Brooklyn couldn't speak for a while, too angry at the Ministry for taking an innocent life. He could hear Hermione crying next to him, and he couldn't blame her for doing so. He felt as though the superiors in this Wizarding world was just as corrupt as the ones from his own, always taking rash action, blaming innocent people, etc. He was suddenly snapped from his thoughts by Ron yelping in pain, and a squeak from Scabbers.
"He bit me!" Ron cried, holding his bleeding finger. Turning sharply, Brooklyn spotted that traitorous human rat scurrying away. His vision turned red, and he snarled viciously, charging after Pettigrew, his heart out for blood, no way in hell letting this monster escape again!
Harry stared in shock at Brooklyn suddenly going for Peter, murder in his eyes. He too wanted to let the man pay for betraying his parents, but blindly killing wasn't the answer. He had to stop his brother from doing this!
"What's wrong with Brooklyn? Doesn't he realize it is just Scabbers?" Ron exclaimed, confusion and fear for his rat in his eyes, as he turned and ran after him.
"Ron, wait!" Harry yelled, as he and Hermione tore after their friends in earnest, as it led them to the Whomping Willow.
Scabbers was squealing in panic, Brooklyn hot on his heels, getting closer. "You won't get away, murderer!" He roared. Ron suddenly appeared, pushing the gargoyle out of the way, right before he could grab the filth. He grabbed Scabbers in his hands, backing away from the crazed gargoyle, grunting as he pushed himself off the ground where he fell, wings spread wide, beginning to move in on them, talons extended.
"Please, Brook! He's just a rat!" Ron wailed, gripping Peter close to his chest, who was squealing very loudly.
"You don't know who you've been housing all these years, Ronald. Give me that rat, he's dangerous!" Brooklyn snarled, pointing his talon at him. Ron trembled, staring down at Scabbers in his hands, before another sound came from behind. Ron looked terrified as he pointed a trembling finger "G-Grim!" He yelped. Turning around, Brooklyn spotted Sirius, in his dog form, growling.
Oh no! Brooklyn thought in horror, forgetting about his anger almost immediately. Sirius barked, charging forward, but Brooklyn wouldn't let him attack Peter yet as he intercepted, grabbing Sirius and trying to hold him down.
"Sirius, don't attack him right now! They don't know about Peter yet!" He bellowed, trying to knock some sense into the man. Sirius then began to settle, though he still looked angry at Pettigrew. Ron was thunderstruck.
"Brooklyn? H-how do you know that dog? And that dog is Sirius Black?" The gargoyle winced, looking a little guilty, but knew it was time to tell Ron and Hermione everything.
"We have a lot of explaining to do," he muttered, looking over to Sirius, who was giving him pleading puppy dog eyes, as though begging to kill Peter.
"No, not yet," Brooklyn snapped, not giving into the Bambi eyes this time! Sirius slumped to the dirt, giving out a small whimper noise.
Harry and Hermione joined them a while later followed by the sudden appearance of Crookshanks, and they all proceeded into the Whomping Willow passageway into the Shrieking Shack.
Harry and Brooklyn both explained their stories to Ron and Hermione about Sirius being innocent, along with going out of his way into teaching Brooklyn the Patronus and Harry an Animagus. At first, they were surprised and a little betrayed, but Brooklyn told them of how they couldn't bring Sirius into the spotlight yet until they revealed Peter.
But just at that moment when they finished, Lupin arrived, his face looking tired and worn, but his eyes had a little anger and surprise.
"And what is all this? Why are you four with Sirius Black?" He demanded, but then Sirius smirked at him, suddenly giving him a hug by like brothers. Brooklyn was somewhat happy that two old friends reunited, but he wished it was under different circumstances.
"And it is nice to see you too, Moony! I found him! Brooklyn even offered to bring him to me! Let's kill him!"
Hermione stared, her mouth open. All the time, Lupin was Sirius's friend? And he didn't tell them?
"I trusted you! And all this time you've been his friend!" Brooklyn felt worry in him. If Hermione still didn't believe, even with their explanation, but then he heard news that made him shocked to the very core, something Sirius hadn't told him.
"He's a werewolf!" Hermione shouted, pointing to Lupin, who looked guilty now, letting go of Sirius, but also looked impressed with her finding out.
No way, I was talking to a freaking werewolf this year? The gargoyle thought in disbelief, staring at Lupin as though he had never seen him before. This reminded him of when Fox had used the eye of Odin that turned her into a werewolf, but this was different: Lupin had been a werewolf since he was a child! He shuddered at the idea of turning into a demented wolf monster every full moon!
"How long have you known?" He asked her in a calm sounding voice, but she wouldn't fall for it.
"Since Professor Snape set the essay." She snapped.
"Now, Hermione, you really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met," Lupin complimented before Sirius interrupted.
"Come on Remus and Brooklyn! Let's kill him already!" Brooklyn shook his head violently. "Wait!" Lupin exclaimed, but Sirius wouldn't be told no any longer.
"I did my waiting! 12 freaking years of it!" He screamed, before a new voice suddenly joined them, icy and cold.
"And you can wait 12 more years, Black! Expelliarmus!"
Snape appeared, casting Lupin's wand out of his hands. Brooklyn froze, eyes wide in terror, seeing Snape standing there looking triumphant, his eyes glinting with cold malice. This was trouble!
Snape eyed everybody in the room, especially towards Brooklyn and Sirius. "So, the gargoyle betrays Dumbledore's trust by helping an escaped convict and a werewolf. A pity you will have to be thrown in Azkaban with them when I'm done here," He sneered, as Brooklyn felt frozen, unsure how to explain himself out of this one. His mouth felt dry. If Dumbledore saw Snape's side of the story….he began trembling as those Dementors filled his mind, seeing himself in a cell in Azkaban, a shriveled shell of what he used to be...a soulless creature forgotten...
"Please, Professor! You didn't arrive on time to hear his and Harry's explanation! If you can just hear their side of the story—." Hermione tried to beg, but Snape glared spitefully at her. "You're already facing suspension from this school, Miss Granger. Unless you want expulsion, you will hold your tongue!"
"But, you're not being rational—."
"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL! DON'T TALK ABOUT THINGS YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Snape roared, his face looking demented, as a bang came from his wand, causing Hermione to fall silent. Just seeing this enraged Brooklyn. Sure, this man was many different colors and emotions, but this, he wouldn't get away with, he was a teacher, and teachers don't insult their students that cruelly!
He grabbed Snape by the collar of his robes, eyes glowing dangerously like he had done with Lucius. Sure, with Draco, he could understand, not really, but he was somebody that Brooklyn could somewhat tolerate, even when he called Hermione that word.
"NEVER INSULT MY BEST FRIEND EVER AGAIN, SEVERUS SNAPE!" Brooklyn shouted angrily, Snape staring up in the gargoyle's furious glowing eyes. His angry face turned scared, then guilty.
And with a terrifying show of strength, Brooklyn threw Snape, having him crash into a pile of rubbish. Hermione stared in astonishment. The Guardian of Hogwarts had attacked a teacher, to defend her honor!
Brooklyn panted a little from the show of emotion as he attempted to settle down, aware of everybody's looks. He sat down on a bed nearby.
"I had to do it. I wouldn't let him throw any more innocent people in prison, not even a werewolf," he muttered, as he gazed at Lupin who showed gratitude.
Lupin then approached Ron, who still held Scabbers in his hands. "Come on, Ron. Hand Peter over," he said, but Ron held the rat close to him, eyes round.
"Come off it! You're all mental! I hardly believed what Brooklyn had said about Scabbers being Peter! How can I believe you, too?"
"We will perform a spell to make Peter reveal himself. If he's really a rat, it won't hurt him, I promise."
Brooklyn looked to Ron pleadingly. "Please, it is the only way we will know the truth," he begged. Ron still looked scared, but eventually gave in, handing Scabbers to Lupin.
The two men raised their wands, and performed the most crazy spell Brooklyn had ever seen. There was a loud bang and a flash of blue light, Scabbers was frozen in mid air, his small gray form twisting and writhing madly—Brooklyn heard Ron yell, and couldn't blame him—the rat fell and hit the floor. There was another flash of light, then—
Brooklyn witnessed the strangest transformation ever: A head was shooting up from the ground; limbs were sprouting, and then a human man sat there on the ground where Scabbers had been, wringing his hands and cringing in fright.
The gargoyle snarled dangerously at the sight of this short pudgy miserable human, the one who had taken away Harry's parents. He stared up at Brooklyn in fear, backing away, to bump into Lupin.
"R-Remus? S-Sirius! My old friends!" Whimpered Pettigrew, who eventually looked as though he tried to hug them, but they shoved him back, pointing their wands. Brooklyn had drawn his own, too, in case this thing attempted anything his way.
Pettigrew then approached his brother. "Harry! Look at you! You look just like your father! Like James! We were the best of friends—!" He felt taloned hands pull him away, to find himself face to face with an angry Brooklyn.
"Stay away from him, you filth!" He snarled, shoving him away from Harry towards Lupin and Sirius. "HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO HARRY!" Sirius roared, making Pettigrew cower and try to run, hiding near an old piano.
"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?" Lupin said angrily, causing the short man to break down pitifully.
"I-I didn't mean to, Remus! H-he threatened me! The Dark Lord! You have no idea what he's capable of—." Brooklyn interrupted.
"I had been possessed by Voldemort, but I didn't cower away for long! I chose to fight his control! But not you! And now Harry is forced to live with his terrible relatives because of your cowardice!" He snarled, hands balling into fists. Pettigrew cried pitifully, crouching on the ground, which made Brooklyn think that Demona would have scorned this man, even kill him.
"B-but Sirius, what would you have done? I was no fighter like h-him!" Pettigrew wailed, pointing at Brooklyn.
Sirius glared. "I WOULD HAVE DIED THAN BETRAYED MY FRIENDS!" He screamed, and Pettigrew cowered again, having Lupin and Sirius and Lupin pointing their wands at him, Brooklyn now knowing this traitor was going to die by his former friends.
"You should have realized, Peter! That if Voldemort didn't kill you then we would! Together!"
"No!" It was Harry, which surprised Brooklyn greatly.
Lupin stared at him incredulously. "Harry, this man is—."
"I know what he is, but we'll take him to the castle. I won't let my father's best friend or my brother become murderers!" Harry said, making Brooklyn look down, realizing now that if he had killed Peter, he might have let his brother down. Sirius and Lupin looked the same as he did.
Peter approached Harry, relief on his face. "Bless you, boy!" Brooklyn hissed sharply, making him back away.
"Don't make him change his mind, bastard!" He snarled.
"I said we'll take him to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you," Harry then finished, and Brooklyn, for a brief moment, thought he saw a flash of white light in his eyes, like a gargoyle.
The group walked out together, Brooklyn feeling a small wave of relief that things were beginning to work out. Just by showing Pettigrew to Dumbledore and the whole damned Ministry could finally put this mess behind them all, and Harry finally having a chance to get to know his godfather not in secret.
He watched Harry and Sirius looking up at Hogwarts and conversing with one another silently, and decided not to disturb them, instead looking over at the pathetic rat man who was whimpering at Ron and Hermione to help him, but Lupin wouldn't let him touch them.
Well, we will soon be back at the castle soon, turning in this murderer and setting things right. At least things shouldn't get worse! He thought, smiling slightly, then seeing the moon coming out from behind the clouds, a beautiful full moon, at that.
Wait…
Brooklyn tensed, his eyes widening, as the moon came into full view, bathing them all in moonlight, halting the group, especially Lupin, who had gone rigid. And Brooklyn remembered Lupin's misfortune of being a werewolf, immediately moving closer to his friends, drawing his wand.
"Oh, my!" Hermione gasped, as Lupin's legs trembled, the transforming taking effect. "He hasn't taken his potion tonight! He's not safe!"
"What are you talking about?" Brooklyn questioned before figuring out: Harry had mentioned a potion Lupin drank; it had to be the famous Wolfsbane potion, to calm the savagery in him! He immediately stood in front of Ron and Hermione, spreading out his wings and ready to defend, before the second worst thing happened.
Peter had transformed, turning back into a rat and scurrying away, much to Brooklyn's outrage. He wanted to get the traitor, but couldn't leave his human friends in the claws of a werewolf! Even if it meant fighting Lupin for himself!
The now completely transformed werewolf stalked toward them, snarling viciously. Brooklyn then knew he had no choice, he had to fight the professor who helped his brother with the Dementors, or risk having him kill his friends, plus Sirius was nowhere to be seen yet.
He crouched on all fours and arched his back, snarling, eyes shining as bright as the moon, circling his enemy, before they both charged at one another, biting, and scratching one another in a terrible fight, rolling over and over on the ground in front of a terrified Harry, Ron, and Hermione.
Harry never thought he'd see a gargoyle fighting a werewolf, ever. It was a terrifying spectacle, and now he longed more than ever for his Animagus form to take hold to help!
Brooklyn felt himself growing exhausted, feeling as though the werewolf always had the upper hand, delivering terrible wounds on his arms and wings, making him fall to the ground, shaking, not sure if he could fight for much longer. When he turned around to fight again, sharp claws suddenly sliced at his face, scratching his right eye as he closed it, making him screech in agony, holding a hand over it, feeling the warm blood coming out.
The werewolf howled in victory, Harry crying out for him, the tangy taste of blood falling into his mouth, as he pulled himself towards his friends, still ready to keep fighting until his final breath, as the werewolf raised its paw, ready to finish them off...
But then, Sirius appeared in his dog form, grabbing Lupin's arm, making him chase Sirius.
"No!" Brooklyn heard Harry scream, his voice growing deep, and a low snarl coming from his throat. Struggling to pull himself to his feet, Brooklyn stared in astonishment, as Harry began to transform, too. Wings and a tail sprouted out of his brother, his skin turning gold/red colored, a beak like mouth forming, though smaller, his hair turning a sharp silver and growing out along with small horns showing up above the hairline, eyes glowing fiercely, as he showed off his Animagus form at last, resembling Brooklyn's physical appearance strongly, but with a few noticeable differences here and there. Especially the beak and silver hair.
He actually did it! Brooklyn thought in amazement, as Harry then ran after his godfather and Lupin. Brooklyn gasped a little as he struggled to his feet, his wounds stinging, as knew he had to go after them, since Harry was still not used to his Animagus abilities, and didn't have the gargoyle fighting skills yet, he knew he couldn't let his little brother fight alone! Even with his scratched face. But his eye felt unharmed, for he had closed it right on time.
Hermione and Ron were both in complete amazement at what happened, especially Ron, his eyes shining with excitement and shock, over excited about his best friend's gargoyle form. But then Hermione noticed the scratches on Brooklyn's right eye.
"Oh, Brooklyn, your eye!" She sobbed, trembling at the sight of the blood falling down his face, but the gargoyle shook his head, he didn't have time for this as he wiped his face with his arm.
"No, I don't care right now, my brother's in danger, from the werewolf and from himself, he needs to learn how to control his abilities, or else lose his strength from it. Just go back to the castle with Snape and tell Dumbledore what happened. I have to go! They both need me!"
Hermione looked scared for him, but nodded, as Brooklyn ran, ignoring his pains, using his sharp hearing to track them down.
He eventually found them, hearing Sirius whimpering in his dog form, and Harry's screams, which sounded deep and strong. Brooklyn found it interesting at how Harry's gargoyle form resembled his own, perhaps from their strong relationship together, or something, he didn't know. Perhaps Dumbledore would.
He spotted Harry rearing up in front of the Werewolf, ready to fight for his godfather, and was going to rush out to help, when Brooklyn heard howling in the distance that sounded familiar. It couldn't be… but whatever it was, it caused the Werewolf to go after it, leaving them alone. Brooklyn watched it run into the woods, finally gone, and sighed a little in relief, thanking the mysterious whatever it was out there who saved their lives.
Then his attention was focused back onto Harry, who had suddenly noticed Sirius limping away, terrible wounds on him, as he changed back to a human and staggered down the hill.
Brooklyn stepped out, moving towards him, gazing at him gently, hoping that with Harry simply seeing him will have him change back to normal. At first, Harry just stared at him fiercely, his eyes glowing, before he then finally noticed the caring and worried gaze in Brooklyn, which calmed him just enough to finally change back.
He stumbled a little, but Brooklyn caught him, feeling Harry shaking from the transformation.
"You're not quite used to your gargoyle form yet, Harry, but I'll help you," Brooklyn promised. Harry nodded, his eyes still filled with amazement at what he did.
"I-I felt so strong and fierce, Brook. as if I could take on a whole army of werewolves—!" Then his eyes widened. "Sirius!" He gasped, turning and running, Brooklyn on his heels.
The duo ran through the forest until they came to a lake, where the gargoyle saw Sirius lying there unconscious, with wounds almost as bad as his own present.
Harry tried waking him, tears in his eyes, until that familiar cold suddenly came, having Brooklyn shiver, wrapping his wings around himself. No! This is bad timing! Please, no! He cried inwardly in fright, gazing upwards while the lake froze over with solid ice.
Dementors, at least a hundred of them, were circling the trio, ready to feast on their souls. The gargoyle was pretty much frozen, eyes wide, as the Dementors came down to them, reaching out with their slimy decayed hands. But Harry knew he had only one way to save his godfather. He raised his wand.
"Expecto Patronum!" A strong wave of light appeared, but it wasn't a true Patronus, for it only took two Dementors to break it, and it flickered and died.
"P-please, Brooklyn! I need your help! Think of something happy!" Harry yelled, struggling to stay focused, but it was getting hard to do so. Brooklyn still couldn't move, still in fear of the Dementors who affected him worst of all, as Goliath's screams started echoing in his mind again while the Dementors moved in closer, their inhaling sounding like a death rattle.
His heart thumped rapidly, as his shaking hand pulled out his wand while racking his thoughts for any kind of happy memory. But he felt empty. There was no way now he could cast even a whisp of a Patronus! Demona would now laugh and mock at how weak he was being.
Then, something came, it wasn't a memory, but knowledge, knowing that he wasn't weak, Sirius was innocent, and he knew that his Clan was still searching for him. He can't give up! Not on this night!
Narrowing his eyes, he thrust his wand at the beasts, his family strong in his mind and heart. It had to be enough!
"Expecto Patronum!" He screamed, and something did take form, giving out a familiar melodic bird's cry.
A gold/silver light appeared, taking the shape of a bird with long tail feathers and majestic wings. It was a Phoenix! He stared in amazement at the beauty and majesty of the creature as it gazed at him with gentle silver eyes. The Phoenix Patronus then flew around the Dementors, causing them to fall back, but not completely, for they kept coming.
Brooklyn heard Harry fall down beside him, but not having fallen unconscious yet. And he then knew, he couldn't fight them all himself, even if he did conjure a Corporeal. Just seeing Harry like that, made him lose concentration on his Phoenix Patronus, that too flickered and died, leaving him alone with a nearly unconscious Harry and a passed out Sirius, the white fog starting to cloud his thoughts and senses.
He did his best to defend them without a Patronus, though the fog was nearly consuming him. Growling weakly, Brooklyn tried to scratch out at one of them with his talons while he knelt down near their unmoving forms, the dementors's inhaling noise now sounding like laughter at his pitiful attempts to protect his friends.
"No, get away! Th-they're innocent!" Gasped Brooklyn in fear, trying to shield them with his wings and arms, shaking as the fog was now starting to disorient his mind, covering everything else until he felt lost in it, the rattling breaths of the dementors becoming the only sound besides the screams, whimpering slightly as his mind once more began to fade away.
This was ten times worse than the attacks on the train or the Quidditch field, for neither Lupin or Dumbledore were here to save them this time, and he felt utterly alone, unable to protect his friends well from these terrible beasts. The Dementors could care less who was innocent or not.
Brooklyn's dwindling courage faded away as he began to panic, wildly trying to find his way out of this terrible fog, not even able to locate his friends or have a sense of anything anymore. He turned to find himself face to face with a strange hooded creature that seemed familiar, but Brooklyn couldn't place it. Until it lowered it's hood.
Sirius's story of the Dementor's Kiss hit Brooklyn's memory sharply, and overwhelming terror hit his heart like a knife. He fell to the ground, trying to push himself back away from it, but the dementor got hold of his throat with its cold slimy hands before he could escape.
If he was able to describe the face to his Clan later, it was too horrible to even think about! It had thin scabbed gray skin that stretched over empty eye sockets, and a gaping shapeless hole, almost as if he was staring at Death himself. He couldn't shake himself loose, the dementor forcing his face upwards towards its mouth.
Brooklyn's ears were filled with Goliath's screams, feeling sick from the terrible cold putrid breath of the dementor that was going to destroy him first, then Harry...then Sirius...his leader's cries were going to be the final thing he would hear...
But then as if by a miracle, Brooklyn felt the Dementor suddenly release him, making him fall to the ground, shivering all over. Gazing upward with what little strength and vision he had he could barely make out a bright silver white animal, that seemed to be scattering every dementor, picking them off, the air beginning to go warm again...
He struggled to stay conscious, as the creature trotted to the other side of the lake, where Brooklyn saw somebody there, a person, welcoming back the silver animal, raising his hand to pat it. This confused him. Who saved them?
Brooklyn couldn't think anymore. Unable to stay conscious any longer, he felt himself collapsing next to Harry as he welcomed the comforting darkness at last.
