Chapter 37
There was a crack and Rose had to keep herself from screaming out in terror, this place already gave her the creeps. She followed Hermione and Harry down the eerie hallway and up the stairs. Rose say what they were following. Everything had a thick layer of dust except for a zigzagging streak where the dust had be disturbed.
"Now,"we all whisper before we reached the open door. The group crept down the dark threshold and Rose clutched her wand tighter, she was refusing to let go of the only thing that could keep her safe. Harry kicked the door open and the charged in. Her hazel eyes flitted around the dusty room that was falling apart from decay.
The four post bed hosted the ginger cat, Crookshanks to the corner where Ron lay in pain. "Ron- are you okay?"Hermione asked rushing to his side. I went towards them.
"Where's the dog,"Harry asked and then it clicked. Everything clicked in Rose's head, the dog, the prisoner. The door snapped shut and a man stood in the shadows.
"He's the dog,"Rose exclaimed. "Sirius Black." He had a curtain of black hair and his face was hollow from not eating. His eyes had a glint in them like he was just finding the light of the world again. His eyes landed on Harry then looked over at Rose, he completely ignored Ron and Hermione. Rose ran her fingers through her red hair.
"Expelliarmus,"Black called out and Rose's wand shot out of her hand. Black must have gotten the wand from wand. His eyes flitted back and forth between Rose and Harry. He took a few steps forwards now with the reassurance that we couldn't harm him with magic. "I'd thought you'd come to help your friend." Sirius Black still looking between Rose and Harry. "Your father would have done the same thing for me. Brave not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful, it will make everything easier."
Rose's mind was going wild, she was trying to think of ways to get herself out of the situation but she couldn't think of anything. Harry lurched forward at Black and Hermione called out while Rose grasped both of his arms. "Don't Harry you'll get yourself killed,"she whispered tightening her grip.
Ron spoke fiercely," If you want to kill Harry you will have to kill us too!" Rose admired Ron's bravery, she just hoped it wouldn't cause their death. Rose pushed Ron down with Hermione when he tried to get up.
"Lie down. You'll damage that leg even more,"Black said softly, which surprised Rose. He seemed like he didn't mean to hurt Ron but had to do it for the greater good.
Ron obviously didn't notice, "Did you hear me? You'll have to kill all three of us!"
Black sported a grin and said,"There will only be one murder tonight."
Harry lost his cool completely. "Why's that? Didn't care the last time did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew? What's the matter gone soft in Azkaban?" Rose was missing a piece of the puzzle a few pieces. She tried to string them together but then the next exchanged made her mind go blank.
"He killed my mum and dad," Harry yelled. He launched towards Black and she barely heard what Black said but she did.
"Are you forgetting your sister isn't the only one to lose parents,"Black said. Harry didn't stop but Black made eye contact with me.
"I had an idea with Harry's pictures I just thought it was a coincidence," Hermione mumbled.
"Merlin's Beard,"Rose whispered.
"What, Harry has a sister?" Ron asked. Rose stumbled back and shook the shock from her mind. She had to help Harry then think about what Black just said. Rose saw Black's hands wrap around Harry's neck and was about to plunge in herself when Hermione stuck her leg out. Black fell with a grunt and Ron was on his arm hand moaning in pain. Rose dove and landed on Black's chest pinning him down completely.
"Argh,"he yelled and Harry called out fighting Crookshanks for his wand.
Rose looked back at Black. "What did you mean Harry had a sister,"she demanded.
"I think you know exactly what I said Rose Lily Potter,"he spat. Everything went blank.
"Get out of the way,"Harry yelled and she felt Hermione tug her off of Black. She needed more than that, she needed a lot more than that.
"You going to kill me, Harry?" Sirius whispered and Rose wanted to jump between Harry and Sirius but she didn't
"You killed my parents,"Harry said.
"Our parents,"Rose said tugging her fingers through her hair, she tried to keep herself from hyperventilating. She was Harry's sister, she had a family. So many possibilities ran through her head but her thoughts settled on why no one had told her? Why didn't anyone tell her, she had been so close to her own blood this whole time and she didn't even know it.
"We're up here,"Hermione yelled. "We're up here-Sirius Black- Quick!" Rose had a bad feeling about this. It was too late though, Professor Lupin bursts through the door.
"Expelliarmus," Lupin casted the disarming spell and the wand in Harry's hand flew into Lupin's grip. The three wands in Hermione's clutched did the same. Rose waited for him to say something heroic but she knew that wasn't coming. "Where is he, Sirius?" Lupin looked at Black but as he muttered to himself his eyes widened. Harry tried to interrupt him but he failed to finish. Lupin walked over to Black and helped him up before he hugged him.
"I don't believe it. You-you,"Hermione stuttered her eyes blazing like they held the fires of hell themselves. She was standing now and she looked like she could take anyone down.
"Hermione,"Rose tried.
"You and him!"
"Calm down,"Ron and Rose said together.
"I didn't tell anyone! I've been covering for you-" Lupin tried to talk some sense into Hermione's hysterical behavior. "
I trusted you and all this time you've been his friend,"Harry said. Lupin tried to interrupt again to explain himself.
"No! Harry don't trust him. He's been helping Black get into the castle he wants you and Rose dead too- he's a werewolf,"Hermione exclaimed and everything about Lupin clicked into place in Rose's head.
"That explains why we had a sub at least once a week every month,"Rose said taking a stand next to Hermione. "That's why you've been sick all the time and your clothes are always torn." Silence.
"Not up to your usual standards Hermione,"Lupin said. "And Rose I honestly thought you'd find out sooner. Only one out of three, Hermione. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly do not want Rose and Harry dead. I won't deny that I am a werewolf."
Ron tried to get up again but Rose turned and pushed him back down to the ground. Ron gasped out in pain and Lupin made his way over to help but Ron hissed out,"Get away from me, werewolf." Lupin stopped in his tracks.
"How long have you known?"Lupin asked.
"Since Professor Snape assigned the essay,"Hermione said. That was ages ago and Rose looked at Hermione impressed at her deductive skills. Lupin confirmed some more things and laughed. "You certainly are the cleverest witch of your age,"Lupin complimented.
"No, if I had been a bit cleverer than I would have told everyone."
"Hermione,"Rose tried to say.
"Go ahead Rose,"Lupin said.
"The staff would have already known. Of course Dumbledore would have known and the teachers even if they weren't told are idiots,"she explained. "They would have found out one way or another." Ron said something along the lines that Dumbledore was crazy and Lupin tried to say something but Harry would not let this man get a word out today.
"He was wrong,"Harry said referring to Dumbledore. "You've been helping him all this time!" Lupin's calm face did not falter but Rose was getting anxious, she was running her fingers through her hair more and didn't care at the moment if she tore her hair out. Ron scooted away and Rose gave him a glare stating the obvious, 'I will maul both legs if you move another inch.'
"I have not been helping Sirius,"Lupin said. "If you give me a chance I can explain. Look-" He threw back Harry, Hermione, Ron, and Rose's wands back. "There you're armed and were not. Now will you listen." So Lupin explained the Marauders Map and how he hand helped create it with James and Sirius.
"So you knew this whole time you knew,"Rose said. "You knew Harry was my brother and you didn't tell either of us!"
"We were under orders from Dumbledore not too especially since Sirius Black your godfather was out of Azkaban and everyone thought your ignorance would be best for your safety,"Lupin said and Rose wanted to scream. She felt cheated of a family, she now had two family members and no one told her about it. Lupin continued with his explanation about Peter Pettigrew which Hermione explained silently telling me he was one of the Marauders. Lupin told us how he saw Pettigrew in the map when we left Hagrid's Hut.
"No one was with us!" Harry exclaimed but Lupin kept talking how he saw Black's dot and how two people were pulled into the tree.
"One of us,"Ron insisted angrily.
"No, Ron,"Lupin said. "Two of you." He paced a few steps and Rose looked at the rat, he couldn't have meant Scabbers. "Do you think I could have a look at that rat?"
"What's Scabbers got to do with this?"Ron asked.
"Everything,"Lupin replied and Ron pulled out a thrashing rat from his robes. Lupin moved closer to Ron and just observed the rat.
"What's my rat got to do with this,"he asked.
"That's not a rat,"Sirius said. Gears were turning yet again in Rose's head, new puzzle pieces were working to fit together.
"Of course he is a rat-"
"No he is a wizard,"Lupin declared.
"An animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew,"Black said.
Rose thought this piece of information would click everything together but it didn't there were still holes that needed to be filled.