Author's Note- Here it is folks, the revised chapter. Lady Foxgloves

Chapter 9

"Peter Pettigrew?" Harry mumbled.

"I'm afraid so." Lupin said solemnly. "And-"

"And!" Sirius suddenly hissed through his teeth, "I've been rotting away in Azkaban for 12 years because of this rat! Now I'm finally going to get my revenge!"

"Wait!" Peter cried. He turned to Ron, "Don't let them kill me! I'm your friend, Ron. Your pet rat. Please!"

Ron looked away with disgust, "Ugh. Stay away from me."

"This has been long coming," Sirius said disgustedly, "traitor." Sirius raised his wand and Peter tried to bury his face into the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Wait!" Harry yelled. "Don't kill him." Sirius and Lupin looked at Harry wide-eyed. Peter's face came away from the floor and he looked amazed at Harry's mercy. Suddenly Harry's voice came out bitter, "He can go to Azkaban." Peter's face became downcast once more, but still Harry continued, "And the dementors can have him." Sirius withdrew his wand and Peter began begging from the ground for mercy. Lupin waved his wand and Peter became still, his arms stuck to his sides as his eyes darted across the room.

"I think it's time that we return to the school," Lupin said. "And clear Sirius's name." Lupin nodded to him and waved his wand so Peter floated out of the room. He waved his hand for them to follow and Harry helped Ron up from the mattress. With Ron leaning on Harry's shoulder he was able to make it out of the room. Hermione paused at the door and looked back at Serena.

"We'll follow you in a minute." Sirius said softly. Hermione nodded and left the doorway.

The two stood in silence for a moment, then Sirius finally spoke, "Serena…" he paused and looked around, "I don't really know what to say to you…"

He looked once more at her and there were tears in her eyes, "You don't have to say anything," she sobbed out. Running forward she wrapped her arms around her father's waist and cried into his chest. Sirius was stunned for a moment, but soon found himself holding her tightly to his chest.

"My daughter," he breathed, "my darling daughter." A tear slid down his cheek, "I didn't want to leave you. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I was never there for you. Can you ever forgive me?"

Serena pulled away from him and began wiping her eyes. "Of course I forgive you, it's just I'm so happy you're finally here."

"I suppose I have a lot of time to make up with you." Sirius rested a hand on her shoulder, but he managed a sort of smile to her. Serena smiled at him and he nodded his head. "We should go after the others now."

"Okay…dad." Serena said. Sirius and Serena walked after the others. After some time Sirius began talking again.

"Now that I'm out of Azkaban," he grunted, "so to speak. Would you…want to come live with me? I mean…you could stay at the orphanage if you wanted to, but-"

"Are you kidding?" Serena raised her eyebrows at him, "Stay at the orphanage! No way." Serena shook her head and Sirius laughed a little.

"I'll take that as a 'yes' then. But then there is something else."

"What?"

"Well, I am Harry's godfather. And I would ask him to live with us as well, but I'm leaving it up to you."

"Of course he could stay with us." Serena said.

"I was hoping you'd say that." Sirius said, "Look, we're at the tunnel entrance now." He walked forward and, before pushing himself up, helped Serena up through the roots of the Whomping Willow and shortly rejoined the group.

Once everyone was out of the secret passage they looked out onto the Hogwart's school grounds. The Whomping Willow was motionless, thanks to a spell that Professor Lupin had cast moments before. Serena smiled slightly as her dad pulled Harry aside and began talking to him, from Harry's excited smile she new he was asking him to stay with them.

Ron and Hermione were resting against the tree and Ron was grasping his ankle where Sirius had bitten him. She could hear their muffled talk and laughed to her self as she over heard Ron talking about amputation. Serena turned to him and smiled, "Ron," he looked up, "You are such a drama queen."

A look of indignation crossed his face, "I beg your pardon, I don't recall you being dragged by the ankle by some-" Ron stopped himself short and adverted his eyes.

Then Sirius came up behind Serena and started laughing a bit, "No Serena, we rabid dogs can cause some real damage, Madam Pomfrey might just have to chop that foot off." A look of horror came over Ron's face and Sirius began laughing harder, "I kid you, boy." Everyone couldn't resist laughing as Ron crossed his arms and pursed his lips in frustration.

Lupin spoke up first, "We should head back to the school and explain ourselves before-" Suddenly Pettigrew stood up and lunged at Lupin. The spell had worn off and he was desperately trying to get to Lupin's wand.

"No!" Sirius shouted as Pettigrew's hand closed gleefully around the wand. Sirius lunged at Pettigrew and they tumbled across the lawn, with Sirius trying to wrestle the wand from his hand.

Lupin stood up quickly and Serena and Harry hurried to him. Serena shoved her wand into his hand and looked pleadingly as Harry. Reading her look, Harry said, "End it now!"

Lupin nodded and waited pointed his wand at Pettigrew, "Avada Kedavra!"