HUNTING A RAT

Alex couldn't bring herself to understand everything, but she had one thing clear. If Peter Pettigrew was alive and had spent 12 years turned into a rat, he must had known something. One doesn't hide from a person for 12 years, especially when than person was at Azkaban, locked. She didn't know where the rat was, but she knew how to find it.

She woke up early that morning and headed outside the castle, making sure no one saw her. Once she was out, she turned into her animagus form. And the hunt began. She was able to distinguished Ron's smell. If the rat had being with him for so long, it would smell like him. She followed the trace. Truth be told, being a wolf made it difficult for her to move freely around the castle and its surroundings. She did her best not to be seen. And in case she was, she would just pretend to be a normal wolf coming from the forbidden forest.

She walked around the surroundings of the castle for a while. Headed to Hagrid's hut, the forest. It was hard for her to keep up with the smell. She wasn't used to it yet. She spent a lot of time looking for the rat, but she was unsuccessful. She headed towards Hagrid's hut again. That's where the smell led her. She saw Buckbeak in the courtyard. The Gryffindor trio was inside the hut, talking to Hagrid. She heard something behind her. When she turned, she saw a dog. The same dog she saw that day. She tried to get closer to him, but he started growling. Alex felt fear once again. If Sirius was truly that dog, he wouldn't hurt her, would he? She turned back into her human form.

- …Dad? – the dog looked at her, sadness in his eyes. The dog got his ears down. He walked up to her, slowly. He let her pet him. – It wasn't you, was it? It was Peter… - he growled as a response and looked up at her. – Let's find him.

She turned back into a wolf. Sirius started running towards the forest, and she followed. He would know how to find him better than her. After all, he had been an animagus for a longer time. After some turns, they ended up heading near the castle. And there he was. The rat. On Ron's hands. Harry and Hermione with them. Next to the whomping willow.

- Harry! Hermione! Leave! It's the Grimm! Run! – Ron screamed looking at Sirius. Sirius, consumed by the rage, ran towards Ron and grabbed him by the leg, pulling the rat along with him. He was taking Ron to the tunnel beneath the tree. Alex knew she needed help.

Turning around, she ran towards the castle. When she arrived, she went back to her human self and ran towards Remus class. He was there, as usual.

- Uncle Remus! He's here! He found him! – Remus was startled.

- What do you mean?

- Dad! He's here! He found Peter, but Ron, Harry and Hermione were there! He took him through the tunnel under the Whomping willow!

- You need to stay here. – Remus started running towards the door.

- What? No!

- Alex, for once, listen to me. Stay here. – and just like that he left.

- Like hell I'm staying here. – she followed behind. Far enough for him not to see her and sent her back. That would only be a waste of time.

Remus got inside the tunnel, enchanting the tree not to attack him. Alex followed, carefully. She arrived to the shack a couple minutes later than him. And decided to wait under the stairs. She wasn't sure if going up would be a good idea. She wasn't sure about anything really. She just heard for the moment.

- Wait, Sirius… - she heard Remus speaking.

- I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban! Away from my daughter! I couldn't even go to Eden's funeral! – there was hurt in his voice. It was the first time Alex heard her father.

- All right then. Kill him. But wait a minute. Harry deserves to know why.

- I know why! You betrayed my parents! They died because of you!

- No, Harry, it wasn't him! Someone else betrayed your parents, Harry. Someone in this room right now. Someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead.

- Who was it then?

- Peter! Pettigrew! And he's here! As good as dead! – in that moment, Alex saw Snape climbing up the stairs. - Come out, come out, Peter. Come out, come out and play…

- Expelliarmus! – she needed to do something, anything. - Ah, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you.

- Severus… - Remus tried talking to him.

- I told Dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle. And here's the proof.

- Brilliant! And, as usual, dead wrong. Now give us our wands back. Remus and I have a bit of unfinished business to tend to. – she needed to think, and fast.

- Give me a reason. I beg you. – Snape sounded threatening.

- Don't be a fool, Severus!

- He can't help it. It's habit by now.

- Quiet, Sirius!

- Quiet, you, Remus!

- Listen to you two. Quarrelling like an old married couple.

- Why don't you go and play with your chemistry toys?

- I could do that. But how about I turn you over to the Dementors? – that was it. Alex started climbing the stairs as well. - Do I detect a flicker of fear? One can only imagine what it must be like to endure the Dementor's Kiss. It's said to be unbearable to witness. But I'll do my best.

- Stupefy! – Alex pointed her wand at Snape, who flew across the room and knocked the floor, unconscious.

- Alex! You just attacked a teacher. – said Hermione.

- That's going to cost me a hundred points…

- I told you to stay at the castle! – Remus grabbed his wand and looked with a serious face at Alex.

- And you seriously though I would listen…C'mon. – Remus looked at her, and then at Sirius.

- Of course, you wouldn't. You're his daughter after all. – Alex looked at Sirius. For the first time, her father was in front of her. And for the first time in a long time, she wasn't afraid of him. He got closer to her, carefully. Like he was a wounded animal looking for help.

- You look just like her…Eden… - he placed his hand on her cheek.

- So I've been told. – she smiled at him.

- Tell me about Peter Pettigrew. – Harry spoke. It felt like time had stopped for a moment, but there was still the rat thing.

- He was at school with us. We thought he was a friend. – Remus said.

- No. Pettigrew's dead. He killed him. – Harry pointed Hermione's wand at Sirius, and Alex stood between.

- I thought so, too. Until Alex mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map, on the Gryffindor common room. And days later, you did the same.

- The map was lying then…

- The map never lies! – Sirius spoke behind Alex. - Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there. – he pointed at Ron.

- Me? It's lunatic…

- Not you, you idiot. Your rat!

- Scabbers has been in my family for…

- Twelve years. A curiously long life for a common garden rat. He's missing a toe, isn't he?

- So what?

- All they could find of Pettigrew was his… - Harry was starting to understood.

- Finger! Dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead. Then he transformed into a rat.

- Show me! – Harry was still pointing at Sirius. He grabbed Scabbers from Ron's hands. Remus pulled Alex backwards. Sirius placed the rat on top of some old furniture, and both him and Remus starting casting a spell on him. However, the rat kept dodging all the spells. Alex got her wand out and pointed at the rat about to escape.

- Transformare homine. – suddenly, the rat turned into a man. Remus and Sirius grabbed him.

- S-Sirius…R-Remus. My old friends. – he tried to escape, but both of them managed to push him back. – Harry! Look at you! Y-you look just like your father. Like James. We were the best of friends, he and I…

- How dare you speak to Harry? – Sirius walked up to him, and Peter tried to hide behind the furniture.

- You sold James and Lily to Voldemort! – Remus said.

- I didn't mean to! The Dark Lord, you have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself what you would have done, Sirius. What would you have done!

- Died! Died rather than betray my friends!

- And leave poor Alex an orphan? Like you ended up doing?

- Because of you! And you should have realized, Peter, if Voldemort didn't kill you…We would. Together.

- Wait! – Alex said. They all turned to look at her.

- Alex, this man…

- I know what he did. What he's done. But you can't kill him. If he dies, he won't be able to clear his name. – Alex looked at Sirius.

- Alex is right. We'll take him to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you. – Harry said looking at Peter.

They walked through the tunnel, back to the castle. Ron was being carried by Harry and Hermione, while Remus made sure Peter didn't escape. At the front of the tunnel, Sirius and Alex walked together.

- I'm sorry for scaring you. Back at Hogsmeade. I wasn't sure how to approach you.

- It's okay. It wasn't your fault. – they didn't know what to tell each other.

- I'm glad you've had Remus by your side all these years. Making him your godfather was our best idea. We knew he would take good care of you. – he smiled.

- Right, you don't know…When I turned ten years old, they took me away from Remus.

- What?

- Lucius Malfoy told the ministry about him being a werewolf. They determined that he wasn't fit to take care of a child.

- Where did they take you?

- With your closest family…If Narcissa hadn't married Lucius, maybe my life wouldn't suck that much.

- I'm sorry, Alexa. It's my fault…

- It's not. You didn't kill anyone… - he looked behind him, at Harry.

- How is your relationship with Harry?

- We're friends.

- Really?

- Why are you so surprised?

- Well, usually Gryffindors and Slytherins don't mix together.

- Says the Gryffindor that had a daughter with a Slytherin. – they both laughed.

- I've been thinking. If I clean up my name…well, I'm your father and his godfather…Maybe both of you could come and live with me. – Alex heart stopped for a moment.

Living with his father. That sounded good, but…She looked back, at Remus. Alex had grown thinking she was an orphan. Every time she thought of her father…Remus would pop up on her head. Of course, she wanted to get to know Sirius, but when it came to having a father, that place was already taken at Alex's heart. Sirius noticed how she looked at Remus, and he smiled. It was a sad smile. He understood. He had been away from her twelve years. They didn't know each other. He was her father, but…at the same time, he wasn't.

- I'll ask Remus to come and live with us, off course. It wouldn't be fair for him to take you away. Again. – they both smiled at each other, and Alex nodded.

When they got out of the tunnel, Ron sat next to the tree. His leg was bleeding, but it didn't look as bad as he was trying to make it look. Sirius walked towards the castle, and Harry followed. Alex felt weird with that situation. But her feelings were clear. And after all, Harry had lost his parents, and he didn't have her luck with Remus. He needed someone that loved him. He needed a father. And since Alex couldn't be Sirius's daughter anymore, he needed a son. So, she smiled to herself and looked at Remus once again, who was getting out of the tunnel with Pettigrew. Suddenly, Hermione screamed.

- Harry! – they all looked at her. She was pointing at the moon. At the full moon.

- No… - Alex looked at Remus again. He was petrified, looking at it. His fingers were twitching. – Uncle Remus?

- Remus, old friend…did you take your potion tonight? – Sirius went towards him and grabbed him, trying to hold him still. - You know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh. This heart is where you truly live. This heart! Here! – taking advantage of the situation, Pettigrew turned himself back into a rat, and got away. Harry tried to go after him, but Hermione stopped him. It was dangerous. Alex was debating herself. Go after the rat and save Sirius. Stay there and save all of them.

- Run. Get out of here. – she told her friends, turning herself into a wolf.

Remus was finishing his transformation. He threw Sirius away, and Alex jumped towards him. She didn't want to hurt him. It was the last thing she wanted. But she needed to take him away from his friends and her father. However, Remus was stronger than her, and she was still getting used to her new form. Remus threw her away, like he had done with Sirius. In that moment, Sirius, transformed as a dog, attacked Remus as well. He managed to get Remus away from the trio and Snape, who was there now. But he was in a clear disadvantage. Remus was about to sink his claws in Sirius, when Alex stepped back in. Both Alex and Remus fell down the hill. She howled at him, and started running towards the forest, knowing he would follow after.

They were deep into the forest, when Remus stopped going after her. There was someone around. She could smell them. "Hermione and Harry?". That couldn't be. Hermione and Harry were back at the Whomping Willow…Alex followed Remus carefully. She was right. There they were, Harry and Hermione. It was too late for her to try and stop Remus, when suddenly, Buckbeak showed up and kicked Remus on the head, forcing him to ran. She stood there for a few seconds, looking at her friends. They nodded at her and she went after Remus, to make sure he didn't hurt anyone else. Not even himself. It wasn't long till Remus fell to the floor, hurt by Buckbeak hit. Alex laid next to him on her animal form still, and she waited there till morning, next to him. Watching over her dear uncle Remus. Wondering what had happened with Sirius and Pettigrew.

When morning arrived, Alex conjured a cloak to place it over Remus's body. He had returned to his human form and he looked in a really bad shape. She waited there till he woke up. She couldn't take him to the castle by herself.

- Alex? Is that you? – Remus tried to get up from the ground.

- Woah, careful there. You've had a rough night. – Remus started to gain his memory back. He looked at her with fear on his eyes.

- Did I hurt you? Did I hurt anyone?

- It's okay, it's not your fault. We're fine…

- Sirius…

- I…I'm not that sure about him. – he had a huge bump on his forehead. – C'mon, we need to get you to the hospital wing.

Alex helped Remus up, and together, they headed towards the castle. When they arrived at the hospital wing, Ron was lying there, sleeping. Madam Pomfrey took care of Remus as Alex waited. Dumbledore walked through the doors.

- Professor Dumbledore!

- Morning, Miss Black. Professor Lupin.

- Headmaster… - he smiled, tired.

- I'm afraid someone has let slip the nature of your condition, Remus. Tomorrow morning, every parent will know. I could intervene for you and…

- No. You've risked enough for me, Dumbledore. Thank you. – they nodded at each other. Alex didn't quite understand what that meant.

- Uncle Remus? – he looked at her sadly.

- Looks like our time together has come to an end, Alex…

- No, why do you say that? – he got up from his bed.

- Parents won't like someone like me teaching their children…I have to go.

- That's…not fair. You did nothing wrong. It's not your fault.

- They won't care about it. Come, help me get to my office and pack my things, will you? – he reached out for her. She held his hand and let him support on herself. They arrived at his office and started to pick up his things.

- I want to go with you… - Alex was sad. She looked at him, tears on her eyes. – You're my family. I belong with you.

- Come here. – they both hugged. – I'm always a letter away. And I can come visit you at Christmas. Besides, I'm sure not everything is bad with the Malfoys…You've got Draco. – Alex smiled. She did have Draco. Draco. Who she hadn't talk to in some days, when he had had her back from the start.

- I need to talk with him. – Alex walked to the door, then turned. – Don't you dare leave without saying goodbye!

- I won't.

On her way out, she bumped into Harry. They looked at each other.

- Is he…? – Alex needed to know what had happened with her dad.

- He escaped. He's safe. – he smiled. They both did. She nodded, and kept walking. – Alex! – she turned. – He gave me this. For you. – it was a letter, or at least looked like it.

- Thank you, Harry. – she hugged her friend and then left to look out for Draco.

She found Draco outside, sitting next to an arch. She walked up to him. He looked up. His nose was purple. He looked annoyed as hell. It was going to be quite the challenge to get him to talk to her.

- The missing one. Blessed eyes.

- I know you're mad at me for…a lot of things, but…I've had a lot on my plate and I couldn't share it with you or anyone, really. It wasn't your burden. – that wasn't convincing him, since he was looking away. She kneeled in front of him. – My father didn't kill anyone. Someone else did. Someone who set him a trap all those years ago and then hid where no one could find him. But I did. I found him. And I met my dad. And…it's a pretty long story but…he's free. Not officially but he escaped. – Draco looked at her with attention. – And I turned into an animagus. Which could cause me a lot of trouble if someone found out. And…my uncle is resigning because he's a werewolf and people have a lot of prejudice. And to be honest, it surprises me that your father didn't try to get him sacked during the year. But now he's leaving. And my dad has left too. And I can't go with neither of them because one is a werewolf and the other one remains a criminal and, I know it's not fair since I haven't been the best of friends the past few weeks, but… - she looked him in the eyes. – right now, I need my best friend. And if we're mad at each other, I don't think I'm going to be able to put up with everything.

- You're a jerk.

- I won't deny it… - he looked one more time at her, and then rolled his eyes.

- It's fine. Let's go. We need to start packing up our things. Is the last day, remember? – he got up and waited for her to follow. She did, and she hugged him from the back.

- You're the best! – she kissed his cheek, which made him smile. – What happened to your nose?

- Nothing worth mentioning.

- Did you get into a fight?

- Maybe.

- Oh, such a bad boy. – she laughed. They both did.

That night, she read the letter Sirius had written to her.

"Alex. I know that everything that happened was a lot to take. It was a lot to take for me as well. I wanted you to know that, for the past twelve years, the one thing that kept me sane along vengeance, was the thought of you. My daughter. I never thought I would be able to meet you. But I'm aware of our situation. Twelve years is a long time. Wounds heal but they leave some nasty scars…I can't be your father, because you already have one. And I must say, Remus is a better father than I would ever be. But even though we can't be who we were meant to be for each other, I want you to know that I'm here. You can count on me, Alex. And, who knows? Maybe one day things could be different. Your mother would be proud of you. And so I am. I love you, Alexa. Take care, and kick ass."