"Here we come!" Thalia said sharply, just as they had settled down to wait. Ron, pelting after Scabbers with Crookshanks close behind. Then the others followed, when suddenly a black creature leapt from the darkness, lunging towards Harry. Percy walloped Sirius with Riptide, and Sirius grabbed hold of Ron's leg, dragging him away. Towards the Whomping Willow.

It all happened so fast, Thalia could only barely keep track of who was about to get killed by the whomping willow, and who was getting injured by it. Then it all froze as Bianca pressed the knot. The group descended into the tunnel, and, moments later, Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge, and the old committee member made their way up the castle.

"Right after we've gone down the passage!" Hermione moaned. "If only Dumbledore had come with us..."

"Macnair and Fudge would've come too," Thalia said bitterly. "I bet Fudge would've told Macnair to murder Sirius on the spot..."

"Here comes Lupin!" Harry said after a moment. "Good thing the clouds are moving in..."

"Could we just... grab the cloak--" Thalia asked, eyeing the disfigured mound of Invisibility Cloak next to the base of the tree.

"No!" Hermione stopped Thalia as she made her way over. "We mustn't be seen!"

Just then, Hagrid appeared, singing at the top of his voice. A large brandy bottle swung from his hand.

Hagrid! Buckbeak strained against Thalia's grip again, but she held fast.

"No, Beaky!" She scolded. "It's not safe yet!"

Buckbeak hung his head. I know, he whimpered. But... it's Hagrid...

"I know," Thalia muttered sympathetically. "But you can't be seen."

And luckily she stopped him, because Snape chose that convenient moment to burst out of the castle, running towards the Whomping Willow. He charged over and grabbed the cloak, slipping it on and disappearing into the tunnel.

"Now we wait some more," Thalia grumbled, leaning against a tree. "For... how long were we down there?"

"Couple of hours," Hermione estimated. Thalia grunted again but didn't say anything. "What I don't get, though," Hermione pressed on. "Is why the dementors didn't get Sirius? I just remember them coming... then I just passed out, there were so many of them..."

Harry sat down next to Hermione and began to explain the events at night. When he finished, Hermione's mouth was agape and Thalia had sat down because it was all so confusing.

"But what was it?" Thalia asked when she had gathered her thoughts.

"There's only one thing it could've been, to make the dementors go," Harry said. "A real Patronus. A powerful one."

"But who conjured it?"

Harry didn't speak, even though the girls were watching him intently.

"Did you see what they looked like?" Hermione asked eagerly. "Was it a teacher?"

"No," Harry said, with the most certainty that he had spoken all day. "It wasn't a teacher."

"But it must've 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 afterwards..."

"Who do you think it was?" Hermione asked, her voice strained with eagerness.

"I think--" Harry swallowed. "I think it was my dad."

Thalia and Hermione were quiet for a moment, neither wanting to say it. But eventually, Thalia opened her mouth to speak.

"But Harry, your dad's-- well-- dead," she said quietly.

"I know" Harry said quickly. "Maybe I was seeing things. But from what I could see... it looked like him... I've got photos..."

Hermione was looking at Harry with a mixture of alarm, pity, and concern.

"I know it sounds crazy," Harry said flatly. He turned around and didn't speak. Neither of them did, for the best part of an hour. Then suddenly...

"Here we come!" Hermione whispered, standing up. Thalia stood too, swaying at the sudden rush of blood to her head.

"Hermione!" Harry said suddenly. "We've got to move!" his tone was urgent as he hurried over to peer outside.

"I keep telling you, we mustn't--"

"Not to interfere! Lupin's going to run into the forest, right at us!"

Hermione gasped. "Quick!" She moaned, hurrying over to Buckbeak. "Where are we going to hide? The dementors will be coming any moment--"

"Hagrids!" Thalia suggested as she gripped Buckbeak's makeshift rope leash. "It's empty now..."

They darted over to the dark hut, Buckbeak striding along powerfully. Behind them, Lupin howled as he transformed into a werewolf...

"That was close!" Hermione panted as she shut the door behind them.

"Yeah..." Harry was glancing out the window, peering into the darkness. "I think I'd better go outside again, you know," Harry said slowly. "To see what's going on... we won't know when it's time..."

Hermione looked up from the lone bowl of peas on the table, her expression suspicious.

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

"I'll come with you," Thalia said. "Just in case of... you know, Lupin..."

Satisfied that Thalia would at least understand the consequences of being seen, Hermione nodded and slumped back down, patting Fang who was slobbering all over her robes.

Thalia and Harry slipped out into the darkness, edging around the cabin.

"To the lake," Harry breathed, and Thalia followed him in silence. They started forward, but Thalia froze. "Shhh..."

Annabeth ran past them as she chased Scabbers, her wand and dagger out, face set in determined lines. Harry and Thalia didn't move, and they waited for her to pass.

"Almost there," Harry muttered as they started forward again. They crept to the edge of the lake, crouching in the darkness. Thalia was pretty sure the darkness blending in with their black robes would hide them sufficiently, but Harry wasn't satisfied and hid behind a bush.

"He'll come any minute now," Harry said, his voice quavering with excitement. "C'mon... dad..."

Thalia was peering across the lake, which was starting to freeze over from the coldness of the dementors.

"C'mon... where are you? Dad, come on..." Harry was starting to panic, and Thalia could see it in his eyes. And in his voice. And the nervous jerking of his arms as he gripped his wand.

"Come on!" He hissed one more time. Thalia was about to speak when Harry suddenly moved, standing up from the bush and whipping out his wand with confidence, despite the dementors.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he yelled, and the sound of his voice echoed across the water. A blinding, dazzling, silver animal erupted from the tip of his wand, galloping silently across the water as it radiated warmth and happiness...

It galloped around the black shapes on the ground, the dementors falling back, scattering, retreating into the darkness, then suddenly, they were gone.

It all happened so fast.

The patronus turned, cantering back towards Harry across the still surface of the water. Thalia could see it clearly now.

It was a stag. Shining brightly as the moon above, coming back to them...

Harry was stock still, trembling, and Thalia retreated respectfully. The creature bent his head and Harry reached out to touch it, when suddenly, it vanished.

A loud tramp of feet echoed behind them, and Thalia turned and saw Hermione running over, Buckbeak behind her.

"What did you do?" She asked fiercly. "You said you were only going to keep a lookout!"

"I just saved all our lives," Harry said. "Get behind here-- I'll explain--"

And he did. When he finished, Hermione's mouth was open yet again, but this time she was impressed. "You conjured up a Patronus that drove away all those dementors! That's a very, very advanced magic..."

"Look!" Thalia pointed across the water. "Snape's back!"

Snape, who had just regained consciousness, was waving his wand. Past Harry, Past Hermione, and Sirius floated up onto stretchers at his side. Then, wand in front of him, Snape started back towards the castle.

"Right, it's nearly time," Hermione said tensely. "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 anyone realizes we're missing."

"Easy-peasy," Thalia said. "C'mon, Beaky."

Only Hagrid gets to call me that.

"D'you reckon he's there yet?" Harry asked, checking his watch. Thalia glanced up and began counting the windows right of the West Tower.

"Who's that?" Hermione whispered, pointing to a shadowy figure emerging from the castle.

"Macnair!" Thalia recognized the massive battle-axe like weapon hanging from his belt. "He's going to get the dementors! We have to go!"

Harry jumped on first, scooting up near Buckbeak's neck to make room. Hermione jumped on next. Thalia hesitated, then reluctantly jumped on behind them.

"Better hold on," Harry warned, and nudged Buckbeak with his heels.

Buckbeak launched into the air, wings flapping powerfully beside him.

"Oh no, I don't like this-- oh, I really don't like this--" Hermione ducked her head down.

"Speak for yourself," Thalia groaned, her face white. "Hurry up, Buckbeak, thirteenth window from the right of the West Tower."

Where?

"That one!" Thalia released Hermione's shoulder long enough to point, then it was back in the death grip. But Buckbeak soared towards the window cleanly and hovered in front of it. Harry leaned over and rapped sharply on the glass.

Thalia didn't look, because her eyes were fixed intently on Hermione's back in front of her, but she could tell from the way Sirius spoke that he was amazed.

"Alohomora!" Hermione waved her wand and the window sprung open, allowing Sirius to clamber out of the window.

"Get on, there's not much time--" Harry reined in Buckbeak who was beginning to float to the left.

"He can't take all of us!" Thalia said. She closed her eyes before opening them again. "We don't have much time," she said before slipping off and grasping the window firmly with both hands. "Sirius, get on behind Hermione."

Sirius stared. "How are you going to get up though?"

Thalia took a deep breath. "I'll fly," she said with certainty. And launched herself off the windowsill, calling upon the support of the winds.

The air answered her call, solidifying under her and forming a platform. But it was weak and shaky, Thalia could tell. Her heart was pounding in her chest and her palms were sweating like crazy and her skin had gone clammy. But it was now a matter of life or death as she shot up to the battlements of the West Tower, Buckbeak and his passengers close behind.

All five of them landed safely on the roof, Thalia feeling like she had just run a marathon and swam across the pacific ocean at the same time. In other words, she was drained and she collapsed on the roof.

"Is she okay?" Sirius asked from atop Buckbeak.

"I'm fine," she grumbled vaguely. "Just... get out of here."

Sirius paused. "How can I ever thank--"

"GO!" They all shouted at once.

Thalia watched while lying on her side as Black wheeled Buckbeak around, facing the sky. But he still hesitated.

"We'll see each other again," he promised. "Harry, you are truly your father's son..."

And he launched into the sky.

Bye, milady! Buckbeak yelled back as he soared farther. Tell my lords I said bye!

"I will," Thalia replied as she watched them grow smaller and smaller into the night sky, a silhouette in the moon. Then a cloud drifted across and they were gone.