[184] Beneath the Dark Mark

Lee Jordan's commentary hit full throttle. "Hall Weasley's Patronus — one against three! Fierce! A griffin Patronus — shouldn't that be Gryffindor's symbol? Wait — the Dementors are multiplying!"

Angelina was in danger. A Dementor bore down on her.

Harry raised his wand again. "Expecto Patronum."

His magic drained instantly — not enough. He wobbled on his broom. In a daze, he saw a figure — like himself — who flicked a silver stag from his wand.

Harry blacked out and fell.

"What was that?" Draco jumped. "Potter's Patronus? How is that possible?"

Hall stroked his chin. "Hard to say if Harry mastered it himself. I think I saw another one."

He patted Draco's shoulder. "You can try again. Maybe you'll learn it before Harry."

Draco wasn't listening. The Dementor prank had backfired. Potter learned the Patronus.

Dumbledore and McGonagall drove the Dementors away together — a silver phoenix and a silver cat protecting Hogwarts.

Outside the infirmary, Sirius paced. "This is serious! What is Fudge doing?!"

"Gentlemen, quiet!" Madam Pomfrey stuck her head out. "The patients need rest!"

"Yes, Madam Pomfrey."

Dumbledore sighed. "Harry's fine. Exhausted his magic. Fell off his broom. The Dementors — "

Sirius snorted. "If you can't do it, I'll find Hall Weasley. That kid definitely has a way."

"I think I heard someone call my name?"

Hall poked his head out from the side. Sirius jumped. Professor McGonagall adjusted her glasses and looked away.

"You little rascal — where did you come from?"

"Didn't you call me first?" Hall shrugged. "Alright, I'll be going."

"Wait!" Sirius reached out. Before he could speak, Snape snorted.

"You expect a student to do what Black couldn't?"

"Slug! This has nothing to do with you!"

"Hall Weasley is a Slytherin student. I'm his Head of House. If you want to see him, it's my business."

Dumbledore cast a pleading look at Hall. Hall looked away.

Under Dumbledore's gaze, Hall walked into the infirmary.

"Dad!"

Harry shot up in bed. Hall walked over. "Calling me Dad as soon as we meet? No need to be so polite."

"Hall! I saw my dad! That stag — that's my dad's Patronus!"

Hall clicked his tongue. He'd seen what really happened. But it wasn't easy to explain.

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"How do you know the stag is your father's? Other wizards can share Patronuses."

"But — "

"Do you know what Snape's Patronus is?"

Harry looked bewildered. What did Snape have to do with it?

"It's a doe."

Harry's eyes went wide. He stammered, unable to form a sentence. Lupin had told him about his parents' Patronuses. Stag. Doe. And Snape's was a doe?

"I saw a figure — "

Hall smiled, so sincerely that Harry leaned back. "I can take you back to that moment. About an hour and a half ago. But you know..."

He rubbed his fingers together.

"How much..."

"Time travel isn't easy. One wrong move alters the past. So — more money. Twenty-five hundred Galleons."

Harry hesitated. Calculated his vault. "Deal."

"I love straightforward rich people."

Hall pulled out the Time-Turner. The space around them twisted.

When the white light faded, they were still in the infirmary. "Don't talk." Hall pulled Harry's Invisibility Cloak over them.

Madam Pomfrey pushed open the door. "I thought I heard something. Must be imagining things."

Madam Pomfrey muttered to herself and left. Hall and Harry slipped out under the Invisibility Cloak.

"She didn't even recognise us."

"Because it's an hour and a half ago. Everyone's at the Quidditch match."

"So we really went back in time." Harry's eyes widened. "I didn't expect — "

"You didn't expect I was telling the truth? As long as Galleons are paid in full, have I ever lied?"

Harry looked away. That wasn't an easy question to answer.

They reached the Quidditch pitch. Crabbe and Goyle, disguised as Dementors, had just approached Harry's past self.

Past-Harry closed his eyes and tried the Patronus Charm. Nothing happened.

"Summon your Patronus!" Hall slapped Present-Harry on the back.

Present-Harry acted without thinking. "Expecto Patronum."

A stag burst from his wand. It charged the Dementors, shoving Crabbe and Goyle off the pitch.

"I — that was — "

"Isn't it obvious?" Hall's voice was calm. "There was never a father. From beginning to end, the one who helped you was you."

"Impossible!"

They stared at each other under the cloak. Heavy silence.

"Since you won't give up, wait and see. You spent twenty-five hundred Galleons. Staying a bit longer won't hurt."

Harry watched as real Dementors appeared. Watched Hall in this timeline cast his Patronus. Watched Angelina in danger.

The stag should appear.

His past self raised his wand — and failed.

The stag didn't come.

Harry burst out from under the Invisibility Cloak.

"Expecto Patronum!"

This time, his will was unwavering. Happy memories flowed naturally. Hogwarts. Gryffindor. Hermione. Sirius. A place to belong. Friends. Family.

The stag that emerged was brimming with power — a power called love.

Harry turned to thank Hall. Then he froze.

He was staring directly at his past self — the one about to faint.

Harry turned back to Hall, who was grinning mischievously.

"So. I'm your dad? How does it feel, Harry?"

"How are you feeling?"

"Terrible!" Harry glared. "You knew! Not only did you not tell me, you also — you also — "

He couldn't finish. Hall hadn't told him. And Hall had swindled him out of twenty-five hundred Galleons.

"Harry, if I gave you another chance, would you make a different choice?"

Harry paused. He thought about it. Then fell silent.

"You know yourself pretty well, don't you?" Hall smiled faintly. "If I'd refused, you wouldn't have been satisfied. So I went along. You got your answer. I got Galleons. Win-win."

"You won twice by yourself."

"Why can't that be a win-win? Let's go. Back to our own timeline."

No one discovered they'd been gone.

No one except Draco.

Draco cornered Hall practically against the wall. "You and Potter have a secret! Did you secretly teach him the Patronus?"

Hall couldn't help it. He burst out laughing. "Little Dragon, you're so cute."

Draco's face went crimson. "Don't change the subject! Answer my question!"

"If you're so afraid to know, maybe don't ask."

"It's different!"

"Alright. Harry and I have a little secret. But not what you think. As for how he learned the Patronus — he has talent. Little Dragon, just do it at your own pace."

Draco hummed softly and turned away. After a long pause: "...I know."

"Hall! Help!" Ron's frantic voice echoed down the corridor.

Hall's eyes sharpened. They ran towards Ron.

"Harry! Harry's in trouble! The Forbidden Forest! There are Dementors!"

Hall didn't have time to question how Harry got from the infirmary to the Forbidden Forest.

"Ron — find McGonagall and Dumbledore. I'm going."

He took out the Time-Turner. Fifteen minutes ago. He definitely wouldn't run into his past self.

The space stabilised.

"Two little trolls." A deep, bat-like voice rang out. "Could you explain how you suddenly appeared before me?"