HAPPY DAY AFTER YOUR BIRTHDAY INGRID! Hope you're awake to get this and no I'm not a stalker someone said it was your birthday yesterday and I was like 'must post chapter or be a horrible human being...' My brains weird, I know...
So listened to the song Time Turner by Ministry of Magic... Felt like a HP boss
phoenixfelicis07: ...sorry but nope in caps doesn't make this problem go away... Love you!
Enjoy!
3 Chapter 24: Somethings Can't Change
'Wake up, Hex,' said Ron.
Alexis's eyes fluttered open at the sound of her friend's voice. She was laying on a bed in the hospital wing. To her left, laid Harry. Across the room laid an unconscious Snape next to a curtained off bed.
But Ron was nowhere in sight.
"Ron?" Alexis breathed barely over a whisper.
Her only answer was silence. She rose to her feet and preceded towards the curtains cautiously. Taking a deep breath, she opened the curtains.
"Moony?" Alexis whispered. Hermione was lying on the hospital bed, her face pale as snow and her left arm tightly bandaged. "Did... He didn't-"
Hermione placed a silencing finger on Alexis's lips. She smiled weakly at her younger friend before speaking.
"I'm alright, Hex," she said shakily. "He only scratched me but we can't let them see. What they'll do to him - it's not - Hex, it's horrible - it's-"
Alexis nodded her head, cutting Hermione off.
"I get it. Remus isn't going to go easy on himself though. He might even think that the Ministry's punishment is what he deserves."
"And he'd be wrong," said a voice behind the two girls. It was Harry. "We know he didn't mean to."
"We know Prongs," said Alexis. She looked around curiously. "Where's Ron?"
Hermione burst into tears but before Alexis could ask her what was wrong Madam Pomfrey came out of her office. She was carrying the largest ball of chocolate Alexis had ever seen. It was the size of a small boulder.
"Get in bed!" she hissed. She pulled Alexis and Harry away from the curtains before snapping them shut. "Goodness gracious, you two! You're going to be-"
"Where's Ron?" Alexis repeated.
Madam Pomfrey didn't respond. She merely took her chisel in her hand and began hacking at the giant chocolate ball. Alexis was not comforted by the sight of the mediwitch's hands shaking.
"Where's Ron, Madam Pomfrey?" asked Harry, his voice shaking nervously. Again, Madam Pomfrey ignored them. Tears were clouding her eyes.
"Where the hell is Ron!" Alexis shouted loud enough to draw the attention of those standing outside the hospital wing doors.
Cornelius Fudge and his right hand man Carter Swine strolled in the hospital wing. Fudge looked relieved while Swine looked a little weatherworn.
"Ah, good Harry," Fudge said happily. "You're awake."
"Where's Ron?" asked Alexis and Harry, immediately cutting to the chase.
Fudge shook his head sadly. He motioned for the two to sit down but they refused. Pleadingly, he looked towards Swine who then cleared his throat.
"Ron Weasley is dead," Swine said gravely, his voice strained. "He was struck by his own wand. It was the Killing Curse."
Alexis stumbled backwards into Harry's arms. Hermione let out another loud cry and Harry began to shake. For the first time in three years, Alexis felt tears threatening to escape her eyes but she fought them back.
"But his parents have been informed of their lost," said Fudge. His voice was sad but not nearly as much as Swine's. "Arthur was actually here today when it happened. Poor fellow, blames himself for his son's death. Luckily he has five more."
"You son of a -" started Alexis fuming, but Harry cut her off.
"Did you catch him?" he asked. "His killer. Did you catch him?"
"Of course!" announced Fudge, completely ignoring Alexis's threatening glare. "We have Sirius Black locked up. He'll be receiving the Dementors Kiss any moment now."
"WHAT!" shouted Alexis and Harry.
You're wrong!" screamed Alexis. Just then, Dumbledore entered. Fudge looked like he was about to say something to him when Harry cut him off.
"It was Pettigrew," cried Harry, "Peter Pettigrew kill Ron. He's an amiganus and was pretending to be Scabbers for almost thirteen years!"
"Nonsense!" Fudge huffed. "Peter Pettigrew is dead. Black killed him."
"We saw him!" Alexis shouted. "Hermione did too, and so did Remus-"
"On a first name bases with your professors?" hissed Fudge. "Speaking of Mr. Lupin," he turned towards Dumbledore, "why was I not informed that you had hired a werewolf to teach, Albus?"
"That's not the point, you old bat!" yelled Alexis.
Swine rose his wand and trained it on her in a second.
"Do not speak that way to the Minister of Magic," he hissed, but he seemed to be interested in knowing more of the story.
"He's ignoring facts!" said Harry. "Solid facts! We know what we saw!"
"Sirius Black is innocent!" added Alexis.
"BLACK IS A MURDERER!" screamed Fudge.
"YOU SHUT UP ABOUT MY UNCLE!" Alexis roared.
There was a pin dropping silence in the room. Harry stood by his fuming best friend, holding her hand while trying to calm her down. Fudge looked dumbstruck while Dumbledore looked knowingly and Swine looked like he was about to have to attack.
"How long?" Swine whispered, clearly the only one who still controlled his voice.
"It doesn't matter," Alexis growled. "What matters is you fixing your mistake. Sirius is innocent!"
"Now really-"
"Please, Dumbledore," said Alexis, turning towards her headmaster. "You have to believe us. Sirius Black is innocent. Pettigrew killed Ron. We're not lying."
Dumbledore smiled softly, his eyes twinkling behind his half-moon spectacles. He was about to speak when Fudge spoke again.
"Dumbledore will not be bothered with your confused thoughts. It is clear Black has confounded you two. A very powerful Confundus Charm, indeed. Don't worry, it will wear off soon."
He turned away from the two third years and headed towards the hospital wing doors.
"Now if you'll excuse me," Fudge said in a dignified voice. "I have a prisoner to have executed. Dumbledore, I'll see you upstairs. Come, Swine."
Followed closely by Swine, Fudge disappeared out into the hall, leaving Alexis and Harry alone with Dumbledore. Dumbledore turned to Madam Pomfrey.
"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Alexis and Harry," said Dumbledore calmly. "I have just been talking to Sirius Black -"
"For heaven's sake!" said Madam Pomfrey hysterically. "Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist -"
"And I must insist," Dumbledore cut in. "It is of the up most importance."
Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and strode away into her office at the end of the ward, slamming the door behind her. Dumbledore turned to Alexis and Harry. They, along with Hermione from behind the curtain, burst into speech at the same time.
"Professor, Sirius's telling the truth - we saw Pettigrew - he escaped when Remus turned into a werewolf -"
"- he's a rat -"
"- Pettigrew's front paw, I mean, finger, he cut it off -"
"- Pettigrew killed Ron, it wasn't Sirius -"
But Dumbledore held up his hand to stem the flood of explanations.
"It is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there is very little time," he said quietly. "There is not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your word - and the word of three thirteen-year-old wizards will not convince anybody. A street full of eyewitnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper."
"Remus can tell you -" Harry said, unable to stop himself.
"Remus Lupin is currently deep in the forest, unable to tell anyone anything. By the time he is human again, it will be too late, Sirius will be worse than dead. I might add that werewolves are so mistrusted by most of our kind that his support will count for very little and the fact that he and Sirius are old friends -"
"But -"
"Listen to me, the three of you. It is too late, you understand me? You must see that the Minister's word is far more convincing than yours."
"He wouldn't listen," said Hermione, peaking her head out of the curtain. "He won't listen to a word Alexis said about Sirius-"
"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady - entering Gryffindor Tower armed - without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Sirius's sentence."
"But you believe us."
"Yes, I do," said Dumbledore quietly. "But I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic..."
Alexis felt her stomach tighten. She couldn't believe the notion that Dumbledore had no plan whatsoever but he didn't. Sirius was doomed.
"What we need," said Dumbledore slowly, and his light blue eyes moved from Alexis and Harry to Hermione, "is more time."
"But -" Hermione began. And then her eyes became very round. "OH!"
"Now, pay attention," said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly. "Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, I'm afraid you won't be well enough to make the journey but you know the law - you know what is at stake...You - must - not - be -seen."
Alexis looked at Harry to find him just as confused as she was. Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door.
"I am going to lock you in. It is -" he consulted his watch, "five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Tell them all they need to know. Good luck."
"Good luck?" Harry repeated as the door closed behind Dumbledore. "Three turns?
"What's he talking about?" Alexis asked. "What are we supposed to do?"
But Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain that had a tiny, sparkling hourglass hanging from it. She took it off hastily and threw it over Alexis and Harry's necks.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm sending you back in time," answered Hermione simply. "This necklace here is called a Time-Turner. I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. I've been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn't tell anyone. She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that I was a model student, and that I'd never, ever use it for anything except my studies... I've been turning it back so I could do hours over again, that's how I've been doing several lessons at once, see? But...
"I don't understand what Dumbledore wants you two to do. Why did he tell you to go back three hours? How's that going to help Sirius?"
"Buckbeak," said Alexis. "He wants us to save Buckbeak! Hagrid is going to be so happy."
"But," said Hermione, with a frown, "how will that help Sirius?"
"Dumbledore said," began Harry, "he just told us where the window is - the window of Flitwick's office! Where they've got Sirius locked up! We've got to fly Buckbeak up to the window and rescue Sirius! Sirius can escape on Buckbeak - they can escape together!"
"How can you two possibly do all that without being seen?" asked Hermione.
"Dumbledore wouldn't send us on a mission we couldn't succeed in, Moony," said Alexis. "I'll keep us out of sight."
Hermione saw the determination in her best friends' eyes. She nodded her head but just before turning the Time-Turner she spoke again.
"You won't be able to save Ron," she said barely over a whisper. "You'll be seen if you try. I can't stop you, of course, but I'm asking you not to. It will only make things worse."
"Hermione," said Harry, his voice shaky. "How can you say that? We could save him. We could catch Pettigrew. We have to try."
Hermione just shook her head, tears streaming from her eyes, before spinning the Time-Turner. Alexis suddenly felt as if she was flying. The hospital wing disappeared around her and everything began to spin. She squeezed Harry's hand, who squeezed in return, when suddenly the world stopped spinning and the two of them landed in a heap on the floor.
The were in the Entrance Hall and from the noise coming from the broom closet, so was their past selves.
"Get up," said Alexis to Harry as she pulled the chain around his neck off and tucked it down her robe. "We have to hide."
Alexis grabbed the dazed Harry and pulled him inside an even smaller broom closet than the one their past selves were currently in. Just as the clots door closed behind them, the sound of one opening filled their ears.
"It actually worked," said Harry. Alexis shushed him.
"I think that's us heading to Hagrid's," she whispered as footsteps passed them. She pressed her ear to the door to listen better. "We should be on the front steps by now. We can leave in a few minutes so we won't see ourselves."
She turned around to see Harry looking at her weird.
"What?"
"How can you be so calm about this?" he asked. "We went back in time. Time, Padfoot. We could just grab Pettigrew and turn him in. Why do we have to hide?"
'Don't you even think about it,' warned McPherson. 'Listen to Hermione, Hex.'
Alexis nodded her head. The memory of last night, or technically tonight, came to her attention. Harry, though which Harry she wasn't exactly sure, had told her. The same advice. Listen to Hermione.
"We can't, Harry," Alexis finally said. "It's against the law."
"We've broken the law before," he argued back.
"Using underage magic and changing time are different. Imagine what your past self, with no knowledge of time traveling, would do if you saw your future self break into Hagrid's hut to grab a rat?"
"I'd-" Harry paused for a moment, "I'd probably attack myself."
"Exactly," said Alexis. "That's why we have to follow all of Moony's directions. Including-"
"Including the one on Ron?"
Alexis nodded her head slowly. She was fighting back her tears bravely but Harry wasn't as successful as she. Sniffing softly, Harry nodded his head before taking his best friend's hand. Quickly and silently, the two hurried out the Entrance Hall doors. They sprinted into the Forbidden Forest and hastily made their way to Hagrid's hut careful not to be seen by anyone or thing.
Then, as the front of Hagrid's house came into view, they heard a knock upon his door. They hid behind a wide oak trunk and peered out from either side. Hagrid had appeared in his doorway, shaking and white, looking around to see who had knocked. And then Alexis heard Harry's voice.
"It's us. We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."
"Yeh shouldn've come!" Hagrid whispered. He stood back, then shut the door quickly.
"That was weird," whispered Harry, "maybe even the weirdest thing we've done."
"I'm sure we'll top it someday," Alexis mumbled. "Come on. We need to get to Buckbeak."
They crept through the trees until they saw the nervous Hippogriff, tethered to the fence around Hagrid's pumpkin patch.
"When do we-"
"After Fudge, Dumbledore, Arthur, and the executioner go inside," Alexis said, answering her best friend's question before he could fully ask it. "They have to see Buckbeak or else they'll think Hagrid freed him."
"That's not much time," Harry pointed out. Alexis merely shrugged.
"Has that ever mattered to us?"
Harry's lip twitched despite the situation.
"Suppose not," he mumbled, sitting down beside Alexis. They leaned against a tall tree while another tree blocked their view of the hut perfectly. Buckbeak kept sending them the occasional glance but otherwise it was only the two of them slowly waiting for their time to move.
"At the lake," began Harry. "Did you see, I mean, you had to have seen that light, didn't you? The one that fought off all the Dementors, you saw it right?"
"I did."
"Well there's only one thing it could have been, to make the Dementors go," said Harry. "A real Patronus. A powerful one."
"But who conjured it?" Alexis asked before she realized it. Her mind went straight to what had happen to them. She remembered Harry talking to her.
'Tell me it was my father, Hex...'
"I saw him," said Harry slowly. "But... maybe I imagined it... I wasn't thinking straight... I passed out right afterward..."
"Who did you think it was?"
"I think -" Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going to sound. "I think it was my dad."
A shriek filled the air, coming from the hut. Hermione had just found Scabbers.
"It could have been," whispered Alexis. "I mean, I can hear dead people, maybe you can see them."
"Maybe," whispered Harry more to himself than to Alexis. He let out a sigh. Leaning against Alexis, he added, "Or maybe I'm going crazy."
Alexis was about to say something when she caught movement in the corner of her eye. She Nudged Harry and pointed towards the castle steps. Dumbledore, Fudge, the Arthur Weasley, and Macnair the executioner were coming down the steps.
"We're about to come out!" Harry breathed.
And sure enough, moments later, Hagrid's back door opened, and Alexis saw herself, Harry, Hermione, and a living Ron walking out of it with Hagrid.
"It's Okay, Beaky, it's okay..." Hagrid said to Buckbeak. Then he turned to the four Gryffindors. "Go on. Get goin'."
"Hagrid, we can't -"
"We'll tell them what really happened -"
"They can't kill him -"
"Go! It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"
The Hermione in the pumpkin patch throw the Invisibility Cloak over her three friends.
"Go quick. Don' listen..."
Hagrid disappeared as soon as the knocking came from the front door of his house, leaving the back door slightly ajar. The two time traveler watched as four sets of footprints left the backyard while listening to the conversation inside.
"Where is the beast?" came the cold voice of Macnair.
"Out - outside," Hagrid croaked.
Harry pulled Alexis behind another tree just before Macnair peaked out Hagrid's window. Then they heard Mr. Weasley.
"I'm sorry about this, Hagrid," he said softly.
"Is alright, Arthur," sniffed Hagrid.
"We - er - have to read you the official notice of execution, Hagrid," said Fudge awkwardly. "I'll make it quick. And then you and Macnair need to sign it. Macnair, you're supposed to listen too, that's procedure -"
"Now or never," Alexis whispered. She took a step out from behind the tree towards Buckbeak, Harry right on her heels.
"It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall he executed on the sixth of June at sundown -"
The two bowed low at the Hippogriff and waited. Buckbeak sank to his scaly knees and then stood up again. Immediately, Harry went to untying the rope tying Buckbeak to the fence while Alexis petted the Hippogriff's beak.
"... sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the Committee's appointed executioner, Walden Macnair..."
"Got it," whispered Harry. He showed her the untied rope for good measure.
"Right, come on Buckbeak," whispered Alexis. "We got to get you out of here."
Harry was surprised how easily the Hippogriff followed Alexis. He didn't have to pull on Buckbeak's rope once to get him moving.
"... as witnessed below. Hagrid, you sign here..."
"Almost there, Buckbeak," whispered Alexis. Harry ignored the weirdness of his friend talking to a magical creature. He just went with it after all the oddities today. "We'll keep you safe, promise."
"Well, I suppose we should get this over with," said Arthur gravely from inside Hagrid's cabin. "Hagrid, perhaps it will be better if you stay inside -"
"No, I - I wan' ter be with him... I don' wan' him ter be alone -"
Footsteps echoed from within the cabin.
"Buckbeak, move!" Harry hissed in a panic.
They were inches from the forest and still in view of the cabin. They weren't going to make it.
"One moment, please, Macnair," came Dumbledore's voice. "You need to sign too."
Alexis and Harry let out a sigh of relief only seconds later when they were out of view just as the cabin door open.
"Where is it?" said Fudge. "Where is the beast?"
"It was tied here!" said the executioner furiously. "I saw it! Just here!"
"How extraordinary," said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice.
"Beaky!" said Hagrid huskily.
There was a swishing noise, and the thud of an axe. The executioner seemed to have swung it into the fence in anger. And then came the howling, and this time they could hear Hagrid's words through his sobs.
"Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free! Beaky, yeh clever boy!"
Alexis nearly let out a giggle in excitement. They had done it! Buckbeak was safe!
"Someone untied him!" the executioner was snarling. "We should search the grounds, the forest."
"Macnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you really think the thief will have led him away on foot?" said Dumbledore, still sounding amused. "Search the skies, if you will... Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy."
"O' - o' course, Professor," said Hagrid, who sounded weak with happiness. "Come in, come in..."
Then there were footsteps, the soft cursing of the executioner, the snap of the door, and then silence once more.
"Now what?" whispered Harry, looking around.
"Now?" asked Alexis. "We wait, of course. Maybe move so we can see the Whomping Willow. Don't want to miss..."
Alexis trailed off but Harry had thought the same thing as her.
"We can save him, Hex," he said, grabbing her arm as she tried to move. "I have my Invisibility Cloak. We won't be seen-"
"Don't you get it?" snapped Alexis. "We can't! Hermione said-"
"I don't give a damn what Hermione said!" Harry barked. "We can save him, Alexis! We can save Ron!"
"No we can't!"
"Can't or won't?" hissed Harry. Alexis froze at Harry's harsh words.
'Do what Hermione told you, Hex,' said a voice that made Alexis gasp in surprise. 'You can't save me.'
Alexis let out a whimper, startling Harry. He moved to her side in an instant.
"Hex?" he asked quietly. "What's wrong?"
But Alexis couldn't speak. She felt like she was about to have a panic attack so she did the only thing she could think of doing - she let Harry hear her thoughts.
'Ron?' she thought.
'I'm here, Hex,' said the ginger's voice.
'How?'
'Not the most important thing right now, Hex,' said McPherson. 'What is important is doing what Hermione says.'
'Don't. Save. Me,' said Ron clearly. 'It won't work. That's why I can talk to you while I'm technically still alive. I'm suppose to die.'
'But-'
'No buts,' said Ron. 'You and Harry just make sure you save Sirius and someday, someday you get that rat.'
With that, the voices in Alexis's head ceased and Alexis opened her eyes that she didn't even remember closing. She met the gaze of a shocked green eyed boy before burying her head in Harry's shoulder. Harry, though awkward at first, soon wrapped his arm over Alexis's shoulder.
"I'm sorry I yelled," he whispered, trying to sooth his best friend who was down right shaking now. "I'm so sorry."
But Alexis said nothing. She couldn't even if she wanted to. Too many thoughts were whizzing around her head. Why could she hear Ron? Why did he have to die? Why did McPherson have to die? Why couldn't she be normal?
"Hex, we need to move," whispered Harry. "Lupin- the werewolf is coming."
Normally Alexis would have been surprised by how long the two of them had sat in silence but she wasn't feeling very normal at the moment. In fact, the only thing Alexis felt at the current moment was numb, even as they ran as fast as the could to Hagrid's cabin. They were glad to find it empty or they would have been if their moods hadn't been so grim.
"That was close," said Harry not knowing what else to say. "Real close."
"Yeah," said Alexis nonchalantly. She was watching as Buckbeak cuddled up with a Fang, Hagrid's dog, next to the fireplace.
"Do you think," started Harry. "Do you think we could go to the lake?"
Despite her current state, Alexis lifted an eyebrow at her best friend.
"I just- well - I want to see who it was that saved us, or will save us I suppose. We can leave Buckbeak here while we do."
'Go,' whispered Ron. Alexis nodded her head in agreement.
"If we stay hidden."
The two quickly left the cabin. The sounding of a dog's yelp filled their ears making them pick up their pace. They reached the edge of the lake just as their past selves did. But they were alone.
"He should be here," Harry whispered. "He will be."
The lake froze and the past Harry fell to his knees. But still, no one came. And then the Dementor grasped Alexis around the throat with his boney hand.
"He has to be- HEX!" cried Harry. "HOLD ON, HEX!"
Without hesitation, Harry let out a loud cry and out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. It lower its head and charge at the swarming Dementors... Now it was galloping around and around the black shapes on the ground, and the Dementors were falling back, scattering, retreating into the darkness... They were gone.
Alexis watched in awe as the beautiful animal of light approached her. It was a magnificent stag shining in the moon light with an unreal glimmer.
"Prongs," she whispered. She reached out to touch the beautiful creature of light but as she did it vanished. Alexis turned to her best friend in awe to find him holding her past self in his arms. She moved to his side as Harry relaxed considerably in front of Alexis as her past self slipped into unconsciousness. She knew what had happened of course. She had casted McPherson and her spell on him.
"Did you know?" Harry whispered, gently laying the past Alexis down next to his past self and Sirius. "That I cast the Patronus? That it wasn't my dad?
"You told me to lie to you," said Alexis, "but I couldn't so I just played along."
Harry's lip twitched.
"I just told you that," he smirked sadly. "I guess there really are only certain things we can change."
"Harry-" but whatever comforting words Alexis was going to say were caught in her throat as a man with his wand lit came rushing their way. "Back to Hagrid's, quick!"
But they couldn't make it without being seen so Harry pulled Alexis behind a bush with him just as Swine came into view.
"Merlin, Sirius," Swine breathed out, taking in the scene in front of him. "What did you do?"
Alexis and Harry watched in silence as Swine conjured three magical stretchers that floated and placed all three of them on one. He was careful as he did so, mumbling unintelligible things under his breath as he did so. The only words Alexis was able to catch before Swine disappeared with the stretchers was, "Tom's fault," and "definitely James's kid."
"He talks to himself a lot," said Harry as they went to retrieve Buckbeak. "And I think he went to school with my dad."
"It would seem so," mumbled Alexis. She was mauling over the fact that she had felt McPherson smile sadly as Swine disappeared from view.
'Want to explain?' she thought.
McPherson sighed. 'Not yet, but I will soon. Promise.'
Nodding, Alexis caught up to Harry. The two quickly retrieved Buckbeak, who wasn't very happy about leaving Hagrid's hut, before slowing their pace towards the castle.
"Almost done," said Harry aloud. His voice was laced with his exhaustion. "Just save Sirius and we're finished."
"When do we have to fly Buckbeak up there, you think?" asked Alexis. She sounded equally exhausted as Harry.
"Swine already brought us inside the castle about twenty minutes ago. We might as well go now."
Without another word, the two saddled the Hippogriff. Harry climbed on first before pulling Alexis on behind of him. He tied the rope around Buckbeak's neck into a rein and took a deep breath.
"Ready?"
Alexis squeezed Harry around the waist in response.
With a great squawk, Buckbeak took off into the dark night's sky. They headed straight to the castle at a extremely fast speed that didn't slow down until they drew dangerously close to the thirteenth window of the seventh floor. Buckbeak slowed down and they found themselves at a stop, unless you counted the fact that they kept rising up and down several feet as the Hippogriff beat his wings to remain airborne.
"He's there!" Harry said, spotting Sirius as they rose up beside the window. He reached out, and as Buckbeak's wings fell, was able to tap sharply on the glass.
Sirius looked up. Alexis couldn't help but to smirk when she saw his jaw drop. He leapt from his chair, hurried to the window and tried to open it, but it was locked.
"Stand back!" Alexis called to him. "Alohomora!"
The window sprang open.
"How - how -?" said Sirius weakly, staring at the Hippogriff.
"Get on - there's not much time," said Harry, gripping Buckbeak firmly on either side of his sleek neck to hold him steady. "You've got to get out of here -the Dementors are coming."
Sirius placed a hand on either side of the window frame and heaved his head and shoulders out of it. It was very lucky he was so thin. In seconds, he had managed to fling one leg over Buckbeak's back and pull himself onto the Hippogriff behind Alexis.
"Okay, Buckbeak, up!" said Harry, shaking the rope. "Up to the tower - come on."
The Hippogriff gave one sweep of its mighty wings and they were soaring upward again, high as the top of the West Tower. Buckbeak landed with a clatter on the battlements, and the three riders slid off him at once.
"Sirius, you'd better go, quick," Harry panted. "They'll reach Flitwick's office any moment, they'll find out you're gone."
Buckbeak pawed the ground, tossing his sharp head.
"What happened to the other boy? Ron?" croaked Sirius.
The air on top of the West Tower was thick with silence. Neither third year looked the ex-prisoner in the eye. Sirius Black's hands began to shake with anger.
"But Hermione," he all but whispered, his whole body shaking, "she's alive, right? Remus only scratched her-"
"She's okay," said Alexis quietly. "Just scratched up on one arm- it wasn't even her wand arm."
"I'm sorry," croaked Sirius. He took a step towards the two and only hesitated slightly before hugging them. "I'm so sorry."
Neither Alexis or Harry said anything. They merely hugged the man they had only met hours ago and wanted to kill even earlier. Yet, at that moment, Alexis and Harry felt like they had known him all their lives.
"Let them go, Black."
Alexis stiffened. The voice that had come from behind her was familiar but she had never heard it sound in such a tone. It sounded... Murderous.
"Arthur, I-"
"Don't."
The sound of Arthur Weasley's voice in such threatening tone had startled Alexis. He had a face of a mad man and had his wand pointed at Sirius's heart. The only thing keeping him from attacking was the fact that Alexis and Harry had yet to let go of Sirius though it didn't look like it would keep him at bay for long.
"I was just on my way to the seventh floor to talk to you-" the way Mr. Weasley said talk made Alexis feel like their wasn't going to be much talking involved "- when I saw this Hippogriff, the same Hippogriff I had been sent to Hogwarts to watch get executed, flying past the window outside your room. And you know what? There were two students riding on it!" Mr. Weasley laughed bitterly as if he had just made a joke. "Not only that, but imagine my surprise when you two-" he pointed his wand at Alexis and Harry for half a second before returning it to Sirius, "-my son's best friends were freeing his murderer!"
"He didn't kill Ron!" shouted Harry. His eyes were red with tears and anger. "We so it! It was Pettigrew! It was..."
Harry looked at Alexis desperately. He didn't know what to do. Alexis didn't either, or at least, she didn't know what to say. And that's when the idea came to her. She was going to try something different with her Legmency. She was going to try showing her memories. Closing her eyes, she did just that.
At first she wasn't sure if it worked, but when Mr. Weasley gasped as Scabbers turned into Pettigrew and Sirius's hand tightened on her shoulder, she realized she had not only succeeded but had accidentally showed her memories to everyone in the room. When the memories ended she opened her eyes to find three sets closed. Harry's were the next to open, followed by Sirius's before finally Mr. Weasley's.
Tears were streaming down his cheeks when Mr. Weasley spoke again.
"I can't... I'm so sorry," he blubbered before dropping his wand to his side. He shook with angst and sadness but couldn't speak again.
Harry stepped forward. He pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and handed it to Mr. Weasley.
"I'll walk you to the hall," Harry whispered. "You need to talk to Percy and the twins. Come on."
Alexis watched on as Harry led the broken Mr. Weasley out of the West Tower. She breathed out a breath she didn't even know she had been holding.
"Long night?" Sirius teased grimly.
Alexis couldn't help but to snort.
"So I have the Black family humor? That's good."
Sirius smirked a very Alexis like smirk. Apparently, she had inherited the Black family smirk as well.
"So my mom," asked Alexis, "she was you're cousin?"
"Older cousin, yes."
"And she married a Lestrange?"
"Rodolphus Lestrange," corrected Sirius. "She didn't really love him, in fact she was engaged to another boy before... well that's a long story. Let's just say your mother only ever loved one man but she could easily trick you to think otherwise."
Alexis was about to ask for him to elaborate when Sirius continued.
"Thank you."
"For what?" said she with a raised eyebrow.
"For watching over my godson," replied Sirius with a wolffish grin. "Merlin knows what would have happened if you hadn't been there for him. The boy is just like his father."
"I am?"
Alexis and Sirius looked up to see Harry had returned.
"In so many ways."
Harry grinned, "Good. Someday, I'll make him and mum proud."
Sirius smiled softly at him. He pulled Harry over with his right arm while his left arm remained around Alexis's shoulder.
"You already did."
The three embraced each other in a long hug and for the first time in far to long they all remembered what having a family felt like.
Imagine an amazing chapter. Now imagine that chapter being deleted by an asshole. That's why I hate Mondays but I hope you all like this chapter too. I only had eight hours to rewrite it though FML
SOOOOOO... Yeah, Ron is really dead. No take backs. And Hermione is NOT a werewolf. She was only scratch so she'll have some nasty scars, not to mention a serious meat craving, but otherwise she's good. Remus isn't going to be obviously but another story for another day.
Review feedback:
phoenixfelicis07: Question Answers- yes. YES. Sorry but yes. He's dead but definitely not gone (though Alexis might wish he was later on, I mean, can you imagine having a 13-14 year old boy inside your head? That would get pretty annoying pretty fast) And Hermione does get hurt. It was my way of making more Alexis/Harry/Sirius bonding plus adding a needed factor in my later stories. But she is NOT a werewolf.
Second item on your agenda question answers- Yes again. Though I refuse to elaborate on that yes ;P As for Alexis's Patronus, it will either be next year or the fifth year but it will be one of those two years. The tattoo that she has actually takes the shape of your familiar/kindred spirit so don't be too surprised if it's what you are already suspecting. Sirius may not have his name cleared but don't think he won't be appearing a good bit in the next book (because he- tied with Bellatrix, Remus, Tom Riddle, Fenrir Greyback, Moody, Peeves, Dumbledore, and the Lestranges -is my favorite character). Harry and Hex's friendship is really awesome to me too! And don't worry, Crookshanks is a-o-k! I'm glad you glad Alexis finally knows something about her past but more info is to come (perhaps even in the next chapter)
I hope that's everything! As always, your review answers always take the longest and I'm never satisfied with how I organize it so hopefully it makes sense!
mwinter1: Await no longer! Except for the next chapter of course
caring16: thanks! Hope you liked this one too!
ThatOneGirlNoOneNotices: Thank you! Haven't heard from you in awhile so I'm glad you still like my fic!
Ingrid: again, happy day after your birthday! Sorry I couldn't post earlier but life is a butt
UlulaMary18959: thanks for the review! Glad you read all of the others first so you know what's going on and hopefully this chapter keeps up with you likings. One more chapter!
Guest: Glad to see you like the change! I've actually always wanted to kill Ron off but loved his side comments to much to do it. Now I can and still have his side comments! But no, Harry isn't dying anytime soon... Probably ;)
Kuroi-Akuma-no-Okami: I have a strange feeling you know the answer to this question already but yes, yes I did.
aandm20: Again, pretty sure I answered this already ;P (teasing) but yes Ron is dead
Sara: I tried my lovely, I did. Sing her happy birthday for me!
Anyway all done with that a Time Turning craziness! Hope I kept up with everyone's standards and stayed true to my story. Sorry for all you Ron lovers but he's technically still here just not here in the visible sense. I really hope Alexis's isn't becoming too Mary Sueish. She has one really good power that she can't control well (but Harry is most definitely the better wizard) it's just hard to explain her gifts without making it sound like she's too strong but I'm working on it!
I really want to post the last chapter on November 1st (Alexis's Birthday!) but I can't promise you all anything. Thursday is Sectionals and my English grade is suffering so I'm going to have to cut back on the typing until midnight.
As always, review!
DCF!