Ch. 14
It took a few seconds for what they said to sink in. Then Ron spoke.
"You're both mental!"
"Ridiculous!" Hermione said faintly.
"It does make sense," I said, "I mean they never did find the body, and from what I've read there's no spell that can destroy someone's entire body but leave the pinky. Magic is thorough and rarely lazy."
"Peter Pettigrew is dead!" Harry said. "He killed him twelve years ago!"
Sirius's face twitched. "I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me… not this time."
Sirius lunged for Scabbers but Lupin launched himself between the rat and Sirius. "No Sirius! Wait! You can't do it just like that- they need to understand- we've got to explain-"
"We can explain afterwards!" Sirius snarled.
"They've got a right to know!" Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Sirius.
"Fine! Tell them then, but make it quick, Remus! I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for."
And so Lupin told us the story of the Marauders. How Lupin had been put in the Shrieking Shack for his monthly transformations. How James, Sirius, and Peter became Animagi so they could transform and keep Remus company. And how James saved Snape that night. Oh and speaking of Snape he should be coming out in one…. Two….
"So that's why Snape doesn't like you," Harry said, "because he thought you were in on the joke?"
"That's right," Snape's voice sneered from the wall behind Lupin.
Hermione screamed. Sirius leapt to his feet.
"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Snae, throwing the invisibility cloak he had used to cover himself aside. "Very useful Potter, I thank you. You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here? I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."
"Severus you're making a mistake. I can explain, Sirius is not here to kill Harry-"
"Two more for Azkaban tonight," Snape said, his eyes now gleaming frantically. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this. He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know Lupin… a tame werewolf."
Without another word thin, snakelike coils burst from the end of Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Lupin. With a roar of rage Sirius started toward Snape, but snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.
"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."
Hermione stepped forward. "Professor Snape- it- it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say w-would it?"
"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," Snape spat. "You, Lovage, 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."
"Just listen!" I shouted. "If Lupin wanted Harry dead he could have done it a hindered times! Hell if Sirius wanted Harry dead then He could have done it that night! If he was the murderer then what's a few more deaths to get the person he wanted! Think!"
"DON'T SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT!" Snape smirked at me.
"Then listen! If Black was the murderer that everyone thinks he is then why would he have run that night in Gryffindor Tower? He could have slit Ron's throat then Harry's. Even if the whole of Gryffindor Tower woke up he would have gotten his target, done what he needed to do for Voldemort!" there were a few flinches at the name. "He isn't the bad guy here! I know you must hate this man for what he did to you, but please Professor, be the better man here!"
Snape's wand arm twitched and I saw a bit of hesitation in his eyes, but his wand remained raised.
"Prove it," he growled.
Sirius looked more shocked than anyone, including me. I did not think that it was going to work.
"Ron the rat! Ive him the rat!"
"Your mental!"
"Ron I swearnif you don't give them your rat I'll break your other leg!" I shouted at him.
Ron scrambled to hand them Scabbers after that little outburst.
Sirius took the rat and looked to Snape. "You know the spell?"
"Do not mock me."
"On the count of three. One… two… three!"
A flash of blue light erupted from Snape's wand and hit the rat. Scabbers was frozen in midair, his small gray form twisting madly. Ron yelled and the rat hit the floor. There was another flash of light and then Peter Pettigrew stood in front of us.
"Well hello Peter," Lupin said, finally managing to untie himself. "Long time no see."
"S-Sirius… Remus… my old friends"
Sirius reached for Remus' wand, but Snape stopped him.
"No! I need to know the truth, coming from him."
"I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'll be so – " Remus said.
"He's come to try and kill me again!" Pettigrew squeaked suddenly, pointing at Sirius. "He killed Lily and James and now he's going to kill me too... You've got to help me, Remus..."
"No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out," Snape said harshly.
"Severus! Severus, please help me! You know what they're like! I never wanted to do any of those things to you but they made me!" Snape's face didn't change, he just looked blankly at Peter. "I knew this day would come! I knew he'd come back for me! I've been waiting for twelve years!"
"You knew Sirius was going to break out of Azkaban?" Remus asked, his brow furrowed. "When nobody has ever broken out before?"
"He's got dark powers the rest of us can only dream of! How else did he get out of there? I suppose He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks!"
Sirius scoffed. "Voldemort teach me tricks? Don't be anymore ridiculous Peter!"
"I must admit Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend twelve years as a rat," said Lupin.
"Innocent but scared!" Peter squealed. "If Voldemort's supporters were after me, it was because I put one of their best men in Azkaban- the spy Sirius Black!"
"All of you shut up!" Snape ordered them. What he said next left a sick look on his face, as if the taste of what he was saying was disgusting. "Whether I believe any of you or not is irrelevant. The headmaster will decide."
"No! No please!" Pettigrew begged. "I- please!"
"On your feet!" Sirius barked.
"No I won't let you!" Peter sprang off the ground and made for the door.
Snape sent out a binding spell but it missed him by a hair.
I moved and grabbed part of his robes but the little rat was a bit stronger than he looked and threw me toward a broken table that was lying on the ground. I felt the warm trickle of blood on the back of my head after it hit the edge of the table hard.
I opened my eyes and found myself staring up at the ceiling of the Hospital Wing. I looked to my left and saw Luna and Neville playing chess.
Luna was winning, having both of Neville's Bishops and Rooks. He had only one of his Knights left while Luna had practically everything minus one of her Bishops.
"Neville after all the times we played and you couldn't even put up a decent defense… I have to say I'm a bit disappointed." they both turned and looked my way.
"Daniel!" Luna squealed as she rushed to my bed and crushed me with a hug.
"Ah, Luna, I need oxygen," I croaked dramatically.
"Too bad!"
Neville laughed and patted my shoulder. "Glad to see you're alright mate."
"Thanks Neville, do you know anything about what happened?"
"I believe I can answer your questions Mr. Lovage." We all turned and saw the Headmaster approaching. "Mr. Longbottom, Ms. Lovegood, do you think I could speak to Mr. Lovage alone?"
"Of course, sir," Neville said as he collected the chessboard and pieces. "See you in the common room, Luna has permission to be there."
"I'll be there if Madam Pomfrey let's me out tonight, so I'll probably be out of here by next week."
They laughed and bid me farewell, leaving me alone with Dumbledore.
"So, headmaster, what happened?" I asked him.
"From what I got from those present Pettigrew took your wand and tried to escape. Severus, Remus, and Sirius gave chase to him. He escaped when Remus turned into a werewolf and both Severus and Sirius had to defend Mr. Potter, Weasley, and Ms. Granger."
Shit, Peter still escaped. "What about Sirius?"
Dumbledore smiled. "Severus has agreed to speak on Sirius' behalf, though it did take some convincing. When he finally did agree, he muttered something about being the better man."
I smiled. It seemed like there was some hope for Snape after all. He wasn't going to change overnight but still, baby steps.
"Does it look like he'll be cleared of the charges?"
Dumbledore shrugged. "It is a possibility."
"What do you think?"
"I believe that he can, but it will be a lengthy process."
"Well we can hope can't we?"
The Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station slowly. Luna, Neville and I hopped into an empty compartment together, ready for the journey to Kings Cross.
"Hell of a first year," I said as i leaned my stitched head on the seat.
"My first year I got petrified by Hermione."
"Mine Ginny got possessed by a diary and Harry killed a Basilisk."
"It gets pretty eventful here doesn't it?"
"It does," a new voice joined in.
"Hermione," I opened my eyes and smiled. "Nice of you to drop by."
She looked guilty. "I meant to come by, but then everything that happened… I'm sorry."
"You had a lot on your mind. Plus from what I heard you're no longer taking every elective that they have to offer. Can I still count on seeing you in Arithmancy?"
"Of course."
The train ride went without a hitch. No Dementors, or random stops. By the time we got to Kings Cross we were all eager to get home. Or at least they were. I wasn't looking forward to the orphanage. Though seeing Frank would be nice.
"So Gran and I will come and get you both when it's time to go to the World Cup." Neville said as we crossed the barrier of platform nine and three-quarters.
"Oh I can't wait to go! Daddy said that I can write the article for it this year since he can't go. I hope I do well." Luna squealed with excitement.
"I'm sure you'll do great Luna." Neville said as he broke off from us and went to an old women in horrendous clothes. "I'll see you guys soon! Write me!"
"I see daddy. I'll see you at the World Cup?"
"Without a doubt Luna." I gave her a hug and watched as she made her way to her father.
Hermione walked over to me and gave me a smile. "Who's picking you up?"
I flashed her a smile, "We'll find out won't we."
"You're not serious are you?"
"Of course not. I sent a letter to Frank, he said he would pick me up.
I looked over and saw Frank looking around with confusion at all of the people in strange outfits. He had perfect timing it seemed.
"Well looks like my ride's here. You'll write me?"
"Of course! I see my parents. I hope to see you at the World Cup!"
I walked over to Frank with a wide grin, and he was giving one right back to me.
"Who's the girl?" He asked me.
"How's the leg old man?"
"I didn't have to come. I could have just left you here." He laughed.
"You wouldn't have though. I'm the only one willing to help you work, mainly due to the fact that everyone thinks you're a murderer."
"I was proven innocent," Frank countered.
"Speaking of which, I have a story for you."
AN: What's this? Two chapters in two days? Wow! I know, I know hold the applause. Anyway here is the end of book three, I can't wait to start Goblet of Fire. Once again I'm sorry for the Horrible Grammar. And If Snape seems OOC just remember guys, this is a fanfiction and things will be different. Please guys keep an open mind. Don't forget to review and I'll see you all next time! ~Pacco1