"Everything after that last ending…what more can you say?" Lily asked.

"I've got plenty," Astra said.

"I just can't believe it," Ruby said.

"The story continues," Sara said. "Just six more chapters."

"So take a deep breath," Ava said. "Because we're not done yet."

Peter squirmed. He really hoped that this was not getting to the point where he hoped it would.

"Chapter Seventeen," Gideon narrated. "Cat, Rat, and Dog."

"Crookshanks, Scabbers, and Snuffles?" Lena asked.


Harry wants to go back for Hagrid, but Ron says they'll get Hagrid in worse trouble.


"He's…this….fuck," Lily said.

"The creature paid because the owner was negligent in other ways," John said. "Because of something that Hagrid had no control over."

"I can't even look at Malfoy without wanting to knock his teeth down his throat," Ruby said.

"Join the club," Kate said.


Hermione is in shock that they actually executed Buckbeak.


"Me too," Bellatrix said. "I thought something would happen."

"How could they be so cruel?" Charlotte asked.

"Lucius Malfoy is a spiteful bastard," Fred spat. "And I think he knew what his son was doing."

"You little prick," James grumbled.

Malfoy watched it, knowing full well what happened, but tongue-tied by the spoiler.


Scabbers is fidgeting like mad and bites Ron in a mad attempt to escape..


"What's up with that thing?" Mia asked.

"Oh, it's wound up tight," XS said. "Really tight."

"I don't understand," Percy said. "Scabbers has always been well-behaved, kind of chill…I guess. But, he seems upset. That cat can't have wound him up that much."

"Something's not right," Peter murmured.

Please don't be what he thought it would. Peter understood how Sirius was feeling now and it would be even worse if this came to pass.


Scabbers is terrified. The reason why was Crookshanks looming in the shadows.


"Maybe," Astra said.

"That cat really knows when to make an appearance," Lena said.


Scabbers breaks free and Ron tears away like a bat out of hell after both Crookshanks and Scabbers.


"Well, this just went tits up in a hurry," John said.

"Everything that can go wrong, is," Zari said. "That's the typical Potter luck."

"We're just getting started," Kara said. "Right, Harry?"

"I think we should get through this as quickly as possible," Harry said. "It's going to be far worse here."


Ron grabs Crookshanks and stuffs Scabbers back into his pocket.


"I don't think that's going to deter him," Sirius said.

"What's up with that cat?" Percy asked. "Scabbers is…it's almost like it has it out for Scabbers personally. Like Scabbers is hiding something and the cat's offended by it."

"Well, he's part Kneazle," Lily said. "I think."

"He is," Hermione agreed solemnly.

Percy just frowned, puzzled as a few of the past group was.

"That's odd," Junior agreed. "Something's wrong."


Before Ron could get back underneath the Cloak, with Scabbers, a large dog appears.

"Snuffles?"

Snuffles jumped, almost knocking Harry over into the process. He made a beeline for Ron and dragged him away.

"Harry?"

"I'm fine," Harry groaned. "Ron…"

Ron's loud screams echoed, and Hermione had been knocked down as well in the chaos. Crookshanks sat at his master's feet for a second before scurrying off.

"That dog it's massive."

"That's Snuffles," Harry murmured.

"Snuffles?"

"Yeah, but he's normally more mild-mannered."


"Well, that's a matter of opinion," James said in an attempt to lighten the mood.

Sirius cracked a smile. He had been trying to figure out what the hell was going on. And none of this made any sense.

"I'm still trying to figure this out," Lily said.

"We all our, Lils,' Natalie said.

"We're missing critical information," Lena said.

"So, did you think something was wrong?" Kara asked Harry.

"I…I never expected what I'm about to learn," Harry said.


Ron is pulled out of sight. Harry and Hermione rush to help him.


"Oooh, Ron," Fred said. "That sounds like that hurt."

"It did,' Ron said with a grimace. "My leg snapped when the Whomping Willow bashed it."

"Sorry about that, on behalf of my future self," Sirius said.

"It's fine, I've had worse," Ron said, pointing to the missing eye.

"How did that happen, anyway?" Kate asked.

"Tell you later," Ron said.


The Whomping Willow is kicking up a storm. Harry realizes that Snuffles found a way in.


"Naturally," Sirius said. "Although I'm not too proud of it."

"Harry will figure it out," Lena said.

"He always does," Lita agreed.


Crookshanks presses the knot on the tree.


"Or Crookshanks will," Ruby said.

"Definitely part Kneazle," Natalie said. "I'm not liking this."

"Me either," Peter murmured.

Peter clutched the side of his chair, knuckles growing progressive whiter as he sighed.


A secret tunnel opens up. Harry and Hermione make their way down it, wondering where it leads.


"That's completely on brand for you," Sara said. "Going down the mysterious tunnel."

"Well, someone has to," Harry said.

"And it just has to be you," Kara said in agreement.


They find out that they are the Shrieking Shack. And there is furniture all over the place, ripped up and mangled.


"That's the part where I would run away," Regulus said. "No offense, but being in a place with something that could do that is a big fat nope."

"I'm not sure why they would leave the destroyed furniture like that," Nora said.

"Maybe it's to deter anyone who stumbles into the Shack by accident," Lita said.

"That's right," Lupin agreed.


Harry and Hermione come to the conclusion ghosts don't do that.


"Yeah, a Poltergeist might, but not a ghost," John said.

"Werewolf," Severus murmured.

Snape nodded and could see the eyes of Lily, Harry, Astra, and Natalie turning to him.

"I'd tell you to call for help, because you have no idea what you're dealing with," Tonks said. "But, you've done everything for yourself so far. Why stop here?"


They come across Ron, who has had his leg broken.


"Fuck," Sirius swore. "I'm really…."

"You didn't do it, remember," Andromeda said. "And I want everyone to remember this."


Ron reveals that the dog is an Animagus.


"And suddenly, things just get so much worse," Zari said.

"I can just imagine what's going through your mind, right now," Astra told Harry.

"No happy thoughts," Harry said.

"Well, here we go," Sara said.

Andromeda nodded, she was ready.


The gaunt form of Sirius Black appears, with Ron's stolen wand and disarms Harry and Hermione.


"Oh, this looks incriminating," Tonks said. "You attacked them."

"Well, I don't…let's just let this play," Sirius said.

"Smart,' Frost said. "You don't want to jump to any conclusions."

"Like Harry's going to in a minute," George said.

"He's your son," James told Lily.

"And he's yours too," Lily said.


Black remarks that James would have come for his friends, instead of going for a teacher. Very bold of Harry.


"This is making you sound like a deranged lunatic," Bellatrix said.

"I know!" Sirius yelled.

Peter did not know what was worse. Maybe he escaped and lived in fear, after Sirius lost his mind. But, he doubted it.

"Can we keep reading?" Peter asked.

No matter what, he had to know.


Harry looks at Black with the intent to kill.


"He's serious," Sara said.

"Yes," Ava said.

"Harry wouldn't," Hermione said.

"Hermione, trust me, he would," Astra said.

"Now I might," Harry said.

"You would have done it already," Lita said. "Before Sirius even opened his mouth. If you really wanted to."

"Yeah, he wasn't going to fuck around and find out," Mick said.


Ron says Black would have to go through them first, while standing on a broken leg.


"Oh you're brave Ron, but now's not the time," Percy said.

"I'm not going to lie down and let someone steamroll my friend," Ron said.

"People forget this moment when talking about you," Lita said.

"I know," Ron said. "But, I'm still proud I did it."

"Typical Gryffindor," Regulus said.

"And proud of it," Ron said.

"And we are too," George said.

"For sure," Fred said.

Even though they knew the truth about Sirius, they had to admire Ron's bravado.


Black tells Ron to lie down, not to hurt himself. Ron refuses to bend. Sirius Black insists there will be only one murder tonight.


"You know, you're not making yourself look innocent," Mia said.

"Very guilty sounding," Lena said.

"Sirius," Andromeda said when rolling her eyes into the back of her head.

"It does look really bad," Lita admitted.


Harry asks if Black gone soft in Azkaban.


"Oh, Harry, don't poke the bear," Peter murmured.

"That's Lily, right there," Natalie said.

"It's so Lily," Remus agreed.

"Fine, yes, it's me," Lily said.


"You look just like James," Black whispered. "Although you have Lily's eyes."

Harry snapped and reached in to grab Black's throat. Black gasped for a second, before a blast of sparks repelled Harry back.

Black blinked and realized that Harry had his wand back into his hand.

"Clever…."

Harry banished Black against a set of dressers.

"To your feet and fight me!" Harry yelled.

"Please, Harry, you can't fight him!" Hermione yelled.

Crookshanks dove onto Black's chest and sunk his claws in.

"Move," Black murmured. "Now."

"Hiding behind a cat, Black?" Harry asked. "You are pathetic."

Harry hesitated for a second. But, if the cat was willing to protect Black, then it was just as bad.

"Don't kill it, please, Harry," Black said. "Lily would be very disappointed in you."


"And Selina would be pissed too when she found out," Sara said.

"You weren't going to kill the cat, right, Dad?" Kate asked.

"I'm not sure if…that's his emotions talking," Daphne said. "I'm thinking Harry stalling like he is and not acting means he was hoping for someone to talk him down."

"And he still had enough faith in Hermione to hope it was her," Kara said. "At least a time."

"You two both have some good points," Sara said. "Harry?"

"Let's go with that," Harry said.

He had no idea what he would do if Lupin did not intervene and that fact haunted him.


Harry's eyes flared with anger. Hermione grabbed ahold of Harry's hand and whimpered.

"Get off it, Hermione!

"There's so much you don't know," Black grumbled.

"What's more do I need to know?" Harry asked. "You killed my parents. You sold them out to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."

"You don't understand…."

"Every time I get near a Dementor, I hear my mother screaming," Harry said. "Knowing what she will die and fearing what would happen to me. You're the one who caused this! I can't believe they ever trusted you!"

The sound of footsteps upstairs could be heard which drew everyone's attention away from the scene.

"We're down here. It's Sirius Black. He's down here with us."


"Could be good, could be bad," Natalie said.

Astra's expression darkened when she had been reminded what Harry heard near the Dementors.

"If had a single bit of empathy left, I would feel bad," Sirius said.


Professor Lupin returned to disarm Harry once more.


"Good timing, Moony," James said.

"I sure hope so," Remus said.


Harry is angry he missed his chance to kill Black.


"Revenge can cloud your judgment," XS said. "Even in the best of us…we have those moments. Although some people push our buttons harder than they should."

"He blinked though," Mia said.

"Yeah, he blinked," Mick said. "Because I think deep down there was doubt."

"You know, you might be right," Lena said.


Lupin asks Black about the whereabouts of someone.


"Well ,this might make Harry think the two of you are working together," James said.

"It would if I was there," Tonks said. "Neither of you had any idea how bad this looks."

"We didn't," Lupin said.


Black points to Ron much to everyone's surprise.


"I'm all kinds of confused right now," Ruby said.

"I'm not," Peter said.

"Keep reading, everyone," Ava said.


Lupin muses they must have switched, without telling him.


"OOOOH!" Natalie yelled. "It's…."

"No one would have suspected it," Peter said in a solemn voice. "No one expects me to do anything. Or trusted with anything."

Peter knew now. And he did not like it. At all.


And then Lupin and Black embraced like brothers.


"Maybe you should save the tender reunion after you explained everything," Sara said.

"Maybe that would be prudent," Remus said.

"And like brothers…or closer?" Lita asked.

"What are you implying, young lady?" Lupin asked.

"Nothing," Lita said.


Hermione starts going off on Lupin about how she was covering for him.


"Oh, you really have to start now," Kate said.

"Hermione, if you really thought he was a danger, you would have said something," Daphne said.

"Granger's not the type to keep her mouth shut," Malfoy agreed. "We should all know that."


"Harry, you shouldn't trust him he's a…."

"Werewolf, I know."

This caused Hermione to stop short in her tracks and stare at Harry.

"You know?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, I know," Harry said. "And that doesn't make Lupin bad just because he's a werewolf. I would think you would understand given all of the prejudice that you get from Malfoy and his cronies by being Muggleborn."

The air had been deflated out of Hermione.


"Savage," Kate said.

"It was deserved," Hermione said.

"Not arguing with that," Kate said.

"Thanks for keeping an open mind," Lupin said. "Even if I didn't give you any reason to. It's the sort of thing Lily would do. She always thought the best of people."

"Almost to the point of insanity," Natalie said.

She gave Snape a rather pointed glare in response. Snape just scowled.


"But…he's in the league with Black," Ron gasped.

"Yes, he is, which is the real problem," Harry said. "I should have known, Lupin doesn't care. He was supposed to be friends with my father, and yet this is the first I've heard of him this year. But, given what I know, I'm not sure if I would want to know. Especially since you've been helping him this entire time."

"I haven't been helping Sirius," Lupin said. "Take your wands back. You're armed. We're not."

Harry was only mildly appeased.


"Moody would approve of your skepticism," Tonks said.

"I do too," Sara said. "It could be a trick."


Lupin explains that certain teachers at Hogwarts did not think that Lupin was trustworthy. Harry rightfully reads Snape.


"What gave you that idea, Potter?" Malfoy asked.

"Oh, you know, just a feeling," Harry said. "Snape's little werewolf essay might have had something to it."

"Yes, that thing," Lily said.

"Students needed to be taught the dangers and needed to be prepared" Snape said. "And given what…."

"Shove it, Snivellus," John said. "Given what you were responsible for, you were a far greater menace than Lupin ever could hope to be."


Lupin reveals that he helped make the Marauder's Map he was Moony.


"About time you come clean on something," Lily said.

"I swear you treating my son like a stranger was annoying," James said.

"It was best that I kept my distance," Lupin said. "And Dumbledore…suggested that I not get personally intertwined."

"So, you followed Dumbledore's words," Astra said. "Do you regret that?"

Lupin nodded, but the damage was already done. He had been dead for a long time and would have to live with his demons in the afterlife.


And Lupin figures that Harry was disappearing underneath the Cloak, he saw James disappear underneath it.


"More times than I can count," Remus said.


The bombshell is dropped; there were four people leaving Hagrid's hut. And Black dragged two people into the Whomping Willow.


"Okay, here we go," Sara said.

"This is the big thing you've been trying to avoid telling us this entire story," Bellatrix said.

"The thing they didn't want us here for," Junior said.

"And now they know because of me,' Neville said

"No because of your handlers," Harry told him.

"Well, here it comes," Kara said.


And thus the bombshell is dropped. Scabbers is an Animagus. By the name of Peter Pettigrew.


There had been silence at this revelation.

"No," Peter murmured.

"We should…we should really keep reading," Sirius said. "You guys were fair to me, you should be fair to Peter as well."

"Thanks, Sirius," Peter said.

"Really short chapter, though," Lena said.

"It was one of the shorter ones," Lita said. "Really leaves you wanting to turn that next page."

"Well, let's not wait around," Sara said. "Gideon, turn that next page!"

"Yes, Captain Lance."

To Be Continued.