Hermione had just awakened in the Hospital Wing, and the first thing she heard was Snape talking about Jake, "As a matter of fact, it was Fernandes, Minister... he attacked me when I had Black at wand-point."
" No! " The Minister said, rather surprised.
"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately... it was not their fault they were acting the way they did. It was a Confundus Charm, to judge by their behavior. 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-handed. 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 Potter 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 said.
"And yet - is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally I try to 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-"
"Well, well... we shall see, Snape, we shall see... the boy has undoubtedly been foolish..."
Hermione had her eyes shut tightly as she listened to them talk. Snape knew the truth, he had to, why was he saying they were Confunded?
"What amazes me most is the behavior of the Dementors ... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?" Fudge asked.
"No, Minister. By the time I had come round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances..." Snape said in his annoying drawl.
"Extraordinary... and yet Black, Harry, the girl, and Fernandes-"
"All unconscious by the time I reached them. Fernandes also must have been attacked by Black before then, because he had bruises on his chest and stomach when I checked him over. Minor cuts for the others. Naturally, I bound and gagged Black, conjured stretchers and brought them all straight back to the Castle," Snape said.
Hermione's eyes widened. She lay there, her breathing increasing in speed. 'Black didn't attack Jake... th-that means... was - was it Snape? That's the only logical solution... Dementors don't bruise people, they leave them with nothing Happy in their life... I swear to Merlin... if it was Snape-' she was brought from her thoughts when Madam Pomfrey walked up to them.
"Ah, you're both awake!" She said briskly. She placed some Chocolate on Hermione's and Harry's bedside table, breaking them into smaller pieces with small hammers.
"How's Ron?" She heard Harry ask.
"He'll live," she said, almost dismissively.
"How's Jake?" Hermione asked with fear in her voice.
Madam Pomfrey looked over to the far end of the Hospital Wing. Hermione followed her gaze and there he was, lying on a bed, asleep; tears escaped her eyes, "He took the worst of it, Miss Granger. Black did a serious number on him." Pomfrey turned back to them, "As for you two... you'll be staying here until I'm satisfied you're - Granger! Potter! What do you both think you're doing?"
Hermione got out of bed and immediately ran down to Jake, ignoring Madam Pomfrey's protest. Hermione missed much of what happened next, because she was trying to get Jake awake, "Please... please wake up... we need you, Jake... I need you..." Hermione did something she felt like she may regret, but she wanted it before anyone else got the chance to. She leaned down towards his face, planting a kiss on his lips; no one was going to be his First Kiss except for her. She felt bad for doing so while he was asleep, but she didn't feel that bad when she really thought about it.
She heard the door open again behind her and turned around to see Dumbledore enter the Hospital Wing, "Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black-"
"For heaven's sake!" Yelled Madam Pomfrey hysterically. "Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist-"
"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr. Potter and Miss Granger," said Dumbledore calmly. "I have just been talking to Sirius Black-"
"I suppose he's told you the same fairy tale he's planted in Potter's mind?" Spat Snape, "Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive-"
"That, indeed, is Black's story," said Dumbledore, surveying Snape closely through his half-moon spectacles. Hermione had by that point gotten up next to Harry, having moved from Jake's bed when her name was said.
"And does my evidence count for nothing?" Snarled Snape, "Peter Pettigrew was not in the Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him in the grounds."
"That was because you were knocked out," Hermione said, almost sounding dismissive. "You didn't arrive in time to hear-"
"Miss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!"
"Severus!" Dumbledore's voice ricocheted off the walls, staring at the Potions Professor as it did. Snape snarled again. "I would like to speak to Harry and Hermione alone," Dumbledore said as calmly as he could, "Cornelius, Severus, Poppy - please leave us."
"Headmaster!" Spluttered Madam Pomfrey, "They need treatment, they need rest-"
"This cannot wait, I must insist," Dumbledore said, which only angered Madam Pomfrey. She pursed her lips and strode away to her office, slamming the door shut behind her. Fudge consulted a large gold pocket watch dangling from his waistcoat.
"The Dementors should have arrived by now," he said, "I'll go and meet them. Dumbledore, I'll see you upstairs."
Snape however, did not leave, "You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?" Snape whispered, but where Hermione and Harry were close to Dumbledore, they heard him.
"I wish to speak to Harry and Hermione, alone," Dumbledore repeated.
"Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen," he breathed. "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," was all Dumbledore said, which was enough to cause Snape to turn heel and march towards the door.
Harry launched into explanation for the Headmaster, but Hermione knew how fruitless it was of an effort. She turned to look back to Jake, he was still lying there. She turned back when Harry stopped talking abruptly.
Dumbledore had his hand up, "It is your turn to listen, Harry, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there is very little time," he said quietly. "There is not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your word - and the words of a thirteen year old wizard and fourteen year old witch will not convince anybody. A street full of eye-witnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Potters' Secret Keeper."
"Professor Lupin can tell you-" Harry hadn't been able to stop himself.
"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 distrusted by most of our kind that his support will count for very little - and the fact that he and Sirius are old friends-"
"But-"
" Listen to me, Harry . It is too late, you understand me? You must see that Professor Snape's version of events is far more convincing than yours," Dumbledore said. "And besides, without Pettigrew, alive or dead, there would be no chance to overturn Sirius' sentence."
At those words, Hermione looked over and Harry's soul looked crushed. Even with Pettigrew dead, it would have proved that he hadn't murdered Pettigrew back then, the crime he'd been imprisoned for from the start.
"What we need," Dumbledore said slowly, leaning closer to Hermione, "is more time ."
"But-" She began, but realization hit her immediately, "OH!"
"Miss Granger, I was hoping that Mr. Fernandes would be awake for this, but it seems we will have to proceed without him," Dumbledore said and Hermione's eyes widened.
"No, you're not," a gravelly voice said behind her. She turned and saw Jake getting out of bed, grunting in pain and holding his stomach.
"Jake!" She rushed over to him, "Are you okay to walk?"
He slid off the bed, standing on his feet, a bit wobbly, "I don't have a choice," he eyed her carefully before walking with her to Dumbledore.
"Alright, this will make it a bit easier," Dumbledore said, "Now pay attention. Sirius is locked in Professor Flitwick's office on the Seventh Floor. Thirteenth Window from the right of the West Tower. If all goes well, you will be able to save more than one innocent life tonight. I don't have to remind you and Mr. Fernandes of this, Miss Granger, but I will reiterate anyway. You-must-not-be-seen . You know the law, what's at stake... for the essence of time, Harry, we will have to leave you in the dark about this. I am sorry," he turned to Harry for a brief moment, before walking to the doors slowly, "It is... five minutes to midnight, three turns should do it. I am going to lock you in. Good luck."
When the door latched shut, Hermione immediately pulled out the Time Turner, wrapped it around Jake and herself, listening to Harry's frantic questioning that would most likely never get answered. She turned it three times, and that familiar feeling wrapped around them in a dark blanket of sorts, sending them back in time. They found themselves in an Empty Hospital Wing, "Okay... what were we-" Hermione was about to ask.
"Hagrid's... we were going to Hagrid's," he answered and began to hurry as fast as he could. "Let me tell you," he started, grunting a bit, "moving with what I believe to be broken ribs is not fun. I'm surprised Pomfrey didn't fix them immediately."
'Damn you, Snape...' She thought. "I'm here if you need me," she offered as they walked to the Entrance Hall. They heard footsteps in front of them and Hermione quickly pushed Jake into a Broom Cupboard, closing it quickly behind her. It was a small one for sure. 'If we weren't so pressed for time...' she glanced at him and observed his closeness, 'I'd snog him senseless, and maybe do other thi-' she slapped her inner self. She looked at him, at how close he was to her, "Why do you think Dumbledore wanted us to go back to this time?"
"We can save more than one innocent life... he's talking about Buckbeak..." Jake said slowly.
"But how..." she trailed off and she couldn't hear the footsteps anymore, "Come on." They carefully exited the Cupboard, "So how is saving Buckbeak going to help Sirius?"
"Think about everything he told us, Sirius was on the Seventh Floor, Thirteenth Window from the West Tower. Only way we can get up there fast enough to save him is with Buckbeak," Jake explained.
"Of course, that makes total sense! If we can manage that without being seen, it'll be a miracle, Jake," she said to him.
He thought back to that light he saw just before losing consciousness, "We will," he said.
"What makes you so sure?"
He looked at her, his eye looking dead tired and bloodshot, "We don't have a choice. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw a blinding light on the opposite side of the lake, it must be what drove the Dementors off... it was a Corporeal Patronus... and I think-"
They were heading down the Stone steps when someone behind them was talking rather loudly. It sounded like Fudge, but there was no way they were already heading down to Hagrid's, not enough time passed.
They darted off to the side, and Jake grunted horribly. They moved along the treeline, careful to avoid drawing attention. When they got to Hagrid's Hut, they saw Buckbeak just laying there, "Okay... remember that they saw Buckbeak?" He asked her.
"Yeah, they have to see Buckbeak is there, or they'll think Hagrid set him free," Hermione saw where he was going. They went around back and saw their past selves in Hagrid's Hut through the window. "What were you about to say earlier?"
"It's not that important," he said, trying to play it off.
"Just tell me, please?" Hermione asked him, almost begging him.
"Well... the Patronus I saw... I think it was mine..." he said, realizing how ridiculous it actually sounded in his head, now that it was out in the open.
"What?" Hermione asked, but he'd have to save his explanation for later, because Dumbledore and the Ministry people were coming down the hill, "Why aren't we leaving?"
"Remember? Something caused me to see-" he started but Hermione had already picked up a rock. She threw it, pretty accurately, and shattered a milk jug. She picked up another and threw that one as well, pelting Jake right on the eye-patch. He reflexively put his hand up to his eye-patch, "Thankfully that didn't hurt."
"I'm so sorry! I didn't mean for that to-" she started.
"Doesn't matter, here we come!" He said urgently and moved Hermione back further into the treeline to avoid their past selves.
As they were hiding, Hermione couldn't help but notice something, "Has my hair always looked that bad from the back?"
Jake quickly pulled her back and behind the bush. Hermione knew her cheeks were red as Jake had his hands around her midsection. It was rough when he pulled her back, but it lessened into an almost sensual hold, Hermione thought. She closed her eyes, trying to keep her hormones in check as this was not the time for them. He suddenly let go of her, "Come on, Dumbledore and the Committee people are about to see Buckbeak."
She stood up with him and they approached their previous spot now that it was vacated. Fudge had seen Buckbeak, as did Macnair, the guy with the big axe. When they went inside, they approached Buckbeak, bowing before getting too close. He bowed back and let them approach him.
"Come on, Buckbeak, I'm gonna free you, okay?" Jake said and carefully undid the leash that was attached to the post. He pulled, but Buckbeak didn't budge, "Come on, you have to leave, they'll kill you if you don't!"
Still Buckbeak didn't budge. He was about to try pushing, as dumb as that sounded, when Hermione came from nowhere, dead Ferrets hanging off of her. She had one held out and Buckbeak stood up. She tossed it to him and he snatched it out of the air with ease.
At that moment, the door to Hagrid's Hut opened, and out walked everyone inside. Dumbledore came to their rescue by pointing out something on the opposite end of the grounds. Hermione shook another Ferret and they quickly led Buckbeak into the Forest. Behind them, they heard Macnair raging and heard his axe go into something, "Pumpkins..."
"What?" Hermione asked.
"That's what we saw, he wasn't killing Buckbeak, he was axing a Pumpkin," he said, walking deeper into the Forest.
"Are you saying... that this is an infinite loop?" She asked him.
"Of sorts, I believe," they walked along the Forest edge and found a place to settle where they could watch the events outside the Whomping Willow unfold. They tied Buckbeak to a tree, much to the annoyance of the Hippogriff. To placate him, Hermione gave him the remaining four Ferrets.
"Now we wait... it'll be a couple of hours until Sirius is in Flitwick's office," Hermione said, sitting down next to Jake. She rested her head on his arm and was glad when he didn't shrug her off, "What were you saying, earlier that is? You said you saw your Patronus?"
"Yeah... I've never cast a Corporeal Patronus before... but I clearly have in the future, just less than two hours from now," he explained, glad she couldn't see his reddened cheeks.
"Given what you said about this potentially being an infinite loop... it kind of makes sense..." she trailed off.
They sat there a while and saw that their past selves came to the tree, Ron raging at their pets, just as Sirius showed up as a Dog. He dragged Ron and soon after, Past Hermione, Harry and Jake all went down as well.
It wasn't long before Lupin showed up and went down beneath the tree as well, "If only he'd remembered his Potion, or picked up the Invisibility Cloak..." Jake sighed.
"Could have avoided that whole ordeal with Snape..." Hermione said, and when she said his name, she said it with venom laced in her voice.
"Why do you hate Snape all of a sudden? I mean, I know you never liked him before, but you're almost on my level of hate for him," Jake had noticed.
"He's the reason your ribs and stomach are hurting, I am almost sure of it," she was shaking as she lay against him, but not from the cold. Her blood was practically boiling with rage. She calmed after a while, when Snape finally showed up, picking up the Cloak, "I doubt the Minister will revoke your Adult Status, since Snape told him we were all Confunded... but he was surprised to hear about you attacking Snape," she explained.
"With Fudge, you just don't know... if I was Confunded, and that's what he believes, he doesn't have any probable cause to revoke it..." Jake sighed.
They fell silent again for a while, and their past selves should be coming out from under the Whomping Willow soon, "This summer... the World Cup will be happening..." she said as a Conversation starter.
"I'm excited for it. The moment I get to Diagon Alley, I'm buying a ticket for it. I'll buy you one, too, if you want?" He offered.
"Really? A-Are you sure?" She asked, not wanting to burden him with anything.
"Of course, I don't mind. I'm not extending that offer to anyone else, but it's there for you if you want to take it," he said just as past Hermione appeared, "It's almost showtime, we should go to the lake," he said and stood up, about to make his way to the lake.
"Wait," Hermione said, standing up as well.
"What?" He turned to her.
"I think I know who howled to save our lives," she said and turned to run a good distance away from soon to be Werewolf Lupin. Jake chased after her as best he could.
When he caught up to her, he stopped beside her. She suddenly howled when Lupin was about to attack them, "What are you doing?" He asked her.
"Saving our lives!" She howled again.
It worked and Lupin suddenly came charging in their direction, "It almost worked... Come on!" He yelled and grabbed her wrist, dragging her with him in the opposite direction of the Werewolf. They ran fast, faster than they thought they could, and hid around a tree, and it seemed to work, as they heard Lupin run right past them. Hermione peeked the corner, but saw nothing.
They suddenly heard a growling behind them. They turned and Lupin was standing about twenty feet away, "Professor, I don't want to hurt you!" Jake said, his eye beginning to glow red. Lupin didn't yield, "But I will if I have to!" He reached behind him and moved Hermione to directly behind him. The action caused Lupin to attack. He leaped at them, and Jake was close to hitting him with something, unsure if it would have actually done anything.
Before he got the chance to, a massive Eagle came out of nowhere, talons extended, and caught Lupin. The Eagle flew off and out of sight with the Professor, 'What the hell? That had to be someone who is an Animagus, but who?'
"Was that an Eagle?" Hermione asked frantically.
"No... it was an Animagus..." Jake said.
"That makes sense..." She agreed, "So who was it?"
"No idea," they heard a yelping and whining in the distance, "Sirius," Jake breathed out, "Get Buckbeak and meet me near the Lake's Edge opposite where we were!" He yelled and hurried off as fast as he could. He soon made it to the Lake's Edge just in time to see Hermione successfully cast a Patronus, "Nice job, Hermione..."
She came up behind him, re-tied Buckbeak to another tree and went to stand beside him, "What's just happened?"
"You just successfully cast a Non-Corporeal Patronus on your very first try. Very well done, Hermione," he said in praise.
"Oh... th-thank you... all I did was think of the time I saw you after I woke up from being Petrified... seeing you again... knowing that you solved it... that made me incredibly happy," Hermione revealed to him.
"Did it really?" He asked and she nodded. He turned back to the action unfolding before him. Hermione just fainted and not long after, Harry went down as well, trying desperately to ward the Dementors off. Jake had his wand clutched tightly in his hand. It was almost time.
"When are you going to do it?" He heard Hermione ask with a sense of urgency.
He didn't answer her, his eye was focused on the Dementors. One of them hovered over Hermione's limp form, and he realized it was about to perform it's infamous Kiss . He bounded forward, a flood of Happy Memories washed through him, and he raised his wand, " EXPECTO! PATRONUM! " He yelled and a blinding light was at the tip of his wand; he saw what his Corporeal Patronus was brightly and clearly; his Patronus was an Alligator. It jumped from his wand and landed in the Lake, swimming towards the Dementors. As it got closer, it leapt out of the water and began driving them back and away from them on the other side of the Lake.
When the Dementors were forced back to their posts, he saw Snape walking over to them and he ducked out of sight, watching the hated Professor. He soon found that Hermione had been right, and she was watching it unfold; Snape had started kicking him, hard in the stomach and chest. She still couldn't believe it, even though she was looking at it happening right in front of her, "Come on," she said, trying to get Jake away from the scene, and herself, because she couldn't stand to watch it any longer.
They went into the Forest with Buckbeak, "That..."
"That was amazing, Jake, what did you use for your Memory?" Hermione asked him.
He didn't say anything, but the Memories re-entered his mind: The first time he met Hermione back in Diagon Alley at Florean Fortescue's; Being placed in Gryffindor with Hermione; Seeing Hermione alive and well after awakening from her petrification; finding Hermione at Platform 9¾ at the start of this year; Getting to go with her to Hogsmeade and spend some time with her without worrying about schoolwork; Knowing that she was there for him all Year long, whenever he needed her; the Kiss she placed upon his lips just hours ago, and will be doing again, just before they walk back into the Hospital Wing. Every memory he used to conjure that Patronus was of Hermione. He couldn't deny it at that point if he still had any doubts, he was in love with his best friend, and cherished each moment they spent together, "I used You, for the Memory."
Hermione's cheeks burned with embarrassment, "Stop... that's not funny."
"I'm not laughing," he said, looking at her with his only eye. He then said something that hurt to say, but he had no choice, "You're my best friend, Hermione. Most, if not all, of my happiest memories involve you."
She smiled, but something inside her cracked, 'Best Friend... Of course,' she put up her best fake smile, 'I'm his best friend, of course he would use a memory with me in it.'
He looked back to the Castle, "Hermione! Sirius! We've got to go!" He said urgently and they both hopped on Buckbeak and, much to Hermione's complete dismay, flew Buckbeak into the air, making their way towards Hogwarts. The best thing about this was Hermione's arms being around him tightly, because she was afraid of falling off.
They flew to the Castle and hovered near the Thirteenth Window. Jake tapped the window and Sirius looked up at them in complete disbelief. Hermione had her wand out, " Alohomora !"
"How - how-?" Black began to ask.
"No time to explain, get on!" Jake said and he and Hermione helped Sirius through the window. When he was behind Hermione, Jake directed the Hippogriff, "Alright, Buckbeak, to the top of the tower!" He pulled the ropes and Buckbeak flew up there, landing when he arrived. Jake and Hermione got off and Sirius thanked them for everything they've done for him.
"Please, look out for Harry, he's going to need his friends with him in the coming years, I can feel it... you know... you both are easily the brightest Witch and Wizard of your age, and Jake, I'd say you're the most powerful Wizard of our time. If Voldemort has anyone to be afraid of, it's you," Sirius said with a genuine smile before thanking them again and flying away on Buckbeak.
They were finally out of sight when Jake and Hermione broke out into a run to make it back to the Hospital Wing before anyone aside from Dumbledore knew they had gone somewhere. They ran as quickly and quietly as they could, but had to hide when they came across Snape and Fudge, "-only hope Dumbledore's not going to make difficulties," they heard Snape saying, "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..." Fudge was heard saying. It was only when their footsteps died away completely that they left their hiding place and began to run again.
They saw Dumbledore's back as they ran down the Corridor, he pulled the door shut and turned to see them, "Professor, we did it... Sirius and Buckbeak... both saved..." Jake said, wheezing from pushing through the pain of his stomach and ribs.
"Well done. I think-" He listened for any sound within the Wing, "Yes, I think you've gone, too. Get inside - I'll lock you in-"
Jake and Hermione slipped back into the Hospital Wing to see a confused Harry, "Where - how did - what?"
"Get back in bed, now please," Hermione hissed at him. She got in bed, and she saw Jake at the far end of the room, getting back into his bed and pretending to be asleep.
Madam Pomfrey had the most perfect timing and came out of her office, "Did I hear the Headmaster leave? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?" She was in a very bad mood, and even though Harry didn't know what just happened, he thought it best to do as Hermione said. "Fernandes got the worst of it, Black did a real number on him," Pomfrey said as Hermione quietly ate her chocolate. Hermione knew it wasn't Black that did that, she couldn't say as much, though. "To be honest, I would've expected him at least awake by now," she looked back at his sleeping figure. There was suddenly a distant roar of fury echoing from somewhere above them, "What was that?" Madam Pomfrey asked in alarm.
Hermione looked over and saw Jake rustling a bit.
Now they could hear angry voices, growing louder and louder. Madam Pomfrey was staring at the locked door, "Really - they'll wake everybody up! What do they think they are doing?"
Hermione couldn't quite yet make out the voices, but if she had to guess, Snape was the one who was raging with anger, but it was Fudge's voice she first heard, "He must have Disapparated, Severus, we should have left somebody in the room with him. When this gets out-"
"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Snape roared, almost ready to break the doors down, "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE INSIDE THIS CASTLE! THIS - HAS - SOMETHING - TO - DO - WITH - POTTER!"
"Severus - be reasonable - Harry has been locked up-"
The door was suddenly and violently opened; Fudge, Snape, and Dumbledore came striding into the Ward. Dumbledore alone looked calm, Hermione noticed, and he even looked as though he was enjoying himself. Fudge appeared angry, but Snape was beside himself.
"OUT WITH IT, POTTER!" Snape bellowed, "WHAT DID YOU DO!?"
"Professor Snape!" Pomfrey shrieked at him, "Control yourself!"
"See here, Snape, be reasonable," Fudge said in an attempt to calm him, despite being angry himself, "This door's been locked we just saw-"
"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Snape howled, and Hermione half expected him to start foaming at the mouth as he pointed at Harry and herself.
"Calm down, man!" Fudge barked, "You're talking nonsense!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!" Snape was relentless, "HE DID IT! I KNOW HE-"
"What is that yelling!?" Jake's voice was heard from his spot over at the far end of the Ward. He was rubbing his eye as he sat up and then held his stomach and chest, prompting Madam Pomfrey to hustle over to him, "Oh, Professor Snape, come to check in on the Infirm have you? How kind of you to care about my what feels to be broken ribs and possibly ruptured internal organs," he then laughed, but regretted it immediately as he winced and seethed with pain.
"YOU HELPED HIM!" Snape then began pointing the finger at Jake.
"I appreciate your wishfulness... for me to already be at full strength... Professor... but I can barely move as it is..." he said and allowed Pomfrey to lay him back down.
"Severus, are you really going to suggest that Fernandes helped young Harry here free Black? The boy can barely move!" Fudge said, somewhat angrily with Snape.
"HE HELPED HIM AS PAYBACK!"
"Payback for what?" Dumbledore asked curiously, as though he already knew.
"HE KNOWS THAT I-" Snape stopped himself, realizing that he almost just gave away the fact that he was the cause of Jake's main injuries.
'Oh, you bastard,' Hermione thought to herself, 'I wish you had said more!'
"That will do, Severus," Dumbledore said quietly, "Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the Ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these students left their beds?"
"Of course not!" Pomfrey walked back over to them, having left Jake with a piece of chocolate to alleviate some pain, "I've been with them ever since you left!"
"Well, there you have it, Severus," Dumbledore said calmly, "Unless you are suggesting that Harry, Hermione, and Jake are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any point in troubling them further."
Snape stood there, seething, staring from Fudge, who looked thoroughly shocked at his behavior, to Dumbledore, whose eyes were twinkling behind his glasses. Snape whirled about, robes swishing behind him, and stormed out of the Ward. As he passed Dumbledore, he was stopped momentarily, but Dumbledore spoke so quietly, Hermione was unable to hear him.
"Fellow seems quite unbalanced," Fudge said, staring where he just left, "I'd keep an eye on him if I were you, Dumbledore."
"Oh, he's not unbalanced," Dumbledore was quietly, "He's just suffered a severe... disappointment."
"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..."
"And the Dementors?" Dumbledore asked, "They'll be removed from the school, I trust?"
"Oh, yes, they'll have to go," Fudge ran his fingers through his hair nervously, "Never dreamed they'd attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy and girl... 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," Dumbledore said, with a swift smile to the three awake Gryffindors. He and Fudge soon left the Ward and Madam Pomfrey hurried back to lock it again. She huffed and muttered angrily to herself as she went back into her office.
There was a low moaning from the other end of the Ward across from Harry and Hermione. Ron had just woken up, and he was sitting up, rubbing his head, looking around, "What - what happened?" He groaned, "Harry? Why are we in here? Where's Sirius? Where's Lupin? What's going on?"
"I - I don't know..." Harry looked at Hermione who sighed exasperatedly, but began to recount what happened after Ron passed out, and when explaining what she and Jake did, also gave Harry an explanation for everything as well. Needless to say, they were blown away.
*******
When they were allowed to leave the Hospital Wing the next day, except for Jake, as his injuries were much worse and Pomfrey wanted him to continue resting, they found the Castle to be deserted. Hermione realized that it was a Hogsmeade weekend, and she then had an internal struggle with herself. She wanted to go, for Jake, but at the same time, she didn't really want to go. Then she had an image of Jake's sleeping figure flash in her mind, "Harry, Ron?" They looked at her, "If it's all the same to you both, I'm going to go to Hogsmeade, I have to get something there before Summer starts."
"Yeah, that's fine, Hermione," Harry said, not wanting to stop her as this seemed important to her.
"Thank you," Hermione hurried to Gryffindor Tower, up to her dorm room, showered and then got dressed in some fresh clothing, ready for Hogsmeade. She stopped by the Hospital Wing quickly to see Jake. She walked over to him and saw him staring at the ceiling. He looked over at her and saw she was clean and ready to go somewhere, "Jake, I'm going to Hogsmeade today. Not because I want to, but because I need to get something there. Something for you..." She felt her cheeks heat up slightly.
"Hermione," he sat up, grunting and struggling, but he managed, "Hermione, you don't have to do that-"
"I want to. I missed your birthday and I am going to make it up to you... so... i-is there anything you want?" She looked down at her feet.
"I-" he stopped himself, not sure what to really say, "You shouldn't feel obligated to spend your money on me, Hermione..."
"I don't feel obligated! You're my best friend, Jake, the best that I've ever had... the only I've ever had..." she began to tear up, but not from frustration or anything like that. She realized how close she came to losing him last night, when she saw the Dementor almost give her past-self the Kiss back at the Lake; she wanted to cherish him and every moment with him, even if it was only ever as best friends.
"Well, I can't stop you... you don't have to get me something big and expensive... just... something sincere," he smiled at her and laid back down, exhaling slowly from the pain.
"Okay, I'll not be gone the whole day, don't worry," she smiled back and left the Hospital Wing. She stopped at the door and looked back, really wanting to just crawl up on him and straddle him as she snogged him senseless. She didn't even bother to berate herself, because that was what she wanted to do right then to make it up to him. She sighed and walked out to go to Hogsmeade.
She arrived a while later and walked around, looking for a specific shop. During her search for it, she walked into Honeydukes and bought only a few pieces of candy for him, knowing he wouldn't want a lot of sweets.
Another twenty minutes of walking and she finally found it, "Tomes and Scrolls, there it is!" She hurried inside and began browsing the books and scrolls in there, wondering if any of them would appeal to him. She didn't figure much could as since he lived at Merlin's Tower, he had access to pretty much all the relevant stuff he could want. "Knowledge is Knowledge, though..." She then carefully scanned each book and scroll, just to be sure she was finding something useful for him.
Hermione ended up finding a Tome on Healing Magic, Sanatio Magia pro Tironibus , and bought it for him. It was a little on the expensive side, but he was worth it. If for whatever reason he went through his vast wealth and needed Ten Galleons, Hermione would give Jake her last Ten Galleons without a second thought.
She made her way back up to the Castle and to the Hospital Wing to find Harry and Ron there, standing next to Jake's bed, "Hermione, don't suppose you've heard yet?" Ron asked her.
"Heard what?" She asked, setting down the bags next to Jake's bed.
"Professor Lupin is resigning," Harry said.
"What!?" Hermione yelled.
"Hagrid told us..." Ron said in a downtrodden voice.
"But - but why?" She asked, not able to comprehend.
"It got out that he is a Werewolf, and there is only one person who would've done that," Jake said, and they all knew who it was.
"Snape," Hermione said with vitriol in her voice. She decided that she'd wait to give him the present, probably tomorrow morning in the Common Room.
Later that night, Hermione was sitting next to the fire, reading through a random book she'd grabbed, unable to really pay attention to the plot. Madam Pomfrey had said Jake would get to leave the Hospital Wing tomorrow morning, but she was unable to sleep with worry for him. The bag of his presents sat beside her on the floor and Crookshanks was curled up on the chair opposite her.
The portrait swung open and Jake staggered in a bit, holding his stomach, "Jake!" Hermione immediately stood up and went to him. She helped him by holding his arm and guiding him to a chair, "I thought you were supposed to leave tomorrow morning? I can't believe Madam Pomfrey would let you leave like this?"
"She didn't... I walked myself out. I was tired of lying in that bed, feeling useless..." he sighed and leaned back into the chair.
Hermione noticed just then that his eye-patch wasn't on. She looked and saw that he was holding it in his hand not holding his stomach. She looked back at him and saw that his Light Brown hair had gotten noticeably longer and shaggy since the beginning of the Year. Or maybe it was just because of recent events and that he hadn't bathed since before all of this happened; he normally kept his hair looking at least somewhat nice, or at least under control (Hermione always thought it looked nice, even now), but he hadn't had the chance to go and do so.
"Maybe this will make you feel better?" Hermione said, pulling out some Honeydukes Sweets and the Tome she bought.
He set his eye-patch down and opened the Bertie Botts Beans box, pulling out one that looked safe to eat. He tossed it in his mouth and was relieved, "Blueberry Pie." Hermione smiled at his fortune, "What's this book?"
"It's a Tome of Spells, all useful for Healing of all kinds. It's more of a Beginner's Guide, really," Hermione explained, "I wasn't sure if Merlin's Tower would have the book or not."
" Sanatio Magia pro Tironibus ?" He opened the book and flipped to the first spell in it, " Episkey , Professor McGonagall used this on me last year after I woke up in her office after the Chamber incident was dealt with... then I saw you... in the Great Hall... that's the Happiest moment of Second Year for me..."
Hermione placed her hand gently on his knee and smiled at him, "Seeing you after waking up from Petrification, that was easily my happiest moment from Second Year as well."
He smiled back at her, "Thank you, Hermione, thank you so much for this," he pulled her into a hug, which because of the awkward angle she would have had to be at for the hug if she stayed on her feet, she twisted and ended up sitting on his lap to hug him. Her entire face began to redden, but for an entirely different reason.
He let go of her and she quickly stood up, smoothing out her robes, "You're most welcome. I hope you get a lot of use out of it this summer!"
"I'm sure I will... never know when having to perform... self-healing magic will be necessary," he laughed and then winced from the pain.
"Jake, you should take it easy..." Hermione began to get serious again.
"I'll be fine... I just... need to get up to my bed..."
"Do you want me to help you?" Hermione asked.
"Sure... I'll never turn away your help with something like this..." he said, standing up and Hermione replaced his book and candy in the bag, slinging it over shoulder and carrying it up with her after she hoisted him out of the chair. She walked up behind him and quietly crept into the Boy's Dorm room. She set his stuff down next to his bed while he carefully sat down on the edge of it, "Thank you... Hermione..." he smiled weakly at her.
"Did Madam Pomfrey even help you?" She asked quietly.
"She fixed my ribs, but my stomach..." he trailed off.
Hermione teared up a little, "Jake... you've endured s-so much this year... I don't know how you've done it..."
He smiled again, "I'll see you in the morning, Hermione," he stood up and embraced her. She cried into his shirt until he released her.
"I-I'll see you i-in the morning," she wiped her eyes and left the dorm room, going to her own after gathering her stuff from the Common Room.
*******
The following day, talk of Sirius Black's escape was one of several hot topics, along with Lupin's departure and on the last day of term, their exam results were posted. Jake and Hermione both passed almost perfectly across the board; as he expected he didn't do perfectly in Ancient Runes, but Hermione did. Although, due to her failing to take care of the Boggart, she did not do perfectly in Defense Against the Dark Arts. The one Jake was most glad to see was the perfect Potions exam grade. He thought Snape would try to give him less than Perfect, but he felt that Dumbledore had something to do with it.
Because of their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, Gryffindor came through and were the victors for the House Cup, meaning the end-of-term feast took place in a sea of Scarlet and Gold decorations.
As the train just pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione and Jake had something to tell Harry and Ron, "So, because we dropped Divination and Muggle Studies, we'll be able to have a normal schedule next year and not need the damned Time-Turner," Hermione explained.
"I could tell it was driving us both mad, so I think it's for the better," Jake said, smiling. His stomach had felt better after an extra day of rest.
"I still can't believe you didn't tell us about it," Ron said grumpily, "we're supposed to be your friends."
"We promised we wouldn't tell anyone !" Hermione said, frustrated.
"Hey, Harry, I know that living with those people you have to unfortunately call relatives are horrible people, but try to cheer up?" Jake tried to alleviate his friend's woes.
"I'm okay..." he said in response.
"Harry, you've got to come over and stay with us! I'll fix it up with mum and dad and then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now-" Ron said happily.
"A telephone , Ron," Hermione said, "Honestly, I think you should-" she was stopped by Jake and she looked at him.
"He's not listening, don't waste your breath," he said and she nodded.
"And plus, 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," Ron said in his best effort to cheer Harry up.
"Yeah... I bet the Dursleys'd be pleased to let me come... especially after what I did to Aunt Marge," he smirked as he finished talking. He played a few rounds of Exploding Snap with the three of them, and He did Second best only to Ron. He looked at Jake, "Are you okay? Hermione did better than you, which I've never seen with Exploding Snap."
"Yeah... yeah, I'm fine... just-" before he could talk further, Draco Malfoy and his two Cohorts showed up.
"Bet you four are real proud of yourselves?" Malfoy asked them as he slid open the compartment door.
"Well yeah, we won the Quidditch Cup and the House Cup, what's there to not be proud of?" Jake smirked, and Hermione noticed his previous demeanor vanished entirely, maybe to never return.
"That Hippogriff was as good as dead, and it got away... I don't know how, Potter, but I know you had something to do with it," Draco said accusingly.
"I honestly have no idea what you are talking about," Harry said truthfully.
"Well, Fernandes, I assume you'll be at the World Cup this summer? Going to buy Weasley's family their tickets? They could probably use the help, they'd have to sell their house for that many tickets," Malfoy snickered, and Crabbe and Goyle guffawed.
Jake stood up, "I suggest you walk away. Now," he was standing in the doorframe, staring menacingly at the three Slytherin.
"Draco," came the voice of Logan, "I suggest you listen to him. I don't want to see anything bad happen to ya."
Draco sneered at him, but muttered to his goons and they left. Hermione had stood up and peered out around Jake, "Hello, Ivan, it's nice to see you again," she said.
"Likewise. I know when I see Draco on the prowl, it's honestly almost never a good thing," he said.
Jake was just staring at him, "Pendragon."
Logan smiled, "Jake."
"You wouldn't happen to know what happened to Professor Lupin after he ran off into the Forest, would you?" Jake asked him in a low voice so Harry and Ron couldn't hear.
"No idea what you're talking about," Logan said with a shrug.
Jake paid attention closely, "Alright, thought I'd ask," he said and turned around, sitting back in his seat.
Hermione appeared in the doorway now, "Will you be at the World Cup this Summer, Ivan?"
"Yes, I will be there with my family. When I told them... that I had met a family member of Ambrosius, they didn't believe me. Maybe I can have them meet Jake to prove he's the real deal?" Logan asked, peering around her to look at Jake.
"Depends on what happens between now and then," Jake answered.
"That'll have to do. You four enjoy your summer," Logan smiled and left.
Hermione closed the compartment door and sat back down beside Jake, only for the Trolley lady to open the door back up a moment later. They all bought a nice lunch, but no sweets this time. When the afternoon hit, Hermione noticed something outside the window, "Harry, what is that?" She pointed towards it.
They all looked and saw something very small and grey bobbing in and out of sight beyond the glass. Harry stood up to get a better look, and quickly pulled the window down, putting his arm out the window and catching whatever it was. It turned out to be a hyperactive Owl, and dropped a letter into Harry's seat before flying around in circles, similar to how Chloe did earlier in the year. It seemed to be very pleased with itself. Chloe appeared in the now opened window and perched, watching the Owl closely. Crookshanks sat up at Hermione's feet and began to follow it closely with his great yellow eyes. Hedwig clicked her beak with a sort of dignified disapproval. Ron, seeming to have sensed the attention the Owl had attracted, snatched him up and out of harm's way.
Harry picked up the letter and opened it, "It's from Sirius!"
"What?" Ron and Hermione asked at the same time.
"Read it aloud, Harry," Jake said, leaning back in his seat.
" 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- "
"Ha!" Hermione said triumphantly, "I told you it was from him!"
"Yeah, but he hadn't jinxed it, had he?" Ron asked before yelling out in pain. The tiny Owl seemed to have nibbled on Ron's fingers a bit too hard for it to be an actually affectionate gesture.
" 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.
I would also like to apologize 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 "
Harry then looked at another slip of paper in the envelope, and he was all smiles, "Sirius approved my visiting of Hogsmeade! That'll be good enough for Dumbledore!" He looked back at Sirius' letter, "Hang on, there is a PS..." Harry leaned closer to the Letter, "He says the Owl is yours Ron, since he is the reason you no longer have a rat."
"Keep him?" Ron asked with uncertainty. He looked closely for a moment, then, surprising Harry and Hermione, he held him out for Crookshanks to sniff, "What d'you reckon? Definitely an Owl?"
Crookshanks purred, content.
"That's good enough for me," Ron said, all smiles, "He's mine."
The rest of their ride back to Platform 9¾ was spent in silence, with Hermione reading a book, Jake had begun reading the book she got for him, Ron was interacting with his new Owl, and Harry spent the rest of the ride reading the letter from his Godfather. When the train pulled into the Station, they all hopped off and walked through the barrier, a couple at a time so as to not draw attention.
Before Jake and Hermione walked through, they heard a voice from off to the side, "Jake!" He turned and saw Luna standing there, waving at him, with a man that Jake assumed to be her father.
"Go ahead through, I'll catch up in a bit," he told Hermione who nodded and walked through the barrier. He walked up to Luna and the man, "Nice to see you, Luna. I take it this is your father?"
"Yes," she was smiling at him, "Daddy, this is who I was telling you about in my letters and when I came home for Christmas. Jake is probably the nicest boy at Hogwarts," Luna was basically singing his praise.
"I was just being how I was raised to be," Jake said modestly.
"American, aren't you?" The man asked and Jake nodded, "absolutely wonderful," he smiled and stuck out his hand and Jake shook it, "Xenophilius Lovegood, owner and editor of the Quibbler , though I don't suppose you've read it?"
"I can't say I have, sir..."
"No matter, it's publication doesn't reach Hogwarts that often, really, unless bought by a student or teacher. Well, I must be off with my Luna, it was wonderful to meet the friend she has been talking almost non-stop about," Xenophilius said, which caused Luna to turn red in her cheeks.
"Daddy!" She said, a little upset with him, "I'll see you on the Express September 1st, Jake."
His cheeks turned slightly red as well, "See you then, Luna," he said and Xenophilius disapparated away with her.
When Jake walked through the barrier finally, he was surprised to already see her parents. Her mother was smiling, but when she looked at him, she gasped upon seeing that he was missing an eye. She ran over to him immediately, "Jake? What happened?"
"Um..."
"Come on, Jake, tell them in the car on the way to the Leaky Cauldron," Hermione said, walking up to them.
"Okay..." he said sullenly. He didn't really want to explain it, but figured he didn't have a choice.
The four of them began to walk and he followed the Grangers to their car. He put his stuff in the trunk, having to hold Chloe's cage up with him, and Hermione held Crookshanks.
Hermione and Jake launched into an explanation of their Third Year, and both of her parents listened with great interest, but John Granger still primarily focused on the road. The only thing so far that bothered John and Jane was this thing called a Boggart that was the cause of Jake's eye loss.
"These... what did you call them, Dementors?" Jane asked and they nodded, "Why on Earth would they ever allow such a thing to exist?"
"The Minister called it a necessary evil , for their Wizard Prison called Azkaban. This way the Dementor's are happy, and the Ministry can divert their resources elsewhere. I'm not saying I agree with it, but that's what I believe the Minister meant," Hermione explained to her mother.
"They should be eradicated is what needs to happen," Jake said spitefully, "Thankfully, there is a counter to them."
"It's called the Patronus Charm , mum, and it acts as a Shield in its base form, and it has the power to actually drive them off in its true form, which takes the shape of an animal," Hermione said, smiling, "and Jake cast a Corporeal Patronus, its true form, and it took the form of an Alligator."
"You managed a Non-Corporeal one, Hermione, don't sell yourself short," Jake said, looking at her with his one eye.
Only Jane caught it, but the look the both of them shared with each other just then; it held so much love for the other, and she knew they didn't see it the way she did, "What's needed to cast this Patronus ?"
"A Strong, Powerful memory," Jake said, looking to face Jane directly to look at her, "It works better if it's a Happy memory, but it doesn't have to be, just Strong and Powerful for the Caster."
"Really? I'm sure you both will be able to cast it no problem," she smirked and turned back around in her seat.
Hermione blushed and hid her face with her hair. Jake turned his head to look out the left window, watching the city and people walking around fly past them. They soon made it to the Leaky Cauldron, "I'm going to walk in with you and say goodbye," Hermione said and they both exited the car, getting his things out of the trunk.
When they had closed the rear doors, Jane looked at her husband, "They both fancy each other."
"Do they?" John asked, his eyes thinning slightly.
"They don't realize they do, it's almost like they are afraid to admit it to one another," Jane said and watched them walk inside.
"Jake, I'm going to miss seeing you until the World Cup," Hermione said with a saddened smile.
"Same... but you're never that far away," he said and she was confused.
"What are you-" he pulled up his necklace that she got for him; her cheeks burned.
"As long as I have this, you're never that far away, Hermione," he said, his eye beginning to tear up some. He may be the strongest wizard since Merlin himself with a hardened exterior, but Hermione knew he was the kindest, most caring person in the world.
She snaked her arms around him and rested her ear on his upper chest. She felt his arms go around her shoulders and she had never felt safer in her whole life, "The World Cup can't arrive fast enough," Hermione said, holding him tightly.
"I know, but it's not that long of a wait, after all," he said and pushed her back some. He grabbed the silvery thread that was visible around her neck and lifted it up until the Necklace was out, "I'm never that far away, Hermione."
She wanted so badly, more than anything, to snog him with as much passion and love she could put into one kiss. She couldn't do it on the lips, but it wouldn't be weird if it was his cheek. She pulled him down, closer to her, and kissed his cheek. She pulled back and looked into his eye, but not before noticing his cheeks turning red, "You are worth so much more than I ever deserved in a friend."
"I've always thought the same about you, Hermione," he smiled at her.
She turned around to leave, "Be safe, and put that Tome to use, okay?"
"You know I will," he said, watching her leave. When she closed the door behind her, he touched the place on his cheek that she kissed, "Maybe I should've turned to face her and kiss her on those soft looking lips...?" He sighed and gathered his stuff up and sat down at a table to wait for the Pub to thin out of people. He had a busy early summer ahead of him; he had so much to lose, he was going to make sure he could never be matched in Wizard Combat or Physical Combat. He was the True Heir of Merlin Ambrosius, and he was going to live up to that title, all to protect Hermione, because without her, he had nothing left to lose.