Out of Time

 "Oh, no— I don't like this—" Daphne heard Hermione saying behind her, "oh, I really don't like this—"

Daphne wasn't feeling especially thrilled either; as she'd said before, flying was more of her sister's forte. Her plant side was practically screaming at her to get her roots into solid ground once more!

Otherwise, the plan was progressing quite swimmingly; Hogwarts's Anti-Flight Jinx didn't affect Buckbeak in the slightest. Harry seemed to be quite the natural at flying; he was controlling Buckbeak as if he had been riding him his entire life.

"One, two, three," Harry muttered, as he counted the windows as they flew past them. "Whoa!"

Harry had Buckbeak stop in midair; the Hippogriff strained its huge wings to maintain altitude without moving forward. What was easy for a hummingbird didn't exactly come easy to a gigantic eagle-based creature, who much preferred to soar and glide over air currents.

"Alohomora!" Hermione managed to utter, pushing the queasiness back into her throat. She was going to be airsick if they didn't land soon!

The window to Sirius's cell, Flitwick's office, swung open.

"How— Why—?" said Sirius weakly. "You shouldn't have come— I'm not worth it—"

"Get on — there's not much time," said Harry. "You've got to get out of here— the Dementors are coming—Macnair's gone to get them."

Sirius did as he was told, and he climbed onto Buckbeak. Harry had the Hippogriff fly up to the West Tower, on the edge of the castle. From there, they'd need to walk across two buildings in order to get back to the Hospital Wing, but at least here, there wouldn't be anyone to spy on them.

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

"What happened to the other boy? Ron? I hurt his leg badly," croaked Sirius, before pointing towards Daphne. "And the other girl who looks like this one; she got flung through a wall from the second floor; is she okay?"

"They're fine," Harry reassured him. "But now, you need to go—"

"This isn't how I wanted things to go," rasped Sirius. "I nearly had him— Peter— but the rat still managed to get away."

He paused for an instant, an indescribable weariness appearing in his eyes.

"I've ruined everything," he breathed. "If only I'd trusted Lupin to understand— This could have all gone away, and he wouldn't have got caught up in this."

"Don't worry about Lupin," Hermione reassured him. "Oleandra's gone to free him from the dungeons— you're supposed to meet him at the Hog's Head Inn."

"Thank you so much," Sirius said with a trembling voice. "I don't know how I could ever thank you enough— picking up after our mess. But at least I won't be alone on the run, now."

Even though Sirius had absolutely no proof of his innocence; even if everyone believed he had killed his parents; Harry had never been surer of anything in his life: this man was family. And nobody could ever convince him otherwise.

"Just go," said Harry softly. "And find Pettigrew. He's bound to be somewhere, right?"

"Harry, the time—" Daphne warned him. "We need to get back before Dumbledore locks the room."

Harry wanted to, no, needed to talk to Sirius some more. If only he'd attacked Snape instead of hesitating, maybe they could have talked some more; maybe Pettigrew wouldn't have got away.

"We'll see each other again," said Sirius. "And I'll make it up to you for all those years I've missed. I'll get you one of those new brooms, so that you never lose again— James always loved brooms and flying—"

"I don't need a new broom," said Harry, as he began tearing up. "I just need you to be my godfather."

"Some godfather I turned out to be," said Sirius in a trembling voice. "If James and Lily could see me now— Harry, I swear I'll make things right by you. And I'll start by bringing Peter to justice— that's what your parents would have wanted."

"Harry…" Hermione said. The fear of being erased from existence was beginning to overpower her feelings of wanting Harry to spend these last few precious moments together with his godfather.

"I know," said Harry, wiping away some tears. "Sirius, you need to go. NOW."

"I'll make sure to write," Sirius called out. "And before I go— You are— truly your parents' son, Harry… They would be proud."

And with those final words, Buckbeak took the skies, and the three of them watched as man and Hippogriff grew smaller and smaller before disappearing into the darkness of the night.

"Well, now we'll never make it back in time," said Daphne glumly as she rubbed her hands together. "I daresay we're done for."

"I can't believe it," said Hermione, shivering. "How could I let this happen?"

"We'll be fine," said Harry, his breath condensing into mist before his eyes. "We'll be…"

"Spread out!" Daphne heard a voice shout out. "He can't have gone far!"

"Release the Dementors!" another voice cried out. "I'll take full responsibility with Dumbledore if something happens!"

"It's all over," moaned Hermione. "They're right under us! They'll find us! We're doomed!"

"Hermione," said Harry urgently. "Is there any magic you know that could help us?"

"What we need isn't magic, it's a miracle!" said a panic-stricken Hermione. "It sounds like there's an army of Aurors under us. Maybe if we had the Invisibility Cloak, or if we had sufficient quantities of material to Transfigure into rope to climb down the walls— And no, before you ask, Hogwarts is enchanted to resist spell damage, Transfiguring the bricks won't work…"

"Follow me," said Daphne, thinking about how she had invaded the City of Gates in Nidavellir. "We might not be able to fly down, or take the stairs, but we do have rope…"

"Where?" asked Harry.

"Are the two of you acquainted with a certain Rapunzel?" said Daphne. "I wasn't, until my sister told me the story."

Harry and Hermione nodded; of course they did, they were raised by Muggles.