Chapter 26: End of Term

Fudge was in Dumbledore's office when Dawn, Lupin, Black and Pettigrew stepped out of the portal.

"Dawn?" Dumbledore said from where he sat behind his desk.

"May I introduce, Peter Pettigrew. The real culprit of the crimes that Sirius was accused of," Dawn said.

"While Mr. Pettigrew being alive is very telling," Fudge said. "I have to ask what evidence do you have to that?"

"I maybe able to help with that," Dumbledore said. He stood, walked around the desk and too Dawn. "Dawn think of the vision you told me about."

Dawn nodded as Dumbledore put the wand to her temple. When he withdrew the wand there was a whisp attached to it. He walked over to a bowl sitting on the table and the whisp flowed into the bowl. "Cornelius, Dawn is a seer, the most powerful I've ever seen. If you come over, you will see what she saw in her vision."

Fudge nodded and walked over to the pensieve and looked into it. He saw Pettigrew killing the muggles in London. Saw that Pettigrew was the Potter's secret keeper, a last-minute change at Sirius' request. Lastly, he saw the duel between Sirius and Pettigrew, he saw that Pettigrew faked his own death as he was an unregistered animagus.

Fudge looked up and toward Dawn and nodded. "Quite powerful," he agreed. "I knew of course about the Slayer and Wiccan magic. But this, I did not know." He looked at Pettigrew. "Time to take you to Azkaban." He looked at Black. "As soon as I return to the Ministry I will work on your pardon. You will not be going back to the Ministry."

"Thank you," Sirius said.

Fudge looked at Dawn. "Till then he needs to be protected from the dementors."

"I have the perfect place," Dawn said. "The International Slayers Council. There he can get to know his godson over the course of the summer."

"I'd like that," Sirius said.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later that evening as Fudge along with a couple of Aurors accompanied Pettigrew towards the edge of the grounds of Hogwarts. Silently they tramped through the grounds. And then—

A cloud shifted. There were suddenly dim shadows on the ground. Their party was bathed in moonlight.

It was then that they heard a howl not far off. As the Aurors and Fudge glanced toward the direction of the howl they didn't notice Pettigrew transformed and scurried off into the grass.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

As the end of term approached, Dawn and Willow stepped into Lupin's office. They noticed he had packed most of his things.

"You're leaving?" Willow asked.

"Yes," Lupin said as he looked up at Willow and Dawn.

"Harry told us, that he heard from Hagrid, that you had resigned," Dawn said.

"I'm afraid I did," said Lupin. He started opening his desk drawers and taking out the contents. "Severus let slip that I am a werewolf. He personally didn't like the fact that Sirius was pardoned for Pettigrew's crimes. Since he couldn't take out his frustrations on Sirius, he took them out on me. This time tomorrow, the owls will start arriving from parents… They will not want a werewolf teaching their children."

"What if we told you that you could control the wolf," Willow said. "That you could not only remain in control transformed without wolfsbane. But choose when you want to change."

"I would ask how," Lupin said.

"Long before I realized I was gay I actually dated a boy who had been bitted by his cousin," Willow said. "When we were in college. He left to find a cure. What he found instead was the ability to transform when he chose, though anger sometimes triggered the transformation, and even to remain in control when changed. We can send you to him if you like."

"I would like that," Lupin said.

"Come find us when you are packed," Dawn said. "Willow will take you to Oz and introduce you."

Lupin closed his final trunk and smiled. "I'm ready."

"Will," Dawn said.

Willow nodded and opened a portal.

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

Later Dawn walked the castle smiling at the rumors flying about, none of which came close to the truth.

Harry walked up to Dawn. "Where is Aunt Willow?" he asked.

"With Oz," Dawn replied. She noticed her nephew's quizzical glance. "She went with Remus to introduce him to Oz. So that he could learn what Oz had."

"So, the werewolf thing was true?" Harry asked.

"It was," Dawn said.

"What about Pettigrew?" Harry asked.

"Sadly, he escaped as Fudge and a couple Aurors were taking him to Azkaban. Sirius is free though and wants to get to know you this summer."

"So, he really is innocent?"

Dawn nodded. "Yes. He was never after you. He was after Ron's rat, Scabbers. Scabbers was really Pettigrew who was an unregistered animagus. He was only interested in revenge on Pettigrew."

"For betraying my parents," Harry said as Dawn nodded.

As they passed Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas they heard them talking about Lupin leaving.

"Wonder what they'll give us next year?" said Seamus Finnigan gloomily.

"Maybe a vampire," suggested Dean Thomas.

"Only two vampires have ever had a soul," Dawn said. "And both of them are currently in the U.S. dealing with the baddies there."

"Well there goes my suggestion," Dean said.

The exam results came out on the last day of term. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had passed every subject. Dawn and Willow were happy for all three of them.

Gryffindor House, meanwhile, largely thanks to their spectacular performance in the Quidditch Cup, had won the House championship for the third year running. This meant that the end of term feast took place amid decorations of scarlet and gold, and that the Gryffindor table was the noisiest of the lot, as everybody celebrated.

As the Hogwarts Express pulled out of the station the next morning, Hermione gave Harry and Ron some surprising news.

"I went to see Professor McGonagall this morning, just before breakfast. I've decided to drop Muggle Studies."

"But you passed your exam with three hundred and twenty percent!" said Ron.

"I know," sighed Hermione, "but I can't stand another year like this one. Without Muggle Studies and Divination, I'll be able to have a normal schedule again. Well almost normal."

"Then you turned in the time-turner," Willow asked.

"Yes, Willow," Hermione said. "That said though you will notice I said almost normal." She looked at Dawn and Willow. "I want to learn Wiccan magic."

"We'd like that," Dawn said as she smiled at Hermione.

"I've been thinking about the holidays," Ron said. "I'd like Harry to come stay with us. I'll fix it up with Mum and Dad, then I'll call you. I know how to use a fellytone now—"

"A telephone, Ron," said Hermione. "Honestly, you should take Muggle Studies next year…"

Ron ignored her.

"With one exception we agree," Dawn said.

"I was going to ask you both come with Harry," Ron said. "After all it's the Quidditch World Cup this summer! How about it? Come and stay, and we'll go and see it! Dad can usually get tickets from work."

"We'd like that," Willow said.

The five of them then got in several games of Exploding Snap, and when the witch with the tea cart arrived, Harry bought them all a very large lunch, though nothing with chocolate in it.

But it was late in the afternoon before the thing that made him truly happy turned up…

"Harry," said Hermione suddenly, peering over his shoulder. "What's that thing outside your window?"

0 – 0 – 0 – 0 – 0

"Hello, Harry," Sirius said as Dawn, Willow and Harry stepped out of the portal that brought them from King's Cross.

"Hello, Sirius," Harry replied.

"Dawn, Tigerlily," Sirius said as Willow looked at him. "I thought it might be good to remember her. Plus you look so much like her that I think you should take up the nickname."

Willow thought about it and then nodded.

"Anyways," Sirius continued, "If you two can spare Harry. I think he and I have a lot to talk about."

"Have fun," Dawn said as Sirius led Harry away from them.

Author's Note: As much as I wanted to keep Pettigrew in Azkaban. He is partially instrumental to the plot of Goblet of Fire, that's why I have him getting away.