Hermione Granger and the Prisoner Of Azkaban (Completed)

Chapter 19 - The Patronus

Dedicated to xLily_Black

Hermione woke up and found herself in the hospital wing. She had no idea how she got there, or what had happened to everyone else. She turned and saw Harry lying unconscious on the bed next to her. On the bed opposite her she could just about make out Ron's flaming red hair. Hermione breathed a sigh of relief. Someone had found them. They were going to be alright

Her stomach suddenly did a backflip. If someone had found them, they would've found Sirius! She suddenly heard voices coming from outside the door. They belonged to Mr Fudge and Professor Snape
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"

"Nasty cut you've got there.... Black's work, I suppose?"
"As a matter of fact, it was Potter, Weasley, and Granger, Minister..."
"No!"
"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately. A Confundus Charm, to judge by their behaviour. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. 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. They've got away with a great deal before now... I'm afraid it's given them a rather high opinion of themselves... and of course Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of license by the headmaster-"
"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-"
"Well, well... we shall see, Snape, we shall see... The boy has undoubtedly been foolish..."

"What amazes me most is the behaviour of the dementors... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?"
"No, Minister... by the time I had come 'round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances..."
"Extraordinary. And yet Black, and Harry, and the girl-"
"All unconscious by the time I reached them. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, conjured stretchers, and brought them all straight back to the castle"

Hermione noticed Harry wake up next to her. He looked wildly around him and spotted Hermione, who put a finger to her lips and pointed to the open door

Madam Pomfrey walked towards them both and put a piece of chocolate about half the size of a car on Harry's bedside table
"Ah, you're awake!" she said. She took a small hammer out of her pocket and started smashing the chocolate apart
"How's Ron?" asked Hermione at the same time as Harry
"He'll live" said Madam Pomfrey "As for you two you'll be staying here until I'm satisfied you're - Potter, what do you think you're doing?"

Harry had sat up. He had his glasses back on and was picking up his wand
"I need to see the headmaster" he said
"Potter" said Madam Pomfrey calmly "it's all right. They've got Black. He's locked away upstairs. The dementors will be performing the kiss any moment now-"
"WHAT?"
Hermione and Harry both jumped out of bed. Hermione knew that the Dementors Kiss is used when the Dementor sucks out somebody's soul!

Mr Fudge and Snape both ran into the room
"Harry, Harry, what's this?" said Mr Fudge "You should be in bed - has he had any chocolate?"
"Minister, listen!" said Harry urgently "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-"