Chapter 2: Racing Against Time
Harry and Hermione remained on the ground, their backs pressed against the rough bark of a tree, hearts pounding from the terrifying encounter with Lupin. The stillness of the Forbidden Forest wrapped around them, the moonlight casting faint silver streaks through the trees. They were holding each other close, the adrenaline slowly ebbing away, but neither moved. They hadn't spoken since Buckbeak had driven Lupin off—neither quite sure what to say.
For a moment, the world felt distant, and the only reality was the warmth of their embrace. Harry could feel Hermione's shallow breaths against his chest, her hands gripping his robes tightly, and he found himself holding on just as tightly. They had made it. They had survived. But it wasn't over yet.
After what felt like an eternity, Hermione shifted, breaking the silence. She pulled away slightly, glancing up at him with wide eyes, her concern evident. "Harry, are you alright?" she asked, her voice still shaky.
"Yeah," Harry replied, though his voice was hoarse. "I think so."
Only when he tried to stand did the pain from his ankle bite surge through him. He winced, grimacing as he tried to steady himself. The bite from Lupin burned with every movement, a reminder of just how close they had come to something far worse.
"Harry?" Hermione's voice sharpened again, and she quickly noticed the source of his discomfort. "You're hurt," she said, kneeling beside him and pulling up the hem of his robes to examine the wound. Her breath caught as she saw the deep, jagged marks left by Lupin's bite.
"You should have told me," Hermione muttered, her tone a mix of concern and frustration. "We need to treat this properly."
"I'll be fine," Harry insisted, though the pain in his ankle said otherwise. "We don't have time to worry about this now. We need to get to the lake and save—myself—and Sirius."
But Hermione wasn't listening to his protests. She tore another strip from her robes and began bandaging Harry's ankle, her fingers working quickly yet gently. The makeshift bandage wasn't perfect, but it was enough to keep him on his feet.
As she finished, Harry tried to stand again, using the tree for support. "We have to go, Hermione," he said, his determination overriding the pain. "There's no time to waste."
Hermione looked up at him, biting her lip, clearly torn between her worry for him and the urgency of their mission. But she knew he was right. They couldn't let their past selves fall to the Dementors.
With her arm around his waist, Hermione helped Harry to his feet. They moved cautiously, Harry limping slightly as they made their way through the forest. The towering trees and dense underbrush blurred around them as they focused on their goal. When they finally emerged from the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the Black Lake stretched out before them, shimmering in the moonlight.
And there, near the shore, were their past selves—Harry and Sirius—both helpless on the ground as Dementors closed in. The air around the lake had become thick and cold, the telltale sign of the Dementors' presence. The past Harry struggled against the overwhelming despair, his hand feebly clutching his wand as the hooded figures approached, ready to deliver the Dementor's Kiss.
Hermione's grip on Harry tightened. "Harry… we're almost too late."
Harry took a deep breath, steadying himself. He knew what he had to do. Raising his wand, he searched for the memory that could give him the strength to cast the Patronus. He thought of Hermione—how she had been with him through everything, unwavering, always there to help him. She had been his support when no one else could be. He needed to protect her, just like she had protected him so many times before.
He wanted to be there for her—always.
"Expecto Patronum!" Harry shouted, his voice echoing across the still night.
A brilliant silver light burst from the tip of his wand, and from it emerged a majestic wolf, its ethereal form bounding forward with unstoppable grace. It charged toward the Dementors, scattering them as it ran, driving them back into the darkness. The chilling cold that had gripped the air was gone, replaced by a warmth that seemed to wash over everything.
The silver wolf circled once before standing sentinel between past Harry and the remaining Dementors, its glowing eyes focused and protective.
"They're safe," Hermione whispered, letting out a shaky breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
Harry lowered his wand, but his gaze was fixed on the scene before them. The past Harry and Sirius were still unconscious, but safe. But as the wolf faded, they saw several figures approaching—Dumbledore and Ministry officials, arriving just in time to take Sirius into custody.
"They're taking him to the tower," Harry muttered. "We have to act fast. We need to get Sirius out of there before they lock him up."
Hermione nodded, determination hardening her features. "We still have Buckbeak. We can fly to the tower."
Together, they hurried back to where Buckbeak was tied up in the trees. The Hippogriff let out a soft snort at their approach, its sharp eyes watching them with an almost knowing gaze. Harry quickly mounted, then offered his hand to Hermione, helping her climb up behind him.
As soon as Buckbeak spread his wings and launched into the sky, Hermione tightened her grip around Harry's waist. "Please don't let me fall," she whispered, her voice barely audible above the rush of the wind.
"I won't," Harry promised, his voice firm but gentle. He held on tightly to Buckbeak's reins, guiding the creature higher into the night sky.
The cool air whipped past them as they soared above the treetops, the towering silhouette of Hogwarts coming into view ahead of them. The castle stood silent and dark, its many towers casting long shadows across the grounds.
They landed softly on a narrow balcony near the top of the tower where Sirius was being held. Sirius stood by the window, his face pale and weary, staring out at the night sky. When he heard the flapping of Buckbeak's wings, he turned, his eyes widening in disbelief as he saw Harry and Hermione perched on Buckbeak's back.
"Harry?" Sirius breathed, his voice thick with astonishment. "Hermione? What—how?"
"We're here to get you out of here," Harry said as he dismounted, walking over to help Sirius. He carefully kept his weight off his injured ankle, not wanting Sirius to notice the bite.
Sirius blinked, a wide grin spreading across his face as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Merlin's beard," he muttered. "You never fail to surprise me, Harry."
With some effort, Harry and Hermione got Sirius onto Buckbeak's back. As they took off again, the rush of wind hit them, and Sirius couldn't help but chuckle. "You know," he said, leaning in slightly so they could hear him, "the two of you make quite the couple."
Harry's face flushed, and he quickly shook his head. "What? No, we're not—"
Hermione, equally flustered, stammered, "We're just—friends!"
Sirius grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Sure, sure. Friends who risk their lives for each other, fly Hippogriffs together, and—"
"Now's not the time, Sirius!" Harry interrupted, his cheeks burning.
"All right, all right," Sirius said with a laugh, though the playful smirk never left his face. "Let's just focus on getting out of here."
They descended back toward the forest's edge, landing softly near the trees. As soon as they were on the ground, Sirius turned to Harry and Hermione, his expression more serious.
"Thank you," Sirius said quietly, his voice full of emotion. "You saved my life. I can't ever repay you for that."
"Just stay safe," Harry said, doing his best to hide the growing pain in his ankle. "We'll figure everything else out later."
Sirius nodded, though his gaze lingered on Harry for a moment, almost as if he could sense something was off. But before he could say anything, he turned toward Buckbeak, mounting the Hippogriff once more.
"You two take care of yourselves," Sirius called over his shoulder as Buckbeak spread his wings. "And Harry—don't let anyone bring you down. You're stronger than you think."
With a final nod, Sirius gave Buckbeak the signal, and the Hippogriff took off into the sky, his wings beating against the moonlit air as they disappeared into the distance.
As the figure of Sirius faded from view, Harry let out a slow breath, finally allowing himself to relax. But when he shifted his weight, the pain from his ankle flared up again, and he winced, trying to hide it.
Hermione noticed but didn't say anything right away. Instead, she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Are you sure you're alright?" she asked softly, her voice filled with concern.
"I'll be fine," Harry replied, forcing a reassuring smile. "We just need to get back to the hospital wing before anyone notices we're gone."
Hermione kept her hand on his shoulder a moment longer, her eyes searching his face for any sign of deeper pain, but she didn't press him. Together, they began making their way back toward the castle. Harry's limp was more pronounced now, but he stubbornly kept walking, determined not to slow them down.
As they reached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, the moonlight lit their path back to Hogwarts. The castle loomed ahead, grand and silent, its windows glowing faintly in the night. As they approached, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that someone was watching them. He glanced over his shoulder, but saw nothing in the shadows behind them.
However, from one of the windows on the second floor, a blonde girl stood quietly, watching Harry and Hermione make their way back. Her expression was unreadable as her gaze followed them, but there was a sense of curiosity, perhaps even intrigue, in her eyes.
Harry didn't notice her, his thoughts too focused on everything that had happened. He just wanted to get back, tend to his ankle, and figure out how to move forward with his new reality.
But little did he know that this night, and the secrets it held, were only the beginning of something far greater than he could have imagined.
AN: So I honestly never thought that I would be writing one of these stories. But wow 25 favorites and 30 follows in the first 2 days. Thank you guys for reading! Feel free to leave reviews and comments. I am open to any criticism, advice and feedback. Hope you guys enjoy the story. Also this is not how often I will usually update this story.