I do not own the Harry Potter series or any of its characters. They belong to J.K Rowling

The Rothern Legacy

Chapter 11 – At the End of the Tunnel

Rachel felt Hermione grab hold of her hand as they walked behind Harry. At first Rachel was shocked, her heartbeat quickened while a faint blush appeared on her face. The shock soon faded and she quickly began to enjoy having Hermione hold onto her. They walked silently through the tunnel, all of them alert and cautious. It wasn't long until they came to what looked like mouldy black steps that led up to an equally mouldy, black wooden cellar door.

"Right..." began Rachel as she released Hermione's hand. She withdrew her wand from her jeans and walked in front of Harry,

"...I'll go first. If that dog's up there it'll have to deal with me and you two can go look for Ron" explained Rachel as she placed a foot on the first step.

"Rachel no let me go first" pleaded Harry; he didn't want Rachel getting hurt. Rachel shook her head,

"This isn't up for discussion. Wait here until I come and get you" Rachel turned and walked up the steps. Hermione and Harry watched her climb up the steps before reaching the cellar door with apprehension. Rachel slowly pushed up on the door and as it creaked open Rachel searched for any signs of danger. Upon finding none she opened the door fully and climbed through. Remaining crouched she observed the corridor she found herself in, to her left was an old stair case that led up to the next floor; to her right was an entrance to what she assumed to be the front room of the house, behind her was a long narrow corridor that led up to the house's door and in front of her was the entrance to another room.

The house was coloured a wooden black and covered in thick layers of dust, except for the fairly large line that had been created through the dust and carried onto the stairs. Rachel frowned before leaning over the open cellar door.

"It's alright to come up" Rachel caught a sigh of relief coming from Hermione before putting her wand back into her jeans and helping them up through the cellar door.

"This is the Shrieking Shack" stated Hermione as Rachel pulled her up. Nodding in affirmation Rachel quickly made the 'silence' gesture before grabbing a hold of Hermione's hand and looking at Harry "Up the stairs" she whispered to him. He nodded before following Rachel towards the bottom of the stairs. The three teens climbed the stairs, the boards beneath their feet creaking from the pressure of their weight. Upon reaching the top of the stairs they followed the trail in the dust towards the end of the first floor's hallway. Rachel stood in front of a closed oak door,

"Ready?" she asked Harry and Hermione quietly. Upon receiving no response Rachel forced open the door.

"Ron you're okay" the relief in Hermione's voice wasn't nearly as obvious as the relief in her eyes as she released Rachel's hand and approached the pale Weasley "The dog. Where is it?" asked Harry. The panic on Ron's face was a hard thing to miss as he looked up at his friends.

"Harry it's a trap. He's an animagus" squeaked Ron as his hand shot up and pointed towards the open door. All four teens turned to look where he was pointing. A gush of cold wind entered the room and forced the door closed; revealing the dishevelled figure of one of the Wizarding world's most sought after killers. Sirius Black. His black eyes were focused solely on Harry and when he stepped closer Rachel stepped into his line of sight.

"Don't even think about it" she warned. He smiled at her, showing his rotted teeth before chuckling.

"Rachel Rothern" he emphasied her name with a knowing tone. "Uriel's little girl. My how you've changed over the years. You look just like your mother. And word has reached my ear that you've grown into quite the Quidditch player" Rachel glared at the deranged man.

"What do you want?" she demanded coldly, refusing to allow him the satisfaction that his knowledge made her feel uneasy. The moment his eyes shifted towards Harry Potter a rage took over the boy. Harry snarled angrily before launching himself at the malnourished man before him, his hands wrapping themselves around his neck before pulling him to the ground. Harry quickly pulled out his wand and pointed it at the man's face. To his surprise Sirius Black began to laugh.

"Are you going to kill me Harry?" he asked while grinning like a clown up at him. The man was truly deranged.

In all honesty Rachel didn't expect Harry to go through with his threat despite his wand pressing into Sirius's cheek. The boy was angry but he didn't possess the killer instinct. She could see it in the way Harry gaped at Sirius's question. However, before Harry could answer a familiar figure burst through the door and aimed his wand at Harry.

"Expelliarmus!" barked Remus Lupin.

As Harry's wand clattered harmlessly against the oak floorboards Lupin tilted his head to the side, indicating for Harry to move aside. Hermione quickly grabbed hold of Harry's arm and guided him back towards his friends while his eyes never left Lupin's. Once the teens were far enough away Lupin turned his full attention to the pale man beneath his wand.

"Well, well Sirius looking rather ragged aren't we?" Sirius grinned up at Lupin. "You shouldn't have come here tonight" chided Lupin as if he were talking to a student rather than a murderer.

Lupin's hardened face softened before he extended his hand to Sirius before helping him up. All four of the teens watched in a mixture of horror and confusion as Lupin embraced Sirius as a friend.

"I've found him...I've found him. Let's kill him" muttered Sirius excitedly to the taller wizard.

"No!" barked Hermione indignantly, drawing the attention of the two adults "How could you? I trusted you and all this time you were his friend" Lupin released Sirius before turning to face the teens.

"It's not what you think" he began.

Hermione glared at him before turning to Rachel, Harry and Ron "He's a werewolf".

The shock on everyone's faces was nothing compared to the fear that flittered across Lupin's face before a mask of indifference appeared "How long have you..."

"Enough talk!" interrupted Sirius "Let's just finish this!"

Lupin held Hermione's gaze for a few more moments before sighing and turning to address Sirius as the man looked at him expectantly.

"Alright" caved Lupin as he hand his wand over to Sirius "But just wait one more moment Harry deserves the truth" Harry's scoff attracted both of their attentions.

"I already know why you're doing this. You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead" he accused.

"No Harry it wasn't him..." began Lupin as he approached them slowly, stopping when Rachel pulled her wand and aimed it at him,

"Not one step further Professor" Lupin did stop. While Harry may have qualms about harming someone Rachel however was a different type of character. Very unpredictable.

"This one's got fire Remus." The pride in Sirius's voice sickened Rachel.

Lupin raised his hands to make the surrender gesture "...it wasn't Sirius. You mentioned to me a few nights ago about seeing the name 'Peter Pettigrew' on the Marauder's Map I confiscated from you..."

"So? The map had to have been lying because Pettigrew's dead. Black killed him" Sirius shook his head in denial.

"The map never lies. Pettigrew is alive and he's right there." Sirius pointed at the rat in Ron's hand although Ron didn't see it as that.

"Me? He's mental!" exclaimed Ron as he shifted uncomfortably in his seat. Sirius scoffed.

"Not you. Your rat. The one who's been alive for twelve years now. Odd life span for a common garden rat wouldn't you say? He's missing a toe isn't he?"

"So?" questioned Ron in confusion.

"All they could find of Pettigrew was his..." began Harry "...finger" finished Sirius.

"The bastard cut it off to make everyone think he was dead. And then he transformed into a rat so hiding would be an easier task."

"Show me" demanded Harry. Sirius nodded before approaching Ron "Give it to him Ron" stated Harry as Sirius wrestled the rat out of his hands.

"What are you going to do to him? Leave him alone!" pleaded Ron as Rachel held him back while Sirius placed the rat on top of the room's piano. The two adults fired invisible spells at the rat as they chased it across the room. As Scabbers launched itself towards the open door one of Lupin's spells hit its target and within an instant the rats furry body expanded into the body of a man dressed in a dark suit. Ron stopped his struggling and looked on in absolute shock as 'Scabbers' was pulled to his feet and pushed back into the room with Remus blocking the door and aiming his wand, along with Sirius at the man who stood quivering in the centre of the room.

"Hello Peter. Remember us" goaded Sirius as he glared coldly at the man responsible for his thirteen years imprisonment. The scruffy middle aged man looked up at Sirius before whimpering pathetically.

"You should've known that we would find you eventually Peter. And that we would finish you off for what you did to Lily and James" barked Sirius before preparing to summon a curse.

"No" interrupted Harry.

Lupin and Black turned to Harry, confusion written on their faces. Rachel smirked knowingly. "We should take him to the castle" offered Harry in determination. "After that the Dementors can have you".