Author's Note - It's finally here, the scene we've all been waiting for since the beginning of the story! I really hope all of you lovely and wonderful readers like it.
Shout outs:
FluffcakesAndLemonade - Thank you again, so, so much for everything! From helping beta to editing to bouncing story ideas off one another! Love you sis!
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calh - Thank you!
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As always please enjoy, read, and review!
Little did they know that their fate as well as Harry's would be changed and more than once. Sirius woke startled, covered in a cold and clammy sweat. He immediately reached out and touched Dahlia, she was still there it hadn't been a dream. Calming for a brief moment to look at her, sleeping peacefully, slowly breathing with her mouth slightly parted. The moonlight coming in at just the right angle bathing her in light blue light, making her skin glow and her hair a darker shade of violet.
"You are more beautiful than you know," he whispered kissing her cheek softly.
The quiet and serene moment was shattered with loud voices and scurrying close by, too close by. Sirius threw on his prison garb. He glanced at Dahlia still sleeping, he would leave her, no one knew she was with him; she would be safe while he investigated the sounds. He walked, hurriedly, out of the secret passage to the Whomping Willow; he changed into his Animagus form to avoid the tree's branches. A familiar smell caught his nostrils; he turned to see Ron holding Peter. This was his chance to destroy the traitor and free those he cared for from further harm.
Sirius leapt in front of Harry and Hermione to get to Peter but ended up grabbing Ron by the ankle, clamping down rather hard. Black dragged the boy screaming down the passage of the Willow. He was too fast for Harry to grab his friend away. The convict hoped that Harry would stay away from what had to be done. The sounds of Ron's caterwauling carried throughout the passage startling Dahlia awake. She quickly finished getting dressed when Sirius pulled Ron into the Shack.
"Ron?!" her startled voice let out seeing the red head.
"Dahlia," he replied shocked to see her in this place.
Sirius changed back to his human form looking positively stoic standing in front of the girl facing Ron and the squirming rat in his hands. It was an eerie standoff between the four of them. Dahlia slack jawed staring at the rat in the teenager's hands, Sirius standing unnervingly calm eyeing Peter, and Ron staring back at the teaching assistant and the escaped prisoner in sheer terror. He couldn't form words, he was just whimpering so afraid of Sirius.
The tense scene was broken up by a voice, one both Ron and Dahlia recognized as Hermione, "We're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?"
Dahlia turned to the sound inching up behind Sirius who had not moved from his rigid position. Harry had to be with her, it was the only logical conclusion. "Sirius," she ventured quietly keeping her eyes on Ron who was too afraid and bewildered to say anything. Black didn't say anything but grabbed her hand pulling the witch protectively behind him and then moving behind the door to the room.
Quickened footfalls were heard then Hermione spoke again, "Ron! You're okay…"
Harry cut her off, "The dog…where's the…"
"He's the dog," Ron said frantically, "It's a trap Harry! He's an Animagus!"
The door swung open revealing Black, Dahlia was hidden from their view. Sirius looked at Harry intently, his hair seemed wilder, and his feet dirty from being in the mud. The low light in the Shack made him look more haunted and skeletal. This was a complete turn around from the tender and loving Sirius a few hours ago. Harry drew his wand aimed it at Sirius leveling a baleful stare at the convict.
Hermione jumped in front of Harry, "If you want to kill Harry, you'll…you'll…have to kill us too!"
"No," Sirius said calmly, "Only one will die tonight."
"Then it'll be you!" Harry charged the convict knocking him down. Dahlia jumped out of the way with a yelp.
Hermione saw the assistant and the smart witch's eyes when wide with disbelief looking at her as if she had betrayed all of them being with Sirius. She shook her head in distrust then turned to the scuffle on the floor, "Harry! NO!"
"Are you going to kill me Harry," Sirius asked and he was laughing. It wasn't a genuine laugh, it was frenetic.
"Let's all calm down," Dahlia said loudly but as steadily as she could trying to regain some semblance of order in the chaos.
Harry was momentarily distracted by Dahlia's voice raising his rage filled eyes to her. He shook his head, nothing was making sense. He was shaking with fury when the door opened spilling Remus into the room.
"Expelliarmus," Remus cast and Harry's wand went flying. Lupin looked at Sirius on the ground them moved his eyes to Dahlia giving her a nod. She blew out the breath she had been holding during the tense moment. The pair then turned their eyes to Sirius, "Well, well looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius? Finally the skin reflects the madness within."
Sirius smiled, "You'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you Remus?" Remus helped Sirius off the floor and they embraced like Dahlia had seen so many times. Dahlia was breathing easier moving closer to Lupin and Black. "I found him."
"I know," Lupin said.
"It's him. Let's kill him," Sirius cried.
Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing, "NO! I trusted you! Both of you! And all this time you've been his friends! He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes."
"How long have you known," Lupin asked.
"Since Professor Snape set the essay," she confessed.
"Well, well, well Hermione, you really are the brightest witch of your age, almost giving Dahlia a run for her money," he smiled crookedly at her.
"Hermione," Dahlia started, "It's not as simple as that, please," she addressed everyone, "let's all calm down before something regrettable happens," her hands were up showing that her wand was stowed coming closer to the teenagers.
"Enough talk!" Sirius exclaimed, "Let's kill him!" He looked like he was going mad right in front of everyone. So close to Peter, so close to getting rid of who hurt his friends, who hurt him.
"How could you?!" Harry screamed at her, barely able to hold in his emotions, he raised his wand at her.
"Harry, please, you need to listen," she said calmly but tears were streaking down her cheeks. She went to Sirius' side, "We need to explain," she told him calmly, staring into his eyes.
"He has a right to know," Lupin added, "Just wait one more moment."
"I did my waiting," Sirius yelled, "Twelve years of it! In Azkaban," he sunk into Dahlia's shoulder.
Dumbledore's niece tried to keep him upright, the waiting was getting to him. Too long had Sirius been hiding, too long had he been waiting for this moment. It was right here at his fingertips and he wasn't about to let Peter slip through his fingers a second time. He would not lose Dahlia again, he would not put Harry in more danger then he was already in. Remus looked at the couple, worry soaking into every pore of the lilac haired witch trying desperately to keep Sirius from doing something unfortunate. Lupin considered it for half a moment before handing Sirius his wand.
"Very well, kill him," Remus told the convict but continued, "but wait one more minute, Harry has the right to know why." Sirius grabbed the wand moving away from Dahlia but still keeping a protective stance in front of her.
"I know why," Harry yelled from behind Hermione, "You betrayed my parents! You're the reason they're dead!"
"No Harry it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents but it was somebody who until quite recently I believed to be dead," Lupin told Harry his voice was loud and filled the Shack from floor to ceiling.
"Who was it then?" Potter asked incredulously.
"Peter Pettigrew," Sirius rang out, "and he's in this room, right now," Black's tone was gaining rage and growing more crazed the longer he had to wait for Peter, "Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play," the convict yelled in a sinister sing-song almost directly at the rat in Ron's hands.
Dahlia went to move forward staying close to Sirius, her inquisitiveness almost relieving her sense of its duties. It was then she heard footsteps coming up the stairs and moved back when Snape burst in the room. He saw Lupin and Black facing the students but didn't notice the assistant at first.
"Expelliarmus!" he cried at Sirius and the wand Black had dropped to the ground. A joyful sneer lit up Severus' face, "Ah, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you," he had his wand aimed at Black.
"Severus…" Lupin and Dahlia said together hoping to avoid something horrible.
Snape stared at the lilac haired witch for several moments, the sneer dropped from his face. It was replaced with a slight lip quiver and glinting sadness in his eyes looking away from her for a moment. His wand lowered somewhat and Sirius moved in front of Dahlia again, no telling what the Potion's Master would do if he had half a chance. Severus looked up seeing Sirius in his eye line rather than Dumbledore's niece and he became enraged again.
He pointed his wand at Lupin, "I told Dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle, with assistance," he glared at Dahlia standing behind Black, "And here's the proof."
"Brilliant Snape," Sirius quipped, "As usual you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the test and as usual come to the wrong conclusion. Now if you'll excuse us Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to," he moved forward towards Severus but was met with the tip of the Potion's Master's wand.
"Give me a reason," he told the convict darkly, "I beg you," the sneer had returned, but his eyes were fixed on Dahlia.
"Severus don't be a fool!" Remus told him.
Dahlia moved forward but held back by Black, "Not now," he told her firmly not taking his eyes off Snape.
"How dare you touch her," Snape growled out, the emotion pouring out of the stoic wizard was palpable.
"How dare you use her to relieve your lost memories," the stare that met Severus' eyes could have burned a hole through him. "Being a fool comes so naturally to him Remus," the anger in Sirius' eyes was something that Dahlia had never seen before, it scared her.
"Quiet Sirius," Remus scolded.
Severus glared at the convict with nothing but hatred, "Listening to you two. Quarreling like an old married couple, I'd give up hope on him Dahlia, he's already taken, the creature and the criminal."
"Do not address her Snivellus," Black fired back.
"Witty as ever I see. I could do it you know but why deny the Dementors they're so longing to see you?" Sirius backed away fear washed over his face at the mention of the creatures, "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh yes the Dementor's Kiss. One can only imagine what that might be like to endure. It's said to be almost unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best," he said cruelly.
"Severus please," Dahlia begged moving away Sirius's arm. She pulled the wand away from Black pulling the Potion's Master toward her. "You have to listen to me," her voice pleading with the professor.
"No," he told her coldly, "I am done listening to you," he pulled his arm away from her but the hold she had on him made his limb ricochet and knock her to the ground. Dahlia landed with a loud thud, "You betrayed me," Snape hissed out at her.
Sirius lunged at Snape but was held back by Lupin, "Now is not the time Sirius," he struggled with the convict keeping him from attacking the teacher.
"Now," Severus sneered at Black and Lupin, "After you," he nodded toward the door.
Harry pulled up a wand aiming it at Sirius but then moved it to Snape, "Expelliarmus!" The spell had so much force that it threw Severus onto the bed finally breaking it, the canopy collapsed on the Potion's Master. The entire room froze just dazed at the strength of Harry's spell.
"Harry," Dahlia said absently looking at Severus who was out cold.
"Harry, what did you just do," Ron asked shocked
"You attacked a teacher!" Hermione said appalled.
"Tell me about Peter Pettigrew," Harry insisted waving the wand between Sirius and Remus.
"He was at school with us, we thought he was our friend," Lupin told him.
"No," Harry refuted, "Pettigrew's dead. He killed him," Harry motioned to Black.
"I thought so too but had my doubts, then you mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map," Lupin continued, "Then I knew for sure."
"The Map was lying then…" Harry started but was cut off by Black
"The Map never lies! Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there," Sirius pointed to the squirming rodent in Ron's hands.
"Me?" Ron asked in fear, "He's mental!"
"Not you! Your rat!" Sirius corrected him still infuriated.
"Scabbers?! Scabbers has been in my family for…" Ron was trying to understand.
"Twelve years," Sirius said bitterly as he helped Dahlia off the floor. She went to the aid of Snape as Black continued, "A curiously long life for a common garden rat. He's missing a toe isn't he?"
"Severus," Dahlia said quietly trying to rouse the Potion's Master, shaking him slightly.
"So what," Ron protested.
"All they could find of Pettigrew was his…" Harry was putting the puzzle together.
"Finger," Sirius finished the sentence moving closer to Ron, "Dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead. Then transformed into a rat," the convict finished the story.
Harry looked at Black, the escaped prisoner held himself strong. Potter wanted to believe him, nothing was adding up except this story that had been laid out. The way he protected Dahlia, if he had killed his friend and others he wouldn't have done that. Black hadn't tried to attack him or the others and Lupin was telling the same story. Potter looked to his friend and his rat clamoring to get away. Something was off.
"Show me," he told Black and Lupin.
Sirius approached Ron grabbing for Scabbers, "What are you going to do to him?"
"Give it to him Ron," Harry told Weasley.
Dahlia had moved from Snape's side to watch, her eyes wide, was that really Peter. What would he do when he saw her? Her mouth hung open slightly watching Remus and Sirius try to keep the rat in once place to remove the Animagus charm. The rodent ran for a small hole in the wall but Dahlia was quicker than the rat, removing the charm as Scabbers jumped mid-air. Peter Pettigrew landed with a sickening thud on the rotting floor below him. His mass was slighter but still rotund, his hair wild and thinning over the back of his head. He was dirty and he was missing his left ring finger. Lupin and Black pulled him up from the ground; his features closely resembled his Animagus form, more so than Dahlia remembered.
He kept his hands close to his face, gaining his whereabouts before speaking, "Remus, S-Sirius…" he stammered out, his voice was a whine and cowardly as if it should be colored yellow. "My old friends," he said before trying to run out the door. Sirius and Remus held him back, wands aimed at the deserter. Pettigrew hadn't seen her yet but Dahlia's wand was also pointed at the former rodent. Peter's head spun around finally spotting Dahlia but then turning to see Harry, his main target. He approached the boy, "Harry! Look at you! You look just like your father. Like James," he pawed at Potter's shirt, "We were the best of friends, he and I…"
Sirius dragged him back, "How dare you speak to Harry! How dare you talk about James in front of him," he chased Peter to the broken piano in the room, Remus flanking him on the other side.
"Dahlia," Pettigrew called out getting her attention, trying to scurry towards her, "help me," he pleaded.
"Do not address her," Lupin said angrily, "You sold Lily, James, and Dahlia to Voldemort, didn't you!"
"I didn't mean to!" he cried pathetically, "The Dark Lord," he shuddered involuntarily, "You have no idea the weapons he possesses. Sirius, what would you have done? What would you have done?" He ran again trying to evade Black and Lupin, desperately clawing his way to the lilac haired witch standing with her wand frantically trying to get him in her sights.
"I would have died! I would have died rather than betray my friends!" Black bellowed as Peter ducked under the piano running to Harry once again.
"Harry," he grabbed the teenager, "James wouldn't have wanted me killed. Your dad would've spared me, he would have shown me mercy," he screamed as Sirius and Lupin pulled him off Potter once more.
"You should have realized Peter, if Voldemort didn't kill you…"
"We would," Lupin finished Sirius' sentence.
Pettigrew managed to evade the wizards again crawling quite quickly to Dumbledore's niece, "Dahlia," he groveled at her feet, "Please, what would you do," his eyes were incredibly dull as he met hers, lifeless almost. That look he had back when she was a child, awe and fear, had returned as he gaped up at her. "I was a loyal servant to your fat…" he was pulled away by Sirius.
"You will not speak to Harry or Dahlia ever again," he growled, "You've cause them enough turmoil. Ready Remus," he asked his friend. "Together!"
"NO!" Harry spit out.
Lupin turned heaving a sigh, "Harry, this man…"
"I know what he is," Potter moved closer to the trio, his eyes briefly met Dahlia's, she was frightened and so was he to an extent. He focused on the three wizards once more, "but we'll take him to the castle."
"Bless you boy," Peter fawned over Harry's legs.
"Get off," the disgusted utterance came from the Gryffindor, "I said we'll take you to the castle, after that the Dementors can have you." Peter shook with fear at the mention of the dark creatures. Remus pulled him up pushing him out the passage way.
Sirius went to Dahlia, "Are you all right little love?" he held the stunned witch frozen where she stood. "Dahlia," he touched her face making her present.
"Oh Sirius," she cried into his shoulder, "This is such a mess."
He held her for a moment stroking her hair, "But it'll be over soon, I promise you," he lifted her face to his, "just a little while longer."
Harry saw the exchange with the teaching assistant and now understood what she meant earlier in the year. The way Black changed around her, he was gentle, kind, and so in love with her. It was as if his whole appearance changed, still in the torn clothing, wild hair in every direction, but he seemed more youthful, his presence fully restored, healthier around Dahlia. He stood there for a moment as guilt poured over him with all the horrible things he had told her earlier in the year. Harry saw Dahlia go from nearly hysterical to calm in half a minute, the kiss they exchanged cemented their more tranquil attitudes. He looked at the couple, for the first time that night, he was happy to see them together.
Ok, there's more I plan on putting up over the weekend, please let me know what you thought, keep pushing me. I love hearing from all of you, brightens my day so, so much! Love you all! Thank you all again!