Once we climbed back out of the secret passageway, Sirius, who was helping Harry carry Ron, set the boy down and walked away, staring at the castle. I knew that Harry was thinking the same thing I was. He looked at me, and I nodded toward Sirius, giving him an encouraging smile.
Remus was trying to keep Peter tied up, so I decided to help him. Of course he didn't let me.
"Remus, really, you're not strong enough right now", I told him quietly. Did he forget that it was the full moon?
My question was answered when the girl - Hermione, I think I heard Harry call her - yelled something about the moon. The full moon.
Remus let go of Peter, who transformed into his Animagus form and got away. Sirius ran to Remus and tried to tell him to hold it in. Which, he knows is impossible.
Sirius looked at me and yelled, "The potion?" I shook my head. "He was about to take it", I called back. "Then someone interrupted." I hadn't meant for it to come out so sarcastically, and, thankfully, Sirius didn't seem to notice.
I turned around to tell the kids to run when I saw Snape come up from the passage. He made a beeline for Harry, then saw Remus. He put his arms out behind him to protect the three students.
Snape glared at me as I ran toward Remus. "Black!" I didn't turn around. Remus and Sirius - now in his Animagus form - were fighting, and Remus was winning.
"Remus!", I yelled. "Remus please!" The wolf's head turned around swiftly and I realized that this was a terrible idea. I saw Harry run to the edge of the hill; Sirius had fallen down there. No. I was about to run when another howl came out of the forest.
The wolf looked in the direction of the noise and ran off. I put my hands on my chest to catch my breath, looking over to where Harry had once stood. He was gone.
Snape told the other two kids to go back to the castle. I went to the edge and gasped. "Dementors", I whispered. Snape was at my side and grabbed my arm.
"Miss Black", he said as I tried to shake him off. "We must get word to the castle." I glared at him as he started pulling me. Has he always been this strong?
"Sirius and Harry", I said, finally letting myself cry. Snape sighed. "They will be fine, but only if we hurry. Come now." I hated how much he was enjoying this. He was smirking. If I had been able to speak through my tears, I would've killed him. Verbally.
Once we got back to the school, I shook him off of my and rushed to Dumbledore's office.
"Headmaster", I said, catching my breath and swiping at my eyes. "Sirius is innocent. I saw it, Pettigrew is alive!" Dumbledore seemed shocked by the news. Snape sneered as he entered the room.
"Miss Black is suffering from some emotional trauma at the moment, Albus." Some day, Snape... Some day.
Dumbledore still seemed intrigued by what I had said. He walked around his desk and stood in front of me.
"Is there proof, my dear?", he asked. I could've started crying again. "No, sir, but I saw him. Remus and I both. As did Harry Potter and his friends."
"Mr. Potter and his friends are in the Hospital Wing at this time", Snape put in. "And I am afraid Lupin is unavailable at the moment." I really hate that man.
"I regret to inform you, Miss Black", Dumbledore said. "But Sirius is now being held in a secure classroom at the moment." They were going to send him back!
"No, please, Headmaster, you can't!", I exclaimed. "He's innocent, I swear!" "I am sorry, Jade, but I am afraid one person's word is not enough", Dumbledore told me sadly. I left the office and slammed the door behind me. I had to find Sirius.
I hurried to Remus' office and grabbed the map.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
I scoured the map until I finally found his name. He was in a classroom that was hardly ever used, faraway from most of the other rooms.
I ran down the corridors until I found it. There were wards on the door, as well as many locks. "Alohomora!", I cried several times. I tried every reversal spell I knew until I finally got one to work.
The door flew open and I quickly, quietly, closed it behind me.
Sirius was staring out the window. He didn't turn around until I said something.
"Sirius?" My brother jumped and spun around. "Jade."
I ran over to him and we hugged.
"Now they're sending my own sister to arrest me? What's next?" I knew he was trying to lighten the mood, and it kind of worked. It always seemed to work.
"I've missed you so much", I cried into his shoulder. "Hey", Sirius pulled away slightly and looked at me. "You shouldn't. I don't deserve it. And, by the looks of it, you've done pretty well for yourself since I've been gone. Remus said you're a Healer?"
I nodded. "Yeah, I work in the Potion lab at St. Mungo's." Sirius smiled proudly and wiped a tear from my face. "I knew it." "What?", I asked.
"I knew that you would work, even though you have enough money to last your grandkids their whole lives." I laughed a little at that.
"You should go", he said quietly. "I don't want you to be taken down with me." "I told Dumbledore what I saw–he didn't believe me." "Figured he wouldn't." We hugged once more and I started to leave.
"Jade", he called. I turned around. "I'm so proud of you. You're...everything I thought you'd be."
I smiled at him and left, hurrying around a corner when I heard footsteps.