Black Ruby.

April and May passed quickly. Hermione and I were trailing behind Harry and Ron on the way to Care Of Magical Creatures. I felt my blood boil when Malfoy began gloating about how Buckbeak would be executed.

Hagrid had gone back into his hut to fetch a bucket to fill up with water, Seamus had managed to set fire to his parchment. How I don't really know, But Seamus seemed to have a knack for setting things alight. I just turned my mind to thinking up suitable punishments.

Spring soon dissolved into Summer and exams came out of nowhere. The final game of Quiditch was won by Gryffindor. A party was held in the common room, seeing Harry happy and not worrying about Black was heart warming to say the least.

Days later, Buckbeak was being executed we all went down to Hagrid's to give him Moral support. It turns out that Crookshanks didn't actually eat Scabbers, he just ran all the way to Hagrid's hut...for some unknown reason. The Minister, Executioner and Professor Dumbledore were walking down to do the deed. Hagrid sent us on our way saying that it was past our curfew....which it was but that's not the point. We ran back up to the stone circle in time to see the executioner raise his axe. Hermione sniffled into Ron's shoulder, whilst Harry pulled me to his chest trying to block out the images and sounds of what I knew was going on.

'Ouch, He bit me...' Ron stated as he chased after Scabbers. Ron chased him right up to the Whomping Willow.

'Harry, you do realise what tree this is?' I heard Hermione ask.

'That's not good,' said Harry. 'Ron, run!'

I glanced at Ron to see him pointing at something behind the other two. 'Harry, Hermione, Ruby run!' Ron yelled back. We all turned to see what Ron was actually talking about. We turned to face a big black dog. However it was double the size of a normal household dog.

It leaped over us and bit into Ron's leg before dragging him off into the Whomping Willow. I watched in horror, I followed using my Vampire skills to catch them up.

'Get away from me!' Ron shouted. He sounded in a lot of pain.

'Sit down or you'll injure that leg even more,' said another voice. It was tired and gruff. I followed his voice and to Ron's side. His leg looked terrible.

'Ron are you okay? Can you still feel your leg?' I asked in desperation,m just as I finished my questions Harry and Hermione burst through yelling about where the dog was. Oh the DOG!!! I forgot about that minor detail.

'Not a dog,' Ron muttered. 'Harry, it's a trap –'

'What –'

'He's the dog … he's an Animagus …' I looked to where Ron was pointing. The door swung shut to reveal Black. I glared at the man that betrayed Harry's parents. Harry pulled me behind him.

If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!' said Ron suddenly, standing up besides his broken leg.

'No, only one will die tonight,' said Black. I tensed slightly as he said so.

'Then it'll be you!' shouted Harry lunging at Black. I moved Vampire speed to get between them.

'Rhuben....' Harry yelled surprised.

'Rhuben?' Black asked as if amazed.

'Don't you dare talk to Ruby!' Harry bellowed, gently pushing me out of the way so he could grab Black by the throat, holding his wand up to Black's face. All Black did was laugh. He truly was insane! I was worried for Harry's safety.

'Are you going to kill me, Harry?' he said croakily.

I could see Harry's wand shaking but before he could do anything, the door burst open again and in ran Lupin, shouting, 'Expelliarmus!' so Harry's wand flew out of his hand. He indicated with his own for him to move, Harry doing so and joining Hermione, Ron and I in the opposite corner. Harry standing in front of us.

'Well, well, Sirius,' he said quietly, 'Looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally the flesh reflects the madness within.'

'Well, you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?' countered Black.

'Where is he, Sirius?' he asked, emotion suppressed in his voice. Black had no expression on his face as he raised his hand and pointed it at Ron. 'But then …' muttered Lupin. His eyes drove into Black, as if trying to read his thoughts. '… why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless –' His eyes caught mine. I nodded and his eyes widened. '– unless he was the one … unless you switched … without telling me?'

'I trusted you!' screamed Hermione. I looked over at her nervously.

'Hermione, calm down –' said Lupin slowly.

'I didn't tell anyone!' she shrieked. 'I've been covering up for you –'

'Hermione, listen to me, please!' shouted Lupin. 'I can explain –'

'I trusted you! And all this time you've been his friend!' Harry, Ron and I were still baffled by what was going on. . ' Harry, don't trust him! He's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too – he's a werewolf!'

'Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione,' said Lupin, now looking quite pale. 'Only one out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead … But I won't deny that I am a werewolf.'

Lupin stopped dead, then moved slowly to look at Hermione. 'How long have you known?'

'Since Professor Snape set the essay,' said Hermione quietly.

'Well, well, Hermione, you really are the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met,' he said.

'I'm not,' said Hermione. 'If I'd been a bit cleverer, I'd have told everyone what you are.'

'That's not a rat,' Black had croaked.

'What d'you mean –' said Ron, baffled, '– of course he's a rat –'

'No, he's not,' said Lupin. 'He's a wizard. An Animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew.'

'You're both mental,' breathed Ron, holding tightly Scabbers in his hands.

'Ridiculous!' said Hermione.

'Peter Pettigrew's dead!' said Harry. 'He killed him twelve years ago!'

'I meant to,' growled Black. By now, he was getting impatient. 'But little Peter got the better of me … not this time though!' and he lunged at Ron, who was holding a squealing Scabbers in his hand.

'Sirius, NO!' shouted Lupin, grabbing Black's shoulders and pulling him back.

'Enough talk, Remus,' said Black, still grabbing at the rat. 'Come on, let's kill him!'

'Wait!' shouted Lupin. 'You can't do it just like that – they need to understand – we've got to explain – wait!'

'I did my waiting!' shouted Black suddenly. 'Twelve years of it! In Azkaban! You of all people know how much I lost!' I actually saw emotion in his eyes when he said this.

'Animagus transformations can go horribly wrong –' Lupin said. '– one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those attempting to do it.'

'But there's a register showing who's attempting the transformation and what animals they become if successful,' said Hermione. 'They register the animal they become, and their markings and things … and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the register, and there have only been seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew's name wasn't on the list –''Little did they know there were four illegal Animagi running round Hogwarts,' I said bluntly. Harry, Ron and Hermione looked at me.

'Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius,' continued Lupin. 'Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will.'

'But how did that help you?' asked Hermione.

Lupin continued to explain, even with Black impatient interruptions. Hermione had to state the obvious fact of how dangerous it was bringing Lupin to admit the guilt I didn't know he had from it. I believed he shouldn't have felt the guilt; he had friends who stuck by him.

'And so I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the school using the Dark Arts he learnt from Voldemort,' said Lupin muttered to himself.

'Snape?' said Black harshly. 'What's Snape got to do with it?'

'He's here, Sirius.' Lupin turned round to look at Black who was sitting on the bed, lazily stroking Crookshanks behind the ear. 'He's teaching here as well.' Harry, Ron, Hermione and I had confused looks on our faces again. 'Professor Snape was at school with us. He fought very hard against my appointment to the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. He has been telling Dumbledore all year that I am not to be trusted. He has his reasons … you see, Sirius here played a trick on him which nearly killed him, a trick which involved me –'

'So that's why Snape doesn't like you,' said Harry slowly, 'because he thought you were in on the joke?'

'That's right,' sneered a cold voice from behind Lupin. And Snape appeared, pulling off Harry's Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointed directly at Lupin and Black. My blood ran cold. 'Oh, vengeance is sweet,' he said coldly, advancing on them. 'I hoped I'd be the one to catch you.'

'Severus –' Lupin began uneasily but Snape's wand turned on him.

'I told the Headmaster again and again that you've been 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–'

'Severus, you're making a mistake,' insisted Lupin.

'Two more for Azkaban tonight,' said Snape maliciously. 'I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this … he was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin … a tame werewolf …'

'Brilliant, Snape,' said Black, walking round him. 'Once again, you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the task and as usual come to the wrong conclusion. Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to.'

'I could do it, you know,' sneered Snape. 'I could do it right here and now.'

'You fool,' said Lupin quietly. 'Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?'

'He can't help it,' said Black. 'It's habit by now!'

'Sirius, be quiet!'

'Oh, go bite yourself, Remus!'

'Oh, listen to you two,' sneered Snape, 'quarrelling like an old married couple.'

'Why don't you run along and play with your potion set,' Black growled.

'You fool, Severus,' repeated Lupin quietly.

All of the sudden then was a loud BANG! Ropes like snakes shot out of Snape's wand and wrapped themselves around Lupin's mouth, wrists and ankles causing him to fall to the ground, bound and gagged. Harry still stood in front took a step closer to us. I raised my wand behind him, pointing it at the binds that held Black and Lupin. I needed to hear the rest of the story. I needed to know whether Sirius was innocent.

'One more move and you'll have the same treatment as these two!' Snape said in a deadly tone.

'How dare you threaten her!' he shouted. I stared at him. He was … standing up for me? However, Black had frozen as Snape pointed his wand now into his throat, digging it in.

'Give me a reason,' he whispered. 'I beg you.'

'I could do it, you know,' he said silkily. 'But why deny it the Dementors? They're so longing to see you.' Black backed away towards the old piano in the room. Snape's wand was still digging into his throat. It was hard to tell which had the more hate in their eyes. 'Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh yes. A Dementor's Kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best.'

What little colour there was in Black's face left it.

'Professor Lupin could have killed you thousands of times already...Your only doing this because you have a schoolboy grudge against him...Your just being pathetic!' Harry yelled, he went too far though.

'SILENCE!' Snape bellowed at him. 'I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT! Like father like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck, you should be thanking me on bended knee, you and your pathetic half-breed friend!' That was low, even for Snape, in my opinion. Snape must have seen my eyes widen. 'Oh yes, I know your dirty little secret....Just like your mothers...Except your mother was better at keeping it a secret!' Snape stated in an amused voice.

Just at that moment I moved my wand using my 'Abilities' I yelled

'Expelliarmus!' I wasn't the only one Harry still had his wand raised as Snape fell to the ground.

'Harry!' gasped Ron. 'What did you just do?'

'You attacked a teacher!' gasped Hermione.

While they concentrated on that, I turned back to Lupin and pulled off the ropes holding him. He got back to his feet, rubbing his wrists, and said, 'Thank you, Harry,' and smiling at me.

'I'm still not saying I believe you,' Harry retorted instantly. 'Now tell me about Peter Pettigrew.' He had his wand pointing at Lupin.

'Like I said, he was at school with us,' said Lupin. 'We thought he was our friend.'

'No. Pettigrew's dead. You killed him!'

'Harry just listen to them,' I said, stepping in front of Lupin into Harry's wand line. Harry immediately dropped his wand so he wouldn't cures me trying to get to Lupin.

'I thought so too, until you mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map!'

'The Map was lying then,' said Harry.

'The Map never lies!' said Black impatiently. 'Pettigrew's alive! And he's right there!' Black pointed at Ron.

'Scabbers!' he said. 'He's mental! If Pettigrew could turn into a rat – there are millions of rats – how's he supposed to know which one he's after if he was locked up in Azkaban.'

'You know, Sirius, that is a fair question,' said Lupin, frowning. 'How did you find out where we was?'

Black put his hand into the pocket of his tattered robes and pulled out a piece of paper, flattening it out. It was a photograph of Ron and his family and there on his shoulder was Scabbers.

'How did you get this?' asked Lupin.

'Fudge,' replied 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 Harry was …'

'Scabbers has been in my family for –' began Ron but Black cut him off.

'Twelve years. Curiously long life for a common garden rat. He's missing a toe, isn't he?'

'So what?'

'All they could find of Pettigrew was his –' I muttered.

'Finger!' growled Black. 'The dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead! And then he transformed into a rat!'

'Show us,' demanded Harry. Black reached out and grabbed Scabbers but Ron was still reluctant to release him. 'Give it to him, Ron.'

'What are you trying to do to him?' shouted Ron. 'Scabbers! Leave him alone!' Hermione was holding Ron down on the old mattress while Black took Scabbers from Ron's grip and, holding the rat by the scruff on its neck, placed it on the piano. Both he and Lupin had their wands on him. 'Get off him! What are you doing? Scabbers!'

As soon as Black had placed Scabbers on the piano he began running away over the top. Darting from one side the other, Black and Lupin followed, sending spells at him. He climbed down off the piano and headed for a crack in the door. Black shot one last spell at him just as he went for the hole and he transformed, revealing a small, fat, balding man. His features were very rat-like and his nails were overgrown. Black and Lupin went forward and pulled him out of the hole. Ron looked gob smacked. In fact, I think all of us were. They thrust Pettigrew back to the piano and pointed their wands at him.

Pettigrew cowered for a few second before speaking, snuffling with his fingers in front of his nose, just like a rat. He looked up. Harry and I were stood close together, close enough to grab my arm and run but not close enough to get hit by a curse sent at Harry.

'Remus?' he said warily. 'S-Sirius? My old friends!' Pettigrew made a dash for the door but Black and Lupin stopped him. He looked around the room madly, his eyes landing on Harry. 'Harry! Look at you. You look so much like your father. Like James. We were the best of friends – And Rhuben, you look like both of your parents....Isn't she beautiful Sirius?'

'How dare you speak to Harry and Rhuben!' shouted Black, moving in front of him and blocking Pettigrew from touching him. Pettigrew ran behind the piano, Lupin and Black followed, their wands still on him. 'How dare you talk about James in front of him! YOU'D BEEN PASSING INFORMATION TO VOLDEMORT FOR A YEAR BEFORE LILY AND JAMES DIED! YOU WERE HIS SPY!'

Remus!' squeaked Pettigrew desperately. '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 asked casually to Black.

'Forgive me, Remus,' said Black, nodding.

'Not at all, Padfoot, old friend,' said Lupin. He looked back at Pettigrew. 'You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you? Do you deny it?'

'I didn't mean to!' Pettigrew whined. 'The Dark Lord. You have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done? What would you have done?'

'I would have died!' shouted Black. 'I would have died rather than betray my friends!' Pettigrew ducked under the piano and scuttled under it as Black said this. He headed for the door but Harry stood in the way.

'Harry!' begged Pettigrew, grabbing him. 'James wouldn't have wanted me killed! Your dad would have spared me! He would have shown me mercy!'

Lupin and Black dragged him back.

'You should have realised, Peter,' snarled Black, 'if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Together!'

'No!' burst Harry suddenly. I looked at him, stunned. 'You can't kill him. You can't.' Lupin sighed and looked at him as well.

'Harry, this man, this piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents. This cringing bit of filth would have seen you die too, without turning a hair. You heard him. His own stinking skin meant more to him than your whole family.'

'I know what his is,' said Harry. I watched as Harry walked up to face the cowering Pettigrew and stood between Lupin and Black. 'But we'll take him to the castle.'

'Bless you, boy,' squeaked Pettigrew, grabbing Harry's trousers. 'Bless you! Thank you!'

'Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you.' Harry grimaced as Peter was tied up.

I led the way out the tunnel with my wand lit and Crookshanks ahead of me, Black and Harry helping Ron along with Hermione following, Lupin and Pettigrew bringing up the rear. I was the first out the tunnel. Once out I walked away from the tree, looking up at the school. I heard footsteps approach me but I kept still and quiet. It was Black. followed by Harry, I don't think he trusted Black just yet.

'Rhuben.....I- I'm sorry....' Sirius muttered, reaching out to brush his fingers over my cheek he was cut short however by a glaring Harry as I was pulled back into his chest.

'I see you've inherited her ability as well as her looks...'

'People say it's a mix of both you and Mum...'

'Thank you Harry....' Sirius started and explained when he saw Harry's confused face. 'For protecting Rhuben..' after this statement he winked at Harry.

'And as soon as my name's cleared I'm taking you home,' said Sirius definitely.

'I don't think Mum will be too happy about that.....She doesn't believe you... She didn't even tell me who you were. I found out from a teacher....' I stated bitterly. Sirius just smirked and Harry gently unwrapped his arm from around my waist.

'It's beautiful, isn't it?' Sirius said to the both of us. 'I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again as a free man. That was a noble thing you did back there,' he added to Harry. 'He doesn't deserve it.'

As I looked round I noticed something in the sky that made my heart sink. As a cloud shifted in the black night's sky, the area became bathed in moonlight and I saw Lupin freeze in front of me. And I wasn't the only one who noticed.

'Harry!' I looked behind me to see Hermione on her feet. She was the one who'd shouted.

As I stood there Lupin began to shake in front of me. And he hadn't taken his potion. He wasn't safe. Behind me I heard Dad help Harry and Hermione get Ron to his feet before pulling me back from him.

'Leave it to me,' said Sirius. 'Run!'

A terrible snarling noise started. Lupin's head was lengthening. So was his body as his shoulders started to hunch, his clothes ripping off his back. His hands were curling into clawed paws with his nails turning to claws; his feet were coming out their shoes. I watched as Dad ran from me and tried to hold him up. I didn't even notice Pettigrew escape.

'Remus,' he said desperately. 'Have you taken your potion tonight? You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! This heart, here! This flesh is only flesh.'

I knew it wasn't going to work as Dad continually shouted at him. Now, Lupin was fully transformed and he reared up. I almost screamed when Dad was flung away from him into the bushes but I knew better than to draw its attention. Luckily for the four of us, the werewolf remained where it was, simply whining. But Hermione had to go and make things worse.

'Professor?' She was approaching him, Ron whispering, 'Bad idea, bad idea!' beside me and Harry. 'Professor Lupin?'

Suddenly the werewolf reared up again, letting out the loudest howl. Hermione jumped backwards from him. Then, he started to advance on us. I stood in front of Ron, Harry and Hermione crouching into the defensive position like my mother had taught me.

'There you are, Potter!'

The werewolf was now advancing on us again. It let out a huge snarl, attracting Snape's attention. He pushed the four of us behind him as the werewolf struck, knocking us to the ground. Luckily, Dad was back on his feet and pulled it away. But now it was chasing him.

'Dad!' I shouted the same time as Harry shouted, 'Sirius!'

The pair of us watched as the werewolf chased the dog away. I followed, not thinking Harry would as well, and watched as it picked Dad up, throwing him down on the ground again. It looked like it was going to kill him. Then, out of the blew, a howl came from down the hill. The werewolf looked up, returning the howl, before running off towards it. I, however, was looking for Dad.

'Dad …'

Harry looked in the same direction to see Dad transform back and stumble down the hill. We ran after him. I could only pray he was all right. I'd seen what damage Lupin could do as a werewolf.

Harry and I found him lying half conscious in a secluded area by the lake. He wasn't moving. I ran over to him, kneeling by his side. He was badly scratched up.

'Dad!' I said desperately to him. I couldn't lose him, not now. 'Dad, please, get up!' Harry, too, was shouting at him to wake.

As we did so, I felt the air get colder and looked up. The water on the lake was steadily freezing over towards us. Harry and I looked up to the sky; a whole swarm of about a hundred Dementors flew over us and soon, one by one, began to attack the three of us. Harry, still on his feet, tried as hard as he could to conjure a Patronus but could only manage fine vapours. He shouted at me to do so as well but I couldn't muster the strength, not when thoughts in my head were of Dad dying. The Dementors managed to get to me first and I was left hanging on to my energy, lying over Dad's chest. It seemed like forever I was there, waiting for them to kill me.

Then … the coldness ebbed away. I only just saw what was doing it ... a Patronus ... two Patronuses across the lake from us …

I fainted.