Live or Die -

Harry found out the truth about the Order of the Phoenix in a way he hadn't imagined. He had been flying slowly down the hill of his tower when he saw a rat scatter ahead of him. But it wasn't an ordinary rat, it was Ron's rat, Scabbers, who regularly went missing and was so old Harry had wondered how it hadn't died yet. Curious, Harry followed it, not sure where it was going and excited to have a reason to be late to study. But then, Harry realized with a disturbed notion that he was being followed as well. He could feel himself being watched. Landing shakily, he took out his wand. Why did he have to be stupid? No wonder the rat was running! Was there a fox? A snake?

Thinking about what Unforgivable he would have to use, Harry looked around again for the culprit. Finding nothing, he looked back to see that the rat had ran off in the direction of the lake. Rustling was heard, and Harry, now terrified, held out his wand trying to remember how to use Crucio even though he had only heard of it in books. A black form raced out from the side of him and ran after the rat, who Harry now saw was a wolf. What in the barmy hell?! Harry walked backwards, almost tripping on a rock. The rat, trapped, looked ready to accept its defeat when rat and wolf suddenly became... human.

So this was what an animagus was? Harry didn't know they could transform that quickly, and nearly fainted in shock. Fortunately for him, they started talking before Harry could. "I've waited years to do this Pettigrew, and today is finally the day!" The wolf screamed, now a dark-haired wizard. The rat whimpered in response, now a unusually looking man who missed a finger. Wait... Pettigrew? Harry remembered that name. That was the man who had been killed right before Harry's parents had... by a man named Sirius Black... "Hey you! Wolf! Turn around!" Harry yelled, finally brave enough to say something.

The man did, and Harry recognized the wanted poster all at once. What he had assumed was a death eater, the man who had betrayed his parents, the man who broke out from Azkaban, and was now on the run, as the Prophet had reported... Harry erupted. "You! You're going to be the one who's dead! You betrayed them!" The man seemed to recognize Harry at once in the dark night, as if he hadn't before. "Harry?" He asked. Enraged, Sparks shot out of Harry's wand. Harry ignored it. "Don't say my bloody name!" Pettigrew began to move. "And you! Don't move either!" Harry screamed, pointing at him. He stopped, and Black looked back at him angrily.

"This isn't what you think, Harry." Black begged, and Harry's hand shook. All at once he remembered he could use the Killing Curse and raised his wand higher with malice. It was then that another man came out and ran in front of Harry. "Harry, stop!" He yelled. He was a ex-teacher Harry didn't know quite well, named Remus Lupin, who apparently was a werewolf. "Are you bloody insane? Get out of my way!" Harry yelled back, but lowered the wand. "Harry, I know you don't know me that well, and I am sorry for that. But I knew your parents. We were friends. But Sirius is not responsible for your parents death."

~.~.~.~.~.

"I don't believe you! Why is Pettigrew alive?" Harry demanded, confused and even more angry. "He was framed, Harry! By this man! He made Sirius take the blame of the betrayal he committed and faked his death. But you can't kill either of them!" Remus said, pointing at the now red Pettigrew. Black had a watchful gaze over him, as if the only reason why he was still alive was because of Remus and Harry being there. Disgusted, Harry looked at the missing finger on his hand. The finger was the only thing they had found, he had remembered... Sirius was supposed to have killed him...

Freezing, Harry looked back at both of them. Could Remus be right? Sirius looked as angry as Harry did, while Pettigrew was sweating like a pig. "Don't believe him, Harry. They're crazy! He's been in Azkaban and Remus is a werewolf! I'm just an animagus, my friend!" Pettigrew begged. "You liar! I should kill you on the spot, laws be damned!" Sirius said, looking over at Remus as if he were the only one enforcing these laws. "What is going on here?" Snape appeared out of the shadows of the now midnight darkness. Harry had never been so happy to see his strict professor. He knew he was going to be in trouble with Draco if he ignored him so long, but he didn't want him to come as well.

"If it isn't Snivilous. Do get out of our business, will you? This isn't even your tower!" Sirius mocked. How many connections were there with Harry's parents? Harry's mind began to race, and he felt ready to faint again. Sharing insults with his professor? Could this get any weirder? "How mature, Mr. Black. I see Azkaban hasn't changed you." Snape said back. "Harry, go with Snape. We will handle this." Remus said to Harry. Harry hesitantly moved to Snape, but Snape wasn't finished. "No. You all will be going with me. Dumbledore will want to hear about this." Snape snapped angrily. Sirius laughed. "Not with Pettigrew still alive!"

"This isn't the time for making threats, Black. You know as well as I do what we do for the Order. But why you're out of Azkaban and Dumbledore hides you alludes me sometimes." Snape said. Black moved to point his wand at Snape and in that moment Remus went to stop him and Snape held up his own wand, Pettigrew transformed back to a rat and ran into the woods. Harry screamed as he saw him disappear in the dark woods where he surely would be able to apparate away. They stopped fighting, and saw with horror that he was indeed gone. Sirius began to curse while Remus shook his head.

Snape grabbed Harry by the arm. "We are going to see Dumbledore. Immediately. You two can either decide to go or leave, but if you leave it better be far from here this time." Snape told Remus and Sirius. "Wait! I can't leave without talking to them!" Harry argued, trying to wiggle out of Snape's hold. He couldn't go, knowing it would probably be the last time seeing them. He needed answers. They knew his parents! They knew Voldermort! They were probably a better source than Dumbledore was! "Harry, we'll see you again. At the Order, if nothing else. Sirius, let's go before Severus pops a vein." The order? But Dumbledore wouldn't even tell him about it, for Merlin's sake!

TBC -