Snape's Patronus

The smoke and dust gradually dispersed, revealing several soot-covered figures.

"Aah—" Sirius Black cried out in agony.

Protected beneath him, Harry could feel the cold touch coming from him.

To protect Harry, he had taken the full force of the explosion.

"Aah—" The cries rang out again.

Several Dementors had already opened their hollow mouths, as if they were devouring Sirius Black's soul.

He had to do something. He had to do something.

Move. Move, now.

Harry gripped his wand tightly and spoke the Patronus Charm.

A silver ball of light shot from the tip of his wand, knocking the Dementors before him away.

But they soon came back.

Not enough. It wasn't enough.

Painful memories surfaced in Harry's mind, but his expression was more resolute than ever before.

Sirius Black was his godfather. They still had so, so much precious time ahead of them. He absolutely could not let those ugly monsters take it away.

The silver ball of light swelled, and countless beams burst from the cracks covering its surface, forcing the Dementors back beneath the radiance.

The blinding light vanished, and a doe Patronus half a man's height stood beside Harry.

Yet in the next second, the Dementors charged again.

"Harry!" Vincent, half-kneeling, pulled the Serpent Staff from where it was braced against the ground.

"Expecto Patronum!" That was Snape's voice.

Another Doe Patronus came running through the air, arriving before the Dementors.

One large and one small doe. Vincent had no time to be surprised and cast the Patronus Charm as well.

Under the Dementors' relentless attacks, the three Patronuses did not retreat, standing firm before Harry and Sirius Black.

"Cough, cough—" Lupin rolled over and sat up, surveying his surroundings.

Snape was the only one still standing, his pajamas in tatters. McGonagall, her hair disheveled,