the_debt_of_time

her footsteps, before they all jumped into action and began moving step-by-step toward
the forest.
Just before they reached the edge of trees, dark shadows loomed above them, and
the atmosphere grew cold.
Sirius heard Hermione gasp at the same time that he felt the air chill down his throat.
He reached out for her, settling a hand on her arm. "Get ready."
Shapes moved out in the darkness, swirling figures of concentrated blackness,
moving in a great wave toward the castle, their faces hooded and their breath rattling.
Dementors, and more than Sirius had ever seen, even in Azkaban. His eyes widened, and
he could not even bring himself to smile when he felt Hermione slip her hand into his. He
squeezed her back in response and clenched his other hand firmly around his wand.
"Happy thoughts, everyone," Hermione muttered nervously.
Forcing a bubble of hope up through his chest, Sirius grinned down at her and
winked. "I've got a good one. Expecto Patronum!"
A large, silvery dog erupted from the end of his wand and growled viciously at the
dementors, moving forward just as a small otter reached its side.
One by one, those who could cast a Patronus did so, and soon, the large Grim and
otter were joined by a hare, a cat, a terrier, a swan, a goat, a coyote, a hyena, a large bear,
and a small weasel. The large group stepped ahead, urging their Patronus vanguard forward,
and the dementors began to retreat, though not all of them.
The focus of the Order and the gathered students was secure and only faltered once
when a few voices behind the crowd yelled, "Expecto Patronum!"
Three more Patronuses joined the fight. The large, familiar dragon belonging to
Draco flew upward into the grouping of dementors, scattering them apart. It was flanked
by two massive wolf Patronuses that charged forward together, side-by-side.
Sirius paled at the sight and dropped his focus, turning around to spot what he had
been dreading. Moving forward into the fray was Draco Malfoy, wand aimed high
controlling his dragon. Remus stood to the boy's left, and Tonks to his right.
"What the hell are you doing here, Moony!?" Sirius shouted.
Remus smirked. "Saving you from dementors. Again."
Sirius growled. "Harry saved me from dementors, you arsehole."