Chapter 35: Realising the Truth
"Amycus what are you doing here?" Octavia spoke when she entered the kitchen to find her brother sitting there at the table helping himself to the fire whiskey she had hidden in the cupboards.
"What I'm not allowed to visit my baby sister?"
"Isn't your other one in a psych ward?" Octavia smirked.
"Don't be like that; the war was hard on Al."
"It was hard on all of us Am, why are you here?"
"I heard Sirius broke out."
"Ah, and you're here to see if I'm harbouring a fugitive because if I am, you're going to have to pull your Ministry strings to make sure I don't end up in Azkaban." Octavia snapped before she snatched the bottle from him.
"Actually, I was curious as to how the mutt managed it. So is he here?"
"No, I have no idea where he is or what his plan is."
"Funny I would have thought the first thing he would have done would be to come here," Amycus spoke, and Octavia shrugged, pouring some of the Fire Whiskey into a glass.
"Which is probably why he hasn't, despite us not legally being married, the Ministry knows about me and assumes he would come here."
"How is Willa doing?"
"She's pissed, but something tells me you already knew that because she only comes home to sleep and the Weasley's aren't home, they're in Egypt and she wouldn't crash one of the girls' summer." Octavia raised an eyebrow at her brother.
"You got me, yes she's been hiding out at mine with Leighton but why is she pissed, I thought she always wanted Sirius to come home, that she didn't care he killed all those people."
"She found out he's to blame for the death of James and Lily, that's where her hatred came from."
"But yet you don't house any hatred, why do I get the feeling you still don't believe he did it."
"Because I don't, he and James were best friends I don't honestly believe he switched sides. He loved Willa; he did so much to try and protect her all the way to the end, it had to be someone else. Even everything he did for me, to get us away from our parents ruling. He wanted to be away from his parents because he didn't want to be a Death Eater and he wanted me away from mine because of the abuse, why keep the act up for that long?"
"Can't help you there, I have no idea who the traitor was. Did you see anything of the attack?"
"Bits and pieces, I saw an argument between Moony and me way back in Third year while I saw James and Lily dead but all I managed to do was change the location not their death."
"You can't blame yourself for their death O, maybe it was inevitable."
"Is she at least alright?" Octavia spoke taking a seat at the table beside Amycus.
"She's okay O. It's not like she is off killing people."
"No I believe that was your time at Hogwarts," Octavia snapped, and Amycus glared at her.
"Don't be like that O."
"I'm sorry," she muttered, placing her hands in her hair as she rested her elbows on the table. "I just don't understand why now of all times, I know how he would have done it too but I just can't think why now. The Ministry suspects he is after Harry, but I don't believe it, I don't believe he wants Harry dead."
"I can't help you O, you knew Sirius better than anyone. You two were best friends ever since you were little."
"Which is why I don't think he did it, unless, no, they couldn't have." Octavia trailed off, and Amycus looked at her.
"What are you on about O?"
"I've just thought of something, a reason as to why Sirius is breaking out now."
"What is it?" he questioned, and she fell silent. "You can tell me after all these years don't you think you can trust me?"
"I know, it's just no one believes me when I say Sirius is innocent. Aside from the killing of all those people, Sirius is supposedly to blame for the death of James and Lily because they had a Fidelus Charm on the house they were living in towards the end of the war. We were all told that it was Sirius that was the Secret Keeper, Dumbledore included, everyone thought that Peter confronted Sirius about betraying James and Lily, and then Sirius blew up the street to hide the truth but he got caught anyway. But what if the truth is the complete opposite, what if they switched Secret Keepers and it was Peter in the end, because in all honesty who would believe Peter was the traitor? He barely graduated from Hogwarts and only did because of us helping him along the way. If they switched it was Sirius that confronted Peter, and we both know how bad his temper can get and after hearing that James and Lily were dead, he would have completely lost it, especially considering he didn't come home. Sirius confronted Peter." Octavia explained, and Amycus was silent as he took it all in.
"But why escape now?"
"What if Peter isn't dead, what if Sirius didn't blow up the street but Peter did as a cover so he could escape."
"But how would he? Sirius always threw up Anti-Apparition wards when dueling, that was his specialty."
"We were all Animagus; it's not just me."
"So Peter transformed and took off in the chaos, leaving Sirius there to take all the blame? What is his form?"
Octavia nodded before narrowing her eyes, "he's a fucking rat, why the fuck didn't I realise this?" Octavia cursed before standing up and throwing the bottle against the wall.
"Come now O that was a perfectly good bottle of Fire Whiskey that was not needed at all," Amycus spoke, teasing her and she glared at him.
"His Animagus form is rather fitting, why the hell didn't we realise that he was a rat, it's so obvious!? I'm so fucking stupid." Octavia shouted, and it was then that Remus entered the kitchen.
"What's going on in here?" Remus questioned, looking between the two siblings cautiously.
"It seems as though O has made the revelation of the century and worked out a theory as to what happened all those years ago and for once it's not leaving me sitting here with more questions. Her argument makes complete sense," Amycus spoke as they both looked at Octavia who looked like she was about to lose it, seconds later she disappeared from the room. "Where did she go?" he questioned.
Remus stayed silent as he walked over and joined Amycus at the table, "most likely somewhere she can use her magic to blow things up, it helps her when she gets angry, Willa isn't the only one who blows things up when she's mad except O has control. What is this theory she came up with?"
Amycus explained everything that Octavia just did, unsure as to what Remus exactly knew and they both sat there in silence after, letting Remus soak it all in.
"You're right, it all fits. I admit it is rather farfetched to think that James willingly agreed to switch Sirius with Peter, but everything that follows makes complete sense except why Sirius knew to escape now."
"I haven't told O this because I didn't want her to worry or think that there was a chance she would get Sirius back, considering he has a life sentence, but there's word floating around the Ministry that when Fudge makes his regular visits to Azkaban Sirius asks for the latest copy of the Daily Prophet. Claims he likes the crossword." Remus scoffed, and Amycus raised an eyebrow at him.
"I cannot see Sirius doing the crossword; it's more likely he is after information from the Daily Prophet. There must have been something in the last one that Fudge gave him to make Sirius want to escape from Azkaban, something to give him reason and it can't be because of O, Willa, Harry or Emerson, it has to be something else."
"Well if Peter is alive like Octavia thinks, like Sirius believes as well, what if there was something in the Daily Prophet to show that he was?"
"I've got an idea, come with me." Remus stood up and led them upstairs, towards Emerson's room.
"Hi dad, Uncle Am." Emerson greeted when she saw the two of them standing in the doorway to her room.
"Do you happen to know where that article about the Weasley's trip to Egypt went?" Remus questioned.
"Most likely in Willa's mess of a room somewhere, maybe her desk where she keeps her letters why?"
"We're just trying to work something out is all."
"Does it have to do with Sirius and his breakout?" she questioned, and they both nodded, she climbed off her bed and walked towards them. "I want to help. Ever since you came back, there's been a wedge between the two of us, because I got my father back and she didn't. I know Willa still loves me but it's hard sometimes, but I have the same resentment to her because she has Snow and I don't have mum." Emerson spoke as tears welled in her eyes, shaking her head when Remus gave her a look. "Don't dad. It's always been this way between us. If there is a chance that Sirius can come home then I want to help, I know I will never get mum back because of what's wrong with her, but I want to help Willa. She's also less likely to kill me if she catches me in her room compared to you two." Emerson pointed out, and they both promptly agreed before stepping aside and letting her pass.
The three of them then began searching high and low in Willa's room for the article that Fred and George had sent them all.
.oOo.
Octavia appeared at the Burrow and stood at the edge of the property, feeling the wards to make sure she was allowed to set foot on the property without triggering any alarms.
She entered the house and transformed into her Animagus and walked through the rooms trying to find the trail.
She remembered when Percy found the rat that he had now passed along to Ron. She never saw the thing personally, was just told of it and it was around the same time she gave Charlie his fake pet dragon. But just because she never saw the rat didn't mean she didn't smell it, she just thought she was going crazy at the time, putting what she remembered Peter's scent to be with any old rat hoping it was him. She had done the same with stags and dogs in the past, hoping she had her family back.
Now she was positive it was Peter, it made sense, why wouldn't he hide out among a magical family that had someone within the Ministry, someone who would hear if any talk of Voldemort started again.
She entered Ron's bedroom, pushing it open with her nose and she instantly smelt the familiar smell that was Peter Pettigrew.
She let out a growl before shifting back and Apparating home.
She entered the kitchen and found it empty, unsure as to if Amycus was still around or not, but when she headed upstairs with the idea of a hot shower, she had to stop at the sight of what was happening in Willa's bedroom.
"What are you three doing?" she questioned, startling the three of them and Emerson threw around a large amount of parchment before they all looked at her with sheepish smiles.
"Ron's pet rat, what-" Remus started, but Octavia held a hand up to stop him.
"Is Peter, his scent is all over Ron's room. For years I just thought I was going crazy, trying to find Peter where he wasn't, I've done it with James and Sirius, both of their Animagus forms. Stupid I know but given both Amycus and Alecto have been in St Mungo's Psych ward, I figured why not me too?" She shrugged.
"So we get the rat," Emerson pointed out, and Octavia shook her head.
"Emerson go back to your room and you better not breath a word to anyone as to what we just discussed, the last thing I need is everyone all of a sudden after the rat, he will take off," Octavia spoke.
"But-"
"No buts Emerson, honestly let us handle this and don't tell Willa, you and I both know that if she thinks there is any chance of getting Sirius back she will do everything she can, she will become reckless and not think things through."
"Fine," Emerson complained as she went to leave Willa's room, but Octavia put her arm out to stop her. "I promise I won't tell Willa, I told dad I want to help Willa and if that involves keeping her in the dark, then I will," Emerson spoke as she ducked under Octavia's arm, leaving the three adults alone.
"So what now Snow?" Remus questioned, and Octavia grinned at him.
"Dumbledore still needs a Defence Professor. The Weasleys return the day before the students are due back at Hogwarts, we can't do anything until we are back at Hogwarts."
"We have to tell Dumbledore what we're planning."
"I know, how else would I have permission to sneak a rather large black dog onto the grounds?" Octavia smirked at them both, and Amycus shook his head.
"Since this plan is taking place at Hogwarts, I can't be of any help. Let me know if you need my help outside of Hogwarts," Amycus spoke as he walked over and placed a kiss on Octavia's cheek before leaving the room to head home.
"Why are we bringing Sirius onto the grounds?" Remus questioned, and Octavia began cleaning up the mess the other three had made in Willa's room.
"Because Sirius needs to know what we are planning, if he doesn't it could ruin our plan. We can't exactly go up to Ron and be like 'hey can we have your rat, it seems to be in fact an Animagus that everyone assumed to be dead and is hiding out in your bed, he might panic."
"You're thinking of getting the map off them aren't you?" Remus pointed out, and Octavia shook her head.
"It would just raise suspicions with Willa."
"Why hasn't Willa noticed Peter's name before, she knows that name," Remus questioned.
"Remember we placed a charm on the map that hides Animagi and only reveals them if the person knows about the Animagus specifically. It was a safety precaution for if the map was ever taken from us and someone worked it out. From what I can remember Willa never once saw Peter as a rat, was never even told that he was an Animagus. Even then, Willa has admitted she rarely uses the map, it's more Fred and George and why would she tell them about a dead Animagus?" Octavia suggested, and Remus nodded.
"It makes sense, we knew about McGonagall, and we all obviously knew about each other, Lilith included, so none of us were ever hidden."
"Exactly," Octavia responded. She just hoped that Sirius was safe, wherever he was.
Remus and Octavia went downstairs so they could continue their conversation, leaving Willa's room in case she returned.
"So all those years when you thought you were smelling Peter's scent made sense," Remus spoke first when they entered the room, and Octavia turned to look at him.
"I thought I was going crazy and you never smelt it because you rarely went to the Burrow, only to pick the girls up. If it wasn't around the Full Moon, then your sense of smell wouldn't pick up a scent, and if he were at Hogwarts with Percy, then it would be well and truly gone during the school terms." Octavia continued on.
"I was never there long enough to catch the scent Snow," Remus spoke, hoping to calm her down.
"All these years, the proof I needed that Sirius was innocent was right there in front of me, and I didn't do anything. I thought I was crazy missing my dead friend instead of investigating."
Remus walked over and wrapped his arms around her. "It'll be okay, we know, I know. We can work together in getting Sirius' name cleared. We just have to hope he doesn't get caught before we catch up with him. We need him on our side to make sure he doesn't do anything reckless because twelve years at Azkaban wouldn't be kind to his mind." He spoke calmly.
He needed her to stay calm, and Sirius now needed her to be calm in hopes of getting his name cleared.
.oOo.
"Where's your booklist, Willa?" Amycus questioned as he watched his niece head in the direction of the Quidditch Supplies store.
Amycus was taking Leighton to buy his school supplies as well as some new robes as it seemed he went through another growth spurt during the summer. Since Willa had been practically living with the two of them, she wanted to tag along instead of going shopping with her own family.
Willa didn't even look at her uncle, just offered a shrug before pushing the door open.
"How are we meant to buy your school supplies if you don't know what you need?" Amycus retorted, only to receive another shrug in response.
He barely heard a word from Willa the whole time she'd been with them. She wouldn't speak during the meals she attended, instead opting to stay silent. He had even heard from Leighton that she was barely talking to him, refusing to answer if it was a conversation she didn't want to partake in.
He had spoken to Octavia about his concerns, but she only told him it's how she copes with change. She doesn't take change all that well, and she shuts people out, with the twins in Egypt and Sirius breaking out it was too much, add in the fact that one crucial detail about what Sirius did all those years ago was kept from her, she was livid.
"You're lucky your mother sent it to me otherwise you would have had to go shopping with her," Amycus spoke hoping to get a reaction out of her.
But Willa didn't react, just kept walking around the store in search of the specific brand of broom polish she was after. She thought her Quidditch Captain was a pompous asshole but he knew Quidditch and knew the best products. After recommending the brand of polish a couple of years back she was thrilled to see it worked much better than her previous brand but she couldn't tell him she thought so, he would just be too smug about the whole thing.
"Willa, will you please talk to me, about anything," Amycus spoke. Normally he had no problem with the silence that situated between him and Leighton, but Willa always brought noise into the house whether it be the wireless she insisted on having on continuously or just her usual loud self at times but this summer she wasn't herself, and it worried him.
"Depends, will you buy me that?" she questioned.
Amycus was confused at first, but when he turned the corner he spotted what she was looking at, it was the latest top of the line broom. He had heard word of the Firebolt being released a few months prior, one of the boys he shared a dorm room with at Hogwarts had an uncle who worked for one of the top broom making companies, and as such he always heard word of the latest brooms and when they would be coming out.
"Only if I get one as well," Leighton's voice came from behind Amycus.
"Honestly Leighton you only have two years left at Hogwarts, what is the point of me spending so much gold on something you won't use as much once you graduate. Your current Nimbus 2001 is perfectly fine, not to mention the broom I purchased for you when you were placed on the Quidditch team," Amycus responded, looking at Leighton and when he turned to face Willa he noticed she was gone.
He continued walking through the shop and found Willa standing at the counter.
Willa was patiently waiting for her turn to pay for the broom polish despite the person in front of her having what seemed to be a friendly catch up with the person serving. She knew she was being rude to her uncle and worrying him, Leighton had said as much this morning before they left but she just couldn't get over the anger she held towards Octavia and Remus for keeping such a vital detail from her.
"When did you switch to that brand?" Amycus questioned.
Willa looked beside her and found that he had stepped in beside her, she looked down at her hands before up at her uncle. "My Captain recommended it. I stole some of his when I ran out and discovered it worked better than the one you were recommending and as a result I switched. You know Purebloods, they are stuck in their century old ways, they aren't game enough to try new products that come along." She teased with a slight smile on her face.
"Glad to see you smiling, does this mean you will help me shop for your supplies instead of shutting me out, go back to having conversations with Leighton and me?" Amycus questioned, and Willa looked ahead of her, noticing it was finally her turn.
She gave the worker a smile and handed over the gold needed for the broom polish and waited until they were out of the shop before responding to her uncle.
"I apologise. I am just so angry and have been trying to calm down, but no matter what I do it's not helping." Willa murmured, catching the slight nod of her uncle's head.
"Very well, how about we focus on purchasing your supplies, and we won't talk about what happened this summer. Instead, we can focus on Leighton and find out which subjects he wishes to pursue at a NEWT level." Amycus responded, and Willa smiled.
"Sounds good to me. I also need new robes. I finally grew a couple of inches." Willa grinned at her uncle.
"You're doomed to be short just like your mother, don't expect any more height." Amycus teased, a frown appeared on Willa's face as he did.
.oOo.
Octavia and Dumbledore were currently walking around the grounds at a leisurely stroll, both in silence. Octavia had requested his presence but had yet to speak. She was having trouble stringing the words together.
"Peter Pettigrew is alive," Octavia blurted out, hoping a conversation would come much easier afterward.
"I believe he was killed in the same explosion that Sirius caused, killing twelve Muggles," Dumbledore responded, and Octavia stopped walking and looked across into the Forbidden Forest, catching sight of the animals running around.
"What if Sirius and Peter switched Secret Keepers, what if Peter was the traitor but they didn't tell anyone they switched? Don't you think it was a bit odd that Peter survived the Death Eater raid on his flat with Dorcas, but only Dorcas was killed? What if Sirius confronted Peter in the street and Peter blew it up before escaping, leaving Sirius there to take the fall?" Octavia continued, finding it was much easier to proceed with the conversation.
Dumbledore nodded, "I see you've thought this through, but what happened to Peter and why would Sirius break out now of all times?"
Octavia bit her lip, she still had no idea if Dumbledore knew about the other's Animagus form but she truly believed that he wouldn't turn them in. "They were all Animagi as well to help Remus. I wasn't the only one. Peter turns into a rat, funnily enough, he would have escaped in the commotion. As for why Sirius is doing it now, well turns out that Peter has been living as a rat for years with the Weasley family as Scabbers."
"And Sirius has been asking Fudge for his copy of the Daily Prophet. I believe the photo of the Weasley family in Egypt was in a copy just before his breakout. But why haven't you been able to realise that Peter was there?"
"I thought I was going crazy; I was seeing wild and stray animals thinking it was them, smelling them when I shouldn't. I stopped relying on my senses, ignoring what I was hearing and smelling. Sirius' confession where he said he was to blame, he would have proposed the switch, and that's why he was blaming himself."
Octavia removed her gaze from Dumbledore, she didn't like how he was staying silent as he thought over what she just told him but she had to inform him otherwise she didn't know what would happen once Sirius got here and the Headmaster wasn't on their side.
"It all makes sense Octavia. I'm assuming that is why Remus finally accepted my offer to teach?" Octavia nodded in response. "Very well, since Sirius has escaped there is not much I can do regarding his sentencing now without Pettigrew. Fudge is already pushing to have Dementors placed around the Castle. He was also pushing to have you fired."
"What!?" she was completely shocked, not once in the years she had been teaching here at Hogwarts had she put any of the students in danger. She hadn't given Dumbledore or the Ministry any reason not to trust her.
"He feels that you will help Sirius and with Harry being at Hogwarts and everyone believing that Harry is his goal, well you can see why " Dumbledore explained, and a low growl came from her.
"I will help him, I will help him, so he is set free, but first I need Sirius to get here. Once Sirius gets here, we will come up with a plan on how to get the rat."
"Very well, once you and Sirius have Pettigrew I will help in any way I can to make sure Sirius is freed. I do hope you don't hold it against me. I couldn't have done anything for Sirius without the appropriate information."
Octavia nodded. "I remember, and I will tell Sirius, he will understand just like I know he will realise why I didn't work with Artemis in having his signature forged."
"The world works in mysterious ways."
Octavia turned and looked at Dumbledore, completely confused as to what he was on about. "I'm sorry, I don't follow."
"It's just that when you were a student here, you were doing everything possible to pull away from your family, claiming that they had enough advantages as a Pureblood but here you are, associating yourself with those families again and you went to Artemis about many things," Dumbledore explained.
"I do what is needed to protect my family. If breaking a few rules is what is required then so be it but surely you know I've been breaking the rules for a long time now. I seem to remember certain curfews I broke in need to keep Remus company."
"Very well, come to me if you need my help during the year, and I will do my best, but if this turns badly, you will be on your own because if you are caught helping him, I do not know how much help I can be. Surely you know that Severus will also be watching you with curious eyes."
"The issues between Snape and I may have been pushed aside because we have a common goal, but I have not forgotten that Sirius almost had him killed. Snape won't take too kindly to that," Octavia responded.
"I do recall him being the reason you almost died on occasion."
"Yes, but as I said, we have a common goal we need to work towards. I have to head home, see if my daughter wishes to speak with me yet," Octavia spoke, looking back at Dumbledore to receive a slight nod of the head before she turned and headed for the edge of the wards to Apparate home.
.oOo.
A/N: Thank you to everyone who continues to read, set alerts and review my story it means a lot to me but reviews mean even more as they let me know what you enjoy.
Thank you EmilinLove for being my Beta.
Thank you to Paulies1994, bookdragonslayer, YumiKnowsBest, Nightshadow011, Raven that flies at night and Lovelybaka for reviewing, it means so much to me