Brighter Than the Sun

Chapter Twenty-Five

"What did you do?" Hermione demanded, leading Buckbeak towards us. "You said you were only going to keep a lookout!"

"We just saved all our lives," said Harry.

"Yeah, you're welcome," I added. "Get behind here -- behind this bush -- we'll explain."

Hermione listened to what had happened with her mouth open yet again. "Did anyone see you?"

"Yes, haven't you been listening?" Harry asked. "We saw ourselves but we thought I was my dad and Ash was her mum! It's okay!"

"Harry, Ash... I can't believe it.... You two conjured Patronuses that drove away all those dementors! That's very, very advanced magic."

"I knew I could do it this time," said Harry, "because I'd already done it.... Does that make sense?"

"It makes sense the way acknowledging that your future self is watching you through memories right now makes sense," I mused.

Neither of them responded for a minute. Then Hermione said, "I've never thought about it that way before."

"I can't think properly anymore," Harry said. "That's too much."

I noticed something out of the corner of my eye. "Guys, look at Snape!"

Together we peered around the bush at the other bank. Snape had regained consciousness. He was conjuring stretchers and lifting the limp forms of Harry, Sirius, and I onto them. Two other stretchers, no doubt bearing Ron and Hermione, were already floating at his side. Then, wand held out in front of him, he moved us away toward the castle.

"Right, it's nearly time," said Hermione, looking at her watch. "We've got about forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks the door to the hospital wing. We've got to rescue Sirius and get back into the ward before anybody realizes we're missing..."

We waited. Buckbeak got bored and searched for worms while I sang my favorite songs in my head. Sometimes I got carried away and danced around for no reason to the radio in my head. Some of my siblings playfully teased me about that. I smiled as I remember some of their quips. "You have a radio in your head or something?" "You got some extra headphones? Because I'd like to listen, too."

I accidentally snickered out loud.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"Nothing," I said quickly. "I'm just funny sometimes."

"D' you reckon he's up there yet?" said Harry, checking his watch. He seemed really concerned for Sirius and I felt slightly guilty for getting distracted.

"Look!" Hermione whispered, pointing at a man coming across the grounds.

"Who's that?" I asked.

"Macnair!" Harry replied. "The executioner! He's gone to get the dementors! This is it --"

Harry and I gave Hermione a leg up. I'd trained at camp with pegasi so I knew how to climb on to Buckbeak's back. I climbed up in front of Hermione. I had the best riding experience, so I told Harry to get on behind me. I pulled Buckbeak's rope back over his neck and tied it to the other side of his collar like reins.

"Ready?" I asked my friends. "Hold on --

I nudged Buckbeak's sides with my heels and Buckbeak soared straight into the air. I gripped his flanks with my knees, feeling the great wings rising powerfully beneath us. Hermione was holding Harry around the waist. I could hear her muttering, "Oh, no -- I don't like this oh, I really don't like this --"

Harry seemed reluctant to hold on to me, but I told him it would only be as weird as he made it, and if he didn't hold on, he'd probably fall to his death.