WORMTAIL'S CONFESSION

Hermione screamed. Black leapt to his feet. Natasha felt as though she'd received a huge electric shock. It was as though hr had appeared out of thin air.

Severus Snape looked at the room, with hateful eyes. Though he did have suspicions that, Lupin was helping Black, he was hoping a bit that he was wrong about it. But seeing the daughter of his love, being cornered by the traitor was making his blood boil. He was angry at Black not just because of the torment he had faced during his childhood, but also for the very fact that he had betrayed Lily. He wanted to murder the mutt now, but he knew death was a good thing for him, compared to what was waiting for him if he was caught.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Snape, throwing the cloak aside, careful to keep this wand pointing directly at Lupin's chest. "Very useful, Potter, I thank you…"

Snape was slightly breathless, but his face was full of suppressed triumph. "You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here?" he said, his eyes glittering. "I've just been to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did… lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight. I hoped I would be the one to catch you, and my wish has come true."

"Severus —" Lupin began, but Snape overrode him.

"I've told the headmaster again and again that you're helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout —"

"Brilliant Snape.", Black said going near to him with a sneer. "Once again, you have put your keen and penetrating mind to a task, and as usual come to the wrong conclusion."

Professor Snape just looked at him with disgust. "If you excuse us,", Black continued. "Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to."

"Give me a reason. I beg you.", Professor Snape said as he put his wand to Black's throat.

"Severus don't be a fool!", Professor Lupin said angrily.

"He can't help it. It's a habit by now.", Black said to Lupin. The four of the students were watching this with shock. Natasha felt as though, the three adults had gone back to their school days. Hermione was just standing there not knowing what to do. Simran was actually trying not to laugh at the conversation. Ron was still holding Scabbers in his arms and staring.

"Be quiet Sirius!", Remus said to Black.

"Be quiet yourself, Remus!", Black said angrily.

"Look at you both, quarrelling like an old married couple.", Professor Snape said, his wand still in Black's throat.

"Why don't you just run along and play with your chemistry set.", said Black with a sneer.

Snape pressed his wand tightly into Black's throat and said, "I could do it myself, you know. But why deny the dementors. They are longing to see you."

Black flinched at the mention of dementors. "Do I detect a flicker of fear?", Snape said. "Oh yes, the dementors kiss. I can only imagine how horrible it is to endure. It is said to be very unbearable to witness. But I will do my best.", Professor Snape said.

"Severus, please.", Lupin begged.

"After you.", Professor said nodding at the four of them and mentioning them to go.

But Natasha wanted hear the whole story, so she wanted to reason with the Professor. "Professor Snape. Please. You have to listen to them. Give them a chance.", Natasha said. She did not see that, her friends' were taking out their wands. Even Severus didn't notice it. "Why is she telling me this?", Severus thought. "He had just entered the shack and did not hear what exactly they were talking about. He then lowered the wand from Blacks throat and said, "Ms. Potter. Listen to-"

"Expelliarmus!". Three yells came from just behind Natasha. There was a blast that made the door rattle on its hinges; Professor Snape was lifted off his feet and slammed into the wall, then slid down it to the floor, a trickle of blood oozing from under his hair. He had been knocked out. Natasha looked around. Simran, Ron and Hermione had tried to disarm Snape at exactly the same moment. Snape's wand soared in a high arc and landed on the bed next to Crookshanks. Natasha got really angry and said, "Why in the world, did you do that for?", Natasha asked angrily. "I am sure that, I could have talked to him and make him see some sense!"

"Natasha. This is Professor Snape, that you are talking about.", Simran said. Black and Lupin looked at each other.

"She's totally like Lily, isn't she? Defending the greasy bat and all?", Black muttered.

"According to what I have heard, Snape is a favorite teacher.", Lupin said. Black just raised his eyebrows and then turned to the four of them.

"You shouldn't have done that," said Black, looking at Simran. "You should have left him to me…"

Natasha just glared at Black eyes. She wasn't sure, even now, that Black was innocent.

"We attacked a teacher… We attacked a teacher…" Hermione whimpered, staring at the lifeless Snape with frightened eyes. "Oh, we're going to be in so much trouble —"

"I hope that, he will lose the memory of what exactly happened here.", Simran said.

"Then it's time we offered you some proof," said Lupin. "You, boy — give me Peter, please. Now." Ron clutched Scabbers closer to his chest.

"Come off it," he said weakly. "Are you trying to say he broke out of Azkaban just to get his hands on Scabbers? I mean…" He looked up at Natasha and Hermione for support, "Okay, say Pettigrew could turn into a rat — there are millions of rats — how's he supposed to know which one he is after if he was locked up in Azkaban?"

"You know, Sirius, that's a fair question," said Lupin, turning to Black and frowning slightly. "How did you find out where he was?"

Black put one of his claw-like hands inside his robes and took out a crumpled piece of paper, which he smoothed flat and held out to show the others. It was the photograph of Ron and his family that had appeared in the Daily Prophet the previous summer, and there, on Ron's shoulder, was Scabbers.

"How did you get this?" Lupin asked Black, thunderstruck.

"Fudge," said Black. "When he came to inspect Azkaban last year, he gave me his paper. And there was Peter, on the front page on this boy's shoulder… I knew him at once… how many times had I seen him transform? And the caption said the boy would be going back to Hogwarts… to where Natasha was…"

"My God," said Lupin softly, staring from Scabbers to the picture in the paper and back again.

"His front paw…"

"What about it?" said Ron defiantly.

"He's got a toe missing," said Black.

"Of course," Lupin breathed. "So simple… so brilliant… he cut it off himself?"

"Just before he transformed," said Black. "When I cornered him, he yelled for the whole street to hear that I'd betrayed Lily and James. Then, before I could curse him, he blew apart the street with the wand behind his back, killed everyone within twenty feet of himself — and sped down into the sewer with the other rats…"

"Didn't you ever hear, Ron?" said Lupin. "The biggest bit of Peter they found was his finger."

"That still does not mean that, Scabbers is Peters.", Simran said.

" Scabbers probably had a fight with another rat or something! He's been in my family for ages, right —"

"Twelve years, in fact," said Lupin. "Didn't you ever wonder why he was living so long?"

"We — we've been taking good care of him!", said Ron. He just didn't want it to be true. The very fact that, a grown man might have been with him all these years was horrifying.

"Not looking too good at the moment, though, is he?" said Lupin. "I'd guess he's been losing weight ever since he heard Sirius was on the loose again…"

"He's been scared of that mad cat!" said Ron, nodding toward Crookshanks, who was still purring on the bed.

But that wasn't right, Natasha thought suddenly… Scabbers had been looking ill before he met Crookshanks… ever since Ron's return from Egypt… since the time when Black had escaped.

"But Ron, you said that Scabbers was ill even before the Diagon Alley. We went to get tonic because of that.", Natasha said.

"This cat isn't mad," said Black hoarsely. He reached out a bony hand and stroked Crookshanks's fluffy head. "He's the most intelligent of his kind I've ever met. He recognized Peter for what he was right away. And when he met me, he knew I was no dog. It was a while before he trusted me… Finally, I managed to communicate to him what I was after, and he's been helping me…"

"What do you mean?" breathed Hermione.

"He tried to bring Peter to me, but couldn't… so he stole the passwords into Gryffindor Tower for me… As I understand it, he took them from a boy's bedside table…"

Natasha's brain seemed to be sagging under the weight of what she was hearing. It was absurd… and yet…

"But Peter got wind of what was going on and ran for it." croaked Black. "This cat — Crookshanks, did you call him? — told me Peter had left blood on the sheets… I supposed he bit himself… Well, faking his own death had worked once."

These words jolted Natasha to her senses. "And why did he fake his death?", she said furiously. "Because he knew you were about to kill him like you killed my parents!"

Simran actually facepalmed herself when she heard that.

"No," said Lupin, "Natasha—"

"And now you've come to finish him off!"

"Yes, I have," said Black, with an evil look at Scabbers.

"Natasha," said Lupin hurriedly, "don't you see? All this time we've thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him down — but it was the other way around, don't you see? Peter betrayed your mother and father — Sirius tracked Peter down —"

"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Natasha yelled. "HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP. HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!"

She was pointing at Black, who shook his head slowly; the sunken eyes were suddenly over bright. "Natasha… I as good as killed them," he croaked. "I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment, persuaded them to use him as Secret-Keeper instead of me… I'm to blame, I know it… The night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straight away. And when I saw their house, destroyed, and their bodies… I realized what Peter must've done… what I'd done…". His voice broke. He turned away.

"Enough of this," said Lupin, and there was a steely note in his voice Natasha had never heard before. "There's one certain way to prove what really happened. Ron, give me that rat."

"What are you going to do with him if I give him to you?" Ron asked Lupin tensely.

"Force him to show himself," said Lupin. "If he really is a rat, it won't hurt him.". Ron hesitated.

"Just give it to them, Ron. We really need to get to the bottom of this.", Simran said nudging Ron.

Then at long last, he held out Scabbers and Lupin took him. Scabbers began to squeak without stopping, twisting and turning, his tiny black eyes bulging in his head. "Ready, Sirius?" said Lupin.

Black had already retrieved Professor Snape's wand from the bed. He approached Lupin and the struggling rat, and his wet eyes suddenly seemed to be burning in his face.

"Together, Like old times?" he said quietly.

"I think so", said Lupin, holding Scabbers tightly in one hand and his wand in the other. "On the count of three. One — two — THREE!"

A flash of blue-white light erupted from both wands; for a moment, Scabbers was frozen in midair, his small gray form twisting madly — Ron yelled — the rat fell and hit the floor. There was another blinding flash of light and then — It was like watching a speeded-up film of a growing tree. A head was shooting upward from the ground; limbs were sprouting; a moment later, a man was standing where Scabbers had been, cringing and wringing his hands. Crookshanks was spitting and snarling on the bed; the hair on his back was standing up.

Simran let out a small scream and Natasha was completely shocked at the transformation. Ron was looking with his eyes wide. "What the hell?", Ron said to himself. The whole thing was just creepy for him. Hermione was also just blankly staring at what had happened.

He was a very short man, hardly taller than Natasha and Hermione. His thin, colourless hair was unkempt and there was a large bald patch on top. He had the shrunken appearance of a plump man who has lost a lot of weight in a short time. He looked only a slight bit better than Black. Natasha knew that, it must be because he was eating only rat stuff. His skin looked grubby, almost like Scabbers's fur, and something of the rat lingered around his pointed nose and his very small, watery eyes. He looked around at them all, his breathing fast and shallow. Natasha saw his eyes dart to the door and back again. It was evident that, he was looking for an escape.

"Well, hello, Peter," said Lupin pleasantly, as though rats frequently erupted into old school friends around him. "Long time, no see."

"S—Sirius… R—Remus…" Even Pettigrew's voice was squeaky. Again, his eyes darted toward the door. "My friends… my old friends…"

Black's wand arm rose, but Lupin seized him around the wrist, gave him a warning took, then turned again to Pettigrew, his voice light and casual.

"We were now having a nice little chat now Peter, about the night Lily and James died. I am sure that, you can add something to it. Considering that, you were the one responsible for it.", Lupin said.

"Remus," gasped Pettigrew, and Natasha could see beads of sweat breaking out over his pasty face,

"I hope that, you don't believe the stuff he's telling. He tried to kill me!"

"Yeah, I did hear about that.", Lupin said with his voice getting colder. "We just want to clear some really important matters with you, Peter. It will be really helpful."

"He is here to try and kill me again.", Pettigrew said, his voice panicking and pointing at Black with his middle finger, as his index one was cut off. "He is the one responsible for Lily's and James' death, and now wants to kill me too!"

Black just sneered at Pettigrew, even though he did not look really intimidating due to his time in Azkaban. His face looked even more skull like. "We won't try to kill you, till we finish talking, Peter.", said Lupin. "There are many things to be sorted out."

"Sorted things out? What do you mean, Remus?", said Pettigrew, his eyes were going towards the windows and the door which was blocked out by Black. "I knew that, he will escape Azkaban and come after me. I have been waiting for this moment for twelve years."

"How can you be so sure that, Sirius has the power to break of Azkaban?", Lupin asked curiously. "I am sure that, you already know that fact that nobody has ever escaped from it."

"I am sure that he has got dark powers that, we can only dream of. Maybe he can't even do that.", Pettigrew whimpered shrilly. "How do you think he got out of that horrible place? I am sure that you know who would have thought him some useful tricks.". Upon hearing this, Black started laughing maniacally, that filled the whole room.

"Voldemort, teach me tricks?", he said still laughing. "That is a really nice story."

Pettigrew flinched as though Black had tried to slap him. "What happened, Peter? Are you scared to hear your old employer's name?", Black said still laughing. "I don't think I can blame you for that, Peter. I know that, your fellow death eaters aren't happy at you."

"I have no idea, what you mean Sirius.", muttered Pettigrew. He was breathing harder and faster than ever with his eyes going towards the windows and the door. He was completely covered with sweat.

"You haven't been hiding from me for twelve years," said Black. "You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supporters. I heard things in Azkaban, Peter… They all think you're dead, or you'd have to answer to them… I've heard them screaming all sorts of things in their sleep. Sounds like they think the double-crosser double-crossed them. Voldemort went to the Potters' on your information… and Voldemort met his downfall there. And not all Voldemort's supporters ended up in Azkaban, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways. If they ever got wind that you were still alive, Peter —"

"What you are telling…. Is completely absurd… I have no idea what you are talking about.", said Pettigrew again more shrilly than ever. He wiped the sweat on his sleeve and looked at Lupin. "Please don't believe this nonsense, Remus."

"You know, Peter. I somewhat have trouble in understanding why you would spend twelve years as rat, if you are innocent.", Lupin said evenly.

"Innocent and scared people do run, Remus.", said Pettigrew. "If you know who's supporters are after me, it might be because I put his best agent in the prison – Sirius Black!"

Black's face contorted. "How dare you," he growled, sounding suddenly like the bear sized dog he had been. "I, a spy for Voldemort? When did I ever sneak around people who were stronger and more powerful than myself? But you, Peter — I'll never understand why I didn't see you were the spy from the start. You always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't you? It used to be us… me and Remus… and James…"

Pettigrew wiped more sweat out of his face again. He was struggling to breathe now. "Me, a spy. Never in a million years. You must be out of your mins. I can't understand how you came up with such-"

"Lily and James only made you Secret-Keeper because I suggested it," Black hissed, so venomously that Pettigrew took a step backward. "I thought it was the perfect plan… a bluff… Voldemort would be sure to come after me, would never dream they'd use a weak, talentless thing like you… It must have been the finest moment of your miserable life, telling Voldemort you could hand him the Potters."

Pettigrew was muttering distractedly; Natasha caught words like "far-fetched" and "lunacy," but he couldn't help paying more attention to the ashen color of Pettigrew's face and the way his eyes continued to dart toward the windows and door.

"Er — Mr. Black — Sirius?", said Hermione.

Black jumped at Hermione's question as it had been a long time, since he was addressed like that and stared at Hermione as though she was an alien.

"I am wondering, how exactly did you get out of Azkaban, without using any kind of dark magic and managed to get past the horrible dementors.", Hermione asked.

"That is the precise question I wanted to ask.", Pettigrew said nodding frantically. "How can you-"

But Lupin silenced him with a look. Black was frowning slightly at Hermione, but not as though he were annoyed with her. He seemed to be pondering his answer.

"I don't know how I did it," he said slowly. "I think the only reason I never lost my mind is that I knew I was innocent. That wasn't a happy thought, so the Dementors couldn't suck it out of me… but it kept me sane and knowing who I am… helped me keep my powers… so when it all became… too much… I could transform in my cell… become a dog. Dementors can't see, you know…" He swallowed. "They feel their way toward people by feeding off their emotions… They could tell that my feelings were less — less human, less complex when I was a dog… but they thought, of course, that I was losing my mind like everyone else in there, so it didn't trouble them. But I was weak, very weak, and I had no hope of driving them away from me without a wand. But then I saw Peter in that picture… I realized he was at Hogwarts with Natasha… perfectly positioned to act, if one hint reached his ears that the Dark Side was gathering strength again…" Pettigrew was shaking his head, mouthing noiselessly, but staring all the while at Black as though hypnotized.

"… ready to strike at the moment he could be sure of allies… and to deliver the last Potter to them. If he gave them Natasha, who'd dare say he'd betrayed Lord Voldemort? He'd be welcomed back with honors… So you see, I had to do something. I was the only one who knew Peter was still alive…"

Natasha remembered what Mr. Weasley had told Mrs. Wealsey. "The guards say he's been talking in his sleep… always the same words… 'He's at Hogwarts.'"

"It was as if someone had lit a fire In my head, and the Dementors couldn't destroy it… It wasn't a happy feeling… it was an obsession… but it gave me strength, it cleared my mind. So, one night when they opened my door to bring food, I slipped past them as a dog… It's so much harder for them to sense animal emotions that they were confused… I was thin, very thin… thin enough to slip through the bars… I swam as a dog back to the mainland… I journeyed north and slipped into the Hogwarts grounds as a dog. I've been living in the forest ever since, except when I came to watch the Quidditch, of course. You fly as well as your father did, Natasha…". He looked at Natasha, who did not look away.

"Believe me," croaked Black. "Believe me, Natasha. I never betrayed James and Lily. I would have died before I betrayed them."

And at long last, Natasha believed him. Throat too tight to speak, she nodded. Ron, Hermione and Simran were also now convinced fully that Black was completely innocent.

"No!"

Pettigrew was on his knees as though Natasha had give him the death sentence. He was facing all of them as though he was begging all of them for mercy. But Natasha didn't even feel a bit of pity on him. Hermione was just looking at the man in disgust. Ron still looked in shook by the revelation and Simran was holding Ron's hand in reassurance.

Pettigrew had fallen to his knees as though Natasha's nod had been his own death sentence. He shuffled forward on his knees, grovelling, his hands clasped in front of him as though praying.

"Sirius — it's me… it's Peter… your friend… you wouldn't —"

Black kicked out and Pettigrew recoiled.

"Don't you dare touch me. There is enough of filth in it, even before you touched it." said Black.

"Remus!" Pettigrew squeaked, turning to Lupin instead, writhing imploringly in front of him.

"You don't believe this — wouldn't Sirius have told you they'd changed the plan?"

"Not if he thought I was the spy, Peter," said Lupin. "I assume that's why you didn't tell me, Sirius?" he said casually over Pettigrew's head.

"Forgive me, Remus," said Black.

"Not at all, Padfoot, old friend," said Lupin, who was now rolling up his sleeves. "And will you, in turn, forgive me for believing you were the spy?"

"Of course," said Black, and the ghost of a grin flitted across his gaunt face. He, too, began rolling up his sleeves. "Shall we kill him together?"

"Yes, I think so," said Lupin grimly.

"You wouldn't… you won't…" gasped Pettigrew. And he scrambled around to Ron.

"Ron. Please don't let him do this. I have been a good pet to you, haven't i? Please tell me you are on my side!", Peter begged Ron. But Ron was just looking at Pettigrew with nothing but disgust and revulsion.

"Get the hell away from him!", Simran said angrily.

"Please Ron!", Pettigrew begged again.

"I let you sleep in my bed!", Ron said.

"Kind boy… kind master…" Pettigrew crawled toward Ron, "You won't let them do it… I was your rat… I was a good pet…"

"If you made a better rat than a human, it's not much to boast about, Peter," said Black harshly. Ron, going still paler with pain, wrenched his broken leg out of Pettigrew's reach. Simran spat on to Pettigrew, at which he flinched. Pettigrew turned on his knees, staggered forward, and seized the hem of Hermione's robes.

"Sweet girl… clever girl… you — you won't let them… Help me…". Hermione pulled her robes out of Pettigrew's clutching hands and backed away against the wall, looking horrified. Pettigrew knelt, trembling uncontrollably, and turned his head slowly toward Natasha.

"Natasha… Natasha… you look just like your mother… just like her…"

"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO NATASHA?" roared Black. "HOW DARE YOU FACE HER? HOW DARE YOU TALK ABOUT LILY IN FRONT OF HER?"

"Natasha," whispered Pettigrew, shuffling toward him, hands outstretched. "Natasha, James wouldn't have wanted me killed… James would have understood, Natasha… he would have shown me mercy…"

Both Black and Lupin strode forward, seized Pettigrew's shoulders, and threw him backward onto the floor. He sat there, twitching with terror, staring up at them.

"We know that, you sold Lily and James to Voldemort. Do you deny it?", Black asked shaking with anger.

Pettigrew was crying horribly now. It was like watching an overgrown mouse crying, cowering on the floor.

"Sirius, Remus, what should I have done? You have no idea how powerful he who must not be named is. He has weapons that we can't even imagine. You do know that, I am not brave like you both. I never meant to tell it to him. He forced me, even put the cruciatus-", Pettigrew said.

"DON'T LIE!" bellowed Black. "YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO HIM FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!"

"He was taking over everywhere and was very likely to even overthrow the ministry.", Pettigrew said shaking. "What would be gained by refusing him?"

"What was there to be gained by fighting the evillest wizard who has ever existed?" said Black, with a terrible fury in his face. "Only innocent lives, Peter! Hundreds of lived were taken away, just because you turned a traitor. Remember Marlene? The spy inside order was responsible for my fiancée's death and you are it!"

"You don't understand!" whined Pettigrew. "He would have killed me, Sirius!"

"THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED FOR US!", Black roared. "YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY YOUR BEST FRIENDS'S TRUST! WE WOULD HAVE DONE THAT FOR YOU!"

"You are late, but I am sure that you would have realised that, if Voldemort didn't kill you, then we will!", Lupin said quietly and raised his wand properly towards Peter.

Hermione covered her face with her hands and turned to the wall and Simran just closed her eyes not wanting to see a death in front of her.

"NO!" Natasha yelled. She ran forward, placing herself in front Pettigrew, facing the wands. She knew what she was doing. She didn't want them to become murderers. "You can't kill him," she said breathlessly. "You don't have to."

Black and Lupin both looked staggered.

"Natasha, this coward of a man is the reason that you have no parents.", Black said with an angry look at Pettigrew. "This vermin would have seen that you also would have died without even a second thought. He said so himself. His life means to him more than that of your whole family. I am sure that, he will do it again if given a chance."

"I know that.", Natasha said with a serious look. "We can take him to the castle and hand this traitor to the dementors. The doors of Azkaban will be open for this vermin. But don't kill him."

"Natasha!" gasped Pettigrew, and he flung his arms around Natasha's knees. "You — thank you — it's more than I deserve — thank you —"

"Get off me," Natasha spat, throwing Pettigrew's hands off him in disgust. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because — I don't reckon my dad would've wanted them to become killers — just for you."

No one moved or made a sound except Pettigrew, whose breath was coming in wheezes as he clutched his chest. Black and Lupin were looking at each other. Then, with one movement, they lowered their wands. "You're the only person who has the right to decide, Natasha," said Black. "But think… think what he did…"

"He can go to Azkaban," Natasha repeated. "If anyone deserves that place, he does. I am sure that dad and mom would have agreed to this too."

Pettigrew was still wheezing behind her.

"Very well," said Lupin. "Stand aside, Natasha.". Natasha hesitated.

"I'm going to tie him up," said Lupin. "That's all, I swear.". Natasha stepped out of the way. Thin cords shot from Lupin's wand this time, and next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling on the floor, bound and gagged.

"But if you transform, Peter," growled Black, his own wand pointing at Pettigrew too, "we will kill you. You agree, Natasha?"

Natasha looked down at the pitiful figure on the floor and nodded so that Pettigrew could see her. "Right," said Lupin, suddenly business like. "Ron, I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I think it's best if we just strap your leg up until we can get you to the hospital wing."

He hurried over to Ron, bent down, tapped Ron's leg with his wand, and muttered, "Ferula." Bandages spun up Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint. Lupin and Simran helped him to his feet; Ron put his weight gingerly on the leg and didn't wince.

"That's better," he said. "Thanks."

"What about Professor Snape?" said Natasha in a small voice, looking down at Snape's prone figure. She was feeling really bad for him, and wanted to check on him.

"There's nothing seriously wrong with him," said Lupin, bending over Snape and checking his pulse. "You three were just a little — overenthusiastic. Still out cold. Er — perhaps it will be best if we don't revive him until we're safety back in the castle. We can take him like this…". He muttered, "Mobilicorpus." As though invisible strings were tied to Snape's wrists, neck, and knees, he was pulled into a standing position, head still lolling unpleasantly, like a grotesque puppet. He hung a few inches above the ground, his limp feet dangling. Lupin picked up the Invisibility Cloak and tucked it safely into his pocket.

"And two of us should be chained to this," said Black, nudging Pettigrew with his toe. "Just to make sure."

"I'll do it," said Lupin.

"And me," said Ron savagely, limping forward.

Black conjured heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm to Ron's left. Ron's face was set. Simran was holding his other hand as they walked out of the shack. He seemed to have taken Scabbers's true identity as a personal insult. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed and led the way out of the room, his bottlebrush tail held jauntily high.