A Hogwarts Legend: Changing Paths [3]

Chapter Thirty Six

Unedited

Chapter Thirty Six - "Hippogriff for Mr Sirius Black!"

"There's something I don't understand ..." Hermione says slowly. "Why didn't the Dementors get Sirius? I remembered them coming, and then I think I passed out ... there were so many of them ..."

Harry and I sit down, too. I explains everything I'd seen; how, as the nearest Dementor had lowered its mouth to mine, two large silver somethings had come galloping across the lake and forced the Dementors to retreat.

Hermione's mouth is slightly open by the time I've finished.

"But what was it?"

"There's only one thing they could have been, to make the Dementors go," says Harry. "A real Patronus. Powerful ones."

"But who conjured them?"

Harry and I don't say anything.

"Didn't you see what they looked like?" says Hermione eagerly. "Was it two of the teachers?"

"No," says Harry. "One, he wasn't a teacher."

"But it must have been a really powerful wizard or witch, to drive all those Dementors away ... If the Patronus was shining so brightly, didn't it light him up? Couldn't you see -?"

"Yeah, I saw him," says Harry slowly. "But ... maybe I imagined it ... I wasn't thinking straight ... I passed out right afterwards ..."

"Who did you think it was?" I ask.

"I think -" Harry swallows. "I think it was my dad."

Harry glances up at Hermione and I.

"Harry, your dad's - well - dead," she says quietly.

Nah shit.

"I know that," says Harry quickly.

"You think you saw a ghost?"

"I don't know ... no ... he looked solid ..."

"But then -"

"Maybe I was seeing things," says Harry. "But ... from what I could see ... it looked like him ... I've got photos of him ..."

Hermione's still looking at him as though worried about his sanity.

"I know it sounds mad," says Harry flatly, "did you see anyone, Emily?"

"Well," I pause, "I did see a figure but I couldn't see what they looked like, they're might have been another person." I shrug helplessly.

"Thanks, for stoping the Dementor," Harry says under his breath.

I look at him, surprised. I didn't mention what I did when telling Hermione. "What are sisters for, eh?"

Harry pulls me into a hug, and I hug him back.

"BONDING MOMENT! ACHIEVEMENT UNLOCKED!" I whisper yell into Harry's ear and he pulls away, laughing softly.