Don't Act Like You Know Me

Year 3 - Hermione, I Love You

Hermione saw past-time Harry flop over onto the ground, the Dementors all scattered. "You were right, Hermione," Harry breathed as he turned around. It wasn't my dad I saw earlier. It was me. I saw myself conjuring the Patronus before. I knew I could do it this time because... because I'd already done it. Does that make sense?"

Hermione thought. "No. I'm going to set the Time Turner to present time now, Harry. We have to go save Sirius now." Hermione took the Time Turner out of her shirt and turned it three times baclwards to reverse what she had done. This time, there was no movement around them, just the slow rising and falling of the Sun. Hermione and Harry boarded Buckbeak, Harry in front, Hermione in back.

"You might want to hold on," Harry said. Hermione reluctantly wrapped her arms around Harry's waist. Harry flinched at her touch.

"Alright, Harry?"

"Just fine," Harry grunted. "Up," Harry kicked Buckbeak's side and he flew into the air. Hermione was a bit weirded out by that interaction, but was way too occupied with her fear of heights. 

"I don't like this!" Hermione cried.

"Hold on tight! We're landing!" Harry said over the whirring of the wind. Buckbeak's hooves clacked down on the large ledge outside of the Dark Tower. Inside was Sirius, miserable looking once more. Hermione peered over the edge of the tower to see Snape and Fudge edging up the stairs with a small glowing torch. Harry was rattling the bars on the cell. "Hold on, Sirius. We're going to figure out how to get you out of here." Sirius nodded slightly, unable to talk. He looked like he hadn't been fed.

"Out of the way," Hermione pushed Harry out of the way. "Alohomora," Hermione tried. Nothing happened. Harry gave Hermione an upset look. "Didn't really expect that one to work." 

"They're getting closer, Hermione," Harry said.

"I know. Dunamus! Liberare! Annihilare! Emancipare! No, no, no!" Hermione was growing frustrated with herself. Their time was fleeting. 

"You might try-" Sirius croaked

"Quiet! I'm trying to think." Hermione paced, then stopped. "Bombarda!" she said with force. The cell door flew off and sailed down from the top of the tower.

"That'll do," Sirius said. Hermione, Harry, and Sirius all clambered on top of Buckbeak and flew away. Hermione watched tiny Fudge and tiny Snape scramble around for Sirius, but were unsuccessful. Sirius laughed, his long hair blowing in the wind. "You truly are your father's son, Harry!" They landed on top of the clocktower. Sirius hopped off of Buckbeak and helped Hermione down. "I'll be forever grateful for this. To both of you."

"I want to go with you," Harry said.

"One day, perhaps. For some time, life will be too... unpredictable. Besides, you're meant to be here." Sirius patted Harry on the back. "But promise me something, Harry."

"Anything."

"Trust yourself. No matter the challenges you face, and I fear there will be many, you'll be surprised how many times you can find the answers," Sirius pointed to Harry's heart. "Here." Sirius climbed onto Buckbeak as there was a shooting star flying by. "A shooting star. Make a wish." Sirius swatted Buckbeak and flew into the air, disappearing as a tiny dot on the horizon. 

Hermione watched as Harry kept his eyes on the sky, even though Sirius was no longer in sight. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "We have to go," she said softly. Harry nodded. Hermione and Harry traced down the stairs of the clock tower. They raced through the corridors. "We should be leaving right about now." Hermione put an ear to the door of the hospital wing. 

"By the way," Hermione heard Dumbledore say. "When in doubt, I always find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck." Hermione backed up from the door as Dumbledore came out. "Well?"

"He's free. Sirius is. We did it," Harry said.

"Did what?" Dumbledore held the door open for Hermione and Harry with a twinkle in his eye. Hermione and Harry burst in to see themselves, fading away, looking at Hermione's Time Turner. 

Ron was looking very confused. "How'd you two get over there? I was just talking to you over here!"

Hermione glanced to Harry with a smile. "What do you think, Harry? Too much for him, everything that's happened tonight?"

"Afraid so," Harry said, smiling back. "Always been a bit of a nervous type, Ron has." Ron stared at them angrily. Hermione and Harry just grinned at him. 

"See you in the morning, Ron. Harry and I have to go back to the common room before curfew," Hermione said.

"Alright, then," Ron said. "Next thing I know, you guys'll come back with dragon tails," he humphed. 

"I highly doubt it," Harry said. "Goodnight, Ron." Hermione and Harry exited the hospital wing. "Hermione?" Harry said nervously as they were on their way back to the common room.

"Yes?"

"I have something to tell you."

"What is it, Harry?" Hermione stopped.

"Now that everything is nice and happy, I thought now would be a good time to tell you."

"Harry, you're worrying me."

"There's no need to be worried."

"What is it then?"

"C-Can we sit?"

"Sure." 

Harry took Hermione's hand and they sat on the corridor bench. "Hermione, I love you."

"Well, I love you, too, Harry."

"No, I mean like in a romantic way."

Hermione was at a loss for words. How had this happened to her twice already? Twice this same year, too. "Um, I don't know what to say, Harry."

"You don't have to say anything." Harry leaned in and kissed her.

"What is it with you boys and not asking for consent?" Hermione stood up from the bench as she saw a bleach blonde-haired boy escape the corridor. "Shit." Hermione ran after him until she caught up. "Wait, Draco!"

"I knew it!" he muttered. "I fucking knew it."

"It's not what you think!"

"I knew something was going on with the both of you. I asked you about it last year and you lied."

"I didn't lie, Draco, it just happened! It wasn't my fault!"

"Get the fuck away from me."

"Draco!"

"Goddamnit, Hermione, I said get the fuck away from me!" Draco pushed Hermione back and she fell down to the ground. Hermione felt a tear form in her eye. "Don't look at me like that," Draco spat. "You did it to me first."

"Draco-"

"Save it, Mudblood."

Hermione stayed silent on the cold floor of the corridor. She watched Draco disappear all the way around the corner, defenseless, no more words.

What a great way to end her third year at Hogwarts.