My head felt like it was being used by a samba school during their rehearsals. There was no pain, but it throbbed and shook as if it had received a strong blow. The ringing in my ear only made it worse.
As things in my head calmed down, the voices around me began to come into focus. I sat up, my eyes coming back into focus, and I discovered that my vision was quite good, being able to see even the smallest features of the faces present.
But I needed to keep my profile, so I started to feel around, where I found my glasses on the table next to the bed, realizing that I had a good understanding of the surroundings, and I put them on my face.
Emma Watson, I mean Hermione Granger, was telling old Dumbledore about what we discovered in the shrieking shack. She looked quite dirty and disheveled, with her hair a bigger mess than it already was, and lots of dirt and leaves stuck in it.
Meanwhile, Ron was lying in the bed next to me, apparently asleep and with his leg in a cast. Dumbledore just stared at me, a look of concern mixed with something I couldn't identify.
"Pettigrew, headmaster, it was Pettigrew who betrayed my parents, not Sirius." I say, with some effort.
"Exactly as reported by Miss Granger here, but unfortunately, my words with the testimony of only 3 children, wouldn't change things much, since the Minister wouldn't like to have that stain on his record." Dumbledore explains.
"But, time is a very complex thing, and when used well, it can change some things for the better. You know the rules, miss, and I believe that three laps should be enough." he says, leaving the infirmary, winking at us.
"Has he gone mad?" I ask, feigning ignorance to the girl.
"No Harry, he hasn't." A little insecure, she approaches and takes my hand, pulling me off the stretcher. Standing next to her, she then removes a gold chain from her neck and places it over mine, bringing us together a little more.
"Hermione, I..." I try to keep my voice uncertain... "I wanted to tell you something, but I don't think it's the right time." I sigh. I'm going to make some changes, starting with making my wet dream of dating Emma Watson come true. Sue me for this.
"We can talk later, Harry, but first, we need to save Sirius. He's going to be kissed tonight." she replies, a little tense.
"I think he'll like that. Going so long without a kiss, just being sucked dry by horrible beings, a kiss might cheer him up a little." I joke, receiving an unfriendly look from the girl. "Sorry." I finally say, wilting.
She spins the thing in her hands, and the space around us seems to move at a bizarre speed. I saw myself being placed back on the stretcher by Hermione's hand, then I take off my glasses, lie down again, and close my eyes.
Snape was taking me out of the infirmary, accompanied by Hermione, a limping Ron leaning on her, and Dumbledore. I saw students entering the infirmary backwards, and leaving backwards too. It was a mess that would drive me crazy if I didn't know what was going on.
When it was over, Hermione unwound the chain from around my neck, taking a step back, moving away. "This, Harry, is a time turner. McGonagall gave it to me at the beginning of the school year, to study. That's how I managed to attend all my classes." she explains.
"Okay." I say uncertainly. "And now?" I ask, staring at the girl.
"Where were we at 5 p.m.?" she asks, looking at the clock on the wall of the infirmary.
"Going to see Hagrid?" I answer with a question, uncertain.
"Of course." she says, as if she were shouting eureka. "More than one life can be saved." she says, and grabs my hand tightly, and starts dragging me towards the exit. "We can't be seen, come on."
We ran through the stairs and hallways until we met just before going down the hill towards Hagrid's hut. There, I saw Emma, or rather Hermione, land a right punch on the nose of the smug Malfoy, Tom Felton.
"Nice punch." I couldn't help but comment, earning a smile from the girl.
Things were developing as they should, getting us out of Hagrid's hut before the Minister, Dumbledore and the executioner arrived, and soon after, we saved Buckbeak.
So we sat down, since it was time to wait.
"What did you want to tell me?" She looked at me intensely, not giving me any room to deny her request/question/order.
"That night, until I fell into unconsciousness, I was thinking about how scared I was. Not for myself, but because of you. You're my best friend, the one who always gives me good advice, even if I don't listen to it very often.
You've always been there, by my side, helping me in every way you could. And when Professor Lupin turned into a Werewolf, I was scared. Scared that something could happen to you, Hermione.
Then I realized, and I think I might have feelings for you, beyond our friendship I mean. But I, by some strange instinct, think you like Ron, so I don't know if telling you this is right or wrong. But at least I can say with pride that I didn't run away from what I feel and I tried." I finish, looking directly into the girl's eyes.
I saw the subtle changes in her gaze. First, appreciation for me thinking about her, second uncertainty, then joy, then confusion, then relief, then fear, and now, understanding. How could I deduce all of this? If someone asked me, who would I ask?
"Harry, I'm only hanging out with Ron because of you. How could I like someone who only thinks about how unfair his life is, but doesn't see it from other people's perspectives? He only sees what he wants from others, and drowns in his envy and prejudice.
You're my best friend, and knowing that you have feelings for me is something that scares me, but also makes me very happy. I'm afraid that you'll soon find out that I'm not the best girl for you and abandon me. I'm happy because I really like you a lot, and I wouldn't see another man more suitable for me than you.
Kind, caring, a little stubborn at times, but with a heart of gold. That's why, even in so many situations, I'll always be by your side, Harry. As a friend, or as something more." she says, at the end, getting shades of red on her cheeks.
"Do you want to be my girlfriend?" I ask, getting up from where I was sitting next to her, extending my hand to the girl.
"Of course, Harry." she answers, with a shy smile.
Without thinking twice, I pull her to me, hugging her tightly, and giving her the best and most affectionate kiss I could give, to which, chastely at first, she returns.
We stay like that for a few minutes, until I hear a cry of pain. That's when I remember why I'm here. Looking at her apologetically, I run towards the lake, where I see a dementor sucking little Harry's soul, and another doing almost the same with Sirius.
Feeding my mind with the kiss, I raise my wand and scream at the top of my lungs.
"Expecto Patronum."