As June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry, and all anybody felt like doing was strolling onto the grounds and flopping down on the grass with several pints of iced pumpkin juice, perhaps playing a casual game of Gobstones or watching the giant squid propel itself dreamily across the surface of the lake.

But they couldn't. Exams were nearly upon them, and instead of lazing around outside, the students were forced to remain inside the castle, trying to bully their brains into concentrating while enticing wafts of summer air drifted in through the windows. Even Fred and George had been spotted working.

They were about to take their O.W.L.s (Ordinary Wizarding Levels). Percy was getting ready to take his N.E.W.T.s (Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests), the highest qualification Hogwarts offered. As Percy hoped to enter the Ministry of Magic, he needed top grades. He was becoming increasingly edgy, and gave very severe punishments to anybody who disturbed the quiet of the common room in the evenings. Hermione was less stressed than she had been before Bree forced her to talk to McGonagall, and it appeared that she was getting more sleep.

Bree was probably the least stressed person in school. Even though she still couldn't go outside, with everybody studying she was able to get her much needed alone time. Also, Bree's current plan for her life didn't really plan for her living past her late twenty's so the exams really didn't matter much to her beyond the fact that her mother would to furious if she failed.

The exams went pretty smoothly for the blond. Her favorite was the second to last exam, on Thursday morning, was Defense Against the Dark Arts. Professor Lupin had compiled the most unusual exam any of them had ever taken; a sort of obstacle course outside in the sun, where they had to wade across a deep paddling pool containing a Grindylow, cross a series of potholes full of Red Caps, squish their way across a patch of marsh while ignoring misleading directions from a Hinkypunk, then climb into an old trunk and battle with a new Boggart.

Bree's last exam was Divination. Bree arrived at the same time as Harry and Ron. Many of their classmates were sitting on the spiral staircase to Professor Trelawney's classroom, trying to cram in a bit of last-minute studying.

"She's seeing us all separately," Neville informed them as they went to sit down next to him. He had his copy of Unfogging the Future open on his lap at the pages devoted to crystal gazing. "Have either of you ever seen anything in a crystal ball?" he asked them unhappily.

"Nope," said Ron in an offhand voice.

The line of people outside the classroom shortened very slowly. As each person climbed back down the silver ladder, the rest of the class hissed, "What did she ask? Was it okay?"

But they all refused to say.

"She says the crystal ball's told her that if I tell you, I'll have a horrible accident!" squeaked Neville as he clambered back down the ladder toward Bree, Harry and Ron, who had now reached the landing.

"That's convenient," snorted Ron. "You know, I'm starting to think Hermione was right about her", he jabbed his thumb toward the trapdoor overhead, "she's a right old fraud."

"Yeah," said Harry, looking at his own watch. It was now two o'clock. "Wish she'd hurry up…"

Parvati came back down the ladder glowing with pride.

"She says I've got all the makings of a true Seer," she said. "I saw loads of stuff… Well, good luck!"

She hurried off down the spiral staircase toward Lavender.

"Ronald Weasley," said the familiar, misty voice from over their heads. Ron grimaced at Harry and climbed the silver ladder out of sight. Finally, after about twenty minutes, Ron's large feet reappeared on the ladder.

"How'd it go?" Harry asked him, standing up.

"Rubbish," said Ron. "Couldn't see a thing, so I made some stuff up. Don't think she was convinced, though…"

"Meet you in the common room," Harry muttered as Professor Trelawney's voice called,

"Harry Potter!"

Harry came down awhile later, looking rather spooked.

"Are you alright?" Bree asked in concern.

"Yeah…it's just… nothing. I'm fine." Harry answered.

Bree couldn't press the issue because right then Trelawney called her.

The tower room was hotter than ever before; the curtains were closed, the fire was alight, and the usual sickly scent made Bree sneeze as she stumbled through the clutter of chairs and table to where Professor Trelawney sat waiting for her before a large crystal ball.

"Good day, my dear," she said softly. "If you would kindly gaze into the Orb… Take your time, now… then tell me what you see within it…"

Bree followed her usual tactic of staring blankly at the ball and just tuning out the world around her.

"What do you see, child?" Trelawney asked excitedly after a few minutes.

Bree head snapped up to look the Professor in the eye.

"What?" Bree asked.

"You went into a trance, what did you see." Trelawney asked again.

"It was… nothing. It was nothing."

Bree answered before leaving.

"The future can be frightening. When you are ready to face it come see me." she heard Trelawney call after her.


After dinner, Bree stood by the front doors of Hogwarts wishing she could go outside. the doors were open to let in sunlight so she could at least look out. She noticed something moving along the ground. It took a moment for her recognize that it was Scabbers.

She ran after the rat, not realizing that she had called out to, nor that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were following her, although they were far behind her. When she finally managed to pick Scabbers up, the rat began thrashing and trying to bite. Before Bree knew what was happening, the big black dog she had met on the last Hogsmade weekend had grabbed her by the sleeve and was pulling her toward the whomping willow. Down the hole and into the tunnel they went.

"Stop that! I can move more quickly if you don't pull on my sleeve!" Bree exclaimed. The dog let go of her sleeve and Bree followed it down the tunnel, all the way to the Shrieking Shack. Scabbers was thrashing violently the whole way. She followed the dog out into the hall and up the crumbling staircase and into a room that contained a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings that seemed to be the only intact piece of furniture in the building.

The dog's form shifted into that of a man with a mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. He had the starved look of someone who had been in a concentration camp. It was Sirius Black.

"What do you want from me?" Bree asked.

Black looked surprised. "Aren't you afraid?" he inquired.

"Terrified. But if you wanted me dead I'd have died weeks ago. So let's pretend I've already gotten through screaming my head off, so you can answer my question." Bree answered.

"It wasn't you I was after." Black stated. The stairs creaked. Bree frowned at looked toward the door. It swung wide open and Harry, Ron, and Hermione dashed over to the blond.

"Bree are you alright?"

"Where's the dog?"

"I'm fine. And it wasn't a dog." Bree replied.

"What?" Harry questioned in confusion.

"It wasn't a dog. It was an Animagus." Bree stated just as Sirius closed the door. The trio turned to face him.

"Expelliarmus!" he croaked, pointing what Bree was sure was a stolen wand at them.

Their wands shot out of their hands, high in the air, and Black caught them. Then he took a step closer. His eyes were fixed on Harry.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely.

His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using it. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful… it will make everything much easier…"

Harry started forward, but Ron and Hermione held him back. "No, Harry!" Hermione gasped in a petrified whisper; Ron, however, spoke to Black.

"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" he said fiercely.

"There'll be only one murder here tonight," said Black, and his grin widened.

The rat in Bree's hand began struggling more fiercely.

"Why's that?" Harry spat, trying to wrench himself free of Ron, and Hermione. "Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew… What's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?"

"Harry!" Hermione whimpered. "Be quiet!"

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared, and with a huge effort he broke free of Hermione and Ron lunged forward.

Perhaps it was the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Black didn't raise the wand in time, one of Harry's hands fastened over his wasted wrist, forcing the wand tips away; the knuckles of Harry's other hand collided with the side of Black's head and they fell, backward, into the wall.

Hermione was screaming; Ron was yelling; Bree was staring thoughtfully at the struggling rat; there was a blinding flash as the wands in Black's hand sent a jet of sparks into the air that missed Harry's face by inches.

Harry pinned one of Black's wrists down with one hand while the other hand punching every part of Black it could find.

But Black's free hand had found Harry's throat

"No," he hissed, "I've waited too long."

The fingers tightened, Harry choked, his glasses askew.

Hermione kicked Black who let go of Harry with a grunt of pain; Ron had threw himself on Black's wand hand and Bree heard a faint clatter. Her attention turned away from the rat in her hand, toward the tangle of bodies in front of her. Harry fought his way out and was grabbing for his wand when Crookshanks joined the fray; both sets of front claws had sinking themselves deep into Harry's arm; Harry threw him off, but Crookshanks now darted toward Harry's wand.

"NO YOU DON'T!" roared Harry, and he aimed a kick at Crookshanks that made the cat leap aside, spitting; Harry snatched up his wand and turned —

"Get out of the way!" he shouted at Ron and Hermione.

Hermione, gasping for breath, her lip bleeding, scrambled aside, snatching up her and Ron's wands. Ron moved toward Bree.

"Why didn't you help?" he hissed.

"I didn't have to." the blond answered.

Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His chest rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walking slowly nearer, his wand pointing straight at Black's heart.

"Going to kill me, Harry?" he whispered.

Harry stopped right above him, his wand still pointing at Black's chest, looking down at him. A bruise was rising around Black's left eye and his nose was bleeding.

"You killed my parents," said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand quite steady.

"I thought Voldemort killed your parents." Bree commented.

"He wouldn't have been able to if Black hadn't given their location to him." Harry snarled.

"I didn't. I would never…" Black protested, but was cut off by Harry.

"Shut up! You can't deny what you did! You never heard her, did you? My mum… trying to stop Voldemort killing me… and you did that… you did it…"

Before either of them could say another word Crookshanks leapt onto Black's chest and settled himself there, right over Black's heart. Black blinked and looked down at the cat.

"Get off," he murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off him.

But Crookshanks sank his claws into Black's robes and wouldn't shift. He turned his ugly, squashed face to Harry and looked up at him with those great yellow eyes. To his right, Hermione gave a dry sob.

Harry raised the wand. The seconds lengthened. And still Harry stood frozen there, wand poised, Black staring up at him, Crookshanks on his chest. Ron's heavy breathing. Hermione was quite silent. Bree hadn't moved from her spot on the bed.

And then came a new sound. Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor, someone was moving downstairs.

"WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed suddenly. "WE'RE UP HERE! SIRIUS BLACK! QUICK!"

Black made a startled movement that almost dislodged Crookshanks; Harry gripped his wand convulsively.

The door of the room burst open in a shower of red sparks and Harry wheeled around as Professor Lupin came hurtling into the room, his face bloodless, his wand raised and ready. His eyes flickered over Ron, lying on the floor, over Hermione, cowering next to the door, to Harry, standing there with his wand covering Black, and then to Black himself, crumpled and bleeding at Harry's feet.

"Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted.

Harry's wand flew once more out of his hand; so did the two Hermione was holding. Lupin caught them all deftly, and then moved into the room, staring at Black, who still had Crookshanks lying protectively across his chest.

Then Lupin spoke, in a very tense voice.

"Where is he, Sirius?"

Bree was staring at the rat again.

Harry looked uncomprehendingly at Lupin. He didn't understand what Lupin meant. He turned to look at Black again.

Black's face was quite expressionless. For a few seconds, he didn't move at all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand and pointed straight at Bree. Mystified, Harry glanced around at Bree, who just rolled her eyes.

"But then…" Lupin muttered, staring at Black intently, "… why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless," Lupin's eyes suddenly widened, as though he was seeing something beyond Black, something none one else could see, " unless he was the one… unless you switched… without telling me?"

Very slowly, his gaze never leaving Lupin's face, Black nodded.

"Professor," Harry interrupted loudly, "what's…"

But he never finished the question, because what he saw made his voice die in his throat. Lupin was lowering his wand, gazing fixed at Black. The Professor walked to Black's side, seized his hand, pulled him to his feet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and embraced Black like a brother.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed.

Lupin let go of Black and turned to her. She had gotten up off the floor and was pointing at Lupin, wild-eyed. "You, you"

"Hermione!"

"you and him!"

"Hermione, calm down —"

"I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. "I've been covering up for you."

"Hermione, listen to me, please" Lupin shouted. "I can explain —"

Harry could feel himself shaking, not with fear, but with a fresh wave of fury.

"I trusted you," he shouted at Lupin, his voice wavering, out of control, "and all the time you've been his friend!"

"You're wrong," said Lupin. "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!"

There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale.

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione," he said. "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." An odd shiver passed over his face. "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

Lupin stopped dead. Then, with an obvious effort, he turned to Hermione and said, "How long have you known?"

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

"He'll be delighted," said Lupin coolly. "He assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant… 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," Hermione said quietly.

Lupin forced a laugh.

"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," said Lupin. "At least, the staff do."

"Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf," Ron gasped. "Is he mad?"

"Some of the staff thought so," said Lupin. "He had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy."

"AND HE WAS WRONG!" Harry yelled. "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THE TIME!"

He was pointing at Black, who suddenly crossed to the four-poster bed and sank onto it, his face hidden in one shaking hand. Crookshanks leapt up beside him and stepped onto his lap, purring. Bree scooted over to make room for him. At some point Bree's cat, Muffin, had appeared and had attempted to get to rat in Bree's hand. Bree thwarted her efforts and flicking the cat's nose.

"Bree what…?" Ron couldn't finish his question. Bree shrugged.

"If you haven't been helping him," he said, with a furious glance at Black, "how did you know he was here?"

"The map," said Lupin. "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it —"

"You know how to work it?" Harry said suspiciously.

"Of course I know how to work it," said Lupin, waving his hand impatiently. "I helped write it. I'm Moony, that was my friends' nickname for me at school."

"You wrote…?"

"The important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening. I've checked it every evening, ever since Bree came back from Hogsmade covered in Sirius's sent."

"I didn't go to Hogsmade that day, well I didn't mean to at least." Bree interjected. "I was in the forbidden forest. I only went in deep enough so that no one could see me from the castle, which was like… six feet."

"Why?" Lupin asked.

"I was collecting worms to put in Ron's bed, and clothes, and possibly his food once I research potential health risks." the blond answered.

"What did I do?" Ron asked indignantly.

"You made Hermione cry. You're lucky you made up with her that day, otherwise…" Bree responded with a grin.

"So you met Sirius in the forbidden forest?" Lupin inquired.

"No. I met him here. Well not here, here. In one of the rooms downstairs here." Bree said.

"She gave me sandwiches and pie. Thanks for that, by the way." Sirius put in. Bree nodded.

"But how did you get past the willow?" Hermione asked.

"The bell on Muffin's collar caught my attention and I saw her and Crookshanks headed for the willow and I panicked and tried to stop them, but then Crookshanks pressed a knot that made the willow freeze up, and I followed them down the hole." Bree explained.

Lupin stared at her. "Right well… I was watching the map and saw Bree, Harry, Ron, and Hermione running after someone.

"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Lupin, pacing. "I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?"

"No one was with us!" said Harry.

"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!" Ron said angrily.

"No, Ron," said Lupin. "Two of you."

He had stopped his pacing, his eyes moving over Bree.

"Do you think I could have a look at the rat?" he said evenly.

"What?" said Ron. "What's Scabbers got to do with it?"

"Everything," said Lupin. "Could I see him, please?"

Lupin moved closer to Bree. He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at Scabbers.

"What?" Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking scared. "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

"That's not a rat," croaked Sirius Black suddenly.

"What d'you mean — of course he's a rat —"

"No, he's not," said Lupin quietly. "He's a wizard."

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

It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in.

"You're both mental."

"Ridiculous!" said Hermione faintly.

"Peter Pettigrew's dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago!" He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively.

"I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me… not this time, though!"

"If you do you'll just go back to Azkaban, if the Dementors don't kiss you first." Bree stated.

"You can't honestly believe them. They're mad!" Hermione exclaimed

Bree tilted her thoughtfully. "Well… then I guess I'm mad too." And with that she stood up and gave the rat to Professor Lupin.