It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry
I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

"The Call"
Regina Spektor

LUCY:

I found myself wishing it were illegal to schedule final exams for the week of the full moon.

Four months of wolfsbane in, trying to take final exams was the closest I'd ever been to torture. I reckoned I'd scraped up good scores because of all of my studying for the months leading up to that dreadful week, but after each exam, I would flee to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom to throw up, splash cold water on my face, cry, or sometimes all three. It was torture, but it wouldn't be over until Saturday morning. Oh yeah, I nearly forgot to mention --- the last day of exams was the day of the full moon, and Cedric was leaving immediately after his last exam.

Even before the day began, I knew it would be an exhausting day, physically, mentally, and emotionally --- but nothing could have prepared me for all that occurred.

My Defense Against the Dark Arts exam took place that morning. I hadn't slept a wink the night prior, obviously, but Professor Lupin's exam was my absolute favorite. He had assembled a sort of obstacle course outdoors featuring a number of creatures; it was right up my alley.

I jumped at the chance to go first, incredibly excited and intrigued by the challenge.

The first task involved wading across a pool full of grindylows. The water was likely to only go up to the waists of my classmates, but it went much higher on me. I kept my head, though, and as soon as a grindylow tried to wrap its fingers around my thigh, I shouted "Relashio!" and severed its grip. A couple more grindylows tried grabbing my ankles, my calves, even my waist, but they were each met with their own revulsion jinx.

From there, I had to dodge potholes filled with red caps, and cross a marsh inhabited by hinkypunks. I could have easily destroyed them with a wand-lighting charm and a couple of knockback jinxes, but I didn't think Professor Lupin had any more, so I just ignored them and relied on other methods to navigate my way across.

The last challenge was a boggart. Since I no longer had any reason to be afraid of dementors, my boggart manifested as myself in werewolf form.

"Riddikulus!" I cried, and I became nothing more than a werewolf pup.

And just like that, it was over. I made my way over to the shade as quickly as I could, feeling sweat dripping down my neck. The shirt from Cedric helped keep my chest and arms and torso cool, but I still felt like I was on fire everywhere else.

Harry went next, and he made his way through as successfully as I did. I slipped my ring off when he came to sit next to me, as was my new habit. Hermione hadn't noticed a thing yet, and I planned to keep it that way for as long as possible, but I knew it was only a matter of time before she would connect the dots --- trying to keep a secret from that girl was no easy task.

"Nicely done, Potter," I said, moving over so he could sit next to me.

"You too, Diggory. Have you ever had so much fun taking a final exam?"

"Nope! That was great," I laughed.

But even as I said it, a piercing scream could be heard. Hermione flew out of the trunk, pale as a ghost.

"Hermione! What's the matter?" Professor Lupin asked.

Hermione pointed to the trunk with a trembling hand. "P-P-Professor McGonagall! Sh-She said I'd failed everything!"

I jumped up and hurried over to her, gripping her shoulders. "It was just a boggart. It's okay. Take a deep breath. Come sit with Harry and me, let's go."

I wrapped an arm around her and led her over to the tree. Harry and I worked together to calm her down, and when Ron was done with his exam, he helped too.

The four of us were heading up to the castle when we saw none other than Cornelius Fudge.

He jumped when he saw Harry. "Hello there, Harry! Just had an exam, I expect? Nearly finished?"

I lingered awkwardly at Harry's side as he blushed. "Yes, sir."

The Minister of Magic nodded and looked toward the Black Lake. "Lovely day. Pity... pity..." He sighed and looked back at Harry. "I'm here on an unpleasant mission, Harry. The Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures required a witness to the execution of a mad hippogriff. As I needed to visit Hogwarts to check on the Black situation, I was asked to step in."

"Does that mean the appeal's already happened?" Ron asked.

"No, no, it's scheduled for this afternoon."

"Then you might not have to witness an execution at all! The hippogriff might get off!"

Before he could reply, two men joined him. I recognized them immediately as some of the men my dad worked with on occasion. I noticed with a jolt that the one with the black mustache, whose name escaped me, was fingering an axe on his belt. I instinctively took a step closer to Harry, my stomach dropping to my toes. He gently nudged my shoulder, and the four of us hurried up to the castle.

Ron was angry that we left. "Why'd you stop me? Did you see them? They've even got the axe ready! This isn't justice!"

"Ron, your dad works for the Ministry, you can't go saying things like that to his boss!" Hermione explained. "As long as Hagrid keeps his head this time, and argues his case properly, they can't possibly execute Buckbeak..."

"I don't feel good," I mumbled, feeling a lump forming in my throat. "Good luck in Divination, and I'll see you in Ancient Runes, Hermione."

I hurried in the opposite direction of the Great Hall, up to Moaning Myrtle's bathroom as was tradition now. We had grown somewhat close in the months following the Malfoy incident; I didn't tell her anything important or serious about myself, by any means, but we did talk a fair amount whenever I was in there. She was a very curious girl, and she always wanted to know why I was sick.

That day, however, she wasn't there. I wondered if someone had accidentally flushed her to the Black Lake. Whatever the reason, I was selfishly glad to have the room to myself. I locked myself in a stall and let a few silent tears fall.

One more exam, then Cedric would leave.

One more exam, then we'd know Buckbeak's fate.

One more exam, then it'd be the full moon.

One more exam. That was all.

As far as final exams were concerned, I was glad to have Professor Babbling's last. She was a human ray of sunshine, truly, and I loved her class --- I just hated my partner, unfortunately. I hoped she'd change the seating arrangement for fourth year.

"Good afternoon, class!" Professor Babbling said cheerfully as the bell rang. "Welcome to your last final exam for the year!"

Half the class gave a simultaneous sigh of relief. The laughter that followed help break up the tension. Professor Babbling began distributing the exam papers.

"You are free to leave as soon as you finish your exam," she explained. "Hopefully you won't find it terribly difficult. If you have any questions following the exam, I will be here for the rest of the day, and I will be available after results are posted. Best of luck!"

I felt a significant weight lifted from my shoulders when I skimmed the questions. It was exactly what I had studied. It would be a long exam, but an easy one.

Hermione and I finished at the same time (first, of course) and made our way to the common room. Ron was already there, so we headed over.

"Where's Harry?" I asked.

"He was the last Divination exam today," Ron explained. "Should be along any moment. How was Ancient Runes?"

"Easy," Hermione and I answered in unison. We exchanged a look and laughed. It was the sound of pure relief.

It didn't last.

"Lucy, is that your owl at the window?" Ron asked suddenly.

"Yeah, it is. I wonder if it's news from Hagrid," I said as dread began to creep into my chest, heading over and taking the parchment from his talons.

Lost appeal. They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it. Hagrid

"No," I gasped, sitting down heavily on the window seat.

Hermione was at my side in an instant, gripping my shoulder. "Bad news?"

I passed the parchment to Ron with a shaking hand.

"'Lost appeal,'" Ron read out loud. "'They're going to execute at sunset. Nothing you can do. Don't come down. I don't want you to see it.'"

"Oh Lucy," Hermione said, sitting beside me and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. "We did our best. It'll be okay."

Harry chose just about the worst time to come in, and I noticed he looked nearly as distraught as we did as he hurried over. "Professor Trelawney just told me..." He trailed off, looking from me to Hermione to Ron, looking confused.

"Buckbeak lost, Hagrid just sent this with Lucy's owl," Ron explained, handing Harry the note.

My heart pounded as he scanned it silently. Sunset... I couldn't do anything to help Buckbeak if he'd be dead before my transformation... and Cedric... I had to say goodbye to Cedric, so I couldn't head down to comfort Hagrid beforehand either... and my potion... how was I supposed to get it from Hagrid's if there were so many people there at the exact time I always got my wolfsbane...

As soon as Harry read the note, he looked at us with fire in his eyes. "We've got to go! He can't just sit there on his own, waiting for the executioner!"

Ron glanced out the window. "Sunset, though. We'd never be allowed, 'specially you, Harry."

"If we only had the Invisibility Cloak..." Harry said wistfully.

"Where is it? What happened to it?" Hermione asked.

"I left it in the Honeyduke's passage, beneath the one-eyed witch statue," he explained sheepishly, "and if Snape sees me anywhere near there again, I'm in serious trouble."

"That's true, if he sees you." Hermione rose to her feet. "How do you open the witch's hump again?"

"You tap it and say, 'Dissendium,' but-"

Hermione didn't even let him finish his sentence before disappearing through the portrait hole.

Ron stared after her. "She hasn't gone to get it?"

"I reckon she has," Harry said, looking rather amused. He turned to me. "You've been awfully quiet. What's wrong?"

I wanted to tell him the truth. Everything. Everything is wrong. Cedric's leaving, Buckbeak's being executed, it's the full moon. How will I take my wolfsbane? How will I be there for Hagrid tonight? Everything is falling apart, Harry, and I can't do anything to stop it.

But I didn't. I couldn't. I swallowed hard and offered a weak explanation. "Cedric's leaving, so I can't go with you to Hagrid's. I can't go say goodbye to Buckbeak." I glanced at the clock and rose to my feet. "Cedric's leaving now, actually. I need to go. I'm sorry, I wish I could go with you-"

Harry suddenly wrapped his arms around me in a tight hug, and for a moment, I was too stunned to hug him back. But I did, and I felt some of the pressure in my chest disappear. Even if Buckbeak wouldn't be alive tomorrow, even if Cedric would be far away by morning, Harry would still be there.

"I'm sorry, Lu," he said. "This must be harder for you than for any of us. But it'll be okay, somehow. I promise."

I reluctantly pulled away, nodding. "You're right. It'll be okay. Thanks, Harry."

"We'll give Buckbeak your best, mate," Ron said, pulling me into a quick side hug. "Should we save you a seat at dinner?"

I shook my head. "I think my parents have something planned," I lied. "A send-off of sorts. I'll probably go to bed as soon as I'm back, so I'll just see you at breakfast in the morning."

"See you then, Lu," Harry said, his eyes soft. I blinked away tears as I jumped through the portrait hole and headed down to the entrance hall. Sure enoigh, Cedric was there with his bags all packed, hugging Henry tightly with Cho standing nearby with tears glittering in her eyes. I hung back a bit, watching as he hugged her next.

"Just a couple months," he told her softly. "Then I'm all yours. We're almost there."

Cho nodded, wiping a tear from her cheek. "Almost there. Write me, will you?"

Cedric grinned and wiped another tear from her cheek with his thumb. "Of course."

He spied me over Cho's shoulder and smiled. "You ready to walk with me to the Hogsmeade station, Lu?"

I nodded, not trusting myself enough to speak without crying. Henry and Cho waved one last time and headed off together toward the courtyard while I approached my brother.

"I won't tell you not to be sad, Lu," he said as we walked down the castle steps, "because I'll be sad, too, but it'll be okay. Really."

"I-I know," I replied, feeling tears beginning to crawl up my throat and burn the back of my eyes. We climbed into a thestral-drawn carriage already waiting for us, and the thestrals automatically started heading toward the train station.

"How did final exams go? I know it must have been difficult for you, with the full moon being tonight and all."

"I managed, I think. How were yours?"

"I managed, too." He paused and glanced at me out of the corner of his eye. "What's wrong, Lu?"

"Buckbeak is going to be executed," I said before I could stop myself, "at sunset tonight. As soon as you leave, I'm going to have to go get my wolfsbane potion and go straight to the forest, because my friends are going to sneak down to Hagrid's hut to comfort him before Beaky is... is..."

"I'm so sorry, Lu," Cedric said, pulling me to his side in a hug. "I know how much you cared about him."

A couple of tears leaked out of my eyes, so I wiped them away and sniffled. I wanted to say something, but I just couldn't. We rode for about a minute in silence.

"Don't be afraid to tell your friends you need help," he said suddenly. "I know you try to keep it all bottled up inside, Lucy, but you'll need your friends without me around to help in quite the same way. After all, they haven't invented letters that can hug the recipients yet."

I managed a giggle. "That would be a little scary."

"It would be! Point being, Lu, it's okay to admit you need help. This will be a hard day for you, but your friends will understand. The Weasleys, Hermione, Harry..."

I blushed bright red at the mention of Harry. Something about my posture must have changed too, because Cedric glanced at me again and grinned. "What?"

"Well, since you're leaving, there's... something I need to tell you."

He raised his eyebrows, his grin widening. "Oh?"

"Cedric, I fancy Harry," I blurted out.

"Oh, my baby sister is growing up so fast!" He dramatically pressed his hand to his chest.

"Stop it," I mumbled, blushing even more intensely, grinning nonetheless. "He'll never fancy me back."

"Hey, never say never, Lu. Any boy who fancies you will be lucky to have you. Have you told Hermione yet?'

I shook my head. "No way! I want it to be a secret! But, well, I wanted you to know."

"Well then, in that case, I'm honored. And, if that's the case, perhaps Harry will be the best person to comfort you come tomorrow."

"Perhaps," I agreed, letting my mind run wild for half a second. An image of us sitting at the top of the Quidditch Pitch, hand in hand, flitted through my imagination. I cleared my throat, suddenly eager to change the topic. "Why haven't you started dating Cho yet? She's mad about you."

"I didn't want to call her my girlfriend until I could give her the time and attention she deserves. I was busy every waking hour studying for O.W.L.s, and now I'll be gone all summer. It wouldn't have been fair. But next year, we can go on proper Hogsmeade dates and spend weekends together, and..." His voice trailed off, and he smiled dreamily.

I smiled too. "You two will be adorable together."

In seemingly no time at all, we had reached the train station. The train was already there, and a small stream of people were getting on and off.

"Well..." Cedric took a deep breath and released it slowly. "Here goes nothing."

"You'll be great, Ced, really you will be." Tears rose to my eyes again, and I tried to force them away. Be brave for Cedric, come on, Lucy, be brave for Cedric...

"I hope so. Thank you, Lu." He set his bags down and held open his arms. I lunged forward and pressed myself to his chest, unable to stop the sobs from escaping me. He rubbed my back reassuringly. "I'll be back before you know it."

I squeezed him one last time and let him go, pathetically wiping my cheeks. "I love you."

"I love you too." He bent down to pick up his bags. "Be safe tonight. And remember what I said when tomorrow comes."

With that, he walked forward and climbed onto the train, turning around to give me one last smile and wave. I waved back, forcing a smile through my tears. He disappeared behind a curtain, and the train slowly started pulling away. I turned on my heel and ran back to the carriage, tears flowing freely down my face. I cried the whole ride back to the castle, and once the carriage stopped, I jumped out and reached up to pet the thestral.

"Thank you," I whispered. The animal bent down and nuzzled its bony nose against my chest as if it sensed my pain. "I understand why I can see you know. My grandma died when I was five, and it was because we were visiting England to attend her funeral that I was attacked. So even if I couldn't remember her death until recently, it's always affected me, meaning I could see you. I know, it doesn't make sense to me either. Oh, who am I kidding," I chuckled softly, "nothing in my life ever makes sense. Anyway... thank you for listening to me, and for the ride. I need to go now, but I'll see you in a couple weeks, heading home."

With that, I dried my cheeks and hurried to Hagrid's. I offered what words of comfort I could, but I knew my time was limited. Harry, Ron, and Hermione would be coming any minute. From Hagrid's, I went directly into the forest. I couldn't risk being seen by anybody, anybody at all. I settled with my back against a tree, goblet of wolfsbane clutched tightly in my hands, and waited.

But as I waited, I heard probably the strangest thing I had ever heard.

Harry's voice, in the forest, four meters away. "Hermione, what if we... we just run in there and grab Pettigrew-"

"No! Don't you understand? We're breaking one of the most important wizarding laws! Nobody's supposed to change time, nobody! You heard Dumbledore, if we're seen-"

"We'd only be seen by ourselves and Hagrid!"

"Harry, what do you think you'd do if you saw yourself bursting into Hagrid's house?"

"I'd, well, I'd think I'd gone mad, or I'd think there was some Dark Magic going on-"

"Exactly! You wouldn't understand, you might even attack yourself! Don't you see? Professor McGonagall told me what awful things have happened when wizards have meddled with time. Loads of them ended up killing their past or future selves by mistake!"

Thoroughly baffled, I dared to poke my head around the tree I was hiding behind. Harry and Hermione were hiding behind trees too, looking at Hagrid's hut. But, somehow, impossibly, at that moment, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Hagrid walked out the back door. What in Merlin's name...

Hagrid stepped forward to assure the hippogriff before addressing the other three. "It's okay, Beaky, it's okay. Go on. Get goin'."

"Hagrid, we can't-"

"We'll tell them what really happened-"

"They can't kill him-"

Hagrid shook his head firmly. "Go! It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all!"

Hermione threw the Invisibility Cloak over the boys, and Hagrid hissed after them, "Go quick. Don' listen."

From our spots in the forest, though, we could hear everything. I was still thoroughly baffled, but I wanted to gather what I could. This was many, many levels of weird. I sighed silently and clutched my goblet even tighter. Something told me I'd need my wits about me that night.

The voice of the executioner sent chills down my spine. "Where is the beast?"

"Out-Outside," Hagrid managed.

I hadn't heard Cornelius Fudge's voice since the dreadful night in Hagrid's the year prior, but I recgonized it immediately. "We, er, have to read you the official notice of execution, Hagrid. I'll make it quick. And then you and Macnair need to sign it. Macnair, you're supposed to listen too, that's procedure."

"Wait here," Harry whispered suddenly. "I'll do it."

Without further explanation, he hopped the fence and rushed toward Buckbeak. It was my one chance to find out what was going on.

"Hermione," I hissed.

She jumped about a meter in the air, whirling around to face me. A large cut stretched across her forehead, and she had a bruise blossoming on her cheek. "Lucy? What are you-"

"What are YOU doing?" I interrupted. "What the hell is going on? What happened to your face?"

Hermione glanced over her shoulder at Harry, who was bowing to Buckbeak. Harry had a scrape across his cheek, and his hair was even messier than usual. "I don't have much time to explain-"

"Do your best."

Harry began loosening the knot.

"Sirius Black is innocent, Lucy, it was Peter Pettigrew who betrayed Harry's parents. I know it makes zero sense, but you have to trust me."

"How are you here?"

She held a long gold chain out in front of her.

"A Time-Turner? That's how you've been getting to all of your classes?"

"Yes. I'm so sorry, I wanted to tell you-"

"It's fine." Harry was trying to lure Buckbeak away. "So you're from the future. How can I help?"

"Lucy, it would be so much easier if Harry knew that you're a-"

"No bloody way," I said firmly. "How can I help?"

"I don't know," she admitted in a soft voice. "We're going to save Sirius using Buckbeak. I just... don't know quite how we'll do that yet."

"I'll stay close. I promise. I won't let anything hurt you."

Harry was tugging uselessly on Buckbeak's rope, but the hippogriff wasn't budging.

I locked eyes with Hermione one last time. "Harry will not find out. Promise me that."

"I promised that I would keep your secret safe as long as it was mine to keep."

I nodded. "Thank you. Good luck tonight." With that, I ducked behind the tree again and whistled the same whistle I always used when I needed to round up the hippogriffs. I listened intently for the sound of Buckbeak's steps --- surely enough, he was coming my direction.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I still had no real idea of what was happening, but my role was clear: If I kept Harry and Hermione safe, they could save both Buckbeak and Sirius.

"Quick! Quick!" Hermione whispered urgently. I could hear that they had almost reached the treeline.

"Stop! They might hear us."

The footsteps stopped the second Hagrid's door opened with a loud bang. I held my breath.

"Where is it? Where is the beast?"

"It was tied here! I saw it! Just here!"

I couldn't help but smile. Buckbeak was safe... for now.

"How extraordinary," Dumbledore commented, sounding amused.

Hagrid sobbed in relief. "Beaky! Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Musta pulled himself free! Beaky, yeh clever boy!"

I heard Buckbeak straining against Harry and Hermione trying to get back to Hagrid, but they gamely held on.

I heard the swish of an axe before it thudded into wood --- it sounded like the executioner was disappointed to be useless. "Someone untied him! We should search the grounds, the forest."

"Macnair, if Buckbeak has indeed been stolen, do you really think the thief will have led him away on foot? Search the skies, if you will," Dumbledore suggested. "Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy."

"O' course, Professor. Come in, come in."

After a couple seconds, it seemed everyone had dispersed.

"What do we do now?" Harry asked.

"We'll have to hide in here. We need to wait until they've gone back to the castle. Then we wait until it's safe to fly Buckbeak up to Sirius's window. He won't be there for another couple of hours... oh, this is going to be difficult..."

"We're going to have to move. We've got to be able to see the Whomping Willow, or we won't know what's going on."

"Okay, but we've got to keep out of sight, Harry, remember."

"Should we go deeper into the forest?"

"No," Hermione replied a little too quickly. "Merlin knows what's in there. We should stick to the edge."

"Alright. Let's go."

I let them get a couple meters' head start before following silently after them. My heart was poudning, and I had to keep my goblet of wolfsbane close to my chest so my shaking hands didn't spill a single drop of it.

By the time we reached the Whomping Willow, the sun had almost completely set. I was about to disappear deeper into the forest to drink the potion when Harry suddenly broke the silence.

"There's Ron!"

"Get away from him!" Ron shouted, chasing something on the ground. "Get away! Scabbers, come here!"

My internal monologue struggled to keep up with the scene unfolding before me.

Scabbers is alive?! Hermione didn't explain that. What the bloody hell is going on?

Harry and Hermione --- well, the present version, not the future version --- were chasing Ron. He dove suddenly.

"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat-"

"There's Sirius!" Harry exclaimed, as the Grim from the forest grabbed Ron by the leg and began dragging him toward the secret tunnel in the Whomping Willow. "Looks even worse from here, doesn't it?"

Okay, so Sirius Black is an Animagus? His Animagus form is the Grim? Ironic, I suppose. Well, that would explain Halloween, and how he's gotten in and out of the castle undetected. It might explain the dementors, too, I reckon they don't affect non-humans the same way...

"Ouch, look, I just got walloped by the tree! And so did you. This is weird."

Harry and Hermione's figures were jumping and ducking and dodging the branches of the tree, trying to get to the roots.

The tree froze suddenly, and Hermione commented, "That was Crookshanks pressing the knot."

"And there we go. We're in."

The tree came to life again, and four figures came into view, heading toward the castle.

"Right after we'd gone down into the passage! If only Dumbledore had come with us," Hermione said bitterly.

"Macnair and Fudge would've come too, though, and I bet you anything Fudge would've told Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot."

Silence fell again, and neither of them spoke for a minute.

"How d'you reckon we'll explain this to Lucy in the morning?" Harry wondered aloud. "I mean, she'll be happy to know Buckbeak's alright, but will she believe... well, everything else?"

"You know..." Hermione replied, sounding mildly amused, "I think she just might."

"I'm still trying to believe it all myself," Harry said. "All those years locked away in Azkaban for a crime he didn't commit, while Pettigrew was free."

"Not entirely free. He was Scabbers for twelve years, after all."

What. In. Merlin's. Name. Is. Going. On.

Harry shuddered. "I've shared a dormitory for three years with the man who betrayed my parents and I didn't even know it."

"At least you didn't share a bed with him," Hermione pointed out. "Poor Ron."

"Oh, here comes Lupin!"

Surely enough, Professor Lupin was hurtling down the castle stairs in the direction of the Whomping Willow. I glanced worriedly at the sky. It was almost time to take the potion. Did he drink it in time?

Professor Lupin, knowing the secret of the Whomping Willow, prodded the knot with a long branch and disappeared into the tunnel.

"If he'd only grabbed the cloak... it's just lying there," Harry moaned. "If I just dashed out now and grabbed it, Snape'd never be able to get it and-"

"Harry, we mustn't be seen!"

"How can you stand this? Just standing here and watching it happen?" He paused briefly. "I'm going to grab the cloak!"

"Harry, no!" Hermione only barely managed to grab the back of his robes in time. Hagrid started heading toward the castle, singing and staggering, clearly a tad tipsy. "See? See what would have happened? We've got to keep out of sight! No, Buckbeak!"

Buckbeak started straining toward Hagrid again. I whistled again desperately, and Buckbeak turned in my direction. I ducked quickly behind my tree again, holding my breath. What was I thinking?

"What d'you reckon that is?" Harry asked.

"Must just be a bird in the forest," Hermione replied in a high-pitched voice.

"That only makes a sound when Buckbeak gets agitated and tries to follow Hagrid?"

"Shh! Here comes Snape!"

Surely enough, Professor Snape rushed toward the tree and grabbed the Invisibility Cloak.

"Get your filthy hands off it," Harry growled. "That was Dad's."

"Shh!" Hermione hissed as Snape froze the Whomping Willow and threw the cloak over himself.

"So that's it. We're all down there, and now we've just got to wait until we come back up again..." Hermione tied Buckbeak's rope to the nearest tree and sat down.

Silence fell for a long time. I tried to wrap my head around the bits and pieces I'd gathered from their conversations, but nothing made any sense. Peter Pettigrew was supposed to be dead, but he was somehow Scabbers? Was he an Animagus, too, like Sirius Black? And how did Professor Lupin fit into all of this? I watched the sky, trying to process all of these things, but no epiphanies came to me. I'd need someone to explain everything in excruciating detail in the morning... if I made it to the morning. The back of my neck tingled with a sense of foreboding --- something told me this night was far from over.

"Harry, there's something I don't understand," Hermione said suddenly. "Why didn't the dementors get Sirius? I remember them coming, and then I think I passed out. There were so many of them."

Harry sat down beside her. "After you collapsed, I kept trying, but one dementor eventually got to me. Just before it kissed me, though, something massive and silver galloped across the lake and forced all of them to retreat."

"But what was it?"

"There's only one thing it could have been, to make the dementors go. A real patronus. A powerful one."

"But who conjured it? Didn't you see what they looked like? Was it one of the teachers?"

Harry sounded somewhat uncomfortable, as if he didn't want to admit who he had seen. "No. He wasn't a teacher."

"But it must have been a really powerful wizard, to drive all those dementors away! If the patronus was shining so brightly, didn't it light him up? Couldn't you see who it was?"

"Yeah, I saw him, but... maybe I imagined it. I wasn't thinking straight, I passed out right afterward-"

"Who did you think it was?"

"I think... I think it was my dad."

"Oh Harry," I whispered, feeling my heart break for him. How terrible it must have been to have had that hope, knowing full well it couldn't possibly really be his dad.

"Harry, your dad's --- well --- dead," Hermione said.

"I know that."

"You think you saw his ghost?"

"I don't know... no, he looked solid..."

"But then-"

"Maybe I was seeing things, but from what I could see... it looked like him. I've got photos of him... I know it sounds crazy."

Harry lapsed into silence. I wanted nothing more than to emerge from where I was hiding and wrap my arms around him and tell him it was okay and do my best to comfort him however I could, but I glanced up at the sky. It was time to take my potion.

I lifted the goblet to my lips nervously. The night was still and silent. Any noise I made would surely be heard. I couldn't afford to make a single sound, or else I'd give myself away.

But this was my fourth month of practice. I chugged the potion silently, not stopping once or making a single sound of protest. Once it was gone, I threw the goblet as far as I could to the left so I could make a speedy escape to the right, so I'd be far enough away from them that they wouldn't see me again at least until at least after I'd transformed fully. The werewolf Harry might not recognize, but if he saw me in human form... I was completely screwed.

Figures began to emerge from the Whomping Willow. I couldn't make them out from how far away I was, but before I could think about it any more, a million burning knives plunged into my skin. A scream escaped my lips, then another, and another. My screams morphed into howls and whines, and then it was over.

I saw Hermione and Harry sprinting away, so I bounded after them. I needed to keep them safe. I heard Professor Lupin howling in the distance --- there was no way he'd taken his wolfsbane potion. The thought of running into him, fully wild and unaware of himself, was a terrifying one, but I realized with a jolt I was the only one who could keep everyone else safe.

Harry and Hermione rushed into Hagrid's with Buckbeak and latched the door behind them. I positioned myself just outside the pumpkin patch, careful to hide myself from view of any of the windows, and stared into the night. I heard distant yelps and cries, but I saw nothing. I knew that Harry and Hermione would need to leave Hagrid's eventually, to get Sirius... somehow.

I wasn't expecting it so soon. Within five minutes of entering Hagrid's, Harry was leaving again.

How am I supposed to protect them both if Harry's on his own? Oh, bloody hell, I hope Hermione understands what I'm asking even without me being able to speak.

I rushed to Hagrid's door and scratched at it with a front paw, whimpering quietly.

"Lucy? Hit the door again if that's you."

I bumped it with my snout.

"Go with Harry. I'll be safe here."

I whimpered again, hoping she'd interpret it as "Are you sure?"

"Yes, I'm sure. Go protect him."

I bumped the door one more time and bounded after Harry, who was running toward the sounds of the struggle. He reached the shore of the lake, and I followed his gaze. He, Hermione, and Sirius (in human form, I realized) were swarmed with dementors. The Harry across the lake was valiantly trying to conjure a patronus, but his attempts were nothing more than silvery wisps. The Harry only a couple meters in front of me was watching, his hands anxiously fidgeting with his wand.

He bounced on the balls of his feet, looking from side to side. "Come on! Where are you? Dad, come on!"

The Harry across the lake was swooped up by a dementor that had dropped its hood. I lowered myself to the ground and whined softly. This was horrible to watch, but someone was coming to save Harry... right?

Suddenly, the Harry closest to me froze. He clutched his wand tightly, took a step forward, and shouted, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

From the tip of his wand burst a massive animal, so bright it hurt my eyes. It charged down the dementors, forcing every last one of them away. Once they had gone, the animal turned to face us.

It was a beautiful stag. Harry reached forward toward it hesitantly. "Prongs," he whispered, voice tight with emotion.

I jumped to my feet, suddenly aware of Hermione and Buckbeak rushing toward the scene.

"What did you do? You said you were only going to keep a lookout!" Hermione hissed.

"I just saved all our lives, get behind this bush, I'll explain."

I glanced across the lake at the limp forms of Sirius, Harry, and Hermione. I needed to help somehow, before the dementors came back.

I darted around the perimeter, running as fast as I could, and gently took the hood of Hermione's robes in my mouth, tugging her away from the water's edge. I then grabbed Sirius by the shoulder, careful not to disturb any of the claw marks already marring his emaciated frame. Even unconscious, I could see the years of pain etched on his face. He was innocent, after all this time.

I grabbed Harry last, gently dragging him until he was between Hermione and Sirius.

"Stupefy!" came a familiar drawl, and I found myself launched three meters into the air before landing on the floor. Professor Snape stood there, wand pointed directly at me.

I whimpered, cowering away from him.

It's me! I wanted to scream. It's Lucy! I'm trying to help!

"Oh, my bad," he sneered. "At least one werewolf took their potion."

I bobbed my head up and down in what I hoped was a nodding motion and stepped forward to nudge Harry's foot.

"I can take it from here."

I realized that a stretcher bearing Ron's unconscious form already floated behind him. With a flick of his wand, Harry, Hermione, and Sirius were lifted onto stretchers too.

"You might suggest to Potter that he keep his nose out of other people's business," he said suddenly. "It would certainly save him and his equally-nosy friends a lot of trouble. Run along now, and keep Lupin away from us."

He then headed up to the castle, the four stretchers floating eerily behind him. I darted back across the lake toward Harry and Hermione.

"Hermione," Harry was saying, "did that werewolf look like Lucy's boggart to you?"

"Ah... I don't know."

"I wonder if she saw that werewolf that night she was attacked here first year. Maybe that's why she's afraid of werewolves. But that one seemed so tame..."

"Yeah, maybe," Hermione agreed. She cleared her throat and checked her watch. "Right, it's nearly time. 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."

Harry nodded, watching as Buckbeak began looking around for worms to eat. I retreated into the bushes, deciding to make a brief perimeter run to make sure nothing harmful was nearby.

Fortunately, I saw nothing. Professor Lupin was far away, wherever he was. When I returned, Harry was standing and stroking Buckbeak's feathers, his back to Hermione.

I made a quiet noise in my throat to get her attention. She turned toward me, initially startled, but she relaxed when she saw me.

"Hi," she whispered almost-inaudibly. "How are you?"

I cocked my head and laid down beside her.

"Right, sorry, yes or no questions. Are you okay?"

I bobbed my head in the same nodding gesture. I stepped forward and nudged her with my snout.

"I am, too. Are you confused?"

I nodded again, much more emphatically.

She managed a smile. "It'll all make sense in the morning." She reached forward shyly. "May I?"

I bowed my head, and she scratched behind my ears.

"You know, you're small as far as werewolves go. You're no monster, Lucy." She sighed. "Thank you for keeping us safe tonight. I'm glad you're here." She stopped scratching my ears then and stood up. "You can go now, we're going to save Sirius."

She made her way over to Harry, then froze.

"Look! Who's that? Someone's coming back out of the castle!"

She pointed, and Harry followed her gaze.

Harry gasped. "Macnair! The executioner! He's gone to get the dementors! This is it, Hermione!"

The two of them climbed onto Buckbeak's back, Hermione behind Harry. I couldn't help but feel a pang of jealousy as she wrapped her arms around his waist.

Harry dug his heels into Buckbeak's sides, and the majestic creature soared into the sky. I watched them until they disappeared from sight, then headed back into the forest.

I studied the skies anxiously, waiting to see Buckbeak again, with one rider on his back. Finally, I saw them, silhouetted against the full moon. It was quite a surreal thing to behold.

I ran all the way until I reached the edge of the forest closest to Hagrid's hut again, then curled up into a ball, passing into sleep eventually.

Buckbeak was safe. And, even more importantly, so was Harry.

The next morning, it was Hermione I saw rushing down from the castle, not Cedric. I was confused for a second, then the events of the night came rushing back to me all at once. I raced toward her and flung my arms around her neck.

"Are you okay?" I asked. "What happened? Is everyone okay?"

"We're all okay," she murmured, burying her face in my neck. She was trembling horribly. "Are you? What did you do the rest of the night?"

"I waited until I saw Sirius and Buckbeak fly away, then slept for a couple hours. Hermione, I'm so tired," I cried softly. "Four months of wolfsbane, then Cedric leaving, then last night... I want to sleep forever."

"I think Harry wants to talk to you first," she said, finally breaking away from me. She reached forward and gently wiped a tear from my cheek. "I told him you'd be waiting for him in the common room when he woke up this morning. He wants to explain everything to you himself. Do you think you could do that? I can tell him you're still sleeping."

I shook my head. "I want to see him. Is he already awake?"

"No, but he should be soon enough. You probably have enough time to shower if you want."

"I definitely do," I chuckled.

We walked up to the castle side-by-side, Hermione asking a couple more questions about my night. I had many, many, many questions about hers, but I knew it was more Harry's story than anyone else's.

I showered quickly and climbed into clean robes. I made my way down the stairs quietly, as it was still pretty early in the morning, especially for the Saturday after final exams, and spotted Harry immediately.

He was already sitting in the window seat, gazing out the window with a thoughtful expression on his face. His dark hair was tousled, and his green eyes were tired, and his face was still scratched, but I doubted I had ever been happier to see him than I was in that moment. He was so lost in thought he hadn't heard me come down, so I made my way over to him and said a quiet "Hi, Harry" before sliding into the seat across from him.

"Hi, Lu. So..."

"So," I repeated, smiling. "So I hear from Hermione you had quite the night."

"Buckbeak is alive and well," he reported with a grin. "I figured you'd be quite happy to hear that."

I nodded excitedly. "That's amazing! How'd you manage?"

He raised his eyebrows, adjusting the way he was sitting on the seat. "Well... how long do you have?"

"For you? As long as you need. Tell me everything."

And he did.

He told me about going down to Hagrid's and finding Scabbers. He told me about Scabbers biting Ron and trying to escape, only for Ron to be grabbed by a massive black dog. He told me about he and Hermione chasing Ron, Scabbers, and the dog into a tunnel under the Whomping Willow that led to the Shrieking Shack. He told me about finding out that Sirius Black was the dog. He told me about Professor Lupin coming to the Shrieking Shack. He told me about Professor Lupin being a werewolf, and about the creators of the Marauder's Map and their Animagus abilities. He told me about Snape's sudden appearance, and the explanation of his bitterness toward Harry and Professor Lupin, and the way they all attacked him. (I laughed out loud at that part and told him I wished I'd been a part of that. "I was thinking you'd say that," Harry told me with a knowing grin.) He told me about Scabbers being Peter Pettigrew all along. He told me about his parents' Secret-Keeper, who was actually Pettigrew and not Sirius Black, and how they came to reach that decision. He told me about Sirius's offer to have Harry live with him, and how quickly that dream crashed to the ground. He told me about Professor Lupin's transformation, and the dementors, and passing out.

"This is where it gets a little weird," Harry said, sighing and dragging his hand down his face.

"Harry," I said laughing, "this is where it gets a little weird?"

He grinned.

I smiled back. "I'd like to preface this by saying that I believe you, no matter how much weirder it gets. So go for it."

He told me about what happened in the Hospital Wing. He told me about the Time-Turner. He told me about everything lining up perfectly, about rescuing Buckbeak. He told me with pride about the patronus, and I got excited right along with him. He told me about successfully saving Sirius and Buckbeak, and arriving back in the Hospital Wing just in time.

And when it was all over, I found I really had nothing to say. Other than, "So your patronus is a stag?"

He nodded, and we exchanged a long, meaningful look.

"I think I'm going to go visit Hagrid," Harry said after a moment. "Pretend to check up on him after Buckbeak was 'executed.' Do you want to go with me?"

"I'm going to go visit Professor Lupin, actually." I sighed. "I reckon he feels... well, I can't even imagine how he feels. I'll meet you down there, though, in a little while."

"I'll get Ron and Hermione to go with me, I reckon Ron's leg is healed by now. See you there in a bit."

I headed down to Professor Lupin's office and knocked hesitantly on the door.

"It's just me, Professor," I called when there was no answer. "Lucy. Are you alright?"

The door opened suddenly, and I spotted Professor Lupin in the corner of the room bent over a suitcase. "Good morning, Lucy. So sorry, I must have missed your knock."

My heart stopped. "P-Professor Lupin, what... what are you doing?"

He still didn't look up from his packing. "I resigned first thing this morning. I'm assuming you know all that happened last night?"

"I-I do, but... but why?"

"Surely you understand I can't risk letting anything like that happen again. I might have bitten someone."

"I wouldn't have let you," I said, voice shaking uncontrollably. "I had my wolfsbane. I've been patrolling the Forbidden Forest every month since March. I was protecting Harry and Hermione the entire time."

"Be that as it may, Lucy," he said gently, "we were all extremely lucky."

"So is there no hope, then, Professor? For us? Can one bad night really... ruin everything?"

For the first time, he straightened up to look at me. He studied my face with an expression somewhere between sorrow and understanding and regret. He leaned back against his desk and drummed his fingers against the tabletop.

"You know as well as I do that the life we lead is... difficult," he began. "We have to be so extremely careful. And last night, I wasn't. I was caught up in the emotion of the moment, and I was careless. And carelessness on the part of werewolves is not easily forgiven, nor should it be." He drew his wand and pointed it at the floor of the classroom. "Expecto patronum!"

A beautiful silvery wolf erupted from his wand and raced around the room before vanishing in a flash of white.

"But this struggle to survive in a world that fears us makes the happiness we find all the more valuable. We can still choose to cling to happiness when it comes. I can still cast a patronus, against the odds, and you can too."

He sighed, tucking his wand away. "I am far from a role model, Lucy. I hope you can learn from my mistakes last night as well as you've learned from my lessons in the classroom. There is still hope for us. There is always hope. I'm sorry that I have to leave, but if I have managed to leave you with nothing else but hope, I will feel that I have done my best."

"C-Can I see your wand, Professor?" I asked, stepping forward.

"Of course," he said curiously as he passed it to me. I drew my own and compared the two.

"Cypress? With a unicorn hair core?"

Professor Lupin's eyes nearly popped out of his head. "Yes. Why?"

I laughed. "Mine, too. See, this is what I'll miss the most. You've understood me in a way no one else ever has. Cedric tries, he really does, and he's quite successful, but there are some things he will never be able to understand no matter how hard he tries." I passed his wand back to him, my smile fading. "I'm really going to miss you, Professor. Hogwarts won't be the same without you."

"That's very kind of you to say, Lucy. I must admit, I never expected to meet someone quite like you this year, but I'm tremendously glad I did."

I blushed. "I could say the same about you. Now, how can I help?"

We had been working together for about ten minutes when Professor Lupin said, "Harry's on his way, and quickly. I suspect he's just found out, and he's not thrilled, either."

"So... you are Moony, huh?"

"Guilty as charged," he said with a smile. "I take it Harry explained that, too?"

I nodded. "He explained everything. Little did he know that I was right there in the forest all along."

Surely enough, Harry arrived a couple minutes later.

"I just saw Hagrid," he panted, "and he said you'd resigned. It's not true, is it?"

"I'm afraid it is," Professor Lupin said.

"Why? The Ministry of Magic don't think you were helping Sirius, do they?"

I closed the door behind Harry as Professor Lupin explained. "No. Professor Dumbledore managed to convince Fudge that I was trying to save your lives. 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."

My anger surged anew. He hadn't mentioned that Snape was the one responsible.

Harry seemed equally angry. "You're not leaving just because of that!"

Professor Lupin smiled. "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, and that must never happen again."

Harry looked at me desperately.

"I tried," I said softly. "I want him to stay as badly as you do." Even more than you do, I reckon, I added to myself.

He turned back to Professor Lupin. "You're the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher we've ever had! Don't go!"

"From what the headmaster told me this morning, you saved a lot of lives last night, Harry," Professor Lupin said after a moment. "If I'm proud of anything I've done this year, it's how much you two have learned. Tell me about your patronus."

"How d'you know about that?"

"What else could have driven the dementors back?"

Harry launched into the story, distracted.

Professor Lupin smiled when his story was through. "Yes, your father was always a stag when he transformed. You guessed right, that's why we called him Prongs. Come here, you two."

Harry and I approached his desk, and he passed Harry the Invisibility Cloak. "Here, I brought this from the Shrieking Shack last night. And..." He reluctantly passed the map back to Harry, too. "I am no longer your teacher, so I don't feel guilty about giving you back this as well. It's no use to me, and I daresay you two, Ron, and Hermione will find uses for it."

Harry smiled. "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."

"And so we would have! 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."

Harry shoved everything out of sight when there was a knock at the door. Professor Dumbledore walked in, not looking surprised to see either of us there with Professor Lupin.

"Your carriage is at the gates, Remus," he said.

"Thank you, Headmaster."

Professor Lupin closed his case and turned to Harry first. "Well... goodbye, Harry. It has been a real pleasure teaching you. I feel sure we'll meet again sometime."

He turned to me, but before he could speak, I stepped forward and hugged him tightly. "Please don't go," I said, feeling near tears again.

He chuckled kindly, seeming surprised by my sudden hug. "I'm afraid I must, Lucy. I'm sure we will meet again, too. Remember what I told you this morning."

I released him, blinking away my tears and finding a smile somewhere deep inside me. "I will, Professor."

Professor Lupin turned to Dumbledore. "Headmaster, there is no need to see me to the gates, I can manage."

"Goodbye, then, Remus," he said, and the two men shook hands. I sat on top of the nearest desk as Professor Lupin left, feeling much the same way I had felt when Cedric left the day prior. Empty. Cold.

The door closed, and I drew my wand, fiddling with it in my hand. Professor Lupin and I had nearly the same wand... imagine that.

I jumped when Professor Dumbledore spoke. I hadn't realized he was still there. "Why so miserable, Harry? You should be very proud of yourself after last night."

"It didn't make any difference... Pettigrew got away."

"Didn't make any difference? It made all the difference in the world, Harry. You helped uncover the truth. You saved an innocent man from a terrible fate."

Harry jolted suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore, yesterday, when I was having my Divination exam, Professor Trelawney went very... very strange."

I glanced up suddenly. "You started to tell us yesterday, then the Buckbeak thing..."

"Indeed? Er, stranger than usual, you mean?" Dumbledore clarified.

"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 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 pursed his lips. "Do you know, Harry, I think she might have been. Who'd have thought it? That brings her total of real predictions up to two. I should offer her a pay raise."

"But... but... I stopped Sirius and Professor Lupin from killing Pettigrew! That makes it my fault if Voldemort comes back!"

"It does not. 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. Professor Trelawney, bless her, is living proof of that. You did a very noble thing, in saving Pettigrew's life."

"But if he helps Voldemort back to power-"

"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."

Harry was having considerable trouble breathing at this point. "I don't want a connection with Pettigrew! 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." Dumbledore paused before speaking again. "I knew your father very well, both at Hogwarts and later, Harry. He would have saved Pettigrew too, I am sure of it."

"I thought it was my dad who'd conjured my patronus," Harry said softly. "I mean, when I saw myself across the lake. I thought I was seeing him."

"An easy mistake to make. I expect you'll tire of hearing it, but you do look extraordinarily like James. Except for the eyes; you have your mother's eyes."

"It was stupid, thinking it was him. I mean, I knew he was dead."

"You think the dead we 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." Dumbledore smiled. "Last night Sirius told me all about how they became Animagi. An extraordinary achievement; not least, keeping it quiet from me. You know, Harry, in a way, you did see your father last night. You found him inside yourself."

Dumbledore turned to me then. "As for you, Miss Diggory. I understand you've been through a fair amount in the past 24 hours as well. I think perhaps it would benefit both of you to celebrate your newfound freedom from exams and the threat of Sirius Black with a lap around the castle on your brooms. It looks like it will be a beautiful blue-sky day, after all."

With that, he smiled again and left the room.

"Oh yeah," Harry said after a moment. "In all that, I forgot Cedric left, too. How are you?"

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't sad. Tired, too," I admitted, thinking of a story on my feet. "I mean, I didn't exactly sleep very well last night after Hermione never came back to the dormitory. But..." I smiled. "A ride around the grounds sounds great to me. I reckon you can beat me in a race again, Mr. Firebolt."

Harry grinned back. "I reckon I can. Let's test it, shall we?"

A/N: Eek! I know a lot of you have been looking forward to this particular scene for a loooong time, so I hope I didn't disappoint!

Sorry Harry doesn't find out about Lucy's secret in this chapter... I'm sure a lot of you were hoping for that. I won't tell you when he does find out, but I promise he will. I have a very specific idea for how and when he finds out, and I'm really excited about it, so I hope you can all forgive me for not having him find out in this chapter.

Oh, and about Lucy's wand! I took the house test, wand test, and patronus test before reading the books a little over two years ago. My wand was cypress with a unicorn core, and I didn't think much of it. As it turned out, one of my favorite characters, Remus Lupin, had nearly the exact same wand! 😂 It honestly seemed too perfect an opportunity to pass up, especially considering how much Lucy already has in common with Lupin.

As always, thank you for reading! See you next chapter with the end of third year!