A/N: Sorry I made you wait three weeks, but I hope I made it up by posting two chapters ^-^ Let me know what you guys think, and let me know how you guys are doing. This COVID-19 thing is a whole mess. I hope you guys are all staying safe!
"Crookshanks!" Hermione hissed at her cat who currently had it's paw poised on one of the Whomping Willow's roots, causing the usually violent tree to pause as if it had never moved an inch in it's life. The half-kneazle flicked it's bushy tail, as if he was personally inviting them to go into the passageway of the tree. "How did you know how to-"
"He's friends with that dog." Harry replied grimly, while walking towards the tree. "I've seen them together."
"Harry!" Panic caused Hermione to grab Harry's forearm to stop him from following the dog that had just dragged Ron into the Whomping Willow. She was already trembling from everything that had happened within a span of a few minutes of leaving Hagrid's and she had not even comprehended that the tender skin on her chest was starting to bloom two bruises where the dog had knocked her to the ground by catapulting off of her chest. A move that stopped her from drawing her wand to disable the canine when she saw it chasing after Ron. "We need to get a teacher, we can't-"
"There's no time! That dog was massive, it could eat him!" Harry pulled back and Hermione took in a strangled breath as her eyes widened in fear. This is just like last summer. Ron is in trouble, I can't do this. Logic said that the only sounds outside were the sounds of her and Harry talking, but all she could hear was the blood rushing in her ears. Her breathing became shallow and she felt cold as she clutched her wand tightly to her chest.
It dawned on Harry what was happening to Hermione and knew he would have to go into the tree alone. He wouldn't risk pressuring Hermione to go inside of the tree. "Look, go get help. I'll go after Ron and-"
"You can't, Harry! Don't-"
"I have to, it's just a dog anyway." Harry swallowed his own fear, putting on a brave face for Hermione, and decided to use her fear and her panic in his favor. He hated manipulating people, but he couldn't waste anymore time. "Hermione, I need you to help me." She looked up at him and he swallowed. "I need you to help me- I know you want to help Ron too so go and get a professor while I go in after him. We'll be covering all of our bases that way."
Hermione looked up at him through blurry vision. She wiped the tears away before they could completely form and she gave a vigorous nod. "Yeah." Two birds, one stone. "Ok." Two birds, one stone. She slowly turned around as she took steps towards the castle. I'll go, find any one I can, and by the time I'm done, Harry may have even gotten Ron out. Two birds, one stone. Hermione quickened her pace into a sprint. She tried to remember whose office was closest to this side of the castle. Hagrid is in no state to react rationally, McGonagall is too many floors up and Snape is too far down- not to mention the Slytherins in the dungeons... Her concentration did not waver until her foot hit stone again.
Would you let me die, too? The boggart Harry's voice asked her, loud and clear as if she was back in the trunk again. She stopped, and hiccuped before slowly turned around. What am I doing? Why am I running away? Hermione started to jog back to the Whomping Willow. That dog's behavior was a little weird... Jumping at me when I pulled out my wand? Hermione thought as her jog turned into a sprint that she pushed harder than the sprint to the castle. Crookshanks was no longer holding down the root of the Whomping Willow, but her pace did not slow, as a matter of fact, it quickened.
Looking up at the tree branches, she watched the Whomping Willow wind up for a clean sweep and threw herself forward when the branches came down. She yelped when some of the smaller branches scraped her legs, causing her to trip and fall. For once, her body reacted before her mind did, forcing her to get up and do a successful baseball slide into the hole Harry and Ron had disappeared into. Her chest heaved as her mind caught up to her, realizing that if she had not moved as fast as she did a second time, she would have been dead. Am I not allowed to live? She gave a soft whimper from pure distress so she grabbed her head, forcing herself to close her eyes and calm down. I am here. I need to focus. Freaking out will help no one. Freezing in place helps no one. Keep your wits and push forward.
Hermione held her breath until she couldn't any longer and welcomed the air that her body gulped down, but forced herself to control the breathing. One of Hermione's favorite subjects when she was going to primary school was Science so she started to repeat things she knew to herself, knowing the familiarity of it may calm her down; The sun is in the center of the universe. The Earth spins on an axis of Twenty-Three degrees. Hermione looked down the tunnel in the tree and almost immediately there was a drop off to an earthy slope they could have slid down. Hermione didn't miss the faint trail of blood- Ron's blood- that had not yet been soaked into the dirt. My organs make up a system. My systems make up my body. My body is still working. I am alive, I am here and I need to help Ron. Hermione took another deep breath before continuing as the images leading up to this moment flashed through her mine: Finding Scabbers at Hagrid's, trying to get back to the castle underneath the invisibility cloak with a fighting Scabbers, Crookshanks attacking Ron to get to Scabbers, running around the castle to the side where the Whomping Willow is-
Hermione heard a rustling sound next to her and froze. She held her wand up in the direction she heard it, but cast lumos before determining if she should send a blind hex or not. The light revealed it was just a family of rats- none of them being Scabbers. Hermione took a deep breath, willing her nerves to calm and stop the last of her shaking. This is not Paris, there is no murderer here. She turned her ring inward so she could dig the spikes into her palm. I need to focus and not act before thinking. When Hermione felt stable enough, she continued down the tunnel as fast as she could. It was slightly uncomfortable as the tunnel dipped into a low ceiling, but she pressed forward even when her calves and quads burned. The boggart who took the form as Harry flashed again in her mind, it's question giving her more courage to get Ron out of the tunnel herself. I wouldn't let Harry or Ron die.
Soon enough, the tunnel's ceiling started to rise. Hermione had intruding thoughts about what the enormous dog might have been doing to Ron, and hoped that Harry wasn't right when claiming the dog was big enough to eat her red headed friend. Ron was hurt, that she knew; when she rolled on to her side to get up from being knocked down by the shaggy canine, she saw that Ron had hooked his leg on to the frame of the Whomping Willow to stop from being pulled in further, and then there was a sickening sound of a bone breaking before he was completely pulled in. Hermione could see light coming through a door frame and she quickened her pace.
"Nox." The light of her wand went out and she stepped into the dimply lit room. She pressed the ring deeper into her skin to stop the anxiety that bubbled in the back of her throat. In through the nose, and out through the mouth. Stepping into the room, she could see that the room was dusty, with wallpaper peeling from the walls and stains all over the floor- including Ron's fresh blood. Hermione held the back of her free hand to her mouth and closed her eyes. Freaking out will help no one. You either turn back or get to them. Her own harsh voice in her head said. She opened her eyes, building her determination back up. Turning back wasn't a real option anymore, the Whomping Willow would kill her before she could think of a way to dodge its attack. There was a door on the other wide of the room leading to a dark hallway and she made her way towards it, making herself look at the blood as she walked.
Forcing herself to fully acknowledge the evidence of what was happening had calmed her in the oddest way, it was like fighting a whirlpool before realizing that the best thing to do was to allow yourself to get pulled into the bottom to swim away from it, then back up to the water's surface. You may not find them in the best of shape. You already know Ron is hurt. Do not let your emotions get the better of you this time- no matter what happens. She took steady steps forward- walking on her tip toes. She took in as much as she could of the room and a thought came to her- Harry said that the Whomping Willow had a trail that looked like it lead into Hogsmeade. This could easily be the inside of the Shrieking Shack. Passing a chair that had the cushion completely torn apart, with an arm completely gnawed on, her stomach sank. Ghosts couldn't of had done that.
She was right by the door that led to the hallway door now and she heard a creaking sound overhead that made her jump. Hermione quickly, but still silently made their way down the hall, remembering full force the danger that Harry and Ron may be in. It's been minutes! Where are they? She went up the crumbling staircase, barely able to see anything, and the railing was so thick with dust that Hermione's fingers were sticky. When they reached the landing, they saw only one door open on the left. The floorboards creaked so badly on the second floor Hermione almost wanted to give up on her attempt to tip toe, but then she heard voices- one of them she didn't recognize.
"Did you hear me?" Hermione knew this voice as Ron. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill me too!"
Kill? Hermione could have sworn that her blood stopped pumping as it froze with the rest of her body. Think, think, don't panic now! Her eyes searched the floor as if it held all of the answers and her breathing became more shallow. No! Control yourself.
"There'll only be one murder here tonight." Replied the deep, hoarse voice that suggested it had been either underused or overused. Ron is defending Harry, who would want to kill- Hermione nearly cursed but instead she directed all of her intent into a non-verbal silencio over the floor in front of her that lead to the only closed door with a light on. Hermione stopped right in front of it and put her hand lightly on the knob, careful not to even jingle it.
She held her wand up, knowing that once the door flew open, she had to cast her hex on Sirius Black immediately or she would be dead. On her last heavy breath though, there was scratching and meowing at the door.
"Is someone there, Kneazle?" The hoarse voice asked Crookshanks. An affirmative mew followed. Bloody traitor.
Should I burst in or let him come to me? Hermione stepped back into the dark shadows waiting to hear steps near the door. She crouched, anticipating Black would not expect an attack from below, and hoped it would buy her an extra second or two to cast her own spell.
What she did not expect, was a bombarda to be cast and blow the door off it's hinges and into the hallway. She let out a scream as she covered her ears and turned away. This is not Paris, this is not Paris, this isnotParisthisisno- Hermione heard her name being called out by Ron and foot steps start towards the hallway followed by the sound of a body falling to the floor.
The heavy dud gave her a fresh round of adrenaline and she ran to the door, wand at the ready to see Harry had jumped over the king-sized bed and on to Black. Harry had grabbed Black's wrist that was holding Ron and Harry's wand in one hand and he punched Black with his other hand. Sparks flew out of the wand that Back was holding, causing Hermione to jump back to avoid them before she could get close enough to help Harry. Ron started yelling, asking if she was ok. He was obviously no help with one foot broken and she knew her friend well enough it added to his distress. Hermione yelped as another spark flew out of a wand again, this time missing Harry's face and her legs by inches. Harry was punching Black repeatedly, but the filthy man rolled them over once more, hissing something Hermione couldn't hear as he gained the upper hand and started to choke Harry.
Hermione, seeing her chance to move in as Black was distracted, swung her leg forward, toes pointed down to allow her shin to slam into his ribs. He let go of Harry with a grunt of pain and Ron came soaring through the air, using his full body weight to pin Black down, allowing Harry and Ron's wands to clatter to the floor next to them. Hermione joined Ron as Harry spotted his wand and tried to pick it up, but Crookshanks joined the fray by jumping on to Harry's arm, claws out. "NO YOU DON'T!" Roared Harry as he disengaged Crookshanks from his arm. The cat fell to the ground on all fours before he aimed a kick at it that was dodged, but even if Hermione didn't just get elbowed by Black while trying to assist an injured Ron in keeping the felon down, she wouldn't of had objected. The cat seemed to have betrayed them and she grew even more angry she allowed it to get between her and her best friends earlier in the year.
"Get out of the way!" Hermione looked up at Harry who had retrieved his wand from the ground. She did not need to be told twice and helped Ron up so they could stand by the door way after she retrieved Ron's wand. Ron immediately moved to lay on the four-poster bed behind her and sighed as the weight came off of his broken leg. She put a hand to her lip and when she pulled away, she saw she was bleeding. Hermione gave a mirthless laugh. This was pure luck. What were the chances we would subdue the Sirius Black. The adrenaline and fear did not stop pumping through her veins though as she looked down on Black who had pressed himself against the wall that had peeling yellow wallpaper.
Black had matted black hair and his gaunt features made Lupin's look as full as Crabbe's chubby face. His eyes were sunken into his sockets and if he were a skeleton, there would be no difference in how hollow his cheeks were. His lips were cracked from dehydration, and Hermione imagined he must have been just as skinny through out the rest of his body. Despite the obvious malnutrition and the state his mind should have been living with dementors, Sirius Black's eyes looked sane to her. Atleast for the most part.
"He was the dog. He's an animagus." Ron stated, rubbing the thigh of his broken leg.
Hermione looked between Black, Ron, then Black again. Everything seemed to fall into place like an arithmancy problem she spent all day with Draco trying to crack. "That's how you broke out of Azkaban, isn't it?" No dog would ever attack her the way she had if she pulled out her wand- it was him!
"You broke out of Azkaban as a dog, didn't you? The dementor's couldn't sense you could they?"
Black tore his eyes from Harry and Harry's wand so he could eye Hermione curiously before answering. He nodded once, "Smart, girl."
"Top of our class." Harry cut in dryly, and the attention of everyone in the room fell back on Harry's wand being pointed at Black's face. "You didn't get the chance to warn a professor, did you?"
Hermione felt shame settle into her. "No. I-" Harry's eyes fell on her without him diverting his head from Black's direction. "I changed my mind."
"Your father would have done the same for me, Harry. Brave of both of you, not to run for a teacher." Hermione watched Harry's grip on his wand tighten and his ears go as red as Ron's hair.
"YOU KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared. Even though his voice shook, his wand stayed steady.
"I won't deny it," Black said quietly. "But if you knew the whole story-"
"The whole story?" Hermione jumped in, taking a few steps closer to Harry's side. "What story do you have that justifies killing someones parents?" Hermione's eyes watered, but for the first time in months, it wasn't due to depression or a panic attack. It was from anger. "Do you even know what pain you've caused? Not just to your god-son, but to the families of the thirteen people you killed?" Hermione didn't need to look down at her hand to see her knuckles were white around her wand. She barely felt the ring prick her palm causing her to bleed, she was so infuriated.
Harry continued what Hermione started. "You sold them to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."
"You've got to listen to me," Black said, shaking his head. There was a sense of urgency in his voice that made Hermione's lips press together and her hands smoke. She closed her eyes, trying to calm her, and her magic down. You're going to live the rest of your life as a muggle. Her eyes snapped open when she was in control again. I will not.
"No, I don't. But I do have to avenge them." Harry's free hand was balled to tightly it shook. Hermione placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, but never took her eyes off of Black.
"Harry," She said after her friend did not say another word for a couple of minutes. He didn't answer her or look at her. "Harry." She said again, this time tearing her eyes away from Black to look at Harry's profile. Harry once again did not acknowledge her and she counted another sixty seconds before saying anything again. "Harry, I-"
"What, Hermione?" He finally said looking at her, fire burning in his eyes at the rage and hate he felt for Sirius Black.
She looked down at Black, knowing that same fire was burning inside of her, but not just in her eyes. It burned throughout her entire frame. "If you don't want to, I can do it for you." She knew she was wanting to live vicariously though Harry's vengeance as her parent's murderer had already been killed. She knew that it wasn't right, but she was blind with rage. Murderers had been high on her list of the worst things in the world, but now she personally counted it as number one on her list. Why would you want to become the thing you hate? Her thought made her blink, but she imagined putting up mental walls to close off her natural do-good side temporarily off. She wanted to be angry. Hermione wanted justice.
Black's onyx eyes widened as he looked between Hermione and Harry. "Please-" She raised an eyebrow at him just as Crookshanks jumped on his chest. "Get off," Black whispered trying to push Crookshanks off of him, but the cat had dug it's nails into his shirt. Hermione swallowed the whimper her body wanted to give as she watched her cat protect someone else. She loved Crookshanks, but of course that didn't help make the betrayal she felt stab through her. She knew Harry was considering killing Crookshanks, and she fought her urges to help Black heave the cat out of the way. Crookshanks had put their lives in danger multiple times in one night. Why should I intervene when Buckbeak was innocent, but still died? Hermione ran her free, but bloody hand over her hair. What am I going to tell Draco?
No one moved for minutes and Harry never replied to Hermione. Muffled footsteps could be heard from downstairs and Ron- who had been holding his breath, torn on if he should stop his best friends from murdering the Azkaban escapee- yelled without a second thought. "WE'RE UP HERE! WE'RE UP HERE- SIRIUS BLACK IS HERE- QUICK!"
Black made a startled sound and Crookshanks jumped off, but Harry did not move. Hermione glanced between Harry and Black. She wasn't going to push Harry to take a life, but if he was going to do it, now was the time to do it.
The footsteps were thundering up the stairs, but still, Harry had not uttered a single syllable. She wondered then if Harry knew of any lethal, offensive spells and considered offering a suggestion when Lupin appeared in the doorway, his face taking in the scene of Ron on the bed, then Black on the floor with Harry and Ron standing before him.
"Thank good-"
"Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted, disarming Harry and Hermione who had not just her wand, but Ron's still.
Hermione's blood ran cold for a second time and she grabbed Harry, putting him behind her. Usually she wouldn't of had been able to move him, but in his shock he didn't even think about her defending him. She felt her best friend sigh behind her, "I didn't kill him." It was said under his breath so only she could hear and she half turned to look back at Harry while still facing the door. Harry looked at Hermione's face and was perplexed by her suddenly concerned look.
"Where is he, Sirius?" Lupin asked, not acknowledging the students in the room.
"Harry, I don't think he's here to help us..." Hermione whispered. She had been wary of Lupin all year, especially after finding out he was a werewolf and confirming her concerns with Draco. Hearing that Lupin was using Black's first name only made her fear double as her brain seemed to try and make a connection that she just wasn't getting. Hermione felt Harry look down at Black, but she stayed staring at Lupin. Why... Why do you want to kill Harry, too? Hermione's eyebrow furrowed as her throat grew tight, but she wouldn't allow herself to break down if this was her last hour. She decided that if she were to die, she would die fighting giving in to her wrath and instead of her fear.
Hermione only looked away from Lupin when Black pointed at Ron. Lupin took a few steps towards Ron who quickly slid himself to the opposite side of the bed. Harry grabbed Hermione's arm and pulled her back to join Ron so the students had the bed between them and the two men. "Professor," Ron said as he gingerly stood on his good leg. "What's going on?"
Lupin didn't answer as he lowered his wand, walked to Black's side, holding out a hand to help the fallen man to is feet. Black grabbed it hesitantly, and Lupin pulled the starved man up into a bear hug as if they were brothers who were separated for years. Brothers. "OH!" Hermione exclaimed, remembering what Lucius had said the last time she was in the infirmary:
"I'm sorry, Lupin?" Lucius was the one to interrupt this time, his amused twinkle gone. "As in Remus Lupin? Former best friend of-"
"The very same." Dumbledore turned to face Lucius, and Hermione squirmed at his serious demeanor.
Lucius scoffed and looked at Narcissa, choosing not to address Dumbledore. "And we wonder why break-ins keep happening, -"
"II don't believe it!" Hermione screamed, realizing that Sirius was the best friend Lucius was talking about and why Lucius looked at Narcissa when he spoke again as he was referring to her cousin.
Lupin let go of Black and turned to see Hermione pointing a smoking finger at Lupin who had his eyes wide at the sight of Hermione's hand. "You- you-"
"Hermione," Lupin used the same tone of voice he had earlier in the day after she had gotten out of the trunk.
"-You and him!"
"Hermione, calm down-"
"I've been covering up for you-" She shrieked and her hands erupted into small flames.
"Hermione, listen to me, please control yourself!" Lupin shouted back. He had heard from Professor Trewlawny about the desk that Hermione had burnt and knew that unconducted magic could be as unstable as Fiendfyre if the wizard was not in control.
Harry, finally past his shock of Lupin being friends with Sirius Black, jumped in. "I trusted you!" Harry seemed to be on the verge of going ballistic himself as his voice wavered uncontrollably. "And all this time, you've been his friend!"
"You're wrong," Lupin said, holding his hands out as he tried to keep a calm tone. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now- Let me explain-"
"NO!" Hermione screamed and the flames in her hands flickered as if ready to jump. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too- he's a werewolf!" All eyes were on Lupin who looked pale during the ringing silence that followed Hermione's revelation, but he stayed calm. He looked back at Sirius who whispered something to the tired professor.
Lupin kept watch of Hermione's wrists as the flames crept higher on her arms. "Hermione," Lupin's voice held a warning in it. "You need to control your emotions. I know you're upset, but I promise I will explain everything if you-"
Hermione was beyond livid. Control, control, control. That's all anyone seems to worry about these days. Dr. Augsen, Lucius, Fudge. "You're trying to kill my best friend and all you can talk about is control?" Hermione looked down at her hands before looking back up at Lupin. An idea had weaseled it's way into her brain and she wondered if it would work. Control doesn't always have to mean stop. Hermione closed her eyes and imagined the feel of how her magic flowed through her wand. She could feel that same energy dancing around her aflamed skin, but it wasn't... flowing like it would be with her wand. She almost felt disconnected from it. The flames were like children running around a playground and she was a parent trying to get them to stop so they could return home.
It took her longer than she would have liked, but she could feel more connected to the unruly flames- she was able to stop the children from running a muck on the playground and they waited for her command to return home.
Except she didn't give the command. When she opened her eyes, the flames were still there, but they were the royal blue they were when she cast flames from her wand. Hermione was now in full control of a weapon she intended on using to get her and her friends out of here. "I believe it's safe to say that I am in control, Professor."
Lupin gave her a hard look as he hoped she would have canceled out the magic. "I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead." He paused and she saw his adam's apple bob up and down from gulping so hard. "But I won't deny I am a werewolf."
Ron stumbled backwards from the admission and Lupin took a concerned step around the side of the bed as Ron gasped from the pain. Ron's eyes seemed to bulge at Lupin coming closer. "Stay away from me, werewolf!" Lupin went still as Black rubbed his forehead and Hermione caught Harry's eye while Lupin was focused on Ron's behavior. She glanced at the bed, then at the door before looking back at Harry to see if he understood. He looked at her dumbly and she pulled her lips back into a silent snarl, she was so angry. She looked at the bed, giving a subtle nod then at the door with another nod. Harry's eyes went wide with understanding, along with wondering if Hermione could hold off two men with flames she just learned how to control, but Lupin spoke and her eyes went back to her Defense Against the Dark Arts professor before Harry could try motioning back to her.
"How long have you known?" Lupin seemed slightly offended by Ron's behavior and Hermione took a step to the right, away from Ron and Harry. If you want to explain, fine, I needed to think of a distraction anyway.
"Ages. Since Professor Snape's essay." Hermione took another step to the side, further away from the door and closer to Black. She hoped it would have been enough for Harry and Ron to be in Lupin's peripheral vision. Her eyes flicked over to Black who was standing against the wall. But what about him? He doesn't have a wand, but Ron won't be able to run away from his animagus form.
"He'll be delighted." Lupin said coolly. "He assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant." Two someones noticed. Hermione thought of Draco and her hear ached, causing her flames to dim. What if I don't- No. Don't think that. You'll take these two down giving Harry and Ron a head start, then you'll follow. You'll let Dumbledore know he made a mistake and they'll both be taken to Azkaban- or to the dementors. The blue flames roared with a new fierceness. "How did you figure it out?"
"I used a lunar chart to track when you were sick and I figured your boggart is a full moon."
Lupin forced a laugh. "You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione."
She scoffed and used the movement of her head to glance at Harry and Ron who had been edging closer to the bed. Ron looked like he was getting ready to brace himself for what was about to be an excruciating drag across the bed by Harry. "I'm not. If I'd been a bit more clever, I'd have told everyone what you are!"
"But they already know." Hermione's head cocked to the side at that. Lupin didn't say it smugly, more matter of fact than anything else. "Atleast the staff do."
"Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf?! Is he mad?" Ron gasped, apparently unable to withhold any outbursts he had. Harry had just placed a knee on the bed when Ron said this and Hermione wanted to throw her flames at Ron instead.
Black walked to the other side of the bed that was by the door and stared at them both as if to question if they thought the plan would work. "Ronald." Hermione growled, not seeing a point in hiding her displeasure now that they couldn't follow through with her plan, unless she went full offense against a wizard who had all of their wands.
Lupin continued as if the boys were not caught trying to get away from them. Hermione half listened as her brain tried to come up with a different plan other than just attacking the two men. "Some of the staff thought so, Dumbledore had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy-"
"AND HE WAS WRONG!" Harry yelled, no longer keeping quiet now that they had no plan to escape. "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM THE WHOLE TIME!" He pointed at Black who decided to sit on the edge of the bed, Crookshanks jumping into his lap as he put his head into a shaky palm. He's weak. Maybe they could over power him and-
"I have not been helping, Sirius!" Lupin looked completely exasperated being accused of something that none of the students found to be true. "If you give me a chance, I'll explain. Look-" He separated Harry's, Ron's and Hermione's wands and took two steps forward to walk over to Harry and Ron to hand the wands back to them, but Hermione put herself in front of him, arms partially outstretched in a hook, ready to burn him if he came closer. Lupin looked slightly taken aback as if he did not find her capable of hurting a teacher. "Would you really burn me, Hermione?'
"If the boggart thinks I'm not afraid of dying, what makes you think I'm not afraid of killing?" It was the first thought that came to her mind, but it surprised her that it wasn't untrue when it left her lips.
Lupin studied her for a minute, unsure of what to think about what she said. "You're the girl from the paper aren't you? The muggleborn who lost her parents over the summer?" Black said, looking up at her through his shaking fingers. He pulled out a page of the daily prophet, and she caught a glimpse of the Weasley family's picture after they won the prize drawing the Ministry had before he flipped it over to reveal the headline on the back: Former Death Eater adopts Muggleborn. She sniffed glancing at a primary school picture of her The Daily Prophet somehow dug up. Her flames flickered, and she did not answer, refusing to take her eyes off of Professor Lupin for more than a fraction of a second with him being so close in proximity. "You are, then. I wouldn't doubt her, Remus. She offered Harry to kill me if he couldn't."
"Wouldn't." She corrected. "You hurt my best friend and want to kill my other best friend. I don't have a dementor at my disposal or else I would hand you over to them." She looked at Black then and she saw a shiver run though his body at the mention of the repugnant creature. Good.
"Enough." Lupin took a step back, the three wand handles facing her. "I just want to give these back to the three of you."
"Then toss Harry and Ron's wands to them and hand me mine." She wasn't going to risk taking her eyes off of him in the event he wanted to catch her off guard.
Lupin took a deep breath before stepping back and tossing the boys their wands. He looked at Hermione before extending her wand out to her. "You may end up damaging your wand if you don't put the fire out." Hermione looked at his face and then her wand a few times. She hated the idea of being defenseless in the event he did not return her wand after letting her flames die out. She was in control of it now, but she doubted she could conjure them on her own and be able to control them immediately. However, when she glanced back at Harry to see him nod while he and Ron both had their wands trained on Lupin in the event they needed to hex him, she gave in. She watched the flames dwindle from being the size of melons, to the size of lemons, then a mere candle flame before disappearing entirely. As soon as the flames disappeared though, she felt as if she had been hit by a train called exhaustion.
Lupin held out her wand and as soon as she grabbed it, she stumbled back to the side of the bed that Harry and Ron were currently at and sat on the edge. When she sunk into the mattress, she realized that it wasn't a regular type of exhaustion. Her body felt all right, and her mind was still clear. It was something else much deeper and she started to panic, wondering if she had done permanent damage to her ability to use magic.
"There," Lupin stuck his wand back into his belt. "You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?"
Only one way to find out. Hermione focused all of her intent on Lupin's wand before pointing her own at him. "Expelliarmus!" The wand flew to her, albeit at a slow speed and after a moment's hesitation. She had major concerns that settled within her stomach making it ache, but she was content at the moment she could still use magic. "Now you're unarmed, Professor."
Black made a sound that sounded like a snort and Lupin glared at Hermione before starting his long winded explanation; He informed he had using the Maurader's map to see if Harry was going to Hagrid's hut to see Buckbeak's execution, he knew how to use the map and Lupin admitted that he helped create it with Black, James Potter and Peter Pettigrew. This new information on his father had encapsulated Harry's full attention as Lupin explained how close the four Marauders were. Lupin clarified that he had not seen Black on the grounds through the map until today, after he saw Harry, Ron and Hermione leave Hagrid's hut when Black dragged two people into the Whomping Willow. Ron argued that he was the only one Black dragged in, but Lupin insisted that Scabbers (who had been unusually silent with Crookshanks around) was also an animagus. Lupin seeing that Harry, Ron, and Hermione remained unconvinced, went into explaining how the Marauders became friends and how three of them became unregistered animagi for Lupin's sake and Peter Pettigrew had taken the form of a rat. At this, Harry and Ron believed Lupin and Black were both mad.
"Oh, come off it," Ron said. "Are you trying to say he broke out of Azkaban just to get his hands on Scabbers? I mean..." Ron looked over at Harry and Hermione for support. None of which jumped in as Harry was just as flabbergasted as Ron was and Hermione was genuinely considering all the information that was just dropped on them. "Okay, say that Pettigrew could turn into a rat- there are millions of rats- how's he supposed to know which one he's after if he was locked up in Azkaban."
Hermione's ears perked up and she glanced over at Black, sitting on the opposite side of the bed that she was on. Black brandished the newspaper clipping that had Hermione's picture on it and pointed to the rat with the Weasley's smiling faces on it, pointing out how the rat in the picture had a finger missing. Of course, Hermione thought. The biggest piece they found of Pettigrew was a finger. As if to confirm the fact for her, Black explained it was in fact Pettigrew who killed the thirteen people on the street. Pettigrew had screamed so bystanders would take witness before cutting off his own finger and transforming into a rat to speed into a nearby sewer. Harry had grown alarmed at this point and started to scream that Black was just trying to kill off Pettigrew like Black had killed his parents.
Black's voice was full of emotion at this point as he croaked out what he felt like was the biggest betrayal he ever made. "I as good as killed them. I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me... The night they died, I arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. There was no sign of a struggle and it didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents house straightaway, Harry." Black looked at Harry with over-bright eyes, "And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies... I realized what Peter must've done... What I've done..." His voice broke and he turned away, his eyes staring into his lap.
Hermione stared at him, she felt a flurry of emotions herself, but the ones that stuck with her the most was the fact she almost offered to kill an innocent man. This isn't justice! She could hear Ron screaming in her head. I should've heard his side of the story... This wasn't how I was raised.
"Ron," Hermione looked up at her friend, the guilt she felt thick in every syllable she got out. "I think we should give him the rat." There was a squeak from Ron's pocket and Ron put a hand in it to stop Scabbers from running. Ron looked like he would argue with her but thought better of it.
"What are you going to do with him if I give him to you?" Ron asked Lupin, using both hands now to pull a writhing Scabbers out of his pocket.
"Force him to show himself," Lupin said. "If he really is a rat, it won't hurt him."
Ron once again thought about it as he looked down at Scabbers. Hermione handed Lupin his wand as everyone waited with baited breath and Hermione was just about to point out why they should believe Black and Lupin when he handed the rat over to Lupin. Scabbers went wild, thrashing and throwing his body every which way, trying to break free of Lupin's grip. Black got up to stand at the empty space at the end of the bed and Lupin handed the rat to Black who held the rat in place, allowing Lupin to aim his wand at it.
The spell was non-verbal and Hermione watched with rapt attention as the blue-white light was absorbed into the rat's body. The rat was suspended in the air and Black stood by the door just in case the rat had the chance to run again when the rat fell and hit the floor. There was another blinding flash and then it happened.
The patchy, gray-green rat started to morph. It was a sight that made Hermione think of a bamboo tree growing, as they were known to grow up to an inch a day- but sped up to grow much faster. His head grew nose-first and his limbs seemed to pop into their human sockets as they lengthened. In two minutes there was a man, crouching and wringing his hands where Ron's rat had been.
"Bloody Hell." Ron looked completely pale and Hermione wanted to laugh as her mind seemed to spin like a top. Believing what they said was one thing but to have it confirmed with her own eyes was too much. She stood to stand next to Harry and Ron, gripping her stomach. Crookshanks started to spit and snarl at the man on the floor.
Ron put his arm on Hermione and she was unsure if it was for his sake or hers, but she welcomed the comfort anyway. She looked over Peter Pettigrew taking him in. Lupin's wear was completely worn with patch's but Pettigrew looked three times worse. Hermione was unsure what color his suit was supposed to be and he smelt as if he lived in the sewers he had escaped into. His skin was grubby and he was balding. She thought the man wasn't too much taller than she was and wondered how someone could live in an animal form comfortably for so long.
He did it to survive. He betrayed people he was friends with for years to survive. Hermione's face looked as contorted as Narcissa's had when she first laid eyes on her at the Granger's funeral. She was completely revolted with the man and everything that he represented to Harry. She could feel her anger roaring in her again and she once again wanted the Potter's official murderer put to rest.
"Well, hello, Peter," said Lupin pleasantly as though rats frequently transformed into old school friends. "Long time, no see."
"S-Sirius... R-Remus... my friends... my old friends..." She hadn't expected Pettigrew's voice to sound squeaky and that combined with the fact he still thought he could find a way out of this made her shake with anger. She kept herself under control though not to spend more of her magic. "Remus, you don't believe him do you...?" Pettigrew asked almost as a hushed whisper as he crept over to Remus, trembling. "He tried to kill me, Remus..."
"Not yet I haven't." Black growled, his eyes completely dark. He made to rush Pettigrew, but Remus stopped him.
"Wait, Sirius! I want to make sure that Harry believes us!" Black stopped fighting Remus as all eyes fell on Harry. Hermione didn't even notice that her friend was pale by her side. Ron moved off of her and on to Harry. "Peter, I think you should tell Harry what actually happened."
"Tell him, you sold out Lily and James. Tell him you framed me, had me sent off to Azkaban when it should have been you! Tell him that you were the one hiding for the past twelve years with his friend's wizarding family because you were too scared to face the other Death Eaters that are free outside of Azkaban." Black looked mad then as he spoke, spitting when emphasizing certain syllables. Pettigrew squeaked at the mention of Death Eaters and Black's face pulled back into a vehemous grin. "Oh, I heard what the other Death Eaters said about you. They think you set their master up- and, oh- what they wanted to do to you, Peter. They think you're dead, and they can't do much from Azkaban... but if the free ones knew you were alive... I can only imagine what dark things they would do to you." Pettigrew whimpered and started to back towards a window that was boarded up. He glanced at it with every step he took and Hermione took notice of it.
BANG! Peter crouched on the ground, covering his ears as Hermione lowered her wand. There was a small scorch mark on the plank of wood that was stuck to the window from where she aimed her spell. "Don't even think about running, you coward." She quickly looked over at Harry and Ron to make sure she didn't scare them, but both were staring at her with wonder- although Ron seemed to have a bit more than wonder in the eye full he was taking in. Seeing that they were fine, she glanced at Black and Lupin. Black looked like he wanted to smirk as if she had done something funny, and Lupin looked concerned.
"Remus- you don't believe this madness do you?" Pettigrew's voice grew as strong as a gutless turncoat's voice could, but at least he stopped sounding as if he needed to catch his breath.
"I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend twelve years as a rat." Lupin replied evenly.
"Innocent, but scared!" Squealed Pettigrew. "If Voldemort's supporters were after me, it's because I put one of their best men in Azkaban- the spy, Sirius Black!"
"How dare you," Black's face contorted as he spoke and Hermione thought she could see Narcissa reacting the same way at being accused of an act so repulsive. "When did I ever sneak around people who were stronger and more powerful than myself? You, Peter, you always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't you? It used to be us. Me, Remus, James." Pettigrew whimpered at Harry's father being mentioned and Hermione tilted her head to the side.
"Show us your arm." No one expected Hermione to speak, but Pettigrew was more than happy to lift the sleeve of his right arm up.
"See? I am no follow-"
"Your other arm, Mr. Pettigrew." Hermione's voice showed that she was more than tired of waiting around in the small bed room.
Pettigrew completely paled and Black sneered. "Go on, Peter." Pettigrew started to mutter to himself and took a step towards the boarded window behind him, causing Hermione to raise her wand in warning. He stepped away and started to glance around for any other exit he could make. "Show us your arm!" Black yelled and slammed a fist into the bed frame, causing it to shake despite the weight of the dense wood. Pettigrew whimpered and shoved the sleeve of his dingy suit up to reveal the dark mark. It was slightly blurred but the skull and snake were apparent. Hermione had seen it before in books she read and knew that Black was to be believed.
"So you killed them." Harry said in a low voice. Black lifted his heard and some tension was relieved in the room at Harry believing Black was innocent. "After faking your death."
"The first time." Hermione added. "You put your blood all over Ron's bed and disappeared after framing Crookshanks in a second attempt, didn't you?"
"Never learned not to play the same trick twice, did you?" Lupin took a step closer and was closely followed by Black.
Pettigrew fell to his knees and crawled over to Ron who barely drew back his injured leg in time before Black grabbed at his pant leg. "Ron... Haven't I been a good friend- a good pet? You won't let them kill me, Ron, will you... you're on my side, aren't you?"
"I let you sleep in my bed!" He yelled, completely horrified.
Pettigrew turned to Harry next. "Kind boy... kind master... Harry, you look just like your father- just like him-"
"HOW DARE YOU?" Hermione hissed but Black bellowed. They shared a brief look before Pettigrew crawled after Hermione.
The movement made her jump back in surprise before she saw red, listening sounding even mousier than before. "Sweet girl... clever girl... you wouldn't... please, help me!" What kind of person- after I threatened him?! Hermione picked up her leg and stomped down hard, aiming for Pettigrew's hand with the shortage in digits, intent on taking off one more finger. Pettigrew pulled back before her blow could land and sat on his knees, wringing his hands once more. He was visibly shaking, but Hermione could hardly care. As far as she was concerned, he was the one who should die if he couldn't get a dementors kiss.
Black grabbed the back of Peter's suit and pulled him so the man was on his back. He cried out and Lupin pointed his wand down at Pettigrew. "You should have realized that if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would."
Without a second thought, Hermione went beside him, wand pointed down on him. Black held out a hand as if to ask for the wand and she raised her eyebrows, slightly dumbfounded that he thought she would give up her weapon so easily. "You're a child, you've been through a lot, but you shouldn't have blood on your hands."
She made a snarky noise that could have been a variation of a snort. "That's hypocritical. You just want to kill him yourself."
Black's eyes darkened again and his voice changed from the soft voice he had adopted. "I have a right to."
Her eyes narrowed at him. "I think Harry had the real right if that's the game you're wanting to play." She glanced back at Harry who looked uncertain for a moment. He glanced at Ron who looked away, knowing what he wanted to say, but respecting Harry enough to make the decision himself. Harry glanced at Lupin, then Black before his eyes settling on Hermione. She watched as his piercing gaze drifted down her arm, off her wand and land on Pettigrew. She saw the subtle change in his face and knew what her best friend had decided before he could say it.
"Don't kill him." Harry took a step forward, leaving Ron to grip the wall for support.
Hermione glared down at Pettigrew, jaw tight, and let her arm fall to her side.
"Harry, this piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents," Black snarled. "This cringing piece of-"
"I know," Harry interrupted. Pettigrew glanced at Lupin then his wand as Lupin turned to look at Harry. Hermione nudged the hideous man with her shoe and snarled so he knew she was watching him. "We'll take him up to the castle. We'll hand him over to the dementors... He can go to Azkaban... but don't kill him."
"Harry!" gasped Pettigrew, and he tried rolling to his side, possibly to grovel at Harry's feet. "You- thank you- it's more than I deserve-" Pettigrew grunted as he finally landed on his stomach again. "Thank you." Pettigrew tried to crawl over to Harry, but Harry took a step back and grabbed Ron to help him out of the room.
"Don't come close to me." Harry spat. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing this because I don't reckon my dad would've wanted his best friends to become killers." Hermione still hadn't looked up as she watched Pettigrew, hiding her fury from everyone else. He shouldn't be able to live! Why Harry- "I know I don't want to."
Hermione looked up at him then. His soft, emerald eyes pierced right though the walls of strength and fury she put and she felt her bottom lip tremble. Would I have really done it? Hermione opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Several things happening at once.
The first was Sirius' body flying across the room and slamming into the wall next to Pettigrew where he slid to the ground with a grunt. The second was Expelliarmus being cast and Lupin's wand flew across the room- right into Snape's hand.
Hermione aimed her wand at Pettigrew again, making sure he did not think to move an inch.
"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," Said Snape in his usual cold, monotone voice as he threw Harry's invisibility cloak to the side. Hermione bit the inside of her mouth. Why does he leave that thing everywhere! "Very useful, Potter, I thank you..." Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" His eyes were glittering as he looked at every face- but Pettigrew's as the bed was blocking him from Snape's view entirely- from the doorway. "I've just been to our office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did... Lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me everything I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight.
"Professor-" Hermione began, attempting to tell Snape about Peter Pettigrew, but he overrode her.
"I've told the headmaster again and again Lupin that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and now I have the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout-"
"Severus, you're making a mistake," said Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything- I can explain- Sirius is not here to kill Harry-"
"Two more for Azkaban tonight," Snape continues, eyes gleaming fanatically. "Dumbledore was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin... a tame werewolf-" He cackled at his discriminatory comment and Hermione's hair would have bristled if she were a cat.
"Professor Snape, please-"
"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," Snape spat at her. "You, Potter, and Weasley are out-of-bounds,in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue." Hermione felt the blood drain her face then. Suspension? Hermione huffed as the neurotic laugh died on her lips. What did I expect if I had killed Pettigrew? Or Black? The answer was she hadn't, she let her unbridled rage get the best of her and now she was going to face repercussions if Snape didn't realize the mistake he was trying to make. Justice would have been served, but she wasn't above the law.
"But Peter Pettigrew, Sir-"
"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape shouted, looking more deranged that Sirius had ever looked.
"YOU'RE PATHETIC!" Ron yelled and he tried to leap forward, causing Harry to nearly fall with him when Ron fell forward, forgetting his injury for a brief moment. "ALL YOU DO IS BULLY KIDS DECADES YOUNGER THAN YOU AND NOW YOU WON'T EVEN LIST-"
"SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!" When Snape yelled, sparks started to fly out of the tip of his wand. It was a sight that Hermione had seen before when a wizard was angry, but it made her wonder why that wasn't what happened with her when she was angry.
Enough of that, the situation is getting out of hand. She took a moment to think about what was going on while Snape was distracted. She bit her lip- Black was unable to do anything in his current state, Lupin was to far to charge at Snape and wandless once again. Harry was holding Ron and had joined the argument now so she decided that she was the one who had to do something.
But Harry and Ron somehow came to the same conclusion as all three Gryffindor students pointed their wands at Snape as they yelled out "EXPELLIARMUS!"
He flew out of the room and Hermione immediately followed to check on him. She kept her arm raised, but lowered it when she saw him in a heap on the floor. "Lumos." She jogged the few feet over to him and crouched by his head. He was entirely unconscious, but breathing. We attacked a teacher. We attacked a teacher. We attacked a teacher. The severity of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks and she tried to back into the room when she saw Crookshanks peel out of the room, followed by Lupin who only stopped to retrieve his wand from Snape.
"What-?" She said before Sirius emerged into the hallway, was gripping his arm. Harry and Ron following behind him. "What happened?"
"Pettigrew transformed again." Harry informed her as Black started to walk off towards the tunnel.
"What?!"
"We were all in shock and Lupin didn't have a wand... He transformed in the middle of the commotion and ran out."
"We need to go." Black bit out through ground teeth. Hermione could only imagine how he felt.
Hermione glanced back at Snape. "We have to take him." Black grunted and Harry and Ron looked like they might argue, but she continued talking to take control of the situation. "Ron your leg- I can't heal it but the best we can do is wrap it for now." Without waiting for his permission, she tapped her wand to his leg "Ferula."
Bandages spun up his leg and wrapped his leg to a splint made of the remains of the door Black blew apart.
Ron gave a slight sigh of relief being able to put some weight on leg now. "That's better, thanks."
Hermione nodded after taking a shakey breath herself. A part of her wondered how she was able to stand still, she should have collapsed under the stress, but somehow she was able to stand. She was scared, but she wasn't exactly feeling brave. She felt stressed beyond belief as she saw no way of getting out of this without some consequences, but she wasn't sorry for what had happened thus far.
Then she realized it. She felt in control... She felt strong. Hermione chose to come back for Harry, Hermione chose to use her magic without a wand after she figured out how to do it, Hermione chose to believe Black over Pettigrew and Hermione chose to hex Snape. It was a breath of fresh air to not collapse into tears and she felt... alive.
"I need his wand." She said, her voice sounding a bit loud after processing the revelation she had in her head.
"Here." Harry said as he passed her Snape's wand. "It came to us." Another sign that her magic may have been weakened, but she didn't dare let it distract her or bring her down now.
Another nod and she returned to Snape's body, realizing Black was fidgeting wanting to chase after Lupin and Pettigrew. "Go ahead of me, I'll catch up."
Harry and Ron looked as if they would protest, but even with Ron's leg wrapped, it was best to get a head start.
Hermione used a light sticking charm to put Snape's wand in his hand. "Mobilicorpus." She whispered and his body immediately flew into the air, hands up like a marionette. His head lolled about on his shoulders and she inspected it to find he was bleeding just a little bit. Oh, please don't be serious. "Episkey. Scourgify."
By the time she finished, she couldn't hear them anymore, but it didn't bother her. Hermione looked up, and gave a silent prayer to her parents- even though she had never been a believer- that it wasn't too late to catch Pettigrew.
MotekElm: Thank you :DD
InsideTheFridge: Thank you :DD
Sting3: Oh, thank you so much!
Erythra-Selena: It's my pleasure, and thank you. I find the boggarts to be fascinating, tbh.
CharmedMistleToe: Oh thank you :DDD A lot of it was from the book though and I ended up exaggerating, adding or cutting out things.
Alice Helena: Oof, perhaps I'll be able to focus on that when I get them back to the manor. I plan to really focus on them this year .
Guest: Thank you so much :DDDDDDDD I'm happy to see you're still reading it.
Caro2728: Welcome! If you were asking for more, you got it.
