Hermione hugged Harry. "Hi! Oh we heard everything and I simply
begged mum and dad to let me come stay."
"Ron grinned, "It's a blessing in disguise. Imagine! Hogwarts all to ourselves for two months!"
"I wonder if any of the teachers stay for the summer. Maybe we can get some extra classes in."
"HERMIONE!" The boys yelled.
She blushed and smiled. "Sorry."
"So what actually happened? Dad was reluctant to answer my questions."
"You probably know as much as I know. Everybody has theories but nobody has facts. They've got Pettigrew down at Azkaban but by the time they're through with him it won't matter whether he has anything to say or not."
"You don't mean-"
"The Dementors Kiss."
She shivered, "I wish they would get rid of the Dementors."
"Well they can't exactly put Pettigrew in a cell. He would escape."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "They have precautions for Animagus prisoners you know. They don't just put them in a cell and hope they'll stay there."
Ron glared at her. "That's not what I suggested they would do."
Hermione snorted, "Are you suggesting Peter Pettigrew is clever enough to escape form Hogwarts?"
"No, but he's stupid enough to try to." This time it was Lupin's voice that answered. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at him, hoping he brought news.
"He tried to get past the guards when they brought him into trial. They gave him Veritaserum, but apparently Voldemort gave him immunity to it. So they just set the Dementors on him."
Hermione gasped.
"Hermione, the man is a murderer, he's killed more than once before and he will kill again."
"Your humanity is frankly tiresome 'Mione." Ron said.
Lupin waved him off. "Hermione, the magical world isn't the same as the world you grew up in. In the world of your parents and the rest of your family you can place criminals in cells, feed them twice a day and not worry about them until they die. But this world, your world, is far more advanced and far more complicated. Offenders must be dealt with immediately. I realise, Hermione, that this sounds very cold, and very cruel but you must remember that not only is Peter Pettigrew a multiple offender but also that he would, upon being released, return immediately to Voldemort.
Hermione nodded.
"Now!" Lupin said, his voice regaining its regular upbeat tones. "I suggest that we get some rest."
The three children looked at him like he was mad. "Alright, perhaps we shouldn't get some rest. He waved his wand and plates of biscuits and sweets appeared. "You three do what you like tonight. Tomorrow we'll decide what areas are forbidden, and how to enforce the fact that they are forbidden. However," he cleared his throat, "In the course of doing what you like you are NOT TO LEAVE GRYFFINDOR TOWER! Do you understand?"
"Yes." They replied in chorus.
"Good, Snape will be guarding the door."
"WHAT?!!"
"That's right, so I suggest you keep in line. Gryffindors have a tendency to disappear on their way from the tower to Dumbledore's office. You're no exception." He smiled. "Good night." he left.
"Great. We're being guarded by a death-eater. Why don't you just go give Voldemort your wand Harry?"
"Ron grinned, "It's a blessing in disguise. Imagine! Hogwarts all to ourselves for two months!"
"I wonder if any of the teachers stay for the summer. Maybe we can get some extra classes in."
"HERMIONE!" The boys yelled.
She blushed and smiled. "Sorry."
"So what actually happened? Dad was reluctant to answer my questions."
"You probably know as much as I know. Everybody has theories but nobody has facts. They've got Pettigrew down at Azkaban but by the time they're through with him it won't matter whether he has anything to say or not."
"You don't mean-"
"The Dementors Kiss."
She shivered, "I wish they would get rid of the Dementors."
"Well they can't exactly put Pettigrew in a cell. He would escape."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "They have precautions for Animagus prisoners you know. They don't just put them in a cell and hope they'll stay there."
Ron glared at her. "That's not what I suggested they would do."
Hermione snorted, "Are you suggesting Peter Pettigrew is clever enough to escape form Hogwarts?"
"No, but he's stupid enough to try to." This time it was Lupin's voice that answered. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at him, hoping he brought news.
"He tried to get past the guards when they brought him into trial. They gave him Veritaserum, but apparently Voldemort gave him immunity to it. So they just set the Dementors on him."
Hermione gasped.
"Hermione, the man is a murderer, he's killed more than once before and he will kill again."
"Your humanity is frankly tiresome 'Mione." Ron said.
Lupin waved him off. "Hermione, the magical world isn't the same as the world you grew up in. In the world of your parents and the rest of your family you can place criminals in cells, feed them twice a day and not worry about them until they die. But this world, your world, is far more advanced and far more complicated. Offenders must be dealt with immediately. I realise, Hermione, that this sounds very cold, and very cruel but you must remember that not only is Peter Pettigrew a multiple offender but also that he would, upon being released, return immediately to Voldemort.
Hermione nodded.
"Now!" Lupin said, his voice regaining its regular upbeat tones. "I suggest that we get some rest."
The three children looked at him like he was mad. "Alright, perhaps we shouldn't get some rest. He waved his wand and plates of biscuits and sweets appeared. "You three do what you like tonight. Tomorrow we'll decide what areas are forbidden, and how to enforce the fact that they are forbidden. However," he cleared his throat, "In the course of doing what you like you are NOT TO LEAVE GRYFFINDOR TOWER! Do you understand?"
"Yes." They replied in chorus.
"Good, Snape will be guarding the door."
"WHAT?!!"
"That's right, so I suggest you keep in line. Gryffindors have a tendency to disappear on their way from the tower to Dumbledore's office. You're no exception." He smiled. "Good night." he left.
"Great. We're being guarded by a death-eater. Why don't you just go give Voldemort your wand Harry?"