Ok! I think this is the last full chapter I'm going to have with quotes from the book. I've been warned from a couple reviews not to quote the books/movie too much so my story won't get erased…I've been trying to tone it down so that doesn't happen. I might also edit past chapters, but I don't know yet…we'll see.
Anyway, I obviously don't own anything!
The Quidditch Cup final was won by Gryffindor, even with all of Slytherin's underhanded tactics. It was a great day for Harry. Even Hermione and Ron were happy, Hermione had apologized for Crookshanks and they were back to being friends again.
Once their exams were finished they decided to go see Hagrid. Harry brought his invisibility cloak so he wouldn't get into trouble.
"How did yer exams go?" Hagrid asked as he poured some tea.
"They were fine. Professor Lupin's test was brilliant." Harry said.
Hagrid nodded, "Oh, before I forget. Ron, I have somethin' for yeh." He walked over to a cabinet and pulled something out. He handed it to Ron.
"Scabbers." Ron exclaimed and hugged the squirming rat closer to him.
"You should keep a closer eye on your pets Ron." Hagrid smiled.
"Thanks Hagrid."
"You three should be heading back, it's getting dark." Hagrid shooed the trio out.
Underneath the invisibility cloak, the trio made it up the long stairway when Ron stopped. "Come on Ron." Hermione urged.
"Hold on, Scabbers won't stop squirming. Ouch!" Ron dropped Scabbers who ran away. "He bit me" Ron looked baffled before chasing after the rat.
"Ron!" Hermione and Harry ran after him.
When they caught up to him, Ron was on the ground trying to keep Scabbers still. They heard a bark and turned to see an enormous black dog behind them. Its sharp teeth bared and growling. It jumped over the two and grabbed Ron by the leg, dragging him to the Whomping Willow.
"Ron!" Harry shouted but Ron had already disappeared inside the tree. They tried to go after him, but the tree started thrashing about and they couldn't get close enough. All of a sudden Crookshanks appeared and pressed the knot on the side of the trunk, the branches immediately stilled.
Without another thought, Harry pulled Hermione to the tree and down the passage way. They finally came to the end and entered an old building. The room they were in was extremely dusty, with deep scratches marring the walls.
"We're in the Shrieking Shack" Hermione whispered.
A moan was heard from the upper level. "Come on" Harry pulled out his wand and slowly ascended the stairwell. They quietly crept into the room where Ron was, he was sitting on a chair, his leg bloody. "Ron, where's the dog?"
"Not a dog." Ron moaned. "Harry, it's a trap."
"What?"
Ron pointed behind them, "He's the dog…he's an Animagus."
Harry and Hermione quickly turned. With a snap, the door closes and the man behind it comes out from the shadows. He was a dirty man, thin as bone and pale white. His black hair was tangled and limp. The man slowly stalked toward them.
"I had a feeling you would come help your friend." Black said hoarsely. "I'm grateful you didn't go to a teacher, it will make things much easier."
Ron tried to get up, "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!"
Sirius looked at him and something flashed in his eyes, "I suggest you sit down, rest your leg."
The trio was confused by the softness in the man's voice.
"Didn't you hear me?" Ron asked.
"Only one will die tonight." Sirius had a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
"Then it will be you!" Harry rushed forward and tackled Black to the floor. He held his wand to Black's throat.
"Are you going to kill me Harry?" Sirius laughed.
"You killed my parents." Harry hissed.
Black stared at him, "I don't deny it, but if you knew the whole story."
"You sold them to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."
He was surprised when the door crashed open and Lupin barged through, "Expelliarmus!"
Harry's wand flew away. He motioned for Harry to get out of the way, Harry moved back to Hermione and Ron. "Where is he Sirius?" Lupin asked tensely.
At first, Black remained motionless. Then, very slowly, he pointed a finger to Ron.
"But then…why has he stayed hidden? Unless…you switched, without telling me." Lupin said.
Harry was about to ask what was going on, but he was surprised to see the professor lower his wand and embrace Black like a brother.
"NO!" Hermione shouted.
"Hermione" Lupin tried.
"No – I trusted you, and all this time, you've been his friend."
"Hermione please – "
"He's a werewolf, that's why he's been missing classes." She turns to Harry, "He's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too."
Remus chuckled lightly, "Not up to your usual standard Hermione. I have not been helping Sirius into the castle and I most certainly do not want Harry dead." His eyes dimmed, "I won't, however, deny that I am a werewolf." He looked back at Hermione, "How long have you known?"
"Since Professor Snape assigned the essay." Hermione answered.
"Very clever Hermione, brightest witch of your age definitely. Tell me, was it the lunar calendar or the fact that my boggart is the full moon?"
"Both"
Remus forced a laugh.
"So it's true, you've been helping him all this time." Harry looked at Remus, betrayed.
"No, Harry I haven't been helping him, I swear."
"Then how did you find us?"
"The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it –"
"You know how to work it?" Harry asked.
"Indeed, I helped write it. I'm Moony."
Harry couldn't believe it.
"The important thing is, I was watching the map when I saw you three go off to Hagrid's. Twenty minutes later you returned, but you were accompanied by someone else."
"What no we weren't." Ron said.
"Yes, you were. At first I thought the map was malfunctioning, but I knew that couldn't be right. So I came here, looking for answers." Lupin said.
"What are you talking about?" Harry asked.
Lupin turned to Ron, "Do you think I could have a look at your rat?"
"What? What's Scabbers got to do with it?" He clutched the squirming rat closer to him.
"That's not a rat." Black said. "He's a wizard."
"You're mental" Ron cried.
"It's true." Black replied. "An Animagus, by the name of Peter Pettigrew."
"But Pettigrew died, you killed him" Harry pointed at Black. "There were witnesses that saw Pettigrew die."
"They didn't see what they thought they saw." Black insisted.
"But all Animagi are registered in the Ministry." Hermione said.
"Yes they are. However, there were three unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts." Lupin sighed. "As you know I'm a werewolf, I have been since I was a young boy. I never dreamed of going to Hogwarts, but Dumbledore became Headmaster and he was different than any other Headmaster. He created safety measures to keep me and others safe during the full moon. This shack, was built for my use. The screams that the villagers heard were made by me. The tunnel leading here and the tree guarding it were placed there for my use." Remus paused.
"Apart from my transformations, I was happier than I had ever been. For the first time in my life, I had friends. Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and James Potter. Now, my friends were very clever, they soon noticed my disappearance once a month, yet they didn't run from me. Instead, they found a way to help me. They became Animagi."
"How did that help you?" Hermione asked.
"Werewolves are only harmful to people. As animals, they were able to keep me company during the full moon."
"Where does Snape fit into this?" Harry asked. He figured Snape assigned that essay to reveal what Professor Lupin really was; why though, he didn't know.
"Professor Snape went to school with us. He was always jealous of your father. Severus was very interested in where I went every month. One night, he saw me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey. As a joke, Sirius told Snape how to get passed the Willow. Of course, Snape tried it and went to the house. Fortunately, your father heard what Sirius had done and pulled Snape out before he could be injured. Unfortunately, he had already seen me. Dumbledore forbade him from telling anyone, but he has made it his mission to out me ever since."
"That's right" They turned to see Snape pull off Harry's invisibility cloak. Snape sighed as he pointed his wand at the two men, "Vengeance is sweet. I went to your office Lupin, and I came across a certain map. I guess there will be two more for Azkaban tonight." Snape looked almost gleeful.
"Severus, please, you don't understand." Remus pleaded.
"I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend into the castle, now I can prove it." Snape sneered.
"I thought you were supposed to be smart Snivilus? Just like back at school, thinking you've caught us only to come up empty handed again." Black jabbed.
Snape pressed his wand into Black's neck, "Give me a reason, I swear I will."
"Expelliarmus!" Harry shouted and sent Snape into the wall. Hermione and Ron shouted in protest.
"Finish your story." Harry said, ignoring his friends.
Remus nodded and turned to Ron, "Ron, hand over the rat please."
"No, you're mental. This is a rat not a person. How does he even know it's Peter anyway?" Ron asked.
"I saw a picture in the Dailey Prophet. Fudge left it when he came to inspect Azkaban. There was Peter, right on the front page…on this boy's shoulder." He pointed to Ron. "And the caption said he would be returning to Hogwarts…to where Harry was." He pointed to Harry.
"But how did you recognize him?" Hermione asked.
"His front paw." Black replied.
"What about it?" Ron asked.
"He's got a toe missing." Black stated. "Just before he transformed, he yelled for everyone to hear that I betrayed James and Lily. Then, he blew up the block, cut off his finger, and escaped into the sewers."
"That's impossible, he's been in my family for ages." Ron protested.
"Twelve years. Didn't you think it odd he lived so long?" Remus asked.
"We've been taking good care of him." Ron said.
"Well he won't be alive for much longer." Black stalked toward Ron.
Harry pointed his wand at Black, "Don't move. Why did Pettigrew need to fake his death? Because he knew that you killed my parents?"
"No, Harry" Lupin started.
"NO!" Harry said, "HE WAS THEIR SECRET KEEPER! HE ADMITTED IT!"
"I as good as killed them." Black sat down heavily, "I persuaded Lily and James to switch to Peter at the last moment. The night they died, I went to check on Peter, but he was gone. I went to your house and found it destroyed. I knew what Peter had done so I went to look for him."
"Enough of this." Lupin said harshly, "Ron, give me the rat."
"What are you going to do to him?"
"Force him to show himself. If he's an ordinary rat, it won't hurt him." Lupin grabbed Scabbers from Ron's hold and held up at arm's length. Lupin pointed his wand at the squirming rat, in a flash of light the rat dropped to the floor and started morphing into something else.
Hermione screamed as a man appeared where Scabbers was.
"Well hello Peter" Lupin greeted pleasantly.
"S-Sirius? R-Remus? My old friends." Peter squeaked cheerfully before making a break for the exit. Remus and Sirius blocked him and pushed him back. Pettigrew turned to Harry and smiled, "Harry, look at you. You look just like your father."
Sirius ran between them, "How dare you speak to Harry, how dare you talk about James in front of him!" Peter ran away, but was cornered again by Lupin and Black.
"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?" Lupin demanded.
"I didn't mean to." Peter whimpered. "The Dark Lord, you have no idea of the power he holds." He turned to Sirius. "What would you have done Sirius?!"
"I WOULD HAVE DIED! I WOULD HAVE DIED RATHER THAN BETRAY MY FRIENDS!" Black shouted.
Peter went for the exit again, but Harry blocked the door. Peter came up and held onto Harry, "Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed. He would have spared me, your father was my best friend!" He was pulled away by Lupin and Black.
"You don't deserve any mercy Peter! You are going to die tonight and we are going to be the ones to do it." Black said.
"NO!" Harry shouted.
The two men paused.
"Yes, I do think that's quite enough." A smooth voice said. Everyone turned to see a man standing in the corner of the room.
"Papa" Harry whispered.
Loki sent him a concerned look before walking calmly to Peter.
"Who the hell are you?" Black spat.
"I would speak a little kinder to me. I am the one who is going to prove your innocence." Loki glared at the man.
Sirius was surprised.
Loki turned to the cowering figure of Peter. He turned his nose up in disgust, "It's people like you that ruin humanity for me."
Harry snickered, ignoring the looks the rest of the room sent him.
Loki pulled out a pair of gloves from thin air and pulled them on.
"What's with the gloves?" Harry asked.
"I'm not going to touch this disgusting creature without the proper protection." Loki grimaced. When he was done, he glared at Peter, which had the man cower more. "You are better off dead, trust me. Unfortunately, you are needed." In a flash Loki punched Peter in the face, sending the man to the floor unconscious. He turned back to the shocked group. "I suggest you return to the castle. This man will be taken immediately to the Headmaster's office where everything will be sorted out." He turned to Remus, "Everyone except you."
Sirius growled, "Cease your growling mortal" Loki glared. "Do you even know what tonight is?"
Lupin paled, "Tonight's the full moon."
Loki nodded, "So unless anyone fancies a new lifestyle, I suggest leaving." Loki grabbed Pettigrew by the collar and teleported with a flash of green.
"He's right, you need to leave."
"What about Snape?" Hermione asked.
"I've got him." Black said and waved his wand at Snape. The unconscious man levitated off the ground and out the door, the students close behind. "Are you going to be okay?" Black asked Lupin.
Lupin smiled, "Yes, now go. I want to see my friend tomorrow a free man."
Black nodded and left the shack, closing the trap door behind him.
LOKI!
Wow that was long, and surprisingly hard to choose what parts to keep and what to throw out. Not to mention whether to go with the movie or the book in some parts. I decided to cut out some parts because I'm lazy, you all should know the story anyway.
Review Please!