Thank you everyone for the reviews, favourites and follows. It means so much to me.
Disclaimer: Still don't own it.
Harry felt as if he was floating, there was a bright light in front of him. He reached his hand out to touch but it quivered, dancing just out of reach. He tried to sit up but invisible hands pushed him down. He frowned to himself, that's odd. He thought, it was almost as if something or someone didn't want him to touch the light.
The light was going further and further away, he could feel himself falling, he flailed his arms desperatley, trying to get a grip on something but there was nothing there. He screwed his eyes tight shut, ready for the impact but it never came.
He opened his eyes and realised with a sinking heart that he was in the hospital wing again. He must have been unconscious. Turning his head to the side, he saw Ron dozing on the bed next to him, mumbling in his sleep. Leg propped up and in a plaster cast. He looked down towards the end of his bed and spotted a crying Hermione.
"Hermione?" Harry croaked, trying to sit up, despite the lingering soreness in his ribs.
"Harry! Finally." said Hermione, jumping up and taking Harry's hand.
"How long have I been out?" said Harry, dreading the answer.
"About two hours," said Hermione, wiping her eyes. "Madame Pomfrey told me to give you this." she said, handing him a large chunk of chocolate.
Harry took it a took a small bite, smiling gratefully at Hermione. Then a horrific thought struck him.
"SIRIUS!" Harry shouted, sitting up in bed and holding his head as a wave of dizziness overtook him.
"He's been locked in Flitwicks office." said Hermione, working her bottom lip between her teeth.
"WHAT! But he's innocent!" said Harry, climbing out of bed and pulling on his glasses.
"I know Harry but there's nothing we can do. Fudge is on his way with now, he's ordered the dementors kiss."
Harry's heart sank and he sat down heavily on the end of the bed.
"But it's not fair, he's innocent." said Harry, wiping a stray tear from his eyes.
Suddenly, the doors burst open and Dumbledore strode in, looking grave, followed by a harried looking Madame Pomfrey.
"Headmaster, I must insist." said Madame Pomfrey, almost tearing her hair out with frustration at the stubborn man.
"This will not take long Poppy but it is necessary I am afraid." said Dumbledore, winking slightly at Harry and Hermione.
"Oh well all right then, but if you upset my patients you'll have me to answer to." said Madame Pomfrey sternly, before turning round and walking briskly to her office.
"Professor Dumbledore please let me explain." said Harry, jumping up and starting towards Dumbledore.
Professor Dumbledore held up a hand.
"Sit down Harry. I know Sirius is innocent, you don't have to convince me." he said, smiling beningly at Harry and Hermione.
"But then...why is Fudge coming?" asked Harry, biting his fingernails.
Hermione took his hand and held it gently in her lap.
"I have managed to persuade Minister Fudge to give Sirius a hearing. Sirius told me his side of the story and I in turn told the Minister."
Harry was at a loss for words. He couldn't even begin to express the gratitude that he felt for the kindly man in front of him. But then a horrible thought struck him, making him feel as if he'd been punched in the stomach.
"But..but what about Wormtail?," said Harry anxiously "He escaped!"
"There are other ways to prove a man's innocence my boy." said Dumbledore gently, he then turned to Hermione.
"Now onto the matter of Buckbeak, I feel we could save him if only we had more time." said Dumbledore, putting emphasis on the last words.
Hermione looked confused for a few moments as she analysed his words, then a look of dawning comprehension crossed her young features and she pulled from under her shirt, a small gold watch on a fine chain.
Harry looked at the fine chain with a confused look.
"I am going to lock you in. You know the rules, you must not be seen. Three turns should do it Miss. Granger." said Dumbledore, eyes twinkling as he backed from the room and shut the doors. The locks clicked audibly, echoing around the room.
"What the heck was that about?" said Harry, raising his eyebrows at Hermione.
"Shh come here." said Hermione bossily, beckoning Harry over to her.
Harry raised his eyebrows but did as he was told. Once he was next to her, Hermione threw the chain around Harry's neck and began turning the watch over in her hands. Suddenly, the room started to disappear. It seemed as if they were rushing through space and Harry really didn't like it.
As abruptly as it happened, it stopped and Harry staggered a little, fighting the nausea off. He looked up and with a jolt of surprise, realised that they were in the entrance hall.
"Come on!" said Hermione impatiently, grabbing Harry's hand and dragging him towards a broom cupboard.
"Hermione what's going on?" exclaimed Harry, once Hermione had shut the door and was sitting on an upturned bucket.
"We've gone back in time," she whispered "We'll be walking past any minute."
Before Harry could process how strange that statement sounded, voices echoed from outside the cupboard. They sounded as if they were heading out of the grounds. He distinctly heard Ron's voice.
"This is too weird." Harry muttered, running his hands through his hair.
"Do you know what Dumbledore wants us to do?" said Hermione, standing up and putting her hands on Harry's shoulders.
Harry put his head to the side in thought. He'd came and talked to them, told them that Sirius had been given a trial and then went on to talking about Buckbeak.
"He wants us to save Buckbeak?" said Harry incredulously.
Hermione nodded, chewing her bottom lip "Yes, but the question is how."
"We'll figure that out. Come on lets head down to Hagrid's." said Harry, taking Hermiones hand.
He listened out for voices and was relieved when he heard none "All right we're gone let's go." he said.
Still holding Hermione's hand, he pushed the cupboard door open and stepped into the empty entrance hall. He looked around for approaching people and when he saw none, he ran as fast as he could for the front doors. They ran and ran until they came to Hagrid's hut, skirting around the edge of the Forbidden Forest, so as not to be seen and coming to a stop behind a large pumpkin.
"So what do we do now?" said Harry, looking to his best friend.
"We wait I guess." said Hermione, leaning back on her heels and smiling weakly at Harry.
So they waited and watched as the past Harry, Ron and Hermione approached Hagrid's hut and knocked, the knock reverberating around the quiet grounds.
"Hagrid It's us. Let us in." said past Harry.
They watched as the door flew open to reveal a tearful Hagrid.
"I told yer' not ter come." said past Hagrid hoarsely, standing back to allow them entrance.
And so they waited and waited, until in the distance they could see the unmistakable form of the executioner, Dumbledore and the Minister for Magic approaching.
"Let's go." said Harry, making to jump up.
"Harry no," said Hermione hastily, grabbing Harry's arm "We need to let them see Buckbeak first or they'll think Hagrid set him free."
"Oh good point." said Harry, rubbing the back of his neck.
Harry, Ron and Hermione weren't leaving and the small group was getting closer. Harry turned to Hermione.
"Why aren't we leaving?" he exclaimed.
"I don't... Oh of course!" Hermione exclaimed, she picked up a stone and threw it hard through Hagrid's open window before ducking out of sight.
Harry risked peeking around the side of the pumpkin, just in time to see their past selves sneaking out the back.
"Hermione we need to move." said Harry.
"Not yet Harry I said." said Hermione exasperatedly.
"No I mean we'll be hiding behind here in a minute." said Harry.
"Oh good point."
They crawled out from behind the pumpkin, straight into the forbidden forest, where they hid behind a large tree.
"Whew that was close." Harry whispered, as their past selves hid behind the large pumpkin. Ron clutching a struggling rat.
"Hermione the rat is right there. If I could just get it." he said, eyeing the traitor with hatred.
"Harry no we must not be seen." said Hermione bossily.
"That man betrayed my parents," Harry hissed "Do you really expect me to let him get away again?"
"Yes and you will. Bad things have happened to wizards who have messed with time. Really bad things." said Hermione.
"Okay whatever." said Harry moodily.
They peered through the trees again. The small group had arrived and were just entering the cabin.
"You go Harry. I'll stay and keep a lookout." whispered Hermione, pushing Harry forwards.
Harry stumbled into the clearing. He stopped in front of Buckbeak and bowed to the nervous hippogriff, ensuring that he kept eye contact. The hippogriff surveyed him for a few long moments, before bending it's scaly knees and bowing it's majestic head in a bow.
Relieved, Harry untied the rope that was tethering Buckbeak to the post. Harry tugged at the rope but Buckbeak would not move, just pawed the ground nervously.
"Buckbeak come on." said Harry, throwing all of his weight onto the rope.
He pulled and pulled and finally Buckbeak broke into a trot. Sighing with relief, Harry lead Buckbeak into the trees where Hermione was.
"Well done Harry." said Hermione, bowing to Buckbeak and then stroking it's silky feathers.
"How long have we got left?" said Harry, turning to Hermione.
"About an hour. We need to go." said Hermione.
Harry nodded and helped Hermione onto Buckbeaks broad back. He clambered on in front of her and smiled when she wrapped her arms tightly round his middle. He squeezed Buckbeaks sides with his heels and they were off.
Buckbeak flew high in the air, wings spread wide as he relished the feel of the wind on his face. Harry closed his eyes and enjoyed the ride for a few minutes until he spotted an ideal place to hide Buckbeak until someone could take him to the mountains.
He squeezed Buckbeaks sides and he began his descent into the small clearing in the Forbidden Forest. Hermione tumbled to the ground, shooting jealous looks at Harry whom had dismounted smoothly. Harry stroked the hippogriffs glossy feathers before turning to a rather ruffled up Hermione.
"We need to go." said Hermione, checking her watch again.
And so they ran until they could see light as the trees thinned out. Not wanting to think about what would happen if they didn't get to the hospital wing on time, they picked up speed and sighed in relief as they saw now man nor werewolf until they got into the entrance hall.
Ignoring his screaming muscles, Harry grabbed Hermione's hand and sprinted towards the hospital wing. They got there just as Dumbledore was closing the doors, they put on a larger burst of speed and approached him.
"Well?" said Dumbledore, pausing in the act of locking the doors.
"We did it." said Harry, grinning in spite of himself.
"Did what?" said Dumbledore, walking off.
Harry shook his head and grinned as him and Hermione entered the hospital wing. Ron was awake when they entered.
"How are you there? I woke up a minute ago and you were there." said Ron, pointing to a spot some ten feet away from where Harry and Hermione stood.
"Honestly Ron," said Harry, taking another bite of chocolate "How can anyone be in two places at once?"