Chapter 10

- The Whomping Willow -

Teddy mouth dropped open as Hermione's fist smashed into Malfoy's nose. The bully stumbled back in pain, his henchmen rushing to help him, whilst keeping there distance from the fuming girl. The three boys ran away and Teddy couldn't help but laugh at their faces. "That felt good." Hermione panted from the adrenaline rush.

"Not good, brilliant!" Ron gasped, making Hermione smile slightly.

Hagrid was surprised to see they'd come down to visit. "Come in, come in." He said. "The kettle's boiling."

Buckbeak was tied up among the pumpkin patch and squawked in welcome as they passed by and into Hagrid's hut. "Why didn't you tell us about the hearing? Or the execution for that matter?" Hermione asked straight away.

"I didn't want tah worry you all." He sighed, looking out the window at the graceful Hippogriff. " Look at him. Loves the smell of the trees when the wind blows through them."

Teddy held the cup of tea that Hagrid poured him, but didn't drink from it. "Why don't we just set him free?" He asked.

"They'd know it was me, and then Dumbledore... would get into trouble. He's coming down, Dumbledore. Says he wants to be with me when they... When it happens." Hargid cleared his throat, trying to swallow his sadness. "Great man, Dumbledore. A great man."

"We're staying with you too, Hagrid." Teddy said, setting down his cup.

"You'll do no such thing." Hagrid straightened. "Think I want you seeing something like that? No. You just drink your tea and be off. Oh. Before you do, Ron..." He reached towards a cabnet and pulled out a squirming Scabbers.

"Scabbers! I thought I'd lost you!" Ron took the rat with both hands.

"Ya gotta keep a closer eye on you pets, Ron."

"I think you owe someone an apology." Said Hermione.

Ron nodded, struggling to hold on to Scabbers who was trying to make a run for it. "Right, next time I see your pan-faced cat, I'll make sure to tell him." Hermione's eyes darkened and her hands twitched, as if they yearned to strangle him.

Teddy cleared his throat, leaning over and whispering into Ron's ear. "I think she meant her."

"Oh," Ron mouthed. Suddenly something flew through the window, smashing one of the pots.

"Blimey, what was that?" Hagrid asked.

Harry winced, something had flown through the window and had hit him on the back of his head. He turned around and froze. "Hagrid, they're coming." Teddy ran over to the window and peered out. Sure enough, the Minister for Magic, Dumbledore and a black hooded man carrying a huge axe, were walking down the hill towards them.

Hagrid was running round his hut, covering his creatures with blankets and collecting their tea. "It's late. It's nearly dark." He panted. "You shouldn't be here. Someone sees you outside the castle at this time of night, you'll be in trouble. Big trouble. Especially you Teddy."

There was a knock at the door.

"With you in a moment! Quick. Quick!" The half-giant whispered, shooing them out the back door.

"Hagrid, it'll be fine." Harry said.

"Go!" The four of them bent down, hiding behind the pumpkin patch. Hagrid had opened his front door and had allowed the visitors inside. Teddy could only hear parts of their conversation, as they slowly made there way around the pumpkin patch.

"Would you like some tea..."

"Love some..."

" It is the decision of the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures... hippogriff known as Buckbeak... executed... at sundown." Teddy heard sniffles next to him and he glanced at Hermione. She was on the brink of tears. But suddenly she spun around, looking into the forest behind them.

"What is it?"

"I thought I saw... never mind."

Ron whispered, still holding the squirming Scabbers. "Let's go."

They ran up the gravel path, but all stopped further up the hill. Hagrid's hut was out of sight behind the trees. Suddenly, there was a loud Thunk! And crows flew up into the sky.

The quiet moment seemed to last on forever. Teddy just couldn't believe what had happened. "Buckbeak didn't deserve that."

"Ow!" Ron hissed, dropping Scabbers and holding up his now bleeding finger. "He bit me!"

Remus had finished marking his student's homework. The Marauders Map was open on his desk. He sighed, leaning back in his chair. He remembered the last time he'd seen this map. James, Sirius, Peter and himself had decided to hide it in the Gryffindor common room, hoping that one day, someone would find it and make good use of it. How on earth had Teddy gotten hold of it?

At that moment he saw a name on the map. Teddy's name. His finger underlined it subconsciously as he read it over and over in his head. 'Teddy Lupin'. He wondered if Teddy had seen it. Had his son bothered to look at his own name on the map?

Teddy was joined by three other names. Harry Potter, Ron Weasley, Hermione Granger and... Peter Pettigrew! He watched in horror as the names all moved closer and closer to the Whomping Willow, where they were joined by one more name. Sirius Black. The suddenly, all the names disappeared off the map.

He jumped up so quickly he knocked over his chair. Remus didn't even bother grabbing his cloak nor closing the map, instead he ran out of the classroom, wand in hand, and towards the Whomping Willow.

He was panting by the time he reached the tree. The branches flew wildly, as if sensing his presence. "Immobulus!" He flicked his wand and the tree went still, immobilized. The familiar passageway in the roots of the tree brought back bad memories. But he forced himself forward. The tunnel was quite, but as he drew closer to the end he heard voices.

The Shrieking Shack was just as ruined as he remembered. The wooden floor boards were constantly groaning under his weight as he slowly walked up the stairs. He turned the corner to see Harry on top of Sirius, pinning him down and pointing his wand right between the shabby man's eyes.

In the corner, Ron was holding both his rat and his bleeding leg tenderly, Hermione was at his side watching Harry with wide eyes.

Standing by the half-smashed grand piano, frozen with his wand in hand, was Teddy.

Teddy's eyes never left Sirius. He had reflexively taken a step forward when Harry had tackled the escaped prisoner to the ground. His wand was pointed downwards but he was ready to raise it and defend his friend if necessary. He jumped when someone entered the room and yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

Harry's wand went flying and Teddy pointed his at the newcomer, only to realize it was Professor Lupin. Taking a relaxed breath he lowered his arm slowly. Harry got off of Sirius and stood next to Hermione, who quickly held onto his arm. "Well, well Sirius. Look rather ragged, aren't we?" He said. "Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within."

The professor took a few slow steps forward and Teddy wandered what would happen next. Would they bring him to the Dementors? Or back to the school? Or would he actually consider... no. No matter how hard he tried, Teddy couldn't imagine the professor taking the life of another unless it was absolutely necessary, even if it was the life of a cold-hearted mass murderer.

But what Sirius said next raised the hairs on the back of his neck. "Well you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you Remus?"

Teddy looked up at Professor Lupin, but he didn't meet his eyes nor did he looked as frightened as Teddy felt. Instead, he was smiling and offering his hand to the shaggy haired man, helping him up onto his feet then embracing him in a hug. Teddy couldn't believe what he was seeing. He could literally, feel his heart break and his trust for the professor shatter into a million pieces.

"It's him." Sirius said whilst hugging the professor like a long lost friend.

"I understand." Remus replied.

"Let's kill him!"

"No!" Hermione gasped in disbelief.

Professor Lupin seemed to remember that they were all there and his green eyes skipped from Hermione to Teddy. Teddy had raised his wand hand again, pointing it defensively at the professor. He tried to put on a brave face and hide his hurt, but he failed miserably. "You've been his friend... all this time, you've been his friend!" He said, his voice getting louder and louder with anger.

"Teddy I-"

"I trusted you!" He yelled, wand shaking in his wavering grip. "I kept your secret, you were there for me when I needed you but... but you never did it for yourself did you? You were only helping me so to avoid any suspicion weren't you?"

"No, Teddy, I didn't-"

"Secret, what secret?" Harry asked, looking between Teddy and his Dark Arts Professor.

Teddy didn't bother to keep the truth hidden, everyone deserved to know. "He's a werewolf, like me. He told me on our first night at Hogwarts, said he'd always have my back."

"I always will Teddy, please you have to listen to me."

"No! I don't want to hear any more lies!"

"And you won't promise. Please, just let me explain-"

Sirius growled. "Oh, enough talk Remus! Come on, let's kill him!" Hermione's gripped tightened on Harry's arm.

"Wait!" Remus said, but Sirius' patience had run its course.

"I'VE DONE MY WAITING!" He shouted. "Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!"

Everything went silent and all eyes were on Remus who was looking between Harry and Teddy and back to Harry. His head dropped in defeat as he handed his wand to Sirius. "Very well, kill him. But wait one more moment, Harry has the right to know why."

"I know why. You betrayed my parents!" Harry glared at Sirius. "You're the reason they're dead."

Remus took a step toward Harry but stopped when Teddy pointed his wand threateningly at him. "Don't take another step!" He saw the hurt in his eyes, but refused to believe it. Soon, he would drop the pleading, innocent and sorrowful act... soon.

"No, Harry it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents, but it was somebody who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead!"

"Who was it then?" Harry demanded.

"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius said aloud and Teddy straightened, remembering to when he had seen the name on the map. "And he's in this room, right now!" There was an insane look in Sirius eyes and he yelled loudly. "Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"

A new figure entered the room, flicking his wand. "Expelliarmus!" Teddy watched as Remus' wand flew out of Sirius' hand and into Snape's. "Oh, vengeance is sweet, how I hoped I would be the one to catch you, Sirius."

"Severus..." Remus took a small step towards Snape but back away when the professor pointed his wand towards him.

"I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend into the castle. Here's the proof!"

Teddy's arm had gone numb from holding it up for so long yet he didn't dare move. Sirius seemed to roll his eyes at Snape. "Brilliant, Snape. Once again you've put your keen mind and penetrating to the task and come to the wrong conclusion. Now, if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to-"

The tip of Snape's wand dug softly into Sirius' neck. "Give me a reason. I beg you."

Remus spoke, trying to reason with the Potions Master. "Severus, don't be a fool-"

Sirius scoffed. "He can't help it by now, it's habit!"

"Sirius, be quiet-"

"Oh, quiet yourself Remus!"

"Look at you two, quarreling like an old married couple." Snape almost smirked but Sirius spat at his feet.

"Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set?" The wand dug deeper into his neck.

" I could do it, you know. But why deny the dementors? They're so longing to see you." Sirius let out a small breath of fear which Snape almost smiled to. "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes. A Dementor's Kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

"Severus please," Remus once again tried reasoning with the Potions Master.

"After you." He ordered, pointing to the door. Teddy's wand was still in hand, yet he didn't know who to point it at anymore. Suddenly there was a yell, "Expelliarmus!" and Snape was flung back into an old canopy bed which crumbled from his weight. Teddy looked over at Harry who was holding Hermione's wand.

"Harry! What did you just do?" He shouted.