Chapter 11

Old Friends

A/N: Hey all! Happy Sunday! Why is it a happy Sunday you ask? I have no idea! I have homework to do, school tomorrow, and have to get ready for a major test, which will probably consume most of my week, free time, and all around goodness in my heart (not kidding- it's a math test).
BUT HAPPY SUNDAY ANYWAYS! So, to be perfectly honest, I have been DREADING writing this next chapter. Don't get me wrong, I love writing this FanFiction. But I have exactly 123 reviews and I'm worried no one will review because they like the number so much and then I'll be sad T-T. OK, I'm done now. But to be perfectly honest, I wanted to hit myself after re-reading my last chapter. "
We sprinted after him, and I realized that, for once, the branches did not have a death wish for us." THE HECK WAS I THINKING ABOUT?! Ughhhhh... I could have made that such a cool scene, too. *sigh* Anyways, I'll do my best to do better this chapter and not leave anything out. Also, I may rewrite that previous chapter to make it a bit longer and put an action scene in there. Enjoy the chappie!

-AA


Harry POV

I watched the man named Sirius Black enter the room. His eyes were dark and sunken, as if he hadn't slept in years. His skin was pale and waxy, taking on the appearance of a forgotten skeleton.

Black raised Ron's wand and rasped, "Expelliarmus!" All three of our wands went whizzing into his hand.

"I knew you would follow..." Black murmured, almost as if he was speaking to himself. "Your father was the same way, not going to a teacher, but instead confronting the problem himself."

Anger rose at the mention of my dad, my eyes burning. My hand twitched, looking subconsciously for the wand I didn't have, then started forward. I wanted to kill this man. I wanted him dead and I wanted to be the one to kill him. Hermione and Ron reached out and grabbed my shoulders.

"Harry! You can't!" Hermione whispered.

"If you want to kill Harry," Ron glared, the effort from standing draining him of color. "then you'll have to kill us too."

Black glanced at Ron. "You'd better lie down. Your leg could be further damaged if you stand."

"Didn't you hear me?!" Ron yelled. "You'll have to kill us all!"

Black's eyes sparked with insanity. "No. Only one will die tonight."

"THEN IT'LL BE YOU!" I roared and broke from Hermione and Ron's grip.

I ran to Black and twisted his hand holding the wands as a shower of sparks flew past my face. The momentum from my lunge had sent us flying into the wall, crashing into the weak drywall and onto the floor.

My fists were repeatedly connecting with Black's face, but the madman's free hand snaked up and latched around my neck, which I noticed too late.

"I've come too far," Black hissed. "You'll never get in my way!"

Spots and stars danced in my eyes, my vision slowly going black.

And then someone's foot slammed into Black and I went sprawling.

Wheezing, I gasped for breath as I heard the sounds of a fight behind me.

Then the soft swish of a cloak as Ciel walked passed me. The small third-year walked to the three-way struggle between Black, Hermione, and Ron..

Not even concerned with the latter two, Ciel grabbed the neck of Black's robe, hoisted him into the air, and flung him into an opposing wall, as if Black weighed nothing more than a pillow.

Walking forward with a steady stride, Ciel grabbed Black's collar again.

I blinked. Was it the lighting, or were Ciel's eyes red? And how was he that strong?

I reached out for my wand that was lying a hand's width away.

Something like recognition flashed across Black's face. As my fingers closed around the wood, Ciel threw Black onto the ground, a few feet from where I was shakily getting up.

Ciel's cool, electric blue eyes met my own.

"This man killed you parents, Harry," he said, his calm voice ringing. "What are you going to do?"

"Ciel!" Hermione shrieked. The young Slytherin put up a hand to silence her.

"Don't kill me yet Harry," Black whispered. "You don't know the full story."

I raised my wand to Black's chest.

"You'll regret it, Harry! Listen to me first!" Black croaked.

"What will you do, Harry?" Ciel said, still watching me with a cold, steady gaze.

I heard footsteps down below, and Hermione yelled, "HELP! WE'RE UP HERE!"

Professor Michaelis appeared in the doorway. His eyes glanced from Ron, bleeding on the floor, to Hermione shaking by the doorway, then to Black, lying in front of me with my wand raised to his chest, and lastly to Ciel, who's eyes hadn't left my own.

"Well then. You all seem to be having fun," the teacher said, a smile forming.

He waved his hand, and I stepped back. I glanced at Ciel, but his eyes were no longer on me.

The Slytherin had melded back into the shadows, watching Michaelis.

"Why must teenagers always be such a handful?" he muttered, eyes closed.

The raven-haired man walked over to Black and shook his head.

"I had faith in you Sirius. I always tell you, think before you act."

Black cracked a grin.

"Nice to know you haven't changed any. But what is going on here?" Black asked.

"Yeah, that's a good question," I said, narrowing my eyes at the professor.

Michaelis smiled. He then reached out his hand and helped Black to his feet.

"You see Harry," Michaelis smiled, then put his hand on Black's shoulder.

"We've been friends for quite some time," finished Black.

~~~~~AA~~~~~

Ciel's POV

We watched in shock.

How did I know he would pull something like this? Why did Sebastian always do things like this?

My eyes narrows and I fought to suppress a growl.

"H-how could you?!" Hermione yelled, tears in her eyes. "You're FRIENDS?! We trusted you!"

Sebastian held up a hand. "Miss Granger, please allow me to-"

"TO WHAT?! To say how this was for the greater good?! He wants to KILL HARRY!" Hermione went on. "Is he in on this?!" Hermione pointed at me.

Sebastian shook his head.

"No, this was entirely unknown to Mr. Phantomhive here."

I glared. No kidding. You care to explain that?

Ron tried to stand, but fell back, whimpering. Sebastian went to him, but Ron glared.

"Stay away from me, you traitor!" Ron snarled.

"Alright, listen, before this gets out of hand and someone dies," Sebastian said, tossing his wand to Harry. "You're armed, we're not."

Harry looked surprised, but nodded slowly.

As Hermione helped Ron into a chair, Sebastian began to explain.

"The Headmaster asked me to keep an eye on you this year. I used the Marauders Map that you two lost." He looked pointedly at Harry and I.

"Wait, you know how to use it?" Harry asked.

"Of course I do. What kind of teacher would I be if I couldn't use a simple map?" He chuckled, then went on.

"I noticed the three of you sneak out to Professor Hagrid's hut to go see the hippogriff, most likely. However, when you came back, you were accompanied by someone."

"What? No, we weren't!" Ron said.

"Yes, you were, actually. When Mr. Black here showed up near the Whomping Willow, he dragged two of you down the passageway."

"It was only one of us!" Ron intejected again.

"No, my boy, there were two. The map cannot lie, nor can it be mistaken. Even now, that same person is in this very room with us."

Sebastian smiled, then walked to Ron.

"Mr. Weasley, may I see your rat?" he asked.

"What? Why do you need Scabbers?" Ron asked, pulling him out of his pocket all the same.

The rat thrashed violently as Sebastian looked at him. His eyes narrowed.

"As I thought," he muttered.

"Wh-what is it?" Ron squeaked. "What's this got to do with my rat?"

"Everything, Mr. Weasly. You see, Sirius was not the one who killed Harry's parents."

Black grinned. "The real killer is right there," he said, pointing at Ron.

"What?" yelped Ron. "Me?! I was still in diapers!"

Black shook his head impatiently.

"No, no, not you! The rat!" he said, glaring at Scabbers.

"You see, children," Sebastian said, addressing the room. "That is not a rat at all. An animagus, much like Mr. Black here. This animagius goes by the name... of Peter Pettigrew."

The room was dead silent.

Finally, Ron spoke up.

"You're mental," he whimpered, looking from one man to the other. "You're both mental."

"This is ridiculous," Hermione whispered.

"Pettigrew is dead!" Harry said, staring at Sebastian. "HE killed him, 12 years ago!" Harry pointed at Black.

"I meant to. Oh, I meant to. But little Peter got the better of me." Black's eyes flashed insanely. "NOT THIS TIME THOUGH!"

Black lunged at Ron, grabbing for Scabbers.

Sebastian reached out a hand and grabbed Black's hair, a technique I had seen him use far too often on Grelle.

"Hold, Sirius. If you don't tell them what really happened, then you'll likely end up dead."

"I DON'T CARE! YOU WEREN'T THERE! YOU DIDN'T KNOW THEM!" Black shrieked, his hands clawing for Scabbers, who was furiously trying to escape.

"You know that's a lie, and I understand perfectly well what he did, but you must wait."

Sebastian yanked Black away again, and said, "Let me explain. After they understand, then you may kill him."

Ron nearly fainted.

Sebastian sat on a dusty chair.

"This started back when Mr. Black was in school with three of his friends; Mr. Lupin, Mr. Potter, and Mr. Pettigrew. The four of them were the largest group of troublemakers in a long time, but were very widely liked. Well, Sirius, James and Remus were, anyway. Peter Pettigrew simply tagged along most of the time.

"During their time at school, one of them had a... condition. In my class, you all have learned about werewolves, correct?"

We nodded.

"Well, Mr. Black's friend, Remus Lupin, was a werewolf. A potion was created to counteract the curse, but he still had to hide during the full moon.

"James and the others found out, but instead of being horrified, the three became animagi without registering. They would sneak over to the Shrieking Shack every full moon. Because they were animals now, they were in less danger around Remus. Even after all the near misses, they were careless and thoughtless." Sebastian shook his head in disgust. Black snickered.

"Severus Snape eventually caught on, you know. Sirius here played a prank on him."

Sirius crossed his arms. "The bat deserved it, you know. Always trying to get us into trouble. Besides, you of all people should understand that."

Harry opened his mouth to ask something, but Sebastian continued, "He was rather jealous of them. Their friendship. He was especially envious of James Potter, what with his talent and all.

"Once, when Severus was trying to find out where Remus went all the time. He saw Remus once too. It was thanks to the prank Sirius pulled."

"But then..." Hermione started. "What does that have to do with you?"

"Because," said a sneering voice from the doorway. "Dear old Professor Michaelis was the one who gave Black the idea."

"You two were pretty close, seeing how you were Black's favorite teacher."


I apologize if it was a bit rushed, but I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Thanks for reading, everyone!

-AA