𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝑉𝐼𝐼𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙚𝙚𝙣

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

"HARRY! HARRY! WAKE up!" Caroline said, leaning over Harry's body. He was unconscious, scratches all over his face. When he opened his eyes, Caroline backed off of him, instead sitting on his bed in the hospital wing.

      The first thing Harry said when he opened his eyes shocked everyone in the room. "I saw my dad." he opened his eyes wider

      "What?" Hermione gasped. Caroline knew it wasn't possible. There was no way.

      "He sent the dementors away. I saw him across the lake." said Harry, eyes switching from Caroline to Hermione.

      Caroline sighed, pushing herself up with her left hand. Her right hand was bandaged from the deep scratched her uncle gave her in his werewolf form. Her shoulder had been stitched back together by Madam Pomfrey, covered in bandages beneath a long sleeve shirt. Harry's eyes landed on her. "They've captured Sirius, Harry. The dementors are about to perform the Kiss."

      "You mean they're going to kill him?" Harry scrambled to stand up, grabbing his glasses from Caroline's bandaged hand. He inspected her two major wounds, but she brushed him off.

      "No, it's worse. Much worse. They're going to suck out his soul," Hermione said, a grave look on her face. The door to the hospital wing opened, and Dumbledore walked in. He was immediately bombarded by Caroline and Hermione. "Headmaster, you've got to stop them." Hermione urged.

       "They've got the wrong man, Headmaster." Caroline added. Harry joined the girls.

      "It's true, sir. Sirius is innocent." said Harry.

      "It's Scabbers who did it." Ron spoke up, laying on his bed with his bandaged leg elevated.

      They all turned to him.

      "Scabbers?" Dumbledore asked.

      "He's my rat, sir. Only he's not really a rat. Uh, he was a rat. He was my brother Percy's rat. But then they gave him an owl and I got—"

      Hermione snapped her head back to Dumbledore, cutting Ron off. "Point is, we know the truth. Please believe us." she begged.

      "I do, Miss Granger. But I'm sorry to say that the word of four 13-year-old wizards will convince few others," Dumbledore said. He walked over to Ron. "A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen," Ron winced as Dumbledore patted his leg. The bell started tolling, and Dumbledore began to walk back towards Hermione, Caroline and Harry. "Mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And when meddled with, dangerous... Sirius Black is in the top most cell of The Dark Tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger, and I know you told Miss Taylor-Jones–"

      "Sir–" Caroline started, hoping Hermione wouldn't get in trouble.

      "It's alright. You must not be seen. And you would do well, I feel to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. If you two succeed tonight, more than one innocent life may be spared," Dumbeldore said. "Three turns should do, it I think," he walked out the doors, about to shut them. "Oh, by the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck."

      "What the bloody hell was that all about?" Ron asked, very confused, as was Harry.

      "Sorry, Ron, but seeing as you can't walk..." Hermione trailed off. All while the clock chimed, Hermione took her gold Time Turner out of her shirt and wrapped the chain around the necks of herself, Caroline and Harry. Caroline immediately took it off her neck with her good hand. "What are you doing? You know what we have to do." Hermione said, confused.

      Caroline shook her head. "I–I'm going to stay with Ron. You two have it covered, right?" she said, backing away.

      "Yes, I suppose so, but we could really use you, Carol." Hermione urged. Harry was completely confused, looking between each girl.

      "I know. But I'm useless with my shoulder, I would only slow you guys down. Besides, Ronald needs a babysitter." Caroline said, making Hermione nod.

      "I don't need babysitting." Ron scoffed. Caroline smiled, not answering him.

      "You'll be fine. Please, save them. Good luck," said Caroline, sending Harry and Hermione smiles, going to sit on Ron's bed with him, a pack of ice to her shoulder, slightly alleviating the pain the tree impalement had caused her. Caroline watched as Hermione worked the Time Turner. Harry tried to touch it, and Hermione slapped his hand away. "Harry, stop touching things." Caroline scolded, watching as Hermione turned the Time Turner three times. Once she finished, it started spinning rapidly.

      And then the Harry and Hermione standing in front of Ron and Caroline disappeared, and they were entering through the hospital wing doors.

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