One spell. That's what could have made all the difference, one two syllable word: Stupefy. If only it had been uttered on the night of a full moon. The night when Harry Potter learned the truth about his godfather. This is what would have happened.
"No! You can't kill him. You can't." Harry said, as he quickly moved himself to stand in between Peter Pettigrew and the wand points of his Professor, Remus Lupin and his Godfather, Sirius Black.
All in the time span of an hour Harry had learned the truth about who sold his family out to Voldemort. And that truth shocked him. It was not Sirius Black, his fathers best friend, that had done the betraying as all of the Wizarding World thought. Peter Pettigrew was the one that had turned traitor and caused the death of two people he was suppose to protect. Yet despite it, Harry would not let Remus and Sirius commit murder to avenge their friend…their brother.
And it confused Sirius greatly. From the sudden movement Remus made beside him, Sirius gathered that he was not the only one who felt has though he missed something.
"Harry," Sirius said after finding his voice. "This piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents. This cringing bit of filth would have seen you die too, without turning a hair."
Sirius had to make Harry understand, because every cell inside his body was screaming at him to kill Pettigrew where he whimpered and cried on the floor. But if Harry told him not to and truely meant it, he would do as his Godson wished.
"You heard him. His own stinking skin meant more to him than your whole family." Sirius went on.
"I know. We'll take him up to the castle. We'll hand him over to the dementors…He can go to Azkaban…but don't kill him." Harry said to Sirius, with pleading in his voice. Sirius stared at his godson, but movement from the floor pulled his attention. Pettigrew threw himself at Harry's feet thanking Harry over and over again. Harry kicked him away, giving Sirius and Remus his reasoning for not wanting the death of Pettigrew.
"I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because- I don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to become killers- just for you."
The words were met by silence. Sirius looked to Remus, and found Remus' gaze there to meet his. Even after so many years, they could still read each other. Remus could see the desire to kill Peter flaring in Sirius' eyes, but he saw something else too. The wishes of James Potter always held weight in Sirius' decision making. And the wishes of James' son,Sirius' godson, would hold the same weight. And Sirius could see that Remus knew he would cave, and that choice would be supported and shared.
They both lowered their wands.
But Sirius still had to make sure that Harry fully understood. He would not lose this chance because Harry hadn't given it enough thought.
"You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry. But think…think what he did…" Sirius said.
"He can go to Azkaban," Harry repeated. "If anyone deserves that place, he does…"
After a moment of silence, Remus moved forward and adopted his professor tone.
"Very well. Stand aside Harry." He said. Harry hesitated, and Sirius saw him glance at the wand still held in Remus' hand.
"I'm going to just make sure he wont try to run away," Remus said. "That's all, I swear."
Hearing sincerity in his teachers voice, Harry stepped aside.
Remus pointed his wand at Pettigrew who started crying even hard and then said one word.
"Stupefy."
A jet of red light shot out of the wand and hit Pettigrew squarely in the chest and he fell to the side, no longer moving or making any sound.
"You said you wouldn't kill him!" Harry yelled seeing Pettigrew slump to the floor.
"I did not kill him, he is still alive," Remus said raising his hands in defense. "I merely Stunned him so he would not be able to transform and get away from us. You have my word."
Slightly ashamed at his out burst and his not trusting Remus, Harry just nodded to show he understood and took Remus' word.
"Now," Remus said his business tone back in place. "Ron I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I think it's best if we just strap your leg until we can get you to the hospital wing."
And with that he walked over to Ron, tapped Ron's leg with his wand and said "Ferula." Ron's leg was wrapped tightly to a splint.
"That's better," Ron said once Remus had helped him to his feet and Ron found he was able to stand. "Thanks."
"What about Professor Snape?" Hermione asked in a small voice speaking for the first time in awhile.
"He's alright. There is nothing seriously wrong with him," Remus said as he bent over Snape and checked for a pulse. "He's still out cold. It might be best if we left him this way until we got back to the castle. We'll take him like this…" pointing his wand at Snape he muttered "Mobilicorpus." Snape was lifted off the floor into a standing position looking as though he were a marionette being controlled by strings that were attached to his wrists, neck and knees.
Once satisfied with Snape, Remus bent down to the floor to picked up Harry's Invisibility Cloak and tucked it into his pocket.
All the while Remus was preparing the group to head up to the castle, Sirius studied his Godson. This was the first time he had really gotten close to the boy to look at him in thirteen years. Glimpses here and there were enough to hold him over, but now Sirius could full see that the boy stand just five feet away from him was most truly the son of James Potter.
From a distant one would be able to mistake Harry for his father, but being up close andwas a different story. If it wasn't for the eyes that followed Remus' movements around the room Sirius would believe himself to be looking at his best friend at the age of thirteen.Finally being this close to Harry, made Sirius fear losing him again. The fear was so great that it was all Sirius could do to keep from grabbing Harry into a hug.
He just stopped thinking you're the reason his parents are dead. Don't push your luck.
But when Harry looked in his direction, Sirius caught Harry's gaze and he realized that he probably wouldn't be able to stop himself from traumatizing the boy by hugging him very tightly before the night was over. Remus' voice broke through his thoughts.
"Sirius?" When Sirius turned his eyes from Harry to Remus, he saw that Remus was holding out Snape's wand. Understanding that Remus was giving the task of guiding Snape to him, Sirius took the wand. Remus himself was holding a wand that was holding Pettigrew up in the air.
"Everyone all set?" Remus asked the room at large, glancing around at those in it. When everyone gave a nod, Remus began leading the way out of the room and out of the shack, back up to Hogwarts.
A.N- Why, long time nothing written. This is going to be a small short story that's been running around in my head for awhile. This chapter has a lottt of dialog taken from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban: Chapter 19, The Servant of Lord Voldemort. There wont be so much use of the book after this chapter however, as I changed the story line.
And if anyone that is reading this is also a reader of my other story, Still Breathing, I haven't forgotten it. I am truly sorry for the total lack of updates of Still Breathing but my junior year of high school has been a busy and hard one. And then there is the fact that I lost the flow of the story. But I love the story line far to much to just drop it. So with summer being here, expect something soon.
Anywayy, please review and share your thoughts of One Spell. I love to hear what readers are thinking.
Till next time!