
Chapter 25 Back in Time
TW: Blood/minor gore
Making their way through the low tunnel Sirius continuously taps Severus' unconscious head against the low ceiling. Harry chuckles but Lily gasps in outrage.
"Stop that! You'll hurt him." She scolds in a whisper and Sirius stops with a grumble.
As they exit the tunnel they take in the clean night air as the bright full moon shines down upon them. Setting off towards the castle they all stop as Lupin freezes. His eyes go wide and his movements become jerking as he begins turning into a werewolf. Ron crumbles to the ground as Remus pushes away from him.
A lot of shouting and scrambling is had as they try to stop Peter from transforming and disappearing, but they are unsuccessful.
Sirius is hugging Remus' struggling form as he transforms, shouting for him to remember himself and the life he is living.
Severus wakes up from his stupor shielding the children as Remus fully transforms.
Having never seen a werewolf in person Lily feels she just may faint as his big black eyes seem to stare right through her, he lets out a guttural howl before taking a step towards them.
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As the dark wolf took a step forward Sirius changed quickly, jumping at him, wolf and dog fighting for a chance at the children, one wanting to save them, the other wanting to kill them.
Screams shriek through the night as Moony's teeth sink into Sirius, with a jerk of his head he throws the dark dog away from them. He crashes through the bushes and out of sight. Lily screams, clutching Professor Snape's robes and Moony lets out a growl looking towards them. Opening his large jaws Moony lets out an eerie, primal noise that conveys both animal instinct and an unsettling hint of human anguish. The guttural noise shakes them all to their core as saliva goes flying. With a swipe of his large claws, he slashes through Severus' torso, his claws clinging to his skin as he throws him to the side. He doesn't get back up.
The children shake, and tears run down Lily's face as Moony stalks towards them, he goes to attack when howling echoes through the air. He freezes, listening closely before turning and taking off into the forest. Without a second to lose Harry takes off towards where Sirius was thrown.
Hermione runs to Ron, who lies passed out from pain in the grass Lily rushes to a fallen Severus. Grabbing onto his arm she turns him over to his back, gasping at the gaping wounds in his torso. Knowing there is no time for panic she takes the bottom of his robe, wrapping it around him and pressing the fabric to his bleeding skin. Silence suffocates her, it presses in on her, choking her. Her broken breathing is the only sound present. She doesn't know what to do, she feels helpless.
Hermione's jeans ruffle as she walks closer. Lily turns to her, speaking through sobs. "H-Hermione, what do I d-do." She doesn't know any healing spells, they haven't gotten that far in charms yet. "Hermione do y-you know an-ny healing sp-pells?"
Hermione just stares at all the blood breathing hard. "I-I do, I just can't r-rememb..." Her eyes roll into the back of her head and she falls back in a faint.
Lily turns back to Severus, mortified because he is dying there in front of her and she doesn't know what to do. Racking her brain the only sort of healing or mending spell she can think of isn't for human use but it is the best shot. She doesn't have a choice, if she doesn't act soon he'll bleed out. Carefully removing the cloak from his torn torso she holds her wand out, her hand sticky with his blood. She lets out a hesitant reparo and cringes as the skin roughly knits itself back together. Finally, the wound isn't bleeding and in its place is a mangled roughly patched sheet of skin. Stepping back she looks over the dark grounds, all alone with three unconscious bodies and no brother in sight she is once again at a loss.
The sound of a twig snapping has her staggering back in fear, gripping her wand out in front of her, fearing Moony has come back to finish what he started. A dappled centaur walks out of the forest, his eyebrows furrowed as he takes in the unconscious children and bloody professor. The little girl standing over him face wet with tears, "What has happened here?"
Lily sobs out, "Please, our professor, he turned into a werewolf. I-I tried to heal him but it looks bad, we need h-help!"
Stepping closer he takes in the blood covering her hands up to her elbows, the front of her pajamas splattered, blood on her face as well. He turns his head to the other two children who appear to be unharmed. "Has the werewolf attacked them as well?"
She shakes her head, "They fainted, she saw the blood, and his leg is broken."
Clopping across the ground closer, the centaur knees next to the fallen professor. Turning the man towards him he takes in his mangled knit skin. With a grimace he pulls a horn from his hip, blowing it. Three more centaurs run out of the woods, he explains and each one grabs an unconscious character. He has Lily get onto his back before they step off. "We go."
Before they could start towards the castle, Lily spoke up louder. "My brother," she pauses as they all look at her. "He went that way, chasing something." She doesn't want to tell them who, but she must ensure he is okay.
Taking Severus from his fellow, the leader sends his friend to get him as he carries them back to the castle. He speaks up as they cross the yard, "What is your name child?"
"My name is Lily-Kathryn Potter, but most everyone just calls me Lily now." Before she can overthink or dwell on this he speaks back up.
"It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss Lily, I am Magorian. The leader of the centaurs." She hugs closer to Magorian.
"Thank you Magorian, I owe you so much now." The centaur shakes his head.
"I do not hold children in debt. We are meant to help those who cannot help themselves. If you need help, I shall help you." Arriving at the castle Dumbledore along with the Minister and Professor McGonagall meet them outside, they gasp at the look of Severus, calling on Poppy and levitating everyone to the hospital wing.
Before she can go inside Lily hugs Magorian around his half-horse waist. "Thank you Magorian, I know you don't hold onto debts but know I will remember this. If you ever need anything just let me know."
Magorian kneels on her level. "Miss Lily, I shall remember this night." He turns to his brother holding out a hand. He receives something that he then places into Lily's hand. It is a small horn. "Should you need us, blow this and we shall be there."
"Please call me Lily."
"Then you must call me Mags."
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Severus sits up with a gasp, clutching his front in pain. He looks around the hospital wing, confused. Looking down, his chest is wrapped up tightly. Hearing his awakening Lily and Poppy rush to his side. He gasps in pain, wheezing. "What has happened?" He wheezes out.
Poppy puts a hand on his shoulder, pushing him gently to lay back. "You need to rest, you've been through so much tonight. I'm going to get you some water."
He turns to Lily who looks close to tears. "Come here," He says in a soft voice, opening his arm. She curls up against his side, careful of his wounds. She tearfully explains how he was swiped by Professor Lupin and then she tried to help him. "I'm so sorry," she sobs out. "I tried to h-help b-but I didn't know-w any healing sp-pells. So I u-used reparo, and now-w you're gonna have a bad sc-car." She has to pause to gasp for breath.
Severus hugs her and shushes her cries. "You saved my life, my girl. Please, don't cry."
Poppy re-enters the room with a pitcher of water and a cup, "My dear, while it may not be pretty, that spell saved his life." she turns to Severus, watching him take small sips. "Had she not cast that spell you would've bled out long before you could reach us."
The door to the hospital wing opens as Dumbledore and Fudge float in an unconscious Harry. Setting him up in bed. "Sirius Black has been caught, we have him locked up in Professor Flitwick's office..."
Severus does not wait another second, he is standing before they can blink. Poppy splutters for him to sit back down immediately but he does not listen. He pulls on his cloak, and ruffles Lily's hair, before flying out of the room, closely followed by the other two men.
In the meantime, Poppy teaches Lily how to bandage Ron's leg, and she teaches her the spell for healing wounds after she practically begs her. They take care of the scratches on Harry's hands and face, this gives her a bit of practice using Episkey. Poppy decides to wait to use the smelling salts to wake Hermione because she would like to keep the Hospital wing a quiet, peaceful place. She knows that once she wakes up Lily will not be able to practice anything or keep being able to learn undisturbed. After about an hour of learning and chatting with Ron, they revive Hermione with some smelling salts. She flitters around the room touching things and talking a ton Lily walks to Poppy's storage room to get a moment alone and to grab some chocolate for everyone.
Shouting has her running back into the room. Poppy's angry voice echoes through the room, "For Heaven's sake! Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist-"
"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr. and Miss Potter, as well as Miss. Granger." Dumbledore placates, a gentle hand on Madam Pomfrey's arm she sighs and walks into her office. "I have just been speaking to Mr. Sirius Black-"
Severus rolls his eyes. "I suppose he's told you the same fairy tale he's planted in Potter's mind? Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive-"
"Indeed that is his story," Dumbledore says.
Severus is then cut off by the Minister, "The dementors should have arrived by now, Dumbledore, we need to meet them."
"I'll be just a moment, now you all go. I need to speak to the children."
"Alright, don't take too long."
Severus grabs Dumbeldor's upper arm and they whisper to one another before Severus leaves. The three teens begin talking over each other trying to explain but Dumbledore just holds up a hand to get them to stop. He gives them time to explain before he speaks.
A clock chimes, "Mysterious thing, time. Powerful. And, when meddled with... dangerous." He turns to Hermione, "Sirius Black is being kept in Professor Flitwick's office, thirteenth window to the right of the West tower. You know the laws, and mustn't be seen, Miss. Granger. I feel it would be best for you to return before this last chime. If not... well the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. Three turns should do it, I think. If you succeed, more than one innocent life may be spared." As he walks to the door and speaks over his shoulder, "I find when in doubt, the beginning is a very good place to start."
Ron sits up in his bed, saying what they all were thinking. "What in the bloody hell was he going on about?"
Hermione doesn't respond, she waves Lily closer to them and places a pendant's chain around their necks, excluding Ron. "Sorry Ron, but seeing as you cannot walk..." She twists the pendant and everything changes. The room is the same but flitters of people blur throughout the room, light seems to change.
Looking around the now empty hospital wing Lily-Kathryn asks what they all were thinking, "What was that?"
At the same time, Harry throws his head around as he turns violently in a circle, "Wha, what just happened?! Where's Ron!?"
Hermione continues ignoring their questions, eyeing the clock, "Seven-thirty, where were we at seven-thirty?"
Harry looks sort of confused, "Huh, oh uh, I dunno...going to Hagrids?"
Hermione rushes from the room, followed closely by the Potter duo. The squeaks of Lily's night slippers echo throughout the hall as well as the swishing of the other's trousers.
Reaching the end of the bridge they duck down beneath it, the backs of three people walking towards Draco Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyal.
"Is that... you?" Lily asks, moving closer to listen as Hermione shushes her.
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Draco's POV
Having just left Lily at the Great Lake he walks up the hill, Crabbe and Goyal in tow. They have to be there for Harry's feelings or something. Crabbe and Goyal are being absolute idiots, per usual. Draco cannot help his laughter and they begin to push each other. It's like watching two toddlers fight.
Suddenly he hears yelling behind him and whirls around to see a wand in his face. "You're foul, how can you laugh when this is all your fault!!" Hermione screams at him.
Draco slams into the wall as Harry and Ron hold her back. "Hermione, no!" "He's not worth it!"
He holds his hands out in front of him, frightened. "Hey, listen, I tried to get them to stop but it was too late!" He says to Harry.
Ron becomes angry as well, "You should've tried harder!!"
Draco also becomes annoyed, "Stay outta this Weasley."
Hermione snaps as well, "He's right, we don't need you here!"
"I'm not here for you!" He yells.
Ron becomes more aggressive, "Don't talk to her that way!"
"Shut up Weasley!" Draco shoves her wand out of his face and shoulders through her and Ron as he makes his way towards the castle.
"Malfoy!" Hermione calls, as Draco turns back to her she punches him in the nose.
Draco falls to the ground holding his nose in pain. Dragging himself up he faces Harry, "Nice friends you've got here." The modern trio hides as he walks back to Slytherin house with the two idiots. "This is the last time I do something I don't want to do just because Lily asked me to." They hear him nasally mutter to his friends.
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Lily's POV
Lily turns to her brother and his friend as they have the decency to look ashamed. Hermione realises she misjudged the situation and was the instigator.
Hermione talks before Lily can say anything, "We need to get down to Hagrids, we've gone back in time and Dumbledore wants us to do something." She looks down the hill to see Buckbeak in the pumpkin patch. "Of course! Dumbledore said if we succeed more than one innocent life could be spared."
Harry is confused, "Buckbeak? But...how will saving Buckbeak help Sirius?"
"We'll see." She responded.
Lily holds out a hand, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, we need an adult. We can fix everything!"
Hermione shakes her head, "Dumbledore said not to be seen."
"Yeah! By our past selves. But we could go explain everything to, let's say, Snape or McGonagall, and they could help us!" Harry's eyebrows bunch as Hermione shakes her head.
"No, no, no. We are going to do what Dumbledore wants us to do, go save Buckbeak." Hermione proclaims.
"You don't know what Dumbledore wants, he didn't tell you." She counterargues.
"I am not going to debate this with you, I wouldn't have brought you had I known you would act this foolishly. Now let's go, stop acting like a child." Hermione insults.
Lily becomes angry, her face turning red like her hair. "Then maybe you shouldn't have, but I don't trust Dumbledore. There's something he's not telling us. I am going to get help." She turns to leave but a hand grabs the back of her pajama shirt, and a couple of strands of hair are also caught.
"No, you are not, you need to do what we say." Hermione fusses.
Harry begins getting irritated with Hermione, "Hermione let her go!"
"Get your hands off of me!" She shouts, elbow making contact with Hermione's mouth.
"Ouch, you hit me!' Hermione shouts after her as Lily runs back across the bridge towards the school. She rolls her eyes before grabbing Harry's arm. "Come on Harry."
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Lily runs back into the school as she runs down to Severus' office. Banging her fist on his door she shouts for him, "Professor Snape, Professor Snape!"
He quickly opens the door taking in her haggard appearance, the blood on her shirt frightens him. "What has happened?"
She pushes past him into his office as he closes the door. Sitting down she gestures to another sofa. "You may want to sit down, I have to talk to you about something."
She explains everything, from Snuffles being Sirius Black, the meeting at the shrieking shack, Ron's rat being Peter Pettigrew, the werewolf attack, and Dumbledore sending them back in time. "I know it sounds crazy but you've got to believe me!"
Severus nods, "I believe you. Come on, we've got to stop this." Arriving at the whomping willow he instructs her to hide outside in some bushes. "You mustn't be seen, I will handle this."
What felt like many hours later she saw the group leave the tree, but nothing seemed to have changed. Severus is still unconscious, Lupin still turns into a wolf. Petegrue still turns into a rat and runs off.
Distraught, she barely notices the grass near her moving, silently she pulls out her wand, aiming at the moving bit of grass, Petrificus Totalus, she whispers. She gasps in shock at what she has done. Reaching out she gently grabs the frozen rat in shaking hands. Rushing through the castle she arrives back at Snape's office where she waits for him to come back. Looking around the room she finds an empty jar that she then places the rat inside.
When a beaten up and battered Severus re-enters the room she shows him, telling him this is Pettigrew. Severus tells her Sirius is supposed to receive the kiss as they speak so they rush from the room towards Professor Flitwick's office.
Speaking to the minister, they reveal the rat to be the man they thought dead. Strapping him to a chair as he begs and pleads, body wretched with sobs, Severus makes him drink a truth potion and the Minister gets him to admit everything. They tie him up and take him away to be tried in front of the ministry.
They are shocked to find Flitwick's office empty, the window open.
Severus walks Lily back to the infirmary and defends her when Dumbledore is displeased she goes rogue. He tells them all what she has accomplished before the adults leave the children to their healing. She and Harry sit together and eat chocolate, happy.
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The next morning Harry and Lily receive an unfortunate letter that they will still be going back to the Dursley's for the summer. Meeting with Remus they see him packing up his office.
"Are you leaving?" Harry asks heartbroken.
Remus nods, "I am, word has gotten out that a werewolf is teaching and I am sure I shall be sacked regardless once the children tell their parents."
They hug him sadly, "It'll be alright, you both have given me a gift I could've never had before now. The knowledge that the one I care about most did not kill my closest friends. When he finally receives the letter that they are re-opening his trial everything will be wonderful. So thank you." They laugh happily.
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