I still do not have my laptop back.


Circe winced as she watched her head house motioned with caution deeper into the room with the tip of his wand never leaving Lupin's chest. She didn't particularly like how things were unfolding for unlike Lupin, Snape would waste no time summoning the darn Dementors and Black would be whisked away greedily by them like boys fighting over their new toy. And she would be left hanging without knowing the whole story.

Snape was pressing his wand so hard against Lupin that Circe was sure it would leave a lovely bruise. Hermione had scream at his sudden appearance, Ron let out a cry, Harry jumped as if was jolted by electricity while Black leapt to his feet at the sight of his enemy.

"You should have remembered to take you medicine for the moonlight, Remus, or I wouldn't have bothered to make a trip to your office. But lucky you did, for on your desk was a certain map." Snape said scornfully. "One glance told me everything."

"Severus-" Lupin began but Snape overrode him.

"I've told the headmaster over and over again that you were trouble, that you've been helping Black here, into the castle...and now you've just given me my golden opportunity." Snape smiled devilishly.

"Severus, you're making a mistake." Said Lupin urgently. "You don't know the whole story – I can explain – Sirius is innocent – "

"Two more in Azkaban tonight!" Snape said, his eyes gleaming fanatically (even Circe had gulped), ignoring Lupin's plea. Then, he turned to Black. "I daresay they'll look forward so much to see you again, Sirius...that they might just give you a little...kiss."

Black looked disbelievingly at Snape, his face paler than ever. "You wouldn't dare..."

"You fool." Said Lupin softly, trying hard to control the situation. "Is a school boy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

Snape grinned maliciously. "Who would like to go first?" he cocked his head to a side, indicating the door.

Harry stood there, unable to move a muscle. He looked at Ron and Hermione, hoping that they had some kind of idea what to do and say but Ron only looked back at him with confuse. However, Hermione took a step forward with uncertainty and said with a voice that sounded even more uncertain. "Professor, maybe – it – it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, would it?"

"BE QUIET, MS GRANGER!" He spat out with raw fury and looking quite deranged that Hermione didn't dare to utter another word and slinked back like a timid mouse.

Turning back to Sirius, Snape couldn't help but grinned even more nastily. It was obvious that he was savouring every minute of the sweet revenge.

"Severus, you've – you've got to hear me out." Sirius croaked while jabbing at Scabbers. "Look at it! Look at the rat, Severus!"

"Let's. Go." Snape's icy voice was determined, his wand waving at the door.

Suddenly, Harry strode across the room, blocking the door. His daring action immediately infuriated Snape, who snarled. "Get out of the way, Potter, you're in enough trouble already!"

Harry already knew that but still he said in a shaky voice. "Not until Professor Lupin explains."

Circe could see Snape's nostrils were flaring. "Move away, Potter! Just like your father, always thinking that you're above the rules!"

"You're pathetic!" Harry yelled suddenly with the mentione of his father. "Just because they made a fool out of you at school, you won't even listen – "

"Silence!" Snape shrieked like a banshee. "I will not be spoken like that! I've just saved your neck; you should be thanking me with your knees and forehead touching the ground! NOW GET OUT OF THE WAY!"

Circe shook her tiny birdie head as she jumped frantically on the sofa's hand rest. It wasn't supposed to go this way! Lupin was supposed to finish his story. She had to do something to stop Snape or everything would be lost but at the same time, she couldn't reveal herself yet. She pondered for awhile; Lupin had given back the wands back to the three of them. There was no choice but to make Harry, Ron and Hermione her hands, to do one thing that was on her mind: eliminate Snape.

She shut her eyes and in her heart, silently but no less determined, she said the incantation. "Imperio!"

Instantly, there was a blast that made the door rattle on its hinge; Snape was slammed hard against the wall and landed on the floor in a lump. Blood trickled down his left temple.

Harry looked at his wand, astounded at himself, Ron was lost at words and dropped his wand.

"We attacked a teacher...we – we – Oh! We're going to be in so much trouble!" Hermione whimpered despairingly.

"You should have left it to us." Black said as he stared at the unconscious Snape and then back to them. "But still, thank you."

"That doesn't mean I trust you." Harry retorted back.

"Then it's time for some prove!"Black said as he walked swiftly towards Ron, who was now even more protective over Scabbers.

"No!" Ron said, clutching his rat closer to his chest. "Are you saying that you escaped Azkaban just to kill my rat? Fine, so let's say he could turn into a rat, there are millions of rats. How would you know would you know which one he is?"

The question struck a silence in the room that even Lupin stared at Sirius. "You know, Sirius, that is a fair question. How did you know where to find him?"

"Fudge gave me his papers when he visited Azkaban." Black said gravely as he reached into his robes and produced out a folded piece of paper which he opened it and handed it to Lupin. It was a picture of the Weasley family on a trip of Egypt after winning a lottery. "There's the rat! Look at his front paw."

"My God!" Lupin gasped. "He's got a missing toe!

"When I cornered him, he yelled loudly so that the whole street could listen, about how I betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew the whole street, killing everyone and ran down into the sewer after cutting his finger"

"That's - that's –" Harry started to stammer. Circe could see there were parts that somehow make sense but Harry still had trouble accepting it.

Lupin let out a sight as he watched Harry struggled. "Harry, just let us have the rat. What have you got to lose?"

Harry opened his mouth but nothing came out. His eyes darted to a struggling Scabbers, to a wide-eyed Ron and then finally rested on a tired Black. "Give it to him, Ron."

"What?" cried Ron. "I won't!"

But Lupin was already on to Scabbers, fighting against Ron and trying to pry the rat out of his fingers.

"Give it to him, Ron!" Harry said, sounding firmer this time.

"I've got him!" said Lupin as Black walked towards him. Scabbers was squeaking non-stop while twisting and turning, scratching Lupin's fingers. "Ready, Sirius?"

Black nodded, his eyes gleaming. "Together." He said as he pointed Snape's wand, which he had taken, at Scabbers.

"On the count of one, two, THREE!"

There was a flash of blue light and Lupin let go of the rat. Scabbers dropped on the floor and like watching a flower blooming in top-speed, the rat's head was enlarging but also transforming into something more human-like, his paws was growing longer and its fur was getting shorter until it completely shrunk underneath the skin. The next moment, a man was prostrate on the floor, exactly where Ron's rat had been.

As he struggled to stand up, as though he hasn't stand on two feet before, Circe noted that he wasn't very tall, probably just like her height. His dark greyish hair was wild and there was a large bald patch on top. He looked like he was once a man who had taken many servings in each meal but suddenly underwent rapid weight lost. His skin was wrinkly and flaky; his eyes were black and watery.

He looked around the room, his heavy chest rise up and down. But when he laid eyes on both Lupin and Black, he started to whimper in a squeaky voice, much like how a rat would sound like.

"Why, hello, Peter." Lupin smiled but Black only stared at him with murder on his face.

"Re-Remus, Si-Sirius…" he said with his hands together, as though he was praying. "My old friends…"

"Since when?" Black lashed out. "After all the times you had our back, you sold Lily and James to Voldemort, didn't you?"

Pettigrew flinched as though he was whip from behind.

"What's wrong? Scared to hear your old master's name?" taunted Black. "You should, you know. I've heard them talking in their cells, they know you're still alive."

"Don't - don't know what you're talking about." Pettigrew whimpered loudly. "You don't believe this madness, do you Remus?"

"Until you give me something very convincing, Peter, I'm sorry to say that I do believe what Sirius had told me." Lupin replied coldly.

"But he's going to kill me! That's why he escaped and – and the others, they want me dead because I put their best spy into Azkaban!"

"Me? A spy?" retorted Black in disgust. "You were the one always sneaking with people stronger than yourself! I should have seen it all along, you've always like to with around big people, don't you, Peter, and it used to be me and Remus and James…"

Pettigrew whimpered more as he shook his head frantically. "No – no. He taught you tricks! The dark Lord taught you tricks, that's why you're not mad after so long in Azkaban."

"It was the knowledge that I was an innocent man behind bars and the sense of purpose to keep living so that I may find you, those kept me sane, Peter, and not some Voldemort's tricks! "

Pettigrew started to moan. "You – you don't know the powers the Dark Lord has! He – he would have killed me! He has weapons and ways that you can't imagine. I – I was scared! He – he forced me -"

At the sound of his confession, Lupin blew into a rage that Circe had never thought he was capable of. "HOW COULD YOU, PETER? We were your friends! We always looked after you! I mourned for you, Peter! And now I've learnt that you've done this horrible thing!"

"I did my best, Remus! I swear I did but the Dark Lord was too strong." Pettigrew said, trying to win trust from a devastated Lupin.

"DON'T LIE! YOU'VE BEEN PASSING INFORMATION FOR ABOUT A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED!" Black blasted out while Pettigrew grew panic.

"You don't – don't understand…" Pettigrew said while eyeing the exit door. "He would have killed me! What could YOU have done, Sirius?"

"I WOULD HAVE DIED RATHER THAN BETRAYING MY FRIENDS! LIKE HOW I WOULD HAVE DONE FOR YOU!"

Pettigrew did not reply back but was almost crouching like a child being cruelly teased.

Black lifted up his wand, followed by Lupin. "You should have realized that if Voldemort doesn't kill you, we will." He said, this time in a very business-like tone.

"No!" wailed out Pettigrew as he got down on his knees and crawled towards Black. "Sirius! Sirius, I was your friend! Spare me!"

Black showed no mercy and kicked him away. "Get of me! There's enough filth on my clothes without you touching it!"

Pettigrew went to Lupin and clawed on his robes, whose face was cold and hard, as though chiselled from a block of marble. "Remus, oh Remus, you're always the kindest! Please, don't kill me!"

But Lupin took a step backwards and Pettigrew fell on the floor. He got up quickly and rushed to Ron, who tried to dodge away when he saw him coming. "Ron, I was a good pet, wasn't I?"

"I let you sleep on my bed!" said Ron with obvious disgust on his face.

Hermione did not say anything to him when Pettigrew staggered towards her and seized the hem of her robes. "Sweet girl, you won't let them…Help me!" Instead, she pulled her robes out of his clutch and backed away, looking very horrified.

Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably and finally, turned his head towards Harry. "Harry…Harry…you look just like your father. But your eyes…just like Lily's. Your father, he would not do this to me! He – he would –"

"HOW DARE YOU TALK TO HARRY? HOW DARE YOU ABOUT JAMES TO HIM!" roared Black as he dragged Pettigrew away from Harry. "Enough! So long, Peter, it was nice knowing you."

And both Black and Lupin raise their wands. Hermione covered her face on Ron's shoulder.

Ninetails looked expectantly at Circe; she wasn't just going to let that man die before he serves his purpose for her. But then, it looks as if she wasn't going to do anything either.

Circe knew that if she was going to do anything, now was the time. But there was something on Harry's face, something that showed as though he wanted to say a word but was afraid. His mouth kept opening and closing, his eyes was darting to Black, Lupin and Pettigrew, he was clutching and relaxing his fist. Circe knew Harry was a kind boy by nature and he did not have that bold streak of killing someone, no matter what they had done.

And she was right.

"NO!" Harry yelled quite suddenly and he ran forward, placing himself in front of Pettigrew. "You can't kill him. You just can't."

"Harry, this piece of vermin is the reason why you don't have parents. This is exactly what he deserves." Black said grimly.

"I know." He said softly and turned facing Pettigrew. "But I'm not going to let my father's best friends to become murderers just for someone like him."

"Harry!" gasped Pettigrew and flung his arms around his knees. "Thank you! Oh, thank you! It's more than I ever deserve –"

"Get off!" spat Harry, wrangled his knees out of his arms. "You'd still have to face Azkaban and the Dementors!"

Pettigrew immediately made a mewing sound like a cat and started to sob but the pitiful scene did not reach Harry's heart.

"Alright." Began Black. "You are the only person with the right to decide, Harry. We'll tie him up and bring him to the castle." And then looking at Pettigrew, "But I swear, Peter, if you ever try to escape, I will kill you."

Circe sighed with relief. She flew next to Ninetails and sought the warmth of his golden fur. Even though she had done nothing but listen to a very secretive conversation, her mind was exhausted with the unexpected revelation. She knew it was going to be something explosive but somehow, when it hit fully hard on her, it had made her felt never so drained and overloaded. Fighting against her own weariness, she replayed what happened, this time, slower.

She knew now that, all along, it was Peter Pettigrew. It was him who will lead her to her father. But now, how was she going to get Pettigrew out of the group? They mustn't know who she really is, so a total confrontation is impossible. She thought about Snape and felt a tinge of guilt. She didn't want to do that to him but he was in the way and had to be rid of.

Suddenly, she remembered! Snape had said that if Lupin had not taken his dose of wolfbane, he would have come to his office! And tonight was a full moon; she remembered only because of the recent exams that she had to study for. With everything that happened, she doubt if Lupin remembered that he isn't safe tonight. Ninetails was already wary of it by the look he gave her.

They remained quiet as Hermione walked about first, supporting Ron, who had a rope tied to Pettigrew's leg that was also linked with Lupin. Behind Lupin was Black, who Circe can see, felt quite awkward with Harry, now that he knew that Black was innocent.

Circe contemplated; if it was a cloudy night outside, then Lupin is one lucky professor, if it was a clear sky with the bright moon and twinkling star, then things are about to get very messy but her chance to reach Pettigrew was better.

Once they have descended the stairs only did Ninetails and Circe got out of their hiding place. Transforming back to her human self, she felt stiffness all over her and winced when she tried to bend her back and felt a sharp pain. But she did not bother massaging the pain away as she silently crept down and catch up with the group.

Circe hastened her pace in the tunnel, not wanting to miss anything but only to slow her steps when she spotted Harry and Black, deliberately taking their leisure.

"Do you know what this means? Turning Peter in." said Black softly enough for her to catch it.

"You're free." Said Harry with a smile.

"Yes..." said Sirius. "I don't know if anyone had told you but your parents appointed me as your godfather. You know, if anything happens to you when they're not around."

"Yeah, I knew that." Said Harry.

Sirius looked as though he was about to vomit. "Well, I'll understand of course, if you want to remain with your aunt and uncle...but just think...once my name is clear, if you ever want a different place to stay..."

"To come live with you?" said Harry, turning sharply to Black.

"Of course, you wouldn't want to." Croaked Black. "I know that...I just thought –"

"Are you mad?" said Harry hastily. "Of course, I want to leave the Dursleys! Do you have a house? When can I move it?"

Circe watched as Black's face lit up like a thousand light bulbs. It was also a very strange situation for her; to eavesdrop on an intimate conversation but somehow she did not feel guilty at all. She wasn't sure whether she likes it, to see Harry finally having a happy ending, like those fairy tales while she still will have many hardships before her. And then she remembered again what she had planned to do and realised that Harry would never move in with his godfather and have his happy ending. The thought came quite quickly to her and she did not even notice that she smiled with it.

They were nearing to the mouth of the tunnel and Circe saw darkness at the end of it and there was a tight twist in her stomach. It was clearly a clouded night and hence, no distractions from Lupin. This meant it was time for plan B, which does not exists in the very first place.

They were heading back to the castle, where there the soft glow from the distant windows was the only light. Circe could still hear Pettigrew whimpering between Ron and Lupin as the group trudged up.

Since there wouldn't be a full moon tonight with the clouds hindering the way, Circe took out her wand. She was just about to utter the incantation of an explosion when just then –

The ground was suddenly lit by silver radiance and shadows were everywhere. The immediate trouble that came through her mind was that she was going to be seen but was greatly relieved to find herself behind a large boulder that easily hid her and Ninetails.

Finding reason for the sudden white light, images of aliens with their spacecraft hovering above them came instantly into her mind. But when she looked up to the night sky, she understood. Her heart could have soared to the sky and she waited for the sound.

It came faster than expected.