The Potter Twins and The Prisoner of Azkaban

by B.E.A.T.N

During Harry and Michael's third year at Hogwarts, they slowly uncover parts of the story involving the death of their parents when a man named Sirius Black escapes prison, seemingly after the twins. Can Harry, Michael and their friends survive another crazy year at Hogwarts?

8. Chapter 8

The Potter Twins and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 8: Time Turning

We see Hermione's shadow rippling against the curtain that encircles Michael and Harry's beds. A hand reaches out, Harry's hand, and sweeps the curtain aside. Ron lies opposite, his leg bandaged. Michael gets up and sees Fleet snuggle up on a nearby table. He picks up his pet as Hermione paces, and stops when she sees they're awake.

Hermione, "Harry, Michael-"

Harry, "we saw our dad."

Michael, "and I think our mom."

Hermione, "what…?"

Haeey, "they sent the Dementors away…. We saw them."

Michael, "they were right across the lake…."

Hermione exchanges a private glance with Ron and turns back.

Hermione, "listen, Michael, Harry. They've captured Sirius. Any minute the Dementors are going to perform the Kiss."

Harry, "the Kiss…?"

Michael, "what the heck is the kiss?"

Hermione, "it's what Dementors do to those they want to destroy. They clamp their jaws over the victim's mouth and…. Suck out his soul."

Harry, "you mean, they're going to kill Sirius?"

Hermione, "no. It's worse. Much worse. You go on living. But you have no memory. No sense of self. You're just a shell. An empty shell…."

Michael, "that seems like a fate worse than death…."

The door opens and Dumbledore enters.

Hermione, "headmaster! You've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!"

Harry, "it's true, sir. Sirius is innocent!"

Michael, "he never betrayed our parents!"

Ron, "it's Scabbers who did it!"

Dumbledore, "Scabbers…?"

Ron, "my rat, sir. Only he's not really a rat. Well, he was a rat. You see, he used to be my brother Percy's-"

Hermione, "the point is…. We know the truth. Please, sir, you must believe us."

Dumbledore, "I do, Miss Granger. But I'm sorry to say the word of four thirteen-year-old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen."

As Dumbledore turns to the window, a shooting star plummets silently through the sky.

Dumbledore, "ah…. A shooting star. If ever one was to make a wish, now would be the time. But time, I'm afraid, is precisely our problem…."

On cue, the midnight bell begins to chime….

DING!

DING!

Dumbledore, "mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And, when meddled with…. Dangerous. Sirius is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen. And you would, I feel, do well to return before this last chime. If not…. Well, the consequences are really too ghastly to discuss. Three turns should do it, I think. If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared tonight."

Dumbledore hands Harry, Michael and Hermione each a stick of chocolate, then starts to go…. And stops.

Dumbledore, "by the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin…. Good luck."

He smiles and exits. Harry glances curiously at the chocolate.

Michael, "well…. That was odd…."

Ron, "what in bloody Hell was all that about?"

But Hermione doesn't reply, instead looping the pendant's long chain around Harry's neck as well as her own, and grabbing onto Michael.

Fleet looks on in confusion.

Hermione, "sorry, Ron. But seeing as you can't walk…."

As Ron, Michael and Harry exchange curious glances, the bell continues to chime.

DING!

DING!

And…. Time reverses in a dizzying backward blur, as if a tape were being rewound, every moment that occurred in the hospital room flickering by at a dizzying speed while, outside the window, darkness gives way to dusk and the sun "un-sets", returning to its place low on the horizon.

At this point, the time reversal ends and the room is…. Empty. Except for Michael, Harry and Hermione. As Hermione unloops the necklace, Harry and Michael glance around in confusion.

Harry, "what just happened? Where's Ron?"

Michael, "and where's Fleet?"

Hermione ignores the question and eyes the clock on the wall.

Hermione, "seven-thirty. Where were we at seven-thirty?"

Harry, "huh? Dunno…. Going to Hagrid's?"

Michael, "what's that gotta-"

Hermione, "come on! We can't be seen!"

Hermione grabs the boys' arm and slams through the door.

Harry and Hermione come to a mad, huffing halt.

Harry, "Hermione! Will you please tell us what it is we're doing?!"

She holds up a hand, silencing them.

Annoyed, Harry and Michael follow her gaze and blink in disbelief. Across the grounds…. They see themselves, along with Hermione and Ron, about to confront Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle near the monoliths.

Harry, "but that…. That's…. Us."

Michael, "this is not…. Normal."

Dumbfounded, Harry and Michael look at Hermione as she holds up the hourglass.

Hermione, "this is a Time-Turner. McGonagall gave it to me first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year."

Harry, "you mean, we've gone back in time?"

Michael, "and here I thought I've seen it all."

Hermione, "yes. Dumbledore wanted us to return to this moment. Clearly something happened that he wants us to change."

A soft smack is heard. They turn, see Malfoy land on the seat of his pants in the Sundial Garden and rub his kisser.

Harry, "good punch."

Michael, "more like a great punch."

Hermione, "thanks. Hurry! Malfoy's coming!"

Hermione pulls Harry and Michael under the bridge. Seconds later, footsteps clamor over their heads.

Draco, "not a word of this to anyone, understood! I'll get that jumped-up Mudblood one of these days. Mark my words…."

Eyes narrowed in anger, Hermione leans out, reaches up, and sends Malfoy sprawling. As Harry and Michael pull her back, Malfoy looks around in confusion, then dashes off with the others.

Seconds later, Harry emerges, marvels at the sight of himself, Michael and Hermione, and Ron heading down the slope to Hagrid's hut. His eyes shift to the pumpkin patch.

Harry, "look. Buckbeak's still alive."

Michael, "for now at least."

Hermione, "of course! Remember what Dumbledore said. If we succeed, more than one innocent life could be spared."

Harry, "Buckbeak? But…. How will saving Buckbeak help Sirius?"

Michael, "yeah, as much as I wanna save him, how will that help us?"

Hermione, "we'll see..."

….

As Buckbeak feasts on a ferret, Michael, Harry and Hermione duck behind a pile of pumpkins.

Michael mutters, "still glad I didn't bring Fleet around BuckBeak."

Peering into the hut, Harry and Michael see Hermione and Ron embrace awkwardly.

They grin and turn, only to find Hermione analyzing the moment with considerable fascination. Caught, she regards the twins defensively.

Hermione, "what?"

Harry, "nothing."

Harry and Michael look toward the slope, and see Fudge and the others approaching in a cloud of crows.

Harry, "here they come. We better hurry."

Hermione, "no! Fudge has to see Buckbeak before we steal him. Otherwise, he'll think Hagrid set him free!"

Michael, "good point."

They all look towards the hut.

Inside, Hagrid is handing Scabbers to Ron.

Harry, "that's Pettigrew…."

Michael, "the slimy little…."

As they start to rise, Hermione grabs them and speaks fiercely.

Hermione, "no, Harry! Michael! You can't!"

Harry, "Hermione, that's the man who betrayed our parents!"

Michael, "you don't expect us to just sit here and-"

Hermione, "yes! You Must! You're both in Hagrid's hut right now. If you go bursting inside, you'll think you've gone mad. Awful things can happen when wizards meddle with time. We can't be seen."

Hermione turns and watches Fudge and the others drawing closer. She frowns and glances into the hut.

Hermione, "Fudge is coming and…. We're not leaving…. Why aren't we leaving?"

Just then, on the ground beside her, Hermione notices a jagged star-shaped stone. Instantly, she grabs it, rises, and hurls it through the open window.

SMASH!

The sound of a glass jar shattering is heard within the hut.

Harry, "are you mad?"

Hermione ignores him, swiftly whistling a second stone through the window and….

CONK!

Off the back of Harry's head.

Harry, "that hurt."

Hermione, "sorry."

Michael, "well, now we know who threw those things."

Crows begin to drop atop the roof. Fudge's party arrives and knocks on the door.

Hermione, "c'mon. Any minute now we're going to be coming out the back door."

Quickly, Hermione, Michael and Harry dash into the trees directly behind…. Just in time to see themselves, along with

Ron, exit the back door and slip behind the pumpkin pile where, only seconds before, they were hiding. As Fudge appears at the window and picks his nose as before, Hermione ponders the back of her own head.

Hermione, "is that really what my hair looks like from the back?"

Harry, "shhh!"

Hermione sees herself turn. Ducking, she accidentally stirs the branches, then peeks out and sees herself staring curiously at the branches dancing oddly. Next she hears her own voice, "nothing, I just thought I saw…. Never mind."

Michael, Harry and Hermione watch themselves start up the slope.

The coast is clear, they slip out of the trees.

Hermione, "now, Michael!"

As Michael vaults into the patch, the crowd stir, cawing at his ankles, pecking at his feet.

He heard Fudge say, "it is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall be executed this day at sundown…."

As Michael approaches, Buckbeak studies him curiously, a ferret leg dangling from his beak. Michael bows.

SLURP!

The ferret leg disappears and Buckbeak returns Michael's nod. As Michael takes Buckbeak's chain…. A flint-eyed crow pecks his hand.

Michael, "get away!"

Michael waves the crow away and yanks hard on Buckbeat's chain.

Fudge, "the Committee's appointed executioner shall dispatch the condemned by means of beheading…."

Michael, "c'mon, Buckbeak. Come on…."

Buckbeak refuses to move.

Fudge, "as witnessed below. You sign here, Hagrid. Very well,gentlemen. Let's step outside, shall we…."

DING!

The Hogwarts bell begins to toll.

Michael, Harry and Hermione exchange a glance. Michael tugs harder. No go.

Dumbledore, "excuse me, Minister. I believe I must sign as well…."

Michael pulls at the chain, straining mightily….

DING!

When Hermione and Harry pop up and bow quickly, and dangle two dead ferrets before Buckbeak.

Hermione, "here, Beaky…. Come and get the nice dead ferret…."

Harry, "yum yum…."

Michael looks at them as if they're mad, but it's…. Working.

As Buckbeak trots after, the cawing crows scatter.

DING!

Michael, Harry and Hermione lead Buckbeak away when the back door suddenly opens. They freeze…. Caught…. Fudge's eyes drifting their way, when, as before, Dumbledore raises his hand and directs the attention of the others away from Buckbeak.

Dumbledore, "Professor Dippet had those blackberries planted when he was Headmaster…."

Harry, Michael and Hermione shoo Buckbeak along, disappear into the forest…. Just as Dumbledore concludes his reverie.

Fudge, "let's get this over with, shall we?"

Harry, Hermione and Michael, their view unobstructed by the low stand of trees this time, watch the Executioner approach the pumpkin patch, and stop. Quickly, the confusion in his masked eyes turns to anger.

Fudge, "but…. Where is it? I just saw the beast not moments ago…. Hagrid?"

Hagrid, "Beaky…."

Hearing Hagrid's husky voice, BuckBeak strains at his tether and whimpers eerily.

Hermione tosses him another ferret as Michael whispers, "again, I'm glad we didn't bring Fleet."

Dumbledore, "how extraordinary."

Fudge, "come now, Dumbledore. Someone's obviously released him."

Hagrid, "Professor, I swear! I didn't!"

Dumbledore, "I'm quite sure the Minister isn't suggesting that you had anything to do with it, Hagrid. How could you? You've been with us all along."

Fudge, "we should search the grounds-"

Dumbledore, "search the skies if you must, Minister. In the meantime, I wouldn't say no to a cup of tea, Hagrid. Or…. A large brandy", he turns to the executioner, "it seems your services will no longer be required."

The Executioner lifts his blade and, with a brutal fury, plunges it into the flesh of a pumpkin with a sickening chop!

The crows scatter to the skies.

….

Michael, Harry and Hermione race through the trees as Buckbeak lopes easily behind.

Harry, "now what?"

Hermione, "we save Sirius."

Michael, "and we do that…. How?"

Hermione, "no idea…."

….

The trio soon make their way to the Whomping Willow as it is thrashing about. Hermione disappears down the hole, then a figure approaches the tree. Lupin.

Hermione, "look. It's Professor Lupin."

As the Whomping Willow begins to thrash, its violence oddly muted at this distance, Lupin takes a stick, pokes a knot on the trunk. Instantly, the Willow calms.

Harry, "wait until Fred and George hear about that one."

Michael, "and here comes Snape."

As Lupin disappears into the gap at the base of the tree, Snape makes his way down the slope.

Harry, "and now we wait."

Hermione, "now we wait."

Michael, "now we wait."

We look upward to see the tops of the trees etched against the darkening sky. Bats fly away. We follow one, when Buckbeak snags one. A tail twitches briefly between his beak, then….

SLURP!

It's gone.

Hermione, "'least someone's enjoying himself."

Michael, Harry and Hermione sit together in the lengthening shadows. Harry snaps off a piece of chocolate and hands it to Hermione.

Harry, "Hermione…."

Hermione, "yes?"

Michael, "what we said before…. Down by the lake. When we were with Sirius…. We did see two people…."

Harry, "and those people made the Dementors go away…."

Hermione, "with a Patronus. I heard Snape telling Dumbledore when we were taken to the hospital. According to him, only really powerful wizards could have conjured it."

Harry, "it was our Dad."

Michael, "and our mom."

Hermione looks at them.

Harry, "it was our parents who conjured the Patronus'."

Hermione, "but, Michael, Harry, your parents-"

Harry, "dead. We know."

Michael, "we're just telling you what we saw."

Hermione nods, not wanting to press them further, then glances beyond the trees, toward the Whomping Willow.

Hermione, "here we come."

Shadows emerge under a full moon: Black. Harry. Michael. Pettigrew. Lupin. Hermione. Ron. Sleepwalking Snape….

Harry and Michael study themselves and Sirius."

Harry, "you see Sirius talking to us?

He's asking us to come live with him."

Michael, "and offering to help me become an Animagus."

Hermione, "really?"

Harry nods.

Michael, "when we free him, we'll never have to go back to the Dursley's. We're going to tell him we'd like to live someplace in the country. And ask if Aunt Petunia could be the only Dursley allowed to visit."

Harry, "we think he'd like that, after all those years in Azkaban. We don't need a big place and we can help him…."

A howl pierces the night. Hermione glances toward the Willow.

Hermione, "it's happened. Lupin's transformed."

Harry, "which means Pettigrew is slipping safely into the night. While we just stand here…."

A fierce growling m is heard as twin silhouettes, the dog and the werewolf, bound into the tall grass. Harry and Michael watch themselves appear, Michael hurls the stick as before. The werewolf turns, begins to stalk….

"OWWWWWWWWW!"

Harry and Michael wheel around to see Hermione, hands cupped to her mouth, making a loud howl. Harry covers her mouth.

Michael, "what are you doing?"

Hermione, "saving your lives."

Harry and Michael look back to the tall grass. The werewolf is frozen. As before, it begins to approach them again.

"OWWWWWWWW!"

This time, Harry doesn't stop her.

Harry, "thanks…."

Michael, "but we have to move."

Hermione, "why?"

Michael, "because that werewolf you just called is running right this way."

They all exchange a glance and…. RUN.

Michael, Harry and Hermione dash for their lives and swing behind a huge tree. The werewolf appears. It pauses as it approaches the tree, Harry, Michael and Hermione silently sidestep in the opposite direction, until the werewolf…. Disappears. Hermione, "Buckbeak. We've got to find him."

They turn to see the werewolf, fifteen feet past, waiting.

As Harry, Hermione and Michael step out, they freeze. The werewolf poises itself, preparing to pounce, when….

SKREEEK!

The trees shake with the fury of a hurricane and Buckbeak charges into the clearing, in front of Michael, Harry and Hermione. The werewolf snarls angrily and makes to charge. With lightning-fast reflexes, Buckbeak's claws slash the air…. Only inches from the werewolf's face.

The werewolf stops, eyes glittering with rage, then…. Howls. Turning, it vanishes into the forest.

Hermione, "poor Professor Lupin is having a really tough night…."

Michael, "remind me to give him some chocolate or something to cheer him up."

Just then, a chill wind rises….

The leaves of the trees tremble….

Eerie shadows flutter over the moon, greasy as smoke….

Dementors.

Harry, "let's go."

They look upward, through the trees as the sky wheels by, Dementors streaking in and out of view.

We see the trio's faces.

Shocked.

Terror-stricken.

Opposite them, across the lake…. A cyclone of dementors whirl madly above Harry, Michael and Black.

Harry and Michael watch themselves vainly attempt to conjure a Patronus as the cyclone only continues to grow….

Hermione, "this is horrible…."

Harry, "don't worry. Our parents will come….

Michael, "right there…. You'll see…. They'll come…. Any minute…."

Harry, "they'll conjure the Patronus'."

Hermione eyes the twins warily. They are transfixed, staring hungrily toward the outcrop. The wind rises. The Lake begins to freeze.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

One after another, Dementors drop from the sky, vanish in the cyclone….

Hermione, "no one's coming…."

Harry, "THEY WILL! They will come!"

Michael, "we know they will!"

Hermione looks. Nothing. Desperately, her eyes flash to the cyclone, to the pitiful sight of Harry, Michael and Black at the water's edge…. Wracked with pain…. Dying….

Hermione, "no one's coming! You're dying,

All three of you…. And no one's coming!"

The boy's faces change. A riddle unravels. They draw their wands.

Hermione, "Michael! Harry! NO!"

Too late. Michael and Harry slash through the trees, down to the rocky outcrop, to the exact spot where their parents appeared. Poising their wands, they look out over the sea of Dementors on the other side of the lake.

They both yell, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

Wisps of silver escape their wands, hovering like a mist, then bloom magnificently. The trees explode with light.

The Lake blazes with reflected fire. They stand utterly still, wands extended to the heavens. Across the lake, the Dementors retreat. The boys wait, still as statues, until each and every one is gone. Then they simply let their arms drop.

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: well, I'm glad you liked the chapter and my changes to it.

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