CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
↳ tick tok on the clock

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Many things in Elara questioned was the stupidity of men. She was questioning this right now as two men conversed while she sat, wide awake and waiting for her friends to all wake up.

"Shocking business... shocking... miracle none of them died... never heard the like... by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape..."

"Thank you, Minister."

"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I'd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!" So, Elara had grasped the concept now, he gets a stupid medal for bringing a decoy in as the substitute of an actual murderer.

Elara, who was sitting, crossed arms and legs on the bed thought to herself about the whole thing: I think the fuck not. Mentally, she had decided to no longer be on speaking terms with Professor Snape, mainly due to the fact he literally hexed her voice away. To be fair, he did tell her to shut up, but he never said the magic word.

"Thank you very much indeed, Minister."

"Nasty cut you've got there... Black's work, I suppose?"

"As a matter of fact, it was Potter, Weasley, Lupin and Granger, Minister..."

"No!" The minister gasped out, almost as if it was a Sunday afternoon tea with the mother's. Elara rolled her eyes.

"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately," Elara was now gaping at the two men. What the fuck? "A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behavior. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent"

"That's because he is innocent!" Elara butted in. But the two men continued ignoring her. "Why do I even bother?"

"You shouldn't bother with things you don't know you foolish girl!" Snape snapped at her, Elara swore she saw spit escaping his mouth.

"If I'm the fool you're the jester," she crossed her arm in front of her.

"Now, Severus, the girl's merely confounded," the minister excused, a fake smile on his face as he looked at the Lupin.

"I wasn't confounded!" Elara laid down on the bed, head against the pillow as she continued listening. Snape continued his lies, a story based on a cruel bias that developed out of envy and hatred. Why was the minister even bothering? Elara was so confused. It really wasn't far at all .

"Ah, well, Snape... Harry Potter, you know... we've all got a bit of a blind spot where he's concerned."

"And yet - is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally, I try and 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 -"

"I'll have you know that werewolf is my papa and he'll be the next scarewolf if you don't watch your mouth!" She snapped at him. "Honestly, mate, you were unconscious! Un-con-sious," she clapped her hands, still laying down on the bed as she listened. Snape, just like he usually did, bit his tongue and continued with his lies. Pathetic bitch.

"Well, well... we shall see, Snape, we shall see... The boy has undoubtedly been foolish..." the minister agreed with him. Elara was really tempted to smack him, but he had a lot of power and she wasn't about to dirty her hands. "What amazes me most is the behavior of the Dementors... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?" Elara could think of one logical thing: a Patronus. Nothing would drive them away unless it was a brilliant Patronus. Considering the amount, it must've been a great one.

The two men continued their conversation out in the corridors, Elara guessed it was so that she didn't interrupt and tell the truth every five seconds. She turned to her side, noticing Harry's eyes were open, darting around and then meeting hers. She simply pressed her fingers on her lips and hushed him, just like how Hermione had done. Her right hand was wrapped in bandages, littered in a huge purple bruise and she had somehow dislocated a joint. Poppy didn't question much though, she just assumed it was something from her punching someone, the healer didn't connect that she had punched Peter Pettigrew moments prior.

Madam Pomfrey now came walking up to Harry, carrying a huge chunk of chocolate. Elara couldn't help but feel envious and conspired with a way to get them to give it to her. "Ah, you're awake!" She said, smiling slightly. The sound of the small hammer hacking on the chocolate echoed in the room.

"How's Ron?" They all said together.

"He'll live," Madam Pomfrey replied grimly. "As for you three, you'll be staying here until I'm satisfied you're - Potter, what do you think you're doing? Oh for merlin's sake I already have to deal with Ms. Lupin and her stubbornness with her hand, how is it by the way?" Elara merely nodded, but Poppy wasn't having any of it and grabbed her wrist carefully, inspecting it. "You're just like your father, I tell you! Always refusing help and being way too stubborn for your own good!"

"Which one?"

"Depends, right now you're borderline Remus with a pinch of Black,"

"I need to see the headmaster," he said.

"Potter," Madam Pomfrey started soothingly, "it's all right. They've got Black. He's locked away upstairs. The Dementors will be performing the kiss any moment now -"

"WHAT?"

Harry had jumped out of his bed, Hermione following him and Elara slowly getting up, careful not to lean on her right hand. Cornelius Fudge, who seemed to be slowly pinching himself out of the sticky situation he was in, came into the room, agitated. "Harry, Harry, what's this?" He asked the boy, ignoring the two girls who were standing ( or in Elara's situation, sitting up ). "You should be in bed - has he had any chocolate?" he asked Madam Pomfrey anxiously.

"Minister, listen!" Harry said. "Sirius Black's innocent! Peter Pettigrew faked his own death! We saw him tonight! You can't let the Dementors do that thing to Sirius, he's -"

The Minister of Magic, the apparently all so great and wise wizard, shook his head with a smile. "Harry, Harry, you're very confused, you've been through a dreadful ordeal, lie back down, now, we've got everything under control..."

"YOU HAVEN'T!" Harry yelled. "YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!"

"Mate please!" Elara said, she sneezed out and then continued. "You're listening to a bias absolute cunt who has a massive grudge on the said man who's about to be snogged!"

"Minister, listen, please," Hermione begged, hurrying to Harry's side and was gazing imploringly into Fudge's face. "I saw him too. It was Ron's rat, he's an Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and -"

"You see, Minister?" Snape acted so nonchalant, as if they were delusional. Of course they weren't, they were truthful. "Confunded, all three of them... Black's done a very good job on them..."

Elara stood up and got to Harry's side, standing right by him. "WE'RE NOT CONFUNDED!" Harry roared.

"I mean this in the most inoffensive way. You. Were. Unconscious. Knocked out," Elara glared at Snape, her left hand on her waist as she eyed him displeasingly. "I'm willing to give actual evidence by using verista serum if it means you'll see the truth,"

However, Fudge refused this offer, simply stating Elara was 'confused and needed immediate rest' which was complete bullshit. She absolutely hated it. Elara knew many things about Poppy Pomfrey from her papa's stories. How she carried a turning werewolf to the shrieking shack every month and put herself at risk, constantly yelled at people for not letting her patients rest long enough, scarified her long nights to helping a student in pain. Elara knew all the tales, ones where she never allowed people in to see sick friends because she wanted to prioritise her patient, ones where she didn't care that her patient had been bitten by a dragon or that her patient had somehow turned into a feline. Elara had a lot of respect for Madam Pomfrey, so her shrieks at the minister were applaudable. Even when Madam Pomfrey stuffed a large chunk of chocolate into Harry's mouth, taking advantage of the gag reflex he had and forcing him down on his bed. "Now, please, Minister, these children need care. Please leave."

The door opened again. It was Dumbledore. Immediately, everyone's attention was brought onto the Headmaster, Harry immediately spoke up, "Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black -"

"For heaven's sake!" Poppy exclaimed hysterically. Her hands were resting on her waist as she breathed out in frustration. She narrowed her eyes at the man. "Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist -"

"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr. Potter, Miss Lupin and Miss Granger," Dumbledore requested 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 halfmoon spectacles.

"Do enlighten me on how likely it is that three teenage wizards and a man had time to converse a proper story," Elara mused. "I suppose-"

Snape looked down at her, spitting down at her. "You. Are. Confunded." He hissed out. "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 on the grounds."

"That was because you were knocked out, Professor!" Hermione exclaimed keenly. "You didn't arrive in time to hear."

"Miss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!"

"Excuse me," Elara spoke up. She sneezed out and rubbed the corner of her eyes and then continued, "you said 'does my evidence count for nothing?' yet you continuously belittle our aligning statements that match the circumstances way better than yours. Did you ever have us tested for a Confundus Charm? I'm sure it is very possible," however the sneer Snape gave her was nothing friendly.

"Now, Snape," said Fudge, startled and looking between Elara and the professor. "the young miss hasn't grown up with the best examples growing up, I'm sure she'll apologise -"

Before Elara could even come up with her words, Dumbledore said,"I would like to speak to Harry, Elara and Hermione alone, Cornelius, Severus, Poppy - please leave us."

"Headmaster!" sputtered Madam Pomfrey. "They need treatment, they need rest -"

"This cannot wait," Dumbledore said. "I must insist."

Poppy pursed her lips and walked away with a huff, marching off to her office, mumbling how they all needed rest and finally slamming the door. Madam Pomfrey pursed her lips and strode away into her office at the end of the ward, slamming the door behind her. Fudge consulted the large gold pocket watch dangling from his waistcoat. Looking at his pocket watch, gold and polished, the man spoke, "The Dementors should have arrived by now, I'll go and meet them. Dumbledore, I'll see you upstairs." He crossed to the door, holding it out for Snape, however the greasy Professor didn't move a bit.

"You surely don't believe a word of Black's story?" Snape whispered out, snarling at them slightly.

"I wish to speak to Harry, Elara and Hermione alone," Dumbledore repeated.

"Sirius Black showed he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen," he breathed out, glaring up at the Headmaster. "You haven't forgotten that, Headmaster? You haven't forgotten that he once tried to kill me?" Elara breathed something under the breathe, sounding very much like 'twat' and then coughed to hush it down. Harry turned slightly and smirked her way, most likely hearing what she had said.

"My memory is as good as it ever was, Severus," the headmaster replied, his voice low. Everyone watched as Snape stormed away, the door shutting behind him as Dumbledore turned to Harry, Elara and Hermione. They all burst into speech at the same time.

"Professor, Black's telling the truth - we saw Pettigrew - he escaped when Professor Lupin turned into a werewolf -"

"- he's a rat -"

"- he's an animagus-"

"- Pettigrew's front paw, I mean, finger, he cut it off -"

"- Pettigrew attacked Ron, it wasn't Sirius -"

"-They are seriously about to do CPR but with the opposite affect on my dad, you really need to reconsider-"

But Dumbledore held up his hand to halt the wave of explanations. "It is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there is very little time," he said in a hushed voice . "There is not a shred of proof to support Black's story, except your word - and the word of three thirteen-year-old-" Elara coughed 'fourteen' under her breathe. "-wizards will not convince anybody. A street full of eyewitnesses swore they saw Sirius murder Pettigrew. I myself gave evidence to the Ministry that Sirius had been the Potters' Secret-Keeper."

"But they switched! Use Verista serum for fucks sake!" Elara stomped her foot on the floor angrily.

"Professor Lupin can tell you -" Harry tried to tell him. Elara thought grimly on how her papa was currency deep in the forest, unable to be with them at this crucial time. Sadly, Sirius would soon be no more than a shell, a man with a name yet no memories of that said name everyone would call him.

"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."

"How is it more convincing?" Elara spluttered out, it was the most preposterous thing a supposed wise man could say. Dumbledore narrowed his eyes at her for a moment. "How many times do I have to emphasise that he was unconscious? We were conscious, I'm sure dementors can wait several more hours so that my papa can finally not be having a furry dilemma and tell them we are correct,"

"He hates Sirius," Hermione said desperately. "All because of some stupid trick Sirius played on him -"

"Sirius has not acted like an innocent man. The attack on the Fat Lady - entering Gryffindor Tower with a knife - without Pettigrew, alive or dead, we have no chance of overturning Sirius's sentence."

"But you believe us."

"Yes, I do," he replied, almost mutely if not for the utter silence lacing the whole room. "But I have no power to make other men see the truth, or to overrule the Minister of Magic..." Elara bit her lip and squeezed her left hand, anxiety creeping up as she thought more and more about the fate waiting to greet her dad. She had only gotten him back recently, but in a few moments, he would have no sense of who she was and that broke her. She wished for something more, she really did. Why were people in charge so useless? This wasn't doing Lily or James Potter justice, this wasn't honouring them. By performing the kiss on Sirius Black, the Ministry would dishonour the Potters.

A single ounce of Hope was poured back when Dumbledore spoke again, this light blue eyes moving to Hermione especially. "What we need is more time." Elara knew exactly what he was talking about. As much of a lunatic he was, he was also full of wisdom and knowledge that she wished for. Elara turned to Hermione and eyed her up when the girl gasped out in realisation. "Now, pay attention," started Dumbledore, speaking very low, and very clearly at the three. "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. But remember this, both of you: you must not be seen. Miss Granger, you know the law - you know what is at stake... You - must - not - be -seen." Dumbledore turned in his heel and reached the door. "I am going to lock you in. It is -" he consulted his watch, "five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck."

"Good luck?" Harry repeated as the door closed behind Dumbledore. "Three turns? What's he talking about? What are we supposed to do?"

"Harold," Elara breathed out. "What does a clock tell us?"

"The time?" Harry guessed, he wasn't completely sure and that was disappointing. "But Lara we haven't got any more time, Sirius will be worst than dead,"

Before Elara could even voice her gentle disappointment, Hermione pulled out the time turner and looked at Harry and Elara. "Elara, Harry, come here," she said urgently. "Quick!" She held the chain out, Elara moving closer along with Harry. "Here -" She had thrown the chain around their necks. "Ready?" she said breathlessly.

"I'm always ready when you are darling," Elara smirked out, looking up at Hermione with her large brown eyes that shone with glee. Hermione's eyes locked with hers and the two girls stared deeply into the other's for a moment.

"What are we doing?" Harry exclaimed as he watched Hermione turn the hour glass three times, just like Dumbledore had advised. She felt as though she was flying, swiftly as time washed past them in a blur of colours and figures. She couldn't even utter a word as they fell down this void of silence as time slowly became theirs and was woven in their dainty hands. They were standing in the deserted entrance hall, sunlight waving goodbye to them on the paved floor. Elara had never felt so amazed at something she had experienced.

"Hermione, what -?"

"In here!" Hermione seized their arms and dragged them across the hall to the door of a broom closet, closing the door behind them.

"What - how - Hermione, what happened?"

"We've gone back in time," Hermione whispered, lifting the chain off the two's necks in the darkness. "Three hours back..."

"Harry! This is the opportunity we need!" Elara saw the boy pinch his leg, blinking out as he realised this was all happening. She had resisted the urge to do that as well, this all seemed like a big dream she was imagining, or maybe a daydream she was having in the middle of History of Magic.

"But -"

"Shh! Listen! Someone's coming! I think - I think it might be us!" Hermione had her ear pressed against the cupboard door, Elara also moving close to join her as she too listened out. "Footsteps across the hall... yes, I think it's us going down to Hagrid's!"

"This is so exciting!" Elara hushed out as she heard her other self scold Harry for stepping on her feet.

"Are you telling me," Harry whispered, "that we're here in this cupboard and we're out there too?"

"Who else would it be?"

"Yes," said Hermione, her ear still glued to the cupboard door. "I'm sure it's us. It doesn't sound like more than four people... and we're walking slowly because we're under the Invisibility Cloak - " She broke off, still listening intently. "We've gone down the front steps..." as Hermione sat anxiously on the bucket, Elara joined her, grabbing her right hand with her left.

"Where did you get that hourglass thing?"

"Harry do you not read?" Elara shook her head at the oblivious boy. Did he really not know what a time turner was? "It's a time turner,"

"Elara is right, It's called a Time-Turner," Hermione whispered, "and I got it from Professor McGonagall on our first day back. I've been using it all year to get to all my lessons. Professor McGonagall made me swear I wouldn't tell anyone. She had to write all sorts of letters to the Ministry of Magic so I could have one. She had to tell them that I was a model student, and that I'd never, ever use it for anything except my studies... I've been turning it back so I could do hours over again, that's how I've been doing several lessons at once, see? But..." Hermione paused, deep in thought. She pressed her finger to her chin as she contemplated their situation, "Harry, El, I don't understand what Dumbledore wants us to do. Why did he tell us to go back three hours? How's that going to help Sirius?"

For a moment, Elara didn't have a clue either. They couldn't grab Scabbers, he was always with them so they'd see themselves and mess with time. The only wizards who know the wrath of time were too lost to ever tell those as a warning. Those people would not be joined by Elara, Hermione and Harry today.
"There must be something that happened around now he wants us to change," Harry said slowly. "What happened? We were walking down to Hagrid's three hours ago..."

"This is three hours ago, and we are walking down to Hagrid's," said Hermione. "We just heard ourselves leaving..."

"Obviously," Elara rolled her eyes. She tapped her feet on the floor. "Have any of you watched 'Back to the future'? If we fuck up our timeline, we will end up like Marty who ended up having his mum try and bang him or something," Hermione turned to her with a look of confusion. "What I'm trying to say is that if we mess up this timeline, we fuck up our timeline,"

"I don't think that's how it works..."

"Tomato, tomato, you know what I mean," she shrugged. "Besides that, we have to do something that'll end up saving my dad from a snog that he hasn't been waiting for. What's our plan of action?"

For a moment, the trio thought. Then, somehow Harry came up with an idea. "Dumbledore just said - just said we could save more than one innocent life..." And then it hit him like a pile of bricks, flattening him down with this shocking conclusion. "Hermione, Elara, we're going to save Buckbeak!"

"But - how will that help Sirius?"

"Hermione!" Elara laughed out. "He can escape on Buckbeak! That way two lives live! We can fly up to Flitwick's office, save my dad and he can escape with Buckbeak! It's brilliant, absolutely brilliant!"

Hermione turned to Elara, face shocked with frantic worry. "If we manage that without being seen, it'll be a miracle!" She looked beyond shaken, Elara ended up grabbing onto her hand so she wouldn't panic too much.

"Well, we've got to try, haven't we?" Harry asked rhetorically. He stood up and pressed his ear against the door and then turned to the two girls. "Doesn't sound like anyone's there... Come on, let's go."

The entrance hall was deserted. No more running and squealing children, no laughter, nothing. As quietly and quickly as they could, the three teenagers darted out the closet and down the stone steps. As the shadows grew more and more as the seconds past, Elara's hope shone more and more. The Forbidden Forest, which usually sat in complete, hollowing darkness, glistened with the softness of the sun's disappearing rays.

"If anyone's looking out of the window -" Hermione squeaked, looking up at the castle behind them.

Elara laughed out. "Oh sod them, doubt they would've seen us before! It's ourselves we should worry about!" Harry, who was too busy rushing determinately in front of the two girls, nodded. There was a slight possibility they'd be seen, slight but not impossible. They were all nimble on their feet, running would never be a struggle for them.

"Straight into the forest, all right? We'll have to hide behind a tree or something and keep a lookout -" Harry told the two girls.

"Okay, but we'll go around by the greenhouses!' said Hermione breathlessly. "We need to keep out of sight of Hagrid's front door, or we'll see us! We must be nearly at Hagrid's by now!" She was correct. Skirting around the Whomping Willow and squatting in the forest, they all anticipated what they already knew was going to happen. Silently, the three made their way around the trees, some branches brushing them carefully as they moved swiftly behind the safe shadows behind a wide oak three. They all watched as their past selves ( technically present selves considering they were in a different time frame ) conversed with a pale faced Hagrid who was unaware of the escapism his dear hippogriff would embark on.

"This is the weirdest thing we've ever done," Harry said fervently.

"I thought you-know-who being on the back of our teacher was the weirdest thing," Elara whispered out.

"There is not competition,"

"I beg to differ," Elara mumbled out again.

Hermione eyed up Elara for a moment, looking at her and then tearing her eyes away. "Let's move along a bit," Hermione whispered. "We need to get nearer to Buckbeak!" Buckbeak, the poor, helpless hippogriff remained as he did the last time Elara saw him alive. Tethered, unable to move around, he was held there and awaited death to finally untether him from the fence.

"Now?" Harry whispered.

Elara shook her head. "If we do that, those Committee bastards will think Hagrid did it! We need to wait just a bit more," Harry nodded. From the look of things, they had around sixty seconds. They had one minute, a simple minute, that is all they had. They waited a few moments, the jug shattering and Elara knew exactly who they would find next.

"Elara, Hermione," said Harry suddenly, "what if we - we just run in there and grab Pettigrew -"

"No!" said Hermione in a terrified whisper. "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, if I saw myself with a broken fist and two other people who are supposed to be next to me, I'd think I've spiralled down to wonderland and went as insane as the mad hatter!" Harry turned to look at her. "Wizards who meddle with time end up killing their past or present selves, fucking bullshit but apparently it's legit,"

"Okay!" said Harry. "It was just an idea, I just thought -" In the clearing, nearing the distant front doors stood Dumbledore, Fudge and Macnair. All three men trudged down the steps, just like the trio had done moments ago. Elara could only glance in that direction, her past self looking tearful and shaken up as she awaited the fate she believed would be given to Poor Beaky. She could only watch with softened eyes as Hagrid consoled Buckbeak and then the whole groups pleas to help their large friend. The four finally disappeared and the execution party arrived ( they were an awful party to say the least ).

"Where is the beast?" came the cold voice of Macnair. It sent chills down Elara's spine because of how apathetic it sounded. Careless that it would soon be responsible for yet another innocent murder. She wondered how someone could live such a way. Did it bring your conscious under immense weight? Did you ever stay up at night wondering why you had to watch as the life drained out of another's face? She could only assume Macnair never did that, his stoic face told her a story that he could hardly care for the life he was about to steal.

"Out - outside," Hagrid croaked. Finally, the executioner looked out the window, noticing the life he would soon fail to rob. This was enough. Macnair now couldn't accuse Hagrid of setting Buckbeak free, how on earth could he?

"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--" Vanishing from sight, Macnair's cold face turned away and now it was a race against time.

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

"I'm coming with you," Elara said in a hushed voice, following Harry as they approached Buckbeak.

"It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the Hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall he executed on the sixth of June at sundown-"

Elara could care less for what Fudge had to say. As soon as they approached Buckbeak, both bowed and the hippogriff bowed his. Her small brown hands rushed forward, grasping onto the knot. She focused on trying to help Harry free Buckbeak from the deathly knot that tied him to the fence. "Come on, come on," she repeated under the breathe as the pair hurried to free Buckbeak.

"Come on, Buckbeak," Harry murmured, "come on, we're going to help you. Quietly... quietly..."

Harry threw all his weight onto the rope, but Buckbeak had dug in his front feet. Elara could see there was a struggle. Think, think she silently scolded herself as she racked her brain for misplaced knowledge. What will get Buckbeak to move? For a moment, she couldn't move nor think. Harry's hissing continued but Buckbeak remained firm on the ground, almost as though he had accepted his fate. Maybe he had, Elara would never know. But what Elara did know was that- ferrets! Dead ferrets were swimming in a silver bucket just by Buckbeak, his last meal from Hagrid. She had no care about the slimy feeling of the dead animals, they weren't that bothering.

"Beaky, come on, come eat the dead Draco Malfoy," Elara hushed out, holding the dead ferret in front of her as she watched his orange eyes narrow slightly. "The boy you slashed in class," she clarified and the hippogriff eagerly moved forward, following the food. For a few moments, they had no clue whether the execution squad would see them. Then, Dumbledore started stalling them and they continued walking. Elara had her whole body turned towards Buckbeak, careful to make sure she didn't collapse onto the ground right then and there. "Here you go Beaky, come on," the hippogriff continued following her, jumping up as she threw another ferret up for them to scoff down. Hermione had also joined Harry in pulling Buckbeak, hoping to move him quickly. Soon enough, with a lot of effort and an awful stench, they had managed to hide away, staying out of site.

With a bang, Hagrid's door had opened and a reedy voice spluttered out in confusion, "Where is it?"

"Where is the beast?" Buckbeak whined slightly, brushing his head on her shoulder as he listened.

"Shh, Buckbeak, you aren't a beast," Elara hushed out.

"It was tied here!" said the executioner furiously. "I saw it! Just here!"

"How extraordinary," said Dumbledore. There was a note of amusement in his voice. Elara grinned to herself as she continued listening.

"Beaky!" said Hagrid huskily. There was a swishing noise, and the thud of an axe. The executioner seemed to have swung it into the fence in anger. And then came the howling, and this time they could hear Hagrid's words through his sobs. "Gone! Gone! Bless his little beak, he's gone! Must have pulled himself free! Beaky, you clever boy!" Elara felt the Hippogriff strain at Hagrid's voice and it took all their effort to keep him by them.

"Someone untied him!" the executioner was snarling, clearly livid that their axe remained unused. "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?" Actually Dumbledore, Elara smirked to herself. Actually we did. "Search the skies, if you will... Hagrid, I could do with a cup of tea. Or a large brandy." She pressed her hand against her mouth, then suddenly realising it was the same hand used for the dead ferrets. She spluttered out a small cough at the stench.

"Of - of course, Professor," said Hagrid, who sounded frail with unwavering happiness. Elara was so elated for him. He wouldn't see Buckbeak, not for a while, but at least his conscious wouldn't be held with the sadness of losing the hippogriff. "Come in, come in..."

With the snape of the door, Harry turned to the two girls. "Now what?"

"I haven't thought that far ahead," Elara replied sheepishly.

"What do you mean?" Harry rolled his eyes at her.

"Oh yes obviously I have a plan for everything even when I don't know what will happen,"

"What happened to being a nice Hufflepuff?" Harry asked her, sarcasm in his voice as it spilled into his words.

"Ah yes, the common stereotype," she sighed out. "Harold, aren't you the arrogant Gryffindor?"

Before Harry could even reply, Hermione snapped out, "Guys!" Elara turned to Hermione, who looked shaken up and nervous. "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..." She looked nervously over her shoulder into the depths of the forest. The sun was setting now. The blissful orange was no longer carrying a stolen life and the sky remained serene as the birds fluttered off to rest.

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

"We need to stay out of sight, Harold," Elara emphasised his name, grabbing onto Hermione's hand with her left hand and leading them through the edge of the forest, remaining deep in obscurity, hiding behind a clump of trees, watching the Willow cautiously.

"There's Ron!" said Harry suddenly. His outstretched finger pointing to where the ginger sprinted out to. They watched as the scene repeated again, Ron yelling at Crookshanks and then themselves emerging. "There's Sirius!" said Harry. Elara followed gaze and, in fact, stood her father in all his furry glory.

"Go dad!" She cheered out in small whisper. Harry sniggered besides her and they all watched carefully as the scene progressed.

"Don't worry! It's Snuffles, he's-"

"I was going to say 'he's harmless', but that was a fucking lie," Elara told the two. "He was a lovely stray before I knew he was my dad, kind of prefer him as a dog not going to lie," Harry snorted.

"How did you even find him? No one else could," Harry asked her.

Elara shrugged. "I didn't find him," Elara started. She watched as the dog pounced on Harry, knocking him to the ground. "Ah looks like he's found the ginger chew toy," she sighed out, rubbing her eyes with her hands.

"Looks even worse from here, doesn't it?" said Harry, watching the dog pulling Ron into the roots. "Ouch - look, I just got walloped by the tree - and so did you- and Elara got smacked in the nose ouch - this is weird -" faintly, Elara touched her nose as he said that. It twinged slightly at the touch of her hand, somehow it wasn't broken. "Lara how didn't your nose break?"

"How didn't your glasses break?" She sassed back. She heard him sigh and watched as the frantic Willow continued screaming around and lashing its lower branches and then it stopped. "Looks like my ickle baby Laurie and Crookshanks pressed the knot," she sighed out dreamily.

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

Soon as they vanished out of sight, everything resumed to normal. The tree continued its frantic discourse of violence, the execution party trudged up to the castle, slightly gloomy with three of them whereas Dumbledore seemed rather joyous. "Right after we'd gone down into the passage!" Exclaimed Hermione. "If only Dumbledore had come with us..."

"Macnair and Fudge would've come too," said Harry bitterly, he threw a rock on the floor, looking down bored. "I bet you anything Fudge would've told Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot..." They watched the four men climb the castle steps and disappear from view. For a few minutes the scene was deserted. No birds sung, no people laughed, everyone was stuck in an ever growing black void of silence. They watched on and then-

"Here comes Lupin!" said Harry as they saw another figure sprinting down the stone steps and halting toward the Willow. Harry looked up at the sky. Clouds were obnubilating the moon completely, disclosing the light that harmed her father under a blanket of unforgiving fate. Almost as though he had done it many times, Elara watched her papa pick up a broken branch and prod the knot, petrifying the tree completely. "If he'd only grabbed the cloak," said Harry. "It's just lying there..."He turned to Hermione and Elara, a lightening flash of determination flashing on his face.

"Harry no," Elara blurted out immediately. "Absolutely not,"

"You haven't heard what I said!" Harry whined out. "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?" he asked Hermione fiercely. "Just standing here and watching it happen?" He hesitated. "I'm going to grab the cloak!"

"Harry!" Elara pulled him back. "If we are seen, we are fucked up," Hermione had joined onto holding him back as well and soon enough cries of a drunken song echoed in the night, the voice belonging to Hagrid who was possibly celebrating Buckbeak's safety but also mourning it. "See?" Hermione whispered. "See what would have happened? We've got to keep out of sight! No, Buckbeak!" Buckbeak tried as hard as he could to get to Hagrid again and it took them all to hold him back. Elara tried the hardest she could, stroking his face as the hippogriff watched Hagrid stagger up to the castle.

His head drooped solemnly. "Shh Buckbeak, it's okay," Elara mumbled quietly, consoling him as he nudged her. Soon enough, Snape came charging out towards the Whomping Willow, his cloak dramatically sprawling around his figure as he wandered down to the tree. "Isn't he dramatic and over the top?" Elara laughed out, Hermione turning to look at the warmth in Elara's expression. Her face almost heated up at the mere sight of Elara. Sure, she was covered in some blood from her nose, her right hand was wrapped in a bandages, but her eyes were still entangled with the same vivacious stare that would always follow her.

Soon, they watched Snape gingerly grasp onto the cloak, Harry immediately voicing his unwavering disgust,"Get your filthy hands off it," Harry snarled under his breath.

"Do you think we are allowed to bleach invisibility cloaks?" Elara whispered out.

"Shh!"

As soon as Snape pressed his figure over the cloak and vanished, Hermione turned to them. "So that's it," said Hermione quietly. "We're all down there... and now we've just got to wait until we come back up again..." Safely and securely, Hermione daintily wrapped Buckbeak's cloak around the nearest tree and sat down besides Elara, the said girl placing her head on Hermione's shoulder as Hermione's knees pressed into her chest.

Awkwardly, Harry sat down besides them. "I'm sorry," he said, directly to Elara. When he said that, she looked up with so much confusion swimming in her brown eyes. "I'm sorry for not listening to you and saying that stuff to you,"

She dismissed him with a wave. "Oh it's quite alright," she laughed softly and went to play with her hair, twisting it gently. "I understand where you're coming from, If I ever met the person who was assumed as my parents' murderer, I'd flip out as well,"

Harry, who never knew anything about Elara's biological family, almost choked on his saliva on how nonchalant she had said that. "Your parents were murdered?" She pressed her lips together, looking down gloomily. "Was it Voldemort as well?" She cringed and then shook her head.

Breathing in and then out, Elara told him what he had asked. "You-know-who never directly murdered my mum and dad, he - erm - ordered them to be killed," she felt her eyes fill with tears and looked away. "I was only a day old when they were killed, at least that's what my papa told me," sucking in a breathe, she continued. "they were mauled by a werewolf, your parents only managed to get there in time to save me," she smiled sadly. "I would be dead If they hadn't come,"

Harry felt awful for having made her tell that story. "Elara, I'm so sorry," Harry consoled her. He had no clue about anything regarding her parents. He had simply assumed that she was adopted and nothing tragic revolved around her adoption. "Did you say 'your parents' as in my mum and dad?"

She laughed out weakly. "Yeah," she played with her nails as she looked down. "I think we grew up together, at least for the while they were - erm - yeah," she pushed her hair behind her ear. "I don't really remember much, those photos you got from your parents' friends were mainly from my papa, you know?" He shook his head. He remembered when he first got that picture book. He had never seen his parents before that ( unless you included the mirror of erised ) and there was always a photo that confused him. It was a small photo, his mother holding him and his father playfully crying out as a small light brown skinned little girl with bouncy brown locks pulled on his hair. Now, he could tell that same baby was Elara. The same nose, eyes, even ears, she still had a baby face as well and so he wondered why he had never recognised her before that.

However before Harry could continue, Hermione interrupted. "Harry, there's something I don't understand... 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 too. He explained what he'd seen; how, as the nearest Dementor had lowered its mouth to his, ready to perform the kiss, a large silver speck had come prancing across the lake and forced the Dementors to retreat. Hermione's mouth was slightly open by the time Harry had finished. "But what was it?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Elara's gentle voice rang out, the wind carrying it as she spoke. "It was a Patronus," Harry nodded.

"A real Patronus. A powerful one."

"But who conjured it?" For a moment, no one answered. Elara had gone unconscious before the spell was casted. The only person who saw it was Harry. There were a plethora of theories she had, they all remained unvoiced and Hermione continued her interrogation. "Didn't you see what they looked like?" said Hermione eagerly. "Was it one of the teachers?"

"No," said Harry. "He wasn't a teacher."

"Maybe a student going out on a midnight stroll?" Elara suggested. She wasn't quite sure but nevertheless spoke those words out.

"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 -?"

"Yeah, I saw him," said Harry slowly. "But... maybe I imagined it... I wasn't thinking straight... I passed out right afterward..."

"Who did you think it was?"

"I think -" Harry swallowed, knowing how strange this was going to sound. "I think it was my dad."

"No offense, but Harry your dad's dead," Elara said bluntly. Hermione hit her shoulder at her bluntless.

"I know that," said Harry quickly.

"You think you saw his ghost?"

"I don't know... no... he looked solid..." Elara now had a solid theory about who he saw. It seemed quite legit, but she'd need to wait a bit longer.

"But then -"

"Maybe I was seeing things," said Harry. "But... from what I could see... it looked like him... I've got photos of him..." Elara sighed mentally. Harold, everyone says you look like him, the man's dead so use your knowledge. "I know it sounds crazy," said Harry flatly. Elara nodded in agreement, he really did sound crazy. If anything, he was fortunate to have her being so smart. She couldn't help but have her mind drift back to the topic of her parents. She knew her mum and dad were called Esmeralda and Xavier Austin. They were just around nineteen when she was born, her mum was apparently just two weeks off turning twenty before she died. She always found herself wondering about what if James and Lily, her godparents, didn't arrive in time. Would she just be another fatality to war? Would she remain an unknown name on a newspaper? If it wasn't for them that night, Elara Lily Lupin would never have been Elara Lily Lupin. She would've been marked on an unknown grave and left with no name.

In the midst of the cold, serene night, the breeze greeted them coldly, dancing the leaves around in a peaceful melody that played in the night. The moon taunted them constantly, waving and vanishing at them through the bleak clouds that fogged the perfect night sky. They waited for a while, Elara and Harry both laughing and smiling about how they were god siblings, Hermione fiddling with Elara's soft curls, everything seemed beautiful. "What do you think would happen if we put a werewolf on the moon?"

"It would suffocate," Hermione said bluntly.

"I mean with oxygen, we aren't monsters!" As soon as those words left Elara's mouth, everyone emerged out and began walking. They really did look like a bunch of weirdos, a ginger cat leading them and the rest systemically following. Sometimes Elara really hated the moon. Yes, she was extravagantly beautiful, but she brought her papa pain. She was the reason Pettigrew escaped and Elara had a massive vendetta against her for that.

"Harry," Hermione muttered as though she knew exactly what he was thinking. Elara turned to him, looking his direction. "we've got to stay put. We mustn't be seen. There's nothing we can do..."

"So we're just going to let Pettigrew escape all over again..." said Harry quietly.

"Harold, unless you have super nightray vision then we aren't going to find a rat in the grass," Elara spat out, grabbing him back.

"Elara's right! There's nothing we can do! We came back to help Sirius; we're not supposed to be doing anything else!"

"All right!" His shoulders slumped in defeat and they watched as her papa transformed.
The moon slid out from behind its cloud. They saw the tiny figures across the grounds stop. Then they saw movement -

"There goes Lupin," Hermione whispered. Soon enough the howls of pain echoed in the forest and Elara was about to start crying at the mere thought of her Papa being in pain. She breathed in and out, her heart beating faster and faster as he heard his screams of agony.

"I can't watch this," Elara whispered and covered her eyes with her hand. She could still hear his cries of pain and Hermione could see tears fall down her cheeks. Immediately, Hermione pulled Elara into her side and stroked her cheek comforting her as the girl breathed in and out heavily.

"Elara! Hermione!" said Harry suddenly. "We've got to move!"

Composing herself, Elara turned to the two. She had managed to get her breathing back to normal by now and was much more calm. "Guys If we don't move we are werewolf snacks," Elara, turning away, grabbed onto them and reached to untie Buckbeak, Hermione helping her.

"Quick!" Hermione moaned, as she struggles to untie Buckbeak. "Quick! Where are we going to go? Where are we going to hide? The Dementors will be coming any moment -"

"Back to Hagrid's!" Harry said. "It's empty now - come on!" As fast as they could, the three set off in a sprint, Buckbeak cantering behind them as the werewolf ferociously howled to the night sky. As soon as the cabin came to sight, Harry wrenched it open and they all cluttered into it, jumping when Fang the boarhound started yipping at them.

"Shh, Fang, it's us!" Hermione exclaimed, moving towards him to calm him down with a good scratch behind the ear. "That was really close!" she said to Harry.

Elara laughed, sitting on the floor as she breathed out in exhaustion. "This is why Muggle PE failed me," Elara never was the most athletic, running felt like something therapy could never help her recover from and her muscles cramped with Lactic Acid.

"Yeah..." For a few moments, everyone remained occupied by their own secluded thoughts. The fire glistened in the dark, occasionally spitting but nevertheless it remained kind and friendly. Elara was smoothing Buckbeak, calming him down as he folded his wings contentedly at the fact he was in Hagrid's hut and also was being fussed.

"I think I'd better go outside again, you know," said Harry slowly. "I can't see what's going on - we won't know when it's time -"

"Harold-" Elara began, only for him to interrupt.

"I'm not going to try and interfere," he said quickly. "But if we don't see what's going on, how're we going to know when it's time to rescue Sirius?"

"Well... okay, then... I'll wait here with Buckbeak... but Harry, be careful - there's a werewolf out there - and the Dementors." The boy nodded and stepped out, leaving the two girls alone in isolation.

For a moment, they remained in awkward silence, their breathing being the only indication that the other was alive. "Well," Elara ended the silence, fumbling with her fingers. "What should we do?"

"Wait, I suppose," Hermione sighed out, her fingers tangling into her hair as there were some leaves stuck in there. "Why do I always get stuff in my hair?" The Gryffindor whined out, trying to remove some of the dirt in her hair. Elara frowned at the sight, clearly noticing the struggle.

"Darling," that name rolled of her lips effortlessly and Hermione looked up with a massive blush. She never once told her off for calling her 'darling', it always flattered Hermione, Elara's english accent pronounced the single word beautifully, it never failed to bring butterflies to her chest. "Do you want some help?"

"That would be brilliant," and with that, Elara moved closer and closer to Hermione, facing her as she tried her best to pull out any of the leaves or dirt. For a moment, they remained in that position, faces close by, eyes fluttering at each other and their breathing elevated. For a moment, Elara swore she saw Hermione blushing and Hermione swore she saw the vulnerability of Elara in her cosy brown eyes. For a moment, they remained in blissful silence, Elara now looking away, but Hermione still looking at her. Just as she plucked another leaf out of her hair, Hermione spoke, "your eyes, they're so pretty,"

"Not as pretty as you are," catching onto what she had just said, Elara coughed hysterically. "I-erm- you just look very nice, that's all," to take her mind off what she had just told Hermione, Elara's eyes narrowed down to the bushy haired witch's knees that were scratched. Grabbing her wand, Elara directed her wand towards it and mumbled, "Episkey," the wound healing and leaving no mark.

Hermione was taken aback when she has admitted that to her. Her eyes widened and her lips formed into an embarrassed smile. Hearing Elara tell her she was pretty set butterflies loose in her stomach. She felt her heartbeat quicken as Elara's chocolate brown eyes stared intensely into hers. After Elara had healed her, she sighed out, "Elara," she breathed in and then out, resisting the urge to fan herself as her face grew warmer. "I think you're beautiful as well,"

If Elara didn't think she was blushing beforehand, she definitely was now. The two girls were merely inches apart, breathing in and out, eyes deepening into each other's. Elara went and placed her hand on top of Hermione's and everything felt like it belonged. Her grasp on Hermione's was perfect, like they were moulded together by the Ancient Greek artists and their souls were woven together, completely the other. The flames lit Elara's brown eyes up, brown and red contrasting in the deep dark night, almost like an Aurora Borealis.

However, before Elara could even open her mouth, a cold chill crawled down their spines and the two girls looked at each other, wide eyes as they realised that-

"Dementors," Elara mumbled out, blinking in surprise at the coldness that decorated her body. "Come on, we need to find Harry," Elara stood off the ground, dusting her legs from the dirt and Hermione ushered to grab onto Buckbeak's leash. The two wandered around, Elara cursing when she didn't see Harry. For a moment, she believed that perhaps Harry did go off to find Pettigrew, however the bright shinning light that filled the air told Elara a different story.

The moment a dazzling stag ran across and ushered the dementors away, antlers pushing them further and further away, Elara knew she had been right. Elara Lupin had many unknown theories about who Harry saw, she knew so many things and so when she learnt that he assumed it to be kate James Potter, her mind connected the dots and came to a dramatic conclusion.

It was Harry James Potter.

He was the one who casted the Patronus, a Corporal Patronus. Looking at the beauty of the stag, it captured the essence in Harry perfectly. In a way, think fo it as cruel or perhaps forgiving, James Potter lived in a part of Harry. He may be deceased, but in his son he lives in. Perhaps as a memory, or a photo, or even an afterthought, but nevertheless James Potter was still with them. Prongs, his sweet childhood nickname. The first ever word Elara Lily Lupin said. The name made to be as a remembrance for the form he took as his animagus: a stag.

The fact Harry's Patronus was a Stag was something glorious. While Harry Potter will never be James Potter, Harry will always be like him. He will always carry his looks, his messy hair, but nevertheless Harry James Potter will be Harry James Potter. In his heart, he will carry the love he has for his parents, the love he wished so deeply to have back and in return, that love was recognised in the Patronus he produced on this very cold night.

Elara ran as fast as she could, Hermione dashing besides her and Buckbeak following as well, being dragged behind them. "What did you do?" Hermione exclaimed fiercely. "You said you were only going to keep a lookout!"

"'Mione calm down," Elara hushed the girl, placing a hand on her shoulder. "I don't think he was seen," she laughed. "At least he wasn't seen clearly,"

"I just saved all our lives..." defended Harry, who nodded gratefully at Elara. "Get behind here behind this bush - I'll explain."

"Did anyone see you?"

"Yes, haven't you been listening? I saw me but I thought I was my dad! It's okay!" He tried to calm her down.

Elara thought for a moment. "It's so pulchritudinous how your Patronus is the same as your dad's"

"El i don't know what pul-chrit-udin-ous means," Harry deadpanned at her. Sometimes it was frankly annoying at the use of such large words. Harry wondered how they even fit in her head.

"It's just a synonym for beautiful, a fitting word might I add," she sighed out, looking up at the moon. Hermione watched as her brown eyes filled with the white light of the moon. "Isn't tonight glorious?" Harry nodded at that and looked towards Hermione.

"Harry, I can't believe it... You conjured up a Patronus that drove away all those Dementors! That's very, very advanced magic." She complimented him. He felt very flattered by this one compliment, especially considering Hermione was one of the brightest in the year.

"I knew I could do it this time," said Harry, looking down with a slight smile. "Because I'd already done it... Does that make sense?"

"I don't know - Harry, look at Snape!" They peered around the bush to where their unconscious bodies laid. The man had regained consciousness and had already conjured stretchers for all of them. Soon enough, the five of them, including Sirius who looked absolutely horrible, glided towards the castle and soon out of sight. Soon enough, they'd save Sirius and he'd escape. Elara couldn't help but frown at the thought of not seeing him. She could only assume he's drift off north somewhere to stay out of sight. She wondered whether she'd see him again. She could only hope so.

"Right, it's nearly time," Hermione looked down at her watch. "We've got about fortyfive 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..."

For the rest of their time, their gazes occupied the night sky, the whispers of the wind talking in their ears. Elara was twirling a leaf in her hand when Harry spoke, "Do you reckon he's up there yet?" For a moment, all they could so was wait. The moon still remained high and taunted them and Elara's eyes widened slightly when she heard a howl that most definitely belonged to her papa. She could only hope he was okay.

She gasped out. "Guys look!" The two followed where she pointed. Elara had noticed Macnair hurrying across the grounds, the shine of something glistening in the darkness.

"Who's that? Someone's coming back out of the castle!" Hermione whispered.

"Macnair!" said Harry. "The executioner! He's gone to get the Dementors! This is it, Hermione -" as fast as they could, Elara pushed herself onto Buckbeak, sitting steadily in the hippogriff. She grinned in anticipation, she really did want to ride a hippogriff. Harry had helped Hermione climb on as well, her arms fastening around Elara's waist to steady herself. If Elara had turned around, she would've noticed the blush on Hermione's face. Soon enough, Harry had climbed on, sitting in the front of them.

The boy grabbed onto the Hippogriff's reigns. "Ready?" he whispered to them. "You'd better hold on to me -" he spoke more to Elara who was grinning at him. Unconsciously, Hermione gripped onto Elara's waist tighter and buried her chin on her shoulder, shutting her eyes.

They were flying, soaring across the night sky perilously and Elara felt like exclaiming in glee as they felt the air smash their faces. "Oh, no - I don't like this oh, I really don't like this -" Elara yipped out in amazement as Harry urged the Hippogriff forward, Hermione screaming in fear and clenching her eyes shut.

"Open them," Elara urged her.

Hermione shook her head. "No way!" But Hermione did open them. She opened her eyes to the sight of Elara's warm smile and couldn't help but smile back.

Hermione still trembled with fear, but her eyes were filled with warmth as she saw Elara's wondrous smile. Soon, they slowed down. Hermione now had calmed down and they remained airborne as Harry exclaimed out, "He's there!"

Tapping on the glass, Elara tried her best to alert her dad that they were there. For a moment he didn't even look up. His shoulders were slumped and it was almost as though he had accepted his death. In fact, Sirius Black could die happily knowing that the people he loved didn't think of him as a traitor. Sirius Black didn't know what to expect. He didn't expect to see his daughter and godson and their friend on a hippogriff midair, he certainly didn't expect them to be able to save him. Leaping up, he tried opening the window himself, his fingers trembling as he did so, but the window was stubborn, locked with a fastened lock that wouldn't budge.

"Stand back!" Hermione called to him, and she took out her wand, holding tightly onto Elara as she casted, "Alohomora!" The window sprang open immediately and everyone beamed.

"How - how -?" Sirius mumbled weakly, staring at the Hippogriff.

Elara audibly sighed out. "Get your arse on before they get here," she shook her head, taking one hand off Harry so that she could brush her hair behind her ear. "You siriusly expected us to leave you here?" The man laughed at her.

Harry still kept his grip on Buckbeak, knuckles growing whiter and whiter as he held on more and more tighter. "You've got to get out of here - the Dementors are coming - Macnair's gone to get them." It was quite sad that Sirius was so thin. Elara felt her eyes soften when he managed to fling one leg over and climb onto the Hippogriff, sitting right behind Hermione.
"Okay, Buckbeak, up!" Harry shrilled out, shaking the rope. "Up to the tower - come on." And soon again, they were soaring up again, moving higher and higher in the air. Elara let out some shrieks of laughter and for this moment, it all felt amazing. As soon as Buckbeak landed, Elara hobbled off, taking Hermione's hand and the girl jumped down and were joined by Harry.

"Sirius, you'd better go, quick," Harry panted out. "They'll reach Flitwick's office any moment, they'll find out you're gone."

The Hippogriff pawed the floor impatiently. "What happened to the other boy? Ron?" Sirius croaked out. Elara shook her head at him.

"He'll live," she told him simply. He almost
could've laughed at her bluntness, but the risk of him being caught held his laughter back . "Now come on, you've got to go dad," Sirius looked down at her, eyes slightly softening at her.

"How can I ever thank -"

"GO!" They all shouted together. Elara breathed in and out as she watched everything happen. She could only hope she'd see him again.

"We'll see each other again," he told them. "You are - truly your father's son, Harry... Poppet I love you..."

"I love you too dad," and with that, with the great rise of Buckbeak's wings, the Hippogriff rose up into the sky, growing smaller and smaller as they watched on.

Mid flight, Sirius turned to look at them once more and his eyes glistened with tears as he saw Elara's small figure fade away, he imagined she wasn't looking towards him but Elara Lily Lupin was allowing tears to fall down her eyes as she watched on. As she continued letting tears fall, all Hermione could do was grasp onto her hand and squeeze it in comfort.

Today, for the first time in twelve years, Sirius Black was free.

⭒☆━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━☆⭒
Elara and Hermione: having a cute moment again.
me: crying

CAN WE TALK ABOUT SIRIUS CALLING ELARA POPPET? PLS IM SO SOFT FOR THE LUPIN-BLACK FAMILY-

Hermione holding onto Elara's waist >>>>>>>>>>>

AND ALSO ELARA'S SO SASSY IN THIS CHAPTER

ALSO THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR 12K- IM SO OVERWHELMED WITH ALL THE LOVE- I REALLY HOPE THIS CHAPTER WAS ALRIGHT- ITS LIKE 10K WORDS WHICH IS MOSY I'VE EVER WRITTEN-

WANDAVISION IS TOMORROW AS WELL AND IM SCARED- IF VISION DIEA OR IF TOMMY AND BILLY DIE, I WILL CRY-

ALSO I THINK THE NEXT CHAPTER WILL BE THE END OF ACT ONE WHICH I SHALL CRY AT- THEN WILL BE ACT TWO WHICH IS A SUMMER SEGMENT WITH A BUNCH OF STUFF INCLUDING ELARA'S GROUP AND THE LUPIN-BLACK FAMILY

also this bitch goes back of the fifteenth and I'm so nervous because I hate people irl 😭✋ send prayers guys

THANK YOU ALL
GOODBYE

update on Friday:
wandavision has broken me wtf