"There's my Patronus," I whispered, appreciating the chance to admire it. "I've been working on it a long time, but you were right. I didn't have the right memory until tonight."

"It's beautiful," Harry remarked, though he seemed distracted. "The other should be coming any minute now. . ."

We waited a few moments for someone, anyone to appear on the bank.

"Where is he?" Harry muttered, looking around wildly. Suddenly, I was hit with a realization.

"Harry," I said quietly. "I think he's you."

His eyes widened. He understood. Jumping out from behind the bush, he pointed his wand and bellowed,

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

From the end of his wand burst the familiar silver stag. It galloped away silently and charged at the Dementors. Harry watched it intensely as it circled our past selves, driving the Dementors back. I watched my past self pat it on the head and watched the stag canter back toward us. It bowed to Harry, and he reached up to touch it like I had.

"Prongs," Harry whispered, but before he could touch the stag, it disappeared. Harry stared at the place it had been, and I rose from my spot behind the bush to place my hand on his shoulder. The sound of hooves behind us brought us back to our senses. Hermione had appeared with Buckbeak.

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

"We'll explain, but get behind the bush, Snape and the Minister will be here any second now," I replied.

Snape had appeared and he and my past self were having a conversation.

"I can't believe he didn't listen to me," I muttered. "I explained everything to him! I even offered to let him probe my memory."

"Right, well, maybe he hates Sirius more than he likes you," Harry grimaced. We watched as he conjured up stretchers and the two of them and my past self made our way back to the castle.

"It's nearly time," said Hermione, looking at her watch. "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."

"Do you reckon he's up there yet?" Harry asked. Hermione and I shrugged. I turned to look at the grounds, seeing a figure hurrying towards one of the entrances.

"Look!" I whispered. "It's Macnair off to get the Dementors! We've got to go, now!"

Harry climbed onto Buckbeak's back, beginning to tie the rope like reins. I helped lift Hermione up and I climbed on behind her.

"Ready?" Harry whispered. Neither Hermione nor I answered, but Harry nudged Buckbeak with his heels and we took off. Hermione held onto Harry very tightly, and I was holding her around the waist as well. It was a rather rough ride, but exhilarating nonetheless. We were gliding towards the upper floors of the castle.

"Whoa!" Harry suddenly yanked backward on the ropes. Buckbeak slowed at a window.

"He's there!" Harry reached out to tap on the glass. From my position, I could see Sirius look up, his jaw dropping. Hermione unlocked the window with her wand and it sprang open.

"What — how —?" Sirius looked like he was about to cry tears of joy.

"Get on — there's not much time," said Harry. "You've got to come with us — the Dementors are coming soon."

Sirius was lucky he was so thin. He was able to squeeze through and hop on behind me, where there was hardly enough room. Once he was securely on, Harry called Buckbeak up to the West Tower. We landed on the battlements, and the three of us slid off the hippogriff.

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

Sirius was still staring down at the three of us with bewilderment. "How can I ever thank—"

"GO!" The three of us shouted.

Sirius turned Buckbeak around in preparation for takeoff. He turned over his shoulder and smiled sadly at Harry. "We'll see each other again," he said. "You are truly James' son, Harry . . ."

We watched as they took off and grew smaller and smaller into the night.