"I can't believe the year is almost over," said Mason.

"Yep. It doesn't feel like we've almost finished year one, does it?" Astoria asked. She was sitting beside Mason under the branches of a great oak tree. All around her, each one enjoying the fact that their exams had ended several hours ago, were the rest of their friends.

Teddie looked up at the two youngsters. "I'm just glad exams are over with for another year," she said. "Not to mention in a few days, I get to go home without any incidents."

"I'll admit," said Marcus. "It'll be nice spending my last year not worrying about you."

"You act like I planned the last two," said Teddie.

Marcus smirked and shook his head. Maybe Teddie hadn't planned to be possessed or abducted by a Professor, but he still wouldn't recant his statement. This year was his final year at Hogwarts, and he was glad he didn't have to spend it worrying over one of his best friends.

"Hey, look," said Mason, pointing at something in the evening sky. "It's a shooting star!"

Astoria squealed. "Oh, you should make a wish, Mason," she said.

"It's a bit early for shooting stars, isn't it?" Daphne asked. "I thought they could only be seen in total darkness?"

Mason shook his head. "Shooting stars can be seen at any time," he said. "They're only rock formations falling at rapid speed through space. Their visibility depends on how close they are to the Earth."

"Are you going to make a wish?" Astoria asked.

"Why don't we all make one?" Mason asked.

Astoria shook her head. "You spotted the star," she said. "The wish belongs to you."

Teddie paused and shared a look with Mason. "Why am I not surprised that even that rule is different in this world?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Blaise asked.

"Well, in our world, it doesn't matter who spotted the star," said Mason. "Everyone who sees it makes a wish."

Astoria beamed.

"Go on, Tori," said Teddie. "Close your eyes."

Astoria did and muttered: "I wish…" under her breath. She was silent for a few minutes before smiling and opening her eyes.

"What did you wish for?" Daphne asked.

"No, don't say anything!" said Mason, shaking his head. "It won't come true."

Teddie smiled and flopped back down onto her back. She was lying between Theo and Marcus and staring at the sky; before Mason had spoken she had been teaching the two boys how to shape clouds - a game she and Mason always played during the summer evenings back home.

"Oh, that one looks like a dragon!" said Teddie, pointing a white cloud with pink underlines. "See there…" she pointed at another cloud, behind which the sun's rays glowed. "It looks like its breathing fire."

Theo smiled as he watched Teddie trace the cloud dragon with her finger. She then dropped her hand back onto the grass, her fingers brushing against his. The two met one another's gazes and smiled, briefly.

The group stayed until the last of the rays disappeared before deciding to make their way back up to the castle. Despite it being the end of the year, and not having classes tomorrow, they wouldn't have put it past the Professors and Prefects to deduct points if they had been caught.

The school year may have been winding down, but the House Cup still hadn't been awarded.

At the top of the hill, leading from the lake to the castle, the group of seven Slytherins and two Ravenclaws found their path blocked by the Gryffindor Golden trio.

"What are you doing here?" Weasley asked, almost accusingly as he spotted the group. "Have you been following us?"

Derrick rolled his eyes. "Yes, Weasley, we have absolutely nothing better to do other than to follow a trio of Gryffindors all over the castle," he said, sarcastically.

"What's going on?" Teddie asked, nudging Derrick with her elbow. She spotted Hermione's face and her confusion deepened. "Hermione, are you alright? You look pale."

Hermione nodded timidly.

Then, behind them, they heard a wild howling.

"What was that?" Mason asked, looking around. He felt Astoria clutch his arm.

Teddie looked startled as Harry turned on the spot and started to walk away. "What are you doing?" she asked, lunging forward and grabbing his arm. She yanked him back, but he struggled against her, muttering about Hagrid.

"Potter, are you crazy?" Marcus asked. He grabbed Harry's forearm and wheeled him around until he was facing the ground again.

"What's the problem with Hagrid?" Daphne asked. "Did something happen tonight?"

"Why should we tell you?" Weasley snapped. He seemed to be struggling with something inside his jacket pocket.

Daphne shot him an icy glare.

Teddie stared at Harry and Hermione. "It's to do with Buckbeak and Malfoy, isn't it?" she asked. Harry stared at her in confusion. "I overheard you during the Care of Magical Creatures exam. You mentioned Buckbeak and an execution. They did it, didn't they? They killed him?"

Harry nodded, probably not trusting himself to speak.

The Slytherins and Ravenclaws stood dumbfounded. They knew that Malfoy was a drama queen, and there had been nothing remotely wrong with his arm after Buckbeak had attacked him, but they should've guessed this was coming. Mr. Malfoy had obviously made out his son's incident to be worse than it actually was and convinced the Minister that the Hippogriff, Buckbeak was too dangerous to live.

"I have to go to him…" said Harry, trying to remove himself from Teddie's grasp.

"Don't be an idiot," said Teddie, holding tighter. "Harry, it's after hours. If you go down there, you'll be in trouble and so will Hagrid."

"She's right," said Marcus. "The best thing we can all do now is - Weasley, what are you doing?" he snapped. But Ron ignored him as something large and black jumped from his jacket pocket, landed with a thump, and scurried away across the grounds.

Ron gave chase.

"Ron!" Hermione moaned.

"What's his problem?" Adrian asked. He watched as Weasley zig-zagged through the long grass towards the castle, but instead of disappearing into the building, he skirted around the outside and disappeared from view.

Harry shared a look with Hermione and followed after him at a quick pace.

Derrick sighed and turned to look at Teddie. "We're going after them, aren't we?" he asked.

"You don't have, too," said Teddie. "But I am. Something's wrong. I can feel it."

"Even more reason for us to just go back to our common rooms," said Derrick. "This has danger written all over it, and not just because it is Potter involved."

"He's right, Ted," said Daphne. "Potter was involved last year, and the year before."

Blaise nodded. "And whenever Potter is involved in something, you're usually involved in something," he said. "If you want to end this year without being put in harm's way, then leave Potter to deal with whatever by himself."

Teddie swallowed. She knew her friends were right. But Harry had been there twice for her, what kind of person would she be if she couldn't return the favour? "I can't," she whispered. "If there is something I can do, then I have to do it."

The others groaned as Teddie took off in the direction Potter had disappeared. They shared a look before following themselves.

Reaching the edge of the castle, the group spotted Teddie and the Gryffindors ahead. Teddie had reached Potter, and was clutching his arm as a sheer great mass of black stood in front of them.

"Is that -?" Blaise whispered.

"No. It's just a dog," said Daphne. "The Grim isn't real, remember?"

Mason looked to Daphne. He was about to argue her point when the dog growled and bared its teeth. It advanced on Potter and Teddie, before turning sharply and running back towards Weasley. It clamped its jaws around his arm, and started to drag him backwards.

"No!" Teddie yelled as Harry lunged away from her. He slipped from her grasp and was dragged across the ground by the dog.

"Lumos!"

Several wands ignited and beams of light illuminated the area. Teddie shielded her eyes for a second, before they widened as she realised where they were, exactly.

"Oh no," Astoria whispered. "That's the Whomping Willow!"

Mason sucked in a breath. "Teddie, move!" he yelled.

Teddie shrieked as a branch whipped overhead, narrowly missing her as she ducked. She covered her head as the branches continued to weave backwards and forwards.

"Teddie!" Mason called.

Falling backwards onto her bum, Teddie scrambled away from the thrashing branches. She stopped as she felt someone grab her under the arms, and haul her to her feet.

"We should go now!" said Marcus.

"Look!" said Teddie, pointing at the base of the Whomping Willow. She watched as the massive dog dragged Weasley into a hole.

Then a crack was heard. It sounded like a gunshot. But in reality was Wesley's leg snapping as he tried to tangle his feet around some upturned roots. Then he was gone.

"Ron!" Hermione called.

"We have to go for help!" said Teddie.

"No," said Harry. "That thing's big enough to eat him. We haven't got time -"

"We're never going to get through without help -" said Hermione, rounding on her best friend. "Teddie's right. We should go back to the castle. Get the Professors. They'll know what to do."

But Harry was having none of it. He was staring at the Whomping Willow. "If that dog can get in, so can we," he said.

Teddie felt Marcus' hand slid into her own. She turned to look at him over her shoulder, and he was staring imploringly at her. "I can't leave him," she whispered.

"Why not?" Marcus asked. "He's going to get you killed!"

"He's helped me before," said Teddie. "Saved my life more than once."

"But, Teddie…"

Teddie turned away from her friend and looked back at Harry. "Not all of us are going to get down there," she said. "But maybe we can. You, me, and Hermione. If we all work together, maybe we can distract the Whomping Willow long enough for us three to get through."

"But how are we going to do that?" Hermione asked. "This tree is infused with magic. It would take extra strong magic to distract it."

"Maybe so," said Teddie. "But we don't need to be extra strong; all we need is the right amount of magic at the right time. Hermione, there are twelve of us. If we all combined our magic…"

Mason looked considerate. "It might work," he agreed. "But, you can't go down there alone.2

"We won't be alone. We'll have each other," said Teddie. "The rest of you can go back to the castle and raise the alarm. Get the Professors, hell; go get Dumbledore, if you have too. Just don't come back."

Theo shook his head and grabbed Teddie's arm. "So, what, you get to risk your neck but we can't?" he asked. "I'm not looking you go down there alone."

"Me either," said Mason, hurrying to his sister's side. "If you go, I go, too."

"Yeah," Daphne agreed.

"No!" said Harry, turning around. "Teddie's right. We need someone to raise the alarm."

"Stay out of this, Potter," said Derrick. "We're in this mess because of you."

Harry glared at the other Slytherin. "I didn't ask you to follow me!" he snapped. "You came because of Teddie."

Teddie looked between Harry and Derrick. "Stop it!" she snapped, getting between them. "There's not enough time to distract the Willow long enough for all of us to get through. Some of us have to stay here."

"Why can't you be part of that group that stays?" Adrian asked. "Why are you always involved in the end of year antics?"

"I don't know," said Teddie. "But it just doesn't feel right walking away now. Weasley and I may not be the best of friends, but I'm not about to leave him with a giant dog that symbolises death."

Marcus sighed. He could see the determination in Teddie's eyes and knew that there was no chance of talking her out of doing this. Instead, the only thing he could do was give her the chance she needed to get past the thrashing branches. "Alright," he said.

Teddie blinked and looked at up.

"Alright? Are you serious?!" Derrick asked turning on his best friend. "You're agreeing with her?"

Marcus continued to stare at Teddie as he addressed Derrick. "On three, cast the Immobulus charm. It will knock the Willow into a state of sedation long enough for a small party to pass through, after that; you're on your own."

"Thank you," said Teddie, hugging Marcus.

"The rest of us will go and get the Professors," Marcus added, pulling out of the hug. "But, I also agree with Mason and Theo. Take someone with you, just to be safe."

Teddie sighed and glanced around at her friends. "Sorry, Mason," she told her brother. "But you're to go back to the castle with Marcus."

"What?" Mason shrieked. "No! I can help!"

But Teddie was adamant. "You're not going," she said. "You're much too young."

"You were my age when you started saving the school," said Mason.

"Mum and Dad will kill me if I drag you into one of my hare-brained schemes," said Teddie. "They're used to be being involved in dangerous plots at the end of the school year. But its one thing for me to put myself in harm's way, I'm not taking you with me."

Mason huffed and turned away from his sister.

"Who are you going to take?" Derrick asked.

"I'll take Theo," said Teddie, glancing at her best friend. "After everything we've been through, what's one more adventure?"

Theo rolled his eyes and stepped closer to Teddie. At least during this adventure he would be on hand to defend her.

Looking back at Marcus, Teddie nodded and turned to the Willow. Harry and Hermione were waiting for her and Theo. They stood just out of range of the thrashing branches.

All around the quartet, the remaining Slytherins and two Ravenclaws took their positions, each of their wands pointed at the tree.

"Ready?" Marcus called. "On three. One... Two… Three…"

"IMMOBULUS!"

Abruptly, as if turned to marble, the tree stopped moving.

"Alright, let's go," said Harry. He took Hermione by the arm and dragged her toward the hole they had seen Ron disappear down.

Teddie waited until they had disappeared before following them, briefly glancing back at the others before heading down into the darkness.

~X~

The tunnel leading under the Whomping Willow was pitch black. Despite her eyes adjusting to the darkness, Teddie found that she couldn't see anything in front of her and could only hear the scuffling of Hermione and Harry up ahead, and Theo behind.

Soon the tunnel evened out, and Teddie crawled out onto a hard flooring. It was rough beneath her palms and covered in debris.

"Which way now?" Theo asked, climbing out behind Teddie. He looked around and saw that they were in a small cave with a set of steps leading up.

"This way," said Harry. He set off up the steps and the others followed. They followed the steps up and up until at last it started to twist and a single speck of light seeped down from the ceiling.

Hermione craned her neck and frowned. "How do we get up there?" she asked.

"There is a door over here," said Teddie. She lit her wand and pointed it at the broken wood that acted as a barrier. She pushed it and it creaked open.

Beyond the door was a small room. A very dusty and disorderly room full of furniture that was broken, stained floors and walls, and boarded up windows.

Aside from the disorder, the room was deserted.

"We're in the Shrieking Shack," said Teddie. She recognised the room from the little investigation she had conducted back in October. She hadn't ventured too far into the house, but this room had been one of the lucky places she had the chance of seeing.

Harry and Hermione looked stunned.

"How do we get out of this room?" Theo asked.

"Over here," said Teddie. She led them to a door at the far end of the room, and stepped into the foyer.

Theo nodded as he recognised the new room. "Yep, definitely the Shrieking Shack," he said.

Suddenly there was a creak from overhead.

The four students looked up and then around at each other.

"That can't be Ron," said Hermione. "If his leg is broken then he can't walk on it."

"Maybe it's the dog that took him?" Teddie suggested. But even as she said it, she felt stupid. A dog was just a dog, right?

The ceiling creaked again. It sounded like whoever was moving around upstairs was pacing.

"Come on," Harry whispered. He gripped his wand tightly and led the way up to the first floor.

Teddie glanced over her shoulder at Theo and reached for his hand. She felt his fingers tangle with her own and squeeze tightly. Despite being the one to drag him into this, she was glad he had agreed. She felt safer when he was round and knew he would do anything to protect her.

Only one door was open on the first floor. There was movement coming from behind it, the floor continued to creak, and a shadow passed across the gap, before a low moan was heard.

"That's Ron," said Harry. He gripped his wand tighter in his hand and burst into the room. The door crashed open and stopped, causing Teddie to frown. Why didn't it crash against the wall behind? By the force Harry had opened it; it should have crashed into the bedroom wall.

Just like the rooms downstairs, the bedroom windows were boarded up and there was a thick layer of dust over every surface. On the far wall rested a four-poster bed, beside which, moaning and clutching his leg, was Ron Weasley.

Harry and Hermione dashed across to him.

"Ron - are you okay?" Hermione asked. She dropped to her knees and inspected the awkwardly angled leg.

"Where's the dog?" Harry asked.

"Not a dog," Ron moaned. His teeth gritted with pain. "Harry, it's a trap -"

"What -?"

Teddie's eyes widened as she pulled the door back towards its frame. Standing in the shadows, hidden from view by the door itself, stood, what she could only describe as a wax sculpture with long filthy, matted hair. His dark eyes bore holes into Teddie from their shrunken sockets. He grinned, showing a set of yellow teeth.

"Hello…" the man said.

Teddie's blood ran cold. "Sirius Black," she whispered.

Sirius pointed a wand at Teddie and muttered: "Expelliarmus!"

"NO!" Teddie cried as her wand was snatched from her hand. Black caught it and then shoved Teddie backwards, away from the door, which he closed with a snap.

Theo grabbed Teddie around the middle and held her close as Black pointed Ron's stolen wand at him, Harry, and Hermione. He muttered the disarming charm once more, and their wands flew high into the air, before landing at Black's feet with a clatter.

Black then stepped out of the shadows. "I thought you'd come and help your friend," he croaked. "Your father would've done the same for me. Brave of you, not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful… it will make everything much easier."

"That's where you're wrong," said Teddie. "There were more than just us five outside. My friends have gone back to the castle for help. This place will be crawling with Professors sooner rather than later."

Black shifted his attention from Harry and onto Teddie. He stared at her, almost transfixed, before cocking his head to the side and looking back at Harry. "Your father will be surprised that you're associating with snakes," he said.

"She's my friend," said Harry.

Black looked back at Harry. He surveyed the thirteen-year-old closely, and cocked his head to the side. "Interesting," he said. "But it doesn't matter. By the time the Professors get here, I'll have finished what I escaped to do."

"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!" said Weasley, fiercely.

Teddie stared, silently at Black. At Weasley's words, something flashed in his eyes. Sympathy? Amusement?

"Lie down," said Black, quietly. "You will damage that leg even more."

"Did you hear me?" Weasley said, weakly. "You'll have to kill all three of us!"

"Four," Teddie corrected. "You'll have to go through me, too."

Theo's grip tensed around Teddie's waist. He wasn't about to die for Potter, but he would do anything to keep Teddie from being hurt. "Five," he said.

"There'll only be one that dies tonight," said Black.

"Why's that?" Harry spat. "Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew… What's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?"

"Harry!" Hermione whimpered. "Be quiet!"

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared.

Teddie gasped as she felt something knock into her from the side, and from the corner of her eye she saw Harry lunge at Black.

"Potter!" Theo shouted.

There was a bang and both Harry and Black collided with the wall behind them. Black wheezed and grunted as Harry's fist connected with his jaw.

Black recovered quickly and grabbed Harry by the throat.

"Harry!" Teddie yelled. She pulled away from Theo and run towards Black, grabbing his wrist. She swung her foot out and it collided with Black's hip.

Black grunted and released Harry.

Teddie grabbed her friend and pulled him back.

"Let me go, Teddie!" Harry said, struggling for release. "Let me go! I'll kill him! I'll kill him!"

"No, you won't, Harry," said Teddie, tightening her hold on her friend. "You're not like him, yeah? You're not a cold-blooded murderer."

"He killed my parents!" said Harry, his voice shaking.

Teddie forced Harry behind her.

"I don't deny it," said Black, quietly. He was staring at the pair of them. "But if you knew the whole story -"

"The whole story?" Harry repeated. "You sold them out to Voldemort; that's all I need to know!"

Teddie gripped Harry tighter as he tried to move her aside.

"You have to listen to me," Black said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice. "You'll regret it if you don't - you don't understand."

"I understand a lot better than you think," said Harry. "You never heard her, did you? My mum… trying to stop Voldemort killing me… and you did that… you did it."

Teddie stared at Black as a flicker of sadness appeared in his eyes. She frowned and cocked her head to the side. But before she could say or do anything a crash was heard from outside the door.

Hermione screamed - "WE'RE UP HERE! WE'RE UP HERE - SIRIUS BLACK - QUICK!"

The sadness in Black's eyes was instantly replaced with fear. His gaze glanced from Teddie and Harry to the door as whoever was outside.

The door burst open for a second time and a streak of red shot at the five teenagers. The beam hit a shield and disappeared.

Teddie felt every eye in the room turn to her. She swallowed and stared at the wall above Black's head.

"What was that?" Weasley asked. "She doesn't have her wand to cast a shield, and we don't get taught wandless magic until year seven."

"That's a good question, Mr. Weasley," said Professor Lupin. He, too, was staring at Teddie with a mild expression.

Teddie ignored them all.

"Thank goodness you're here," Hermione panted. "Look, there's -"

Lupin cut her off by speaking. "Where is he Sirius?" he asked,

For a few seconds, Black continued to stare at Teddie. He then let his attention drift to the trio behind her and raised his hand, pointing a finger at one of them.

"Me?" Weasley asked. "What about me?"

"But then…" Lupin muttered. "Why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless… unless he was the one… unless you switched… without telling me?"

Very slowly, Black nodded.

"Professor Lupin, what's going -?"

Harry never finished his sentence as Professor Lupin closed the door behind him, and then crossed to where Black was sitting, against the wall. He held out his hand and helped the other man up, before embracing him tightly.

Teddie shared a look with Theo.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed.

Lupin released Black and turned to the teenagers. "Hermione…" he started.

"You and him!" Hermione panted.

"Hermione, calm down!"

"I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. "I've been covering for you -"

"Hermione, listen to me, please!" Lupin said, his voice starting to rise. "I can explain -"

Teddie released Harry and gripped her head. All the shouting was starting to give her a headache. "Would everyone please just SHUT UP!" she screeched, and a second shield exploded from her. It swept around the room, crashing into furniture and causing them to tremble. It hit the walls with a such a force that the whole room shook, and dust fell from the ceiling.

Silence fell in the room again.

Teddie could hear everyone's heavy breathing, and once again feel eyes on her.

"Ted..." Theo whispered, taking her back into his arms.

"We trusted you," said Teddie, lifting her gaze to meet Lupin's. "We all trusted you, and all this time, you've been his friend."

Lupin was shaking his head.

"Did you help him into the castle on Halloween? Was it by your hand that he managed to get into Gryffindor tower the night of the Gryffindor/Ravenclaw match?"

"No," said Lupin. "No. You're wrong. I haven't seen Sirius since we were young. I haven't been his friend for twelve years, but I am now. Just let me explain…"

"NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him. He wants you dead, too - he's a werewolf!"

Silence.

Everyone's eyes were on Lupin.

"Not up to your usual standards, Hermione," said Lupin. "Only one out of two, I'm afraid. I do not want Harry dead. But I won't deny that I am a werewolf…"

Teddie stared at her Professor. "And the helping Black into the castle?" she asked. "You shake your head and say no, but I don't see you providing any evidence to back up your claims."

"You should've brought your brother, Teddie," said Lupin. "He would've figured this whole thing out by now. Don't you think?"

"Leave Mason out of this!" Teddie snarled.

Lupin bowed his head and turned his attention back to Hermione. "How long have you known?" he asked.

"Since Professor Snape set the essay."

"He'll be delighted," said Lupin. "He set that essay hoping someone would realise what my symptoms meant. Did you check the lunar chart and realise that I was ill at the full moon? Or did you realise that the Boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?"

"Both," said Hermione, quietly.

Lupin seemed impressed. "You really are the cleverest witch of your year, Hermione," he said, chuckling.

"I'm not," Hermione whispered. "If I was cleverer, I'd have everyone what you are!"

Teddie studied Lupin. He didn't seem at all scared that they knew his secret, at all afraid that they would somehow escape here and reveal that secret to the rest of the school.

"They already know," said Theo.

Teddie jumped and turned to her best friend. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"He's right," said Lupin. "At least, the staff already knows about me."

"Wait, you're saying that Dumbledore hired you even though he knew you were a werewolf?" Ron asked. "Is he mad?"

Teddie looked thoughtful. "As mad as anyone who is willing to keep an immortal stone beneath a Cerberus can be, I'm sure," she said.

Lupin grinned at her. "You have no idea how right you are, Teddie," he said. "You know, some of the staff thought Dumbledore was mad for hiring me. He had to work hard to convince certain teachers that I am trustworthy."

"Professor Snape," said Teddie, quietly.

Lupin nodded.

It all made sense. The reason Professor Snape seemed to hate Professor Lupin. Why he was setting Werewolf essays to a bunch of third year students who hadn't even learned about werewolves yet. He didn't just mistrust Lupin, he hated him.

"We all assumed Professor Snape disliked you because you had the job he has wanted for years," said Teddie. "We didn't think that mistrust run deeper."

"Indeed," said Professor Lupin. "Professor Snape has never trusted me. Not since we were boys in school."

Teddie studied her Professor's face. He seemed almost sad. "So, if you haven't been helping Black into the castle," she said. "Why are you helping him now?"

"Teddie, you can't be serious?" Harry asked.

"Harry, there is something going on here that we're missing," said Teddie. "If all this was just about killing you, then we'd all be dead already."

"She's right," said Black.

Teddie shot him a cold look.

"Here," said Lupin. He stooped down and picked up the fallen wands, before tossing each of them back to its owner. "You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?"

Harry hesitated and shared a look with Teddie.

Teddie nodded.

"If you haven't been helping him," said Harry. "How did you know he was here?"

"The map," said Lupin. "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it -"

"You know how to work it?" Harry interrupted.

"Of course I know how to work it," said Lupin. "I helped create it. I'm Moony - that was my friends' nickname for me at school."

"You wrote -?"

"It's not important!" Teddie interrupted. "You were examining this map, whatever it is. What happened next?" she asked Lupin.

"I had a suspicion that you would try to visit Hagrid, Harry, especially after you found out that his Hippogriff was being executed," said Lupin. "You might have been wearing your father's Cloak -"

"You know about the Cloak?" Harry interrupted, again.

Lupin chuckled. "Of course. The number of times i saw your father disappear beneath it…" he waved his hand dismissively. "The point is, even if you are wearing the Invisibility Cloak you show up on the map. I watched you cross the grounds and enter Hagrid's hut. Twenty minutes later, you left, and set off back towards the castle. But you were now accompanied by somebody else."

"What?" said Harry. "No, we weren't! The only time we came across another person was when we run into Teddie and her friends."

Lupin nodded. "Yes, I saw that encounter, too," he said. "But there was still another person with you when you left Hagrid's. He was with you when you met Teddie, too."

Teddie and Harry shared a confused look.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Lupin. "I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?"

"No one was with us!" said Harry, irritably.

"And then I saw another dot, moving fast towards you, labelled Sirius Black… I saw him corner you and Teddie, I watched as he pulled two of you into the Whomping Willow -"

"One of us!" Ron said, angrily.

"No, Ron," said Lupin. "Two of you."

Teddie cast her gaze over to where Weasley was sitting. This was the first time she had gotten a good look of him since entering the room. He was almost green in the face, and clutching his leg.

"Do you think I could have a look at your rat, Ron?" Lupin asked.

"What? What's Scabbers got to do with anything?" Ron asked.

"Everything. Could I see him, please?"

Ron hesitated, and then put a hand inside his robes. Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately.

Lupin moved closer to Ron. He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at Scabbers.

"What?" Ron said again. "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

"That's not a rat," croaked Black.

Teddie wheeled around at stared at him. He had been so quiet that she had forgotten he was there. "Not a rat?" she asked.

"Yes, Teddie," said Lupin. "Not a rat."

"Then what -?" Teddie broke off, her eyes widening as she pieced together just what Lupin was trying to tell her. "The dog wasn't a dog… and the rat's not a rat."

Lupin stared at the young Slytherin and nodded. "Exactly, Teddie, exactly," he said.

"What?" Ron repeated for a third time. "What are you talking about?"

Teddie looked at Harry. "He's an Animagus," she whispered. "Scabbers… he's a human, made to look like a rat."

"Shut up!" said Ron. "You're lying. Scabbers is just a rat."

"No, Ron, he's not," said Lupin. "Teddie is correct. He is a man. A wizard, to be exact."

"A wizard by the name of Peter Pettigrew."