Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

15 An Unusual Solution

Harry looks up. He, Sirius, Hermione, Ron and Lucy are surrounded by dementors. He tries to keep them away: 'Expecto Patronum!' The white glow gets bigger for a second before disappearing entirely.

Ron lays on the ground, his eyes closed. Hermione lies on his right.

'Harry...' Lucy whispers. She is pale and tries to keep herself upright. She falls, and he kneels beside her: 'Expecto Patronum.' It doesn't work; a dementor gets closer, and Harry leans on his arms. He looks over at Lucy and sees someone at the end of the lake: 'Father?'

There is a small light coming out of Lucy's mouth. A flash of bright light appears. And Harry blacks out.

Lucy opens her eyes. She is in the hospital wing. She sees Snape talking with the minister of magic and closes her eyes again.

'An ugly scratch... you have. It was by Black's doing, right?'

'Acutely, it was Potter, Weasley, Granger and Jones.'

'No way.'

'Black had bewitched them. They seemed to think he was innocent and didn't know what they were doing. But on the other hand, they could have given him the chance to escape. I personally think they could benefit from punishment.'

'uh... You know that with Potter, we're condone a little bit more.' The minister answers: 'What concerns me more is the behaviour of the dementors. When you found them, they were gone?'

'Yes, minister.'

'And the children and Black were all unconscious?'

'Yes.'

'Very curious.'

Lucy turns her head and sees Harry is awake and quiet, and Hermione opens her eyes. Lucy signs her to be silent and nods towards where Snape and the minister are talking.

Madame Pomfrey enters: 'Can you talk somewhere else? These students need rest.' She walks over to Harry, who looks panicked: 'You don't need to worry.' Madame Pomfrey tells him: 'They have Black, and the dementors will do what's necessary.'

Harry sits up: 'He didn't do it. Minister, you have to believe us.'

'Potter!' Madame Pomfrey warns him.

'I need to talk to Dumbledore.' He starts again.

'See, they need rest. Out!'

Before they walk out, the minister looks at Harry: 'I know you're confused right now, but I assure you it will all make sense later.'

'No! You have the wrong guy.'

'We saw him. We saw Pettigrew. He isn't dead.' Hermione adds.

The minister shakes his head and follows Snape when he leaves the room. Madam Pomfrey starts to check on them. Lucy slowly eats the chocolate she was given.

A few minutes later, Professor Dumbledore walks in: 'I'm sorry, Poppy, but I need a minute with Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Miss Jones.'

'Professor, they need rest...'

'Unfortunately, it cannot wait.'

Madame Pomfrey goes back to her office and slams the door.

'He didn't...'

'I know Harry, he told me.' Dumbledore replies.

'And you believed him?' Lucy asks.

'Yes, I do. His story is too strange not to be true.'

'Isn't there anything you can do, Professor?' Hermione asks.

'No, unfortunately, they don't tend to take underage witnesses too seriously or ones that are werewolves.'

'So, there is nothing we can do?' Lucy asks in disbelief.

'What we need is more Time.' Dumbledore says, looking at Hermione.

'Oh...' She answers: 'But isn't that...?

'If all goes well, you can save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this: you must not be seen.' He walks away: 'I think three turns should be enough.'

Hermione motions them to come closer and takes her necklace.

'What is he saying, Hermione? What should we do? Three turns?' Harry asks.

She puts her neckless around the tree of them: 'You're about to figure out how I followed all my classes. I'm sorry, Ron, but you cannot come with us.'

She turns three times, and the room gets fuzzy. When everything stands still again, Lucy shakes her head: 'What just happened?'

'We went back in time.' Hermione reveals.