Sometimes, miracles happen. Ron and Harry were talking to Hermione again. I wish it hadn't required the scheduled execution of Buckbeak. But at least something positive happened. And Buckbeak wasn't without hope. There was still the appeal.

Life was crazy as usual. Hermione quit Divination. I didn't blame her, I had only taken the class because Empaths sometimes developed similar abilities. The class itself was a bore, but Trelawney was kind, and I often used the class to escape from the chaos below. I never did develop the inner eye, but knowledge is never wasted.

Then she hit Draco. I couldn't blame her for that either. He was being an arse. Then Riya confronted Draco. I never heard what she said, but he started avoiding Harry and Co. after that. It was amusing to see him so terrified.

Easter break came and went. The entire castle was loaded with homework. The students were so stressed I took to spending all day, except for meals, outside, flying patrol on my trusty broom. Even so everyone seemed to be doing okay. Hermione looked overworked, but other than that, things were rather normal.

The Quidditch finals were coming up. The entire school had been in an uproar about it. My head felt like it was about to explode. I went to the game, to support my nephew though. I don't remember much of the game, except for the fact that Gryffindor won. I left soon after the game ended, and shielded my room as tightly as I could. My skull was pounding, I was dizzy, lights danced before my eyes. Soon I saw black.

Riya was the one who found me. I had never been more grateful for her. She kept my secret watching over me for two hours, until I returned to the world, and for the rest of the night. She dumped various strengthening, healing, and calming potions down my throat, and the wove wards around my room, blocking most of the emotion from reaching me. The last thing I remember thinking before I fell asleep again was that she was exceptionally talented at that.

When I had recovered, Riya went back to her dorm. We didn't talk about what had happened, because my ability must be kept secret. I didn't trust most of the people around me. Or rather I didn't trust Dumbledore. But that didn't mean she wouldn't be rewarded. I was considering getting her tickets to the Quidditch world cup.

The emotion from the game wore off eventually, and I was able to focus again. Hagrid lost Buckbeak's appeal, and Riya and I were comforting before they were to execute the hippogriff. Then Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared, and we had to help them sneak away. Ron found the rat and was overjoyed. And then Sirius appeared and dragged Ron off into the Whomping Willow passage. Harry and Hermione followed instantaneously, while I took a moment to look at Riya. "This is going to get messy, isn't it?" I asked.

Riya rolled her eyes and then mumbled a concealment spell. I followed suit, just in time too. Remus trotted past me, and then Snape. Riya and I followed the both of them quickly, and silently. We entered the Shrieking Shack, and I left Riya to guard the door. We didn't want anyone else to interrupt us, and we didn't want Sirius to be dragged straight to the dementors.

I walked into the room in time to see, Severus blasted back into a wall, and knocked unconscious. "That was some disarming charm," I whistled.

They all turned to me. Remus and Harry had their wands out. "You," Harry snarled, "You really were helping him?" he accused.

"Of course not," I laughed. "That would be against the law, but I will confess, I wasn't trying to hard to catch him."

Hermione stared at me horrified. "But he's been trying to kill Harry, your nephew!" she whispered.

"Oh dear girl, if he'd have been trying to kill Harry, he'd be dead by now. I would have killed him just days after he escaped."

"I think you doubt my skills, Livvy," he chuckled.

"And you underestimate mine, Siri," I mimicked.

"But it's your job," put in Ron, confused.

"I had no interest in tracking down an innocent man. My main priority was protecting Harry, and Riya, and all of the other students from the very real threat out there."

"Yes, him!" shouted Harry.

"No, the dementors." I sighed. "Fudge was an idiot for putting them here."

"Where is Riya?" asked Remus.

"Guarding the tunnel. We don't want anybody else getting in."

"He betrayed my father, your brother!" shouted Harry.

"No, Pettigrew did!" I shouted, frustrated.

"Why would you know that, if it is true? You were only ten! I doubt you would have been told all this." questioned Hermione accusing.

"Because I'm a bloody empath! Okay! I always know secrets I'm not supposed to. I've known Remus was a werewolf since I was six! James told me what I was. Then he told me that Pettigrew was the secret keeper. I would have found out any way."

The room grew strangely still. Everyone was waiting for something to happen. Remus shook his head then began to tell his tale. With every word, the rat squirmed more and more. They finished the story and turned to Pettigrew, who jumped out of Ron's arms and scurried across the floor. Both Remus and Sirius cast spell after spell at him, but kept missing. "Oh, for Heaven's sake," I muttered, and cast the spell myself. Suddenly the rat was the sniveling coward I remembered. I watched him try to worm his way out of the room. When that failed, he took to begging. Eventually he made his way to me.

"Olivia, lovely Olivia, kind Olivia, you'll spare me won't you? You remember me don't you? You don't want to hurt me."

"I've wanted you dead since my tenth birthday." I stated coldly. "My family was ripped away from me on my tenth birthday! I saw Voldemort kill Lily right in front of me. I saw him turn his wand at Harry, and I leapt in front of my nephew. At ten years old, I felt the life leave the veins of two of the people I loved most. At ten years, I shoved the Darkest Wizard in History away from my nephew, and took a curse for Harry. Did you know that an empath could survive the killing curse? I felt it. I spared Harry from most of it's effects. If he hadn't of peaked his head above my shoulder, he wouldn't have even had that scar."

I turned around, and shoved off my vest. Then I pulled my sleeve off my shoulder, revealing the silvery web-like scar, covering my shoulder blade and back. I felt the shock waft through the room. Then I felt Pettigrew try to take advantage of their distraction, and make a run for it.

I spun. I felt the power run through me, and then Pettigrew was on the ground, immobilized. I felt his terror, but I couldn't muster up any pity. "But it gets worse," I growled. Dimly I noticed the occupants of the room take a step back. I guessed that my eyes were probably glowing their faint silver. "I had to watch as Dumbledore left my only family on a doorstep. I had to go live with a woman I barely knew. I didn't see my nephew again for ten years! And now I have to deal with these dementors just because you are a coward." My voice was cold as ice, as I stalked toward him. "There are worse things than death," I whispered, "I would know, I've lived it."

"Your eyes are glowing," observed Hermione.

"An empath, has many useful powers. Normally, I would never use them, but right now, I can't really bring myself to care." I sucked in a deep breath, and released him from my hold. He slumped against the ground, as I straightened. "Now, who wants to do the honors?" I asked. Remus handed Sirius's wand to him and I stepped back into the line. Together we raised our arms.

"You should have realized," said Lupin quietly, "if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Goodbye Peter."

"No," Harry yelled. You can't kill him you can't."

"Harry, 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. You heard him. His own stinking skin meant more to him than your whole family."

"Harry," I started. "He is the reason you grew up with the Dursley's. He is the reason, I still have nightmares everytime I close my eyes. He is the reason I had to hide myself from everyone for eight years. I didn't confide in another soul until my last year of Hogwarts. He deserves far worse than death."

"I know," he stated. "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." In that moment, I realized exactly how grown up Harry really was.

The next thing I knew, Pettigrew was tied up, and I called Riya in. I quickly introduced her to Sirius, before turning my attention to Ron. I bandaged his leg quickly. We didn't have time to kill. Ron could be treated at the castle. The dementors could sweep in at any time.

The walk back was awkward. Riya led the way with Crookshanks, Hermione's cat. The came Remus Pettigrew, and Ron, shuffling through the tunnel side ways. Then Severus floated along, lifted by Sirius, who followed with Harry, and Hermione. I brought up the rear, tense. I was sure there was something I was forgetting.

I soon forgot my apprehension, as I saw Snape banging his head against the ceiling. I may not have hated the git, but it was oddly satisfying to see that. I grinned as Sirius offered to have Harry live with him.

"Are you insane?" Harry asked. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?"

I laughed at Sirius's shocked look. They both turned to me, having forgotten I was there. "The Dursleys are awful," I explained, "I've been trying to get custody of Harry since I turned 17. Dumbledore wouldn't allow it. But he can't refuse you. Once your name is cleared, you are Harry's legal guardian." I paused, "Speaking of Dumbledore, would you lot mind not telling anyone about what I am? I don't really want to be used." Everyone agreed, and soon we emerged from the tunnel, into the night, into a full moon...