(AN:  Lots of thanks go out to Durayan, Alkari, and Mincot for this one.  It's been so long since I've er…played with Remus that it seems I have lost a bit of my feel for him.  This is the part everyone was waiting for, but yet it is the part I was lest looking forward to writing.  So very much of this is actual text lifted form PoA.  Don't beat me up for stealing it!)

Chapter Twenty-Eight

At the Shrieking Shack

Remus ran across the grounds, his mind racing.  It was impossible.  How could Peter be alive?  There had to be a mistake.  But…no…the map didn't lie…couldn't lie….But where had Peter been all these years?

All these years we thought you were dead, Peter.  All these years we…I believed Sirius had killed you.

Remus felt blood suddenly pounding in his ears.  Something just didn't add up here.  Why would Peter have let everyone believe he was dead all these years? Where has he been?  How has he managed to simply vanish?  Has he spent twelve years as a rat?  Surely not…But he had to know that Sirius was sent to Azkaban for his murder….Why….

Maybe Sirius meant to kill him but missed.  So Peter has been hiding all this time afraid that Sirius would hunt him down and kill him for certain.

As he ran, comprehension began to dawn on Remus.  But that still doesn't make sense.  Once Sirius was taken to Azkaban, why didn't Peter come out of hiding??  Why wouldn't he set the record straight about what really happened?  Why the lie for twelve years? And then…if Sirius didn't kill Peter, it seems unlikely that he killed all those Muggles …. He could hardly have blasted them while missing Peter.  And then….if Sirius didn't kill Peter, was it possible that he didn't kill all those Muggles either?  Remus felt his breath catch with a moment of wild hope.  Sirius innocent.  Is it possible?

Remus had reached the Whomping Willow.  Breathlessly, heart pounding, he picked up a long stick, prodded the knot, and entered the dusty tunnel below. 

The entrance to the tunnel showed signs of a struggle.  A bit of black cloth from what looked like a student's robe was caught on some of the surrounding bark of the tree.  A broad furrow scraped across the tunnel floor showed that something... or someone … had been dragged toward the trapdoor beyond.  Remus swallowed hard, hoping that he wouldn't be too late, that everyone would still be alive when he got to the shack.  Sirius Black isn't a murderer…

The thin ray of light ahead of Remus signaled the end of the tunnel.  Without hesitation, Remus pulled himself out of the hole and into the house.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione were in here somewhere.  And so, impossible as it seemed, were Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black.  Remus raced from room to room hoping to find a sign of just where Sirius had led them.  Suddenly, Hermione's voice sounded from upstairs.  "WE'RE UP HERE!  WE'RE UP HERE – SIRIUS BLACK- QUICK!" 

Without a moment's pause Remus hurled himself towards the stairs.   There was a thin mark in the dust from where something, or someone, was dragged up the steps.  He took the steps three at a time, mind racing toward an unknown danger---was it Sirius Black or was it Peter Pettigrew?  Remus raced upstairs following the path to the bedroom at the end of the hall.  Hoping he wasn't too late, he pulled out his wand and sent a spell at the closed door, which opened in a fury of red sparks. 

Glancing around the room quickly, Remus noted that Ron was sprawled on the floor, face pale with his leg at an impossible angle; Hermione was huddled next to the door, her forehead bleeding from a nasty looking gash.  Harry stood, stone-faced, with his wand raised and pointed directly at Sirius' heart.    Crumpled up on the floor lay a skeleton of the man who once was Sirius Black.

Remus stopped short.  Sirius…dear God!

Remus gasped at the sight of the man who'd once been one of his closest friends.  His skin was sallow and pale.  His hair hung in clumps of matted tangles and was so long it reached his waist.  And then Remus looked into his eyes.  Eyes that had once sparkled with youth had grown dull and nearly lifeless.  But Remus could see a strong determination in those eyes, even now.  There was more to this man than just an escaped convict, and Remus needed to know the truth.   Remus took a desperate chance.

"Expelliarmus!" he commanded, causing not only Harry's wand, but also the two Hermione was holding, to fly into the air.  Remus caught them easily.

There was no sign of Peter anywhere.  Yet the map showed he was here.  Taking a few steps into the room, Remus looked down at Sirius and asked, "Where is he, Sirius?"

Sirius stared back at Remus with those sunken eyes.  He blinked slowly and Remus imagined he saw something in the other man's eyes.   Raising a thin arm, Sirius pointed a bony finger at Ron still lying on the floor, clutching at his robes in an odd fashion…

As if he were trying to hold onto a squirming rat!

"But then…," Remus muttered, "…why hasn't he shown himself before now?"  It was the question Remus had been asking himself for the last fifteen minutes, but it wasn't until this very moment that he figured out the last piece.  "Unless – "  It suddenly all came together.  " -unless he was the one…"  Yes! Peter was the Secret Keeper!  "…unless you switched…" That has to be it!  They switched places at the last moment and they did it…  "…with out telling me?"

Holding his breath, Remus waited as Sirius very slowly nodded yes.  Remus suddenly knew with certainty—Sirius Black was no murderer.    With a deep exhale Remus dropped his wand.  For twelve long years Remus struggled with trying to fit all the pieces to the puzzle together.  And now, with only one nod from Sirius, everything fell into place. 

"Professor, what's going on –?"

Remus never heard Harry's question.   Swallowing the lump in his throat, Remus took a few steps toward Sirius and offered him a hand.  He pulled Sirius to his feet and did the only thing he could think of; He embraced him.  It was as if two brothers had finally been reunited after years of war.  It seemed as if time stood still and Remus forgot that there was anyone else in the room.  Very quietly, Remus whispered a gentle, "I'm sorry," so that only his friend could hear him.  Sirius answered back with a very faint, "Remus." 

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione shrieked, interrupting the moment and halting Remus from saying anything more to Sirius.

Time rushed back to its normal speed.  Remus broke away from Sirius and turned to see the young girl standing up and pointing a harsh finger at him. 

"You – you –" she stammered.

"Hermione –" Remus tried to explain.

"– you and him!"

"Hermione, calm down –"

"I didn't tell anyone!  I've been covering up for you –"

So she does know.  "Hermione, listen to me, please! I can explain –" But he didn't get that chance as Harry's voice broke out in a sharp cry.

"I trusted you, and all the time you've been his friend!" Harry shouted.

No Harry, it's not what you think!  Desperate to salvage whatever trust might be left, Remus said, "You're wrong.  I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now – Let me explain…."

"NO!" Hermione screamed.  "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too – he's a werewolf!"

The silence that hung in the air upon this announcement was so heavy Remus could hardly breathe.  Harry, Ron, and Hermione starred at him in fear and disgust.  He knew he would have to explain the whole situation, but as always, it left him cold inside to have to admit once more that he wasn't human.  Dear God, please let me get through this without falling apart!

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermoine," Remus observed wryly.  Only one out of three, I'm afraid.  I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead…. But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

There.  I said it.

On the other side of the room, Ron struggled to stand up.  Seeing the pain on his face, Remus moved to help him.

"Get away from me, werewolf!" Ron gasped.  The revulsion in his voice was clear.

Remus froze.   He felt the familiar humiliation that meant no relationship was ever enough, no trust complete enough to accept him for what he really was. "How long have you known?"

"Ages.  Since I did Professor Snape's essay…."

"He'll be delighted.  He assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant…"  And that I'd be removed from my position.  "Did you check the lunar chart and realize that I was always ill at the full moon?  Or did you realize that the boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?"

"Both," answered Hermione, evenly.

Remus laughed darkly.  Of course she would! Remus smiled, sadly, "You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione."

"I'm not," Hermione whispered. "If I'd been a bit cleverer, I'd have told everyone what you are!"

"But they already know.  At least, the staff do."

Ron nearly choked upon hearing this.   "Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf?  Is he mad?"

"Some of the staff thought so.  He had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy –" And clearly didn't succeed.

"AND HE WAS WRONG!"  Harry broke his silence, voice trembling with anger.   "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THE TIME!" Harry stabbed an accusing finger at Sirius, who was now sitting on the bed with his face buried in his hands.  Crookshanks sat next to Sirius, purring while Ron tried to get as far away from the both of them as was possible.

Hoping to set things right Remus said, "I have not been helping Sirius.  If you'll give me a chance, I'll explain."  This isn't working.  Let me try something more obvious.  "Look –" Separating the wands he held, Remus tossed one to Harry and another to Hermione.  He stuck his own wand in his belt and held out his empty hands.  "There.  You're armed, we're not.  Now will you listen?"

Confused and still angry, Harry asked, "If you haven't been helping him, how did you know he was here?"

"The map.  The Marauder's Map.  I was in my office examining it –"

"You know how to work it?" Harry said in amazement

With a wave of his hand, Remus said, "Of course I know how to work it.  I helped write it.  I'm Moony – that was my friends' nickname for me at school."

"You wrote – ?"

Impatient to get to the truth, Remus didn't wait for Harry to work it out on his own.  "The important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening, because I had an idea that you, Ron, and Hermione might try and sneak out of the castle to visit Hagrid before his hippogriff was executed.   And I was right, wasn't I?

Remus began pacing around the room as he worked out the whole story.  "You might have been wearing your father's old cloak, Harry –"

"How d'you know about the cloak?"

"The number of times I saw James disappearing under it…."  Oh Harry, you have NO idea!  Again he waved an impatient hand and continued.  "The point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak, you still show up on the Marauder's Map.  I watched you cross the grounds and enter Hagrid's hut.  Twenty minutes later, you left Hagrid, and set off back toward the castle.  But you were now accompanied by somebody else."  Remus glanced at Sirius who was still slumped over on the bed.

"What?" asked Harry.  "No, we weren't!"

"I couldn't believe my eyes," Remus continued without acknowledging Harry's question.  I have to get through this as quickly as possible – before I completely lose Harry's trust!  "I thought the map must be malfunctioning.  How could he be with you?"

"No one was with us!" Harry said in disagreement.

"And then I saw another dot, moving fast toward you, labeled Sirius Black…. I saw him collide with you; I watched as he pulled two of you into the Whomping Willow –"

"One of us!" said an angry Ron.

"No, Ron.  Two of you," Remus said pointedly.  Without taking his eyes off of Ron he asked, "Do you think I could have a look at the rat?"  Out of the corner of his eye, Remus noticed that Sirius sat up straight and joined Remus in staring at Ron.  The moment seemed so simple, but it had the potential to change everything for both Remus and Sirius and resolve all the conflicts of the past twelve years. 

"What?  What's Scabbers got to do with it?" Ron asked with a hint of worry in his voice.

"Everything.  Could I see him, please?"  Remus relied on his most professorial tone of voice to convince Ron he needed to hand over his pet.

Hesitantly, Ron reached inside his robes and pulled out a very sickly looking rat.  It squirmed and thrashed about, but Ron held onto its tail to make sure it didn't get away.  Remus studied it closely hardly daring to believe that this was happening at all.  He didn't even notice that he was holding his breath. 

The rat squirmed and squealed in Ron's hands.  Remus recognized that high-pitched sound instantly.  A cold chill ran down his spine.  There was an obvious sense of familiarity about the rat, even though he looked a bit thin, but Remus knew without a doubt that he was looking at Wormtail. 

"What?" said Ron, now a bit scared by the way the Remus and Sirius were gazing at him.  "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

"That's not a rat," Sirius croaked in his raspy voice.

"No, he's not," agreed Remus.  There was no denying it.  That rat was none other than an old friend he had believed dead for twelve long years – and it was time for everyone to know the truth.   "He's a wizard."

"An Animagus," said Black, "by the name of Peter Pettigrew."