Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 3 - Keep Her Safe

The next morning, after last night's Animagus and werewold activities, Hermione woke up in her bed, although, she didn't remember ever going there. She was surprised who ever moved her didn't take her to the hospital wing. She came down the stairs. No Harry or Ron in sight. She decided they might've been in the hospital wing themselves. She made her way there and met McGonagall in the hallway. "Ms. Granger!" Professor McGonagall said. "How are you feeling? I'm surprised you're out of bed."

"I was going to look for Ron and Harry."

"I figured as much," she paused. "Ms. Granger, I have something to tell you."

"What is it, Professor?"

"Sirius Black has been found and sentenced to death."

"Really? Is he-"

"The Dementors will do it in a few moments." 

"Excuse me, Professor," Hermione pushed past McGonagall and ran for the hospital wing. "Harry!" Hermione came in and pushed the curtains back from Harry's bed. He was already sitting up, talking to Ron. 

"I saw my dad," Harry said.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"He sent the Dementors away. I saw him. Across the lake." Hermione and Ron looked at each other with concern.

"Listen, Harry. They've captured Sirius. Any minute the Dementors are going to perform the Kiss."

"The Kiss?"

"It's what Dementors do to those they want to destroy. The clamp their jaws over the victim's mouth and... suck out their soul."

"You mean... they're going to kill Sirius?"

"No. It's much worse. You go on living, but you have no memory. No sense of self. You're just a shell, an empty shell." Suddenly, Dumbledore entered the wing. "Headmaster! You've got to stop them! They've got the wrong man!"

"It's true, sir. Sirius is innocent!" Hermione exclaimed.

"It's Scabbers who did it!" Ron said.

"Scabbers?" Dumbledore asked.

"My rat, sir. Only he's not really a rat. Well, he was a rat. You see, he used to be my brother Percy's-"

"The point is," Hermione spoke. "We know the truth. Please, sir, you must believe us."

"I do, Ms. Granger. But I'm sorry to say the word of three thirteen-year-old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true, is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen," Dumbledore said. He turned to the window and gazed out of it. "If ever one was to make a wish, now would be the time. But time, I'm afraid, is precisely our problem." Just then, the bell tower chimed. "Mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And, when meddled with, dangerous. Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower." Dumbledore now spoke to Hermione. "You know the laws, Ms. Granger. You must not be seen. And you would, I feel, do well to return before this last chime. If not, well, the consequences are really to ghastly to discuss. Three turns should do it, I think. If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared tonight." Dumbledore handed both Harry and Hermione a piece of chocolate. "By the way, when in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck." Dumbledore winked and glided away.

"What in bloody hell was all that about?" Ron asked. Hermione took out her Time Turner instead of answering Ron. 

"Sorry, Ron. But seeing as you can't walk..." Hermione looped the Time Turner's chain around both herself and Harry. Hermione turned thrice and everything started whirling around them. Figures began speeding in and out of the hospital wing in backwards motion, the colors blurring together. Once the whirring stopped, Hermione unclasped the chain and put it back around her own neck. The hospital wing was now empty. Ron was gone. Harry looked around, dumbfounded.