Rose felt awful in the morning due to her lack of sleep the night before. Her head was throbbing and she was dehydrated so felt a bit sick to her stomach. She tried to drink water and finish breakfast quickly so she could catch at least Harry before they were all ushered to her classes.
Rose just managed to stand next to him as the students began leaving the Great Hall to go to class. All around her she could hear others whispering about the whereabouts of Sirius Black. She tried to tune them out. There was only so much information she could handle at one time.
"It's Hagrid," Harry whispered to Rose who raised her eyebrow in surprise. Harry put his lips together then explained, "Buckbeak's execution date has been set- Hermione told me yesterday."
"We have to go be with Hagrid tonight then," Rose insisted and Harry nodded.
Rose couldn't pay attention all day. She'd already been called out by Professor McGonagall for dosing off in Transfiguration class, and in Potions she just tried to stay silent and avoid all eye contact with Professor Snape- the usual.
As she walked to her fourth period Muggle Studies class she ran into a crying Hermione in the corridor.
"Hey," Rose asked and put a light hand on her shoulder, "What's wrong?" She asked.
"Did you hear about Buckbeak?" Hermione sobbed and Rose nodded solemnly. "Anyways, it's not just that," Hermione continued, "I punched Malfoy today and I dropped Divination."
"You punched Malfoy?" Rose said in delighted surprise.
"Yeah, erm," She paused, "It's been a long day, anyway you're coming with us later Harry said-"
Rose nodded. "Yeah, it's just I have to go to Dark Arts right now, I'm already late."
Hermione nodded slowly when Rose mentioned Dark Arts. Rose was unsure but it felt like Hermione wanted to tell her something. Hermione brushed it off though by saying:
"I'll just see you later, I guess." Rose gave Hermione a soft smile.
Professor Lupin seemed more agitated then usual today as was Rose herself thinking about Hagrid. She found herself spacing out even around George which was unusual.
"Something going on?" George whispered when Professor Lupin had turned around and appeared to be distracted, "Rose, everyone's talking about Sirius Black do you know anything new?"
"I only know what everyone else does," Rose snapped and quickly apologized when she saw George's hurt face.
"Sorry," She said and added "I've been thinking about Buckbeak."
George looked away still stung by Rose's snappy remark and turned to look at his workbook in a sulky silence. Rose rolled her eyes and went back to paying attention to Professor Lupin. For some reason he'd started talking about time-turners again.
"Remind us again, Rose," He paused, "Why should we be careful with turning time?"
Rose blinked. She hadn't expected to get called on and clearly Professor Lupin had been aware of that.
"Professor?" She asked, "Are you feeling alright?"
He dismissed Rose. "Answer the question, please."
"If you get caught changing time, it could have devastating effects on those stuck in that time period and it can.. slowly turn you mad as well." Rose paused before giving more information on the matter so as not to make herself look suspicious. The question did make Rose think about why Professor Lupin decided to call on her given that she did have prior experience with a time-turner; but also he was supposed to help her keep it discreet. Not to mention they'd already gone over this unit weeks ago.
Finally, the class ended and Rose felt relieved to have some space from George after their tense moment and to go join Ron, Hermione, and Harry.
"Where are we going?" Rose asked.
"Hagrid's hut," Ron answered. She nodded and followed behind them to go meet with Hagrid.
"So you dropped Divination?" Rose asked Hermione.
"Yeah, Professor Trelawney is a fraud!" Hermione exclaimed.
"I know she can be a bit eccentric," Rose said in Professor Trelawney's defense, "But you'd be surprised the stuff she's warned me about-"
Rose stopped before she was able to finish her thought. Harry and Ron were hiding behind a rock sat atop of the hill before Hagrid's hut. Hermione and Rose quickly fell back in line. It was Cornelius Fudge- he was accompanied by someone wearing a black robe with a hooded hat. Rose stomach turned. She knew just from the man's outfit- it was the executioner. Rose hid her face in her hands as they watched Hagrid come out of his hut with Buckbeak.
Rose grimaced as she heard Hagrid begging for them to spare Buckbeak. She felt someone take her hand- it was Harry and she went to stand closer to Ron.
Her eyes were still closed but she could hear the piercing yet smooth sound of an axe swinging down. Hermione was crying too.
"Dog!"
Rose looked up at the sound of Ron's exclamation.
"Scabbers!" Ron yelled again.
Rose gasped and began to quiver as a black dog showed itself from behind a brush of wood and broken twigs. It was sneering it's big teeth- and looking straight at Ron; it took Rose a second to realize the dog was actually looking at Scabbers. Harry quickly pushed Rose behind him and pulled out his wand. Rose, Harry and Hermione watched in horror as the dog ran towards Ron, knocking him down, and bit unto Ron's pantleg. They turned to see him being dragged down to the Whomping Willow.
Unsure of what else to do, they all began running after the dog.
"Rose!" Harry yelled, "Stay behind me!"
Too much in a shock to protest, Rose listened and remained behind Harry as they continued to the Whomping Willow. Rose gasped she felt herself being pushed down suddenly the long winding hole of the Whomping Willow. She could feel herself being thrusted out of the hole and unto a dusty wood floor before she stood up she grunted as she felt the weight of Hermione and Harry being thrown unto her back.
"Ugh, sorry," Hermione groaned as everyone tried to stand up.
Rose's heart was beating very quickly and she felt disoriented.
"We're in the Shrieking Shack." Harry said bluntly and Rose realized, they were in fact in the Shrieking Shack except Rose didn't know where the dog had gone or Scabbers.
"It's Sirius Black!" Ron whimpered and with a shaking hand pointed towards the door.
Indeed, there was a man with shaggy black hair and deep black eyes standing in front of them in place of the black dog. He was bony, as one might be after spending years starving in Azkaban, and his close were all ragged and grey from dirt.
Rose felt terribly scared standing in front of the Sirius Black. Black was shaking and showing his teeth in the process- some lost ones and one golden tooth.
Rose tried to push herself in front of Harry and Harry refused.
"Rose!" He pleaded, " You need to get behind me now!"
Suddenly Sirius Black started laughing as a look of recognition began to cross his face. Rose felt her heart skip a beat as he came closer to her. Black began to chuckle and Harry held still behind Rose.
"Well, if it isn't Rosemary Potter," Black said a bit airily, "You look so much like your mother."
"Don't talk about my mother." Rose sneered. Before Black could respond the door to the Shrieking Shack bursted open and Professor Lupin entered. Rose's face creased in confusion and when she let her guard down Harry pushed her against the wall- a little too hard making Rose fall over.
"Sorry!" Harry said quickly and Hermione went to go help Rose stand up.
"Professor Lupin?" Rose breathed in shock, "What are you doing here?"
Hermione watched intensely as if she was piecing the situation together. Rose shook her head as she watched Black and Lupin begin to embrace.
"They're friends." Hermione said.
Harry looked enraged.
"I'm so confused." Rose moaned in despair, while Ron was still on the floor roaming around looking for Scabbers.
Professor Lupin approached Rose slowly and she backed away from him.
"Now," Professor Lupin said, "We can explain."
"Explain what?" Harry spat, "How you're friends with Sirius Black- are you a traitor too?"
Sirius Black rolled his eyes. "No, Harry," He explained, "I can assure you that Lupin and I would never have harmed our dear friend Lily and James Potter."
"And how are we supposed to believe that?" Rose breathed, "From a prisoner of Azkaban!"
Professor Lupin threw up his hands in exasperation, "Because, despite what you and your brother may have heard about Sirius Black it's not true. Don't lose hope, though the person who betrayed your parents is still in this room."
Sirius Black moved forward in front of Harry and Hermione quickly pulled Rose out of the way. They watched as Black moved towards a squeamish Ron who had somehow found Scabbers and was holding unto him. Ron began to whimper in fright as Black approached but then began to shout in objection as he nonchalantly bent down to pick up Scabbers by the tail.
"The person who betrayed your parents," Black said to Harry and Rose, "Is Peter Pettigrew and he's right here."
"No!" Ron protested, "That's my pet rat Scabbers!"
Black rolled his eyes again, "Pettigrew has been hiding as your pet Scabbers." Black corrected Ron.
Before Professor Lupin could draw his wand, a commotion came from the corner of the room- Professor Snape had entered the Shack as well but Black expertly disarmed Snape sending him way back across the room.
Black threw Scabbers on the floor who immediately tried to run away but Professor Lupin already had his wand drawn and pointed it at Scabbers. After reciting a spell, Rose watched aghast with Hermione as a man transfigured in front of them. He was a stout man with strangely placed teeth but there could be no doubt that Scabbers was no longer there and it was actually Peter Pettigrew.
Peter began to curl over like a rat would, it was as if it was taking him some time to realize he was out of his prior form.
Peter sneered and Rose and Hermione jumped in place.
"Scabbers?" Ron whispered from the corner in confusion.
"Sirius is innocent," Professor Lupin said and pointed his want at Peter Pettigrew "Let's kill him Sirius."
"Wait," Rose said from the corner and Black, Lupin and Pettigrew turned to look at Rose, "How could you betray our parents to Lord Voldemort?"
Peter Pettigrew gave Rose an evil smile and Professor Lupin's eyes darted around the room in concern.
"Sirius just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time," Peter Pettigrew explained, "I was there at Godric's Hollow you know, the night when Lily and James Potter were murdered, and I had managed to escape just when the Dementors arrived to take me away to Azkaban but instead-"
"They took Sirius." Rose finished.
"Yes," Black said while looking at Peter, "Now, let's kill him."
Peter Pettigrew moaned in fear and held up his hands, "Wait, wait," He pleaded.
"Why should we?" Professor Lupin sneered.
"You know James Potter would have never killed me."
The room fell silent at Pettigrew's remark. Rose looked over at Harry in concern. He seemed to be contemplating something.
Rose couldn't believe that Harry was taking the time to think about morality in this particular circumstance.
"Don't do it," Harry finally said to Professor Lupin, "Don't kill him."
"What?" Sirius Black said in disbelief.
Rose shook her head.
"Harry, just let them take care of it…" Rose began and Harry cut her off.
"Rose, no he's right, Dad wouldn't have killed him, it's best to just, I don't know put him in Azkaban." Harry's eyes glistened with emotion and Rose fell silent. Harry was right as much as she hated to admit it. Azkaban would be the best form of punishment for Peter Pettigrew.
Sirius Black sighed and lowered his wand.
"Alright, well, what else would you like to know about us hmm?" He paused, "What do you think I am?"
"Animagus." Hermione answered from the corner of the room, "You can change into animals."
"How'd you know that Hermione?" Ron whined from the corner of the room. Ron was pale and shaking and in a clear state of shock.
"Professor Lupin taught us about them," Hermione paused before adding, "And he's one too. A werewolf. He made us read about animagi in our books."
Professor Lupin chuckled, "Clever witch you are, Hermione."
"Werewolf?" Harry repeated.
"Harry!" Rose said suddenly and pointed to Peter Pettigrew who had just turned back into a rat and was trying to make his way out of the Shreiking Shack. Rose tried to stop Peter Pettigrew but she was held back by Sirius Black.
"Best to let him go," Sirius said to try and calm Rose down.
"Sirius," Professor Lupin breathed heavily and Sirius and Rose turned their heads to find Professor Lupin bent over and panting, "I forgot to take the Wolfsbane."
Sirius's eyes widened in concern. He pushed Rose away from him and back to Harry.
'I'm having enough of getting pushed around' Rose thought dismally to herself.
Harry caught Rose and held her close to him. They watched in awe and terror as Professor Lupin bent over, and twisted into his werewolf form. He'd developed big gnarly teeth and a hunched back and fur all over his body.
"Run!" Sirius yelled to Harry, Rose, Ron, and Hermione.
"What about Professor Snape?" Ron's voiced squeaked when he asked about the Professor and pointed to him laying on the ground.
"Don't worry about him!" Black said "We'll take care of it!"
Without thinking Harry grabbed Rose's hand and Hermione stooped over to help Ron stand up. The four rushed out after Sirius Black who had already transformed into his dog form. They ran into the forest where Rose was surprised to find that the sun had already set and the full moon was already out further explaining Professor Lupin's uncontrollable transformation into a werewolf.
They had ran up to the deep hills of the forest where Black was trying to drive Professor Lupin into the forest away from Ron, Rose, Hermione, and Harry.
Rose watched breathlessly as the dog and the werewolf entered a terrible hissing fight. Finally, Black won and after many bouts managed to send Professor Lupin away into the forest.
He stopped to pant before he transformed back into Sirius Black.
"We've got to keep moving." He instructed the four and they followed after him running down towards the Great Lake that sat right before Hogwarts castle.
Rose thought she saw something in the distance- but wasn't sure what to make of the figures until she felt a terrible familiar shiver down her spine reminding her:
"Dementors!" She shouted to Sirius Black who whipped his head around when Rose called out. She pointed at a swarm of Dementors now coming towards Sirius Black, they were no doubt ready to bring him back to Azkaban.
Sirius froze in fright at the return of Dementors. Rose turned to Harry and yelled
"Harry it's up to you! You have to summon a Patronus, I'm too weak to do it!"
Harry nodded and pulled out his wand. He tried to summon a Patronus and while some light did burst from his wand he couldn't summon one.
A Dementor had found its way to Rose and she could see it sucking her soul, pulling it out slowly. She was feeling faint- there were so many of them swarming her.
Right before she entered the darkness- she could see something out of the corner of her eye: a Patronus.
Had Harry actually managed to do it?
She didn't have the strength to answer the question or stay awake to.
She'd fallen into the darkness.
