10. High Street

Dumbledore didn't matter now. Clearing her name didn't matter now. All that mattered was Harriet. If they ended up in Azkaban for it, it didn't matter.

Siria buttoned up half the buttons on the shirt then ran out after Remy.

They barrelled down the crooked corridor of the Three Broomsticks to where Remy had said Petra was sleeping – but the door was already ajar. Remy pushed it open further with a creak. The room was empty.

"You!"

Siria jumped around, her wand pointed and a spell on the tip of her tongue. She pulled it up just in time as she recognised the red-headed, slightly chubby Monty Weasley. He was in the Order. They had never spoken much, beyond congratulations on the births of several of his children and condolences at his sisters' funerals.

"You're meant to be locked up!" Monty said, his own wand pointed back at Siria and Remy. "The aurors are on their way to take you to Azkaban!"

His voice lacked conviction. Siria had fought alongside Monty once before, shortly after Fabia's death. There had been a ferocity to him then that was missing now.

"Please help us Monty. We need to save Harriet. It wasn't me who betrayed the Potters, it was Petra – and now she's got Harriet!"

"Please Monty, she's telling the truth," Remy added, clasping her hands together. "Where's Petra? Where's Harriet?"

"We need to get Harriet away from her!" Siria repeated.

Monty looked between the two of them. Siria dropped her wand.

"Please. I'll hand myself over the moment she's safe."

Slowly, Monty nodded.

"I just passed Petra, with Harriet. She said the aurors had agreed it was best to take her to a safe place – but I didn't agree, so I was going to ask them myself."

"Where?"

He pointed behind him at a spiral staircase.

"The floo fireplace."

Siria pushed past him. Remy called a thank you over her shoulder and they clattered down the stairs.

Harriet's cries echoed through the corridor and Siria raced towards the open doorway that was source of the noise. Petra stood by a roaring fireplace, struggling to hold Harriet in her arms. Harriet squirmed and struggled against the hold. Her screams halted at the sight of Siria and Remy – then Petra turned as well.

"Give her back!" Siria roared, diving forward.

Crack.

Siria's hand closed around Petra's shirt a moment before she was yanked into the apparition. The world swirled around her and she felt Remy's hand clutching at her ankle.

They fell out of the sky together, and despite her best efforts Siria's grasp on Petra was torn away. She hit the pavement with a grunt – but the next sound she heard sent chills through her. Remy's scream ripped out across the street. Siria rolled over, reaching for her then stopping. Blood soaked into the pavement where Remy's foot should have been. Splinched.

"Ha-Harriet," Remy gasped, her face white and hands shaking by her side. She pushed her wand up at Siria. "Go."

"Your leg-"

"Go!"

Siria swallowed down the lump in her throat and tore herself away from Remy. She would be fine. Aurors would be following. She sprinted after Petra, past muggles who gaped in shock.

"PETRA!"

Ahead, Petra tripped as she spun around a corner, going down on one knee. Harriet screamed in her arms.

"Iri!"

She saw the glow of apparition start again and cracked it apart with one blast of Remy's wand, leaving a puff of smoke floating by the street sign. Another spell grew in Remy's wand but Siria held it back. She couldn't risk hitting Harriet – and she had the advantage here. Petra panted loudly, veering from side to side as she ran.

"Petra, stop now!"

Petra stopped and turned in the middle of the street. Muggles swarmed around, eyeing the two of them nervously. Siria lifted Remy's wand – and Petra pointed her own straight at Harriet.

"Drop your wand, Siria!" she shouted.

The muggles parted in a wave now, several pointing at the cracks and sparkles spluttering in the air around Remy's wand. It wasn't meant to be used by her – it wouldn't put up with this for much longer.

"Let Harriet go!"

"Drop it!"

Harriet squealed as the wand poked into her neck.

"Okay! I'm dropping it."

Siria crouched to place Remy's wand on the paving stones. She tuned out the sound of the crowd around them, focusing. She had never been the best student, but under Liam's guidance she had managed a wandless spell once before. She would have to do the same again now. Would Petra remember?

"Why, Petra?" Siria shouted, stalling as she built up the magic within her.

"You don't understand, Siria. You don't know the power-"

"How could you do that? We were your friends! Your only friends!"

Petra shook her head sorrowfully, folding in on herself. Then she straightened, her lips pressed together.

"HOW COULD YOU DO IT, SIRIA? HOW COULD YOU BETRAY THEM?"

"Wha-"

"YOU KILLED LIAM AND JANE!"

The spell flashed in Siria's hands. She saw the understanding in Petra's eyes. Then, Harriet was flying through the air.

"Harriet!" Siria screamed, dropping the spell to race backwards, reaching into the air. She caught the hem of her jacket and yanked her closer-

BANG

The explosion threw her to the ground. She tucked Harriet close, curling around her. Pavement tore at her knees and elbows, ripping skin off. Her ears rang loudly, but not enough to block out the screams. Harriet sobbed into her chest and she held the toddler closer, cradling her head. She didn't want to get up. She couldn't get up.

Petra was dead or escaped – but Harriet was safe.

Muffled cracks sounded around her and for the second time in a day, she was frozen in place. Aurors rolled her over and surrounded her, tugging Harriet away.

No!

"Siria Black, you are under arrest for collusion with You-Know-Who and the murder of Petra Pettigrew."