A/N: I might not be able to update until next Saturday as I'll be pretty busy.

Disclaimer: I still don't own the Potterverse.

Harry's heart hammered and his breath came in short gasps as he tried to get into the hole. Ron was in danger and he wasn't going to stand around waiting for someone to rescue him. The situation was becoming more and more desperate as the minutes ticked by. Out of nowhere, a thick branch swung around and caught him in the midriff.

Winded, he fell to the floor, clutching stomach and gasping for breath. Hermione fell down next to him, having just taken a thin branch to the face. He turned and faced his friend with difficulty.

"Hermione? Are you all right?" Harry shouted over the crashing and creaking of the enraged tree.

"I'm fine." muttered Hermione, electing not to stand up again.

"There must be a spell." said Harry desperately, getting to his feet and ducking to avoid a large branch that went straight for his face.

"That's it!" Hermione exclaimed, she jumped to her feet and whipped her wand out.

"IMMOBULUS!"

The tree froze, creaking ominously. He shot his friend a grateful look and quickly dove into the hole before the spell wore off. He tumbled down a steep slope and landed face first in a dirty stone passageway. He heard a shriek and Hermione landed on top of him, jarring his sore ribs unbearably.

"I'm so sorry." said Hermione, getting to her feet and helping Harry up.

"It's okay." said Harry, eyes watering and rubbing his chest.

"Where do you suppose this leads?" said Hermione, eyeing the stone passageway before them.

"I have a hunch, I just hope I'm wrong. Come on let's follow Crookshanks." said Harry, indicating to Hermiones cat who was waiting patiently in front of them.

The cat seemed to understand as it set off at a brisk pace, leading them in the right direction, tail held jauntily in the air. Hermione lit her wand and Harry followed suit as the darkness became deeper and deeper. He didn't like this. He didn't like this at all.

The place had a creepy air about it, like something was watching them from the shadows, ready to pounce. But that was absurd, there was nothing here but himself, Hermione and Crookshanks. Even so, Harry raised his wand higher so that the beam would light up more of the passageway.

The passageway seemed to be coming to an end. He could hear faint moans of pain, that was unmistakably his best friend. Harry sped up, overtaking Crookshanks and beside him, he could hear Hermione do the same. They came out into a dingy, shabby hallway of what was unmistakably a house.

The wallpaper was peeling and a large part of the banister had been ripped off as if in anger. The carpet was dusty and worn and seemed to be shredded at the corners. Swallowing nervously, Harry extinguished his wand as Crookshanks slunk into the room where the noises were coming from. Harry crept cautiously towards it, the door was hanging off the hinges and one of the panels had been kicked out.

Harry kept his wand in his hand as he entered the room. Crookshanks leapt up onto a big, dusty four poster bed and started purring contentedly. Ron was sitting on the floor, clutching his leg which was bleeding and looked to be broken. He looked awful, he was deathly pale and seemed to be in agony.

"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over and dropping to his knees beside his best friend. Hermione did the same.

"Harry it's him, it's a trap. He's an animagus." said Ron, shaking with fear.

"Who?" said Harry, stomach plummeting.

"SIRIUS BLACK!" Ron shouted, pointing to a corner.

Harry jumped up and whirled around, there looking every bit the madman he was portrayed to be; was Sirius Black. His hair was dirty and matted, his beard the same. His clothes hung off of his thin frame and he had a mad glint in his eye that Harry didn't like.

"If you want to kill Harry, then you'll have to kill us first." said Hermione, standing protectively behind Harry who was shaking with anger.

"No," Drawled Black "Only one will die tonight." he said, taking obvious pleasure from the fact.

Harry's blood boiled, he pushed Hermione out of the way and dived for Black. He grabbed his shoulders and threw him to the ground, wand trained to his face. For the first time since arriving, Black looked frightened and slightly surprised.

"You won't kill me Harry." Black stated, but his voice shook as he said it.

"SHUT UP!" Harry shouted, jabbing his wand in Blacks cheek while Ron and Hermione watched helplessly, unsure of what to do.

"Harry just list-," but Harry had had enough, he drew his fist back and punched Black in the face.

Black grunted with pain and Harry was about to punch him again when his wand flew out of hand and he was thrown backwards. Harry looked up from his spot on the floor and what he saw made his heart sink.

Professor Lupin, his Uncle Remus had helped Black to his feet and they were embracing like brothers. Harry's stomach filled with ice, his heart felt as if it would break in half and he had pins and needles go through his whole body.

"No!" he shouted, scrambling to his feet and standing by Ron and Hermione, tears in his eyes.

"Harry just hear us out." said Remus, taking a step towards Harry.

"Stay away from me!" Harry exclaimed, taking Hermiones wand from his pocket and pointing it in Remus' face.

Remus stepped back, hands held up in surrender.

"Harry it's not what you think. Sirius is innocent, Pettigrew is alive." said Remus calmly.

"No he isn't. He killed him" Harry spat, training his wand on Black.

"No Harry I thought so too until I saw Pettigrews name on the map." said Remus. Black seemed to have gone silent.

"Well the map was lying then." said Harry, heart hammering as he pointed his wand at Remus.

"The map never lies." Black said desperately.

"Well..." Harry was unsure of what to say.

"Where is Pettigrew then." Ron piped up, "If he was hiding in Hogwarts someone would have spotted him."

"Very good question Ron.." Remus began but was cut off by Hermione.

"Don't listen to them Harry. He's a werewolf, that's why he's been missing all of those lessons."

"I know he told me." Harry muttered distractedly.

"How did you know Hermione?" said Remus, looking at Hermione.

"That essay Professor Snape set us." Hermione admitted.

"Well Hermione you really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever known." said Remus, looking slightly proud.

"Look are we gonna kill that little rat or not?" snarled Black.

"Fine kill him. But first Harry needs to know the truth." said Remus, handing Black Harry's wand.

"I know the truth, he betrayed them." said Harry pointing to Black.

"No Harry I didn't but I as good as did. I suggested to your mum and dad that they use Pettigrew as the secret keeper as opposed to me. Less obvious you see." said Black, flopping on the bed and running his hand through his hair.

Harry didn't know what to think. Black's story was so confusing.

"What about all them muggles? Are you going to say Pettigrew killed them and then cut off his own finger?" said Harry incredulously.

"yes! That's exactly what happened. I went there to confront the little rat, but he shouted 'You killed Lily and James' then he blasted the street apart and cut his finger, before transforming and running into the sewers."

"The only part of Pettigrew they ever found was his-," Harry began.

"-His finger exactly." said Black.

Slowly, Harry started to believe him. There was something in Black's face that told him he was telling the truth. He was just lowering his wand when Snape burst through the floor, cold fury on his face.

"Expelliarmus." he drawled, pointing his wand at Black.

Harry's wand flew from his hand and landed with a clatter on the floor. Black backed away, looking slightly scared.

"How I will be rewarded when I take you back to the castle. The dementors will be so happy to see you. I dare say they may even give you a little kiss." Snape drawled, wand jabbed in his neck.

Harry pointed Hermione's wand at Snape and screamed. "EXPELLIARMUS."

Snape was sent flying backwards, head hitting the wall hard and he slumped, unconscious against the bedpost.

"Harry what did you do?" said Hermione, chewing her fingernails desperately.

"Prove you're telling the truth." demanded Harry, pointing the wand at Black and ignoring Hermione's question.

"We need the boys rat." said Black, pointing a shaking finger at Ron who seemed terrified.

"What are you gonna do to him?" said Ron, pulling a madly struggling Scabbers and frowning at Black.

"Just use a quick spell on him. If he's a real rat then it won't hurt." said Remus, coming over and taking the struggling from Ron, holding it by the tail.

Hermione crouched by her anxious friend and took his hand. As Black and Remus pointed their wands at the scabby rat. There was a loud bang and a flash of white light, and in it's place was a chubby, scruffy man who still had the look of a rat about him.

"Sirius? Remus? My old friends." squeaked the man, he jumped up and bolted for the door. Remus and Black were too quick for him. They pushed him back. Hard and he landed on his bottom.

"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort didn't you?" snarled Remus, wand pointed at Pettigrews forehead.

"I didn't mean to." Pettigrew whined, hands curling up much like a rat. "What would you have done?"

"I would have died! Died rather than betray my friends." Black roared, spittle flying out.

Pettigrew jumped up again and pushed Black and Remus hard, causing them to stumble a few paces backwards. He was halfway to the door when Harry stood in the doorway, glaring at his parents traitor. A wicked smile flicked on Pettigrews face, in one swift movement he had Harry tightly by the neck and Hermione's wand out of his hand and pointed at his temple.

"Let go of Harry now!" roared Sirius and Remus together, springing forwards and trying to get Pettigrew off of the terrified boy.

"Oh I think not." said Pettigrew evilly "One move and I'll kill him."

Remus and Sirius stood back, worried for Harry's life. He looked terrified, he was struggling with all his might and his face was slowly going purple as Pettigrews arm pressed into his windpipe. He was surely going to die now. He couldn't see any way out of this. Even as Sirius and Remus tried to persuade the little rat to release Harry.

Suddenly there was a loud bang (As if a gun had been fired) and Pettigrew was thrown off of his feet and slammed into the wall, unconscious. Harry slumped to the ground, choking and sobbing with fear. Remus lifted him to his feet and wrapped his arms around him, to calm him down.

"Shh Harry it's over now." Remus soothed, rubbing Harry's back. While Sirius stood with Harry's wand trained on Pettigrew.

"We need to get going." said Remus, pulling back and holding Harry at arms length.

Slowly, the group made their way down the narrow passageway that would lead to the entrance to the whomping willow. Sirius was in the front, supporting an injured Ron, whose leg had been bandaged up (courtesy of Remus) Sirius was also chained to Pettigrew who was now conscious and squeaking.

Remus, Harry and Hermione brought up the rear. Remus' arm was around Harry, who suddenly felt weak and Hermione was holding his hand. They came into the clearing of the still immobilised Whomping Willow. Sirius set Ron down on a rock. Remus took Pettigrew from his hands while he went a stared at the looming castle.

Slowly and cautiously, Harry approached Sirius.

"Hogwarts was my first home you know?" he said when Harry was beside him.

"Same here." Harry muttered shyly.

"I don't know if you know but I'm actually your godfather." said Sirius, turning to Harry.

"I know. Uncle Remus told me." said Harry, smiling slightly.

"Uncle Remus?" said Sirius, smiling at Harry.

Harry nodded "He's my guardian now. For reasons..." said Harry, trailing off.

Sirius opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by an ear splitting scream. Harry and Sirius both whirled around, Harry with his wand out. They immediately realised what was happening, it was the full moon and Remus was transforming.

Sirius disappeared from Harry's side only to be replaced by a shaggy black dog. The dog raced towards the werewolf and they began fighting with a ferocity of wild animals. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw Pettigrew shake his shackles off and dive for Remus' dropped wand, pointing it as Sirius' back.

"Expelliarmus." Harry shouted, pointing his wand at Pettigrew.

Remus' wand flew out of his hands and out of sight. The animagus gave Harry an evil grin and transformed into a rat, disappearing from sight. Suddenly, the werewolf howled and threw Padfoot into the trees. It ran the other way, howling as it went.

Snape had just emerged from the trunk and was about to head for Harry when Harry bolted after his newly found godfather.

"Potter come back!"

Harry ignored him as if his life depended on it as he ran and ran towards the howling. In his panic, not noticing the drop in temperature or the sense of despair that filled the air. There Sirius was, transformed back, cowering by the lake as hundreds of dementors surrounded him.

"No he's innocent." Harry shouted, ignoring the screaming that was filling his ears. He had to save Sirius.

Dropping to his knees by an unconscious Sirius, Harry pointed his wand at the dementors and shouted "EXPECTO PATRONUM." only a wisp of silvery smoke erupted, the dementors just brushed it away.

Summoning a better memory, Harry tried again "EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

This time a weak shield erupted between himself, Sirius and the dementors. But he was fast losing consciousness, the shield was weakening and darkness began creeping into Harry's vision. He held his wand tightly as he willed the shield to stay up. The shield failed but across the lake a bright, white light appeared, getting closer every second.

Harry squinted across the lake as the dementors dispersed, fleeing from the unmistakeable form of a Patronus. Across the lake, he saw someone that looked a lot like his dad before he slumped to the ground, unconsciousness overtaking him.