Before anything could happen or anyone could react to my words Lupin barged in. He was breathing heavily and looked wildly at Black and all of us. He easily summoned my wand and Greg's and Pansy's. Lupin then gruffly asks: "Where is he?"

"You," Granger shrieks sounding shocked and betrayed. "I trusted you. I knew you were a werewolf and I told no one. You helped Black all this time-"

"Not up to your usual, Hermione," Lupin interrupts calmly. "Just one out of two. I did not help Black. I am a werewolf however, I cannot deny that, how long have you known?"

"I knew ever since that class from Snape." Hermione then glares acidly at Lupin. "I should have listened to Draco. I should have distrusted you. I should have told Dumbledore. Well, Harry is not here, so you cannot harm him." She looks gleefully at him.

"Dumbledore knows of my affliction," Lupin calmly interrupts. "It would not have mattered if you'd gone to him. You can still tell him though, I send my patronus charm for him and Poppy. I'm sure you'd like to know that Harry-"

As Lupin says Harry, Weasley immediately jumps on his badly injured leg. "I won't let you hurt, Harry."

Lupin frowns worriedly. "Sit back, you are hurting yourself! You really need some care for that leg of yours. It is a good thing I send my patronus for Pomfrey and Dumbledore."

Then Black growls and lunges for Weasley, but is held back by Lupin who stands as a buffer between them. "You'll hurt Ron," he admonishes slowly. He then turns towards Weasley and orders: "Give us your rat."

Weasley holds his rat protectively against his chest. "Why? What would you do to Scabbers? Have they both gone mad?"

"What does it matter?" I groan. "Give them the rat and lets just get out of here-"

"Expelliarmus," I then hear Severus drawl. He is eyeing Black and Lupin maliciously like a predator as he catches the wands Lupin and Black were holding. "And Dumbledore was so sure of it that you would not help your old friend into the castle.." He sneers. "Black," he then spats hatefully, "I am so delighted to be the first to find you. I am sure that the dementors have missed you. I think not even the minister would object if I'd call the dementors, I am sure they would like to give you a little kiss."

As Black shudders, Severus grins. I feel sick.

"I am not sure if that is necessary, Severus," Dumbledore then interrupts, while raising his hand in a calming manner. "Lupin I must say that your patronus came as a surprise. Please explain yourself."

Behind Dumbledore stands Potter wearily and Pomfrey hustles past us and is already kneeling by Weasley's side, starting to secure his leg. Dumbledore in the meanwhile gives everyone back his own wand. Somehow Dumbledore's presence calms everyone down.

Lupin turns towards Dumbledore. "It was Pettigrew. They must have changed secret keepers. And he is here." Dumbledore frowns and signs him to continue. "This rat is Peter," he spats. With a quick move he had taken the rat from Weasleys grip.

Weasley objects. "That's ridiculous. That's my pet- Scabbers. He has been in my family for years. I got him from Percy."

Black looks even more hateful towards the rat than he had looked at Severus. "Let me kill him now," he begs.

Lupin shakes his head strongly and pushes Black away from the rat who was supposed to be Pettigrew. "No, they deserve an explanation, Sirius. You have to wait-"

"I am done waiting," Black bellows. "I have already done fourteen years of waiting in Azkaban. Hand over the rat."

Lupin holds the rat out of Black's range, who readily lunges for it. "They have to understand, Sirius! Peter was an animagicus," Lupin than faces Dumbledore. "They all became animagi. For me. Your dad, Harry, became a stag, Sirius became a black dog and Peter a rat. To be specific, this rat. So they could help me with my changes."

"How did mister Black know this rat was Peter Pettigrew?" Granger then questions.

Black then shows us a dirty old photograph. "I asked Fudge for the newspaper and I recognised him and the article was stated the boy in the picture with the rat would go to Hogwarts. He would go to the same place Harry would be."

"But-" Granger hesitates. "But how did you recognise it was Peter and not just a rat?"

"He misses a toe," Black answers gruffly.

"One way to find out," Severus then sneers at Black as he waves his wand at the rat, that immediately starts changing into a small, fat human, who must be Peter Pettigrew. Pansy grabs my hand, but quickly lets it go embarrassedly.

"We should call Fudge," Dumbledore says faintly. "An innocent's name needs to be cleaned tonight. The dementors will take a fine care of Peter Pettigrew."

Severus shoves Dumbledore away and trains his wand dangerously at Pettigrew. "No, I don't care about Black's name. He can rot in Azkaban, for all I care. Ava-" I feel confused by Severus sudden hate. It seemed so personal. Sure, it was absolutely horrid what Peter had done, but why would he want Pettigrew dead so badly? Dumbledore stops Severus with a hand on his shoulder. I let air flow out of my lungs, I had not realised I was holding my breath. "We should head back to the castle. Pettigrew will get what he deserves in Azkaban." Severus looks slightly calmed and adjusts his robes as if he had not just lost his temper.

Then professor Lupin groans as his body starts elongating. His scarred face becomes hairy and his jaw becomes longer. He looks in agony as his bones start shifting and he starts looking more and more like a werewolf. Severus throws himself between Lupin and me, Vin, Pansy, Potter and Granger as a way to protect us.

Then a lot of things were happening at once.

Pettigrew tackles Granger and takes her wand. I try to grab Pettigrew's hair and catch some strands of hair along with a part of his ear. Not sure what I am doing exactly I pull harshly. Pettigrew howls in pain and anger. I then feel a sharp pain in my arm and feel a warm, tingling sensation running along my arm: Pettigrew had cut my arm deeply with a swish of Granger's wand. I instinctively pull my throbbing arm towards my chest and let go of Pettigrew. Pettigrew then sees his chance to escape. He changes into a rat and scurries away, while leaving Granger's wand behind with a soft clatter.

Black at the same moment changes into a dog and shoves Lupin away from the tunnel into the shack and allows Pomfrey and Weasley to get away into the tunnel. Dumbledore stays behind and shoves all of us into the tunnel. As I walk away I look back into the shack. Dumbledore is helping Black out of the shack and is severing the door to hold Lupin inside. Black appears to be heavily bleeding. Severus notices I am standing still and quickly pulls me along with the others. When we get out of the tunnel the willow appears to be frozen. A loud howl fills the dark night and I feel a shudder travel past my back.

Severus clasps me tightly against him when we are all outside and then barks us to follow him to the castle. He leads us to the hospital wing. Pomfrey ushers over Weasley. Severus quickly heals my arm. He then leaves the hospital wing.

Then Dumbledore walks in with a heavily injured Black and looks at Granger. "More than one life can be saved. Two turns should be enough."

"I don't understand," Granger says.

"Fudge is nearing the castle. The dementors are craving for someone to torment. I fear that Black will have no chance to become a free man. He has too much evidence against him and Pettigrew was lost in tonight's chaos. He needs to escape the castle." Dumbledore smiles serenely. "You know the rules, miss Granger. Take Black and if you are not sure what to do I find it helps to follow my own footsteps. Remember, you cannot be seen."

Granger nods confusedly and steps towards Black and puts a necklace around both of their necks. "Wait," Greg interrupts. "What are you doing?" Greg stands up worriedly, looking between Dumbledore and Granger.

"I'll be fine, Greg," Granger whispers.

Greg quickly walks towards Granger and kisses her, as Granger starts twisting the necklace and disappears into thin air. I can make out the surprised, but pleased look on Granger's face and the panic on Greg's as Granger is at once gone.

Dumbledore smiles amusedly at Greg. "Ah young love," he says, "Granger will soon join us, I believe, she will be fine. Alas I believe she is almost here."

I look straight at Dumbledore. "It was Severus who alerted Fudge, was it not?"

"It was," Dumbledore answers. "Don't judge Severus too harshly, chances are Mister Black would do the same-" At that moment Granger rushes into the hospital wings. Her cheeks are coloured red. "Black has escaped with Buckbeak," she blurts out.

"Good, good," Dumbledore answers. "Why don't you all just go to sleep now.. I should meet with Fudge." He then walks away merrily. Greg shyly meets Granger's eyes. I feel too drained to try to make sense of all that happened tonight and I let myself fall into a deep, long sleep.