“Somehow, I don't think this will be like the first owl post you got at the beginning of the year,” Cedric said.
“Harry!”
Hermione was tugging at his sleeve, staring at her watch.
“We can't wait any longer, we have to go now,” Hermione said.
“We’ve got exactly ten minutes to get back down to the hospital wing without anybody seeing us – before Dumbledore locks the door –“
“OK,” said Harry, wrenching his gaze from the sky, “let’s go ...”
They slipped through the doorway behind them and down a tightly spiralling stone staircase. As they reached the bottom of it, they heard voices. They flattened themselves against the wall and listened.
“Let's hope no one notices you,” Luna said.
It sounded like Fudge and Snape. They were walking quickly along the corridor at the foot of the staircase.
“... only hope Dumbledore’s not going to make difficulties,” Snape was saying.
“Oh, he's not making difficulties,” Hermione said. “He's just making sure that you won't get what you want.”
“Hey, do you think Dumbledore realizes what Snape was planning?” Cedric said.
“It's possible,” Hermione said. “I mean, that could be why he was so willing to have us keep Buckbeak and Sirius from dying, because he somehow knew that truth. Or, since we've already sussed out that we were already going to do this anyway it's possible that we did so without his prompting the first time, and he decided that he wanted to be able to have credit with that. Of course, chances are, it's probably the first one.”
“Yeah, I think your definitely being paranoid with the latter,” Cedric said.
“The Kiss will be performed immediately?”
“As soon as Macnair returns with the Dementors. This whole Black affair has been highly embarrassing. I can’t tell you how much I’m looking forward to informing the Daily Prophet that we’ve got him at last ... I daresay they’ll want to interview you, Snape ... and once young Harry’s back in his right mind, I expect he’ll want to tell the Prophet exactly how you saved him ...”
“I would never say anything positive about Snape, even with the threat of death hanging over me,” Harry said coldly.
Harry clenched his teeth. He caught a glimpse of Snape’s smirk as he and Fudge passed Harry and Hermione’s hiding place.
“At least they didn't see you,” Luna said.
Their footsteps died away. Harry and Hermione waited a few moments to make sure they’d really gone, then started to run in the opposite direction.
“Let's hope that it's a straight shot,” Hermione said.
“Somehow, I don't think that we'll be that lucky,” Harry said.
Down one staircase, then another, along a new corridor – then they heard a cackling ahead.
“Peeves,” Cedric said.
“Peeves!” Harry muttered, grabbing Hermione’s wrist. “In here!”
They tore into a deserted classroom to their left just in time. Peeves seemed to be bouncing along the corridor in tearing spirits, laughing his head off.
“Oh, he's horrible,” Hermione said, frowning.
“Oh, he’s horrible,” whispered Hermione, her ear to the door. “I bet he’s all excited because the Dementors are going to finish Sirius ...”
“Or, he just did something and is laughing about the situation he's just caused,” Cedric said. “Unless he was hanging around and listening in on what was going on, there is no way we can safely say just why he is doing that. Of course, chances are that it is the situation with Sirius that is causing it.”
She checked her watch. “Three minutes, Harry!”
“”We're cutting it pretty close,” Hermione said, sounding beyond nervous.
They waited until Peeves’s gloating voice had faded into the distance, then slid back out of the room and broke into a run again.
“Hermione – what’ll happen – if we don’t get back inside – before Dumbledore locks the door?” Harry panted.
“Personally, I'd rather not think about it,” Hermione said.
“I don’t want to think about it!” Hermione moaned, checking her watch again. “One minute!”
They had reached the end of the corridor with the hospital-wing entrance.
“Meaning that we're almost there,” Hermione said, sounding relieved.
“OK – I can hear Dumbledore,” said Hermione tensely.
“Which means that you probably want to quiet down a bit, so that you don't hear yourselves in the hospital wing,” Cedric said.
“I don't think they'll really need it,” Luna said. “Chances are that the present time them, the ones that are about to make the turn, are more concerned with what they're doing than listening to anything else.”
“Come on, Harry!”
They crept along the corridor. The door opened. Dumbledore’s back appeared.
“I am going to lock you in,” they heard him saying. “It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.”
Dumbledore backed out of the room, closed the door and took out his wand to magically lock it.
“And I think it's a good idea to make sure that doesn't happen,” Cedric said.
Panicking, Harry and Hermione ran forwards. Dumbledore looked up, and a wide smile appeared under the long silver moustache. “Well?” he said quietly.
“We did it!” said Harry breathlessly. “Sirius has gone, on Buckbeak ...”
Dumbledore beamed at them.
“And that was exactly what he wanted you to do,” Luna said.
“Well done. I think –“ he listened intently for any sound within the hospital wing.
“Got to make sure that your gone before you go bursting in there,” Cedric said.
“Yes, I think you’ve gone, too. Get inside – I’ll lock you in –“
Harry and Hermione slipped back inside the dormitory.
“And, of course, it'll be empty because you just arrive in time to make it seem like there isn't a pause between you and your other selves, who are now gone,” Luna said.
“Meaning we can refer to ourselves as ourselves,” Hermione said.
It was empty except for Ron, who was still lying motionless in the end bed. As the lock clicked behind them, Harry and Hermione crept back to their own beds, Hermione tucking the Time-Turner back under her robes.
“So there is no way for it to appear otherwise,” Harry said.
Next moment, Madam Pomfrey had come striding back out of her office.
“Did I hear the Headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?”
“I think that it's better to just do what she wants you to without arguing,” Cedric said. “She doesn't seem like she's in a good mood.”
She was in a very bad mood. Harry and Hermione thought it best to accept their chocolate quietly. Madam Pomfrey stood over them, making sure they ate it.
“I doubt that's the only reason for it,” Luna said.
But Harry could hardly swallow. He and Hermione were waiting, listening, their nerves jangling ... And then, as they both took a fourth piece of chocolate from Madam Pomfrey, they heard a distant roar of fury echoing from somewhere above them …
“I wonder how many people were awoken from that,” Cedric said.
“What was that?” said Madam Pomfrey in alarm.
Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the door.
“Really – they’ll wake everybody up! What do they think they’re doing?”
“I have the feeling that Snape is on his way to accuse you,” Luna said.
“Which will only make him look unbalanced, because there is not way, logically, that you could have helped him escape,” Cedric said, smiling lightly while he tried not to laugh. He liked the idea of Snape looking like an idiot, particularly in front of the Minister, and after being told he might get an award for it, too. It was just was he deserved for not only purposely trying to get both Black and Professor Lupin killed, but for also telling the Minister that Harry and Hermione had been confunded so that anything they said was considered to be a lie.
Harry was trying to hear what the voices were saying. They were drawing nearer –
“He must have Disapparated,”
“It's not possible to Disapparate in the castle, except for the few apparation lessons that take place in the Great Hall sixth year,” Cedric said.
“Severus, we should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out –“
“He'll probably be both a laughing stock and be blamed for letting a criminal get away,” Luna said.
“HE DIDN’T DISAPPARATE!” Snape roared, now very close at hand. “YOU CAN’T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS – HAS – SOMETHING – TO – DO – WITH – POTTER!”
“You know, I it wasn't true, I'd have to say that he's the type to be a crying wolf person,” Hermione said.
“What?” Luna asked, while Cedric had a look that suggested that he was also wondering what she was talking about.
“Crying wolf,” Hermione repeated. Luna and Cedric still had the clueless looks on their faces, so she elaborated. “It's a story, where a kid who looks after sheep is bored one day, and says that there's a wolf after the sheep, which roused all the men from the village to come and fight off the supposed wolf. They're understandably angry when they learn that it was fake, and the the kid was laughing at it. Next day, he does it again. Not all the men come, but quite a few do and once again, they're angry when it turns out to be fake once again. The third, a real wolf does come, but, because of his 'fake cries' the previous two days, when he cried out wolf again, no one believes him, and he ends up killed when trying to protect the sheep from it, because no one else came.
“I'm wondering if Snape is like that or not, because of the way he just assumes that it's Harry who did something, even without any proof. I mean, I wouldn't be surprised if he did it even if Harry was completely unconscious the entire time. This, of course, makes me wonder just what else he may or may not blame Harry for.”
“If he is the type to do that, then I have the feeling that anything that goes wrong gets blamed on Harry,” Luna said.
“So, he basically does what my relatives do,” Harry said. “Lovely.”
“Severus – be reasonable – Harry has been locked up –“
“At least the minister has some brains,” Hermione said.
BAM.
The door of the hospital wing burst open.
“I have the feeling that Madam Pomfrey is not going to be happy to have this happen,” Harry said.
“Oh, she most likely won't,” Cedric said.
Fudge, Snape and Dumbledore came striding into the ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm.
“Considering that he knows what's going on, it makes sense,” Luna said.
Indeed, he looked as though he was quite enjoying himself.
“For some reason, I get the feeling that he likes one upping the minister in this,” Luna said.
“That, or he just thinks the show is fun to watch,” Hermione mentioned.
Fudge appeared angry. But Snape was beside himself.
“OUT WITH IT, POTTER!” he bellowed. “WHAT DID YOU DO?”
“I did nothing,” Harry said, smirking at the others, who were laughing at his words.
“See here, Snape, be reasonable,” said Fudge. “This door’s been locked, we just saw –“
“ - that,” Luna finished.
“It doesn't quite say that, but I'm sure that's along the lines of what he was going to say anyway,” Hermione said.
“THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!” Snape howled, pointing at Harry and Hermione.
“It's sad how he knows that it's true, but there is nothing that can be down to show that little fact,” Hermione said, though her tone suggested that she didn't believe it to be sad at all.
His face was twisted, spit was flying from his mouth.
“So, in other words, he looks insane,” Cedric said.
“YOU DON’T KNOW POTTER!” shrieked Snape. “HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT –“
“Yeah, that definitely sounds like a 'crying wolf' sort of person,” Hermione said, rolling her eyes.
“I have the feeling that he doesn't know that you have a time turner, otherwise he would probably mention it,” Cedric said.
“That, or he just doesn't remember that you have it,” Luna said.
“That will do, Severus,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago.”
“And that right there will probably be the the reason why Snape will stop his complaining and shouting,” Cedric said.
“Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?”
“Of course not!” said Madam Pomfrey, bristling. “I’ve been with them ever since you left!”
“Now, that's not completely true,” Luna said. “There was a minute or two between when Dumbledore left and when she came into the room.”
“Not enough time for anyone to help Sirius escape, though,” Harry said.
“True,” Luna agreed.
“Well, there you have it, Severus,” said Dumbledore calmly. “Unless you are suggesting that Harry and Hermione are able to be in two places at once,”
The fact that the two were indeed in two places at once had the four readers laughing up a storm.
“What a way to rub it in,” Hermione said, shaking her head as she did her best to calm down.
“And, since it's unlikely that Snape knows you have the time-turner, Snape won't understand that Dumbledore's doing that,” Cedric said, as he calmed down.
“I’m afraid I don’t see any point in troubling them further.”
“And it's probably that Madam Pomfrey just might end up attempting murder on Snape if he continues to disturb her peaceful Hospital Wing and it's patients,” Cedric added.
Snape stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behaviour, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses.
“I think he's finally understanding just how unbalanced he seems to be at the moment,” Luna said.
“I have to wonder if, somehow, Dumbledore didn't warn him in a way as well, though,” Hermione said. “I mean, with the way Snape immediately stops speaking once Dumbledore does, it feels as if there's some reason for it.”
Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the ward.
“Fellow seems quite unbalanced,” said Fudge, staring after him.
“And, somehow, I don't think you'll actually do anything but say that,” Harry said.
“I’d watch out for him, if I were you, Dumbledore.”
“Apparently, your not that far off the mark,” Luna said.
“Considering that it's Dumbledore that gave him the job, then I'd say that Dumbledore will just ignore that, or say something to defend him,” Cedric said.
“Oh, he’s not unbalanced,” said Dumbledore quietly. “He’s just suffered a severe disappointment.”
“I really hope my book self is disgusted at hearing that,” Harry said. Hermione would have said the same thing, but she really had no way of knowing how her book self was feeling without it saying, and, from what she could see, she doubted either her or Harry would really take notice of it. Still, she mentally made a note to put it down, as it would most likely either make Fudge ignore how unsuitable Snape was, or distract Fudge from that fact by the subtle mention of the fact that it wasn't just Snape who was suffering a disappointment. And, as she went to continue the chapter, she saw that it was the latter of the two.
“He’s not the only one!” puffed Fudge. “The Daily Prophet’s going to have a field day! We had Black cornered and he slipped through our fingers yet again! All it needs now is for the story of that Hippogriff’s escape to get out, and I’ll be a laughing stock! Well ... I’d better go and notify the Ministry ...”
“So he was completely distracted by what Dumbledore said,” Harry said, shaking his head. “I guess it doesn't say what our reaction to all this is, though?” He looked at Hermione as he asked this, and she shook her head. “Shame,” he muttered.
“I wonder, exactly, just how many people know about Buckbeak and his staged trial,” Cedric said.
“Somehow, I wouldn't be surprised if Malfoy and his father all made sure everyone knew what was going on, meaning that they'll most likely end up being embarrassed because of the fact that what they wanted to happen didn't,” Luna said.
“And the Dementors?” said Dumbledore. “They’ll be removed from the school, I trust?”
“They better be,” Harry said, wide eyed. “If he doesn't, I will, hopefully, refuse to stay at that school so long as they're there.”
“I have no doubt that he won't do it,” Cedric said. “After all, I wouldn't put it past anyone to let it get out that they tried to murder you. Of course, if he didn't, perhaps you can let it get out, since it would most likely cause people to boot Fudge out of the office.”
“That's true,” Hermione said. “I mean, you're certainly popular enough at the moment so that it can happen.”
“Oh, yes, they’ll have to go,” said Fudge, running his fingers distractedly through his hair. “Never dreamed they’d attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy ...”
“I'm sorry, but exactly what control over them does he have,” Hermione said. “From the way they've been described, it's something that kind of obvious that they would attempt.”
“Yeah, they don't sound all that innocent,” Harry added. “I honestly don't think that they should even be allowed to guard the prison, at least, not the way they're said to be guarding it.”
“Yeah, I can understand having regular, deserving it murderers like Pettigrew, but for holding someone, like what they did to Hagrid, that's just overkill,” Hermione said.
“completely out of control ... No, I’ll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight. Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance ...”
“Hagrid would like that, though I doubt any of the parents would agree with it,” Luna said.
“Hagrid would like that,” said Dumbledore, with a swift smile at Harry and Hermione.
“Yeah, I think it's easy to understand that we know that all to well,” Harry said.
As he and Fudge left the dormitory, Madam Pomfrey hurried to the door and locked it again.
“No one else is going to be getting in there, then,” Hermione said.
“I really think it's best if you just stay in bed and wait for her to dismiss you at this moment in time,” Cedric said.
Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.
There was a low moan from the other end of the ward. Ron had woken up.
“Wow, what perfect timing,” Hermione said, obviously joking as she did. She wasn't saying it to be mean or anything; since they had no clue what Pettigrew hit Ron with, they really didn't know how long he'd be out after being fixed up.
They could see him sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around.
“You know, I just realized that, because he was so out of it, he's going to be so confused,” Harry said.
“Somehow, I think Hermione is going to be the one who gets stuck explaining everything that happened to him,” Cedric said. “I can just see you doing that to her.” The last bit was said towards Harry.
“She'd probably explain it better than I would, plus it's her Time-turner,” Harry said. The others laughed at that; the way he said it made it sound as if that was all that mattered.
“What – what happened?” he groaned. “Harry? Why are we in here? Where’s Sirius? Where’s Lupin? What’s going on?”
Harry and Hermione looked at each other.
“You explain,” said Harry, helping himself to some more chocolate.
“I just knew that he'd delegate the task to you,” Cedric said, laughing a bit.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing at noon next day, it was to find an almost deserted castle.
“With exams done, people are probably taking advantage of the weather outside,” Cedric said. “Plus, it's probably the last Hogsmeade weekend as well.”
The sweltering heat and the end of the exams meant that everyone was taking full advantage of another Hogsmeade visit.
“Somehow, I don't think that any of you have gone,” Cedric said, in reference to Harry, Hermione, and Ron.
Neither Ron nor Hermione felt like going, however, so they and Harry wandered into the grounds, still talking about the extraordinary events of the previous night and wondering where Sirius and Buckbeak were now.
“Probably as far as they possibly can be,” Hermione said. “I have no doubt that they're smart enough to do that, considering what their status is.”
Sitting near the lake, watching the giant squid waving its tentacles lazily above the water, Harry lost the thread of the conversation as he looked across to the opposite bank. The stag had galloped towards him from there just last night …
“I wonder how long you'll be thinking about that for,” Hermione said.
“I wonder how long the fact that you were almost able to escape the Dursleys is going to weigh on you,” Luna said.
“Probably for a while,” Harry said.
A shadow fell across them and they looked up to see a very bleary-eyed Hagrid, mopping his sweaty face with one of his tablecloth-sized handkerchiefs and beaming down at them.
“He's probably so happy that Buckbeak escaped that he spent the entire night celebrating,” Hermione said.
“Know I shouldn’ feel happy, after wha’ happened las’ night,” he said.
“I'm guessing that that's a point towards Sirius escaping, and has nothing to do with Buckbeak,” Harry said.
“I mean, Black escapin’ again, an’ everythin’ – but guess what?”
“What?” they said, pretending to look curious.
“It makes sense, since you already know what happened,” Cedric said.
“Beaky! He escaped! He’s free! Bin celebratin’ all night!”
“That’s wonderful!” said Hermione, giving Ron a reproving look because he looked as though he was close to laughing.
“And that would most likely lead to awkward questions about what happened,” Luna said. “Since I can't see there being anything funny about Buckbeak escaping.”
“Yeah ... can’t’ve tied him up properly,” said Hagrid,
“And I doubt that he actually cares about the fact, either,” Hermione said.
gazing happily out over the grounds. “I was worried this mornin’, mind ... thought he mighta met Professor Lupin in the grounds, but Lupin says he never ate anythin’ las’ night ...”
“What?” Cedric asked.
“Do you think that Hagrid knows what Professor Lupin is?” Hermione said.
“I have the feeling that he does,” Luna said. “The question to ask is how long has he known.”
“I wouldn't be surprised if they don't happen to mention it,” Hermione said. “I don't think how long Hagrid's known about Professor Lupin is all that relevant to the story, after all.”
“What?” said Harry quickly.
“Blimey, haven’ yeh heard?” said Hagrid, his smile fading a little. He lowered his voice, even though there was nobody in sight. “Er – Snape told all the Slytherins this mornin’ ...”
“Bastard,” Harry said. Hermione frowned. She had the feeling that Snape would have told everyone about this months ago, but didn't because he was told not to. She supposed that the fact that Sirius was able to escape causing him to do that, but, somehow, she had the feeling that there was some kind of outside influence causing it, like Dumbledore saying it was alright – a sort of concession for the fact that he didn't get what he wanted. Or, maybe, she was just being paranoid. It was just the fact that Dumbledore seemed to hold quite a bit of power of Snape, enough that Hermione had a feeling that Snape didn't really do anything that Dumbledore told him not to do.
“thought everyone’d know by now ... Professor Lupin’s a werewolf, see. An’ he was loose in the grounds las’ night. He’s packin’ now, o’ course.”
“As much as I hate to admit it, it makes sense that he would,” Cedric said. “Not only does the fact that he could have hurt any of you, but, as you mentioned previously, people are kind of prejudice against him for being that way. Since it's obviously gotten out, it's most likely that parents themselves will be demanding his resignation.”
“He’s packing?” said Harry, alarmed. “Why?”
“Leavin’, isn’ he?” said Hagrid, looking surprised that Harry had to ask.
“I would think that Hagrid would know better than to believe that Harry has prejudices against Professor Lupin,” Hermione said, shaking her head.
“Resigned firs’ thing this mornin’. Says he can’ risk it happenin’ again.”
“So he resigned before anyone could demand it of him. That's good, at least,” Cedric said. “It means that it's less likely that it will happen again and all.”
Harry scrambled to his feet.
“I’m going to see him,” he said to Ron and Hermione.
“I don't think that they'll be anything you can do,” Hermione said.
“I still want to see him,” Harry said.
“But if he’s resigned –“
“– doesn’t sound like there’s anything we can do –“
“I don’t care. I still want to see him. I’ll meet you back here.”
“The last two are pretty much what you two just said,” Cedric said. “Only difference is that, in the book, whoever said the former said 'we' instead of 'you'.”
Lupin’s office door was open. He had already packed most of his things. The Grindylow’s empty tank stood next to his battered old suitcase, which was open and nearly full. Lupin was bending over something on his desk,
“My guess is that it's the Marauder's Map,” Luna said.
and only looked up when Harry knocked on the door.
“I saw you coming,” said Lupin, smiling.
“And that confirms it,” Cedric said.
He pointed to the parchment he had been poring over. It was the Marauder’s Map.
“I just saw Hagrid,” said Harry. “And he said you’d resigned. It’s not true, is it?”
“I have the feeling that it unquestionably is,” Luna said.
“I’m afraid it is,” said Lupin. He started opening his desk drawers and taking out the contents.
“Why?” said Harry. “The Ministry of Magic don’t think you were helping Sirius, do they?”
“I have the feeling that he would have been arrested if that actually happened,” Hermione said.
“She is right,” Cedric said. “I mean, with the way the Ministry was acting, I wouldn't be surprised if that was true.”
Lupin crossed to the door and closed it behind Harry.
“No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives.” He sighed. “That was the final straw for Severus. I think the loss of the Order of Merlin hit him hard. So he – er – accidentally let slip that I am a werewolf this morning at breakfast.”
“So he didn't actually just tell the Slytherins as Hagrid said, he pretty much told the whole school,” Luna said.
“Actually, he could have just told the Slytherins,” Cedric said. “It's probably just the fact that it was in the morning, and as they were going to breakfast when he told them.”
“You’re not leaving just because of that!” said Harry.
“No, I have a feeling it's because he already knows what's going to come if he doesn't leave,” Cedric said.
Lupin smiled wryly.
“This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents – they will not want a werewolf teaching their children, Harry. And after last night, I see their point. I could have bitten any of you ... that must never happen again.”
“So, it's a mixture of what might have happened, along with what will probably happen within the next few days,” Luna murmured.
“You’re the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher we’ve ever had!” said Harry.
“Unfortunately, that won't be enough to change his mind,” Cedric said.
“Don’t go!”
Lupin shook his head and didn’t speak. He carried on emptying his drawers. Then, while Harry was trying to think of a good argument to make him stay,
“I have the feeling that Professor Lupin is going to do something to distract you from doing that,” Cedric said.
Lupin said, “From what the Headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry. If I’m proud of anything, it’s how much you’ve learned. Tell me about your Patronus.”
“How does he know about that?” Harry asked.
“One, Dumbledore probably told him what you and Hermione did to save Sirius, and two, considering how much he's been drilling it into your head to use, He probably would be disappointed if you hadn't at least tried to produce one,” Luna said. “Plus, we know that he saw the one that was done at the Quidditch match. He probably was somehow able to measure how powerful you were based on that.”
“How d’you know about that?” said Harry, distracted.
“What else could have driven the Dementors back?”
Harry told Lupin what had happened. When he’d finished, Lupin was smiling again.
“He's probably proud of you for having figured it out,” Luna said. “And without having to be told, too.”
“Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed,” he said. “You guessed right ... that’s why we called him Prongs.”
“We probably should have realized that his Marauder name had to do with his animal,” Harry said. “All the others do, after all.”
Lupin threw his last few books into his case, closed the desk drawers and turned to look at Harry.
“Here – I brought this from the Shrieking Shack last night,” he said, handing Harry back the Invisibility Cloak.
“I forgot that he had grabbed it,” Harry said.
“And ...” he hesitated, then held out the Marauder’s Map, too.
“As he's no longer your teacher, he probably doesn't feel all that guilty for giving that back to you,” Cedric said.
“I'm sure I'll find it immensely useful,” Harry said.
“I am no longer your teacher, so I don’t feel guilty about giving you this back as well. It’s no use to me, and I daresay you, Ron and Hermione will find uses for it.”
“We most likely will,” Hermione said.
Harry took the map and grinned.
“You told me Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs would’ve wanted to lure me out of school ... you said they’d have thought it was funny.”
“They most likely would have,” Cedric said.
“They, well, your father for the most part, probably would have been a bit disappointed if you never found a secret passage out of the castle,” Hermione added, before turning back to the book, grinning as she read the next sentences to herself before reading them out loud.
“And so we would have done,” said Lupin, now reaching down to close his case. “I have no hesitation in saying that James would have been highly disappointed if his son had never found any of the secret passages out of the castle.”
“I don't think there is a probably about it,” Luna said.
“Yeah, Professor Lupin most likely knows him well enough that he can be sure about what he says about your father,” Hermione said.
There was a knock on the door. Harry hastily stuffed the Marauder’s Map and the Invisibility Cloak into his pocket.
“Yeah, you really don't want anyone to see those,” Cedric said.
It was Professor Dumbledore.
“Oh, I have the feeling that it's okay if he does, though,” Luna said.
“Yeah, considering that he gave the Invisibility Cloak to you, it would make sense if he doesn't care if he saw them,” Hermione said.
He didn’t look surprised to see Harry there.
“I suppose, considering how close you two are, it makes sense that he'd expect you to be there,” Luna said.
“Your carriage is at the gates, Remus,” he said.
“Thank you, Headmaster.”
Lupin picked up his old suitcase and the empty Grindylow tank.
“Well – goodbye, Harry,” he said, smiling. “It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we’ll meet again some time.”
“He better not just drop completely out of your life,” Hermione said threateningly.
“Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage ...”
Harry had the impression that Lupin wanted to leave as quickly as possible.
“Most likely,” Cedric said. “He probably hoping not to draw a lot of attention to himself, since some people will probably be uncomplimentary toward him.
“Goodbye, then, Remus,” said Dumbledore soberly. Lupin shifted the Grindylow tank slightly so that he and Dumbledore could shake hands. Then, with a final nod to Harry, and a swift smile, Lupin left the office.
“I'm going to hate that he's gone,” Harry said.
Harry sat down in his vacated chair, staring glumly at the floor. He heard the door close and looked up. Dumbledore was still there.
“Why so miserable, Harry?” he said quietly. “You should be very proud of yourself after last night.”
“He is right about that,” Luna said.
“It didn't make much of a difference, though,” Harry said. “Pettigrew still got away.”
“But you save two innocent creatures from a terrible fate,” Hermione said, well aware of the fact that she was using Dumbledore's words, which were coming up soon.
“And don't forget, you wouldn't have been able to stop Pettigrew from escaping, due to the prophecy Trelawney gave,” Luna added. “In fact, had you tried, it might have resulted in an actual death of someone.”
Harry nodded, though he still didn't feel happy to know that Pettigrew got away.
“It didn’t make any difference,” said Harry bitterly. “Pettigrew got away.”
“Didn’t make any difference?” said Dumbledore quietly. “It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate.”
Terrible. Something stirred in Harry’s memory. Greater and more terrible than ever before ... Professor Trelawney’s prediction!
“Ah, you're just remembering about that,” Cedric said.
“That's right, you never got to tell Ron and I about it,” Hermione added. “I forgot about that.”
“Professor Dumbledore – yesterday, when I was having my Divination exam, Professor Trelawney went very – very strange.”
“You'll have to be a little more specific, since she's always strange,” Luna said. “At least, that's how it sounds like.”
“Indeed?” said Dumbledore. “Er – stranger than usual, you mean?”
“Lucky you, he knew what you meant,” Cedric said.
“Yes ... her voice went all deep and her eyes rolled and she said ... she said Voldemort’s servant was going to set out to return to him before midnight ... she said the servant would help him come back to power.”
“And, of course, it's partially proven to be true, since Pettigrew did escape,” Luna said.
Harry stared up at Dumbledore. “And then she sort of became normal again, and she couldn’t remember anything she’d said. Was it – was she making a real prediction?”
Dumbledore looked mildly impressed.
“I have a feeling that he's slightly surprised to learn that it's true,” Cedric said.
“Do you know, Harry, I think she might have been,” he said thoughtfully. “Who’d have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two.”
“So she's made another?” Hermione said, sounding surprised.
“I wonder...” Cedric said, adopting a thinking face, before shaking his head.
“What?” Harry asked.
“Well, I would like to say Dumbledore wouldn't keep someone like her around considering what she does to the students, but, well, considering the fact that he keep Snape there, I can't really say that,” Cedric said. “However, I was just thinking that, perhaps, him keeping her there had something to do with the fact that he probably heard her first real prediction, which makes me wonder what it is.”
“You think he's keeping her there, not because she's a good teacher, but because she just might have done something that makes Dumbledore want to protect her, or keep her close, for some reason,” Hermione said,
“Yeah,” Cedric said. “Of course, the fact hat he keeps Snape around kind of throws that out of consideration. I mean, it's clear that he doesn't really care much about the quality of the school all that much.”
“Or him having Snape there is somewhat for the same reason that Trelawney is there,” Hermione said. “I mean, we don't know much about Snape at the moment to know what reasons for having him at the school are.”
“True,” Cedric said. “Which begs the question of what it is that Snape needs Dumbledore's protection for.”
A pensive look overcame all of their features for a moment before Hermione started reading the book once again.
“I should offer her a pay rise ...”
The four shook their head at him. She didn't need a pay rise for something like that. In all of their opinions, she should only get a pay rise if – and only if – she stopped telling people that they were going to die or have something horrible happen to them or someone around them.
“But –“ Harry looked at him, aghast. How could Dumbledore take this so calmly?
“But – I stopped Sirius and Professor Lupin killing Pettigrew! That makes it my fault, if Voldemort comes back!”
“No, it's not,” Hermione said. “Just because you stopped them from killing him doesn't mean that it's your fault. He probably would have found a way to escape before they did so, and, in the process, one of us could have gotten hurt.”
“It does not,” said Dumbledore quietly. “Hasn’t your experience with the Time-Turner taught you anything, Harry? The consequences of our actions are always so complicated, so diverse, that predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed ...”
“I'm not sure what, exactly, he means by that,” Hermione said.
“It obviously has to do with the Time-Turner,” Cedric said. “Other than that, though, I'm not sure what he means either.”
“Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that. You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrew’s life.”
“It doesn't quite feel very noble right now, partially because I'm remembering the prophecy now, and partially because he was able to escape,” Harry said.
“But if he helps Voldemort back to power –!”
“Pettigrew owes his life to you, though,” Cedric suddenly said, as if remembering something. “Meaning that he's in your debt, because you save his life. I don't remember exactly what that means for you exactly, but I do believe, if it's needed, you'll be able to have him help you out at some point. I'll not sure of how, though.”
“Pettigrew owes his life to you. You have sent Voldemort a deputy who is in your debt. When one wizard saves another wizard’s life, it creates a certain bond between them ... and I’m much mistaken if Voldemort wants his servant in the debt of Harry Potter.”
“I really don't think I want a bond with Pettigrew, no matter what the advantages might be,” Harry said.
“I don’t want a bond with Pettigrew!” said Harry. “He betrayed my parents!”
“This is magic at its deepest, its most impenetrable, Harry. But trust me ... the time may come when you will be very glad you saved Pettigrew’s life.”
“Hey, if it can help get Sirius in free and Pettigrew in jail, I definitely will be,” Harry said.
Harry couldn’t imagine when that would be. Dumbledore looked as though he knew what Harry was thinking.
“I knew your father very well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry,” he said gently. “He would have saved Pettigrew too, I am sure of it.”
“I have the feeling that, if they weren't that mad at him, both Professor Lupin and Sirius would probably have said that to you as well,” Luna said.
Harry looked up at him. Dumbledore wouldn’t laugh – he could tell Dumbledore ...
“Last night ... I thought it was my dad who’d conjured my Patronus. I mean, when I saw myself across the lake ... I thought I was seeing him.”
“An easy mistake to make,” said Dumbledore softly. “I expect you’re tired of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for your eyes ... you have your mother’s eyes.”
“I have to admit, I do wonder what else of your mother you have, because the way everyone makes it sound, you only have her eyes and nothing else,” Hermione said.
“That is kind of true,” Cedric said. “Other than they eyes, everyone keeps repeatedly saying that you're like your father.”
“Of course, the one who says that the most means it in a bad way,” Luna added.
Harry shook his head.
'I'm probably thinking that it's stupid to have thought it was him, since he's dead,” Harry said.
“It was stupid, thinking it was him,” he muttered. “I mean, I knew he was dead.”
“You think the dead we have loved ever truly leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly than ever in times of great trouble? Your father is alive in you, Harry, and shows himself most plainly when you have need of him. How else could you produce that particular Patronus? Prongs rode again last night.”
Harry smiled. While Dumbledore wasn't his most favourite person in the world right now, he had to admit that what he just said did make him feel a little better.
“I have the feeling that Sirius probably mentioned the fact that he and the others are/were an Animagi to him,” Cedric said.
It took a moment for Harry to realise what Dumbledore had said.
“Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi last night,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “An extraordinary achievement – not least, keeping it quiet from me. And then I remembered the most unusual form your Patronus took, when it charged Mr Malfoy down at your Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. So you did see your father last night, Harry ... you found him inside yourself.”
“That's going to confuse me,” Harry said.
“But it is true. You did see your father last night,” Hermione said.
And Dumbledore left the office, leaving Harry to his very confused thoughts.
Knew it Harry thought.
Nobody at Hogwarts knew the truth of what had happened the night that Sirius, Buckbeak, and Pettigrew had vanished except Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Professor Dumbledore. As the end of term approached, Harry heard many different theories about what had really happened,
“I doubt any of them even come close to the truth,” Hermione said.
but none of them came close to the truth.
Malfoy was furious about Buckbeak. He was convinced that Hagrid had found a way of smuggling the Hippogriff to safety, and seemed outraged that he and his father had been outwitted by a gamekeeper.
“And the funny thing is that they weren't,” Luna said.
“Yeah, they were outwitted by you two instead,” Cedric added.
“I'm kind of curious to know which of the choices seems worse to them,” Harry said.
Percy Weasley, meanwhile, had much to say on the subject of Sirius’ escape.
“If I manage to get into the Ministry, I’ll have a lot of proposals to make about Magical Law Enforcement!”
“I wish him luck on that,” Cedric said.
he told the only person who would listen – his girlfriend, Penelope.
Though the weather was perfect, though the atmosphere was so cheerful, though he knew they had achieved the near impossible in helping Sirius to freedom, Harry had never approached the end of a school year in worse spirits.
“Not only did you meet and then lose your godfather in a matter of hours, but you also have to deal with the fact that the best teacher you've had yet is leaving of his own free will because if he didn't, he'd be forced to leave,” Hermione said.
He certainly wasn’t the only one who was sorry to see Professor Lupin go. The whole of Harry’s Defence Against the Dark Arts class were miserable about his resignation.
“And I doubt that it's just your class,” Cedric added.
“Wonder what they’ll give us next year?” said Seamus Finnigan gloomily.
“Maybe a vampire,” suggested Dean Thomas hopefully.
“Does he want to meet a vampire?” Hermione asked, sounding confused.
It wasn’t only Professor Lupin’s departure that was weighing on Harry’s mind. He couldn’t help thinking a lot about Professor Trelawney’s prediction.
“I do have to wonder if you've told us about it yet,” Hermione said.
“I would imagine that I have by this point in time,” Harry said.
He kept wondering where Pettigrew was now, whether he had sought sanctuary with Voldemort yet. But the thing that was lowering Harry’s spirits most of all was the prospect of returning to the Dursleys. For maybe half an hour, a glorious half hour, he had believed he would be living with Sirius from now on ... his parents’ best friend ... it would have been the next best thing to having his own father back.
“I won't lie, I honestly don't think Sirius would be ready to take care of you at the time,” Hermione said. “I mean, no offense to him or anything, but when you consider the fact that he's been around the Dementor's for so long, it kind of means that he should at least spend some time with a doctor or two so that we can be sure that he's all right.”
And while no news of Sirius was definitely good news, because it meant he had successfully gone into hiding, Harry couldn’t help feeling miserable when he thought of the home he might have had, and the fact that it was now impossible.
“I'm sure that Sirius will still be able to help you somehow,” Hermione said.
The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Ron and Hermione had passed every subject. Harry was amazed that he had got through Potions. He had a shrewd suspicion that Dumbledore had stepped in to stop Snape failing him on purpose.
“I wouldn't be surprised,” Luna said.
Snape’s behaviour towards Harry over the past week had been quite alarming. Harry wouldn’t have thought it possible that Snape’s dislike for him could increase, but it certainly had done. A muscle twitched unpleasantly at the corner of Snape’s thin mouth every time he looked at Harry, and he was constantly flexing his fingers, as though itching to place them around Harry’s throat.
“And, of course, he'll still be allowed to keep his job for what I consider to be no good reason,” Cedric said.
Percy had got his top-grade N.E.W.Ts; Fred and George had scraped a handful of O.W.Ls each. Gryffindor house, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House Championship for the third year running. This meant that the end-of-term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated. Even Harry managed to forget about the journey back to the Dursleys next day as he ate, drank, talked and laughed with the rest.
“That's good,” Cedric said. “You should be able to enjoy it.”
“Well, I for one am glad that we actually won this year without any additional adventure points,” Hermione said.
“I'm glad that, though he was mentioned a bit, Riddle actually wasn't in this year,” Harry said.
As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station next morning, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news.
“You dropped another class, so you also turned in the Time-Turner,” Cedric said. “That's good for you.”
“I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I’ve decided to drop Muggle Studies.”
“I'm so not surprised that you dropped that class,” Luna said.
“But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty per cent!” said Ron.
“Which was probably mostly due to the fact that, as a Muggleborn, I didn't have to study half a much for the test,” Hermione said.
“I know,” sighed Hermione, “but I can’t stand another year like this one. That Time-Turner, it was driving me mad. I’ve handed it in. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I’ll be able to have a normal timetable again.”
“Which will be good for you,” Luna said.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell us about it,” said Ron grumpily. “We’re supposed to be your friends.”
“That doesn't mean that I have to tell you everything about me, or what I do,” Hermione said. “Plus, I promised I would tell anyone, and I prefer to be believed to be trustworthy.”
“I promised I wouldn’t tell anyone,” said Hermione severely. She looked around at Harry, who was watching Hogwarts disappear from view behind a mountain. Two whole months before he’d see it again …
“Your going to be very morose at the moment, aren't you?” Hermione said.
“Oh, cheer up, Harry!” said Hermione sadly.
“I’m OK,” said Harry quickly.
“No your not,” Hermione said.
“Just thinking about the holidays.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking about them, too,” said Ron. “Harry, you’ve got to come and stay with us. I’ll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I’ll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now –“
“It's a telephone,” Hermione said. “Honestly, he should take Muggle Studies.”
“He's not going to go for that,” Luna said.
“A telephone, Ron,” said Hermione. “Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year ...”
Ron ignored her.
“Not surprising,” Luna said.
“It’s the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it, Harry? Come and stay, and we’ll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work.”
This proposal had the effect of cheering Harry up a great deal.
“I would like to see that,” Harry said.
“Yeah ... I bet the Dursleys’d be pleased to let me come ... especially after what I did to Aunt Marge ...”
“I wonder if that's you being sarcastic or not,” Hermione said. “Particularly since I do not believe they'd be happy to let you go anywhere that would make you happy.”
She said that because she'd peeked at what the book said next, and was wondering why the Harry in the book would be considering that they'd be willing to treat him.
Feeling considerably more cheerful, Harry joined Ron and Hermione in several games of Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea trolley arrived, he bought himself a very large lunch, though nothing with chocolate in it.
“I'm not surprised about that,” Cedric said, “especially considering what you were fed during your stay in the Hospital Wing.”
But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up …
“I have the feeling that Sirius is going to finally get a letter to you,” Luna said.
“Harry,” said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder. “What’s that thing outside your window?”
Harry turned to look outside. Something very small and grey was bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. He stood up for a better look and saw that it was a tiny owl, carrying a letter which was much too big for it. The owl was so small, in fact, that it kept tumbling over in the air, buffeted this way and that in the train’s slipstream. Harry quickly pulled down the window, stretched out his arm and caught it. It felt like a very fluffy Snitch.
“If he did send the owl, then you must have not had that many choices about it,” Hermione said.
He brought it carefully inside. The owl dropped its letter onto Harry’s seat and began zooming around their compartment, apparently very pleased with itself for accomplishing its task. Hedwig clicked her beak with a sort of dignified disapproval. Crookshanks sat up in his seat, following the owl with his great yellow eyes. Ron, noticing this, snatched the owl safely out of harm’s way.
“I doubt my cat would have really attacked it,” Hermione said, frowning.
Harry picked up the letter. It was addressed to him. He ripped open the letter and shouted, ”It’s from Sirius!”
“Not surprising,” Hermione said.
“What?” said Ron and Hermione excitedly.
“Of course we're excited,” Hermione said. “We were worried about him as well, after all.”
“Read it aloud!”
Dear Harry,
I hope this finds you before you reach your aunt and uncle. I don’t know whether they’re used to owl post.
Buckbeak and I are in hiding. I won’t tell you where, in case this falls into the wrong hands. I have some doubt about the owl’s reliability, but he is the best I could find, and he did seem eager for the job.
I believe the Dementors are still searching for me, but they haven’t a hope of finding me here. I am planning to allow some Muggles to glimpse me soon, a long way from Hogwarts, so that the security on the castle will be lifted.
There is something I never got round to telling you during our brief meeting. It was I who sent you the Firebolt –
“So I was right,” Hermione said. “I was just wrong about the intention.”
“We already figured that it was possible,” Luna said.
“I know, this is just the confirmation,” Hermione said.
“Your book self is probably going to be extremely happy,” Cedric said.
“Ha!” said Hermione triumphantly. “See! I told you it was from him!”
“Yes, but he hadn’t jinxed it, had he?” said Ron.
“Well, considering the time when I got it, it's not like she would know that straight off the back,” Harry said.
“Ouch!”
The tiny owl, now hooting happily in his hand, had nibbled one of his fingers in what it seemed to think was an affectionate way.
“Probably bit too hard, then,” Cedric said.
Crookshanks took the order to the Owl Office for me. I used your name but told them to take the gold from Gringotts vault number seven hundred and eleven – my own. Please consider it as thirteen birthdays’ worth of presents from your godfather.
“So my cat actually helped a criminal. How nice,” Hermione said, though she sounded as if she was trying not to laugh about it.
I would also like to apologise for the fright I think I gave you, that night last year when you left your uncle’s house. I had only hoped to get a glimpse of you before starting my journey north, but I think the sight of me alarmed you.
I am enclosing something else for you, which I think will make your next year at Hogwarts more enjoyable.
If ever you need me, send word. Your owl will find me.
I’ll write again soon.
Sirius
“I wonder what it was that he gave you,” Luna said.
Harry looked eagerly inside the envelope. There was another piece of parchment in there. He read it through quickly and felt suddenly as warm and contented as though he’d swallowed a bottle of hot Butterbeer in one go.
“He probably gave you permission to let you go to Hogsmeade. As your godfather, he is allowed to do that,” Cedric said.
I, Sirius Black, Harry Potter’s godfather, hereby give him permission to visit Hogsmeade at weekends.
“That’ll be good enough for Dumbledore!” said Harry happily. He looked back at Sirius’ letter.
“Hang on, there’s a PS ...
I thought your friend Ron might like to keep this owl, as it’s my fault he no longer has a rat.
“It's not really his fault, though,” Luna said. “The rat should have never been there to begin with.”
“Ah, it's still a nice gesture, though,” Hermione said. “And I'm sure that Ron will like it.”
Ron’s eyes widened. The minute owl was still hooting excitedly.
“Keep him?” he said uncertainly. He looked closely at the owl for a moment, then, to Harry and Hermione’s great surprise, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff.
“I think I want to make sure that it's an owl, and not something else,” Luna said.
“Considering what his Rat turned out to be, it makes sense that he'd do that,” Hermione said.
“What d’you reckon?” Ron asked the cat. “Definitely an owl?”
Crookshanks purred.
“That’s good enough for me,” said Ron happily.
“At least he's being nicer to him,” Luna said.
“He’s mine.”
Harry read and re-read the letter from Sirius all the way back into King’s Cross station. It was still clutched tightly in his hand as he, Ron and Hermione stepped back through the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters. Harry spotted Uncle Vernon at once. He was standing a good distance from Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, eyeing them suspiciously, and when Mrs. Weasley hugged Harry in greeting, his worst suspicions about them seemed confirmed.
“Oh, dear, someone actually likes Harry,” Cedric said, rolling his eyes.
“I’ll call about the World Cup!” Ron yelled after Harry, as Harry bid him and Hermione goodbye,
“It might be better if he sends him a letter, actually,” Luna said.
then wheeled the trolley bearing his trunk and Hedwig’s cage towards Uncle Vernon, who greeted him in usual fashion.
“What’s that?” he snarled, staring at the envelope Harry was still clutching in his hand.
Harry suddenly got a wide smile on his face.
“What?” Cedric asked him when he saw it.
“As far as the Dursleys know, Sirius is a mass murderer,” Harry said.
“And the fact that you have a way to keep in touch with him...” Cedric started to say, also smiling as what it was that Harry was thinking about went through his mind as well.
“You're definitely bound to have a better summer than the previous ones,” Luna said.
“Good,” Hermione said. “It's what you deserve to have.”
“If it’s another form for me to sign, you’ve got another –“
“It’s not,” said Harry cheerfully.
“The fact that your so cheerful is going to have warning bells ringing in his mind,” Luna said.
“It’s a letter from my godfather.”
“Godfather?” spluttered Uncle Vernon. “You haven’t got a godfather!”
“Apparently I do,” Harry said brightly.
“Yes, I have,” said Harry brightly. “He was my mum and dad’s best friend. He’s a convicted murderer, but he’s broken out of wizard prison and he’s on the run. He likes to keep in touch with me, though ... keep up with my news ... check I’m happy ...”
“And, of course, you're completely missing the fact that he's innocent,” Hermione said.
“Hey, saying he actually is guilty will make them even more afraid,” Harry said.
“And, of course, the fact that you mention that he wants to keep in touch means that they can't try and make sure that you don't do that,” Cedric said.
“Whatever fear he's feeling right now is well deserved for him in my opinion,” Hermione said darkly.
And grinning broadly at the look of horror on Uncle Vernon’s face, Harry set off towards the station exit, Hedwig rattling along in front of him, for what looked like a much better summer than the last.
“That's the end of the book,” Hermione said, setting the book down.