Melody Riddle and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 20: Two Lives Saved

Hermione took the end of Buckbeak's rope and tied it around the nearest tree. Then she sat down on the dry ground, wrapping her arms around her knees.

I sat down next to her, feeling tense. Dad must've come to the forest after our discussion, right? Will he catch us over here and wonder how it's possible that I'm with these two after he just spoke to me? Then again, if he came in this direction we would've seen him already so we must be safe... I'm hoping he didn't — well, won't — wait for me after I sent Peter to him. With a concussion, Madam Pomfrey is not likely to let me leave again when we get back.

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

Harry sat down too and explained to us what he'd seen. The nearest Dementor had lowered its mouth to his, but a large silver something came galloping across the lake – forcing the Dementors to retreat.

Hermione's mouth was open, but I knew what it was. A Patronus. But who conjured it?

"But what was it?" Hermione asked.

"There's only one thing it could have been, to make the Dementors go. A real Patronus. A powerful one." Harry said.

"But who conjured it?"

Harry was silent.

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

"No. He wasn't a teacher."

"But it must have been a really powerful wizard, 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. But... maybe I imagined it... I wasn't thinking straight.... I passed out right afterward...."

"Who did you think it was?"

"I think – I think it was my dad."

Hermione's mouth was fully open now, I just regarded his face. If it truly was his dad... no... oh! I had a feeling that when time was fixed, what we were doing right now had to have been done thousands of times already – therefore, the idea of deja vu! Harry must've conjured the Patronus! I couldn't believe how proud I suddenly felt at that moment, that his extra lessons with Professor Lupin on the Patronus paid off. He saved his own life... I guess I'd best leave that for Harry to realize.

"Harry, your dad's – well – dead."

"I know that."

"You think you saw his ghost?"

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

"But then –"

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

Hermione looked at him as though worried for his sanity.

"I know it sounds crazy," Harry said, looking to Buckbeak who was digging his beak into the ground.

Hermione turned to me as Harry was lost in thought. "What were you doing with Snape? From the time you saw us in the invisibility cloak to when you came outside to the Whomping Willow seems a little long for only bringing Lupin his potion."

Good point, I realized."I went to see if I could get my grades for my exams, and to talk about future years for myself... and then we went up to see Professor Trelawney so he could get final exam grades from her to turn in to Professor Dumbledore."