If there was one place Finley didn't want to go back to, it was the darkest part of her mind. It's where the three unpleasant versions of her self stayed, it was also where her darkest thoughts dwell. But seeing as she was here now, she easily pieced together that something must have happened to her. Was she dead? No. She knew she was too stubborn for death, at least not yet.
"You're back little snake!" One of the versions of her smiled, eyes snake like and red. "You blocked us off for so long, it was getting lonely in here," she pouted.
"Why am I here?" Finley asks, it felt odd to her that she was speaking to herself, but the truth was that, this wasn't the first time she saw them. "What happened?"
"Many things happened while you were unconscious little snake," another one of her said.
"Poor Sirius Black is receiving the dementor's kiss," the other version of her pouted before breaking into a series of giggles. "I would love to see it for myself."
"You're terrible!" Finley snaps, she didn't know if this was actually her talking, or someone else. She didn't want Sirius to receive the dementor's kiss, she didn't want to harm the people she just got back.
"But we're you little snake," the third version of herself smirked, walking towards her slowly, raising her finger that met with Finley's chin raising it ever so slightly. "We're you in the part of your mind you refused to let out," she said.
"We're the Slytherin parts of you," she said.
No. This wasn't her, this wasn't the Slytherin part of her. Even as a conniving Slytherin she refuses to inflict harm to anyone, maybe a handful of times but—
"My favourite days were when we took away all that Pug girl's bones," one version of her laughed.
"The best one was taking all her teeth off."
"You make me sick," Finley glares, the three versions of her smirked. Funny to them that the events that happened to Pansy were figments of her own twisted way of justice.
"But you were the one that did them."
"You made me do it!"
"Alas little snake, but we didn't," the other version of her said.
"We were created because you little snake, held onto so much that you couldn't vent on anything or anyone."
"Being separated from Harry and your Gryffindor friends took a large toll on you dear," one giggled.
"You're beloved Professor told you how much he hated your parents."
"How it all turned out to be a lie, you were really Potter, but where did that leave you?" Finley fell silent, she can't deny that all of them made her feel some type of negativity, she can't deny that those were the times she wanted to hurt someone.
"Little snake," one of them said walking behind her, hands on her shoulder, the coldness of its hands seeping through her clothes. "We are you, as much as you are us. We are the ones you cannot release without hurting anyone else."
"I—"
"No matter how hard you try."
"No matter how long you suppress us."
"We will always be a part of you."
"No!—" she was cut off, giggles rang in her mind. She woke up.
"Finally you're awake!" A familiar voice said, she looked around and saw Hermione slightly battered up and smiling in relief at her. She looked around in panic, the familiar white walls and plan hospital beds, she was in the hospital wing.
"What happened?" She asked, Harry was awake, sitting next to Ron who had a cast on his leg. Merlin he looked even more battered than Hermione was. What the bloody hell happened?
"When professor Lupin swung at us, you hit the ground rather hard and passed out," Hermione explained.
"Is he alright?" Finley asks as she attempts to sit up, managing but the head ache caused her to fall back and lean on the metal bed frame.
"We don't know for sure," Hermione says, turning to Harry motioning him to come near. And Finley knew it was coming, the talk about what they both just discovered.
"I'll just be across the room," Hermione assures, squeezing Finley's hand gently before walking towards Ron, Harry sitting down on the chair Hermione sat a few minutes before.
"It's good that you're awake," Harry says, taking note that Finley still avoided his gaze.
They were siblings, who would have thought? They weren't really expecting such things like that in the school, because all their lives they thought they were alone as orphans.
"How long have you been awake?" Finley asked.
"A few minutes," Harry replies.
What were they going to say to one another? Harry was glad that the sister he thought had died was alive, ecstatic really because in the deepest part in him, Finley had that familiarity to him even if he didn't really know what it was. He was comfortable with her even with the few interactions they had together. And now the truth was out, it made sense to him.
To Finley she was happy, she felt whole, but at the same time afraid. She doesn't know what to say to Harry, was she going to tell him that she knew they were siblings prior to this and didn't believe it? Silly to think, it really felt so far fetched.
"I saw dad," Harry mentioned, catching Finley off guard. "He sent the dementors away when the dementors attacked Sirius and I by the lake."
Finley sat up in worry, her hands cupping Harry's cheeks in inspecting if he obtained more injuries than jut the scratches on his face. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine, but Sirius wouldn't be. He's in the castle and he's going to receive the dementor's kiss—"
"Then what are we sitting around here for?" Finley asks, turning to the other side of the bed standing up, ignoring the bothering feeling in her head for standing up to quickly. She felt a pair of hands pull her back down on the bed to sit, it was Hermione who gave her a stern look.
"They're going to kill him," Finley snaps not wanting Sirius to leave her and Harry anymore. The man suffered enough, and she needed to help him, he and Remus are all they had left as a family.
"They're going to suck out his soul," Hermione informed sadly.
"So they're going to let him walk around Azkaban soulless?!" Finley screamed in outrage, finding the justice methods of the ministry barbaric and cruel, she doubts that they even did host a trial for Sirius in the first place.
"Finley—" Harry tried to voice, but was interrupted by the hospital doors opening, revealing the headmaster.
"Head master, please you have to stop them," Finley begs, walking barefoot towards the headmaster who met her half way. He held her arms together comfortingly, in the old man's head he knew that no one should be begging for an who did no harm, but frankly his hands were tied.
"They've got the wrong man," Hermione adds.
"It's true, Sirius is innocent."
"It's Scabbers who did it Professor," Ron says, trying balance himself to sit up properly.
Dumbledore's brows furrowed at the red head, letting go of Finley who could barely contain her emotions. "Scabbers?"
"He's my rat sir," Ron continues. "He's not really a rat, well he was. He was my brother Percy's rat until they got him an owl—"
"But the point is professor, we know the truth about what really happened that night at my parents' house and that Sirius didn't really kill him! He's a lying rodent Professor," Finley snaps all anger went towards the thought of Peter Pettigrew as a rat running around cowardly.
"Please believe us," Hermione says.
"I do believe the four of you," Dumbledore says, "But the word of four third year wizards will not be able to convince few others." But then again his hands were tied, unless.
"Child's voice, however honest and true is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen," Dumbledore continues as he patted Ron's injured leg and some what giving the three of them a good ounce of amusement.
"Professor, that's his injured leg," Finley sniggers, in surprise Dumbledore refrained from patting the leg again and muttered a small sorry to the wincing red head.
He walked away from Ron, giving him another apologetic look, and walked towards the door. But as he walked he spoke, "Strange thing time, powerful. And when meddled with, dangerous."
"What are you saying professor?"
"Sirius Black is at the top most cellar of the dark tower," he announces enough for the teenagers to hear before turning around to the three well abled standing teen. "You know the laws, miss Granger. You must not be seen."
What did he mean by not be seen? Finley turns to her friend who had a determined look on her face. "And you would do well, I feel, to return before this last chime. If not the consequences are too ghastly to discuss."
"If you succeed tonight," Dumbledore paused, glancing at Harry and Finley who were confused as to what he was talking about. "More than one innocent life may be spared."
"Three turns should do it. I think," were the last words the Headmaster said before turning around to leave. And just before he could close the door.
"Oh, by the way. When in doubt, I find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck," he said before closing the door completely.
"I swear that old man thinks he's giving us answers, he's just adding more work," Finley grumbles as she completely turned towards Hermione and Harry who were already discussing something.
"What the bloody hell was that about," Ron grumbles as he struggled to sit up tight. Finley taking her shoes from beside the bed she previously was on, she slipped them on and grabbed her wand from the table.
"Sorry Ron, but seeing as you can't walk—"
"What do you mean? Where are you going?" Finley asked observing how Hermione revealed something from her clothes, it looked to be a small hourglass necklace.
"No way!" Finley gasped as she realised what it was. She hurried and got under the chain with Harry and Hermione, "So this is how you do it." Finley remarks as she saw Hermione slap Harry's hand from touching the pendant.
Turning it three times, the last chime went off, pendant spun faster and faster until everything around them went backwards. Wicked thing having a time turners really.
"What just happened? Where's Ron?" Harry asked in confusion.
"7:30, where were we at 7:30?" Hermione asked them both. Finley snapped her fingers remembering where they were going at this time. "We were going to Hagrid's!"
And with that Hermione pulled Harry and Finley, "We can't be seen," Hermione says as they ran out the hospital wing.
"Hermione, will you please tell me what it is we're doing?" Harry panted as they stopped at the exit leading out of Hagrid's hut.
Finley leaned on the wall beside Hermione, catching her breath, her hair went from all the sweat due to the running. But as she leaned on the wall, she could hear the familiar voices from outside confirming that they really did turn back time.
"That's us," Harry gasped.
"No shit," Finely replies as she peaked behind him to see the view of their past selves speaking to Malfoy and his two friends in taunt.
"Hermione no! He's not worth it!" She heard Ron say.
"I still think you should've hexed him," Finley remarks as she saw the past Hermione slowly put dow her wand.
"This is not normal—" Harry was cut off as Hermione and Finley pulled him back in the exit hall.
"This is a time turner, McGonagall gave it to me first term. This is how I've been getting to my lessons all year," Hermione explains.
"Rather sneaky of you really," Finley remarks, remembering how she would see Hermione in one class and pop in from another part of the castle. And how she would just pop in classes she didn't see her enter. "You've getting in your lessons illegally," Finley comments.
"Hush you," Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend.
"So this means we've gone back in time?"
"No Harry, it brought us sandwiches," Finley sarcastically said. This was why Harry wasn't in Ravenclaw, Finley could tell that much as Harry pointed out the obvious.
"Dumbledore obviously wanted us to return to this moment," Hermione says.
"Rather cryptic of him rather than just telling us to go back to the time where Mione socked Draco with her fist, that would've been easier," Finley says as she leaned to peak at the commotions down on the hill.
"Clearlh, something happened that he wants is to change." It was just in time to see past Hermione punch Draco in the face again.
"Good punch," Harry complimented, he couldn't hide the ghost smile playing on his lips, he enjoyed that bit.
"Good? It was brilliant," Finley grins.
"Thanks," Hermione smiled, but soon dropped it as she saw the three Slytherin boys running up to the castle entrance. "Malfoy's coming!"
Finley pulled Harry behind her to a window that was blocked by a tree branch, leaping out of it and ducking down. Hermione just beside Harry and she being in the slight front jut enough to peak at the approaching boys.
"Never mention this to anyone," Draco grumbled loud enough for them to hear.
"Don't you want to get back at them? Not even Evans?" Finley heard Crabbe mention.
"Lay a hand of Finley, and I will end you, you fat idiot!" This caused Finley to furrow her brows thinking reason why Draco wouldn't want to get back at Finley, she was a Slytherin allowing Gryffindors to punch him even if he deserved it.
"Malfoy huh?" Hermione raised her brow at Finley teasingly.
"Shut it you!" Finley scolds turning away from her two friends hiding the reddening cheeks of hers.
Little by little, the three of them came out of hiding until they reached the large stones. "Buckbeak is still alive!" Harry gasped.
"Of course!" Hermione grins.
"Remember What Dumbledore said? If we succeed more than one innocent life could be spared."
"Let's go!" Finley says before leading the way down the slope, having them run behind the pumpkin pile.
"Here they come, I'd better hurry—" Harry mentions before standing up but not after Hermione and Finley restraining him back down.
"Harry, Fudge has to see Buckbeak before we steal him." Hermione says, Finley only stayed quiet and stared inside the hut, getting the feeling of deja vu.
"Scabbers, you're alive!" They heard Ron sigh in relief, Finley clenched her fists seeing the rat right there a couple feet from them. "It's Pettigrew," Harry growled showing every bit of his distaste for the animal—man rather.
"Harry you can't!" Hermione scolds holding both Finley and Harry together.
"He betrayed my parents—"
"They're my parents too Harry, but if we allow you to go and charge at the stupid rat we'll get into an even greater danger," Finley snaps. Hermione pulling both of them to a more higher part of the pumpkin pile sitting both siblings down.
"You're in Hagrid's hut now, if you just burst in there, you'll think you've gone mad. Awful things happen to wizards who meddle with time," Hermione explains.
"We can't be seen," Hermione reminds again, making sure to look at Finley who was clenching her fist even tighter now. "Promise me you'll follow what I say?" Hermione asks Finley, she needed her word or else the rule about not getting seen will damn them all.
"I promise," Finley says before looking back up the hill to see the headmaster, minister, and executioner almost near the hut.
"They're coming," she warns. Hermione turning to the hut in confusion, they weren't leaving. Hermione looking around, maybe a distraction of sort to get their past salve's attention, spotting a snail shell. She threw it inside braking a jar.
"Hermione! Have you gone mad? What happened to not being seen?" Harry scolded. Finley understanding what Hermione was trying to do, she too grabbed a snail shell and threw it inside, hearing an 'ow' from a familiar voice. Oh Merlin it was Harry she hit.
Harry glared at her, rubbing the back of his neck, "That hurt you know."
"Sorry," Finley apologised sheepishly. But it did the trick, it caught their attention that company was coming.
"We're coming out the back door. Go!" Hermione warns before pushing Harry and Finley down towards the trees just before their past selves could see them.
Hermione peeking through the branches in curiosity, "It that what my hair looks like from the back?" she whispers.
"Your hair? Look at mine, it looks like a nest," Finley mumbles in disdain as she saw the supposedly elegant looking bun she had looked like a bird's nest.
Hearing a twig break, causing the three of them to step back and hide behind the trees some more.
"Did you see that?" Past Hermione asked.
"Heard what? Past Finley asked.
"Never mind," past Hermione says before running away from the pumpkin pile where the three of them previously hid.
Running back up the pumpkin pile, Hermione motions for Harry to go ahead and get Buckbeak. Finley stayed behind, listening to the declaration inside the hut, rolling her eyes at least three times at the mention of the declaration and tea. Merlin was waiting a bore.
"Finley a little help here?" She heard Hermione snap, seeing as Harry was struggling to get Buckbeak up and follow them. She too stood up and reached for the dead ferrets, tossing Hermione a pair.
"Come on Beaky! I have nummies," Finley cooed, catching the Hippogriff's attention with the sight of a fat ferret. It stood up.
"Come on, hurry!" She cooed tossing him on ferret which he caught with ease.
The door flung open surprising the three teens, Hermione stood shook at she was in the mid tossing a ferret at the Hippogriff. "Now look there."
"Where?" They heard the minister ask. But that was drowned by Finley helping Harry pull the creature in to the woods.
"I see no strawberries."
"Over there."
"Where?"
And by the time the four men turned around, Buckbeak and the three teenagers were gone, they were already in the woods.
Peaking from behind a tree, Hermione was the only one left with a pair of dead ferrets . Finley and Harry hid behind one tree being able to see the scene of looking for a lost criminal hippogriff. "Buckbeak!" Hermione scolded.
Finley grabbing hold of the Hippogriff's beak and stroking it gently to calm its excitement for the dead ferrets.
"Search the skies if you must, minister. Meanwhile, I'd like a nice cup of tea or a large brandy," they heard Dumbledore say. Finley snorting, she just knew the Headmaster was drunk as they spoke that evening.
Feeling a tap on her shoulder, it was time to release Buckbeak, with one last look at the executioner raising his axe. She knew that one life was saved.