Harry Potter gazed at the hippogriph steadily as he stepped forwards, the whole class watching with held breath. He bowed elegantly and stayed bowed, green eyes looking into smoky amber. Slowly the hippogriph also bowed. Harry straightened and walked up to the creatures, stroking its feathers in a soothing manner. It clucked softly leaning into his hand. Next thing he knew he was being thrown onto its back by Hagrid. With a sharp slap he was soaring through the air. He felt the wind in his hair and smiled slightly. The hippogriph, Buckbeak rose sharply, almost tilting completely up.
"Let's dive." He whispered into the wind.
The hippogriph heard though as it did a tight circle and dived for the lake. Harry let his breathe slide out in a hiss his alight as they pulled up just before hitting the water. Finally they returned to the class and Harry slid from the elegant creature. He stroked it once more then slid back to watch the rest of the class. He narrowed his eyes as Malfoy smirked arrogantly and tried to stride up to Buckbeak. He stepped up to the boy as Buckbeak hissed at him. He pulled the boy back just as claws swiped through the air. He shoved Malfoy to the ground ignoring Hagrid who shooed Buckbeak away. He despised how the boy thought he was better then anyone and anything.
"Do anything foolish like that again Malfoy," He hissed, "And I shall hurt you myself."
The blonde gave a terrified nod and bolted from class as Hagrid dismissed them. Hagrid gave Harry a happy smile and walked off whistling. Harry bowed his head to Buckbeak as a farewell, and the hippogriph stared stonily back, also bowing its head.
.--.
Sprout talked on for a few minutes before she started to hand out the pots and seeds. Harry gently took his and looked at what seeds he had gotten. Dandy-lions seeds. Interesting. He shifted dirt into the pot and gently set the seeds in. he gave it some water then pulled his wand out as he watched Sprout go through the wand movement and spell. They were practicing a spell to make plants grow faster. It could only be used on certain magical species though or it would mess with the plant and it wouldn't grow. She had handed out the certain plants that could take the spell. He gently cast the spell and smiled as a green sprout slowly started to grow before his eyes. After a minute what almost looked like a normal dandelion was in front of him. Except the yellow flower looked shaggier and made growling noises. When Harry poked it, it gave a soft roar. He had to admit he liked this Dandy-Lion better then the normal dandelions.
.--.
Harry ploughed through the thick white snow that covered Hogwarts with a soft smirk on his face. He had been at Hagrid's for tea. The half-giant was nice and friendly even if he was a bit naïve. Harry tossed the rock cake, which he had stealthy hid without eating, into the snow and gazed at the frozen lake. His eyes lit up with an idea as he changed course. As he reached the edge he easily transfigured his boots into skates. He took his first step onto the ice and tightened his scarf. Then he took off across the ice, legs pumping as he glided over the frozen lake. He felt the icy cold hit his cheeks and didn't care one bit as he flew over the ice.
.--.
Harry let Hedwig land on his outstretched arm and gently untie the letters from her leg. There was a cake from D for Christmas, which was upon them. There were also letters from Noir and Maen which were just chatter. The last letter, which made Harry's eyes light up, was from Tom. It was a letter on all that had happened while he was in Egypt, along with a book. Harry gently set these down and happily read through the letters ignoring the curious looks from around him.
.--.
Harry lost himself in the feeling as he lay stretched out on his couch (which had replaced his arm chairs in the common room for now). Fingers gently carded through his hair and for a moment he remembered Tom doing exactly the same thing. But when he opened his eyes he saw the two red headed Weasely twins. George was idly running his fingers through Harry's hair as Fred slept soundly against the opposite arm. Harry lay stretched out, his feet on Fred, his head on George's lap.
The two had stayed for Christmas, the only Gryffindors besides their brother and sister to do so. They had clung to Harry during the time. Harry didn't mind the twins and as they sat in his common room with him he relaxed. The night seemed to spread from his window into the room. Only the bright flames and warmth of his fireplace chased off enough shadows so they could see one another. Harry wished for a brief moment it was Tom running his fingers through his hair, but dismissed the notion a moment later. Tom wasn't here and no amount of wishing was going to make him suddenly appear. Better to think of the present then dreams. Harry closed his eyes again and once again lost himself in the feeling of fingers carding gently through his hair.
.--.
The rat squeaked from his hand. Harry smirked darkly at the rat and it tried to escape his hold on its neck. Then he leaned over closer.
"Run while you can little rat. Run while you can." He whispered.
Then he dropped the rat and it bolted. The cat Crookshanks, which Hermione had bought, rubbed against his leg as they both watched the rat run.
"Don't kill him just yet Crook." He said to the half cat, half kneazle.
The cat seemed to peer at him before flicking its tale and trotting off. Harry just smirked again.
.--.
Harry watched the twins throw snow at one another in a furious attempt to hit one another. He couldn't help but smile just slightly. They were his friend now. They had slid into his word, inch by inch until he realized one day they were there. They were to him like what Hermione and Blaise were to him. Friends, wards, some he could count on. He brushed the snow from his long raven locks and looked out over the frozen school grounds. Hogwart's magic thrummed around him in a comforting manner. In his hand he gripped the firebolt; a present from an unknown person. He hadn't bought one earlier, despite his involvement in the investing because he had just never got around to it. He had been comfortable with his nimbus two thousand. Now though he gripped the smooth handle of the firebolt and slid on. In on leap he was in the air, the soft flakes swirling around him and the sound of the wind in his ears. And he smiled just slightly, but it was just a tad more real.
.--.
Harry watched as the boy ran across the dark Hogwart's grounds. Ronald Weasely never had much self control. He got angry at Malfoy when the boy called him a chicken. Now here he was trying to finish his dare to run to the forbidden forest and back after curfew. There was Malfoy watching as the red head started to run, then running off to get a teacher. Most likely Snape. Harry rolled his eyes slightly from the shadows near green house four. There were some plants that needed moonlight to grow, not sunlight. Hmm. Harry was distracted again as he heard a cry. His eyes sharpened on Ron Weasely. Where was the boy? He had vanished. There. A dark shape dragging him. Interesting. A moment later they vanished at the base of the Whomping willow. A moment later another shape followed them. Harry's lips twisted into a dark smirk.
.--.
Harry slipped into the room and noticed as it fell absolutely silent. Sirius Black was hunched over, his wand pointed at Weasely. Remus Lupin stood beside him looking as if he were trying to talk to Weasely. Weasely was holding 'Scabbers' close to his chest looking stubborn. Good time to act resistant Weasely. All they seem to want is your rat and you refuse to give it to them? You're trying to refuse giving just your rat to a desperate escaped 'criminal' and a Werewolf. Maybe he hit his head. Multiple times.
Remus was giving him a stupid look as he had been stunned speechless by his appearance. Weasely was blinking stupidly and Black was looking at him with a slightly tilted head. His inky eyes held desperation and a tinge of insanity. Apparently Azkaban had changed the Gryffindor Black. Harry smirked and in a flash his wand was drawn, pointed at the two. He now held both their wands in his hand. Weasely was also knocked out and Scabbers was also stunned. He smirked at them.
"Excellent Potter." Came a drawl behind him.
Snape stepped into his room, sneer on his face, wand pointed at the two.
"Well, well, well. Sirius Black. And Lupin's helping you? I should have known."
"Snape." Black snarled. "Harry, you have to listen to me! I'm Innocent!"
"Silence Black!" Snape barked.
"Snape." Harry said simply.
The man instantly shut up. Harry smirked. He knew the man feared him. It was easy to see with the caution the man took around him. He even listened to commands. Lupin and Black looked shocked Snape had listened.
"Lower your wand Snape." Harry said.
Snape scowled.
"Not with those two-"
"Lower it Snape." Harry said blankly glancing at the man.
Snape froze, dropping his wand. Harry gave a small smirk and let the power stop flowing to his eyes. Snape swallowed.
"Sorry about this Snape." Harry said smoothly before stunning the man.
Snape's eyes rolled back as he fell in a heap on the floor. Harry turned to the other two watching him in shock.
"Harry, how did you do that?" Lupin whispered.
Harry just tilted his head slightly.
"You may wish to grab Peter, Sirius." He said simply.
"You believe I'm innocent!" Sirius seemed to collapse in relief.
Harry gave a small nod. Black fell to his knees, looking as if a burden had been released. He slid over to Harry and reached up, hands shaking slightly as he looked him over.
"Harry." He swallowed, voice cracking with emotion.
Harry noted Lupin had grabbed Peter and woken him. Intent on forcing the transformation to reverse. His mistake. The rat immediately bit him. Lupin accidentally dropped the rat and it scurried off leaving the werewolf cursing the air blue. Sirius was busy looking at him. Harry raised his hands and rested them on either side of Sirius's face. He leaned over and kissed his godfather's dirty forehead.
"Hello Godfather." He said simply.
Sirius looked at him with tears in his eyes. Harry looked his magic over. It could show how a pure a soul was if you looked properly. He wasn't completely light anymore. All the better. Harry noted a small string of magic that seemed to attach to Lupin's magic. Lupin was watching them closely now, seeming not to care for Peter's escape at all at the moment.
"Hurry off Sirius." Harry whispered.
Then he wandlessly erased their memory of him talking to Snape. Didn't need that getting out yet. No need to draw suspicion as to why Snape would fear him enough to obey. Then he pressed the shrunken painting into the man's hand. Black Innocence. Lupin walked over, still in a slight daze from the memory wipe.
"Run with you mate, Lupin." Harry said smirking lightly.
Lupin grasped Sirius's shoulder and Harry handed their wands back before tapping the painting.
"Rest." He said clearly.
The two were whisked off by the portkey. Harry raised his wand and healed the Weasely's leg. Then he wiped his memory. Finally he smirked and levitated the two out. He had to get them back to the castle, then Hogwarts would transport Weasely to his bed, and Snape to his quarters while also getting all Lupin's things packed. Then the school would take all the man's things to Harry's room so he could owl them, shrunken, to Lupin and make a letter telling his resignation. Not a bad way to end year three.
.--.
Harry stroked Hermione's hair once in farewell before watching as she hurried off to her parents. Blaise beside him turns to face him and Harry tilts his head just slightly.
"Have a good summer." Blaise says simply.
Harry gives a slight smirk and looks at the boy through half lidded eyes. Then he leaned over and gently kissed his cheek.
"Be careful." Harry said.
Blaise scowls at him.
"I know you think of me as your ward." The boy huffed. "But I hate it when you look at me like I'm a child."
"Ah, but you are Blaise."
He didn't reply, just walked off to his own parents. Harry idly stroked Ne's head as he spotted Noir waving to him from the crowd. He smirked slightly and walked off towards the vampire.
.--.
End of Chapter 22.