Contains:
Chapter 15 Julie and Kristin
Chapter 16 The Tracking Charm
Chapter 17 In The Shrieking Shack
Chapter 18 Begging For Life
Chapter 19 The Ministry Arrives
Saturday never came quick enough for certain Gryffindors, but that first week of Harry Potter's fifth year seemed eternal. Ginny, Fred, and George Weasley weren't even informed of their involvement in the plot of freeing Sirius until Friday, when Harry, Hermione, and Ron came to them with the plan.
"Fred, George, Gin, we need your help," Ron said.
"Continue," Ginny said.
"Well, first we have to explain the story, then the plan," Hermione continued.
She and Ron told the story of Sirius and Melissa to the twins and Ginny, who had learned of his innocence the previous year, while Harry looked through the yearbooks from when his mom and dad had been in Hogwarts. He looked at their class, and he recognized eight of the ten Gryffindors: Lily Jennings, James Potter, Melissa Gumtree, Sirius Black, Morgan Gumtree, Peter Pettigrew, Chris Lyons, and Remus Lupin. But the last two names, Kristin Waters and Julia Montgomery, didn't ring a bell. Harry never remembered Melissa mentioning them.
"Sure, I'm in as well," George was saying as Harry looked up from the faces in the book.
"So all three of you will help?"
"Yep."
"That's great!"
"Thanks, guys."
"I'll be right back," Harry said, and he hopped through the portrait hole. He walked right into the person he had been looking for, and apparently she had been doing the same.
"Harry, could I speak to you a moment?" Professor Gumtree asked.
"Oh, yes. I had something to ask you."
"Will Fred, George, and Ginny help us?"
"Yes, they were enthralled by the idea."
"That's good. Dumbledore, McGonagall, and maybe some others have agreed to help. Now, what was it you wanted to ask me?"
"Who are Julia Montgomery and Kristin Waters?"
"How did you find out about Julie and Kristin?"
"I was looking through the old yearbooks."
"Ah. Well, they were both close friends of your mom and I. Julie, Lily, and I were like the female versions of James, Remus, and Sirius. We frequently got into trouble, but we were nothing compared to the masters. Kristin was kind of like the Peter in our little group, she was never as close to us, but we still hung out with her, but unlike Peter, Kristin was kind, clever, and adventurous. Peter was cruel, stupid, and afraid."
"Oh. So nothing else? No other connections?"
"Actually, Remus and Julie were together for a while, but then they split up. Remus is still madly in love with her. In fact, after you kids left, that was what we were talking about: Julie."
"What about me, Melissa?"
"Julie!" Melissa exclaimed, turning around to see a small, short haired figure, "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I heard you were teaching and came to visit."
"Really?"
"No. Actually, Dumbledore's been writing to me over the last few months, telling me all about Voldemort's rise, and Sirius, and everything else. He told me you were teaching here and that you had a plan to free Sirius that might require some help, so, here we are."
"We?" Melissa asked.
"We!" "Kristin! You're here too?"
"Of course, silly. I wouldn't let you bail out Sirius without me."
~~~
Saturday was finally there, but the day was eternal, since they were all waiting for night. George, Fred, Ginny, Ron and Hermione spent the day playing chess and writing letters. Harry spent the day with Sirius, Melissa, Julie and Kristin. He was so fascinated by his parents friends. The only thing that could have made this moment more perfect was if they weren't waiting for night to track down a madman, and if his parents themselves had been there.
At long last, it was dark enough for the spell to be performed. Kristin, Melissa, Julie, Sirius, George, Fred, Ginny, Ron, Hermione and Harry were joined by Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, Professor Dumbledore, and, to their dismay, Snape. At the top, all was fairly quiet, and Melissa began to speak.
"You all know what to do. I have the tracking orb. You all need to touch it as one and put your mind into it, but you must only think of finding Pettigrew. Do you understand?" Everyone nodded.
"When I count to three........ One. Two. Three." EVeryone reached in and put a hand on the orb. All eyes were closed, and everyone was deep in concentration, even Professor Snape. Harry was putting all his might into the little orb, wishing with all his heart that he could find Peter Pettigrew and destroy the little rat.
After about five minutes, Melissa spoke up and said, "That's enough. Thank you all for your time, and energy."
Everyone headed back down. Dumbledore had allowed Sirius to stay in the castle as long as he remained a dog and was always by the side of him, Melissa, Harry, or Julie and Kristin, as long as they stayed.
As they entered the Common Room, it was empty. Ginny, Fred and George, went up to bed, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat in chairs and talked for a few minutes.
"Won't it be wonderful if Pettigrew's caught?" Ron asked.
"Oh, I know! I do hope they catch him," Hermione said.
They continued talking about Pettigrew for a few more minutes, and then headed up to bed.
~~~
Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys continued living Hogwarts life as they always did, but every minute of the day they were thinking about Pettigrew being caught and Sirius being cleared.
At the end of each day's classes, they would go and talk to Professor Gumtree, who would tell them time after time that nothing had been found.
During Defense Against the Dark Arts one day, all of that changed. Melissa called for Julie, who had offered to fill in for Melissa should the need be. She motioned for Harry to come with her, wherever she was going, and then went directly to Dumbledore.
"He's in Hogsmeade, Albus! It's in the orb."
"What are you waiting for, grab the dog and go," he said, and then added, "I'm coming with you." His blue eyes twinkled as they went through the fireplace via Floo Powder and into Hogsmeade. Melissa had the orb, and the Marauder's map, should he enter Hogwarts.
"The orb says he's near the shrieking shack," Dumbledore pointed out, and Harry, feeling very awkward, but excited at the same time, grabbed a bit of Sirius' fur and followed.
Entering the shrieking shack, Melissa saw the rat in the corner. Sirius transformed into himself, and dove at the rat.
"Sirius, be careful not to kill him, or else we have nothing."
"I will," he said, sighing. He was not about to kill the rat, although he wanted nothing more than to do that. This rat had killed one of the most important people in his life, and made him suffer for twelve years in Azkaban. Sirius was not happy with the rat, but knew he was the key to his freedom.
Harry grabbed at the rat as well, but missed. Pettigrew tried to escape, but they blocked the exits. There was no way out.
~~~
Trapped and helpless, Pettigrew tranformed.
"What do you want from me?" he stuttered.
"After what you did, we want you dead, as I'm sure was established last time you met with Sirius. But we aren't like that, so we just want to kidnap you, present you to the Ministry, clear Sirius, and send you to Azkaban. However, perhaps you may get a little kiss instead."
"Sweet Melissa- you wouldn't do that to me? To your very sisters husband? She already won't speak to you because of what he did-" he pointed to Sirius.
"You mean what you did," Melissa said angrily.
"But it will still anger her, having her husband receive a Dementor's Kiss," he said, gulping with fear.
"You are scum, Pettigrew. You know that?"
"Sirius- my old friend. You won't let that happen to me, will you? I was your friend, Sirius."
"Get off me, rat. If I had it my way, you would be dead already."
"Dumbledore- kind headmaster. You won't let these horrible people kill an innocent man."
"You're right. That's why I would let them kill you."
"Kind headmaster- you were so good to me. Why let them do this? I respected you, and you were my hero. Please, you can't let them do this. I was scared, and I.........."
"You were here on orders from your master."
"Good-bye, Peter."
~~~
Peter looked frightened, but he knew if he transformed he would be killed. He wanted nothing more than to escape and go back to his master. His master would protect the loyal servant.
Quiet footsteps were downstairs, but Pettigrew had seen them coming, for he had been facing the window. As soon as they had entered, Peter transformed, and began to run away. Melissa tried to go after him, but was blocked by Minister Fudge.
"Black. Sirius Black," Fudge gasped. Sirius had not had time to transform.
"Minister."
"We are without Dementors, but we need to get one. We were informed that suspicious figures had entered the Shrieking Shack, but we had no idea," Fudge said.
"Minister, please. Give him a trial, or something," Melissa pleaded.
"There is no need."
"Minister, I insist that there is a trial tomorrow," Dumbledore said.
"All right, then, Dumbledore. He will be given a trial, but there is no point."
"Thank you, Minister."
"We will take him, and you may gather evidence for his trial in the Ministry Building tomorrow. Farewell, Albus, Melissa."
As soon as Fudge had left, Sirius in tow, Melissa said, "I don't trust him."
"There's no time for that now. Go after Pettigrew, now. I will return to Hogwarts with Harry, and write a letter to Remus."
"Yes, sir. I'll find him. For Sirius."