Morgane was outside the castle. The winter was going away slowly, leaving place to the spring. Soon, very soon. She watched the children going around, classes to classes. It was still too cold to enjoy the park or the lake. Now that her powers were back even a little, she had new plans. But she will need the other items. One was already in their hands. The invisibility cloak. And she was almost certain the wand was near, she could feel it, and she just needed the confirmation.
A group of students caught her attention, it was Harry's group. She knew he was thinking about her but didn't dare to call her out again. She understood. He wanted to have a quiet life. She had wanted that too. Whatever time was left, she will let Harry enjoy it and after, their quest will began.
Harry and his friends were talking, laughing. She smiled, she was envious. She never had the chance to have friends at all. All she got was hatred and abused. Her body had been twisted to this extent that even wouldn't be able to recognize it.
As the group continued their way to the castle, something caught her eyes. Something or rather someone. It wasn't in a human form but the soul was it. She smiled and bended over the rat.
"Is it me or you are trying to escape someone?"
The rat couldn't see her but the animal sense was telling him something was there.
"Interesting, well aren't you a little coward?"
The rat was trying to go away but couldn't.
"I'm a nice girl; I'll put you somewhere safe, for now."
A twisted smile appeared on her face, she whispers a few words. The rat floated in air and disappeared.
Morgane shook her head, there was another thing she needed to do. She went to the shrieking hut where Sirius Black was hidden during the day. He was sitting on the bed, lost in his thoughts. She had no idea who he really was but Azkaban had messed him quite. Not really surprising. She couldn't help but feel sorry for him, dementors were awful.
"Staying here won't help you know?"
He raised his head and seemed furious.
"What are you doing here?
-My, are you still angry about what I told you? Truth hurt, unfortunately.
-If you don't want to help me, go away!
-You are rude."
She smiled and came closer, an awful smirk on her face. Sirius had no idea why he was so afraid all of the sudden. There was something familiar with her.
"Why so scared? Do I remind you some of… guardians?"
Sirius shook. That was that, it felt like he was near dementors again. Less powerful but still.
"What are you?
-Oh, I won't need to tell you, I'll take all the memories you have of me."
She was just a few inches from him. He couldn't move at all.
"Don't worry, it won't hurt."
She opened her mouth and put it closer to Sirius's. Sirius felt something from his head was taking away. It hurt, as if someone was breaking it with an axe. He fell on the ground. Morgane sighed.
"I may over do it but he'll be alright. Only in a few weeks probably will Harry realize the truth. I will live again!"
"I think Neptuna went a little overboard with the chocolate no?"
It was Easter and everyone had received chocolate from their family. As usual, Mrs Weasley had sent him some but with the one from Neptuna Dawn, he could hold for a year.
"I'll say! Guys, feel free to take some!"
Harry hadn't needed to say it twice. Everyone picked at least three. Those were expansive chocolates; they were all curved into objects. Hermione had picked the ones curved into books, Ron broomsticks, Neville plants and so one. Harry wandered if she didn't do that on purpose. But even with giving away, there still much.
"Make sure to brush your teeth."
Lupin was on his way, he smiled at the amount of the chocolates.
"And don't eat all in once. Mrs Pomfresh won't be happy if a dozen of students come in all of sudden because their stomach hurt. Beside, better to make sure they last. The do look delicious.
-Sir, you had given us chocolate at the beginning of the year. Here, take some please!"
Lupin's cheeks went pink.
"Harry, that's very nice of you but…
-As a Christmas present! Or a birthday present! As the only child of your friend?"
Harry gave him a kitten look which made laugh everyone. Lupin smiled, shook his head.
"All right then."
Harry chuckled and gave him a chocolate balloon.
Lupin took it, thanked him and went. He looked at the chocolate. Harry seemed fine and wasn't upset about that he hadn't been part of his life. He was grateful for that. As for Peter and Sirius, he hadn't found more clues about the rat, just that it had been in the Weasley's family for 12 years. It was very long for a rat. But it didn't dare ask too much. The Weasley were a nice family, he couldn't investigate without them being worried. He sighed, he was really a coward.
He came across Snape who gave him the usually hateful look. They hadn't talk since the last fight. Remus will sometimes about their days as students. Yes they had played pranks Severus and his group but it wasn't like they were innocents either. Almost all of them became followers of Voldemort. The moment James learnt he was werewolf, he hadn't been scared. On the contrary, he had been so supportive. How could he forget that? But he hadn't been able to help nor Lily. The least he could do was to be here for Harry.
As for Snape, as much as he wanted it, he couldn't just get rid of Harry's word. Yes Harry had been bullied, by his family… and him. Why was he feeling sad right now? It didn't bother him the last two years. It was because he had sheltered him during summer. He shouldn't have accepted. He shouldn't have.
Harry and his friends went to their least favorite class: divination. Trelawney still had hard feeling towards Harry and was still ignoring him. This was fine by him.
"Welcome back children, please sit down. The inner eye spoke to me; today we will change the schedule. We will read the cards.
-The inner eye, whispered Hermione, seriously she is the one who schedules her classes. If she wants to change it, she just does it, no need to boast."
Harry wasn't sure if Trelawney heard her but she changed her tone suddenly and asked to go by pairs. Harry went with Neville while Ron and Hermione were together. Harry shuffled the cards and began to put the cards while looking at them. Ron and Hermione were often arguing but would make peace very quick, with his help. Harry didn't know if he was imagining things but he could swear there was something there. As proof, the two seemed uncomfortable, as if Harry was needed to have a conversation.
"So Neville, I'm reading here that Hermione and Ron might be together by the end of… our fifth year."
Neville giggled. He looked at the cards and say:
"You are kidding right? I'll say they will wait until our last year."
They covered their mouths to keep their laughs shout. They continued their prediction around this subject for the whole class. If they hadn't learned something useful, at least they had a good fun.
When the class ended, they all get up to leave when a breaking sound made everyone turned their head. Trelawney was standing there, not moving at all, a breaking cup at her feet.
"Professor, are you all right?" Asked Lavender?
Trelawney opened her mouth and spoke. However it was not her usual voice. It was like it coming from a cave:
"The ones holding the souls shall break free! They will uncover the truth behind that fateful night! They will fix what has been broken! They shall fight the one who mustn't be named! Then they shall wander forever on the road alone!"
Trelawney collapsed, gasping. The students yelled and went to check on her. She managed to get up, hushing the students away.
"What's wrong with you?
-Professor! You collapsed and before you said something with a strange voice. You spoke about Voldemort." Said Harry.
Everyone jumped. Trelawney frowned:
"My child this is not a laughing matter. Off you go now."
They all went, in silence.
"Do you think it was a real prophecy? Asked Parvati.
-Or an act, snorted Hermione.
-Well a good one, said Dean.
-But she still collapsed; we should at least tell someone.
-What is it children?"
Dumbledore was on the corridor. Hermione explained the whole thing to him. Dumbledore repeated the prophecy more like to him.
"Thank you, run along."
They all watched him go Trelawney class.
"Well, it does worry him. Harry, you are okay?" asked Ron.
No, he wasn't. There was something about what Trelawney said. The ones holding the soul shall break free. That fateful night… Something inside him was screaming, like trying to get out. He didn't want to remember, he had a very bad feeling.
"Is it because she mentioned you know who?
-Maybe…"
Harry shook his head.
"Dumbledore will sort this, let's go."
The end of the day passed, Harry was still worried and he knew Ron and Hermione noticed it.
"Let's take a walk before dinner okay?" proposed Ron.
They agreed and went outside. The air was still warm.
"Harry, try not to worry too much, said Hermione. I'm sure it was nothing.
-Yeah, she pretending. She still didn't forgive you when you yelled at her."
They smiled at him. Harry was thankful for his friends. Why he was feeling so sad all of sudden?
Something moved in the grass.
"Hey! Said Ron. It's Scabbers!"
Ron caught the rat. Harry and Hermione approached.
"How did he survive all this time?
-I don't know, but he is stronger than he looks.
-I'll say.
-What's going on?"
They turned, Remus Lupin was standing there. Scabbers began to try to escape.
"Scabbers! What the hell? It's not the cat! It's just professor Lupin."
Lupin frowned and moved forward. Scabbers managed to escape at this moment but Lupin saw it. No way, it was impossible…
"Scabbers!"
Ron went after it. He threw himself on the grass and grabbed him.
"Calm down. Let's…"
Ron didn't finish his sentence. A big black dog was just in front of him, showing his teeth.
Lupin waved his wand but the dog had been quicker and grabbed Ron by his leg. Ron screamed out of pain and fear.
"Ron! yelled Harry and Hermione.
"Don't chase him!"
They didn't hear Lupin and ran after the dog that was dragging Ron into the forbidden forest. Lupin felt his heart biting very fast. He sent a signal and ran after them.
Harry and Hermione went very far, the dog was so fast!
"I've seen that dog before! Why would he do that?
-I don't know! I hope Ron is safe."
Harry was hoping too, is something happened to him. They arrived at a clearing and stopped.
Ron was sitting in the middle, his leg and was bleeding and behind him was Sirius Black.
"Let go of him! Yelled Harry.
-Not until I have my revenge, Harry.
-Leave him out of this!
-It has nothing to do with you, Harry.
-What?"
Harry didn't expect this.
"But you try to kill me when we first met!
-It was an accident, I wasn't aiming at you."
The sentences he heard came back to his mind: give me the rat.
"The rat? You did become crazy.
-It's not a rat, it's an animagus. His name is Peter Pettigrew.
-You definitively lost it Black!"
They turned. Lupin was here along with Snape, Dumbledore, McGonagall, Neptuna Dawn, Hagrid and others. Lupin was white. Sirius Black looked at Snape with the most heinous look Harry ever saw. Snape was doing the same. Whatever happened between those two was very deep.
"Sirius, what did you say?"
It was Dumbledore who spoke. He wasn't yelling but his voice was still threatening. Sirius crossed his arm.
"I said it is an animagus. If you don't believe me, put a spell on him.
-I don't care about that! Harry said. He hurts Ron!
-It wasn't on purpose.
-That same old excuse Black?" Snorted Snape.
It looked like Sirius Black was ready to jump on him but instead he moved to the side. Harry and Hermione wanted to join Ron but Hagrid held them by the arm.
"It's too dangerous!
-He's right. You two shouldn't have run like that! Scolded Dawn.
-But miss he…
-We'll handle it."
Dumbledore approached with Mrs Pomfresh, their wands ready. Ron had trouble to keep the rat into his hands.
"Ron, put the rat down."
Since it was Dumbledore who was asking, Ron did. The rat tried to escape but Dumbledore stopped it. At first nothing happened, then very quickly the rat grew bigger and transformed… into a man.
Everyone gasped and stepped back.
"It's Peter Pettigrew!"
Dumbledore said nothing and was looking at the man. Harry was stunned as everyone else.
"Well, I think an explanation is necessary. How come you are an animagus Peter?
-Sir! You must help me! Sirius is going to kill me!
-No one is going to hurt you Peter, but I want to know the truth.
-The truth is he is crazy!
-Crazy? Damn right! I was crazy to trust you!"
Sirius Black moved to him but Dumbledore stopped him.
"Sirius, you are still in a awful position. I would remain calm if I were you.
-Sir, I can explain."
Everyone turned to Lupin. Harry noticed, he was shaking and pale. He sighed.
"Children, you do not know that but I'm a werewolf."
The trio didn't expect this kind of news but then Harry remembered all the insinuation Snape made to him. It made sense.
"Thank to Dumbledore, I was able to attend the school. I had three friends. Peter Pettigrew, Sirius Black and your father Harry, James Potter."
Harry nodded this part he already knew.
"They eventually found out the truth. They wanted to help me during my transformation. It was painful. The potion Snape made for me make it painless but no one is very willing to do it."
Snape rolled his eyes. Harry understood Dumbledore forced him to do it.
"They wanted to help, said Neptuna. How?
-When I am a werewolf, I accept more the company of the animals so they decided to become animagus.
-And I assumed they succeed, said Dumbledore.
-Yes, Peter into a rat, Sirius into a dog and James into a stag.
-And they managed to do that without me noticing."
There was some admiration in his voice. Lupin didn't notice and went on.
"Of course we never told anyone and since nothing bad happened, we went on.
-Nothing bad? Said Snape in a chocked voice. What about Sirius Black trying to kill me, using you?
-I didn't want to kill you, just frighten you…
-Oh, sorry for mistaken your intention! What could possibly go wrong with letting a student with a werewolf?"
For the first time, Black did seem ashamed. Harry hated this, but Snape was right in a way. Why did his parents chose him for a godfather?
"But why are you alive Peter? Asked Dawn.
-Here the good part! When we learn that Voldemort was after James and Lily, what's wrong Peter? Scared of your master name? I had an idea. I was supposed to be a decoy. Peter was the real secret keeper!"
Harry's heart was beating very fast.
"On the night of Halloween, I went to check after I heard the rumors. They were dead, James and Lily. Only Harry was alive. Hagrid had already him. I gave him my bike so he could put Harry into safety quickly. I didn't want to believe Peter betrayed us. I thought that maybe Voldemort found and him and tortured him so much, he gave up. I was hoping that. But no… No trace of fight was to be found inside his house. You did it on purpose!
-But Sirius! He would have killed!
-Then you should have died, James would have died for you, said Lupin in low voice.
-But he was so strong, it was clear he was going to win…
-Didn't the friendship mean anything to you?"
Everyone stopped and turned their head. Peter raised his head and seemed awful. Harry had talked. He was shaking and crying.
"Did my father treat you badly? All those years, together didn't it mean something?"
Harry was no yelling. Peter looked at him and suddenly stopped shaking.
"You father was so full of himself, to him I was just a fan. They didn't make me your godfather.
-Neither was I, said Lupin.
-The reason I was chosen for a keeper was become no one would believe it was me! Because I was weaker than all of you!
-So, instead of showing your strength, you decided they deserved to die."
Something cold was here. Everyone was sure the voice came from Harry but it was so….emotionless.
"Harry, said Hermione, he had admitted. He is going to pay.
-Yes Harry, said Neptuna who came closer, everyone heard it. It's his entire fault!
-Not quite."
Everyone jumped as a dementors appeared. It has his arms crossed, leaning on a tree.
"What the hell? Who the heck are you? Why are you dressed up like dementors?
-Sorry Snape if my appearance degusts you.
-He asked you a question" said Dumbledore.
All the wands were in the direction of the dementors. Mrs Pomfresh had managed to bring Ron near Hermione and Harry. Hermione knelt next to him. Sirius had moved closer to Lupin and Snape was pointing his wand at Peter.
"Hello Morgane, long time no see.
-Harry, you know that thing?
-It's not a thing. She is a powerful witch. Morgane, you never lied to me. Tell me, you have implied Peter Pettigrew is not the only responsible."
Snape felt thunder stroke him. That thing couldn't possibly know. He looked at that Morgane. Because of the hood, the face couldn't be seen but he was sure it was smiling.
"You are right to be shaking Severus Snape, you old hypocrite!
-Stop! Said Dumbledore.
-Why professor? Don't you think Harry deserve the truth.
-Tell me!
-Stop that thing! Ordered Neptuna.
-No!"
Harry had shouted, a wave of cold touched everyone who fell on their knees. They couldn't move anymore. Everyone except for Hermione and Ron. However, they were shaking off fear.
"Harry?
-Tell me!
-Well, said Morgane, as you know, a lot of people were dying. You couldn't know who to trust. But your mother, as a witch born of muggles, she was on the black list. So she and your father had no choice but to fight. At some point, a prophecy was made. Guess by whom?
-Professor Trelawney?
-Yes, she predicted that a child born in July, whose parents were fighting Voldemort, would defeat him. Someone reported that to him, and that person was you Severus Snape, right?"
Ron opened his mouth, while Hermione put her hands on hers. Harry clenched his fist. Snape turned his head towards him; he was feeling bad, awful. He tried to say something but couldn't see what he could tell.
"But, said Dawn, Snape was a spy!
-Not at that moment. He pledged allegiance at Voldemort at that time. So he reported this. Technically they were two candidates: Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. Neville Longbottom was a first choice since he came from pure blood. Snape didn't care at all however Voldemort decided the one was you Harry. And then he cared somehow.
-Why?
-Shut up yelled Snape.
-Why? Because Severus Snape was in love with your mother. They knew each other since childhood."
Harry remembered Snape saying they were indeed neighbors.
"So he offered his service, hoping this will help dear Lily. But had he chosen to shut up Voldemort would never come for your parents."
Silence was very heavy; no one could move. Harry turned his head, tears rolling on his cheeks.
"Is that true?
-Potter, I swear, I had no idea…
-But what if Voldemort came after Neville? Would you have offered your service? Is that why you hate him?"
Snape couldn't answer. No, he wouldn't have done a thing if it was Neville.
"You are really a piss of shit, you know that?"
Sirius had managed to shout that but he couldn't still move, like the rest.
"Harry, said Dawn, we will discuss it.
-Discuss it? Asked Morgane. You sure did a good job within the Ministry, putting an innocent in jail, letting Death Eaters free. Geez, just a vial of serum of truth and Sirius Black wouldn't have been in prison. By the way, Sirius why didn't you go to Dumbledore? He would have listened to you and you could have been with Harry.
-But I had to chase him! For Harry's sake!
-More yours and you Neptuna…
-I wasn't on the case at that time!
-No but you didn't even applied to be Harry's guardian. The minister asked you so Harry will become a political tool for him right? You knew it.
-I was doing my job!"
Neptuna Dawn bit her lips, it came out so wrongly. She turned to Harry, trying to break free.
"Harry, I'll admit it! I didn't apply, I accepted when I was asked, I thought it will be good for both of us. But I do care about you. Harry."
Harry didn't reply. There was something odd about him right now.
"Every adults here, saying they care about me and yet they lie to me, they protect criminals, they leave me behind because it is for the best.
-Hold on a minute Harry! Said Hagrid. No one is perfect here, we all make mistakes, I'm sure Dumbledore had his reasons to keep Snape.
-Why do blindly follow him Hagrid? Said Harry in a low voice. What reasons could he possibly have?
-Harry, I'm sorry, said Dumbledore. I swear to you, I had no intention to hurt you.
-But you did, sir. Do you know how Snape was awful to me and Neville? What kind of person does that? You people, do you know what I'm hearing when dementors come closer? I'm hearing my father being killed.
-Harry, whispered Ron, please."
He had no idea how he felt it, but Ron was under the impression he was losing him.
"I'm hearing my mother begging Voldemort, but he said to move aside, why?
-Why? Chuckled Morgane. Because Snape asked him to spare her. He was hoping she would come to him after her son and her husband die.
-You disgust me Snape, said Lupin.
Snape didn't say a thing, because it was the truth. He had hoped. Then he heard a laugh. The one who was laughing was Harry. But it was more a distressed laugh.
"You are serious? You can't be serious? You really thought she would come to you? A Death Eater? Sir, you are more stupid than I thought! Guess what? She refused to moved, so he killed her! And he was laughing!
-That's on her then! Cried Peter. She had a way of living and she tossed it away.
-What did you say?"
Peter froze, Harry was walking towards him but he seemed taller, something was coming off him.
"Dare to repeat?
-Forgive me!
-Forgive you? Why are alive? You are the one who should have died! The fact you are breathing is unbearable!"
Then Harry remembered. Everything and he accepted it.
"Do you know how I survived that night? Do you know what my power is? Good thing it was on Halloween, all the ingredient were in place. I was hearing voices when I was little, voices who would reassure me. Those voices were my parents. After my parents died, because of Halloween, their souls was still around, I absorbed them. It gave me a shield, one strong enough to resist Voldemort and to suck his soul. That's why I can speak parlsemouth, I took his power. But his soul was incomplete, that's why he is still out there. No matter, I'll find him and destroy him.
-Suck souls? Said Dumbledore. But…
-You don't believe me? Let me show you."
Harry smiled in a twisted way. He drew nearer Peter. Dawn hold her breath, that way, no it was impossible. Peter tried to run but couldn't move, he yelled for help, begged for mercy. But Harry was only smiling. Harry opened his mouth and put it close to Peter's. The scream that went after, Harry who was enjoying it, would haunt Hermione and Ron forever.
"Harry, stop!
-Please Harry!"
But Harry wasn't listening, as he was sucking Peter out of his body. The soul was completely taken. Harry took it into his hand.
"No way am I putting this in my body."
He crushed it. Morgane came closer to Peter Pettigrew, opened her mouth and began to extract all of the fluids and flesh until only the bones were left. Everyone felt they were going to pass out at any moment.
Then she took off her hood and looked at her hands. Her body was complete at least. Dumbledore's eyes were large opened his eyes as he saw the symbol.
-You…"
She turned to him and smiled. She put her hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, I'll help you to defeat Voldemort. Come now, I'll explain everything."
They were on the point of leaving.
"Harry!"
Harry turned and saw Ron and Hermione who were coming to his way.
"Harry, don't go."
Harry sighed. Ron went towards him but his feet were blocked. So was Hermione's.
"It's For the Greater Good."
Dumbledore never felt like so despaired as he heard these words. Was it going to come all over again? Was he the one who created this?
"Harry!"
But Harry refused to answer. He and Morgane disappeared into the forest.
