In the morning Harry told Hermione, Ron and Ginny what had happened.
"Oh, Harry." Hermione said soothingly
"Blimey." Said Ron.
"I'm sure it hurts to bring he up, but Snape did have it coming. I'm so sorry it hurt to do it. Hey, Harry what might your Aunt do when she finds out?" Ginny said comforting.
Harry smiled to himself. He didn't know what his Aunt would do. He had a good idea what Sirius would do, providing he were to even mention it to him.
"Harry, I hate to interrupt your thoughts but I need you to get changed, have your broom in hand and have some breakfast. I don't care if you are not hungry. Eat anyway. We'll all need it in this storm. I just hope that we will be able to see and hear." Said Oliver.
"Oh. Yeah." Harry got up and ran up to the dormitories to get dressed and grab his broom. He quickly grabbed his wand and tucked it inside his clothes.
Harry quickly made his way to the dinning hall. He did not feel like eating but decided to eat something for Oliver's sake. Once Harry started eating he realized how hungry he actually was.
Walking to the changing room by the Quidditch field was difficult. The rain was coming down harder than ever and it was down right cold. The strong winds did nothing to help. It was nice to be inside the changing room. Though it was still cold it was dry and wind free. Everyone changed into their Quidditch robes and waited to hear Oliver's pep talk.
The whistling of the wind and the occasional boom from the thunder would not let Oliver talk. He finally gave up on trying to give his pep talk and led his team out onto the field.
Harry, unable to control sudden emotions, was thrilled to see that the Slytherin team was already soaked to the bone. He knew this could very well aid in a Gryffindor win. The team captains shook hands and Madam Hooch blew her whistle.
An hour into the match, Oliver called for a time out. The team huddled together under a large umbrella. After a quick discussion of how everyone was doing and what they need to do they turned around and resumed the match. Harry paused as he remembered a spell that could help him see and quickly muttered 'Impervious' while pointing his wand at his glasses. He tucked his wand back inside his robes and caught up with his teammates.
An hour later Harry was pelting at full speed after the snitch when it became extremely cold, practically flash freezing. He started to feel strange, as though he'd never be cheerful again. Harry quickly looked around and saw dementors everywhere. He yanked out his wand and yelled "EMPECTO PATRONUM", the stag erupted from the tip of his wand and cantered around him. Harry quickly looked around and again and saw several dementors in one area. He quickly zoomed closer and saw that the dementors were surrounding Draco. Harry blinked his eyes; he could not believe what he had seen. When he opened his eyes he realized that he was indeed seeing one of the dementors performing its kiss on Draco. Harry quickly had his patronus charge them as he flew over and pulled Draco towards him so he didn't fall off his broom. Harry guided Draco, while still on his broom, safely to the ground.
Draco was hyperventilating and close to being as pale as a ghost. He was shaking so hard that Harry had to hold on to him. Harry did his best to reassure Draco that he was safely on the ground. As Harry helped Draco to sit down on the ground he noticed that there was a doe patronus cantering around them along with his patronus. He caught a glimpse of a phoenix patronus fly at the dementors causing them to leave.
Severus and Dumbledore ran out on to the field and joined Madam Hooch, who was already with Harry and Draco.
"Harry what happened?" Asked Dumbledore.
"Once I realized that the dementors had come on grounds I conjured my patronus. I looked around and say about four or five dementors surrounding Draco, at first I couldn't believe what I was seeing. One of the dementors had been performing its kiss so I sent my patronus after them and flew over so that Draco didn't fall off his broom to the ground. You saw me guiding him back to the ground."
"Thank you Harry."
"That's quite impressive, Potter." Said Severus.
"Draco and I may not see eye to eye on anything but I don't want to see him hurt or worse. Also, I don't expect anything in return from him."
"I meant the patronus."
"Oh. Yeah, it's great."
"How…"
"Now is not the time Severus. While I tend to Mr. Malfoy, you need to notify his parents. Madam Hooch, this match needs to be rescheduled and I want the Minister here now".
"Yes, Headmaster." Said Madam Hooch and Severus.
Madam Hooch quickly announced the match would be rescheduled. She then informed McGonagall of what happened.
"If you see to it that everyone makes back inside the castle safely I will contact the Minister. I think that it will be quicker this way."
"I agree Minerva."
Harry quickly chased after Snape.
"Potter I don't have time…
"Professor, I was wondering if you might have an empty vile on you or if I could get one from the classroom."
Severus stopped dead in his tracks and looked Harry in the eyes.
"Why would you need an empty vile? Especial at this precise moment."
"If I had one I'd be able to fill it with my memory of the dementors so that the Minister and the Malfoy's could see what happened for themselves. If able to do that, then they would know the truth and not call me a liar or try to pin this on me."
Severus was speechless; all he could do was stare at Harry. After several minutes Severus nodded and turned around and walked off. Harry wasn't sure if he should follow, he followed anyway. He followed Severus all the way into the potions classroom.
"Here." Severus said as he shoved an empty vile into Harry's hand.
"Thank you, Professor." Harry said as pulled out his wand, pointed it to his temple and as he pulled his wand a way Severus saw a strand of wispy, silver matter being pulled from Harry's head and into the vile. Once Harry filled the vile he put a stopper in it and left on Severus's desk
When Harry reached the door he looked back at Snape, "Professor, shouldn't the Malfoy's be informed of what happened to their son."
Harry quickly left, he did not know if Snape replied or informed the Malfoy's or not. He just wanted to get away from Snape as quickly as possible. As Harry walked around a corner Hermione, Ron and Ginny spotted him.
"How did…what were those silver animal shaped things? Dumbledore…I've never seen him so angry." Said Hermione.
"Why did you help Malfoy for?" Asked Ron.
"You were amazing Harry. Saving Draco and protecting both of you from what ever they were. Where did you go? Why did you chase after Snape?" Asked Ginny.
Harry sighed; he knew he had to answer their questions sooner or later. He really wanted to get something to eat and drink, but decided to tell them and get it out of the way as quickly as possible.
"The silver shapes were patronesses. They ward off dementors. Ron, I did the right thing. If I hadn't have helped him he would have fallen, he could have been seriously injured, killed or worse. I know you know what a dementor is and what they do; one was performing its kiss on Draco. Ginny, I had to ask Snape for an empty vile so I could extract the memory of what happened and fill the vile with the memory. Now when Fudge and Draco's parents get here they can watch my memory and won't be able to call me a liar or try and blame me for Draco's state of being."
"They wouldn't call you a liar." Said Hermione defiantly.
"Or blame you." Add Ron.
"We're talking about Draco's parents and the Minister of Magic. Of course they'll try to blame Harry and insinuate that he is a liar. Draco's parents believe that our family are blood traitors and think they are above all others because of blood status and wealth. Not to mention that everyone knows how Harry and Draco get along. Now, how long did it take the Minister to release Sirius? Plus, the Minister is the one who ordered the dementors to stand guard around the school." Ginny said irritated.
"Look, if you want to continue this conversation, it will have to wait until after lunch. I'm starving." Harry said as he turned and went into the dinning hall.
Harry had not eaten much when McGonagall walked up to him.
"Mr. Potter your presence has been requested in the hospital wing. The Minister and the Malfoy's will joining us shortly."
Harry gulped down the food in his mouth.
"Professor, I gave Professor Snape my memory of what happened. Why do I need to be present?"
"Dumbledore is the one that requested that I bring you to the hospital wing. You will have to ask him yourself. I do not know the answer to your question."
Harry got up and followed McGonagall out of the dinning all and into the hospital wing. Harry saw Madam Pomfrey tending to Draco and Dumbledore pacing the floor with an expression on his face worthy of one wanting to kill someone.
"Professor Dumbledore, I don't understand why I have to be here. Professor Snape has my memory of what happened so that the Minister and the Malfoy's can see for themselves what happened. Why do I need to be here?"
"You will see Harry. Trust me you will know why I wanted you to be here."
Before Harry could utter another word the doors to the hospital wing opened. The Minister and the Malfoy's walked in, Lucius and Cornelius were in a deep conversation. Narcissa looked around and spotted her son lying on a bed not looking well. She gasped and as she ran to her son's bedside a sob escaped from her.
At hearing the sob the Minister and Lucius stopped talking and looked around. They both saw where Narcissa was and Draco on the bed next her.
"What is going on here Dumbledore? Why is Potter here? He's involved, isn't he? Are you saying that Potter is responsible for the state of young Malfoy?" Asked Fudge.
"I knew it had to do with Potter! Minister I want that boy expelled." Roared Lucius.
"Would everyone please calm down and not jump to conclusions. A lot of questions asked but no answers have been given." Said Dumbledore calmly.
"Well, we're waiting." Said Lucius.
"If not for Mr. Potter, Mr. Malfoy would…"
"Be just fine!" Said Lucius.
"Would you let me explain?" Dumbledore growled out the question.
"Explain? Don't you mean excuse?" Asked Lucius.
"No he doesn't. If you'd shut up father maybe someone would be able to explain."
"How dare you talk to me like that!"
"Draco, tell us what happened." Narcissa interjected quickly before things got out of hand.
"If not for Harry, I'd be dead if not worse than. Dementors were everywhere. They surrounded me, it was really cold, all I could see was blackness and then Harry was there and he helped me back down to the ground. He did something that made the dementors go away."
"What rubbish! Draco you don't actually believe that…obviously Potter did something to make my son believe this crap." Lucius said loudly.
"As your son explained, dementors were surrounding him. They were everywhere. One of the dementors around Draco was sucking out his soul. I had to do something. I sent my patronus after the dementors and supported Draco back down to the ground. When I realized that Draco wasn't in the best shape and could not support his own weight I helped him to sit on the ground so that he wouldn't get hurt." Harry said frustrated and extremely angry.
"You can't be serious." Bellowed Lucius.
"Impossible! A third year can't produce a corporeal patronus. Maybe feeble vapors at most." Said Fudge.
"If you are calling Potter a liar or saying he's making it up, well you both would be wrong on both accounts. I saw Potter's patronus as well as the whole school. But don't take my word for it. Ask the whole school, take a look at the memory I have here of what happened." Snape said as he set a pensive on a table near Draco's bed.
"What are you talking about Severus?" Asked Lucius and Fudge.
"I just said that I have a memory here of the dementor attack on young Malfoy."
"And whose memory is this?" Asked Fudge
"Mr. Potter's." Replied Snape.
"You expect us to believe that the memory you have has not been tampered with?" Asked Fudge.
"Minister, this memory was extracted in my presence just minutes after the attack. Let me remind you that I know when I am being lied to. Shall we take a look at the memory?"
"Very well." Said Fudge disgruntled.
After viewing the memory, Fudge still was not convinced.
"So, Minister you're saying that a third year cannot produce a corporeal patronus but can modify a memory so skillfully that one cannot tell the difference in a matter of seconds? Did you even hear what Draco Malfoy said?"
"Severus you go to far!" Fudge said as his face turned a deep shade of purple.
"Ask the whole school Minister! Potter defended and protected Draco today."
"You seem awfully defensive of Potter, Severus." Stated Lucius.
"Today I am! Mr. Potter has done nothing wrong, both of you are refusing to see how Potter was heroic. Both of you are accusing Potter of things he did not do and are refusing to believe that because he is a third year he cannot produce a corporeal patronus." Severus said heatedly.
"How can we be sure that Potter didn't do something to my son and blame it on dementors?" Asked Lucius.
"You saw the memory. Oh, I believe I failed to mention that I saw into Potter's mind. He is telling the truth."
"The dementors did come on grounds. Harry did produce a corporeal patronus. I was there; it was in the middle of a Quidditch match. I did not join you in viewing the memory. So, what do you have to say now?"
"I see…two people are defending the boy, yet he hasn't said much."
"I haven't been able to get a word in! I already told you what happened. You saw the memory. What more can I do? I AM NOT A LIAR! I know that Draco and I don't get along at all. We have said a lot of horrible things to each other but I would not want anyone to be on the receiving end of the dementors kiss, especially an innocent person regardless of age."
"But how…I don't…impossible." Stammered Fudge.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Silver wisps of what looked like smoke sputtered out of the end of Harry's wand before the shape of a stag materialized.
"Well…so, he can produce…why couldn't he modify a memory?" Sputtered Fudge
"Severus has already clarified that question when he told you that you saw into Harry's mind."
"Still…"
"Minister, I saw into Potter's mind before he could possibly have had a conscious moment to modify anything. If he had I would have known."
"ENOUGH! Lucius, Cornelius we have heard from Mr. Potter, Severus, the Headmaster and Draco. We have also seen the memory. It all adds up. Mr. Potter saved my son 's soul and his life. You two are trying to get Mr. Potter expelled or worse, how shameful. We should be thanking him and honoring his heroics. I believe what I have heard from my son, Mr. Potter, Severus and the Headmaster as well as what I saw in the memory to be the truth." Narcissa then looked at Dumbledore, "Headmaster, I would like to take my son home for a few days. Will you please allow it?"
"Of course. I will speak with the staff and have next weeks assignments and his books sent to your house."
"Thank you."
Harry glanced at Dumbledore questioningly. When Dumbledore nodded, Harry made to leave. He was about a foot away from the door when he heard his name mentioned. He stopped and turned around.
"Harry, thank you. I am grateful. I have my soul and my life intact because of you."
Harry could only nod, as he was speechless. He would never have thought he would hear those words coming out of Draco's mouth directed at him. Though it wasn't just the words that Draco had said, it had more to do with the friendly look on his face and in his eyes.
Once Harry entered the common room he glanced around for his friends. He spotted them at the table they usually sat at. He walked straight over to the table and sat down next to Ginny.
"Harry, so what happened when you got to the hospital wing?" Asked Hermione.
"Fudge and Mr. Malfoy think that I am a liar and that I did something to Draco and now blaming it on dementors. Fudge thought that it was impossible for me to produce a corporal patronus since I am only a third year yet I am able to modify a memory so good that no one could tell in a matter of seconds. Draco's mum yelled at Fudge and his dad and said that she believes what Dumbledore, Snape and myself said as well as the memory being the truth and that they should be thanking me and honoring my heroics. Draco even thanked me for saving his soul and his life, he told the truth. What surprises me is that Snape lied to everyone in the room. He said that he saw into my mind. He didn't. I would have known if he had."
Ron, Fred and George couldn't think of anything to say to all of that. They thought that Fudge was being an asshole. They expected nothing more or less from Lucius. What Narcissa, Draco, Snape had said and done shocked the words right out of them for a while.
"What is Fudge's problem?" Asked Hermione.
"What does the Minister have against you?" Asked Ginny
"I have no clue." Replied Harry.
"You don't think that Fudge has gone over to the dark side, do you?" Asked Ron.
"I don't know, but I've been wondering about that for quite a while." Harry replied.
"What makes you say that?" Asked Hermione and Ginny.
"Fudge is a bit chummy with Lucius Malfoy."
"What about the dementors? They won't be here at the school any more will they?" Asked Hermione.
"I didn't stay around to hear about that. But I am sure that Dumbledore will insist. Oh, Draco won't be here for a week. His mother wanted to take him home for a few days, Dumbledore is arranging for Draco to stay home for a week. I have a bad feeling about this though. Lucius was furious when Draco thanked me."
"You don't think Lucius would do something bad or horrible to his own son do you?' Asked Hermione.
"I wouldn't put it past him not to. Then of course there's Narcissa. I'm starting to worry about both of them."
"Who cares? I mean it's just the Malfoy's."
"And with that Ron, Harry and many others will be the better man." Said Ginny.
"Look, Draco has said a lot of horrible things, so have we or at least I have. The thing is, what if he doesn't mean any of it? He only knows one way of life and that's the ideals of most of his family and Voldemort followers. It's how he grew up and was raised."
"What do you mean 'most of his family'?" Asked Ron.
"His mother is related to Sirius."
"So you think that Draco can change?"
"Yes I do Ron."
"But Harry…"
"Ron, just listen to me. Draco's choices are made and decided for him. I'm going to wait and see if he shows signs of changing, signs that he doesn't feel the way his family does."
"Harry, he's in Slytherin."
"So is Dudley."
"So."
"Dudley and my Aunt tried to protect me. They hoped that someone would remove me from the house."
"Hoping did a lot of good."
"Ron, they were terrified of Vernon! Now that he is no longer around they can finally be themselves. Truly themselves and the three of us can actually be a family."
"What does that have to with the Malfoy's?"
"Ron you have a brain. Do you think you could actually use it once in a while?"
"Harry!" Said Hermione as she glared at Harry for what he had said.
"What Hermione? I'm not going to apologize to him. It doesn't take a genius to put two and two together." Harry sighed, took a deep breath and turned to Ron, "What I am saying is that Malfoy is the way he is because of how he grew up, what he has been taught from birth. At this point his views and opinions are the same as his family's not his own."
"I still think you're wasting your time to see if he makes his own choices and develops his own opinions and views."
"Why do you refuse to see that Draco may not be all that bad?"
"He was cursing and hexing us!"
"Yeah, Ron…was. And he's not now."
"Only because his buddies were expelled."
"Whatever Ron."
"Why do you suddenly think that Malfoy is actually one of the good guy's?"
"Let me think…He could have lied about what happened by saying that I did something. He didn't, he told the truth like I said earlier. He thanked me for helping him and I swear there was a friendly look in his eyes. Ron you weren't there, you didn't see the look on Lucius's face when Draco thanked me…"
"So."
"His dad was furious. Draco was frightened, I mean seriously frightened."
"But, Harry…"
"Ron give it a rest!" Yelled Hermione and Ginny.
The week without Draco went by quickly and mildly quiet. A handful of Slytherin's felt that Harry was responsible for what happened to Draco and that Harry some how messed with Draco's memory of what happened. Harry ignored all the comments and jeers.
