Chapter 29- Reunion of friends and enemies
Harry knew he had to do something. Sirius was aiming a wand at Ron's chest, and Harry could see it was Ron's won wand. He must have lost it being dragged into the shack. In the tension of the moment Harry forgot he could use magic and was about to tackle the convict when they heard footsteps.
"Up here!" Hermione shouted. "Sirius Black!"
The door opened and Remus came into the room, wand at the ready.
"You all right Harry?"
Harry nodded. Then Remus turned to Sirius and- embraced him like a brother? Then Remus said something that was even more confusing.
'I'm sorry for doubting you."
"You weren't the only one," Sirius answered. "He's here Remus."
"I know."
"Let's kill him!"
Harry knew Sirius had to have put some kind of spell on his dad for Remus to be acting that way. He grabbed his own wand and aimed it at Sirius.
"Unconfound my dad. Now!"
Sirius didn't seem to understand.
"Your dad? But-" then a smile spread across his thin face. "You mean Remus? Remus raised you?"
Why did he seem to be glad of that?
"What do you care? Going to take him from me the way you did my first parents?"
A pained look came over Sirius.
"It's true. I'm the reason they're dead. But if you only knew the whole story-."
"I know enough. Now unconfound my dad!"
"Harry, Sirius never did anything to hurt me and he never betrayed Lily and James either. I was watching you on the Map tonight and I saw someone on it who I believed to be dead," Remus started to explain.
"Who?"
"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius said the name with such hate it would have frightened anyone, but for some reason Scabbers especially seemed terrified. "And he's right there." He kept the wand he was holding aimed at Ron, but Harry suddenly understood it wasn't Ron he was aiming at. It was Scabbers. Harry knew Pettigrew could turn into a rat, but it couldn't be possible that Scabbers was really the fourth Marauder.
"You've got to be mental," Ron said. And Sirius did have almost an insane look in his eyes. "Scabbers has been in my family for-."
"Twelve years!" Sirius shouted. "Am I right? The same length of time I spent in Azkaban because of that dirty little traitor. Ever known a rat to live twelve years?"
Harry wasn't totally listening.
"You're the one who-"
'No he isn't son. Peter did." Remus looked at Sirius. "But I still don't understand how. Unless you switched without telling me?"
Sirius nodded.
"Switched?" Hermione asked, but Harry was putting the pieces of the puzzle together.
"My first parents were protected by the Fidelius Charm."
"Which needs a Secret Keeper!" Hermione finished the thought. "So what you're saying is you switched?"
"I thought it was the perfect plan. Everyone knew James and I were best friends. Who would ever have suspected a weak, talentless thing like Peter was the real Secret keeper? When I knew what he'd done- what I'd done, I went after him. But he shouted for everyone to hear that I killed Lily and James, cut off his finger, and turned into a rat."
'But if that's true and he wasn't the Secret Keeper, why didn't he tell you dad?" Harry asked.
"He may have thought I was the spy. Is that right, Sirius?"
"Forgive me Remus?"
"Of course, Padfoot old friend. And can you forgive me for ever believing you were the spy?"
Sirius smiled, making him look almost the way he had twelve years before.
"Certainly," then his voice turned cold again. "Now I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for."
"I still say you're mental," Ron said, trying to get up on his injured leg. He winced and sat down again. Remus conjured a splint for him, and once Ron was more comfortable Harry said
"It's true he could turn into a rat. I've heard the stories before." There was one last thing he needed answered though. Looking at Sirius he said "But you said you were responsible for their deaths."
"It's my fault he was their secret keeper in the first place," Sirius said, genuine grief in his breaking voice. "If I hadn't suggested they use him, they'd still be alive. When I saw his picture in the paper and knew he was at Hogwarts, I had to do something. I was so thin I slipped right past the dementors. They had trouble sensing me as a dog."
"What do you mean his picture in the paper?"
Sirius took out a clipping showing the Weasleys on vacation in Egypt. Scabbers was on Ron's shoulder, and for the first time Remus took a close look at the rat.
"Merlin! He's missing a toe."
"And the biggest part of Pettigrew they ever found was his finger!" Harry finished. The more he thought about it, the more it made sense.
"Ron, give Wormtail to either my dad or Sirius."
Sirius was smiling again. "You believe me?"
Harry nodded. Ron wasn't so sure.
"No, he's not Wormtail. He's Scabbers. And he's been sick ever since Hermione got that mad cat."
Crookshanks was curled up by Sirius, who reached down to pet him.
"This cat isn't mad. He knew Wormtail was no rat and he knew I was no dog. He's been trying to help me all year. Sorry if I scared you that night in the dorm, by the way."
"Scared me! You had a knife held over me. And then you break my leg!"
"I was going for the rat. I am sorry." Harry could tell he meant it.
"Ron, give him to one of them."
"What are you going to do for him?"
"Nothing that will hurt him if we have the wrong rat. Just force him to show himself," Remus said. "Ron, you've known me for years. You can trust me."
Slowly, Ron handed over the rat. And in a flash of light where the rodent had been was a balding man with startling ratlike features.
"Well hello, Peter. We've been having a little chat about the night James and Lily died. You may have missed it over all that squeaking."
"I never-" but Sirius cut him off.
"They all know the truth now. You've cost me my best friend and twelve years of my life."
"Wha- what could I have done? What was there to be gained by refusing him?"
"What was there to be gained by refusing the most evil wizard who ever lived? Only innocent lives Peter!" Sirius crossed the room and grabbed Peter by the throat.
"He would have k- kil- killed me!" he squeaked as Remus pulled Sirius off him.
"Then you should have died!" Sirius shouted. "Died rather than betray your friends! As we would have done for you." He made another grab for Pettigrew's throat, and it took both Harry and Remus to hold him back.
"Not in front of Harry, Sirius. He's seen enough horrors for one lifetime. Don't make him watch this." Sirius stopped and looked at his godson.
"Please leave the room Harry. Remus is right. You shouldn't have to see another death."
"No!" Harry shouted. "Don't kill him. I don't think my first dad would have wanted you to become killers just for the likes of him."
Sirius backed off, although reluctantly.
"You're the one who has the right to decide, Harry. But think about what he's done. This piece of filth is the reason James and Lily are dead."
"I know," Harry said. "We can take him to the castle and he can go to Azkaban. Just don't kill him."
"Harry! You! Thank you! It's more than I deserve."
Pettigrew dropped to his knees and grabbed for Harry, but Harry backed away.
"You'll still get what you deserve. But in Azkaban."
The relieved look on the traitor's face vanished and he began darting around the room looking for help.
"You won't let the dementors take me, will you Ron? I was your rat! Wasn't I a good pet?" he squeaked.
"If you make a better rat than a man, it's nothing to boast about Peter," Remus said. Ron looked especially repulsed.
"I let you sleep in my bed!"
With a flick of Remus' wand, Pettigrew was bound and gagged. The group started to leave the shack when Harry chuckled.
"What's so funny, Cub?" Remus asked smiling.
"Well, it's not really funny. I was just thinking how ironic it is that something good actually happened on the night of a full moon."
Remus froze in his tracks and for the first time Harry heard him curse.
"Dad, hat's wrong? You remembered your potion, didn't you? As long as you took that, you're safe."
But Harry realized he must not have taken it.
"Harry, take the others and get to the castle. You have to get away from me as fast as possible. Now!"
Anyone else would have said such a snap was a sign of the wolf in Remus showing itself, but Harry knew that was rubbish. It was the tone of a father desperate to protect his son.
You have to get out of here. The moon could rise any moment. It's just lucky you reminded me." He took the Marauder's Map out of his cloak. "Take this so you won't run into anyone who won't believe you. Now go, and don't turn back no matter what you hear. I've spent the night here before."
Harry hesitated only a second. Without the potion, he knew once his dad transformed he would bite and scratch himself. But he also knew there was nothing he could do. Sirius led them out, levitating Peter while Harry and Hermione helped Ron. Nobody turned to look back until they were a distance away. Harry looked up and saw the full moon had risen, and a howl sounded from the Shrieking Shack. A chill went through Harry, and he sadly thought of what his dad must be going through right now. Sirius put a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder.
"He'll be all right in the morning," he said, although Harry couldn't help noticing he sounded sad about it himself.
"I know," Harry said. "I just wish there was something I could do for him."
"Your dad- I mean James- and I felt the same way. That's why we became animagi in the first place. Sorry. It will take a bit to get used to thinking of Remus as your dad. I mean he's my friend too but-"
"That's all right. I know you and my first dad were supposed to be close," Harry said.
"Closer than brothers," Sirius answered. Harry was about to say something when Hermione pointed and screamed. The temperature dropped as a swarm of dementors, at least a hundred of them, came into view. Pettigrew promptly fainted, but Harry grabbed his wand and Sirius took Ron's since they were the only two who could cast a patronus. Harry's wolf and Sirius' dog charged, but against so many dementors they weren't as effective as they would have hoped. Just before he fainted, Harry thought he saw a silver doe join the wolf and the dog.
AN: Thanks for reading and reviewing. For anyone wondering, since Sirius used his animagus form to help him keep his mind when the dementors became to much for him, I thought that could be what makes him feel safe so that's why I said it was his patronus.
