Author's Note: I'm sorry for taking so long to update. I'm currently in my third week of midterms and I'm recovering from a scratched cornea. Which is an actual excuse since it made me so light sensitive I could hardly use a computer. Even dimmed all the way down, I was still tearing up. Anyway, this chapter is quite short, but that wasn't Plan A. Originally, Victoria was supposed to tag along with Harry Potter throughout the last chapters of the third book, but I decided that 1) It isn't nearly as fun to rewrite out Rowling's book verbatim as it is to write my own stuff and 2) It wasn't necessary for Victoria to be there. But, there is some original, mysterious bits sprinkled throughout Rowling's dialogue. Also, I would like to thank all of you who reviewed, but especially to Spelllesswonder29, whose fantastic review motivated me to finish the chapter. And also to and ayonbaka...you'll know by the end of this chapter. Please review and enjoy!
Disclaimer: Anything recognized doesn't belong to me and there is dialogue taken from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
8. The Prisoner of Azkaban
Victoria felt her heart skip a beat within her chest as she was drawn into the stirring, chilling depths of Sirius Black's eyes. Beneath his wild, matted hair, his eyes looked almost human; they didn't seem terrifying as they had on the poster – they were filled with pain…and regret.
Sirius Black took an uncertain step toward her, "Tori?"
"Sirius –" Professor Lupin gripped the convict's arm, pulling him back.
Sirius Black, who hadn't taken his eyes of Victoria, said, "Remus, she –"
"No, Sirius!" He used more force, and held Sirius Black tightly and whispered quickly into his ears, the creaking of the building drowning out their private one-sided conversation.
After Professor Lupin had finished, Sirius Black looked back and forth between the girl and the professor, "Addy, Remus?"
Professor Lupin nodded, almost sheepishly. Victoria had absolutely no idea what was going on, and a quick glance around the room showed that the other three students knew as much as she did.
Sirius Black, head cocked to the side, almost curiously, remarked, "You do look just like her." He resumed his approach toward Victoria.
Harry Potter rushed across the room, "Get away from her!"
Sirius Black stopped and looked at Harry Potter, startled, and Professor Lupin sighed, "Harry, I assure you that isn't necessary. He's –"
"I don't believe it!" Hermione Granger screamed suddenly. Everybody's attention shifted to the girl screaming hysterically at Professor Lupin, "You – you –"
Professor Lupin tried to calm her down, "Hermione –"
" – you and him!"
"Hermione, calm down –"
She didn't. "I didn't tell anyone! I've been covering for you –" Victoria's stomach sank. She was positive she knew exactly as to what the other girl was referring to.
Professor Lupin finally raised his voice, "Hermione, listen to me, please. I can explain –"
Harry Potter was trembling in front of Victoria, "I trusted you and all the time you've been his friend!"
"You're wrong," Professor Lupin insisted, "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now. Let me explain –"
Hermione Granger started screaming again, "No! Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too – he's a werewolf!"
The creaking seemed especially loud then in those few moments of shock. Victoria had already known, of course, but she still couldn't believe Hermione Granger had revealed Professor Lupin's secret.
Said professor took a deep breath, face ashen, "Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione. Only one out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead…but I won't deny that I am a werewolf."
Victoria's felt her heart break at his utterly defeated face. In front of her, Harry Potter stiffened, but took a step back toward Victoria.
In the corner, Ron Weasley, although hurt, attempted to pull himself up, but was in too much pain. Professor Lupin went over to help him, only to be rejected with a "Get away from me, werewolf!"
Victoria found her voice, "Don't talk to him like that!" Unfortunately for all, she'd forgotten why she'd followed out Professor Lupin in the first place.
Sirius Black's head pivoted toward her once more, "You knew?"
Victoria wasn't quite sure how to respond when questioned by a mass murderer, but nodded from her place behind Harry Potter.
Professor Lupin continued the topic of his lycanthropy, eventually mentioning that Professor Dumbledore had tried to convince certain professors that the new defense teacher was trustworthy. Victoria didn't need two guesses.
Harry Potter then cut of Professor Lupin, "And he was wrong! You've been helping him all the time!"
Sirius Black collapsed onto the broken four poster bed in the corner, currently holding Ron Weasley, who moved away the best he could.
Professor Lupin continued to reason with the students, "I have not been helping Sirius. If you'll give me a chance, I'll explain. Look –" He gave back the three wands he'd taken when he'd disarmed the other three students and put his own away. It was then that Victoria pulled out hers; she felt silly for not have thinking about it earlier. "There. You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?"
Victoria wasn't sure what she thought. As much as she wanted, truly wanted to believe that Professor Lupin was innocent, his actions of the last few minutes proved otherwise. But deep down, she hoped.
Harry Potter wasn't as easily, or naïvely, Victoria thought criticizing herself, persuaded, "If you haven't been helping him, how did you know he was here?"
"The map," Professor Lupin answered simply, "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it –"
Victoria had no idea as to what the defense teacher was referring, but Harry Potter did, "You know how to work it?"
Professor Lupin sighed, "Of course I know how to work it. I helped write it. I'm Moony – that was my friends' nickname for me at school."
"You wrote –?"
Professor Lupin continued without answering his question, "The important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening, because I had an idea that you, Ron, and Hermione might try and sneak out of the castle to visit Hagrid before his Hippogriff was executed. And I was right, wasn't I? You might have been wearing your father's old cloak, Harry –"
Harry Potter interrupted, "How d'you know about the cloak?"
"The number of times I saw James disappearing under it…the point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak," Victoria eye's widened as she found out what the mysterious 'cloak' was. Then she got very frustrated. She was very much out of the loop, not only with the newly rekindled friendship between Professor Lupin and Sirius Black, but also some of Harry Potter's secrets, things that everyone else in the room but she knew about – "…Tori came to visit me. I only happened to glance down while we were talking. You had left Hagrid's and set off back toward the castle. But you were now accompanied by somebody else."
"What? No we weren't!" Harry Potter said.
Professor Lupin, now pacing quickly across the dusty floor, ignored him, "I couldn't believe my eyes. I though the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?"
"No one was with us!" Harry Potter insisted.
"I only just saw the dot labeled Sirius Black run into the three of you, and I left, knowing he'd pull two of you –"
"One of us!" Ron Weasley remarked furiously from his corner.
Professor Lupin stopped and then asked Ron Weasley a question that seemed random and irrelevant, "Do you think I could have a look at the rat?"
"What?" Ron Weasley asked. "What's Scabbers got to do with it?"
"Everything," Professor Lupin explained in one word. Victoria certainly didn't think his answer really sufficed. He continued, "Could I see him, please?"
Ron Weasley reluctantly pulled the wriggling rat from his robes and then struggled to keep his pet within his grasp. The ginger cat sitting on Sirius Black's lap hissed. Victoria recognized it as Hermione Granger's pet.
Professor Lupin approached his wounded student to observe the rodent, seeming expectant.
Ron Weasley cradled his struggling pet, "What? What's my rat got to do with anything?"
For the first time in a while, Sirius Black spoke. Hoarsely, he said, "That's not a rat."
Ron Weasley looked between the two grown wizards, undoubtedly like Victoria, questioning their sanity. A rat is a rat. The boy tried to convince them," What d'you mean – of course he's a rat –"
Professor Lupin shook his head, "No, he's not. He'd a wizard."
Sirius Black continued where he'd left off explaining, "An Animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew."
Nobody said anything for a several long moments, until Ron Weasley said, "You're both mental."
"Ridiculous!" Hermione Granger agreed.
"Who?" Victoria asked, somewhat timidly. She was once again the only one who didn't have a clue.
Harry Potter answered by yelling at Sirius Black, "Peter's Pettigrew is dead! He killed him twelve years ago."
"I meant to, but little Peter got the better of me," Sirius Black grumbled, "…not this time, though!" He promised and suddenly threw himself onto Ron Weasley – who cried out – attempting to take the rat from the boy's hands.
"No, Sirius!" Professor Lupin yelled and disentangled the two, "Wait! You can't do it just like that – they need to understand – we've got to explain –"
"We can explain afterwards!" Sirius Black growled, trying to pull himself from Professor Lupin's tight grasp while reaching out for the rat squirming and squeaking wildly in Ron Weasley's hands.
"They've got a right to know everything!" Professor Lupin got out breathlessly, still holding Sirius Black. "Ron's kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand, and Harry – you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!"
Sirius Black ceased struggling, but not and keeping Ron Weasley's rat within sight and grumbled, defeated, "All right, then. Tell then whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for –"
"You're nutters, both of you," Ron Weasley declared, "I've had enough of this. I'm off."
Professor Lupin pointed his wand at the rat, "You're going to hear me out, Ron. Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen."
"He's not Peter, he's Scabbers," Ron Weasley erupted, and then nearly fell over. Harry Potter left his spot in front of Victoria and went to help his friend. For a moment, Sirius Black's eyes flickered over to Victoria, who immediately looked at the ground.
"There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die. A whole street full of them," Harry Potter insisted.
"They didn't see what they though they saw!" Sirius Black snarled.
Then, Victoria stood quietly in the doorway and listened silently to a very bizarre explanation that seemed to lead to more questions than answers. According to Professor Lupin, this map revealed that Peter Pettigrew wasn't actually dead. He was an Animagus – a witch or wizard who could transform into an animal – who'd masqueraded as an real rat for twelve long years. Why Peter Pettigrew became an illegal Animagus was linked directly with Professor Lupin's lycanthropy. And despite the fact that the evidence condemned him as consorting with a mass murderer, Victoria couldn't stop her heart from swelling with compassion and sympathy as Professor Lupin recounted his cursed childhood – how he'd only been a child when he'd been bitten, how he would have to spend full moon's here, in the Shrieking Shack, only a danger to himself – how he'd had best friends, three in fact, and had to keep a terrible secret from them. Victoria didn't miss the similarities with her own time at Hogwarts. However, unlike her friends, his – Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew and Harry's father, James Potter – figured out the secret. They weren't afflicted with the awful prejudice that society prescribed. They became Animagi in an attempt to make Professor Lupin's awful transformations more bearable.
When this was revealed, Victoria glanced over at Sirius Black. His wild eyes were still on Ron Weasley's rat – "Hurry up, Remus," he snarled impatiently – but beneath his harsh demeanor, Victoria couldn't help but wonder what had went wrong. If he was such a good friend to Professor Lupin, then why did he kill Peter Pettigrew? Victoria had always liked to believe that she was open-minded, especially considering the animosity between her closest friends, so perhaps…just maybe she'd be willing to hear Professor Lupin and Sirius Black out.
Professor Lupin then went on to describe how guilty he's felt over the years for betraying Professor Dumbledore's trust. This year apparently was especially difficult for him as he fought with himself over whether or not he should tell Professor Dumbledore that Sirius Black was an Animagus and Professor Lupin admitted, "…so, in a way, Snape's been right about me all along."
"Snape?" Sirius Black asked, looking away from the rat and at the defense Professor Lupin, "What's Snape got to do with it?"
"He's here, Sirius. He's teaching here as well," Professor Lupin explained. He then told the other three students about the trick that Sirius Black had played on Professor Snape while they were in school…
Abruptly, Victoria heard a rattle and creaking from behind and she turned around. But, there was nothing – only the dark, dusty hallway with mess littered about.
"…but your father, who'd heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his own life…Snape glimpsed me, though, at the end of the tunnel. He was forbidden by Dumbledore to tell anybody, but from that time on he knew what I was…" Professor Lupin finished.
Harry Potter figured out what Victoria had learned months ago, "So that's why Snape doesn't like you. Because he thought you were in on the joke?"
Victoria felt something brush against her as a cool, familiar voice said, "Correct, Potter." She jumped when Professor Snape materialized in front of her, pulling something shiny off. And she wasn't the only one: Hermione Granger yelped, Sirius Black leapt to his feet, and Harry Potter stood, stunned. The potions master had his wand pointed, menacingly, at Professor Lupin, "I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow. Very useful, Potter, I thank you." He threw the shimmering fabric to the ground, and smirked, "You are wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here? I was at your office, Lupin. I came for assurance that you had taken your potion. And very lucky I did…lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along the passageway, with Tori, no less –"
" Severus –" Professor said.
"I told the headmaster again and again that you were helping your own friend Black into the castle, and now, the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout –"
"Severus," Professor Lupin tried again, "You're making a mistake. You haven't heard everything – I can explain – Sirius is not here to kill Harry –"
Professor Snape sneered, "As if I care that Black wants to kill Potter. It is just proof as to what I have been saying about him since our school days," –Sirius Black scoffed, –"But you, Lupin…not only have you been lying about helping Black, how could you bring Tori with you, into harm's way, when she supposedly means so much –"
"She does!" Professor Lupin insisted passionately.
"Not that it matters anymore. Now that she sees you for what you are," Professor Snape smirked.
"No…" Professor Lupin said quietly, turning to look at Victoria.
She, on the other hand, had her eyes locked on Professor Snape and his wand, aimed steadily at the defense professor's chest. She definitely had a bad feeling about the manic gleam in Professor Snape's eyes as he stared down Professor Lupin.
Grinning sinisterly, Professor Snape took a step forward, "Two more for Azkaban tonight. I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this…he was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin…a tame werewolf –"
"Stop it!" Victoria yelled. For a moment, all eyes were on her as she stepped into the room. She continued moving until she had put herself between the two professors. It was only then that Professor Snape's sure wand arm faltered. Keeping the tears from forming and stopping the all consuming feelings that would surely make her crumble, Victoria continued, "Don't talk about him like that."
Professor Snape's hand shook as he raised his wand above Victoria's head, still pointing at Professor Lupin, "Tori, I cannot…will not hesitate…"
From behind her, Professor Lupin spoke softly, "Severus, is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban? What is she going to think when she –"
Professor Lupin didn't get to finish before Professor Snape flicked his wrist. The defense teacher was bound with black rope and toppled over and stayed unmoving on the ground.
"Professor!" Victoria cried. She collapsed beside Professor Lupin, her hands trying to pull at the ropes, just as Sirius Black rushed past her.
Professor Snape whispered coolly, "Give me a reason. Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will." Victoria looked over her shoulder and saw that Professor Snape had his wand aimed at Sirius Black's head.
Sirius Black froze, but whispered back, "Are you sure about this Snape? There's no telling –"
"Do not try to understand things your limited mind could not possibly comprehend. Everything happens for a reason, Black," the potions master seethed.
It was then that the other three students, who'd been surprising quiet during this entire exchange, now spoke up.
Hermione Granger said, timidly, "Professor Snape – it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?"
Professor Snape answered in the negative, "Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school. You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."
"But if – if there was a mistake –" Hermione Granger stuttered.
"Keep quiet, you stupid girl! Do not talk about what you do not understand!" He snarled and the girl quieted immediately. Professor Snape turned his attention back to Sirius Black, "Vengeance is very sweet indeed. How I hoped I would be the one to catch you –"
Sirius Black laughed breathlessly, "The joke's on you again, Severus. As long as the boy brings his rat up the castle…I'll come quietly –"
Professor Snape smirked cruelly, "Up to the castle? There is no need for us to go that far. All I have to do is call the Dementors once we get out of the Willow. I imagine they will be very pleased to see you, Black…pleased enough to give you a little kiss, I daresay –"
Out of the corner of her eye, Victoria saw Professor Lupin's eye bulge; he still couldn't move. Victoria hadn't been able to free him, the ropes being much too tight for her, but she remained by his side. Seeing panic cross Sirius Black's face for the first time, Victoria asked, almost hesitantly, "What does that mean?"
"It means…" Hermione Granger, naturally, said, "The Dementor's kiss…they're going to suck out his soul."
"What?" Victoria asked terrified. Apparently, not only could Dementors deprive people of every emotion other than despair, they could also take souls.
Sirius Black began to shake, "You – you've got to hear me out…the rat – look at the rat –" He was so despondent, so desperate, that even if he was a murderer, Victoria felt her heart go out to him. Nobody deserved what Professor Snape was proposing.
"Come on then, all of you!" The potions master barked. With a click of his fingers, the ends of Professor Lupin's bindings flew into his hand, "I will drag the werewolf. Perhaps the Dementors will have a kiss for him too –"
Professor Lupin's muffled cry was lost as Victoria screamed, "NO!" She got up quickly, nearly tripping over her own feet, and gripped the cords, "You can't – you can't!" Victoria couldn't believe. She'd heard a lot about Professor Snape's cruelty and had been on the receiving end of it herself on more than one occasion. But for him to allow, no engineer the loss of Sirius Black and Professor Lupin's souls…it went beyond cruel. It was beyond what Victoria could understand, what she could forgive. She looked at him pleadingly, silently, hoping he wouldn't do it – that their friendship meant anything to him.
Professor Snape didn't wipe the smirk from his face. Harry Potter rushed to block the doorway and the professor snarled, "Get out of the way, Potter! You are in enough trouble already. If I had not been here to save your skin –"
"Professor Lupin," Harry Potter interrupted, "Could have killed me about a hundred times this year. I've been alone with him loads of times, having defense lessons against the Dementors. If he was helping Black, why didn't he just finish me off then?"
"Or me?" Victoria argued.
"You?" Harry Potter asked.
Victoria knew, rather than subconsciously feeling, that all eyes were on her, "That's what Professor Snape and Professor Lupin made it seem like," she explained. Sirius Black, though anguished, looked at her oddly.
"Rightly so," Professor Snape answered and turning to Harry Potter said, "And you, Potter, do not ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works – get out of my way!"
"Professor Snape, please –" Victoria whimpered.
"Silence, Miss Thomas!" He hissed.
Her jaw snapped shut just as Harry Potter screamed, "You're pathetic! Just because they made a fool of you at school you won't even listen –"
"Silence!" Professor Snape screamed, spit flying, "I will not be spoken to like that!" He had mad gleam in his eye, and Victoria had never seen him so emotional about anything, "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he had killed you! You would have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black – now get out of the way, or I will make you! Get out of the way, Potter!"
Victoria could tell that his self control, in which he hardly ever wavered, was currently nonexistent. He would certainly hurt Harry Potter. Again, acting on instincts she knew she'd regret but didn't stop, her right hand reached into her waistband and retrieved the wand she'd shoved in their when she'd tried to help Professor Lupin. Without thinking about it, she yelled, "Expelliarmus!"
Her voice echoed in the small room, but it wasn't alone. Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley, wounded though he was, had cast the same spell. With a blast, Professor Snape rose up a foot in the air and slammed into the wall behind him, slipping slowly to the floor.
It was silent as they all looked at the unconscious potions master, blood trickling from his head.
"You shouldn't have done that, Sirius Black muttered, looking between her and Harry Potter, "You should have left him to me…"
Victoria didn't say anything, but only realized then, that there was something wet on her face. She hadn't even noticed her own tears.
From in the corner, Hermione Granger cried, "We attacked a teacher…we attacked a teacher…oh, we're going to be in so much trouble…"
Beside Victoria, Professor Lupin was wriggling on the floor, still bound. She attempted to release him again, but only succeeded when Sirius Black came over and helped. Even with his dark gaze firmly on her, she managed to mumble, "Thanks."
Professor Lupin stood up, "Thank you, Harry."
Harry Potter looked between Victoria and Sirius Black suspiciously before coming closer, "I'm still not saying I believe you."
"Then it's time we offered some proof," Professor Lupin announced.
It took convincing, but after Sirius Black provided some answers concerning his escape and his actions during the school year, both to the friendly Professor Lupin and to the weary third years – Victoria said nothing; there wasn't anything she could contribute and her heart was still heavy and hurting from disappointment, but she processed what was unfolding around her – Ron Weasley finally relinquished his rat. He, along with the other students, had seen some shred of credibility in Professor Lupin and Sirius Black's explanation.
Together, the two men cast a spell on the struggling rat, which began to morph before their eyes. The rat grew and grew until a rather short, ragged man took its place. The haggard man, still retaining some rodent-like features, looked around anxiously.
Victoria unconsciously took a step back, but nobody else noticed. They, well the other students at least, were staring at the former rat, stunned.
Professor Lupin was the first to speak, "Well, hello, Peter. Long time, no see."
The man – Peter Pettigrew – squeaked, "S-sirius, R-remus…my friends…my old friends…"
Sirius Black aimed his wand at Peter Pettigrew, but Professor Lupin prevented him from acting hastily and said, "We've been having a little chat, Peter, about what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed the finer points while you were squeaking around there on the bed –"
Peter Pettigrew, visibly panicked, said breathlessly, "Remus, you don't believe him, do you? He tried to kill me, Remus…"
Professor Lupin, who had been conversing with Peter Pettigrew somewhat inappropriately friendly given the circumstances, said with less warmth, "So we've heard. I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'll be so –"
"He's come to try and kill me again!" Peter Pettigrew shrieked, "He killed Lily and James and now he's going to kill me too…you've got to help me, Remus…"
Out of the corner of her eye, Victoria saw Sirius Black flinch and tighten his grip on his wand.
Professor Lupin sighed, "No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out."
Victoria looked at Professor Lupin, shocked. Until? She shuddered and started to shake as she pieced what was about to happen, a conclusion aided by the fact that as the conversation progressed, led by the surprising logical answers of Sirius Black, who'd never actually been the Potters' Secret Keeper – not that Victoria knew what that was –, who'd broken out of Azkaban to keep Peter Pettigrew from hurting Harry Potter, and who'd continued to pursue Peter Pettigrew all year.
Despite his intentions, Victoria believed Sirius Black. And watching him, pleading with Harry Potter, the pity for the man that she'd scarcely allowed herself to feel earlier, welled over. And, at long last, Harry Potter believed him too.
At Harry Potter's nod, Peter Pettigrew knew his fate was sealed and attempted to look for mercy from all within the room, first Sirius Black and then, Professor Lupin, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter.
At this, Sirius Black erupted, "How dare you speak to Harry! How dare you face him! How dare you talk about James in front of him!"
Peter Pettigrew shrunk back from the raging convict and sought pity from the last person in the room: Victoria, who was half hidden behind Harry Potter and a ruined armoire, "Tori – Tori, please. Mercy, please…it's –"
"Get away from her!" Professor Lupin hissed lowly, in a voice and with a face uncharacteristic of the kind professor. Both he and Sirius Black gripped the smaller man.
Sirius Black yelled, with unbridled fury, "You sold Lily and James to Voldemort! Do you deny it?"
Peter Pettigrew began to sob, "Sirius, Sirius, what could I have done? The Dark Lord…you have no idea…he had weapons you can't imagine…I was scared, Sirius, I was never brave like you and Remus and James. I never meant it to happen…He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named forced me –"
Sirius Black cried, "Don't lie! You'd been passing information to him for a year before Lily and James died! You were his spy!"
Peter Pettigrew tried to explain, "H-he was taking over everywhere! W-what was there to be gained by refusing him?"
"What was there to be gained by fighting the most evil wizard who has ever existed? Only innocent lives, Peter!"
Peter Pettigrew pressed, "You don't understand! He would have killed me, Sirius!"
"Then you should have died!" Sirius Black said, raising his wand and taking a step forward, "Died rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!"
Professor Lupin also approached the Peter Pettigrew, who was on the floor, still sobbing, "You should have realized if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Good-bye, Peter."
Victoria shut her eyes just as Harry Potter yelled, "No! You can't kill him. You can't."
This surprised everyone, and after trying to get him to reconsider, Sirius Black and Professor Lupin realized that he did want Peter Pettigrew punished, just not at the hands of his two innocent friends. It wasn't what James Potter would have wanted.
Eventually, Peter Pettigrew was shackled to both Professor Lupin and the injured Ron Weasley, whose leg was put into a proper splint, Professor Snape was levitated, though Victoria refused to look at him, and all of them left the dusty, dark room.
XxXxX
As they walked made their way through the tunnel back to the grounds, Victoria kept to the rear of the party with Harry Potter and Hermione Granger. In front of them, Sirius Black kept Professor Snape drifting forward. At one point, Sirius Black fell into step with Harry Potter and engaged the boy in conversation. Bit of their conversation echoed in the narrow passageway, but at one point, Sirius Black smiled, truly smile, and Victoria watched the years melt away from them man's face and despite everything that had just happened, Victoria smiled a little herself.
Soon enough they were at the opening and Sirius Black let the students go through first. As she passed him, he asked, "Are you alright, Tori?"
Victoria nodded shyly and said, "Yes."
Sirius Black smiled again, and looked at her with the same observing gaze he'd used earlier, "Good."
Victoria left the dark tunnel for the moonlit grounds and…to her terror…she'd forgotten…how…she turned and saw Professor Lupin shaking and said breathlessly, "He didn't take his potion tonight! He's not safe!"
From behind Victoria, Sirius Black commanded, "Run. Run. Now." But nobody moved. Harry Potter and Hermione Granger stared in horror – their best friend was chained to an about to transform werewolf. Victoria watched in horror as her beloved professor, with trembles and growls, shed his humanity. Sirius Black yelled once more, "Leave it to me – run!"
Again, nobody moved. Professor Lupin, now the werewolf, had freed himself from his bounds to Peter Pettigrew and turned for the former rat and Ron Weasley. A massive black dog shot past Victoria and lunged for Professor Lupin's neck. Realizing that this dog was Sirius Black and watching the ferocious fight between the two as the ripped and bit into each other, Victoria took a brave, but very foolish step forward, "No! No! Don't hurt him! It's not his fault!" She caught Professor Lupin's attention and in a fraction of a second managed he nearly managed to get past Sirius Black. But the dog twisted at the right moment and put itself between the girl and the werewolf. However, the dog, huge and fast, clipped Victoria with its rear and flipped her over a crouched over Peter Pettigrew.
For the second time, the back of Victoria's head slammed into the ground. She didn't move; the large shimmering moon shone bright and fuzzy in the sky of muddled pinpricks of light and as the canines snarled and someone called her name frantically, Victoria felt herself drift into darkness…
XxXxX
Victoria tried to blink as she felt the sun shine on her face, but her eyes were dry and gritty. Tasting a bitter taste in her mouth, she swallowed only to have her head protest the action. She groaned aloud.
She heard footsteps, "Victoria! Victoria, you're awake!"
Shakily, she brought a hand to her face to shield her eyes as she opened them. Standing at her bedside were Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, and Hermione Granger, all looked a little worn, but were smiling nonetheless. Voice hoarse, Victoria asked, "What happened?"
Harry Potter's smile faltered before he sat in the chair by her bedside, "You hit your head again, remember?"
She did. And despite the aches, shot upright, "Professor Lupin! Is he alright?"
"Madame Pomfrey just left to fix him up," Hermione Granger said, but when Victoria's anxiety didn't lessen, she added, "Sirius chased him off into the forest right after you passed out."
"Sirius Black's been cleared?" Victoria asked. Judging from the yellow sunshine lighting the Hospital Wing, it was midmorning.
"No," Hermione Granger said, shifting a bit.
"He's not…?" Victoria asked, horrified. She knew what awaited Sirius Black if he were caught.
"He was, but we saved him," Harry Potter said.
"How?" Victoria asked.
The three third years then launched into what had happened last night after Victoria had lost consciousness – Peter Pettigrew escaped, the horde of Dementors, Sirius Black escaping on –
"Buckbeak?" Victoria asked.
"Hagrid's hippogriff," Hermione Grange explained, "the one that attacked Malfoy last term."
"Oh…so you saved Sirius Black and Buckbeak by going back in time?" Victoria asked, seeking clarification. She added, "With," she motioned at Hermione Granger, "your time device thing?"
"She knew?" Ron Weasley said, indignantly.
Hermione Granger rolled her eyes, "Victoria walked in on me using the Time-Turner last year."
At this, Harry Potter frowned again, looking almost a little anxious, "Uh, Victoria…can I ask you something?"
"Sure," she said, looking at the boy curiously.
Hermione Granger gripped Ron Weasley's sleeve, "Come on, Ron."
"What?" The redhead questioned.
Hermione Granger sighed, "Ron…"
"Oh!" He said and then smirked before following Hermione Granger beyond the curtain surrounding Victoria's bed.
She looked after the pair confused before Harry Potter asked another questioned, "Do you, uh…prefer to be called Tori?"
"Hmm?" Victoria asked looking back at him.
He shrugged, blushing a little, before continuing, "It's just that…I knew that Lupin called you 'Tori'. We talked about you sometimes…" at this Victoria found herself blushing, "…and that's what he called you. But Snape calls you 'Tori' too and even Sirius did…" He trailed off.
"Well," Victoria began, "Professor Snape's –" just the mention of his name hurt –"been calling me 'Tori' since the day I met him. Professor Lupin too. I suppose it's sort of a nickname."
"Oh…" Harry Potter murmured. He blushed further and asked, "Could I call you 'Tori'?"
Twisting a strand of her uncombed hair, she said shyly, "Sure."
They sat there in silence until he asked, "How is your head feeling?"
Victoria, who'd been caught up in the excitement of all she'd missed last night, touched her head and winced, "It hurts as much as it did last time."
"Do you remember everything?" He pressed, concerned.
Victoria recalled the last moments before she passed out – the fight between the dog and the werewolf…suddenly, it reminded her of something, "Harry, didn't you know that Professor Lupin was a werewolf?"
"No…did you?" Harry Potter asked.
She didn't answer his question, "You told me that you did."
"I did?"
"Yes. You told me you overheard Professor Lupin and Professor Snape talking about Professor Lupin's lycanthropy," Victoria said.
"Oh!" Harry Potter explained, as if he'd finally pieced everything together, "That. Um, well…that wasn't what they were arguing about."
"They weren't?" Victoria asked, "What were they talking about, then?"
Harry Potter scratched the back of his neck, "Uh, you, actually."
"Me? Why?" Victoria asked.
"I don't think I should say," Harry Potter said slowly, "I, uh, I don't know if I should be the one to tell you."
"Tell me what, Harry?" Victoria asked, a bit apprehensive. What could Professor Lupin and Professor Snape been saying about her that was so bad that Harry Potter couldn't repeat it.
"I thought you knew…but it seems there was some miscommunication," Harry Potter explained.
"Harry?" Victoria asked. She could feel her heart beating fast, outpacing her throbbing head.
"V – Tori," he began, "they were arguing about you because…because Professor Lupin's your dad."
Victoria blinked as she silently comprehended this information, and then said "He – he's my father? My real father?" She could feel her ears ringing.
Harry Potter nodded, "Yes."
"Why were they arguing?" she asked quietly.
"Lupin –" Harry Potter began before be interrupted by Madame Pomfrey.
"Miss Thomas! You lay back down this instant! And Mr. Potter, you should know better than to bother my patients, especially after your many visits. Take Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley and leave," Madame Pomfrey said, pulling out her wand and running what probably were diagnostic spells on Victoria.
"Goodbye, Tori," Harry Potter mumbled before leaving.
Victoria didn't reply and said nothing as she lay back onto the bed, Madame Pomfrey bustling about as her mind whirled and her heart hoped.
XxXxX
Victoria spent hours thinking about what Harry Potter had told her. She didn't question it; it made perfect sense. She'd been instantly drawn to Professor Lupin and after knowing him for only a day, had felt safe with him. It was as if she'd known before she'd known...and for months now, she'd known she loved him.
It was sometime during the late afternoon when Victoria received her next visitor. To her surprise and to her sorrow, it was Professor Snape.
He stood at the end of her bed and observed her with a guarded expression, "How is your head, Miss Thomas?"
Victoria, although it was disrespectful, turned her head to the side and closed her eyes. She didn't want to talk with him. How could he believe that things between them wouldn't change after last night, especially since the man he threatened was her father?
"Miss Thomas?" Professor Snape tried again and then more softly, said, "Tori?"
Still, she kept her eyes closed, deliberately refusing him any pity or compassion. What he had wanted to do last night was well beyond anything that a boyhood rivalry warrented.
There were several long moments of silence, before, from the other end of the Hospital Wing, Madame Pomfrey exclaimed, "Professor Lupin! You shouldn't be out of bed! You – a suitcase? Professor Lupin, where are you going?"
"I've resigned, Poppy," Victoria gasped into her pillow. "I'm just here to – to say goodbye," he finished, his voice catching.
From somewhere above her, Professor Snape whispered, "I am sorry." She heard his heels click pertly as he walked out of the wing.
"Tori?" Somebody else said.
Victoria turned and through her wet lashes, her eyes already welled up with tears, and saw the battered and bruised Professor Lupin, her father. She struggled to sit up and Professor Lupin bent to assist her only to nearly topple to the floor as Victoria threw her arms around his neck and sobbed, "Why? Why didn't you tell me?"
Professor Lupin held her close and tried to soothe her, rubbing her back as he half stood in his awkward position, "Tell you what, Tori?"
"That you're my dad!" She cried.
Professor Lupin stiffened for a brief moment before tightening his hold and kissing her temple, "How'd you find out?"
"Harry Potter told me…why didn't you?" She demanded as she pulled back.
Professor Lupin took her face in one hand and swiped his thumb across her wet cheek, "I didn't want to upset you."
"Upset me!" She said incredulously, her voice breaking, "Never, never…" she hiccupped, "But I'm upset you're leaving…"
"Shh," Professor Lupin said, his own eyes moistening, "We'll see each other again, soon…soon…"
"Can't I come and live with you?" She interrupted.
He shook his head sadly, "That was the plan, but…"
"You don't want me anymore?" She asked, breathless. She was so hysterical she was having difficulty talking.
"No, no!" He said, sitting on the edge of the bed and pulling Victoria into his lap, "I didn't know I had a daughter until the day before we went to Diagon Alley, but I've wanted you since the moment I knew."
"But why can't I live with you?"
"Dearest, I planned to demand custody on the grounds that I never knew you existed, and I would have won…but they'd never let me because I'm a werewolf." He said, cradling her and stroking her back, like she was a baby…and she was his baby.
"But you were a werewolf then," Victoria pointed out, sniffling.
"It was known to few officials in the Ministry that I was a werewolf, but after this morning…" He trailed off quietly.
"What happened this morning?" She asked.
Professor Lupin looked a little hesitant, and then said, "Professor Snape let my…condition slip in front of his Slytherins."
"What?" Victoria asked, "Why would he do that? He knows I'm miserable at Owlhill…but now I have to go back…and last night…what did I do?"
"Tori, you didn't do anything –" Professor Lupin began.
"Then why did he threaten to have you kissed? Why did he tell everyone you're a werewolf? He hates me," Victoria concluded, crying.
"Tori, he may have made some mistakes, but I know he doesn't hate you –"
"But because of him, I'm losing you!" Victoria cried, gripping the fronts of Professor Lupin's robes, "Not only one of my best friends, but my dad!"
"Tori, you're not losing me, we'll see each other again, soon, I promise," Professor Lupin said, getting choked up.
"When?" She cried.
"Soon…I'll take you to get your school things again. I'll write you everyday…" Professor Lupin promised.
"But I don't have an owl," Victoria panicked.
"I'll get one and I'll write you. You're not losing me, Tori, We'll – we'll..." Professor Lupin tried to reassure her, but also himself. He held her against himself, talking into her temple as he spoke and kissing her, rocking her as she sobbed.
"Daddy!" She cried over and over.
Beyond the curtained-off bed, in the opposite corner of the Hospital Wing, and within the alcove of the entrance, a shadowed figure turned and left with a fluttering of robes.
