โShocking business โฆ shocking โฆ miracle none of them died โฆ never heard the like โฆ by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape โฆโ
โThank you, Minister.โ
โOrder of Merlin, Second Class, Iโd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!โ โThank you very much indeed, Minister.โ
โNasty cut youโve got there โฆ Blackโs work, I suppose?โ
โAs a matter of fact, it was Potter, Weasley and Granger, Minister โฆโ
โNo!โ
โBlack had bewitched them, I saw it immediately. A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behaviour. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They werenโt responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape โฆ they obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. Theyโve got away with a great deal before now โฆ Iโm afraid itโs given them a rather high opinion of themselves โฆ and of course Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of licence by the Headmaster โโ
โAh, well, Snape โฆ Harry Potter, you know โฆ weโve all got a bit of a blind spot where heโs concerned.โ
โAnd yet โ is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally I try to treat him like any other student. And any other student would be suspended โ at the very least โ for leading his friends into such danger. Consider, Minister: against all school rules โ after all the precautions put in place for his protection โ out of bounds, at night, consorting with a werewolf and a murderer โ and I have reason to believe he has been visiting Hogsmeade illegally, too โโ
โWell, well โฆ we shall see, Snape, we shall see โฆ the boy has undoubtedly been foolish โฆโ
Harry lay listening with his eyes tight shut. He felt very groggy. The words he was hearing seemed to be travelling very slowly from his ears to his brain,
so that it was difficult to understand. His limbs felt like lead; his eyelids too heavy to lift โฆ he wanted to lie here, on this comfortable bed, for ever โฆ
โWhat amazes me most is the behaviour of the Dementors โฆ youโve really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?โ
โNo, Minister. By the time I had come round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances โฆโ
โExtraordinary. And yet Black, and Harry, and the girl โโ
โAll unconscious by the time I reached them. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, conjured stretchers and brought them all straight back to the castle.โ
There was a pause. Harryโs brain seemed to be moving a little faster, and as it did, a gnawing sensation grew in the pit of his stomach โฆ
He opened his eyes.
Everything was slightly blurred. Somebody had removed his glasses. He was lying in the dark hospital wing. At the very end of the ward, he could make out Madam Pomfrey with her back to him, bending over a bed. Harry squinted. Ronโs red hair was visible beneath Madam Pomfreyโs arm.
Harry moved his head over on the pillow. In the bed to his right lay Hermione. Moonlight was falling across her bed. Her eyes were open, too. She looked petrified, and when she saw that Harry was awake, pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed to the hospital-wing door. It was ajar, and the voices of Cornelius Fudge and Snape were coming through it from the corridor outside.
Madam Pomfrey now came walking briskly up the dark ward to Harryโs bed. He turned to look at her. She was carrying the largest block of chocolate he had ever seen in his life. It looked like a small boulder.
โAh, youโre awake!โ she said briskly. She placed the chocolate on Harryโs bedside table and began breaking it apart with a small hammer.
โHowโs Ron?โ said Harry and Hermione together.
โHeโll live,โ said Madam Pomfrey grimly. โAs for you two โฆ youโll be staying here until Iโm satisfied youโre โ Potter, what do you think youโre doing?โ
Harry was sitting up, putting his glasses back on and picking up his wand. โI need to see the Headmaster,โ he said.
โPotter,โ said Madam Pomfrey soothingly, โitโs all right. Theyโve got Black. Heโs locked away upstairs. The Dementors will be performing the Kiss any moment now โโ
โWHAT?โ
Harry jumped up out of bed; Hermione had done the same. But his shout had been heard in the corridor outside; next second, Cornelius Fudge and Snape had entered the ward.
โHarry, Harry, whatโs this?โ said Fudge, looking agitated. โYou should be in bed โ has he had any chocolate?โ he asked Madam Pomfrey anxiously.
โMinister, listen!โ Harry said. โSirius Blackโs innocent! Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! We saw him tonight! You canโt let the Dementors do that thing to Sirius, heโs โโ
But Fudge was shaking his head with a small smile on his face.
โHarry, Harry, youโre very confused, youโve been through a dreadful ordeal, lie back down, now, weโve got everything under control โฆโ
โYOU HAVENโT!โ Harry yelled. โYOUโVE GOT THE WRONG MAN!โ
โMinister, listen, please,โ Hermione said; she had hurried to Harryโs side and was gazing imploringly into Fudgeโs face. โI saw him, too. It was Ronโs rat, heโs an Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and โโ
โYou see, Minister?โ said Snape. โConfunded, both of them โฆ Blackโs done a very good job on them โฆโ
โWEโRE NOT CONFUNDED!โ Harry roared.
โMinister! Professor!โ said Madam Pomfrey angrily. โI must insist that you leave. Potter is my patient, and he should not be distressed!โ
โIโm not distressed, Iโm trying to tell them what happened!โ Harry said furiously. โIf theyโd just listen โโ
But Madam Pomfrey suddenly stuffed a large chunk of chocolate into Harryโs mouth. He choked, and she seized the opportunity to force him back onto the bed.
โNow,ย please, Minister, these children need care. Please leave โโ
The door opened again. It was Dumbledore. Harry swallowed his mouthful of chocolate with great difficulty, and got up again.
โProfessor Dumbledore, Sirius Black โโ
โFor heavenโs sake!โ said Madam Pomfrey hysterically. โIs this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist โโ
โMy apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr Potter and Miss Granger,โ said Dumbledore calmly. โI have just been talking to Sirius Black โโ
โI suppose heโs told you the same fairy tale heโs planted in Potterโs mind?โ spat Snape. โSomething about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive โโ
โThat, indeed, is Blackโs story,โ said Dumbledore, surveying Snape closely through his half-moon spectacles.
โAnd does my evidence count for nothing?โ snarled Snape. โPeter Pettigrew was not in the Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him in the grounds.โ
โThat was because you were knocked out, Professor!โ said Hermione earnestly. โYou didnโt arrive in time to hear โโ
โMiss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!โ
โNow, Snape,โ said Fudge, startled, โthe young lady is disturbed in her mind, we must make allowances โโ
โI would like to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,โ said Dumbledore abruptly. โCornelius, Severus, Poppy โ please leave us.โ
โHeadmaster!โ spluttered Madam Pomfrey. โThey need treatment, they need rest โโ
โThis cannot wait,โ said Dumbledore. โI must insist.โ
Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and strode away into her office at the end of the ward, slamming the door behind her. Fudge consulted the large gold pocket watch dangling from his waistcoat.
โThe Dementors should have arrived by now,โ he said. โIโll go and meet them. Dumbledore, Iโll see you upstairs.โ
He crossed to the door and held it open for Snape, but Snape hadnโt moved. โYou surely donโt believe a word of Blackโs story?โ Snape whispered, his
eyes fixed on Dumbledoreโs face.
โI wish to speak to Harry and Hermione alone,โ Dumbledore repeated. Snape took a step towards Dumbledore.
โSirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen,โ he breathed. โYou havenโt forgotten that, Headmaster? You havenโt forgotten that he once tried to killย me?โ
โMy memory is as good as it ever was, Severus,โ said Dumbledore quietly.
Snape turned on his heel and marched through the door Fudge was still holding. It closed behind them and Dumbledore turned to Harry and Hermione. They both burst into speech at the same time.
โProfessor, Blackโs telling the truth โ weย sawย Pettigrew โโ
โโ he escaped when Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf โโ โโ heโs a rat โโ
โโ Pettigrewโs front paw, I mean, finger, he cut it off โโ โโ Pettigrew attacked Ron, it wasnโt Sirius โโ
But Dumbledore held up his hand to stem the flood of explanations.
โIt is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there
is very little time,โ he said quietly. โThere is not a shred of proof to support Blackโs story, except your word โ and the word of two thirteen-year-old wizards will not convince anybody. A street full of eye-witnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Pottersโ Secret Keeper.โ
โProfessor Lupin can tell you โโ Harry said, unable to stop himself. โProfessor 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 โ and the fact that he and Sirius are old friends โโ
โBut โโ
โListen to me, Harry.ย It is too late, you understand me? You must see that Professor Snapeโs version of events is far more convincing than yours.โ
โHe hates Sirius,โ Hermione said desperately. โAll because of some stupid trick Sirius played on him โโ
โSirius has not acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady โ entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife โ without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Siriusโ sentence.โ
โBut you believe us.โ
โYes, I do,โ said Dumbledore quietly. โBut I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister for Magic โฆโ
Harry stared up into the grave face and felt as though the ground beneath him was falling sharply away. He had grown used to the idea that Dumbledore could solve anything. He had expected Dumbledore to pull some amazing solution out of the air. But no โฆ their last hope was gone.
โWhat we need,โ said Dumbledore slowly, and his light-blue eyes moved from Harry to Hermione, โis moreย time.โ
โBut โโ Hermione began. And then her eyes became very round. โOH!โ โNow, pay attention,โ said Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very
clearly. โSirius is locked in Professor Flitwickโs 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.ย You must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law โ you know what is at stake โฆย you โ must โ not โ be โ seen.โ
Harry didnโt have a clue what was going on. Dumbledore had turned on his heel and looked back as he reached the door.
โI am going to lock you in. It is โโ he consulted his watch, โfive minutes to
midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.โ
โGood luck?โ Harry repeated, as the door closed behind Dumbledore. โThree turns? Whatโs he talking about? What are we supposed to do?โ
But Hermione was fumbling with the neck of her robes, pulling from beneath them a very long, very fine gold chain.
โHarry, come here,โ she said urgently.ย โQuick!โ
Harry moved towards her, completely bewildered. She was holding the chain out. He saw a tiny, sparkling hour-glass hanging from it.
โHere โโ
She had thrown the chain around his neck, too. โReady?โ she said breathlessly.
โWhat are we doing?โ Harry said, completely lost. Hermione turned the hour-glass over three times.
The dark ward dissolved. Harry had the sensation that he was flying, very fast, backwards. A blur of colours and shapes rushed past him; his ears were pounding. He tried to yell but couldnโt hear his own voice โ
And then he felt solid ground beneath his feet, and everything came into focus again โ
He was standing next to Hermione in the deserted Entrance Hall and a stream of golden sunlight was falling across the paved floor from the open front doors. He looked wildly around at Hermione, the chain of the hour-glass cutting into his neck.
โHermione, what โ?โ
โIn here!โ Hermione seized Harryโs arm and dragged him across the hall to the door of a broom cupboard; she opened it, pushed him inside amongst the buckets and mops, followed him in, then slammed the door behind them.
โWhat โ how โ Hermione, what happened?โ
โWeโve gone back in time,โ Hermione whispered, lifting the chain off Harryโs neck in the darkness. โThree hours back โฆโ
Harry found his own leg and gave it a very hard pinch. It hurt a lot, which seemed to rule out the possibility that he was having a very bizarre dream.
โBut โโ
โShh! Listen! Someoneโs coming! I think โ I think it might be us!โ Hermione had her ear pressed against the cupboard door.
โFootsteps across the hall โฆ yes, I think itโs us going down to Hagridโs!โ โAre you telling me,โ Harry whispered, โthat weโre here in this cupboard
and weโre out there, too?โ
โYes,โ said Hermione, her ear still glued to the cupboard door. โIโm sure itโs us โฆ it doesnโt sound like more than three people โฆ and weโre walking slowly because weโre under the Invisibility Cloak โโ
She broke off, still listening intently. โWeโve gone down the front steps โฆโ
Hermione sat down on an upturned bucket; looking desperately anxious, Harry wanted a few questions answered.
โWhere did youย getย that hourglass thing?โ
โItโs called a Time-Turner,โ Hermione whispered, โand I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. Iโve been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldnโt 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 Iโd never, ever use it for anything except my studies โฆ Iโve been turning it back so I could do hours over again, thatโs how Iโve been doing several lessons at once, see? But โฆ
โHarry,ย I donโt understand what Dumbledore wants us to do.ย Why did he tell us to go back three hours? Howโs that going to help Sirius?โ
Harry stared at her shadowy face.
โThere must be something that happened around now he wants us to change,โ he said slowly. โWhat happened? We were walking down to Hagridโs three hours ago โฆโ
โThisย isย three hours ago, and weย areย walking down to Hagridโs,โ said Hermione. โWe just heard ourselves leaving โฆโ
Harry frowned; he felt as though he was screwing up his whole brain in concentration.
โDumbledore just said โ just said we could save more than one innocent life
โฆโ And then it hit him. โHermione, weโre going to save Buckbeak!โ โBut โ how will that help Sirius?โ
โDumbledore said โ he just told us where the window is โ the window of Flitwickโs office! Where theyโve got Sirius locked up! Weโve got to fly Buckbeak up to the window and rescue Sirius! Sirius can escape on Buckbeak โ they can escape together!โ
From what Harry could see of Hermioneโs face, she looked terrified. โIf we manage that without being seen, itโll be a miracle!โ
โWell, weโve got to try, havenโt we?โ said Harry. He stood up and pressed
his own ear against the door.
โDoesnโt sound like anyoneโs there โฆ come on, letโs go โฆโ
Harry pushed the cupboard door open. The Entrance Hall was deserted. As quietly and quickly as they could, they darted out of the cupboard and down the stone steps. The shadows were already lengthening, the tops of the trees in the Forbidden Forest gilded once more with gold.
โIf anyoneโs looking out of the window โโ Hermione squeaked, looking up at the castle behind them.
โWeโll run for it,โ said Harry determinedly. โStraight into the Forest, all right? Weโll have to hide behind a tree or something and keep a lookout โโ
โOK, but weโll go round by the greenhouses!โ said Hermione breathlessly. โWe need to keep out of sight of Hagridโs front door, or weโll see us! We must be nearly at Hagridโs by now!โ
Still working out what she meant, Harry set off at a sprint, Hermione behind him. They tore across the vegetable gardens to the greenhouses, paused for a moment behind them, then set off again, fast as they could, skirting around the Whomping Willow, tearing towards the shelter of the Forest โฆ
Safe in the shadows of the trees, Harry turned around; seconds later, Hermione arrived beside him, panting.
โRight,โ she gasped, โwe need to sneak over to Hagridโs. Keep out of sight, Harry โฆโ
They made their way silently through the trees, keeping to the very edge of the Forest. Then, as they glimpsed the front of Hagridโs house, they heard a knock upon his door. They moved quickly 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 Harry heard his own voice.
โItโs us. Weโre wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off.โ
โYeh shouldnโve come!โ Hagrid whispered. He stood back, then shut the door quickly.
โThis is the weirdest thing weโve ever done,โ Harry said fervently.
โLetโs move along a bit,โ Hermione whispered. โWe need to get nearer to Buckbeak!โ
They crept through the trees until they saw the nervous Hippogriff, tethered to the fence around Hagridโs pumpkin patch.
โNow?โ Harry whispered.
โNo!โ said Hermione. โIf we steal him now, those Committee people will think Hagrid set him free! Weโve got to wait until theyโve seen heโs tied outside!โ
โThatโs going to give us about sixty seconds,โ said Harry. This was starting to seem impossible.
At that moment, there was a crash of breaking china from inside Hagridโs cabin.
โThatโs Hagrid breaking the milk jug,โ Hermione whispered. โIโm going to find Scabbers in a moment โโ
Sure enough, a few minutes later, they heard Hermioneโs shriek of surprise. โHermione,โ said Harry suddenly, โwhat if we โ we just run in there, and
grab Pettigrew โโ
โNo!โ said Hermione in a terrified whisper. โDonโt you understand? Weโre breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! Nobodyโs supposed to change time, nobody! You heard Dumbledore, if weโre seen โโ
โWeโd only be seen by ourselves and Hagrid!โ
โHarry, what do you think youโd do if you saw yourself bursting into Hagridโs house?โ said Hermione.
โIโd โ Iโd think Iโd gone mad,โ said Harry, โor Iโd think there was some Dark Magic going on โโ
โExactly!ย You wouldnโt understand, you might even attack yourself! Donโt you see? Professor McGonagall told me what awful things have happened when wizards have meddled with time โฆ loads of them ended up killing their past or future selves by mistake!โ
โOK!โ said Harry. โIt was just an idea, I just thought โโ
But Hermione nudged him, and pointed towards the castle. Harry moved his head a few inches to get a clear view of the distant front doors. Dumbledore, Fudge, the old Committee member and Macnair the executioner were coming down the steps.
โWeโre about to come out!โ Hermione breathed.
And sure enough, moments later, Hagridโs back door opened, and Harry saw himself, Ron and Hermione walking out of it with Hagrid. It was, without a doubt, the strangest sensation of his life, standing behind the tree, and watching himself in the pumpkin patch.
โItโs OK, Beaky, itโs OK โฆโ Hagrid said to Buckbeak. Then he turned to Harry, Ron and Hermione. โGo on. Get goinโ.โ
โHagrid, we canโt โโ
โWeโll tell them what really happened โโ โThey canโt kill him โโ
โGo! Itโs bad enough without you lot in trouble anโ all!โ
Harry watched the Hermione in the pumpkin patch throw the Invisibility Cloak over himself and Ron.
โGo quick. Donโ listen โฆโ
There was a knock on Hagridโs front door. The execution party had arrived. Hagrid turned around and headed back into his cabin, leaving the back door ajar. Harry watched the grass flatten in patches all around the cabin and heard three pairs of feet retreating. He, Ron and Hermione had gone โฆ but the Harry and Hermione hidden in the trees could now hear what was happening inside the cabin through the back door.
โWhere is the beast?โ came the cold voice of Macnair. โOut โ outside,โ Hagrid croaked.
Harry pulled his head out of sight as Macnairโs face appeared at Hagridโs window, staring out at Buckbeak. Then they heard Fudge.
โWe โ er โ have to read you the official notice of execution, Hagrid. Iโll make it quick. And then you and Macnair need to sign it. Macnair, youโre supposed to listen too, thatโs procedure โโ
Macnairโs face vanished from the window. It was now or never. โWait here,โ Harry whispered to Hermione. โIโll do it.โ
As Fudgeโs voice started again, Harry darted out from behind his tree, vaulted the fence into the pumpkin patch and approached Buckbeak.
โIt is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall be executed on the sixth of June at sundown โโ
Careful not to blink, Harry stared up into Buckbeakโs fierce orange eye once more, and bowed. Buckbeak sank to his scaly knees and then stood up again. Harry began to fumble with the rope tying Buckbeak to the fence.
โโฆ sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the Committeeโs appointed executioner, Walden Macnair โฆโ
โCome on, Buckbeak,โ Harry murmured, โcome on, weโre going to help you. Quietly โฆ quietly โฆโ
โโฆ as witnessed below. Hagrid, you sign here โฆโ
Harry threw all his weight onto the rope, but Buckbeak had dug in his front feet.
โWell, letโs get this over with,โ said the reedy voice of the Committee member from inside Hagridโs cabin. โHagrid, perhaps it would be better if you stayed inside โโ
โNo, I โ I wanโ ter be with him โฆ I donโ wanโ him ter be alone โโ Footsteps echoed from within the cabin.
โBuckbeak, move!โย Harry hissed.
Harry tugged harder on the rope around Buckbeakโs neck. The Hippogriff began to walk, rustling its wings irritably. They were still ten feet away from the Forest, in plain view of Hagridโs back door.
โOne moment, please, Macnair,โ came Dumbledoreโs voice. โYou need to sign, too.โ The footsteps stopped. Harry heaved on the rope. Buckbeak snapped his beak and walked a little faster.
Hermioneโs white face was sticking out from behind a tree. โHarry, hurry!โ she mouthed.
Harry could still hear Dumbledoreโs voice talking from within the cabin. He gave the rope another wrench. Buckbeak broke into a grudging trot. They had reached the trees โฆ
โQuick! Quick!โ Hermione moaned, darting out from behind her tree, seizing the rope too and adding her weight to make Buckbeak move faster. Harry looked over his shoulder; they were now blocked from sight; they couldnโt see Hagridโs garden at all.
โStop!โ he whispered to Hermione. โThey might hear us โโ
Hagridโs back door had opened with a bang. Harry, Hermione and Buckbeak stood quite still; even the Hippogriff seemed to be listening intently.
Silence โฆ then โ
โWhere is it?โ said the reedy voice of the Committee member. โWhere is the beast?โ
โIt was tied here!โ said the executioner furiously. โI saw it! Just here!โ
โHow extraordinary,โ said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice.
โBeaky!โ 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 Hagridโs words through his sobs.
โGone! Gone! Bless his little beak, heโsย gone! Musta pulled himself free!
Beaky, yeh clever boy!โ
Buckbeak started to strain against the rope, trying to get back to Hagrid. Harry and Hermione tightened their grip and dug their heels into the Forest floor to stop him.
โSomeone untied him!โ the executioner was snarling. โWe should search the grounds, the Forest โโ
โMacnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you really think the thief will have led him away on foot?โ said Dumbledore, still sounding amused. โSearch the skies, if you will โฆ Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy.โ
โOโ โ oโ course, Professor,โ said Hagrid, who sounded weak with happiness. โCome in, come in โฆโ
Harry and Hermione listened closely. They heard footsteps, the soft cursing of the executioner, the snap of the door, and then silence once more.
โNow what?โ whispered Harry, looking around.
โWeโll have to hide in here,โ said Hermione, who looked very shaken. โWe need to wait until theyโve gone back to the castle. Then we wait until itโs safe to fly Buckbeak up to Siriusโ window. He wonโt be there for another couple of hours โฆoh, this is going to be difficult โฆโ
She looked nervously over her shoulder into the depths of the Forest. The sun was setting now.
โWeโre going to have to move,โ said Harry, thinking hard. โWeโve got to be able to see the Whomping Willow, or we wonโt know whatโs going on.โ
โOK,โ said Hermione, getting a firmer grip on Buckbeakโs rope. โBut weโve got to keep out of sight, Harry, remember โฆโ
They moved around the edge of the Forest, darkness falling thickly around them, until they were hidden behind a clump of trees through which they could make out the Willow.
โThereโs Ron!โ said Harry suddenly.
A dark figure was sprinting across the lawn and its shout echoed through the still night air.
โGet away from him โ get away โ Scabbers, comeย hereย โโ
And then they saw two more figures materialise out of nowhere. Harry watched himself and Hermione chasing after Ron. Then he saw Ron dive.
โGotcha!ย Get off, you stinking cat โโ
โThereโs Sirius!โ said Harry. The great shape of the dog had bounded out from the roots of the Willow. They saw him bowl Harry over, then seize Ron
โฆ
โLooks even worse from here, doesnโt it?โ said Harry, watching the dog pulling Ron into the roots. โOuch โ look, I just got walloped by the tree โ and so did you โ this isย weirdย โโ
The Whomping Willow was creaking and lashing out with its lower branches; they could see themselves darting here and there, trying to reach the trunk. And then the tree froze.
โThat was Crookshanks pressing the knot,โ said Hermione. โAnd there we go โฆโ Harry muttered. โWeโre in.โ
The moment they disappeared, the tree began to move again. Seconds later, they heard footsteps quite close by. Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge and the old Committee member were making their way up to the castle.
โRight after weโd gone down into the passage!โ said Hermione. โIfย only
Dumbledore had come with us โฆโ
โMacnair and Fudge wouldโve come, too,โ said Harry bitterly. โI bet you anything Fudge wouldโve told Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot โฆโ
They watched the four men climb the castle steps and disappear from view.
For a few minutes the scene was deserted. Then โ
โHere comes Lupin!โ said Harry, as they saw another figure sprinting down the stone steps and haring towards the Willow. Harry looked up at the sky. Clouds were obscuring the moon completely.
They watched Lupin seize a broken branch from the ground and prod the knot on the trunk. The tree stopped fighting, and Lupin, too, disappeared into the gap in its roots.
โIf heโd only grabbed the Cloak,โ said Harry. โItโs just lying there โฆโ He turned to Hermione.
โIf I just dashed out now and grabbed it, Snapeโd never be able to get it and
โโ
โHarry,ย we mustnโt be seen!โ
โHow can you stand this?โ he asked Hermione fiercely. โJust standing here
and watching it happen?โ He hesitated. โIโm going to grab the Cloak!โ โHarry,ย no!โ
Hermione seized the back of Harryโs robes not a moment too soon. Just then, they heard a burst of song. It was Hagrid, making his way up to the castle, singing at the top of his voice, and weaving slightly as he walked. A large bottle was swinging from his hands.
โSee?โย Hermione whispered. โSee what would have happened?ย Weโve got to keep out of sight!ย No, Buckbeak!โ
The Hippogriff was making frantic attempts to get to Hagrid again; Harry seized his rope, too, straining to hold Buckbeak back. They watched Hagrid meander tipsily up to the castle. He was gone. Buckbeak stopped fighting to get away. His head drooped sadly.
Barely two minutes later, the castle doors flew open yet again, and Snape had come charging out of them, running towards the Willow.
Harryโs fists clenched as they watched Snape skid to a halt next to the tree, looking around. He grabbed the Cloak and held it up.
โGet your filthy hands off it,โ Harry snarled under his breath. โShh!โ
Snape seized the branch Lupin had used to freeze the tree, prodded the knot, and vanished from view as he put on the Cloak.
โSo thatโs it,โ said Hermione quietly. โWeโre all down there โฆ and now weโve just got to wait until we come back up again โฆโ
She took the end of Buckbeakโs rope and tied it securely around the nearest tree, then sat down on the dry ground, arms around her knees.
โHarry, thereโs something I donโt understand โฆ why didnโt the Dementors get Sirius? I remember them coming, and then I think I passed out โฆ there were so many of them โฆโ
Harry sat down, too. He explained what heโd seen; how, as the nearest Dementor had lowered its mouth to Harryโs, a large silver something had come galloping across the lake and forced the Dementors to retreat.
Hermioneโs mouth was slightly open by the time Harry had finished. โBut what was it?โ
โThereโs only one thing it could have been, to make the Dementors go,โ said Harry. โA real Patronus. A powerful one.โ
โBut who conjured it?โ
Harry didnโt say anything. He was thinking back to the person heโd seen on the other bank of the lake. He knew who he thought it had been โฆ but howย couldย it have been?
โDidnโt you see what they looked like?โ said Hermione eagerly. โWas it one of the teachers?โ
โNo,โ said Harry. โHe wasnโt a teacher.โ
โBut it must have been a really powerful wizard, to drive all those Dementors away โฆ If the Patronus was shining so brightly, didnโt it light him up? Couldnโt you see โ?โ
โYeah, I saw him,โ said Harry slowly. โBut โฆ maybe I imagined it โฆ I
wasnโt thinking straight โฆ I passed out right afterwards โฆโ
โWho did you think it was?โ
โI think โโ Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going to sound. โI think it was my dad.โ
Harry glanced up at Hermione and saw that her mouth was fully open now.
She was gazing at him with a mixture of alarm and pity. โHarry, your dadโs โ well โย dead,โ she said quietly.
โI know that,โ said Harry quickly. โYou think you saw his ghost?โ
โI donโt know โฆ no โฆ he looked solid โฆโ โBut then โ โ
โMaybe I was seeing things,โ said Harry. โBut โฆ from what I could see โฆ it looked like him โฆ Iโve got photos of him โฆโ
Hermione was still looking at him as though worried about his sanity.
โI know it sounds mad,โ said Harry flatly. He turned to look at Buckbeak, who was digging his beak into the ground, apparently searching for worms. But he wasnโt really watching Buckbeak.
He was thinking about his father, and about his three oldest friends โฆ Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs โฆ Had all four of them been out in the grounds tonight? Wormtail had reappeared this evening when everyone had thought he was dead โ was it so impossible his father had done the same? Had he been seeing things across the lake? The figure had been too far away to see distinctly โฆ yet he had felt sure, for a moment, before heโd lost consciousness โฆ
The leaves overhead rustled faintly in the breeze. The moon drifted in and out of sight behind the shifting clouds. Hermione sat with her face turned towards the Willow, waiting.
And then, at last, after over an hour โฆ โHere we come!โ Hermione whispered.
She and Harry got to their feet. Buckbeak raised his head. They saw Lupin, Ron and Pettigrew clambering awkwardly out of the hole in the roots, followed by the unconscious Snape, drifting weirdly upwards. Next came Harry, Hermione and Black. They all began to walk towards the castle.
Harryโs heart was starting to beat very fast. He glanced up at the sky. Any moment now, that cloud was going to move aside and show the moon โฆ
โHarry,โ Hermione muttered, as though she knew exactly what he was thinking, โweโve got to stay put. We mustnโt be seen. Thereโs nothing we can
do โฆโ
โSo weโre just going to let Pettigrew escape all over again โฆโ said Harry quietly.
โHow do you expect to find a rat in the dark?โ snapped Hermione. โThereโs nothing we can do! We came back to help Sirius. Weโre not supposed to be doing anything else!โ
โAll right!โ
The moon slid out from behind its cloud. They saw the tiny figures across the grounds stop. Then they saw movement โ
โThere goes Lupin,โ Hermione whispered. โHeโs transforming โโ โHermione!โ said Harry suddenly. โWeโve got to move!โ
โWe mustnโt, I keep telling you โโ
โNot to interfere! But Lupinโs going to run into the Forest, right at us!โ Hermione gasped.
โQuick!โ she moaned, dashing to untie Buckbeak. โQuick! Where are we going to go? Where are we going to hide? The Dementors will be coming any moment โโ
โBack to Hagridโs!โ Harry said. โItโs empty now โ come on!โ
They ran, fast as they could, Buckbeak cantering along behind them. They could hear the werewolf howling behind them โฆ
The cabin was in sight. Harry skidded to the door, wrenched it open and Hermione and Buckbeak flashed past him; Harry threw himself in after them and bolted the door. Fang the boarhound barked loudly.
โShh, Fang, itโs us!โ said Hermione, hurrying over and scratching his ears to quieten him. โThat was really close!โ she said to Harry.
โYeah โฆโ
Harry was looking out of the window. It was much harder to see what was going on from here. Buckbeak seemed very happy to find himself back inside Hagridโs house. He lay down in front of the fire, folded his wings contentedly and seemed ready for a good nap.
โI think Iโd better go outside again, you know,โ said Harry slowly. โI canโt see whatโs going on โ we wonโt know when itโs time โโ
Hermione looked up. Her expression was suspicious.
โIโm not going to try and interfere,โ said Harry quickly. โBut if we donโt see whatโs going on, howโre we going to know when itโs time to rescue Sirius?โ
โWell โฆ OK, then โฆ Iโll wait here with Buckbeak โฆ but Harry, be careful โ thereโs a werewolf out there โ and the Dementors โโ
Harry stepped outside again and edged around the cabin. He could hear yelping in the distance. That meant the Dementors were closing in on Sirius
โฆ he and Hermione would be running to him any moment โฆ
Harry stared out towards the lake, his heart doing a kind of drum-roll in his chest. Whoever had sent that Patronus would be appearing at any moment.
For a fraction of a second he stood, irresolute, in front of Hagridโs door.ย You must not be seen.ย But he didnโt want to be seen. He wanted to do the seeingย โฆย he had to know โฆ
And there were the Dementors. They were emerging out of the darkness from every direction, gliding around the edges of the lake โฆ they were moving away from where Harry stood, to the opposite bank โฆ he wouldnโt have to get near them โฆ
Harry began to run. He had no thought in his head except his father โฆ If it was him โฆ if it really was him โฆ he had to know, had to find out โฆ
The lake was coming nearer and nearer, but there was no sign of anybody. On the opposite bank, he could see tiny glimmers of silver โ his own attempts at a Patronus โ
There was a bush at the very edge of the water. Harry threw himself behind it, peering desperately through the leaves. On the opposite bank, the glimmers of silver were suddenly extinguished. A terrified excitement shot through him โ any moment now โ
โCome on!โ he muttered, staring about. โWhere are you? Dad, come on โโ
But no one came. Harry raised his head to look at the circle of Dementors across the lake. One of them was lowering its hood. It was time for the rescuer to appear โ but no one was coming to help this time โ
And then it hit him โ he understood. He hadnโt seen his father โ he had seenย himselfย โ
Harry flung himself out from behind the bush and pulled out his wand. โEXPECTO PATRONUM!โ he yelled.
And out of the end of his wand burst, not a shapeless cloud of mist, but a blinding, dazzling, silver animal. He screwed up his eyes, trying to see what it was. It looked like a horse. It was galloping silently away from him, across the black surface of the lake. He saw it lower its head and charge at the swarming Dementors โฆ now it was galloping around and around the black shapes on the ground, and the Dementors were falling back, scattering, retreating into the darkness โฆ they were gone.
The Patronus turned. It was cantering back towards Harry across the still surface of the water. It wasnโt a horse. It wasnโt a unicorn, either. It was a
stag. It was shining brightly as the moon above โฆ it was coming back to him
โฆ
It stopped on the bank. Its hooves made no mark on the soft ground as it stared at Harry with its large, silver eyes. Slowly, it bowed its antlered head.
And Harry realised โฆ
โProngs,โย he whispered.
But as his trembling fingertips stretched towards the creature, it vanished.
Harry stood there, hand still outstretched. Then, with a great leap of his heart, he heard hooves behind him โ he whirled around and saw Hermione dashing towards him, dragging Buckbeak behind her.
โWhat did you do?โย she said fiercely. โYou said you were only going to keep a lookout!โ
โI just saved all our lives โฆโ said Harry. โGet behind here โ behind this bush โ Iโll explain.โ
Hermione listened to what had just happened with her mouth open yet again.
โDid anyone see you?โ
โYes, havenโt you been listening?ย Iย saw me but I thought I was my dad! Itโs OK!โ
โHarry, I canโt believe it โ you conjured up a Patronus that drove away all those Dementors! Thatโs very,ย veryย advanced magic โฆโ
โI knew I could do it this time,โ said Harry, โbecause Iโd already done it โฆ Does that make sense?โ
โI donโt know โ Harry, look at Snape!โ
Together they peered around the bush at the other bank. Snape had regained consciousness. He was conjuring stretchers and lifting the limp forms of Harry, Hermione and Black onto them. A fourth stretcher, no doubt bearing Ron, was already floating at his side. Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved them away towards the castle.
โRight, itโs nearly time,โ said Hermione tensely, looking at her watch. โWeโve got about forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks the door to the hospital wing. Weโve got to rescue Sirius and get back into the ward before anybody realises weโre missing โฆโ
They waited, watching the moving clouds reflected in the lake, while the bush next to them whispered in the breeze. Buckbeak, bored, was ferreting for worms again.
โDโyou reckon heโs up there yet?โ said Harry, checking his watch. He
looked up at the castle, and began counting the windows to the right of the West Tower.
โLook!โ Hermione whispered. โWhoโs that? Someoneโs coming back out of the castle!โ
Harry stared through the darkness. The man was hurrying across the grounds, towards one of the entrances. Something shiny glinted in his belt.
โMacnair!โ said Harry. โThe executioner! Heโs gone to get the Dementors!
This is it, Hermione โโ
Hermione put her hands on Buckbeakโs back and Harry gave her a leg up. Then he placed his foot on one of the lower branches of the bush and climbed up in front of her. He pulled Buckbeakโs rope back over his neck and tied it to the other side of his collar like reins.
โReady?โ he whispered to Hermione. โYouโd better hold on to me โโ He nudged Buckbeakโs sides with his heels.
Buckbeak soared straight into the dark air. Harry gripped his flanks with his knees, feeling the great wings rising powerfully beneath them. Hermione was holding Harry very tightly around the waist; he could hear her muttering, โOh, no โ I donโt like this โ oh, Iย reallyย donโt like this โโ
Harry urged Buckbeak forwards. They were gliding quietly towards the upper floors of the castle โฆ Harry pulled hard on the left-hand side of the rope, and Buckbeak turned. Harry was trying to count the windows flashing past โ
โWhoa!โ he said, pulling backwards as hard as he could.
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 he beat his wings to remain airborne.
โHeโs there!โ Harry said, spotting Sirius as they rose up beside the window. He reached out, and as Buckbeakโs wings fell, was able to tap sharply on the glass.
Black looked up. Harry saw his jaw drop. He leapt from his chair, hurried to the window and tried to open it, but it was locked.
โStand back!โ Hermione called to him, and she took out her wand, still gripping the back of Harryโs robes with her left hand.
โAlohomora!โ
The window sprang open.
โHow โย howย โ?โ said Black weakly, staring at the Hippogriff.
โGet on โ thereโs not much time,โ said Harry, gripping Buckbeak firmly on
either side of his sleek neck to hold him steady. โYouโve got to get out of here โ the Dementors are coming. Macnairโs gone to get them.โ
Black 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 Buckbeakโs back, and pull himself onto the Hippogriff behind Hermione.
โOK, Buckbeak, up!โ said Harry, shaking the rope. โUp to the tower โ come on!โ
The Hippogriff gave one sweep of its mighty wings and they were soaring upwards again, high as the top of the West Tower. Buckbeak landed with a clatter on the battlements and Harry and Hermione slid off him at once.
โSirius, youโd better go, quick,โ Harry panted. โTheyโll reach Flitwickโs office any moment, theyโll find out youโve gone.โ
Buckbeak pawed the ground, tossing his sharp head.
โWhat happened to the other boy? Ron?โ said Sirius urgently.
โHeโs going to be OK โ heโs still out of it, but Madam Pomfrey says sheโll be able to make him better. Quick โ go!โ
But Black was still staring down at Harry. โHow can I ever thank โโ
โGO!โ Harry and Hermione shouted together.
Black wheeled Buckbeak around, facing the open sky.
โWeโll see each other again,โ he said. โYou are โ truly your fatherโs son, Harry โฆโ
He squeezed Buckbeakโs sides with his heels. Harry and Hermione jumped back as the enormous wings rose once more โฆ the Hippogriff took off into the air โฆ he and his rider became smaller and smaller as Harry gazed after them โฆ then a cloud drifted across the moon โฆ they were gone.