#but it doesn’t matter james is bewitched. regulus bewitched him. | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

fandomlovingfreak · 4 years ago

Text

Healing His Heart (1/?)

Young Remus Lupin/Reader

Rating: E for Everyone

Word Count: 1508

MasterList Link I AO3 Link I Wattpad Link I Tiktok Link

Summary: (y/n) is two years younger than him, a popular Slytherin, and Regulus Black's best friend. Yet he can't help but be attracted to her bewitching personality and sweet smile. Unfortunately, his er--problem makes it harder to get close to others. Despite his attempts to push her away (for her own good) she seems determined to worm her way into his life.

Notes: Based on my Tiktok series! Reader is (no descriptions as usual! 100% want you to imagine yourself in Y/N! No blushing, no physical descriptions, I try not to say things that describe physical body type etc. Forgive me if I mess up once and a while, it’s hard!!!) a fifth year Slytherin who is best friends with Regulus Black! This veers off from the original tiktok story (as it is based on some That 70s Show clips and this is not) but I really like it and have been working hard on writing this for about a month. I don’t know my update schedule yet but...I have around 20,000 words already written and I’m no where near done. Hope you love it!

Enjoy

He watches as Regulus and his best friend, (y/n), run through 12 Grimmauld Place's halls. They're laughing and joking about something. He can't quite make out their words. Flashes of green and dark blue go by the open door frame as they chase each other like children. It's comical watching them dancing through the halls. (y/n)'s got her Slytherin Quidditch jersey on. The jersey's fit is a bit baggy on her, looking to be a size or two too large, but she looks cute as she drags Regulus behind her.

"What are you looking at, Moony?" Sirius looks in the direction Remus is looking in.

"Nothing," Remus's head snaps back towards his friends, embarrassed to be caught watching the younger girl.

"It's (y/n) again," James chuckles, adjusting his square frame glasses.

Sirius pulls a face, "That's my little brother's best friend!"

Remus's cheeks pinken, "I wasn't looking at her--"

James grins, looking at Sirius, "Oh yeah? Staring at Regulus then?"

"Caught me," Remus rolls his eyes, going back to his book. He tries to concentrate back on the words of the boring book. It's impossible though, with (y/n) 's giggles echoing through the rooms.

Remus snaps the book shut, practically slamming it down on the table in frustration. He can't concentrate on--on whatever this book is about.

"You okay, mate?" Sirius asks.

"'m fine," he tries to calm himself, "it's close to the full moon--" like two weeks out, but still, it was the best excuse for the unnecessary outburst.

Sirius, James, and Peter don't seem convinced with this excuse.

"Uh--yeah?"

Remus rubs at his temples, thoroughly annoyed. "I'm going to go for a walk. Clear my head." He stands, leaving the living room before they can question his weird behavior any further.

The summer air is just the right temperature at this time of the day as he walks down the streets of London, trying to think of anything but her. The muggles are all rushing home from work. Women and men dressed in dark suits, pencil skirts, and ugly striped ties look worn out, ready to get home to their families. The younger muggles look like they're itching to go out for the night. They share cigarettes as they walk down the streets, blue jean jacketed arms intertwined.

Remus shoves his hands into his pockets, trying to keep his head down when a young woman with honey-colored hair stares particularly long at his scars. He can't blame anyone for staring, really, but Merlin does it make him self-conscious...

***

"Already back from your walk?" Sirius asks. He's lounged across the couch, his dark hair splayed across the cushion.

"Yup," Remus plops down in the chair Sirius had been sitting in before he left, "feel a lot better."

"That's good..." James has his feet in the air as he lays upside down in the armchair. James was never one to deal with boredom well. "We want to go out tonight. See one of those Muggle clubs up close."

"Yeah?" That sounded like an awful idea. Not only are half of them unfamiliar with the Muggle world, but mixing this group with alcohol... well, from experience, it was a recipe for disaster. "I don't know about this--"

"James knows a place that won't ask any questions if we--well if things are unfamiliar. Plus full service." Sirius grins, sitting up on his elbows, "C'mon Moony. It's only you who needs convincing--"

"Convincing for what?" (y/n) 's voice alerts them to her and Regulus's presence in the doorway.

"Nothing," Sirius eyes the two.

"C'mon," Regulus grins, leaning against the doorframe.

(y/n) grins along with him. The way her nose crinkles with her large grin makes his stomach do flips, "Moony will tell us. Won't ya, Remus?"

Damnit. Remus glances down at his hands, suddenly shy under her gaze. His eyes flick back up to her but focus towards Regulus, "They want to go to a Muggle club."

Sirius shoots him a look, "You weren't supposed to tell them--"

"Can we come along?" (y/n) and Regulus beg.

"Moony doesn't think we'll fit in, and there is no way you two will fit in if we won't."

(y/n) glares at Sirius, "If you four can get in, Regulus and I definitely can. Well, I definitely can. My mum's muggle-born."

Remus tries to hide his grin as (y/n) mouths off at Sirius. The amount of time she spends with Regulus and the rest of the Black family, you'd think they're siblings. He also knows Sirius views the younger girl as his little sister, which made Remus's own problem so much worse.

"You're like fifteen (y/n). We're all nearly of age." Sirius mouths back.

(y/n) rolls her eyes, "nearly sixteen, you ass. And Regulus is sixteen. Your excuses are so lame. You just know we'll tear up the dance floor and take all the attention from you, Sirius Black!"

James laughs, "She's got you there."

"I--" Sirius cracks a smile, "shut up. Fine, you can come with."

(y/n) grins at Regulus, "Brilliant!" She pulls Regulus back to wherever they came from. Remus stares at the now empty doorway.

"Earth to Remus," Sirius waves his hand in front of his face.

"What?" He turns back towards his friends, feeling his face heating up.

Peter grins, "you were staring at the door."

"I--" he purses his lips, "whatever."

***

Remus watches from the bar as (y/n) chats with some guy around his age. The guy's got dark brown, short hair, and he's got to be at least two inches taller than himself. Worst of all, he keeps putting his hand on (y/n) 's waist, and she keeps giggling at what the guy is whispering to her.

Remus grips his beer tighter, his knuckles white with anger.

"Geez. Calm down, Moony. She's just talking to the guy." Sirius slides up next to him at the bar.

"He keeps touching her--"

"Well, she is flirting with him," Sirius waves his hand dismissively, taking a drink of his own beer.

"Is she?" he looks at the girl again.

"Obviously. She's in fits of giggles over everything he says to her."

Remus feels the nasty burn of jealousy in the pit of his stomach. He tries to quell it by downing the last of his beer.

"Woah, slow down, Moony." Sirius chuckles.

"What does she even see in that guy?"

Sirius rolls his eyes, "why does it matter?"

Remus frowns, turning back towards the bar. "Whisky neat," he growls at the bartender. A glass is set in front of him, but before he can reach for it, Sirius stops him.

"Why don't you do something about it if it bothers you so much?" Sirius leans further against the bar.

Remus snorts, "Do what?"

"I dunno--Maybe for starters, you can stop mooning over Regulus's best friend and do something about your little crush." Sirius takes a sip of Remus's drink.

The burn of embarrassment covers his entire body, "crush? I do not have a crush on (y/n)."

"Mate," Sirius shakes his head, "c'mon. I spend basically every waking moment with you. It would be hard to not notice you like her."

Remus runs a hand over his face, "it's not that obvious, is it?"

"You like you're going to---wolf out," Remus glares at Sirius, "if she laughs at one more stupid thing, the guy says."

"Shut up."

"Just go--do something. Just don't be an ass about it. She won't like it if you drag her out of the pub, like an asshole barbarian. Trust me." Sirius takes another swig of his drink.

"Fine." He picks up his drink, suddenly confident enough to confront the guy talking to (y/n).

He walks up, coming closer to the two "(y/n)."

(y/n) turns towards him, "Yes, Remus?"

He loses the bit of confidence he felt a moment ago, "Uh--Can I talk to you?"

She gives him a weird look, "Uh--Sure?" She follows him away from the other boy.

Once they're outside the club, she crosses her arms, "what's up?"

He tries to think of something that warrants asking her outside. "Was he bothering you?" he asks, feeling instantly foolish.

"What? No!" (y/n) frowns at him, "I was having a fine time with Tom."

Even the guy's stupid name burns something inside of him, "You looked uncomfortable--"

"I was not uncomfortable," her jaw tenses in annoyance, "You know what, Remus? I think you were jealous."

"Me? Jealous?" He sputters back.

"Yes! You're acting like a complete jerk right now! You don't think I'm so obtuse that I haven't noticed you watching me all summer long! It's insulting, honestly."

He instantly reddens, "What? I have not--You have the wrong idea."

"I do not! Regulus noticed as well, and if he noticed, then that's two against one!" More like four against one, as James and Sirius would agree.

Remus narrows his eyes, "whatever." He storms past her back into the bar.

134 notes · View notes

fernsandsunflowers · 4 years ago

Note

Your knowledge of Harry Potter is like a rotten apple with worms in it!

Expressive! thanks for voicing your opinion.

I really hope this is in regard to the Snape post (x) I made years and years ago and has resurfaced recently and not JKR is a terf and can fuck off this planet please and thank you posts I’ve reblogged.

If it’s about Snape, I’ve seen most of the comments, I haven’t taken the time to read it all but general opinion seems to be two-sided there are those who agree whole-heartedly with my post, and those who do not. Most in the do not agree category has pointed out that heroism is not a competition. This is absolutely right, the story itself should have taught me that long ago, like when little Neville stood up to the trio in book 1. I apologize, sincerely, for comparing their acts of bravery. They both did amazing things and I hope, if it ever comes down to it, god forbid, I find in myself the same strength and bravery. The post itself was poorly worded. My goal was to ask that we show the same love and respect to Lupin as we do for Snape. That clearly didn’t come across, instead I got carried away and had written a post that ended up elevating Lupin’s acts of bravery while putting down Snape’s. Regardless of their background they both did heroic things and in the end gave their lives to save others. These acts of bravery deserve to be honoured and respected.

However, I stand by my statement that Lupin is the better man. I have seen a lot of comments that admit to Snape’s wrongs but use the excuse of unprocessed childhood trauma and mental illness. I will not accept this ‘white man’ excuse. I will admit, again, here that Sirius, James and Remus were wrong to have bullied Snape. Sirius, in fact, was still a bit of a dick after he returned from Azkaban. But why can we excuse Snape’s faults as the product of childhood and later life trauma but not Sirius’? Why do you continue to condemn Sirius for his bullying while at Hogwarts but make up excuses for Snape’s reprehensible behaviour towards his students?

Yes there were no systems in place for Snape to process his trauma (he did have one positive influence, Lily, but this was clearly not enough), that is a grievous institutional error. This exists in our world and is something that needs to be rectified immediately, in every country. There were no systems in place for Harry, Neville, Remus, Sirius and Regulus to process theirs either. In Regulus’ case he didn’t have the benefit of a positive environment too. But your argument is that everyone processes differently. My argument is that, Snape’s trauma doesn’t negate his negative actions in the same way that Voldemort’s trauma doesn’t negate his. If you are excusing Snape for being complicit in the murder of so many muggles and muggleborns because he was abused as a child and grew up in poverty, then you must also excuse Voldemort for murdering people based on his trauma from growing up in a shit-hole orphanage, in poverty and being hated and rejected by his father. I genuinely don’t know if Snape has killed anyone before Dumbledore, I vaguely remember a scene in the Prince’s Tale chapter where Dumbledore says something along the lines, you must have done it before? and Snape implying that he has not. I don’t have my book with me or I would check. It does not matter, aiding and abetting is still a crime. Why do we say ACAB? Complicit is still guilty.

I have no patience or place in my heart for anyone that chooses to join the side of racists and fascists, knowing full well what it meant. That’s what he did. You cannot deny that Snape was extremely capable of critical thought and was intelligent enough to see plainly what Voldemort rising to power meant to his supposed love. Or to thousands of innocent people. But he joined anyway, for power. Do you think I will be forgiven by my friends, or even you all, if I actively supported Trump, or ISIS, or an example from my own country (Sri Lanka), the extremist ‘Buddhist’ organisation called BBS that stands against Tamil and Muslim people (I put Buddhist in quotation marks as people who believe these ideologies are no longer Buddhist), or even my own father in his anti-muslim stance? He had Lily, who he loved, yet still joined an organisation that was murdering her people and posed a fatal threat to her as well. I do not have patience for that and I will not be shamed for it. If you’ve chosen to forgive Snape for willingly joining the wizard equivalent of Nazi’s and Neo-Nazi’s then fine, that’s your prerogative. I have chosen to forgive James, Sirius and Remus for bullying Snape when they were kids. That’s my prerogative. If you’ve chosen to forgive Snape for bullying children under his care to the point of terror and psychological trauma, because he himself had experienced trauma, I guess that’s your right as well (though I admit it infuriates me).

Also because I’m on a roll now, I will not stand to be asked to care about and include Peter Pettigrew in anything related to the Marauders. I understand that he was a part of the Marauders and I understand he was afraid for his life. Amongst the countless things I don’t have patience for, is disloyalty. The fidelius charm cannot be forced out of you, or bewitched, or tortured out. It must be shared willingly. Peter was already working for Voldemort since before he was made secret keeper. The Order knew there was a spy in their midst. Systematic racism within the wizarding world led them to believe that Remus was the Spy. Sirius was probably the first to believe it. Peter obviously felt some regret over it, but eventually divulged the information to Voldemort the first chance he got. I cannot and will not forgive that. If Peter was really a good person and was afraid for his life or for the life of his parents, or whatever, he would not have run back and actively looked for and revived Voldemort after he was ousted. He could have just left the country and hidden somewhere else where he would probably not have been recognised. He had an ounce of regret over James’ death that led to his own death, but in the theme of this post, it doesn’t negate his crimes.

To better help you understand why I am against Snape but support several others who have done wrong in their lives here’s an example. Someone who joined the Death Eaters willingly that I do forgive is Regulus Black. I believe he didn’t know any better, he grew up in a household where the only voices and opinions he heard was that of his racist af parents who applauded Voldemort. The impact of this influence is reflected in the way that Kreacher responds to muggleborns and their allies. This is an intelligent species to whom blood status of wizards should not matter. In the same way that countries colonized by Europeans that should not have anything against black communities are racist towards them. Because all they’ve heard about Black People comes from our colonizers - also, the power of representation comes up here, after gaining independence, the racist concepts that European colonization left against ourselves, other poc’s and black people were reaffirmed by the negative stereotypes presented in white media, which unfortunately is broadcast worldwide. But that’s a whole other can of worms. Kreacher is later taught, and experiences differently. He begins to show respect to Hermione and fights against Voldemort - the man his masters supported so thoroughly. I forgive Kreacher too for the part he played in Sirius’ death, here is someone who’s trauma and upbringing really does excuse their actions. He comes to understand that he made a mistake, learns and changes. Regulus wanted to make his parents proud, they supported Voldemort. Sirius, I don’t believe, helped Regulus understand any differently and rebuffed and berated him for parroting their parents views (this is never the right thing to do), thereby pushing him away.

We of course also know that Regulus had a kind and understanding nature, this shows in the way he treated Kreacher. He joined the Death Eaters when he left Hogwarts thinking he was doing the right thing. And immediately realised his parents had been wrong to support Voldemort, he tried to leave and couldn’t. In the end he actively tried to bring down Voldemort and his movement. As soon as he gained some substantial information on Voldemort he acted, giving his life to do so. Snape remained with the Death Eaters even as they killed countless muggles and muggleborns. He reported to Voldemort the prophecy he heard - if Regulus had been in Snape’s place here what do you think he would have done? reported to Voldemort? No, he would have kept it to himself, or taken the opportunity even to tell Dumbledore he would like to join their side. Snape, on the other hand, would have seen to it that Voldemort succeeded in ending this threat if it weren’t for one thing: Lily. This is NOT a redeeming quality.

Do you understand what it is I’m trying to explain? I’m not as eloquent as most of you here, so I’m sorry if I’m botching this up. Snape’s childhood should not have stopped him from seeing what Voldemort was doing. It should have been enough that he had Lily, a ‘mudblood’, to show him that Voldemort targeting muggleborn’s and muggles was wrong. Regulus had no one he loved who was a muggleborn. Neither did Kreacher. Sirius didn’t either but learned before he met Lily or any muggleborns that Voldemort’s and his parents views were wrong. So did so many others. Shit, even a lot of you must have been taught racism and unlearned it later when you were exposed to the truth. I know I had to as a child. Harry Potter played a key role in my own unlearning. Snape, knowing all this, joined Voldemort. That is why I do not support or forgive him. He continued to stay in Voldemort’s employ, rising in rank to the point of being accepted into Voldemort’s inner circle and being granted the Dark Mark. May be he was uncomfortable, but this did not stop him from following orders and committing crimes against humanity. He only stopped when the one muggleborn he thought was actually OK was being hunted by Voldemort.

Some of you have said in the comments that Snape was working against Voldemort since before the prophecy and threat on Lily. Where do you get this idea? Please tell me I genuinely want to know how you know this. Because in the Half Blood Prince, Trelawney’s drunken rant let’s Harry know that it was Snape who had heard the prophecy and told Voldemort about it. When confronted, Dumbledore tells Harry,

‘Professor Snape made a terrible mistake, he was still in Lord Voldemort’s employ on the night he heard the first half of Professor Trelawney’s prophecy, naturally, he hastened to tell his master what he had heard for it concerned his master most deeply. But he did not know, he had no possibly way of knowing which boy Voldemort would hunt from then onward or that the parents he would destroy in his murderous quest were people that Professor Snape knew. That they were your mother and father.’

- HBP, Chapter 25: the Seer Overheard.

Harry goes on to laugh at this statement referring to Snape’s hate of his father. Dumbledore responds to this with,

‘you have no idea of the remorse Professor Snape felt when he realised how Lord Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy, Harry.

It’s pretty easy to read between the lines here. Snape only turned from Voldemort’s side when he realised that Voldemort had interpreted the prophecy to mean Lily and James’ son, meaning Voldemort now posed an undeniably direct threat to Lily herself. If I can go a little further here, I believe Dumbledore’s empathy towards Snape stems from the part he himself played in helping Grindelwald’s plans for world domination and his own attempts to reconcile with his guilt over the matter. For me, this choosing to turn only when Lily was threatened does not redeem him because he either did not understand or care for the damage he was inflicting to others. If he had not been in love with Lily, he would have just let it happen and continued supporting Voldemort, how is that right? ‘It is the thought that counts’, this thought doesn’t sit right with me.

He never tried to redeem himself for joining Voldemort, only the part he played in Lily’s death. In my eyes he acted out of guilt, he was sorry for Lily’s death but not for joining a side that murdered thousands of innocent lives. He later chastised anyone who used the word Mudblood in his (private) presence but I interpret this as a reaction to the word reminding him of his and Lily’s fallout. I don’t believe it had anything to do with him actually understanding the damage behind its use. In death, he may have felt he redeemed himself, and Harry apparently felt the same. Washing his hands of Lily’s blood may have been enough for him, Dumbledore, Harry and you but it is not for me. His actions in later life did not, in my opinion, redeem him from willingly joining Voldemort and bullying children.

I apologize for comparing Lupin’s and Snape’s acts of bravery that was unreasonable. Snape’s actions certainly led to the downfall of Voldemort he acted heroically, but for me, he did not redeem himself entirely. It’s as simple as that. I respect that some of you believe he did. That’s fine. But please don’t gloss over the fact that he did work for Voldemort of his own free will, any negative influence he had that led him to believe that muggles and muggleborns deserved to be killed, dominated and enslaved (which is what Voldemort stood for) should have been countered by knowing Lily.

I love the complex character that he is, but I do not agree with his actions in early life, or the motivation behind his actions in later life. And that’s allowed so please stop breathing down my neck.

If this was about JKR being a terf, then maybe this will help: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/trevor-support-center/a-guide-to-being-an-ally-to-transgender-and-nonbinary-youth/

Sorry this was meant to be short but I am physically incapable of keeping things short. This is also the last post I will ever make with regard to my feelings on Snape because well, I’ve been doing it for years and I don’t really care anymore. You do you.

#harry potter #hp #severus snape #anti snape #marauders #jily #anti snily #my post

19 notes · View notes

aidanchaser · 5 years ago

Text

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Everyone Lives Au

Table of Contents beta’d by @ageofzero

Chapter Twenty-One Hermione’s Secret

“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.”

“Thank you very much indeed, Minister. And you’re sure the Potters are safe at home?”

Harry still felt groggy, and the voices sounded distant, but it was definitely Snape and Cornelius Fudge speaking. He tried to open his eyes, but his body felt heavy, and he vaguely wondered if he’d fallen off his broom again, or was he still falling?

“Yes, yes. Rufus Scrimgeour just sent word that he’s with them. Honestly, I’m shocked by the behavior of those dementors. Just shocked. I can’t believe they would perform the kiss on an innocent boy. It’s lucky you found them when you did.”

“Yes, but I’m afraid they were all unconscious by the time I arrived. If I had been even minutes later…. Of course, I bound the Blacks for safety, and brought the children all back on stretchers.”

Harry remembered what had happened in a rush, and his head started pounding from the effort. He shifted in bed, trying to sit up and forced himself to open his eyes. His vision was blurry, and his heart raced at the expectation of dementors, but then he realized that he just wasn’t wearing his glasses.

He turned his head to see Hermione on his left. She was sitting up in bed, perfectly still, but then she met his eyes, and pressed a finger to her lips. She pointed to the open door of the infirmary, and Harry realized that’s where the voices were coming from.

He glanced across the infirmary to see Ron and Neville, both asleep. Harry pointed and asked, “Are they alright?” in a quiet whisper.

Hermione nodded, then put her finger to her lips again as Snape started speaking.

“It was obvious that Black had bewitched the children. I saw it immediately — a Confundus Charm, to judge by their behavior. They weren’t responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape. They obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. Of course, even if they hadn’t run into Sirius Black —”

“Another strange tragedy,” the Minister sighed. “Sirius Black was a hero in the war. It’s hard to believe he would turn Death Eater now. And the news that Barty Crouch, Jr. is alive….”

“It is a lot, of course, but catching two criminals tonight —”

“Yes, yes, you’ve done wonderfully, Snape. Macnair’s gone to get the dementors. They should be here to perform the kiss for Regulus Black shortly. Can’t risk Barty Crouch helping him escape again.”

Harry sat up quickly and ignored how badly his head throbbed. No, Sirius wasn’t guilty of anything. He’d only tried to help Regulus Black right an old wrong, and catch a criminal who had escaped justice. And Regulus Black didn’t deserve the dementor’s kiss, no matter what he’d done before. No one deserved that.

“Goodness,” Madam Pomfrey said as he grabbed his glasses. “You’re awake — no, dear, stay in bed. Have some chocolate.”

“I need to see the headmaster,” he said quickly. “Where’s Dumbledore?”

“It’s alright,” Madam Pomfrey said, and stuffed a piece of chocolate into his mouth. She took the moment of surprise as an opportunity to shove him back into the bed. “No need to be in a rush. You’re both safe.”

“But Regulus Black doesn’t deserve the dementor’s kiss,” Hermione said. She was also trying to get out of bed now. “He was only trying to catch Barty Crouch, because —”

“I understand you’re all a little confused,” Madam Pomfrey said. “But —”

Harry swallowed his chocolate and felt warmer for it. “You can’t, though. Regulus Black isn’t who you think he is!”

His shout was heard in the hallway, and Fudge and Snape walked into the infirmary.

“Harry,” Fudge said in a voice painfully reminiscent of the condescending voice he’d spoken to Harry with at the Leaky Cauldron all those months ago. “You should be resting. You’ve nearly —”

“Where’s Dumbledore?” Harry repeated. “Where are my parents?”

“Your parents are safe at home. After hearing the news of Barty Crouch, we immediately dispatched Aurors to protect them. Not to worry. They’ll be perfectly safe. And we’ve sent them word about Regulus and Sirius Black’s capture, so —”

“Sirius didn’t do anything wrong! He’s not a traitor. Regulus Black is — Regulus Black betrayed Voldemort and —”

The Minister looked completely affronted by Harry using the name “Voldemort” out loud. “Honestly, Harry, I understand that you’re confused. You’ve been through quite an ordeal. Just lie down and —”

“You’re wrong,” Hermione said. “Please, just listen to us.”

The Minister seemed like he was about to repeat his admonishment that they rest and recover, but before he could, Dumbledore pushed open the doors to the infirmary, looking strangely grim. But the seriousness faded before Harry could really wonder why it was there, and it was replaced with Dumbledore’s usual twinkle.

“My patients need rest,” Madam Pomfrey said sternly, and started shooing the Minister and Snape out of the infirmary.

“I would just like a short word with Mr. Potter and Miss Granger,” Dumbledore said. “It won’t take long. I’ve just been talking with Regulus and Sirius Black —”

“I suppose he’s told you the same fairy tale he’s planted in Potter’s mind?” spat Snape. “Something about Barty Crouch and Regulus Black being Animagi and —”

“That is, indeed, their story,” Dumbledore said.

“Even though we have testimony against Regulus Black and the crimes he committed during the war?”

“Barty Crouch lied,” Hermione said. “He said so himself. You saw him, Professor —”

Dumbledore raised his hand for silence. “There were more testimonies against Regulus Black than just Barty Crouch.” Harry was sure he was staring at Snape as he said this, not Hermione. “I would still like a moment alone with Harry and Hermione. Cornelius, Severus, Poppy — please leave us.”

“Headmaster!” Madam Pomfrey said, “They need treatment and rest —”

“This cannot wait,” he said. “I must insist.”

Madam Pomfrey did not look pleased, and when she retreated into her office, she slammed her door shut.

Fudge cleared his throat. “I suppose I should meet the dementors. I’ll meet you upstairs, Dumbledore.”

He left the infirmary and paused in the hallway for Snape, who didn’t follow.

“Surely you don’t believe Sirius Black is innocent?” Snape whispered. “You know he proved he was capable of murder at the age of sixteen. You know I wasn’t the only one that believed he’d betrayed James and Lily that night —”

“My memory is as good as it ever was, Severus,” said Dumbledore.

Snape fumed for a moment, then walked towards the hallway, pace quick and back stiff, hands clenched at his sides.

“Regulus and Sirius are telling the truth,” Harry said quickly.

“We read the letters,” Hermione said, “where Regulus Black said he was betraying You-Know-Who, and Barty Crouch instigated the attack on the Longbottoms, not Regulus —”

“Sirius read them too,” Harry said, “and they’re all Animagi, which is how —”

Dumbledore, again, held up his hand for silence. “It is your turn to listen, and I beg you will not interrupt me, because there is very little time. Even if Regulus Black did betray Voldemort fourteen years ago, there are plenty of other crimes he has committed. And even then, without these letters, or Barty Crouch returning to redact his accusations against Regulus Black, there is little that can be done. As for Sirius Black, there are many who will easily believe he chose to side with his brother and that he deserves a similar fate.”

“But they’re wrong —” Harry said, then stopped when Dumbledore shot him a harsh look.

“Snape’s version of events is far more convincing. Sirius did not go to anyone for help, nor did Regulus. They acted outside of authority, and it is hard for their story to be believed now.”

“Where are my parents?” Harry asked. “I saw them, in the forest —”

“Your parents are at home.”

Harry remembered the Minister had said the same thing, but he didn’t understand. He’d seen his parents’ patronuses in the forest. His parents had come and saved him, so why weren’t they here now? And how could he help Regulus and Sirius? Regulus didn’t deserve the kiss, and Sirius didn’t deserve Azkaban.

“And though James and Lily Potter could vouch for Sirius’s innocence, I’m sure it will be some time before they can be brought here. Of course, I will do everything I can to speed their arrival, and delay Sirius Black’s sentence. But in order to help Regulus Black, we need more time.”

Hermione’s eyes went wide and she covered her mouth with her hands. “Oh!”

“If you truly believe that Regulus Black does not deserve the fate that awaits him,” Dumbledore continued, “then I will tell you this: He 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.”

Harry frowned, completely puzzled by Dumbledore’s warning, and opened his mouth to ask what Dumbledore meant, but Dumbledore walked to the door. He paused at the frame. “I am going to lock you in. It is five minutes to midnight. Miss Granger, three turns should do it. Good luck.”

Harry had grown up in the wizarding world and been exposed to all sorts of spells, but he was constantly amazed by what magic could do. He’d learned over the course of his studies that there was no end to the things one could do with magic simply by being creative. He’d watched his parents invent new spells and tweak old ones. He’d come to school and learned all sorts of new things. But despite all that, he was in complete disbelief, when Hermione took out a necklace with a tiny hourglass charm, threw the chain around his neck, and the two of them went hurtling backwards. It was worse than any Floo Powder trip Harry had ever taken, but not quite as bad as Side-Along Apparition.

When his feet finally touched ground again, he had to blink several times until the world came back into focus and his stomach settled back down where it belonged.

They were in the infirmary, still, but it was filled with the golden glow of sunset.

“What —”

But Hermione dragged him across the hall and shoved him into a broom closet, closing the door tightly behind them both.

“We’ve gone back in time,” she whispered, and pressed her ear against the door.

“Back in time? How?”

“Time-Turner — Sh, I hear something. I think it’s us.”

“Us?”

Hermione bit down on her lip. “Yes, yes it’s us going down to Hagrid’s. We’re moving slowly because we’re under the Invisibility Cloak.”

“So we’re out there and… we’re in here, too?”

She then sat down on a bucket and rubbed her hand over her face. “Yes.”

“Why do you have a… whatever it is?”

“McGonagall gave me a Time-Turner so I could get to all my lessons. She made me promise not to tell anyone. I had to get special permission from the Ministry, and she had to promise I was a responsible student and that I’d never use it for anything but my studies.” She sighed heavily. “But I don’t understand why Dumbledore wanted us to come back to this moment. How are we supposed to help Regulus Black?”

Harry had to think hard about what Dumbledore had said. More than one life could be saved. And he’d told them which window they could find Regulus Black in. What happened at this time that would help them save Regulus?

Harry ran his hand through his hair and tried to think. “We just went down to Hagrid’s, so —” and it hit him, “— Buckbeak! Hermione, we’re going to save Buckbeak! And we can fly him up to Regulus Black!”

Hermione didn’t look relieved to have a plan. Instead she looked more worried. She shook her head anxiously. “But how can we do that without being seen — oh!” She reached into her robes and pulled out the Invisibility Cloak she’d picked up when Ron went after Scabbers on the hilltop, which felt so much longer ago than just a few hours. Or, it would be happening in a few hours. Harry’s head hurt from thinking about it.

“Why can’t we be seen?” Harry whispered as she threw the Cloak over them.

“Think about it,” Hermione said. “What would you do if you saw yourself?”

“I guess I’d think it was some sort of trick.”

“Exactly. It’s too dangerous. We have to be careful, especially once we have Buckbeak.”

Harry nodded in agreement, and together he and Hermione walked down to Hagrid’s hut. They arrived not long after their past selves knocked on Hagrid’s door. They were just in time to see Hagrid close the door and Harry pull the Invisibility Cloak off of the three of them.

“This is really weird,” he mumbled to Hermione.

“A bit,” she said. “We need to get closer to Buckbeak.”

“Can’t we take him now?”

“We have to wait until the Minster of Magic and the man from the Committee have seen him. Otherwise they’ll think Hagrid let him go.”

Harry sighed, but he was glad Hermione was with him. He’d have done terribly all on his own. He never would have thought of things like this. He supposed it was because she’d been time traveling all year, taking twelve classes. How she managed it all, Harry still didn’t understand. He was barely holding on with nine classes.

They waited until they saw Dumbledore, the Minister, the Committee member, and the executioner walking towards Hagrid’s hut. Then Harry, Hermione, and Ron hurried out the back door of Hagrid’s hut. They said their goodbyes, and hurried back to the castle. Harry felt strange, behind the Invisibility Cloak, knowing that just a few feet in front of him was himself, hours earlier, passing by under the same Invisibility Cloak.

Once Harry was sure he, Ron, and Hermione were over the crest of the hill, and Hagrid had let Dumbledore, the Minister, the Committee member, and the executioner into his hut, Harry slipped out from under the Cloak.

He walked up to Buckbeak, careful not to blink, and bowed low. Buckbeak eyed him suspiciously, as he had in the paddock so long ago, then lowered his head to Harry.

“It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures that the hippogriff Buckbeak, hereafter called the condemned, shall be executed on the sixth of June at sundown,” the Committee member was reading in a high voice as Harry anxiously worked at the knot that tied Buckbeak to the fence.

“Hurry,” Hermione whispered from the treeline.

“...sentenced to execution by beheading, to be carried out by the Committee’s appointed executioner, Walden Macnair….”

Harry pulled the knot free and tugged on the end of the rope. “Buckbeak, c’mon.”

“Hagrid, sign here.”

The large hippogriff eyed Harry as he tugged on the rope, but didn’t move an inch.

“Hagrid, perhaps it will be better if you stay inside —”

“No, I — I wan’ ter be with him… I don’ wan’ him ter be alone —”

There were footsteps and shuffling inside the cabin.

“Harry,” Hermione hissed.

“Buckbeak, move!” Harry pleaded.

Then Dumbledore’s voice — “One moment please, Macnair. You need to sign too.”

Harry knew he had precious seconds left and tugged with all his weight. Finally, Buckbeak trotted towards him, and as the rope slacked, Harry fell into the pumpkin patch.

Hermione ran out from the treeline and pulled with him. Together, they got Buckbeak to move a little faster. They got into the trees and kept going until they couldn’t see Hagrid’s anymore, and hopefully the people at Hagrid’s couldn’t see them.

“Hold on,” Hermione hissed. “They might hear us.”

Harry stopped and together, they listened closely.

There was the bang of Hagrid’s door opening, then the Committee member said, “Where is it? Where is the beast?”

“It was tied here,” Macnair the executioner said furiously. There was the thud of an axe, and Harry realized that the sound he’d heard earlier — or right now? — hadn’t been Buckbeak’s execution at all, but instead the sound of the executioner swinging his axe in frustration.

“Now what?” Harry whispered to Hermione.

She looked around the forest. “We hide here. We have to wait until it’s safe to take Buckbeak to rescue Regulus.”

“That’s hours away.”

Hermione nodded. “I told you this wasn’t going to be easy.”

“We’ve got to at least be able to see the Whomping Willow,” Harry said, “or we won’t know what’s going on.”

Hermione nodded and tightened her grip on Buckbeak’s rope. “Just remember, Harry, we can’t be seen.”

“I know.”

“So you can’t go after Barty Crouch, or try to stop Snape from catching Regulus Black and Sirius.”

Harry frowned, but nodded.

They got closer to the Whomping Willow, but stayed just behind the treeline. They sat down behind a clump of bushes just in time to see Neville slip down the hill and fall flat on his back. Ron was right behind him, and dove on top of Scabbers.

“Gotcha, you slippery thing,” he said, then, “You stupid cat, stop!” as Hermione and Harry came over the hill.

They watched Sirius drag Ron under the Whomping Willow, then Harry saw himself get smacked by one of the Willow’s thicker branches. He rubbed the back of his head, remembering the pain of hitting the ground.

Then Llewelyn — Regulus Black — pressed the knot on the Whomping Willow, and everyone went underneath.

“I can’t believe Regulus Black was staying in the common room this whole time,” Harry whispered.

“That explains why Ginny could never get him to come up to her dormitory.”

Harry wrinkled his nose. “Yeah, that would’ve been weird.” He hoped Ginny wouldn’t be too disappointed that she no longer had a cat. She’d been so happy to have a pet of her own like Ron did.

Hermione shushed him as they heard footsteps. It was Dumbledore, Macnair, Fudge, and the Committee member walking back up to the castle. When they were gone, it was quiet for a few more minutes, then Remus Lupin came running down the stone steps towards the Whomping Willow. He used a long stick to prod the knot on the Whomping Willow, then ran underneath it.

“If only he’d taken his potion,” Harry said bitterly. “I can’t understand why he would just rush off to the Willow, when —”

“Sh,” Hermione hissed. “There’s Snape —”

And sure enough, just on Remus’s heels was Professor Snape, carrying the Marauder’s Map.

As soon as he was gone, Hermione whispered, “He must’ve seen Remus on the Marauder’s Map and gone after him.”

“Snape doesn’t know how to work the map.”

“But if Professor Lupin left it lying on the table, without erasing it….”

Now Harry understood. Remus must’ve seen Barty Crouch on the map. Maybe he even saw Sirius with Regulus, and got concerned. His heart sank into his stomach as he realized that Remus had been checking up on him, making sure he was safe in the Common Room, and instead, he’d snuck out to Hagrid’s. If he’d stayed upstairs, maybe none of this would’ve happened. Maybe Scabbers would never have got out.

Or maybe Scabbers would have escaped anyway, and they never would have learned the truth.

He wondered if he could go back in time and convince himself not to leave the Common Room in the first place, but then who would there be to save Buckbeak?

Time-travel gave Harry a headache.

“I don’t understand,” Harry said slowly, “who saved me from the dementors if my parents are at home?” He remembered Remus saying he’d tell James to stay home because of Regulus Black, and it sounded like James had listened. Harry felt even worse about breaking his promise to Remus.

“It must’ve been Snape,” Hermione said. “He was bragging to the Minister about how he saved you.”

“But there were two,” Harry said. “I saw two Patronuses.”

Hermione chewed on her lip. “I don’t know, Harry.”

Before either of them could come up with an idea, Barty Crouch came out of the Whomping Willow, running, until he got knocked to the ground by the Willow. Then Harry came after him, pressed the knot as Barty transformed, and pounced on the weasel.

Then everyone came out and listened to Regulus and Barty’s stories. Harry, the Harry with Buckbeak and Hermione, stood suddenly.

“We have to move,” he whispered to Hermione.

“We can’t be seen.”

“I know, but Uncle Remus is going to transform in a minute and run straight at us.”

“Oh —” Hermione moaned. “Where can we go?”

Harry ran his hand through his hair, pushing back his bangs. “We’ll have to go to the lake. The dementors will be there, but we know that Uncle Remus will avoid it.”

Hermione looked reasonably terrified, but nodded. She and Harry hurriedly led Buckbeak down by the lake, careful to stay in the treeline. They heard a howl in the distance and Harry tightened his grip on his wand. The pounding of paws got closer and Hermione made sure Buckbeak was between her and the sounds. Even proud Buckbeak tried to move away from the approaching howls.

Harry knew he should have been terrified, but he wasn’t. He knew that Sirius would stop Remus from hurting anyone, as he had done a hundred times before.

The werewolf burst out of the trees onto the shore of the Black Lake. Sirius, as a dog, was not far behind him. Then the dementors swooped down on the lake. The werewolf turned and ran. Sirius whimpered and shifted from Padfoot into his human form, but he was incredibly still and pale as he stared up at the hundreds of dementors that descended onto him.

Harry resisted the urge to burst out of the trees and do as he had done before — simply shout at the dementors that Sirius was innocent. He too, felt cold, and he tightened his grip on his wand. He thought of his happiest memory, or tried to. He wasn’t entirely sure what that memory was. Nothing had worked so far.

As the dementors continued to swoop over Sirius, Harry and Regulus Black ran into the clearing. Regulus collapsed immediately, and from behind the trees, Harry watched himself try to conure a feeble patronus.

His heart raced in his chest as he waited for his parents to appear, or someone, anyone.

He watched himself pass out and waited, but no one came as a dementor lowered its hood and approached Harry.

“Harry — you’re going to die —” Hermione whispered.

And Harry realized what he had to do. He stepped forward, brandished his wand, and said, “Expecto patronum!”

It wasn’t exactly a happy memory, not in the moment it had happened, but in memory, it was a moment Harry cherished.

He remembered the night of his eleventh birthday, when his parents, Uncle Remus, Sirius, and Hagrid had all sat down to tell him about how he got his scar, the real story, and about how his parents had nearly died. At the time, he hadn’t understood how hard that conversation had been. But since then, he’d had his nightmares about the night Voldemort attacked his parents. He’d seen it happen when the dementors came too close. He’d seen how certain people had been hurt by the war, and as he’d grown, he’d begun to notice his parents’ quieter moments, and how distant they could get without meaning to.

He felt emboldened by the trust they put in him. They’d told him how he’d gotten his scar, even though it hurt them, even though they didn’t want him to see how much they were hurt. They wanted to love and protect him, but they’d been vulnerable with him for the first time on that night. They’d believed in him, and that faith made him feel more loved than anything else.

A stag charged at the dementor about to suck out Harry’s soul. Then it was joined by a silver doe, who circled the nearly unconscious Harry, Sirius, and Regulus Black. The silver deer galloped together across the water until all the dementors were gone.

Then the stag cantered back at Harry. It looked over its shoulder at the doe, and so did Harry, stunned to see the second patronus trotting towards Snape.

Then Hermione grabbed him and pulled him into the trees.

“You can’t be seen,” she hissed at him. “Did Snape see you?”

“I don’t think so,” Harry said, squinting through the trees as his Patronus vanished, leaving the lake surprisingly dim in the light of the full moon.

Snape was looking suspiciously at the trees, then his Patronus vanished, and he conjured a stretcher that slipped underneath Harry’s limp body.

“He probably thinks it was my dad,” Harry said, remembering the question he’d heard Snape ask when he first woke up in the hospital wing. “As much as I want to show him how wrong he is —”

“Harry, don’t.”

“I know, I know.” Harry tucked his wand into his robes. “We need to get closer to the castle, make sure we know when it’s time to rescue Regulus.”

They walked through the woods, towards the castle, as quietly as they could, both aware there was still a werewolf wandering the grounds.

Hermione looked down at her watch. “We have forty-five minutes until Dumbledore locks us in.”

“How will we know when it’s time?” Harry asked.

They watched Snape take five stretchers up to the castle and Hermione from the past followed after him.

“I can’t believe he wouldn’t listen to you,” Harry whispered. Harry also couldn’t believe that Snape, of all people, had a doe for a Patronus. Remus had said that a Patronus was an expression of all your happy thoughts. How could Snape’s be the same as his mother’s?

“Snape really hates Sirius,” Hermione said. “And did you see the way he talked to Regulus? I don’t think they like each other very much either.”

“Yeah, but that doesn’t make it right,” Harry said. “I don’t like Snape, but I’m not going to send him off to Azkaban for — for — I don’t know, failing me in Potions.” Even as he said it, though, he thought it didn’t sound like the worst idea he’d ever had.

“Dumbledore said it himself, Regulus isn’t entirely innocent.”

“But he changed his mind. He turned good.” Harry didn’t know if that was the right way to say it, but he desperately wanted to believe that someone who had made terrible decisions could make right ones later on.

He thought of the way Remus sounded when he talked about the adventures he used to have with James and Sirius. They’d had fun and made stupid mistakes, terrifyingly stupid mistakes, but they’d grown up, and they’d raised Harry, and even though Harry didn’t think of himself as perfect, he was glad to have the family he did.

If Regulus had made mistakes when he was young, but made the right ones as he got older, surely he deserved a second chance.

“Look,” Hermione whispered. She pointed at a man coming out of the castle. Something silver glinted on his waist — an axe.

“That’s Macnair, gone to get the dementors,” Harry said. “Now’s the time.”

Harry and Hermione climbed onto Buckbeak’s back. Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry’s waist, and Harry nudged his heels into Buckbeak’s side. The hippogriff took off soundlessly.

“Oh,” Hermione said in a quiet voice and squeezed Harry. Harry could hear her muttering into his shoulders, “I don’t like this — oh, I really don’t like this —”

Harry wasn’t a fan either — he still preferred his broom — but he carefully led Buckbeak up to the tower using the rope lead. He stopped at the thirteenth window.

Through the glass, he could see Regulus Black, seated calmly on the floor of the room. Harry wondered if he was waiting for them or reflecting on the end of his life. It was impossible to tell with his impassive face.

“Alohomora,” Hermione whispered, and the window sprung open.

Regulus Black stood up at the sound, but there was no surprise on his face. He walked forward and seemed to understand without words what Harry and Hermione were there to do.

“Dumbledore?” he asked, and Harry had the odd feeling that there was a sad note to Regulus’s voice, like maybe Regulus hadn’t wanted to be saved.

“Yes. Climb on,” Harry said.

Regulus didn’t hesitate. He climbed out the window and jumped onto Buckbeak with an ease that reminded Harry of a cat, but also reminded Harry of a star Quidditch player. Harry couldn’t imagine Sirius would have had a brother who played Quidditch and never mentioned it, but Harry couldn’t help but notice that Regulus was very well-built for a Seeker position. Harry filed the question away for later and steered Buckbeak up to the top of the tower where he and Hermione dismounted.

“Thank you,” Regulus said to them both. “I trust the other two are alright?”

“They’re fine,” Hermione said. “You haven’t much time. You should go.”

“And Sirius?”

“Dumbledore said he’s taking care of it.”

“I see. Thank you, again. This won’t be the last we see of each other, Harry,” and Regulus took off on Buckbeak.

Harry wanted to stay and watch, make sure they got away okay, but Hermione dragged him into the castle. “We only have minutes to get back in the infirmary,” she said.

“Right.”

She threw the Invisibility Cloak over them and they slipped down the stairs — holding their breath as they passed Snape and the Minister.

They arrived at the infirmary just as Dumbledore was about the lock the door.

“Well?” he asked them.

“We did it,” Harry said. “Regulus Black and Buckbeak are safe. And Sirius —”

“I will see to it immediately,” Dumbledore said. “Your parents should be arriving any moment and,” he paused, ear turned towards the hospital wing door, “yes, I think you’ve gone too. Get inside, I’ll lock the door.”

Harry and Hermione quickly slipped into the infirmary and into their beds. Hermione tucked her Time-Turner into her pocket, the lock on the door clicked, and Madam Pomfrey walked back into the ward, hands on her hips. “Did I hear the headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?”

She was incredibly fussy, and Harry and Hermione didn’t protest her care in the slightest. Harry ate every piece of chocolate she gave him, and Hermione accepted her relaxing tea without protest.

Then there was a loud shout. Footsteps pounded on the stairs above, growing increasingly louder.

“What in Merlin’s name —” Madam Pomfrey said as the doors to the infirmary burst open.

“YOU CAN’T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE IN OR OUT OF HOGWARTS,” Snape was shouting as he stalked towards Harry. “OUT WITH IT, POTTER! WHAT DID YOU DO?”

The Minister was right on Snape’s heels. “See here, Snape, be reasonable. The door’s been locked this entire time.”

Dumbledore followed at a much slower pace. “Severus, I’m sure Madam Pomfrey would have heard if the students had left their bed. We were only gone ten minutes.”

Snape looked absolutely furious, but he turned his fury from Harry to Dumbledore. “And Sirius Black?”

“I believe in the absence of Regulus Black, his mind is beginning to clear. I think you’ll find he was as bewitched as the children, perhaps even by an Unforgivable Curse. You yourself testified that Regulus Black was quite skilled at Unforgivable Curses.”

Snape was seething, and seemed unable to move. “And James Potter?”

“Has been home with his wife and Rufus Scrimgeour since supper. I think, Severus, instead of looking for someone we trust to blame, and expecting them to be in two places at once, the more reasonable answer must be to assume that Barty Crouch is the one who helped Regulus Black escape. It seems we have two escaped prisoners to inform the Daily Prophet about.”

The Minister of Magic looked nearly sickened by this realization. “The press will have a field day,” the Minister groaned. “I’ll be a laughingstock. Two escaped prisoners….” He shook his head.

“And the dementors will be removed from the school?”

“Oh, yes, they’ll have to go. I never dreamed they’d attempt to administer the Kiss on an innocent boy…. Completely out of control… no, I’ll have them packed off back to Azkaban tonight…. Perhaps we should think about dragons at the school entrance.”

“Hagrid would like that,” said Dumbledore, and escorted Snape and Fudge from the hospital wing.

“Well, I never,” Madam Pomfrey said. “Such disrespectfulness, from adults, no less!” She looked over at Harry and Hermione. “Finish that chocolate, then bed for you both.” She locked the infirmary door, still muttering to herself angrily. She paused only to check on Ron and Neville, then disappeared into her office.

—————————— ✶✶✶——————————

The next morning, when they were all released from the infirmary, Harry and Hermione quietly told Ron and Neville what had happened on a walk down to the Black Lake.

Ron and Neville were shocked to hear about the Time-Turner, but glad to hear Regulus and Buckbeak were both safe. They spent the morning skipping rocks and seeing if any of them could get close to the giant squid’s tentacles, which were floating lazily in the warm sunshine offshore, while discussing where Regulus Black and Buckbeak might be hiding out.

When they finally went in for lunch, Neville hung back. He tugged on Harry’s sleeve. “I just… I’m sorry I let Barty Crouch get away,” Neville said. “If I had been faster or, or not so scared maybe we could have caught him. I’m — I’m not a very brave Gryffindor.”

Harry blinked at Neville’s quiet confession. “Neville, you stood up to both Regulus Black and Barty Crouch when you thought they’d hurt your family. That’s incredibly brave.”

“But it didn’t do anything,” Neville said. “You still had to go and save Regulus, too, because I was stuck in bed because I let Crouch curse me.”

“He cursed Sirius too,” Harry said. “It really wasn’t because of you. Neville — you remember your boggart, at the beginning of the year?”

Neville’s red face went even darker. “Yeah.”

“Is Snape really your worst fear?”

He nodded.

“Then you’re the bravest Gryffindor I’ve ever known. You face your worst fear every day. I think that says a lot.”

Neville looked completely stunned by this revelation. “Harry… how do you always know what to say?”

Harry shook his head. “I’m just telling you the truth.” But he thought that maybe, just maybe, Remus and Sirius had rubbed off on him in all the best ways.

And together, the four of them went up to the castle to feast in the red and gold banners of Gryffindor’s House Cup victory.

#harry potter and the prisoner of azkaban #poa #hp fic #hp everyone lives #harry potter everyone lives au

0 notes