Hermione's Secret (PA)
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Merlin
Harry listens intently to the exchange on the corridor outside the hospital wing, with his eyes closed; he feels groggy, and has a hard time understanding what's going on.
Fudge is thanking Snape for the latter's presence of mind and his actions against Sirius. The Minister believes an Order of Merlin—possibly First Class—is well underway. Severus mentions that the cut he sports was the handiwork of the Trio (PA19); he is of the opinion that Sirius used a Confundus Charm against the children.
"They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They weren't responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape... They obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-hande. They've got away with a great deal before now... I'm afraid it's given them a rather high opinion of themselves... and of course Poter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of license by the headmaster —"
"Ah, well, Snape... Harry Potter, you know... we've all got a bit of a blind spot where he's concerned," Fudge replies.
"And yet —" says Snape, "is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally, I try and treat him like any other student. And any other student would be suspended — at the very least — for leading his friends into such danger. Consider, Minister — against all school rules — after all the precautions put in place for his protection — out-of-bounds, at night, consorting with a werewolf and a murderer — and I have reason to believe he has been visiting Hogsmeade illegally too (PA14) —"
Cornelius acknowledges that Harry was foolish, and is stunned at the Dementors' behaviour; neither knows what made them retreat, especially considering everyone involved was unconscious by the time Snape came back to his senses. Severus bound and gagged Black, conjured stretchers, and brought everyone to the Hogwarts castle.
Harry opens his eyes, and sees Madam Pomfrey bending over Ron's bed. Hermione is on the bed to Harry's right, and signals for him to be quiet, pointing to the door. Poppy is carrying a huge block of chocolate, which she breaks apart with a small hammer. She tells them both that Ron will live, and that the pair will be confined to the hospital wing until she's satisfied.
The boy sits up, planning to go see the Dumbledore. "Potter," Pomfrey attempts to soothe him, "it's all right. They've got Black. He's locked away upstairs. The Dementors will be performing the kiss any moment now —"
Both children jump out of bed, outraged. The noise attracts Fudge and Snape.
"Harry, Harry, what's this? You should be in bed — has he had any chocolate?" the Minister asks Madam Pomfrey.
The boy tries to tell him that Sirius is innocent. Fudge ignores him with a small smile, convinced that Harry's been Confunded. Snape is of the same opinion, much to the two children's anger.
Madam Pomfrey irritably insists that Fudge and Snape leave her patients alone. She shuts Harry up by placing a large piece of chocolate on his mouth, and forces him back onto the bed.
Dumbledore
The door opens once more, and Dumbledore arrives. Harry swallows his chocolate and tries to tell his story to the headmaster. Madam Pomfrey is almost hysterical, but Albus states that he's been talking to Sirius, and needs to talk to Hermione and Harry now. Snape leers that Black has probably told him the same fairy tale: "Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive —"
"That, indeed, is Black's story," Dumbledore says, watching Snape closely.
Severus retorts that his own evidence should count: he did not see Peter anywhere on the Shrieking Shack. Hermione interrupts to mention that he was knocked out ("Miss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!"), and Fudge is a tad shockd at Snape's reaction to her statement.
Albus orders the other three adults to leave. Madam Pomfrey grudgingly obeys. Fudge consults his large gold pocket watch, says he will meet the Dementors upstairs now and leaves.
"You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?" Snape whispers, staring at Dumbledore's face. "Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen. You haven't forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?"
"My memory is as good as it ever was, Severus," Dumbledore replies.
Snape leaves. The two children hurriedly try to convince Albus of their story; he intervenes, saying, "It is your turn to listen, and I beg you not to interrupt me, because there is very little time. There is not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your word — and the word of two thirteen-year-old wizards will not convince anybody. A street full of eyewitnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry tha Sirius had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper.
"Professor Lupin is currently deep in the forest, unable to tell anyone anything. By the time he is human again, it will be too late, Sirius will be worse than dead. I might add that werewolves are so mistrusted by most of our kind that his support will count for very little — and the fact that he and Sirius are old friends —"
Dumbledore explains that Snape's version of the events is much more convincing. He adds that Sirius did not act like an innocent man, what with his attack on the Fat Lady (PA9) and his attempt to enter Gryffindor Tower with a knife (PA13); without Peter alive, it is impossible to change his sentence.
Nevertheless, Albus believes them; but he has no power to overrule the Minister for Magic.
"What we need," he says slowly, "is more time."
Hermione soon realises what he means.
"Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the seventh floor. Thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower. If it all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law — you know what is at stake... You — must — not — be — seen."
Harry is completely lost. Dumbledore walks back to the door, adding, "I am going to lock you in. It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."
Hermione pulls from the neck of her robes a very long, fine gold chain, and beckons Harry over.
Three turns
This chapter summary is not done yet. Please be patient.
Flight
Harry anxiously waits to see his father, but nothing happens. Suddenly he understands: it had been himself all along. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he yells, and a silver animal bursts from the tip of his wand. The form charges against the Dementors, driving them away.
When it canters back to Harry and bows its head, he sees that it is a stag; the boy realises the reason that his father had the nickname Prongs.
Hermione panics when she realises that Harry saw himself, but he calms her down. She is then stunned that he's managed to conjure that powerful a Patronus. "I knew I could do it this time because I'd already done it," he replies.
The pair watches as Snape awakes, conjures stretches and lifts the unconscious bodies of the rest of the party onto them. He takes them all to the castle with the use of his wand.
They wait for a while more. Suddenly, they notice that Macnair is going to get the dementors; it is time.
Harry helps Hermione onto Buckbeak and climbs up in front of her. He uses the ropes that had bound the hippogriff as reins, and they fly, much to the girl's panic; she clings tightly to Harry's waist. The boy tries to count the windows, but Buckbeak seems to know where to go; he stops by the correct window.
"Alohomora!" Hermione cries, opening it.
Sirius is shocked to see them there. Harry beckons him over in a hurry, and Black climbs up behind Hermione. "Okay, Buckbeak, up," Harry orders. "Up to the tower — come on."
They land at the top of the West Tower. The two children slide off, and Harry recommends that his godfather leave before the Dementors reach Flitwick's office. Sirius asks about Ron's well-being. The boy dismissively says his friend is fine. Before Sirius can thank the pair, they shout at him to leave.
"We'll see each other again," Sirius says, turning Buckbeak around. "You are — truly your father's son, Harry."
The hippogriff takes off, and they are gone.
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