our dorms, and the first asleep.
Since I had taken up every class there was, Professor McGonagall pulled me aside one evening and gave me a Time Turner. "It has the ability to let you go back in time, to whatever time you want. Use it only for your classes." With that, she put it around my neck and I was off. Within a week, the gang was suspicious about how I was managing all my classes.
One day we were going to go visit Hagrid, when we overheard Draco, Crabbe and Goyle laughing about something he had said. We almost were going to pass them, when Draco stopped us. "Going to see that huge oaf? I don't see why." he followed up with several vulgar insults about Hagrid. I'm not sure why, but I stalked up to him and punched him square in the face. His nose started bleeding and, with a little whimper of pain, ran from us with Crabbe and Goyle following right behind him. "That felt good." I said.
"Good? That was brilliant!" Ron commented. I blushed, and we turned to continue our way to Hagrid's. He was out by the lake, throwing rocks. "Hagrid! How did the court hearing go?" he turned to us sadly. "They're puttin' Buckbeak to death. Thar gonna execute him tomorrow." He was choking back tears, we could tell.
Several days ago
POV: 3rd Person
The children in Gryffindor and Slytherin arrived at Hagrid's hut for Care of Magical creatures around mid-day. Hermione as usual arrived out of the blue when they were walking, causing Harry, Ron and Ruby to jump in surprise.
"Erright, follow me." Hagrid said to the lot, and they all walked a short ways into the Forest. There was a large animal standing there. It had the head of an eagle, and a of a horse.
"This thing 'ere is a hippogriff. C'mon Buckbeak, c'mere." Hagrid motioned the animal to walk over, which it did.
"Now, firs' thing yeh gotta know abou' hippogriffs is, they're proud. Easily offended, hippogriffs are. Don't never insult one, 'cause it might be the last thing yeh do. Yeh always wait fer the hippogriff ter make the firs' move. It's polite, see? Yeh walk towards him, and yeh bow, an' yeh wait. If he bows back, yeh're allowed to touch him. If he doesn' bow, then get away from him sharpish, 'cause those talons hurt." He explained to the students. "Who wants to try?" Most of the kids stepped back, but Hermione stayed there. "Erright, Hermione. C'mon over here."
Hermione edged her way toward the hippogriff. She bowed slowly, keeping wary eyes on the beast. Soon, the animal bowed too. She stood up straight, and walked closer. "Why, you're as harmless as a fly. And you're oh so soft...what beautiful feathers." she cooed to the hippogriff. He nudged her hand as she petted him.
Soon, the class erupted in clapping. I started to step away, but Hagrid stopped me and said, "Now, would yeh like to ride'im?" I was confused, but it must've looked like she nodded, for he carefully picked her up and set her on Buckbeak's back. He took off, Hermione gripping onto wherever she could.
The students on the ground ooh'd and ahh'd as the hippogriff flew in a large circle before flying over the trees, over the water. Within five minutes, he had flown across the whole lake, and was now landing softly in front of the class. They started clapping again as Hermione slid off, smiling like an idiot.
Then, Draco Malfoy ran up to the beast and simply insulted it. Buckbeak reared up and slashed its front feet around in anger, striking Malfoy's arm. Hagrid calmed the beast, but Malfoy acted as if he was to die.
"Agh- somebody take the boy to the hospital wing, yeh hear!" Hagrid yelled. Hermione rushed over, grabbing Draco's wrist and ran toward the school. "WAIT TILL MY FATHER HEARS ABOUT THIS!" he yelled as he was led away.
0O0
"Oh Hagrid – That's horrible!" he sniffled. I wanted to run over there and give him a big hug.
Later, as I was sifting through my notes, I noticed a strange piece of paper lying on the table. (A/N She is in the common room. Just wanna clear that up in case anyone asks.) I pick it up, opening to find an empty page.
Just then, Fred and George Weasley appear beside me.
"Ah, it seems you've found the Maurader's Map." Fred said to me.
I turned to him. "The what?" I asked.
"The Maurader's Map! It shows where anyone and everyone is in the castle, at any time. All you have to do is point your wand at it and say," George said. Fred pulled out his wand, pointing it at the parchment. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" The brothers said at the same time. Slowly, a map of the whole school appeared. I found the Gryffindor common room and it shows 3 pairs of feet, and it showed our names.
"But how- where did you find this?" I asked, bewildered.
They shrugged. "It was in Filch's desk. We searched it during a detention." I could not believe it! Not only had they found it during detention, but they had stolen it from Filch! I don't much like him, but that was not right.
"A-As a prefect, I feel I should report this...but it's just.." I had gone back to studying the curious magical object. "You can keep it if you want. I know you're not allowed in Hogsmeade this year." I knew they were grinning. "So, um, this shows EVERYTHING of Hogwarts?" I asked slowly.
"Yup! Even the secret passages that even Filch doesn't know about." I smiled to myself. This'll be fun.
I know I am a prefect and all, but the sense of joy and rebellion was undeniably exciting.
A few mornings later, I slowly descended the stairs, hearing a commotion in the breakfast hall. Weird, breakfast is usually quiet..
There were a group of people forming a little circle around the area I usually sit at. Ruby noticed me first. "Hermione! I'm sorry, I couldn't help opening it- it's just that you weren't down here and...you can ride it first, it's yours!" I wondered what she was babbling about.
The crowd parted to let me in, and I saw the most beautiful broomstick. It was a Firebolt, apparently. But, who had sent it to me? "Did it come with a card, letter, anything?" I asked nobody in particular.
"Um, no. It was just there, where you always sit."
I was smiling slightly. Either somebody was stalking me, or someone was crushing on me. Either way, it was a little creepy they had known who I was and, more importantly, where I sat.
I put it up next to my bed and went about the day as normal.
But, at the end of the day, as I was about to turn off the light, I noticed my broom was missing. "Ginny! Are you awake?" she mumbled something incohearantly, which I took as yes.
"What happened to my broom? I left it right here." I pointed, knowing she wasn't looking. Sitting up and yawning she turned to me. "Professor McGonagall took it for inspection. She says she's worried it might be rigged. 'Who knows? Sirius Black could have sent her it, and put a charm to make it try to kill her!' she had said." Ginny imitated McGonagall almost perfectly.
"Meh, okay. Good night." I turned off the light and fell asleep.
When spring rolled around, McGonagall returned the broom. I was elated, but it was late at night and I could care less about riding it in the rain.
One morning, I woke up and all the hangings on our beds had been ripped to shreds. (A/N Have I made a rhyme?)
I was the first to awaken, and I gasped so loudly they all woke up too. They were as shocked as I. I didn't bother with my shoes, and ran downstairs, out of the common room, and I would've ran into McGonagall had I not stopped to catch my breath.
"Professor – Come quick! The hangings- on our beds- they've been slashed. It looks like a knife did it." she followed me as I hurried back, urging the Fat Lady to open quicker. She was half asleep, but let us in. The girls had been so shocked they were in the common room now, and I joined them as the professor looked.
Soon, she came down. "I'm afraid...Sirius Black has been inside Hogwarts." Our jaws dropped.
A few days later, we were walking about the grounds, when Ron ran over to us. "You!" he said accusingly, jabbing me in the chest. "What about me?" I asked, furrowing my brows.
"Your wretched cat has done it! He's eaten my Scabbers!"
I stared at him in shock. "Crookshanks has done nothing of that sort! How dare you suggest such things?"
Ron had a look of pure hatred- obviously for Crookshanks. We kept at it, yelling like that, for at least 5 solid minutes before Harry broke us up. "Stop it! Both of you!" he yelled. I slinked off as Ron apologized to Harry. I saw an executioner and Cornelis Fudge walking into Hagrid's Hut. I took this time to sneak over to the window, listening.
"I am sorry Mr. Hagrid, but we have no other choice. It is the law." Fudge wiped his glasses on his handkerchief.
Ruby, Ron and Harry join me, but we cover our eyes when the executioner picks up his axe, and whams it down onto Buckbeak's neck. I had started crying, and hoped nobody saw. I don't know why, but I felt I was rather close to that hippogriff.
Later as we were walking up a hill, Ron dived down. "Scabbers! I've found you!" He cooed to the rat as he stood back up. I rolled my eyes. He mumbled an apology to me, and I sighed.
I was about to say it's fine, but the rat jumped from Ron's grasp and ran toward a large, gnarled tree. He managed to jump on Scabbers, before a large black dog ran up to Ron, grabbing his ankle in its obviously strong jaws. It then pulled him, screaming, under the tree and into a hole. I ran forward. "RON!" I screamed, as Harry and Ruby joined me. But the tree starts moving.
"Um..Hermione..I do believe that is the-" Harry started.
"Whomping Willow!" I yelled as a branch tried to hit me. I ran towards it (like an idiot!) and managed to dive into the hole, Harry and Ruby following quickly. How we managed to do it, I will never know. But we went down a wide path and soon came across wood flooring. There were paw prints, which we followed. It was rather dark, so I lit my wand.
Soon we stepped through an opening and I saw Ron sitting on a chair looking scared. "Ron! Are you alright?" I asked, running over to him. Ruby asked the same thing, over and over. I stood up and looked at where Harry was supposed to be, but instead there was someone who I recognized at once. I pointed my wand, but he had one too. "Expelliarmus!" he yelled, and my wand flew from my hand into..professor Lupin's? I was shocked.
Not only was Lupin there, but he was standing next to a mass murderer as if he was an old friend. "Ah, Black. It's been long." Lupin patted him on the back.
"Thirteen bloody years, it's been!" the madman responded, smiling. He expelliarmus-ed the rest of us too.
"What the hell do you want from us?" Ruby yelled at the same time I yelled, "YOU KILLED MY PARENTS!"
Sirus Black laughed. "No, Voldemort did!" Somehow, even though my friends shuddered the the name, I was not altered.
"B-But you helped. You told him their location!" I snarled at him. Somehow, it came out weaker than I planned. He laughed again. "STOP LAUGHING! You know, I thought I was prepared, but no. I realize now you just want to kill me- You have my wand. Go ahead!"
He looked at me, seriously. "Stupid girl. Its not you Im after, it's him!" he pointed to Ron.
"What? But I'm not-" Ron sputtered.
Sirius sighed. "Not you, THE RAT!" Scabbers jumped from Ron's lap and scurried across the room, jumping up from the floor to the old piano. Lupin lunged at him. Scabbers jumped to the wall, morphing from a tiny rat to a short man.
"See! Your 'Scabbers' is none other than PETER PETTIGREW!" Sirus yelled as Lupin yanked the man from the wall.
"But Scabbers has been in my family for-" Ron started.
"THIRTEEN YEARS! An awful long time for a common rat, don't you say?" I'd had enough. Just as I was about to grab Ron's wand, Professor Snape rushed in. "BLACK! We meet again." he sneered at Sirius.
"Aha, Snivellus, how nice of you to join our little party! Do you remember Wormy here?" But just then I shouted 'Expelliarmus' at Snape, and he flew to the old dusty bed, unconscious. "Hermione..you just attacked a teacher!" Ruby yelled.
Of course, I did not care. I was aiming for Sirius Black, to be honest. I was at the doorway when Pettigrew crawled over. He still had the characteristics of a rat: twitchy nose, long nails...
"H-Hermione G-Granger..what an honour it is to be in your presence. You look s-so much like y-your father...Like James.." Sirius hit him. "How dare you talk to Hermione? How dare you bring up James?" I looked from Peter to Sirius.
He was just about to hit Peter when I stopped him. "Wait. I think we should just..um..let the dementors take him." Sirius reluctantly nodded and stepped back. Then, Pettigrew pushed passed me and out the passage. Sirius, Lupin and I yelled for him to come back, but he did not.
Soon, we were helping Ron walk up the pass, and Lupin had made Snape levitate. "Sorry about the bite. I was aiming for the rat, you know."
Ron shrugged. "It's okay I guess. Really hurts though." he nodded.
As we were walking across the grounds, the air started to get rather cold and chilly and..depressive. I suddenly felt as if I could no longer feel happiness. I looked up to the sky and saw dementors floating around us. "Sirius- the dementors! They've found you- run!" He ran, and I handed Ron to Ruby, much to her delight.
Running after him, I didn't see Lupin transform into a werewolf himself. But Ron, Ruby and Harry did. He started to attack them, but Snape apparently tried to aim a spell at him. I stopped, turned and was about to run back when I heard a howling noise in the forest about a half-mile from me. I ran to where Sirius was lying on the ground. Apparently he had gotten hurt, and was bleeding. I kneeled down next to him. "Sirius...Sirius! Can you hear me?" I asked him. In response, he moaned slightly and turned his face to the water.
I then realized the water was freezing slowly. Then, looking up, I saw the dementors. Hundreds of them. I grabbed my wand and tried to to the Expecto Patronum spell, but I just couldn't think happy thoughts. Soon, they were close enough I could feel the happiness draining. I was about to pass out.
But, then, I saw a light from across the lake. A silvery stag walked across the ice, and before I blacked out...I could've sworn I saw my mother standing there.
-oOo-
I woke up some time later, at dawn, to see Harry and Ruby looking at me. Turning my head, Ron was in the bed next to me, his foot in a cast.
"Hermione? A-Are you okay?" Ruby asked. My head felt horrible.
"Yeah. Where's Sirius? Are you guys all right?" I noticed Lupin had left some chocolate on my nightstand, and I ate some.
I also noticed many people had put cards there. Harry answered me as I picked up one in particular.
"Well, we're A-Okay but I'm afraid Sirius is locked away in a tower. Tonight he's to get the Dementor's Kiss." he said sadly.
I looked up from the card. "What! First I find out Draco actually cares about me, and now you're telling me my godfather is to lose his soul tonight?" I was shocked all right.
But then I remembered something. I stood up and turned to my sister. "Ruby, I am really sorry, but you have to stay here. Please." She looked confused, but I turned to Harry. "Same for you Ron. You couldn't go if you wanted to anyway."
I grabbed my time turner from my pocket and looped it around my neck, then Harry's. He tried to touch it, to take it off, but I slapped his hands. I turned the time piece around three times, and all around us, everything seemed to go backwards. Several hours before, right before we were to see the death of Buckbeak. I grabbed his wrist and we ran over, through the forest, and hid behind Hagrid's pumpkins.
I saw Fudge and Hagrid talking, and the executioner looking out from the window not facing us. Perfect!
I snuck up to where Buckbeak was stuck to, and I had to shoo some crows. I looked Buckbeak in the eyes, bowed, and he bowed back. I stepped closer, unhooking his chains. I had managed to talk Harry into wearing dead ferrets around his neck, and motioned for him to come here.
I grabbed a ferret, stood at the edge of the forest, and ushered Buckbeak over with them. By the time we were deep enough so that the men could not see us, I had given him my last ferret. I unchained him all the way, and set him free.
I saw Fudge, Hagrid and Yaxely (The executioner) walk outside. They were simply bewildered that the hippogriff was gone. I smiled to myself, knowing Hagrid would not be charged with letting it go. Then, Harry and I ran to hide behind a rock near the Whomping Willow. Of course, we saw exactly what happened with Scabbers, Ron and Sirius.
We waited till all seven of us exited the Shrieking Shack, and I made my way into the forest below. When Lupin transformed, and was about to attack, I stood up.
I made an awful, wolflike sound that caused him to look our way, and run down the hill. "Hermione- what the bloody hell! Now he's after us!" Harry tugged me with him into the forest again. We hid behind a large tree, but sooner or later, Lupin found us.
Just as he was about to lunge, Buckbeak appeared and attacked him. I smiled. Harry and I ran to the edge of the lake, where we saw Sirius and I.
Turning to Harry, I said, "Before I blacked out, right after the Patronum had gone off, I swear to God I saw my mum. Right. There!" I pointed. Harry started to point out she was dead, but I stopped him. The dementors were closing in. Where was she? Just as they were about to suck out Sirius's soul, I jumped from the underbrush, whipping my wand out. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" I yelled, casting the biggest Patronus I've ever conjured. The dementors disappeared and I rushed back to Harry, laughing. "What's so funny!" He asked.
"Harry, don't you see? It wasn't my mum I saw, it was me!" He didn't comprehend, so I simply turned. I saw Buckbeak, and hopped on. I gestured for Harry to do the same. He wearily got on, too.
We flew around Hogwarts till I knew it was the time Sirius had gotten into the prison. We flew to the tower, and stopped infront of the bars. I grabbed a chain, and attached one end to Buckbeak's collar and the other to Sirius's cage bars. "Stand back!" I yelled as Buckbeak flew off, the cage breaking from the walls. I pumped my fist into the air in triumph. Yes! It worked! I thought. Sirius ran out as Buckbeak landed again. I unhooked the chain, the bars falling to the ground. I ushered both of the guys on, and we flew to the bench area. We got off, Harry going to sit down, and Sirius went to stare at the stars.
Walking over next to him, staring up too, I asked him, "Sirius? Are you...really my godfather?" I inquired. He looked at me, smiling. His warm brown eyes twinkled in the moonlight. "Of course. Your parents trusted me so much. It breaks my heart still to know Voldemort killed them." He resumed the stargazing.
"You know, if you'd like, you could live with me. Both you and Ruby, in fact. We could move someplace far away, but close enough you could continue school."
I pondered this. That would be nice. Closing my eyes and leaning my head on his arm, I felt the cool night air brush my cheeks.
"But for now, kiddo, I've to leave. I'm still wanted." I was reluctant to let him leave, but I wouldn't let him get into Azkaban again. He hopped onto Buckbeak, and as he flew away I felt tears stinging my eyes.
Soon, we were running into the Hospital Wing. "What the- how did you- you were just there- I saw you!" Ron and Ruby stuttered, pointing and the lot.
I smiled. "That's ridiculous. We're here. There's no way you can be in two places at once."
-oOo-
On the train ride home, I turned to the gang.
"You know, I gave Professor McGonagall the Time Turner back. I simply can't handle that much stress and overload!"
We laughed.
~Somewhere In London~
POV: Draco Lucius Malfoy
I looked at the parchment. I had written but 3 words, and still I crumbled it up and threw it to the wastebin, along with all the other rejects. I sighed and leaned back, holding my head in my hands.
Why did I feel like this? Why me? I'm positive that stupid Potter has feelings for her as I do. But this just seems more powerful, more...intense. I don't simply like her as in friendship. I absolutely, without-a-doubt, love her. Slumping in my chair, I looked out the window.
Turning back to the desk, I grabbed another parchment and started all over. This time, I'd get it right. This time, I'd be able to truly express my feelings without sounding like a dope from some stupid presentation about some love-sick idiot who stalks his 'true love' all around, but in reality he knows it's dangerous but he's oh-so-intensely in love with her.
God, I could be a writer. The idiots in this stupid place would absolutely love it. I smiled, shaking my head, and kept writing the letter.
Cookies for anyone that noticed my Alice in Wonderland reference. :)
~Hint hint!~ Anyway, enjoy. I don't think I put enough Draco in the story, so I added that small tidbit.
Voice in head: 'Cause you LOOOOVEEE him.
SHUT. UP. Anyway, Review, R/R and favorite the story, please and thank you.
Oh yeah, and um I'll give you milk fo' yo' cookies if you notice my horrible Twilight reference.