As the group ran through Hogwarts, Oliver noticed they were heading back to the Hospital Wing. They skidded to a halt as they saw Dumbledore standing by the door. As they approached, Dumbledore swiftly closed the doors behind him.

Dumbledore looked at them with a curious smile and asked, "Well?"

Harry, breathless but triumphant, said, "He's free. We did it."

Dumbledore feigned ignorance, "Did what? Good night." With a twinkle in his eye, he walked away.

Oliver chuckled and muttered, "That sneaky bastard."

Harry grinned and added, "Yeah."

The trio opened the door to find their past selves fading away from existence. Ron, looking puzzled, saw them enter and asked, "How did you three get here? I was talking to you, and now you're here."

Barry, Bella, Tommy, and Cassie laughed at Ron's confusion.

Hermione, playing along, asked Oliver, "What's he talking about, baby?"

Oliver replied, "I have no idea. Honestly, Ron, how can someone be in two places at once?"

Hermione chuckled, and soon Oliver and Harry joined in. Hermione playfully smacked Oliver for the joke, but he pulled her close and kissed her.

Hermione melted into the kiss, responding with equal passion.

Meanwhile, Cassie and Harry were talking off to the side. Harry asked, "You okay?"

Cassie nodded and replied, "Yeah, I am."

Cassie then whispered, "How did it go?"

Harry whispered back, "It went great."

Cassie smiled warmly.

Oliver, noticing the exchange, teased, "Just kiss already, you two."

Hermione smacked Oliver on the face, and he yelped, "Ow!" while clutching his cheek.

The group burst into laughter, and Oliver, rubbing his face, asked, "What the bloody hell was that for?"

Hermione, still smiling, said, "For being a cheeky troublemaker."

Oliver gave her a playful glare but couldn't hide his grin. "Alright, alright. I deserved that."

Harry, noticing the playful banter, turned to Cassie and said, "Well, it seems like things are settling down."

Cassie's face brightened with a smile. "Yeah, it does."

With a shared glance, Harry and Cassie leaned in and kissed, their connection evident and sincere.

Oliver, witnessing the sweet moment, quietly cheered, "Yes!" and pumped his fist in the air.

The group erupted in laughter at Oliver's enthusiastic reaction, his childlike excitement adding to the lighthearted atmosphere of the Hospital Wing.

Hermione, feeling the moment, pulled Oliver in for a kiss. Though he was momentarily surprised, he eagerly reciprocated, deepening the kiss as they shared a tender moment.

The group, gathered in the Hospital Wing, watched the affectionate exchanges between Harry and Cassie, and Oliver and Hermione. The warmth of their connections provided a comforting contrast to the earlier chaos, filling the room with a sense of peace and camaraderie.

Oliver pulled back, his breath slightly uneven, and asked with a mix of confusion and amusement, "What was that for, you crazy lady?"

Hermione smirked playfully and replied, "I'm crazy for you. And if I remember correctly, you promised to get me back for throwing a rock at you."

Oliver's eyes widened in realization. "Oh, right. I did say that. Excuse me, everyone. We've got some unfinished business."

Hermione took Oliver's hand and led him out of the room.

Tommy, watching them leave, remarked with a grin, "Looks like they're about to have some fun."

Bella shot him a look and said, "Tommy."

Tommy, slightly puzzled, asked, "What?"

Bella replied, "They're still young for that kind of thing."

Tommy shrugged and said, "They're close in age. It'll be fine."

The group exchanged amused glances, the tension of earlier moments giving way to light-hearted banter.

As they heard the sound of lips separating, the group turned to see Cassie and Harry finishing their kiss.

Tommy, with a teasing grin, asked, "Did that feel good, buddy? Feeling better now?"

Harry responded by flipping Tommy off with his middle finger. Tommy gasped in mock surprise, "My God, you finally get me!"

Laughing, Tommy pulled Harry into a friendly hug. The rest of the group chuckled at the light-hearted exchange.

The atmosphere in the Hospital Wing had shifted to a more relaxed and cheerful mood. 

As the group prepared to leave, they headed toward the door, only to notice Hermione and Oliver emerging from the broom closet, brushing off dust and smoothing out their clothes.

Hermione and Oliver, their faces flushed but grinning widely, joined the group with a casual air. Their smiles spoke volumes, reflecting both the thrill of their recent adventures and the warmth of their shared moments.

Tommy chuckled, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter, and asked, "So, what exactly were you two up to in the broom closet? Please tell me it wasn't what I'm thinking."

Hermione's cheeks turned bright red as she stammered, "I don't know what you're talking about. Let's just go."

Oliver cleared his throat, adding, "Yeah, let's."

Oliver then began to walk in the wrong direction. Hermione called out, "Ollie!"

He stopped, looking back at her, and asked, "Yeah?"

Hermione pointed in the other direction and said, "You're going the wrong way, baby."

Oliver looked where he was heading and said, "Right, love. Thanks for the direction." He quickly turned around and walked past the group.

The group laughed heartily as Hermione led Oliver back in the right direction.

Bella, still bemused, said, "I still think they're too young for this."

Tommy teased, "You just wish it was you, Miss Jealous."

The group laughed, leaving Bella behind. She shouted, "What?!"

As Bella rushed after them, calling, "Don't leave me, guys!" the laughter continued, echoing down the hall.

The group continued down the hall, their laughter fading into a more relaxed atmosphere. Bella, catching up with the group, joined in on the light-hearted banter.

Bella said, "Okay, okay, I'm coming! You guys are impossible."

Tommy grinned, "We wouldn't have it any other way."

Hermione and Oliver, now walking side by side, exchanged amused glances. Hermione said, "I guess we're officially the topic of conversation now."

Oliver chuckled, "Seems like it. But at least we're making people smile."

As they reached the entrance of the Hospital Wing, Dumbledore appeared, his eyes twinkling with amusement. He said, "Ah, I see the group has returned to its usual state of lively banter. I trust everything went well?"

Harry nodded, "Yeah, it went great. Sirius is free, and everything is starting to settle down."

Dumbledore smiled warmly, "Excellent news. Remember, young ones, moments like these are precious. Cherish them."

With a final nod, Dumbledore turned and walked away, leaving the group to continue their journey through Hogwarts.

As they moved through the corridors, Bella playfully nudged Tommy, "You know, Tommy, you're not too bad yourself. Even if you do have a knack for embarrassing us."

Tommy winked, "It's a talent."

The group made their way towards the common room, their spirits high and their bonds strengthened by the day's events. The laughter and camaraderie continued, marking the end of a challenging but ultimately triumphant day.

The next day

Oliver and Harry walked through the dimly lit corridor, both dressed in their formal robes. Their footsteps echoed softly as they approached Lupin's office.

As they entered, Lupin, engrossed in packing his belongings with spells, turned his head and greeted them. "Hello, Harry, Oliver."

Confused, Harry asked, "How did you know we were coming?"

Lupin gestured to a glowing map on his desk. "I saw you two approaching," he explained.

With a wave of his wand, Lupin continued to organize his belongings into boxes. "I've had worse days, believe me."

Harry's brow furrowed. "You've been sacked."

Lupin shook his head. "No, actually, I resigned."

Oliver was taken aback. "Resigned? Why?"

Lupin sighed. "It appears someone revealed the nature of my condition. Tomorrow, the owls will start arriving, and parents won't want someone like me teaching their children."

"But Dumbledore..." Harry began.

Lupin cut him off. "Dumbledore has already done more than enough on my behalf. People like me... well, let's just say I'm used to this sort of thing."

As Lupin continued to pack, his boxes magically closing and stacking, he added, "Besides, I noticed your reaction when Snape walked in. You seemed relieved."

Oliver looked down, feeling a pang of guilt. "I hated you because you made me feel like a failure."

Lupin's expression softened. "I'm sorry about that. I needed you to stay alert, and you did. Now, you can return to... well, being with your future Mrs. Queen."

Lupin's gaze grew more serious. "Why do you both look so down, Harry, Oliver?"

Harry sighed. "None of it made any difference. Pettigrew escaped."

Lupin placed his hand on his packed bag, a tired smile on his face. "Didn't make any difference? Harry, Oliver, it made a world of difference. You helped uncover the truth and saved an innocent man from a terrible fate. That is no small feat."

Lupin picked up his cane, preparing to leave. "If there's one thing I'm proud of, it's how much you two have grown this year. As I'm no longer your teacher, I can say without guilt that I'm giving this back to you."

He tapped the map with his wand. "So, I'll say goodbye for now. I'm certain we'll meet again. Until then..."

With a final smile, Lupin spoke the words that made the map vanish. "Mischief managed."

The map folded and disappeared, leaving Oliver with a smile and Lupin chuckling softly. As Lupin walked out, using his cane for support, Harry and Oliver watched him leave with a mixture of sadness and respect.

Oliver let out a deep sigh. "There goes the best teacher we've ever had."

Harry nodded in agreement. "Yeah, he was."

In the Great Hall

As Harry and Oliver walked in, they overheard Ron talking excitedly. Neville and Seamus soon joined them.

Neville asked, "Harry, Oliver, where on Earth did you even get those?"

Seamus added, "Can I have a turn after one of you, of course?"

Harry, puzzled, asked, "What are you talking about?"

Ron, trying to explain, said, "Yeah, quiet! Let the men through. Uh, I-I didn't mean to open them, Harry, Ollie. It was badly wrapped. They made me do it," he said, pointing at Fred and George.

Fred and George protested, "Did not."

Confused but intrigued, Oliver leaned in and gave Hermione a quick kiss before asking, "What's going on?"

With the wraps opened, they revealed a pair of brooms.

Ron said, "They're Firebolts. The fastest brooms in the world."

Harry asked, "For us? But who sent them?"

Ron shook his head. "No one knows."

Hermione held up a feather that came with the brooms. "This came with it," she said.

Oliver's eyes lit up as he took the feather from Hermione. "What do you all say we go test these out?" he suggested, holding up his broom.

The students responded enthusiastically, "Yeah!" in unison.

They rushed outside, chattering excitedly.

Seamus encouraged, "Go on, Harry, Oliver."

Hermione looked at Oliver and asked, "How fast is it, baby?"

Neville chimed in, "Yeah, how fast does it go?"

Ron said, "Hang on."

Harry and Oliver mounted their brooms and soared into the air, whooping and laughing with exhilaration.

Oliver turned to Harry and said, "I'll be back, cousin."

Harry shouted back, "Okay!"

Oliver veered off towards the castle, speeding up as he did.

Back in the courtyard, Oliver landed next to Hermione.

"Want to take a ride, Mrs. Queen?" Oliver asked, holding out his hand.

Hermione smiled but said, "You know I hate flying, mister."

"I promise, you'll love it," Oliver replied, reassuringly.

Hermione took his hand and climbed onto the broom. "Please, take it easy. I'm not good with heights."

Oliver chuckled. "I remember."

With a knowing smirk towards Ron, who anticipated Oliver's next move, Oliver took off at high speed. Hermione let out a scream as she shouted, "I hate you, Oliver Queen."

The group of students burst into laughter.

As they soared through the air, Oliver said, "You don't hate me. Besides, the wind feels amazing."

Hermione grumbled, "Fine. But I'm holding on tight."

Oliver replied, "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Hermione clung to him as they sped up to catch up with Harry. Oliver performed a daring roll, eliciting another scream from Hermione. When he leveled out, Hermione said, "Don't do that!"

Oliver laughed, "Sorry. I love you."

Holding him close, Hermione whispered in his ear, "I love you too."

To be continued in Book 4...