AN: I know you were all probably a bit irritated by the way I left things last chapter, but it was for a good reason, I swear. This chapter gave me fits. In fact, it's all thanks to the marvelous Tellur that I even managed to work through the many drafts of this chapter! On the plus side, the next chapter is two thirds of the way done. I also have an unrelated one-shot in the works, as well as a few outtakes between this chapter and the next, so watch for those. As usual, thanks to reviewers: Marvelgeek42, Bloody-Rozez, Sphere Warrior, TxA-GunFighter, Ciel Moony, Sunshine72, Joshua Primrose, ILoveGeorgeEads, Guest, Random Person with No Name, Kairan1979, Ari989, madnessdownunder2, LadyKnightofCelestia, MariusDarkwolf, Fibinaci, Tellur, ultima-owner, serialkeller, Lady Sabine of Macayhill, MuggleCreator, and ReadPaxJoy. On with the story!
Disclaimer: I do not own the Harry Potter franchise.
Remus made a face as he downed his last goblet of Wolfsbane Potion. He needed to set out soon, he thought as he caught sight of the sun's low position in the sky. Charity sat next to him in his office, wringing her hands and muttering under her breath. Truthfully, Remus was a bit alarmed by her distress—it had been hours since he'd told her of Sirius' innocence, and she had yet to calm down. During their conversation with Minerva, who had stared at her like she'd escaped from the mental ward at St. Mungo's, Charity had paced back and forth, running over all possible scenarios in her brain.
This was his entire fault! It was starting to seem more and more likely that Peter Pettigrew had been responsible for the deaths of Lily and James Potter. He'd never intended for schoolchildren to get caught up in this. Why couldn't he have figured this out sooner? Why couldn't he have realized that Sirius would never do something like that?
Because he was a fool and a coward, he thought angrily. He couldn't tell anyone about Sirius' Animagus form, or about Peter's. He hadn't done anything properly since…well, since he'd become a werewolf. It had changed him into some sort of selfish monster. The Marauders and Charity had been the few bright spots in his otherwise gloomy life, and even indulging in those happy moments had been selfish. Charity would be better off with a man who could make her happy. Yet he couldn't bring himself to break things off with her, because she made life worth living again.
"I think I'm going to set out now…Charity? Charity?" He touched her gently on the shoulder, and she jumped a foot in the air.
"Oh! Yes, yes, of course. We should probably check the map one last time, right?" She blinked at him, frazzled.
He smiled softly at her. "Good idea." Minerva had asked the two of them to keep an eye on the Map for Peter or Sirius, and Remus was happy to oblige. He pulled out the Map, and the pair scoured over it. It didn't take them long, however, to find a major problem.
"Remus? What's going on here?" Charity's voice quivered slightly as she pointed right near the Whomping Willow. Remus paused and leaned in closer. Three dots were clustered together—Sirius Black, Ronald Weasley, and Peter Pettigrew.
"Why is Ron so close to Sirius and Peter?" He wondered.
Charity frowned, her eyes widening. "You said Peter's Animagus form is a rat, right? Oh Merlin, Ron has a pet named Scabbers…we have to get down there!"
Remus nodded, his mind completely away from the full moon now. "Ron's pet's been Peter this whole time? It looks like they're headed for the passage under the Whomping Willow, for the Shrieking Shack."
"But there's nothing there," Charity said, snatching up the Map and stuffing it in her pocket.
"Sirius is familiar with it," Remus countered, opening his door and starting off at a run. "And it's far enough away from the castle that he'll be able to get away with anything, I suppose."
"What if one of them hurts Ron?" Charity moaned, pushing her hair out of her face.
Remus shook his head morosely, whisking her away through a short cut to a side door near his office. "We need to get there before anything—"
"Professor!" Dean shouted.
"Professor, Ron's been taken by a Grim," Lavender cried fearfully.
Remus blinked. "A Grim? No, no, that's no grim." So Sirius had stayed in his Animagus form. That made things a bit more complicated. Peter would recognize him, but no one else would. And Remus was willing to bet that no one even suspected Peter of being Ron's pet rat.
Parvati bounced on the balls of her feet. "We have to help him!"
"We will," Charity promised, picking up the pace again.
Remus' head swam with everything going on. If Sirius was innocent, then Ron shouldn't be in any danger. But Sirius had spent twelve years in Azkaban, and everyone knew what dementors did to someone's mental state. On the other hand, if Peter was innocent, and Sirius was a murderer, then there probably wasn't any hope for the youngest Weasley boy. "Who was down there?"
"The usual," Seamus puffed out, racing alongside them. "Oliver tried to get Harry and Hermione to leave with us, so they wouldn't be in danger, but that didn't work out too well for him."
"I can imagine," Remus murmured, running a hand across his face.
The Whomping Willow shuddered ominously at their approach. Remus paused again upon reaching it. None of the other children were in sight, and Remus could only assume that they'd followed Ron under the Willow. He considered his option for a moment and then levitated a small stone to hit the knot at the base of the tree. Its limbs froze, and Remus forged on.
"Professor Lupin, how did you know to do that?" Neville asked quietly, sliding down into the tunnel.
"Because I used to do this all the time."
Penelope gulped and tried not to feel pathetic. But that was rather difficult, as a mass murderer had just taken all of their wands, and now clearly intended to kill them all. She gently pushed Harry and Hermione back with Ron and maneuvered herself in front of them. If he planned on killing a couple of innocent third years, he'd have to go through her first.
Percy and Oliver seemed to have the exact same idea, for they stood on either side of her. Lee, Fred, and George glanced around the dingy room for another exit, but there didn't appear to be one. All of the windows were boarded up, and it would take ages to get through. There seemed to be no getting out of this one.
"Guys?" Angelina called from the other side of the door.
"Angelina, you need to go. Go get some help. And hurry," Penelope added. It would probably be too late by the time anyone arrived, but it would get the others away and keep them safe. Just because the nine people in the room would die didn't mean anyone else had to.
Black bared his teeth at them in something resembling a smile. Penny fought back a grimace upon taking in his black teeth. He took a step closer, and her breath hitched. This was it. They were done for.
"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to go through all of us." Ron sat up and coughed weakly.
Black leered dangerously, letting out a hoarse chuckle. "Oh no…there will be only one murder tonight." Penny unconsciously moved back and tried to hide Harry from his sight. Harry, however, pushed her away and stood tall.
"Ron," He said lowly, "give him the rat."
"What?" Ron squeaked, cupping Scabbers in his hands.
"Give him the rat," Harry repeated, his eyes locked with Black's.
"Harry," Oliver began quietly. "You need to move."
Harry shook his head stubbornly. "No. If Ron just hands over the rat, we'll be okay."
Penny swayed on her feet, feeling her breath leave her. What was he doing? He put himself right in danger's path! "Harry, think about what you're saying," She hissed.
"No, no," Black interrupted, smiling again. "He's right. Very smart boy, aren't you? James would've been so proud…" His gaze shifted away from them, and his grip on the wands slackened. Penny stopped breathing. He somehow appeared less mad in that moment, when he no longer stood in that room, instead in a far off place. Lee snuck towards him, sticking to the shadows. Just as his hand crept out to snatch their wands back—
"Mrrow!" Crookshanks pounced on Lee's foot and clawed up his leg.
Black jumped and spun around, brandishing the wands about wildly. "No! I've waited too long for this. I will kill him, and everyone will know the truth!"
"Ron, give it to him!" Harry pleaded, trying to wrestle Scabbers away from his friend.
"Harry, have you gone mental? What's Scabbers got to do with any of this? Black'll just kill us when he's through!" Ron slid back on the mattress, catching his leg on the bed frame and letting out a cry of pain.
Black, distracted by their frantic fighting, missed Fred and George jumping out and tackling him to the ground. Lee flung Crookshanks away, and Oliver dove for Black, grabbing the wands.
"Stup—"
"Protego! Expelliarmus!" Lupin opened the door and let it fly against the wall with a bang. All motion in the room stopped as a shield appeared around Black and the recently obtained wands launched themselves across the room and into Lupin's outstretched hand.
"Professor Lupin?" Hermione squeaked.
Burbage hovered behind him in the doorway, with the other Gryffindors on her tail looking befuddled. Penelope reached up to rub her temple. Lupin, defending Black? Burbage, standing idly by and letting it happen? Where was she? What was going on?
"Hermione," Lupin said, as though they were in class and she had eagerly raised her hand to answer a question.
"I—I don't understand," She replied, glancing back and forth.
"Ron, could you please pass me Scabbers?" Burbage requested pleasantly, holding out her hand.
"Why?" Ron shot back. "Why does everyone want Scabbers? And why is Lupin defending that lunatic over there? And why are you—" He turned to Harry, "completely fine with this? Harry, Black killed your parents. Will someone please tell me what the bloody hell is going on?" Ron's voice had climbed to a yell.
"If everyone could just calm down," Burbage murmured soothingly, entering the room.
"You just—" Percy gestured about crazily with his hands for a few seconds. "You and Lupin have been working with Black this whole time!"
"I've never seen this woman before in my life!" Black proclaimed loudly. "…I think."
"We've never met," Burbage agreed. "And Remus hasn't really been helping Mr. Black at all until this very moment, because we've both only figured out the truth a short while ago. Oh, and Harry too," She remembered.
"Harry?" Neville repeated, peeking out around the many bodies in front of him. "Why didn't you say anything?"
Harry shrugged bashfully. "I was going to later."
"We would've understood," Alicia assured him.
"Is anyone else concerned by the fact that a murderer stands less than a meter away?" Seamus shouted, drawing their attention back to the real problem at hand.
"But you see, Sirius isn't a murderer," Lupin told them.
Black reared back and stared at him for a beat. "Remus," He croaked, brushing away a tear. "Remus, I'm so sorry," He sobbed, embracing the other man.
"YOU—YOU LIAR!" Fred yelled, reaching for his wand only to recall that it wasn't there.
"We helped you with Burbage!" George declared.
"And kept your ruddy secret!"
"And all the while you've been conspiring about—"
"—planning things with Black!"
"They're right," Percy spoke up with a sort of cold fury. "You've gone too far, Professor Lupin. It's not enough that you're breaking dozens of rules. You brought family into this!" Percy, quite prepared to take on Lupin and Black alone without a wand, readied himself to get seriously hurt.
"No, Percy!" Burbage stepped in front of Lupin and Black, protecting them, though only for a moment. "Everyone, listen! Sirius Black is innocent. Peter Pettigrew is alive!"
"And how do you know that?" Cormac confronted her, pointing his wand directly at her. Penny noticed his arm shaking with reluctance and fear.
"The Marauder's Map," Lupin answered for her. To Penny, this meant nothing. But the twins paled instantly, turning to glare at Harry.
"You know how to work it?" George asked.
"Well, I should hope so. I did help write it, after all." Lupin readjusted his robes and smiled lightly. "I'm Moony. Sirius is Padfoot, Peter's Wormtail, and Harry's father was Prongs."
"Wha?"
"Marauder's Map?"
"You're Moony?"
"They called me Moony, of course, because of my lycanthropy," Lupin continued, ignoring their chatter. "And the three of them decided—quite foolishly, I might add—to become Animagi so as to help me with my transformations. James became a stag, Sirius can turn into a dog, and Peter into a rat…the same rat that has been with the Weasley family for twelve years."
The sound of Scabbers squealing and squirming around echoed throughout the otherwise silent room.
"I don't believe it," Leann whispered faintly.
"Nor do I," Snape announced.
Leann jumped out of her skin and backed herself up against the rotting wood of the doorframe. "Pro—Professor Snape," She stammered out, wishing she didn't sound like such an idiot. Katie slipped her hand back and grabbed Leann's elbow, giving it a reassuring squeeze.
"So," He began, pushing his way past them. "Lupin's been aiding Black this whole time. Why am I unsurprised by this?" Snape curled his lip in disgust at Black, who made a sudden movement only to be blocked by Lupin.
"Severus." Lupin held back Black and cleared his throat quietly. "If you would please, listen to what to we have to say. I'm sure you'll find that it will all make sense in a moment."
"Oh, I've heard more than enough." Snape's eyes glinted dangerously. "Disillusionment Charms are quite handy to know, as it turns out. I suppose you think Black is innocent, because Pettigrew is Weasley's rat? Hmm." He sneered at Lupin. "You never did keep great company, Lupin. First Potter and Black, then Pettigrew…why, even Burbage over there is too idiotic to tell when she's being lied to—"
Lupin moved so fast that no one predicted it, stalking across the room and punching Snape in his hooked nose. Leann wondered if it would lead to an improvement in Snape's looks. Snape's wand clattered to the ground, but no one moved to pick it up.
"You—"
Lupin overrode Snape. "It's time you stop this nonsense, Snape! You've always hated the Marauders, for things that were your own fault. Blame me if you must, but you leave the others out of it!"
"Why should I?" Snape erupted. "Always so self-sacrificing, Lupin! Have time and constant transformations addled your brain? Potter's arrogance knew no bounds then, and it carries on in his son. If you'll recall, Black is the one who lured me to my certain death—"
"And if you'll recall, James is the one who saved your sorry arse," Black broke in, glaring. "You were a spineless little coward then Snape, and it looks as though things never change! He could've left you there to die, but he didn't. It's time to realize that James Potter did you a favor—"
"I don't owe James Potter anything!" Snape roared. With not a word, he summoned his wand to him, catching it deftly. "Expelliarmus!" Lupin's wand soared to him. "Come on, Black. Why don't we head back to the castle right now and alert the Ministry of your presence?"
"No!" Black gasped, stumbling. "No, you can't take me back there!"
"Oh, I doubt you'll be taken to Azkaban," Snape said silkily. "No, I think the dementors will be much too pleased to see you. In fact, they might even give you a little kiss."
"No," Black sobbed, falling to his knees. "Please Snape, I beg of you!" Tears raced down his cheeks as he pleaded. "I'll do anything, I swear. Just not the dementors!" Was this what twelve years of exposure to dementors did to a person, Leann wondered.
"Interesting how the tables have turned, isn't it, Black?" Snape snarled. "Perhaps Pettigrew is alive, but that doesn't make your crimes any less! Yes, the both of you will go to Azkaban at the very least…Lupin will have to be punished as well."
"And what about me?" Burbage interrupted, looking Snape in the eye and holding her wand steady. "What about the children? There are too many to Obliviate, Snape. A few would get away. You refuse to listen to reason, but I'm sure others will be more understanding. Especially Minerva. We all know you're on thin ice with her right now as it is. She has no such reservations towards me and Remus, though that might be helped by the fact that we've already revealed Black's innocence to her."
Snape inhaled sharply. "Is that how you wish to play this, Burbage? It seems such a departure from your normal way of dealing with things—doling out hugs and kind words."
Burbage's gaze hardened. "I thought you might appreciate a more sly approach. You are the Head of Slytherin, after all. The way I see it, Snape, you have two options. You can come along with us and give back Remus' wand, or you can try to fight all of us at once. Someone is bound to get away from you, and I doubt you'll still have a job after attacking students. It's your decision."
Snape scowled deeply, letting his eyes flit around the room as he looked for a way to escape. Finally he breathed in again and surreptitiously wiped at the blood leaking from his nose with the back of his hand. "We both know I'm the stronger duelist here, Burbage. Lupin's without a wand, as is Black. If I had to, I could Obliviate at least a few of you before you could hope to stop me," He told them evenly.
"We could fight you," Oliver argued.
Snape rolled his eyes. "You think I would fall to a few schoolchildren? Really Wood, I know you're not the most intelligent, but this is a new low."
"Schoolchildren?" Oliver grumbled.
Burbage pursed her lips. "You want more."
"I will go along with this scheme of yours, if Lupin resigns from his position."
Burbage opened her mouth to retort, but Lupin interceded. "Agreed."
"No!" Harry shouted. "Professor Lupin, you can't!"
"It's just because he wants your job," Alicia protested. "You can't let him have it."
Lupin smiled sadly at them. "I'll manage. I always have. Besides, a job is a small price to pay for Sirius' freedom."
Black pulled himself to his feet and hugged Lupin again. "Thank you," He whispered. "Thank you."
"Ron, keep a hold of Pettigrew," Burbage instructed before changing her mind. "No, how about you let me hold him. Ron? Are you alright?"
Ron squeezed Scabbers—Pettigrew—tight in his hands and shook his head. "So…so he's really…he's—"
"Yes Ron, but don't worry about that right now. Everything's going to be okay," Burbage said calmly. "Oliver, could you carry him back to the castle? He really shouldn't be walking on that leg. Ferula! Just wait until we get you into see Madam Pomfrey, she'll have you on Pain Potion in no time. Oh, I wish he would stop squirming. Immobulus! There, that's better." Burbage held the immobile Pettigrew upside down by his tail as though he were too disgusting to touch.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Snape snapped. "Lupin won't be coming back to the castle tonight unless he's prepared for everyone to know why he disappears each month."
Lupin replied coolly, "Don't worry, Severus. I've taken my potion, and Minerva knows most of the story by now anyway. Charity, you'll be fine, won't you?" He turned to her worriedly.
She waved her hand easily. "Everything will be fine, Remus. Children, let's start back to the castle. Oliver, you've got a hold on Ron? Good, just be careful, some of the ground's awfully rough. Harry, why don't you and Mr. Black bring up the rear? I'm sure you have some things to catch up on." She winked at the bespectacled boy and left, giving Remus a last peck on the cheek.
Black looked worse than his wanted posters, if that were even possible. Harry walked alongside him, keeping a slow and steady pace as Black stumbled over air. His ribs poked through his shirt. His skin was waxy and sallow. Enormous bags under his eyes gave them the impression of having receded into his skull. Yet Harry couldn't find it in him to be afraid. Black simply didn't appear threatening to him.
"Harry…" Black seemed to revel in speaking in his name for a few seconds. "Harry, I don't know if anyone told you, but…I—I'm your godfather."
Harry bobbed his head complacently. "Yeah, Professor Burbage told me."
"Well…" Black stumbled over a tree root, and Harry quickly grabbed him by the elbow to prevent him from tumbling to the ground. "Thanks. Your parents…they thought that if anything were to happen to them, then I could…or, that is, you would be able to—to live with me." Black's voice cracked on his last word.
"Live with you?" Harry echoed, tossing the idea around. "You mean, away from the Dursleys?"
Black broke out into a cold sweat and glanced away, focusing intently on the ground. "Of course, it's just a suggestion. You don't need to feel pressured, I only thought—"
"Could Professor Lupin live with us, too? I mean, if you've room," Harry added as an afterthought. "And could my friends come visit sometimes?"
Black did a double-take. "Does…does this mean you accept?" His voice rose in pitch as he became excited. "And yes, of course Remus can live with us—if he wants to. We might have to beg, he's always going on about not accepting charity. Your friends can come visit anytime—all the time even, if you want."
Black and Harry shared the same level of happiness as they trekked back to the castle, though nothing more was said about it. Harry's mind raced as he imagined what living with Black would be like. Would their house be big or small? What would it look like? All Harry could think of was a cheery white mansion with lots of windows and perhaps a happy house elf or two. A Quidditch pitch out back would be wonderful—he could practice on his broom during the summer for the first time!
But truthfully, Harry didn't care what the place looked like. He really just wanted to live with someone who cared. And when he stared up at the castle, he couldn't help but hope that he might soon have two homes—one at school and one with Sirius.
To Guest: Romilda Vane is a first year Gryffindor, with her sights set on Neville Longbottom. In canon, she is the one who gave Harry the chocolates laced with love potion in HBP. Demelza Robbins is a second year Gryffindor, Ginny Weasley's best friend, and secretary of the HHPC. She's hardly mentioned in canon. Thanks for reviewing!