A Young Wizard's Journey - Prisoner of Azkaban

Goodbye, Old Friend

'Mate...' said Y/N slowly. 'You know-'

'I know it can't have been him,' said Harry quickly. 'But it looked exactly like him. I've got pictures of him. The Patronus had 4 legs. Looked a lot like a unicorn but I'd almost passed out by then. But I knew it wasn't Y/N 'cause his is a Phoenix-'

'And I was passed out right next to you,' added Y/N.

'Well yeah, and that too,' said Harry impatiently, 'But it looked exactly like my dad.'

'Are you sure it wasn't a trick of the light, Harry?' asked Hermione gently. 'The Patronus should have lit whoever it was up quite brightly, maybe you mistook some of the features.'

'Maybe,' said Harry, but Y/N could tell that he didn't believe that.

The three of them and Buckbeak were sat in the very edge of the treeline to the Forbidden Forest. They'd been talking quietly about what happened with the Dementors, doing their best to avoid any wandering people.

They'd seen the trio of Ministry officials and Dumbledore making their way back up towards the castle shortly after they ducked into the Willow and had watched Remus sprint across the ground a short while later, prod the knot at the base of the Willow and disappear inside the tunnel after them.

They then had a very near miss once Hagrid chose to leave his hut. He strolled away off up the grounds singing loudly to himself, weaving side to side as he walked and swinging a bottle in his hand. Buckbeak had sprung to attention at this and attempted to charge after the Gamekeeper. Luckily, Hermione was so attached to Y/N's arm, she was able to help him haul Buckbeak back into the treeline.

'There goes Snape,' said Harry absent-mindedly as a dark spec moved across the grounds. 'Hate that he got that,' Harry added as the figure bent down, straightened up and then vanished from site.

'He didn't keep it for long,' growled Y/N. 'Thinks he can sneak up on me.'

'Good thing you were there,' said Hermione. 'Could have been a lot worse if you weren't.'

'Could have been a lot better too. At least I wouldn't have dragged us into the Dementors-'

'You didn't,' said Harry at once. 'The moment you and Sirius left we took off after you. Even if you hadn't have been here I'd have done the same. Remus wasn't himself and after I heard Sirius' yelp-' Harry shuddered.

'I was so worried,' said Hermione weakly from next to him. 'I thought Remus had turned around and attacked you both.'

'I think Sirius felt the Dementor's before I did,' said Y/N. 'He got distracted and tripped. Sent us both down to the floor. I think I hit my head.'

'You did,' said Hermione. 'I remember seeing it when we arrived. Your face was covered in blood.'

'What happened with your Patronus?' asked Harry. 'It was there and then it wasn't.'

'I was still tired from the shack,' said Y/N. 'I couldn't hold it. Once it started slipping, I saw everyone, saw Hermione-' he took a shaky breath and felt her wrap their hands together, '-then when you two arrived I felt a surge. Like I was ready to take them all on. But that doesn't mean my body agreed. Then once Hermione collapsed, I just lost it. Couldn't hold it together anymore. It was my fault-'

'We just told you it wasn't,' said Harry harshly as Y/N hung his head.

'Harry, look away for a moment, would you?' asked Hermione.

Harry raised an eyebrow and then closed his eyes.

'What-?' but Y/N got nothing else out. Hermione seized his face and forced it upwards before kissing him with enough force she practically pushed him onto his back.