Harry Potter
Redemption of the Innocent
By xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and all related concepts do not belong to me! I am merely borrowing them for my own personal enjoyment. All OC's and anything you dont recognize is copyrighted by me: xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Rating: K
Pairing: N/A (as of now)
Genre: Adventure/Friendship
Warnings: Please do not flame me for anything.
Summary: Third year is approaching and Sirius Black has escaped from Azkaban. It is believed that he is heading towards Hogwarts. How far are the friends willing to go, to prove the innocence of a desperate man?
Author's Note: Chapter dedicated to DJScales, Forever Dreaming Grace, Alieen Atarkeia, ItzKevin97 and Razmend.
Friends become Foes
"I can't believe it," Hermione cried as she buried her head into Ron's shoulder, the red head placed his hand on her shoulder comfortingly "They killed him! They actually killed him!"
Charlie sighed as she pulled away from Marcus, and wiped the tears from her face before turning to her face her friends "We should get back to the castle," she mumured "before anyone catches us out here." They turned away from the cliff and began to head for the castle when Riley stopped short as a squeak sounded from somewhere near-by. "Riley, what's wrong?"
"Do you hear that?" the Gryffindor asked
"Hear what?" Harry asked, doubling back to where his friends had stopped
Hermione and Ron also returned "What's going on?" Hermione asked
"Why have you stopped?" Ron looked confused
"Riley heard something," Charlie explained, looking towards her best friend
There was another squeak and the Gryffindor jumped, spun around and pointed towards the long grass "There!" she told them "Im telling you, I heard something! And its coming from in there!"
Charlie sighed "Okay, I'll check it out" she reassured her friend, before walking forward. She knelt down beside the long grass and pulled it apart, only to find Scabbers hiding behind it "Ron, you seriously need to keep a better eye on your pets!" and she scooped up the rat and returning it to the red head.
"Scabbers!" Ron grinned "There you are!"
"You mean you lost him after we found him?" Harry asked, pointing at himself and Riley
"He keeps getting out!" the red head exclaimed "I really don't know what's wrong with him this year!"
Hermione frowned
"Maybe he's just getting old!" Marcus glowered "Can we just get back to the castle? I don't feel like getting caught out after curfew, for a bunch of Gryffindors!" and he stalked off
Charlie rolled her eyes and watched him "Come on guys," and she motioned for the others to follow her. Light was fading fast now, and by the time they reached open ground, darkness was setting like a spell around them. Charlie had finally caught up with Marcus, and grabbed his arm, pulling him to a slowed walk as they waited for the Gryffindors to catch up. They had finally reached open ground, when Ron's voice cut through the silence.
"OUCH!"
Whirling around the two Slytherins and three other Gryffindors watched as Scabbers hit the ground with a small thump and quickly scurried off away from them "What happened?" Hermione asked
"He bit me," Ron answered her "Scabbers!" he turned and chased the Rat
"Ron?" Riley questioned, glancing over her shoulder at Charlie and Marcus
Harry brushed past her "Ron, wait!" he called after the red head. The others followed. Ahead of them, Ron disappeared around a bend before anyone else, before diving forward and landing on the grass, clutching Scabbers in his hands. When the others finally rounded the corner and started towards the red head, Charlie felt herself being pulled back by Marcus; while she pulled Riley to a halt in the process.
"Don't go any further!" Marcus warned the four 3rd years
"But Ron -" Hermione started
Charlie threw her a look and turned to Marcus "What is it?" she asked
"You do realize what tree that is, right?" Marcus asked "You should Potter!"
Harry's face drained of colour "That's not good"
"Definitely not good!" Riley agreed
The Whomping Willow stood proudly behind Ron, it was common knowledge around Hogwarts that this tree was dangerous. This tree would put anyone in the hospital wing within seconds, it had a nasty temper and cared about nothing. Harry and Ron had faced it once at the beginning of term last year, after they had crashed Mr. Weasley's car into it after flying all the way to Hogwarts.
"RON!" Harry shouted "RUN!"
The red head looked up from where he was trying to hold onto his rat. He pointed behind his friends "Guys, run!" he cried "It's the Grim!"
There was a growl from behind them and the group of five whipped around "Snuffles!" Charlie cried. The dog barked and rushed forwards, he jumped over the group as they ducked to avoid being hit by the massive dog. Snuffles, then ran towards Ron and clamped its jaws around his leg and pulled him towards a small opening at the base of the Whomping Willow.
"Ron!" Harry shouted as he raced forward, as Ron's voice echoed across the grounds. The dog pulled him into the hole, as Harry leapt forward to grab onto his friend, but missed by inches. Then, the dog, Scabbers and Ron disappeared into darkness.
Charlie reached Harry's side "Snuffles!" she shouted, down into the gaping hole "SNUFFLES! YOU BRING RON BACK RIGHT NOW!"
The tree, as if knowing that there were people around, began to sway dangerously. It took a swipe at the two friends, but they managed to miss it, but it didnt miss the second blow as another branch knocked them away. Breathing in sharply, Harry glanced back at Charlie who spluttered and clutched her stomach after being it by the tree.
"That didnt go as planned," she muttered
"Now what?" Riley asked, appearing behind the two along with Hermione, the two muggleborns stooped and helped Harry and Charlie to their feet. The branches of the tree started to trash around widely.
Hermione looked at her friend "We've got to go get help!"
"No," Harry shook his head "That thing is big enough to eat him!"
"Snuffles wouldnt hurt Ron!" Charlie argued "He's just mis-understood!"
"He just kidnapped one of your best friends!" Harry shouted at the Slytherin
Marcus growled as he pulled Charlie back and put himself between her and Harry, glaring down at the younger boy "Back off, Potter!" he warned
Harry glared back at the older Slytherin
"Look," Riley spoke, getting between the two boys "We can stand here and glare at each other all night. But none of that is helping Ron, he's our number one priority right now!"
Glancing at her friend, Charlie nodded "Riley's right," she turned to Harry and Marcus "We'll finish this after we save Ron! Come on!" and she turned back towards the tree "Just one problem..." she added "How do we get through?"
Suddenly a blurr of ginger shot past the group of five and darted straight for the tree, Hermione gave a horrified shriek as Crookshanks launched itself through the air and landed on the trunk, and sunk his claws into the bark to keep from being shaken off. Pressing his paws upon a knot on the trunk; the tree instantly stopped moving.
"But how?" Hermione asked "How did he know?"
Her friends shrugged
"How does that cat know anything?" Riley asked "Its been after Scabbers since we started Hogwarts"
Marcus considered the cat for a moment "It looks like a Kneazle"
"A what?" Charlie frowned
"A magical creature, similar to a cat in apperance," Riley answered "They have spotted, speckled or flecked fur, large ears and a lightly plumed tail, you know, like a lion"
The Slytherin Muggleborn frowned
"They start teaching you about them in Care of Magical Creatures," Marcus told her "In your fourth year. That's when Nikki started to learn"
"Ah," Charlie nodded, before turning back to the tree "Come on" and leading the way forward. She covered the distance to the trunk in seconds, and slid down into the gaping hole between the roots. When she reached the bottom, she pulled out her wand and muttered Lumos as the tip of it ignited with a bright soft white light. There was a noise behind her and she turned to see Riley and Harry slid into view, Hermione followed them and Marcus came last.
Removing their own wands the others muttered Lumos and started to follow the small winding path avoiding roots and rocks from the ceiling overhead. Finally they reached the end of the tunnel and Marcus moved to the front of the group as he pushed on a door above them, that was blocking their way. Once it was open, he climbed out and turned to help Charlie and Riley.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
"What is this place?" Hermione asked, once she was free of the underground tunnel
"Its the Shrieking Shack," Charlie answered, she had been in the Shack enough times to identify it without a second thought.
Riley moved to stand beside Charlie "But how did we get here?" she asked "Seconds ago we were on the Hogwarts grounds"
"The Whomping Willow," Charlie answered "Its connected to both Hogwarts and the Shack. Im gonna take a wild guess and say Sirius Black knew that too"
Marcus frowned "Why do you say that?" he asked
"Because he attacked the Fat Lady remember?" Charlie asked him "He got past the Dementors, everyone was surpised and questioned how he had done it; my guess is he knew about that passage -" she pointed at the floor "- the Whomping Willow is stationed away from where the Dementors are standing guard. There's no way, they would have seen him"
Harry nodded and edged towards the stairs; there was a creak from the second floor that caused him to look up "Come on," he whispered, and started to climb.
The girls and Marcus followed after him, at the top of the stairs they could hear Ron's moans and groans coming from inside the very bedroom that Charlie had first found Snuffles. Quickly entering the room, the Gryffindors located Ron on the far end of the bedroom still clutching Scabbers.
"Ron!" Hermione cried in relief "You're okay!"
"The dog," Harry spoke "Where is it?"
Ron looked terrified "It's a trap," he told his friends "He's the dog. He's an Animagus"
There was a creak from behind, and slowly, very slowly the students who could still stand turned around. The door closed and there was a man standing behind it. A mass of filthy, matted untamed hair hung around his shoulders, his eyes shining out of their deep sockets, his waxy skin stretched so tightly over the bones of his face, it resembled a skull easily, and his yellow teeth were bared when he grinned.
"Sirius Black," Charlie mumured, taking a stance in front of Harry quickly "If you want to kill Harry, you're gonna have to kill me too!" she told him
Sirius shook his head and stepped forward "No, only one will die tonight"
"Then it will be you" Harry growled, pushing Charlie aside and throwing himself at the older man. The two struggled, Harry's hands around the older man's throat and right before the others Sirius hit the ground, as Harry hovered over him, pressing his wand against the older wizard's temple.
Sirus gave a short laugh "Are you going to kill me, Harry?" he questioned
Suddenly the door crashed open and a familiar voice echoed around the room "Expelliarmus!" the voice belonged to none other than Professor Lupin. Harry's wand shot out of his hand, as Lupin pointed his own at the Gryffindor. He motioned for Harry to get up, which he did, and watched as he was pulled backwards into his friends. "Well, well, Sirius." Lupin spoke, looking down at the prisoner "Looking rather ragged, arent we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within"
"Well, you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you Remus?" Black asked
And much to the students surprise, Lupin lowered his wand, smiled and reached out a hand as he helped Black off the floor. The two men embraced tightly.
"I found him," Black said excitedly
Lupin nodded "I know"
"Lets kill him!"
Hermione stepped forward "No!" she cried "I trusted you. And all this time, you've been his friend!" she glanced back her friends "He's a werewolf!" she pointed at Lupin "That's why he's been missing classes"
"How long have you known?" Lupin asked, as he pulled away from Black and turned towards Hermione
The girl in question gulped "Since Professor Snape set the essay" she admitted
"Well, Hermione," Lupin smiled "You really are the brightest witch of your age, I've ever met"
Black looked bored "Enough talk, Remus!" he yelled "Come on, let's kill him!"
"Wait!" Remus ordered
"I did my waiting!" Black yelled "Twelve years of it! In Azkaban"
Lupin sighed and looked back at the friends, Hermione had been pulled back to stand beside Riley as Marcus stood in front of Charlie protectively, although the Muggleborn Slytherin in question was clutching Harry's arm tightly, willing him not to do anything stupid.
"Very well," the DADA professor nodded "Kill him" and he handed over his wand "But wait one more minute, they have the right to know why. Especially Harry"
Harry stepped forward "I know why!" he snapped "You betrayed my parents, you're the reason their dead!" he glared hatefully at Sirius.
"No, it wasn't him" Lupin defended "Somebody did betray your parents, but it was somebody who, until quite recently I believed to be dead!"
"Who was it, then?" Harry asked
"Peter Pettigrew!" Black answered "and he's in this room, right now!" he held his arms wide "Come out, come out Peter. Come out, come out and play"
xXxHarryPotterxXx
By now the tension was rising dramatically, and it only worsened with the disarming charm was cast once more and Lupin's wand was taken from Sirius's hand.
Snape had arrived.
"Professor Snape!" Charlie cried, relief washing over her at the sight of her head of house
"Vengeance is sweet," Snape drawled, as he pointed his wand at Black "How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you"
"Severus," Lupin started, as he reached out towards Snape
The Potions master turned his wand on the DADA professor "I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend into the castle, and now here's the proof" he backed both Lupin and Black up into the piano.
"Brilliant, Snape" Black retorted "Once again you've put your keen mind to the task and come to the wrong conclusion. Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend too"
Snape aimed his wand straight at Black's throat "Give me a reason. I beg you!"
"Severus, don't be a fool" Lupin shook his head
"He can't help it," Black responded "It's a habit"
Lupin glared at his friend "Sirius, be quiet!"
"Be quiet yourself, Remus!"
"Oh, listen to you two, quarrelling like an old married couple" Snape cut between them
Black glared "Why dont you run along and play with your chemistry set!" he snarled
Snape dug his wand in deeper "I could do it you know," he taunted "But why deny the Dementors? They're so longing to see you. Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes. A Dementor's Kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like endure, it's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best"
Charlie stared wide-eyed at her professor as she tightened her grasp on Marcus's robes, the tone of her Head of House's voice chilled her to the bone, she had never seen him act this way before, let alone speak with such ferevent at the thought of someone having to endure the Dementor's Kiss.
"Severus, please" Lupin tried to reason
Meanwhile, near the friends, Harry had leaned behind Hermione and snagged her wand -seeing as his had disappeared into the shadows-
Snape turned to the students "After you," and he jerked his head in the direction of the door way. Clamping his hand around Charlie's, Marcus led her towards the door, as she in turn pulled Riley along with her. Harry, however, had other plans and stepped forward brandishing Hermione's wand.
"Harry?" Riley questioned in surprise "What are you -" she was cut off, however, when Harry yelled -
"Experlliarmus!" and pointed the spell towards Professor Snape, who was sent backwards by the force and crashing into the bed. The canopy, was old and rotten that it collapsed burying the Potions master underneath it.
"PROFESSOR!" Charlie screamed, rushing forward and with the help of Marcus and Riley was able to levitate the canopy off of her head of house "Professor?" she mumured, touching the side of his neck and breathing as she felt a pulse "He's still alive!" she confirmed "He's just knocked out"
Marcus whirled around onto Harry, his eyes narrowed and his lips curling into a snarl "Potter!" he growled
"Not now," Charlie warned "Chew him out later!"
Harry, otherwise ignored the older Slytherin and turned the wand back onto Black and Lupin "Tell me about Peter Pettigrew!" he demanded
"He was at school with us," Lupin explained "We thought he was our friend"
Harry shook his head "No. Pettigrew's dead. You killed him" he rounded back onto Black
"No, he didnt" Lupin stood between them "I thought so too, until you and Riley mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the map"
"The map was lying then!" Riley squeaked
Black turned in her general direction, causing Marcus and Charlie to pull her behind them "The map never lies!" he told her "Pettigrew's alive! And he's right there!" he pointed towards Ron.
The red head looked startled "Me?" he cried "He's mental"
"Not you!" Sirius shook his head "Your rat!"
"Scabbers has been in my family for -" Ron started
Black cut him off "Twelve years?" he asked "Curiously long life for a common garden rat! He's missing a toe, isn't he?"
"So what?" Ron asked, scared now as Black advanced on him
"All they could find of Pettigrew was his -" Charlie started to state
Black turned in her direction "Finger!" he nodded "The dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead! And then he transformed into a rat"
"Show me!" Harry demanded
Black lunged at the rat in Ron's hand "Give it to him, Ron!" Charlie told the red head
"What are you trying to do to him?" Ron asked, as the rat was pulled from his grasp. Its squeals echoed far and wide "Scabbers! Leave him alone! Get off him! What are you doing?"
Black dropped the rat as Lupin picked up a discarded wand, the second Scabbers hit the ground he bolted for the door. Muttering similar spells both Lupin and Black pointed their wands, there was a flash of blue-white light and Scabbers seemed to freeze in mid-air, his small black form, twisting madly. Then he fell and hit the floor, where another flash of light erupted and seconds later a man took the place of the rat.
The man was short, hardly taller than the friends. 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 had lost alot of weight in a short time. His skin looked grubby and the presence of his rat nose, lingered on his human one, along with his small, watery eyes. The 3rd year friends and 7th year Slytherin, stood in silence as the new man was pulled to his feet and shoved backwards away from their professor and Azkaban prisoner.
"Remus?" the short man questioned, in surprise "Sirius. My old friends!" he opened his arms wide, before rushing forward in hopes of escaping.
Neither of the two older men would let him through, Pettigrew whirled around in hopes of finding another escape route; his small eyes landed on the students; they widened when he locked gazes with Charlie and stumbled towards her "M'lady..." he wheezed
"Stay away from her!" Marcus snarled, removing his wand and pointing at the human rat.
Pettigrew backed away from the wand and spun around for a second time, this time his gaze landed on Harry. He gasped "Harry! Look at you. You look so much like your father, like James. We were the best of friends -"
"How dare you speak to, Harry!" Black snarled, pulling Pettigrew away from the Gryffindor "How dare you talk about James in front of him!" he chased the smaller man, behind the piano, where he and Lupin cornered him.
"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didnt you?" Lupin questioned
Pettigrew looked scared "I didn't mean to!" he cried
"How can you not mean too?" Riley asked "Either you did, or you didnt!"
Pettigrew turned in her direction "The Dark Lord, you have no idea the weapons he possesses" he told her, before rounding on Sirius "Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?"
"Died!" Black shouted "I would have died, rather than betray my friends!"
Pettigrew ducked down and crawled under the table before making a break for the door. Harry stood in front of it, blocking the only way out. The plump man, grabbed his shoulders and leaned into whisper in his ear "There is much you don't know, Harry." he told the teenager "James wouldn't have wanted me killed! Your dad would have spared me! He would have shown me mercy!"
He was then ripped away from the Gryffindor Seeker.
"You should have realized, Peter" Sirius yelled, "If Voldemort didn't kill you, we would" he looked at Lupin, who nodded "Together!"
The tension in the room was reaching tipping point, before -
"No!"
Two different voices yelled out the same word, Harry stepped forward away from the door as Charlie moved around Marcus and stepped further into the room.
"Harry, Charlie," Remus sighed, looking at his students "This man -"
Charlie shook her head "We know what he is," she sighed "But if you kill him now, then you have no proof that Sirius didnt kill anyone. Who's the Minister going to believe? Five 13-year-old's and a 17-year-old or a man who is supposed to be dead?"
"We can show him the truth," Harry agreed "Its our last chance..." he glanced at Charlie, who nodded "Our last defence!"
Remus and Sirius exchanged looks, each agreeing that this did seem like the best course of action to take.
"We'll take him to the castle," Harry continued, moving closer
"Bless you," Pettigrew whimpered "Bless you, both"
Charlie glared "For the record," she hissed "We didn't do it for you! But once the Ministry knows the truth...I don't really care what they do with you"
"Right," Lupin nodded "Ron, I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I think its best if we strap your leg up until we get back to the Hospital Wing" he pointed his wand at the red head "Ferula" he spoke, and bandages flew out of his wand, wrapped themselves around Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint. He then turned to the others "Lets get out of here,"
"What about, Professor Snape?" Marcus asked
Charlie turned to her friend "I think its best we leave him here," she said hestently "We'll send someone down for him later"
The 17-year-old didnt look happy with the plan, but nodded nonetheless, and allowed Charlie to pull him from the room.
"So all this time you have been Snuffles?" the Slytherin asked Sirius "You pretended to be an innocent stray dog, that I actually took a liking too?
Black nodded "Guilty" he confirmed "You were the only person who had ever been nice to me. Most people shooed me away, wanted nothing to do with the stray of Hogsmeade. But you...you were different, I could sense it, you came back every trip to Hogsmeade, you came looking for me" he smiled "And my name is Padfoot..."
Charlie shrugged "Don't care," she answered "You're Snuffles to me"
Sirius glared as Charlie fell back into step, between Marcus and Riley; and he headed off to help Harry and Hermione with Ron. "Sorry about the bite," he apologized to Ron "I reckon that twinges a bit"
"A bit?" Ron asked "A bit? You nearly tore my leg off!"
"Well, I was going for the rat" Sirius defended, "Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog. In fact more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent" he breathed "The tail I could live with, but the fleas, they're murder"
From behind them Riley grinned, before turning to Charlie "Well, we figured out the Prisoner of Azkaban case"
"Yeah," Charlie nodded "Add that to the growing list, along with the Philosopher's Stone and the Chamber of Secrets"
"Wonder what next year will bring?"
The Muggleborn Slytherin shrugged "Dunno, a quiet year maybe?"
"Ha!" Riley gave a short laugh "One can dream..."
Marcus looked between the two "Can we finish this year first?" he asked "Before you two start planning how you're gonna get killed next year"
"We don't plan it, Marcus" Charlie responded "It just happens"
The passageway started the thin out and soon they had reached the chamber, above which the Whomping Willow stood. Sirius, changed into his dog form and climbed out first, before changing back into his human form and calling down to the friends to climb up; they did so one-by-one, Charlie, Riley and Marcus going first so that they could help pull Ron out from the top. Once free, they sat the red head on a nearby rock as Harry and Hermione appeared
Sirius had walked away from the group and was staring up at Hogwarts, as it sat on its rock, its many windows twinkling in the darkness.
"Okay," Harry breathed heavily, as he knelt beside his friends as Riley inspected Ron's torn up leg.
"You better go," Ron told his best friend
Harry shook his head "No, don't worry, okay? It's fine. I'll stay"
Hermione grabbed his hand "You go," she nodded at Sirius "We'll stay" she motioned to Riley and Charlie, who nodded in agreement.
"You okay?" Harry asked, worried about his best friend
"I'm fine!" Ron sighed "Go!"
Charlie knelt down beside Riley "That looks really painful," she commented, pointing at the wound
"So painful," Ron nodded "They might chop it"
The three girls exchanged looks "Im sure Madam Pomfrey will fix it in a heartbeat," Hermione responded
"It's too late. It's ruined." Ron answered "It'll have to be chopped off"
Marcus rolled his eyes "Oh, stop being so dramatic, Weasley!"
Charlie smirked as she jumped to her feet and walked towards the Slytherin Captain "You think you can control your temper?" she asked "Just for tonight? I mean, come on! You just witnessed the redemption of an Innocent man, the least you can do is look happy..."
Marcus glared at her, before looking towards the base of the Whomping Willow as Pettigrew and Lupin were appearing. The human rat still complaining.
"Turn me into a flobberworm," he was crying "Anything but the Dementors!" he spotted the friends "Ron! Haven't I been a good pet? You won't let them give me to the Dementors, will you? I was your rat!" he rounded on Hermione and Riley "Sweet, clever girls...surely you don't agree with them. Please don't give me to the Dementors" he turned to Charlie "I know things...lots of things; have you ever wondered why you remind so many purebloods of someone? I know the answers..."
Charlie gave a start, but Remus pulled the human rat away from her "Get away from them!" the DADA professor snarled "One wrong move!" he warned, his wand still trained on the shorter man.
Over Marcus's shoulder the Muggleborn Slytherin watched as the clouds on the horizon shifted and the moon edged out into the open, her eyes widened and she whirled around "HARRY!" she shouted, her friend turned and she pointed behind her as the Moon became clearer.
Lupin went rigid and then his limbs began to shake
"He didnt take his potion!" Hermione cried "He's not safe!"
Harry and Sirius returned quickly, the 13-year-old approaching his friend as Sirius grabbed Lupin "Remus, my old friend. You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! This heart here! This flesh is only flesh!"
Lupin had dropped his wand and Pettigrew made an instant dive for it "Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted, disarming the short man. Pettigrew turned in their direction, gave a small wave and started to transform back into a rat before scurrying away.
Charlie moved to go after him "Grab that rat!" she cried, but Marcus wrapped his arms around her waist which prevented her from going anywhere.
"Remus!" Sirius groaned, as he struggled against the ever-changing Lupin "Remus!" he tried to turn back to the group of students "Run!" he shouted at them "RUN!"
They could have run - yes. But they'd never make it. Ron was injured...and his friends werent going to leave him behind. There was a howl, and a rumbled growl which indicated that Professor Lupin had finished his transformation; Sirius had been thrown away and the new werewolf was left whimpering and cowering in front of the students.
"Come on," Harry mumured, attempting to take Ron and leave. Marcus, Charlie and Riley were already edging away...slowly.
Hermione had other plans "Wait," she told her friends "Wait" and she moved forward
"Granger!" Marcus snapped, as he stopped and turned "What are you doing? This is a bad idea!"
"Marcus is right, Hermione" Charlie nodded "Let's get out of here, while we still can"
But Hermione ignored her friend and continued to edge forward "Professor?" she questioned, hoping he would realize who she was and not attack "Professor Lupin?"
The werewolf seemed to acknowledge her for a moment, before letting out a howl which seemed to finalize the deal. It was too late...he didnt recognize them. Lurching forward he landed on his front paws and started towards the small group, he snapped at Hermione, as Riley pulled her back.
"Nice doggy," Ron whimpered "Nice doggy!"
There was a blurr of black and suddenly Snape appeared in front of his students "Potter!" he snarled, grabbing Harry by the collar
"Professor!" Charlie cried, although this proved to be a bad idea, seeing as now the werewolf's attention had shifted to her, Marcus and Riley. The creature growled at them and moved forward, raised its paw and swiped it across Marcus's chest, as he tried to protect the two girls behind him. Charlie and Riley screamed as they hit the ground "Marcus! You okay?" the Muggleborn Slytherin asked, noticing the rips in his robes at least he's not bleeding she had to remind herself.
"Im fine," he nodded
The three got back to their feet as the werewolf rounded on Snape and the Gryffindors, raised its paw once more, only to be distracted as Sirius reappeared in dog form, to battle him. They were locked, jaw to jaw, claws ripping at each other. Pushing themselves up, Charlie helped Marcus back to his feet just as Sirius led Lupin away from them and Harry gave chase.
"Come back here, Potter!" Snape called
"Harry!" Charlie cried, as she darted forward after her friend
Riley started forward "Charlie," she yelled; but Marcus held her in place as the Slytherin disappeared after the Gryffindor.
xXxHarryPotterxXx
Colliding with the back of Harry, Charlie watched as Lupin took off into the forest and Sirius transformed into his human form before staggering away from them "Go!" she urged the Gryffindor and they both hurried after the soon-to-be innocent man. They could hear him whimpering and staggering around as he entered the forest, before watching him collapse onto the ground near the edge of the lake, and then...the temperature dropped. "Dementors," she whispered, looking up through the canopy of the trees "Their heading for the lake!"
And Harry was off again
"Harry!" Charlie cried, giving chase.
Harry was ahead of her, she could just make him out, dodging the trees as he ran. He reached the lake first, and suddenly a bright shining light cut through the darkness. Charlie skidded to a halt just short of the opening of the trees, raised her hand to shield her eyes as whatever was causing it sent the Dementors away. As soon as the light had appeared it disappeared and Charlie was left to see one of her best friends drop to the ground and pass out.
"Charlie!"
The Muggleborn Slytherin, could hear her name being called as she moved forwards towards Sirius and Harry; she dropped to her knees beside them and touched the Gryffindor's shoulder as she shook him "Harry?" she mumured "Come on, Harry...wake up!"
He didnt.
"Harry, please, wake up" she continued to murmur, although she knew he was alive, seeing him like this, and after facing 100 Dementors made it look like he was actually dead. She shook her head! She couldnt think like that! Think positive Charlie, think positive! she kept reminding herself. The snapping of twigs was heard behind her, and the Muggleborn glanced around in fear that it was Professor Lupin, but instead Professor Snape and the others appeared through the trees, Riley launching herself at her best friend in delight of seeing her safe "Pettigrew's gone!" she mumured, hugging Riley back "We lost!"
Hermione, Riley and Ron exchanged looks - their plan, to prove Sirius's innocence had failed.
A/N: Oh, so close to the end. Another year is almost gone...what does that mean for our heroes? Will Sirius's name be cleared or will he be forced to live a fugitive for the rest of his life? Well, lets find out
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~*Kara*~
All OCs and anything unrecognizable is copyrighted (c) and belongs to me xXxKaraBeckerCutterxXx
Chapter updated 30/01/2011 at 04:15am