- Mirus, tell me.

- Yes, Luna?

- It is for your godfather that the Dementors are here.

- Yes, Luna.

- I don't like Dementors… They scare away all interesting creatures.

- Don't worry, everything will be settled soon.

- Oh I see. You and your friend have a plan?

- Yes, Luna.

A small smile crept across Harry's face. It had been a month and a half since they had been back at Hogwarts and his friend was really having a hard time with the darkness that the creatures trailed behind them. Even though the Dementors stayed away from the castle, one could feel their effect because of their numbers. The moody mood in the hallways was totally unusual.

The plan was ready, Harry had been practicing since the start of the school year to cast the spell he needed without a wand so as not to be worried. He had to keep Dumbledore away from everything he knew and everything he could do. Not only had he managed to pass for a very good student without being exceptionally gifted, but no one was to know that he knew the truth and that he had spent part of the summer with his godfather. If found out, his whole future could suffer.

All he had to do was find the right moment. Witnesses were needed, enough so that nothing would be swept discreetly under the rug.

- Say, Mirus.

Harry dodged an attack sent by one of the Room of Requirement dummies.

- Yes, Luna?

With a wave of his hand, he cast a cutting spell on the same dummy.

- I approached the flame, as you asked me. She was surprised that I approached her when we haven't spoken since we arrived at Hogwarts but we played a little together when we were little, we are almost neighbors, so it did not seem too strange.

A roll later to dodge another spell, Harry was able to respond.

- Great, Luna. I think we can do this on Halloween night. Try to get closer to Ronald by then. I have to be able to be near him without it being suspicious.

- Mmmhmm, okay. It's in two weeks, I should be successful. Ginerva has always been close to her big brother so I have known him for a long time. By the way, your brother seems rather distant this year. You have never been close but he almost seems to be hostile.

Harry winced as a stinging curse hit him in the thigh.

- From what Marvolo told me, Lucius was punished for giving his diary to a Weasley and Draco found out this summer who was staying in his mansion. I believe Draco finally realized that I was "Harry Potter", the enemy of his father's master. Seeing his father punished must have made him think about how he would be too if Voldemort knew he was neutral towards me. He tried once or twice to provoke me but when I didn't answer him, he just gave me hateful looks.

Luna nodded, which Harry didn't see as he was casting two spells on the dummy that hit him.

- Ok, it's been two hours, I'll stop there.

Harry wiped his brow and made the three mannequins he faced during his training disappear with a thought towards the Room.
The two friends huddled under the Cloak of Invisibility to return discreetly to their dormitories. They rarely needed it, but the boy's clothes were in terrible shape and he was covered in sweat and blood from the small wounds Luna had treated.

.oOÔOo.

The time for the feast had arrived. Harry huffed, suddenly nervous. His future would partly be decided tonight. Everything had to go according to plan or he would be doomed to return to the Dursleys until Voldemort found a way to get him out of there. It was already a miracle that Dumbledore hadn't found out that he has spent the majority of the holidays away from Little Whinging.

For the moment, the Dark Lord was discreet and didn't want to catch Dumbledore's eye until he was ready. From what Harry knew, only a few trusted followers, including Lucius and Fenrir, knew of his return. It was therefore impossible for him to take Harry under his wing at the moment. And going back to Fenrir wouldn't be possible right away without getting the old goat's attention.

The Great Hall was gradually filling up, with students arriving as quickly as possible to make the most of the treats served that particular evening.

Harry noticed that the Slytherin students and part of the Ravenclaws seemed calmer, stoically settling down on the benches. He mentioned it to Luna who explained to him that it was mainly Pureblood children who celebrated the holiday in a traditional way, far from the exuberance of the muggle party. Samhain was a day for celebrating the dead, not for gorging on treats. These same students practiced the rituals discreetly, in their dormitories, because they were frowned upon by the current management of the school.

The two friends saw Ginerva and Ronald Weasley move in to the Gryffindor table. Everything was ready, we just had to wait for the middle of the meal to be sure that everyone would be present.

The feast was, as usual, delicious. Harry, despite his nervousness, managed to like it. Since he arrived at Hogwarts, he never missed an opportunity to enjoy everything that had been forbidden to him during his childhood. The sweets had been just one more way for his cousin to taunt him, handing him one before pulling it away just as Harry was about to grab it. Being able to eat it now reminded him why the plan had to work tonight.

The doors to the Great Hall had just closed, a sign that the entire human population of Hogwarts was inside, and Harry and Luna got up to walk over to the lions' table.

That students got up in the middle of a feast to go to another table than theirs was so rare that as they progressed, eyes turned towards them and silence fell. Even the teachers seemed intrigued, until they heard the blonde Ravenclaw speak once they came up behind the young Weasley.

- Ginny! You forgot your Potions textbook this morning at the library!

- Uh… Thanks Luna, you didn't have to give it back to me now… Oh, Harry! How are you?

The embarrassed gaze of the redhead immediately changed when she saw the brunette. She was so happy to see him. She nudged her big brother who was staring at Luna blankly while chewing. Immediately, Ronald turned his gaze to Harry. He had never been close to the boy even though he had always dreamed of being so in order to stand out. The two redheads got up to face their interlocutors without having to twist on the bench.

- H… hello, Luna, Harry.

Harry nodded in response, wearing a polite smile.

- Sorry to bother you during dinner but when Luna has an idea… And she was thinking about giving you back your textbook since this morning, Ginny, but she didn't dare bother you. I had to persuade her to give it back to you tonight or she wouldn't have slept all night.

- Oh, no problem Harry. Luna, you could have given it back to me tomorrow, you know. I finished my homework with you at the library this morning.

Dreamily, Luna handed Ginerva the textbook she had quietly stolen at the end of their study session at the library. Harry looked interested as he looked at the redhead, directing his gaze to the pocket on his chest.

- Oh, you have a rat? Cool!

- Eh ? Ah, yes, it's Scabbers, he's been in my family for a long time.

- You're lucky… My family doesn't want me to have a pet, Harry replied with an annoyed air.

- Oh…

- Say, can I hold it for a bit? I have never seen a domesticated rat before.

Ronald looked pleased with the request. He finally had a way to befriend the Boy-Who-Lived! For once his old rat would be of some use! He took the rat whose head was sticking out of his pocket and handed it to Harry.

As soon as the rat was placed in his hand, Harry silently cast the spell that served to return an animagus to human form.
He was quickly tackled to the ground under the weight of the man who had just appeared to everyone's amazement. He cried out in pain when he his arm break under the weight that had just fallen on him.

The teachers were quick to intervene, McGonagall and Snape in the lead. The two simultaneously cast a Stunning Charm on the intruder who was ejected from their student.

The deputy headmistress was the first to approach him.

- Mr. Potter! Are you alright? Who is that man?

Holding his arm close to his body, Harry sat up shaking, tears in his eyes.

- I don't know, professor. I asked Ronald if I could hold his rat and when I got it he transformed.

He let a few tears fall in order to polish his innocent look. He saw the Potions professor turn the slumped man over with his foot. The students who were furthest away approached to observe the scene. Everyone had been shocked by the appearance of a man, but the action had been so quick and unexpected that none had fled far.

- Minerva, I know who this man is. And he's supposed to be dead.

- Pe…Peter Pettigrew? She exclaimed after looking at the man's face. But it's... it's... impossible, he was killed by Sirius Black!

- Obviously not. Mr. Weasley?

The boy was pale as death, his eyes wide on what had been his rat.

- MR WEASLEY.

Professor Snape's shout startled everyone around, motivating the students to get as far away as possible and leaving the way clear for the arrival of the other teachers and the nurse.

- Pro…fessor?

- What happened exactly here, Mr. Weasley, the Transfiguration teacher asked softly, seeing his student's shock.

- Er… I… Harry wanted to see my rat… so… I took it out of my pocket and gave it to him… And a man took Scabbers place and crushed Harry under him…

- Minerva, I think it is better to evacuate the students before continuing, interrupted Dumbledore who finally arrived.

- Mr. Weasley, Miss Weasley, Miss Lovegood and Mr. Potter, stay here. The others, she went on louder, you go back to your Common Rooms, the rest of the feast will be served to you there. Pomona, Wilhelmina, Septima and Charity, please accompany the students. Argus, contact the Aurors from my fireplace, please. Pompom, can you take care of Mr. Potter here?

- I'll see what I can do, but he'll need to go to the infirmary as soon as possible.

The evacuation of the students was not the easiest, all wanting to take a look at the man who had interrupted the feast. Already, the rumors were making their way. The identity of the man quickly spread from the few students who had heard the exchange between their two teachers. It was more than Harry had hoped for. He silently thanked the dark professor for identifying Peter so publicly.

Madam Pomfrey stayed with Harry after giving him a painkiller and helping him up to sit on a bench. She would heal the boy once in the infirmary.
Professor Snape glared at Pettigrew. He had hoped the wolf was the last Marauder alive and free. Obviously, only one of his former tormenters had died in 1981.
The other teachers seemed eager for answers to this situation.

Once the Great Hall was emptied of most of its occupants, Dumbledore spoke.

- Well, who can tell me what exactly happened.

Again Ronald related what had happened.

- Well… Hmm… Peter Pettigrew is supposed to have died many years ago. Exactly how long have you had this rat in your possession?

- I had him in first year but he was Percy's before. He had found him in the garden and took care him. I don't remember when it was, I was too young. It's been at least ten years.

- That's a long time for a rat. But how can we be sure that it is indeed Mr. Pettigrew?

- Perhaps Lupin can offer us an explanation?

Harry didn't miss the insistence on the name that Snape had almost spat out. The Defense professor was extremely pale, staring at the unconscious man on the ground. In fact, since he'd come close, he hadn't moved an inch, as if he couldn't make sense of what he was seeing. He only flinched when he heard his name.

- I… It's really Peter…

- And how do you know, Remus? Professor McGonagall asked.

- Pe… Peter became an animagus when we were students. A rat.

Professor Snape snorted disdainfully.

- This kind of information would have been useful to us a long time ago, Lupin.

Professor Lupin flinched again, looking around guiltily.

-Only one way to be sure, Dumbledore announced before casting an Enervatum.

Instantly, Pettigrew stood up, looking around in panic. His gaze fell on Harry, then on Snape and finally on Lupin.

- Remus! My friend! I'm happy to see you!

- Peter, you owe us an explanation. What are you doing here? We thought you were dead!

- Oh, yes, yes. It's Sirius, Remus. He betrayed James, he betrayed him! I wanted to talk to him but he tried to kill me! I was scared, Remus!

Harry frowned. Pettigrew's guilt had to be announced publicly or Sirius would never have a trial. No doubt the ministry would be happy to cause Pettigrew to have an "accident" before he could be officially interviewed if there were only a few witnesses.

- Mr… Mr. Pettigrew? Why have you remained hidden for so long? Makes no sense, Sirius Black was in Azkaban for years.

Pettigrew twitched slightly, unable to answer. He looked around, searching for a correct answer. Once he was no longer the center of attention, it would only take a few seconds for him to transform and run away.

- I…

Nothing came to him. There was no good excuse for the fact that he had spent the last decade in his rat form. He could never have anticipated Sirius' escape and, had he been innocent, wouldn't really have needed to stay hidden. He nervously placed his hands in his pockets. It was then that he realized he had his master's wand in his pocket, which he had retrieved from Harry's room before fleeing and which he had since completely forgotten.

Clutching the wand in his hand, he ponders a diversion. Too many capable wizards around him, he didn't stand a chance as long as eyes were on him.

Impulsively, he pulled out the wand.

- DIFFINDO!

.oOÔOo.

The days following the Halloween feast were pure chaos.

The Aurors invaded Hogwarts, questioning the professors as well as the students about the course of the evening.
Many students were distressed, feeling unsafe at Hogwarts for the first time. Two of their teachers were missing and rumors about their fate were growing day by day. The other teachers canceled their classes for the rest of the week in order to be available at all times for those who needed them.

Harry had spent five days in the infirmary. A few hours were enough to heal his arm but Madam Pomfrey thought it would be good for him to rest after the emotional shock he had suffered. He only needed to fake a panic attack for the nurse to make that decision.
During his stay, Luna only left him to go to sleep or eat, keeping him company and making a barrage against onlookers.
Ronald had tried several times to visit her but Luna explained to him that it was too early for that. The trauma he had suffered was too much related to the redhead and she feared that seeing him would bring too much stress to him. She gave the same explanation to Ginerva.

- Do you think they'll come back to bother me when I get out of here?

- Hmm… Maybe. But even the flames can be lessened by a bit of coolness.

- If I translate well, you advise me to act as if their presence stresses me for them to leave me alone?

- Mmmmm.

- Any news from the Ministry?

- Oh, yes, it was in the Prophet this morning. Pettigrew was interrogated with a truth serum. That, the murder of a professor and the fact that he had the Mark... He had to be found guilty. The Minister himself has appealed to Sirius to come to the Ministry, he will finally get the trial he should have had years ago.

- Hmm, so much the better. What are they going to do with Pettigrew?

- The rat is going to be kissed. After the dog escapes, they don't want to take any chances. It's a shame for Lupin and Sinistra...

- How is Professor Sinistra, by the way?

- She is still in St Mungo, according to the newspaper. The healers were able to replace her arm but it will take time for her to regain use of it. Fortunately, the cutting spell does things properly otherwise it would have been impossible.

- I like magic… You know, among Muggles, when an arm is completely cut off, you can't put it back together like that.

.oOFlashbackOo.

- DIFFINDO!

- Stupefy!

The Cutting Curse hit its target at the same time as the Stupefy Curse cast by Snape who had placed himself in front of the four students reached Pettigrew.

Three bodies hit the ground at the same time.

Pettigrew was unconscious but unharmed, which the other two were not.

The Cutting spell had cut clean the Astronomy professor's right arm almost at the shoulder before ending up in the Defense against the Dark Arts professor's neck.

Immediately, the adults present in the room rushed towards the two wounded. The nurse cast a stasis spell on Professor Sinistra's arm and another spell to stop the bleeding.
Unfortunately, nothing could have saved Professor Lupin, whose spine was severed instantly.

Both Weasley and Luna had their view blocked by the Potions professor who prevented them from attempting to approach. Harry, meanwhile, saw the whole scene and was almost shocked to find that he felt no particular sadness at the death of a friend of his father's.

He had often talked about Remus Lupin with Sirius. However, since the start of the school year, at no time had the werewolf shown any sign of recognition towards him. Not once had he tried to talk to him about the relationship between him and his father, treating him like an any other student.
To Harry, Lupin was a teacher like any other. It was a pity that he died but not particularly remarkable. Maybe it was even a good thing because Remus could never have been an ally, too much under Dumbledore's control while there was a good chance, however small, that he could change Sirius' mind about the old man.

That's when the Aurors arrived, accompanied by Filch who had called them.

Harry didn't remember anything that happened next, only seeing Pettigrew being taken away by Aurors, still unconscious, and him being taken to the infirmary.

.oOEnd of FlashbackOo.

As soon as Harry was released from the hospital wing, he sent a letter to Sirius telling him his version of what had happened as well as ask him how he was. He then contacted Voldemort to do the same.

Sirius' trial took place over the Christmas holidays and didn't take long. Questioned under Veritaserum, the animagus was promptly declared innocent of the charges he had been accused of. He was sent to St Mungo to undergo treatment for all these years spent in prison, even though his stay in the village of Fenrir had already solved many problems, including malnutrition.

Sirius filed an appeal to obtain custody of his godson who should have returned to him when his parents died. Dumbledore tried to contact him to dissuade him without success. The old wizard even tried to have him declared unfit to care for a child, but the Minister, wishing to appease the unjustly imprisoned Lord, voted in favor of Sirius on the condition that he follow sessions with a mind-healer until the summer break.

The rest of the year passed without much surprise, but it seemed very long to Harry, who was eager to see his godfather again and, above all, to have access to the Black library that Sirius had told him about.

The two younger Weasleys couldn't get close to Harry, who avoided them like the plague. The only time Ronald approached him, Harry hyperventilated, visibly paling and starting to shake. He called upon all the fear he had put aside in the presence of the Dementors, displaying all the signs of a terrified child. Unfortunately for the redhead, this crisis happened in the presence of Professor Snape who was happy to take thirty points from the Gryffindor.