Note: this was a really hard scene to write as I had to make sure everything worked right.

Harry normally hated the week of exams, but this year he felt as if he was actually doing amazing. With an Animagus form under his belt, he was more than confident in his Transfiguration skills and in D.A.D.A. he couldn't help grinning when he drove the Dementor/Boggart back into hiding. Charms and Herbology he felt he could have done better in, but he was sure he more than excelled at Potions, which Snape eluded to as well. Care of Magical Creatures was a piece of cake for all the students and Harry was sure he flunked History of Magic. As for Divination...

Well that day started to get weird when he ran into Fudge, a Committee member, and an executioner while with Theodore. Ron and Hermione had been there as well, but they hadn't caught Fudge telling Harry and Theo that he would (after the horrible event to happen today) come and inspect their Animagi forms, so they could be registered.

Then Harry had gone to Divination and Trelawney had acted all weird and said a bunch of things Harry didn't want happening at all, but, before he could tell Theodore about it, the boy had motioned to a shuddering Hermione who held out a note to him. It was from Hagrid who informed them that he had lost the appeal and Bucky would be executed at sunset. He didn't want them to come down because he didn't want them to see it, but Harry knew Hagrid could not be alone. It seemed Hermione agreed, but Harry wasn't sure what Theodore thought, though the other boy didn't complain.

"But how are we going to get there." Hermione murmured. "It's not as if you can go, Harry."

"You just go on ahead," Harry told her. "I'll go down there...in a minute."

Theo smiled slightly at this and the two went back to the dungeons to retrieve Harry's invisibility cloak. There they both changed quickly and headed for the Great Hall.

They went down after dinner, so no one would wonder where they were during this time.

Down in Hagrid's hut, they met Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, making the situation rather awkward, but they were all decent to one another if it meant Hagrid didn't have to worry about their drama.
Buckbeak was outside, enjoying the fresh air and his last sunset.

Harry thought about rushing out and letting Buckbeak go free, but that would have gotten Hagrid in trouble and Harry didn't want the man going back to Azkaban.

Then Hermione found Scabbers, Ron's rat, alive, apparently, though completely unwilling to be held.

"They're comin'..." Hagrid told them and they were all shoved out the back door and they had to sneak around, Harry unable to use his cloak because of the three Gryffindors. They didn't get far enough to not witness the death of the Hippogriff and Harry himself almost had tears running down his face, more because of Hagrid though also because of the poor creature.

As they started back, Scabbers wouldn't hold still and it wasn't for a few minutes before they realized it was because Crookshanks was stalking them.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione groaned. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

The cat only stalked closer.

"Scabbers! NO!"

The rat fell to the ground and the cat was pouncing and Ron was chasing the two down. The other four bolted after him and watched him fighting the cat off of his rat as he gripped the rat to him. They tried pulling him to his feet and pushing Crookshanks off of him, Harry astounded with the cat's obsession.

"Part Kneazle, this thing." Theodore stated, picking up the Crookshanks and holding him carefully so he didn't get scratched. "Aren't you? Bloody intelligent creature."

Crookshanks cocked his head at Theo as if he had heard what the boy had said, but then resumed wiggling for escape.

Harry abruptly noticed something bounding their direction, something enormous...a huge jet-black dog. Harry reached for his wand, but the dog jumped, hit him square in the chest and bounded over him, heading straight for Ron.

They all scrambled, Theo setting down Crookshanks, after Ron, but the boy's leg was grabbed by the dog and he was dragged down into a hole at the base of a tree...at the base of the Whomping Willow.

"We have to go for help!" Hermione gasped.

"No!" Ginny screamed, obviously frightened for her brother's safety. "Did you see the size of that dog? Ron's food to it! We have to go get him!"

"We're never getting down there without help!" Hermione argued.

"If that dog can get in, we can." Harry tried dodging a branch, but it took him out at the calves and he slammed into the ground.

"Good luck with that." Theo said dryly.

Abruptly, Crookshanks darted forward, weaving expertly through the branches and touching a knot at the base of the tree, causing the Whomping Willow to still.

"Part Kneazle, that." Theodore repeated with awe.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione was astounded. "How did he know..."

"He's friends with that dog." Harry told her as he started towards the tunnel. "I've seen them together. Come on...and keep your wand out..."

The four started down into the tunnel, following Crookshanks.

"Where does this go?" Hermione whispered.

Harry wanted to answer her, but he didn't want to admit he'd had the Marauder's Map in his possession. They continued until they reached a room, covered in dust and disheveled, and Crookshanks darted into the dark.

"We're in the Shrieking Shack..." Ginny finally murmured as they began to sneak through it.

Harry pointed to long scratch marks on the wall and a wooden chair torn to bits. "Ghosts didn't do that."

They started up the stairs and turned off the lights at the ends of their wands. After a deep breath, Harry kicked open the door.

Crookshanks was on a bed, seeming perfectly content. On the ground, Ron was holding tight to his hurting leg, which was undoubtedly broken.

Ginny and Hermione dashed to his side.

"Ron!" Ginny squealed. "Are you okay?"

"Where's the dog?"

"Not a dog." Ron groaned. "It's a trap..."

"What..." Ginny started.

"He's the dog...he's an Animagus..."

Harry whipped around and held up his wand in the same motion, only then realizing that Theodore had mirrored him perfectly.

It all happened before Harry could think. The muttered "Expelliarmus" and all five wands flying up into the air and into the hands of none other than Sirius Black who slammed the door to the room in the same swell motion.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend." Sirius spoke in a hoarse voice as if he hadn't used it in a very long time. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you, not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful...it will make everything much easier..."

Harry felt the rage inside of him like boiling water and he started forward, but Theodore yanked him back, shoving him into the arms of Ginny and Hermione, who grappled onto Harry desperately to keep him from attacking Black. Ronald stood, shaking and in pain, but managed to get between Harry and Black to stand beside Theodore.

"Lie down." Black told Ron. "You will damage that leg even more."

"You can't have him." Ron stated. "I don't like him...at all...but bloody maniac follower of You-Know-Who is going to be killing Harry Potter. You'll have to kill all of us!"

"There'll be only one murder here tonight." Black's grin widened.

"Why's that?" Harry shot, trying to get free of the two girls, but he was in awe over how strong they were. " Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew...what's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?"

"Harry!" Hermione tried to quiet him.

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared and he broke free of his constraints, only to be captured by them again after a couple of steps. How he wanted to punch the daylights out of Black, forgetting magic and wands.

"I don't deny it." Black whispered. "But if you knew the whole story."

"The whole story?" Harry was shaking so fiercely he was amazed he could talk without sounding like he was speaking through a fan. "You sold them to Voldemort!"

"Harry!" Theodore yelped as if he had been branded suddenly. "Don't use that bloody name!"

There was silence for a moment and then Theo let out a great sigh.

"It wasn't Black."

The following silence lasted a little longer before Harry finally said, "What?"

"It wasn't Black." Theo repeated. "My father told me. Black wasn't the one who ratted out their hiding place. It was Pettigrew."

"How did you..." Black started, staring at Theo in surprise.

"It's a long story." Theo hushed the man.

"But Pettigrew died!" Harry argued and flung a shoulder (as he couldn't get his arm free) in Black's direction. "He killed him!"

Theo shrugged. "Maybe Pettigrew killed himself. He'd made enemies by turning over your parents, Harry. These enemies blamed him for the fall of You-Know-Who and they wanted his blood for it. What they would have done to him would have been far worse than what he did to himself."

"He's not dead." Black croaked and pointed right at Ron. "He's the rat!"

"Scabbers!" Ron gasped, holding onto his rat a little firmer. "No! This is Scabbers! He's been in my family for ages! For tw..."

"Twelve years." Black nodded fervently. "Rather long life for a rat, don't you think? And it even matches perfectly with how long Pettigrew is supposed to be dead. Found himself a nice wizard family, so he could keep up on the news."

"No..." Ron shook his head. "He's my pet."

"He's an Animagus!" Black shouted. "And he's been using you!"

"Aren't you even a little bothered at the possibility you've had a creepy old man in your bed?" Theo muttered at Ron and suddenly Ron had the rat at arm's length and was studying it in slight horror.

It was a poor move as it gave Crookshanks a perfect shot and the cat flew through the air and snatched the rat right out of Ron's hand and carried it, squeaking in terror, towards Black.

"NO!" Ron yelled and made a dive for the cat, despite his bad leg. This toppled Black in his attempt to avoid colliding with the boy. Ginny released Harry in a dash for her brother and Harry yanked out of Hermione's grip and rushed Black, grabbing his wand from the man and shoving it into the man's throat.

"Harry!" Theo also rushed forward, grabbing the other wands, hanging onto his own and tossing the others into the middle of the room. "Wait!"

"I am waiting!" Harry shouted. "Isn't there a revealing spell for Animagi? Cast it!"

"NO!" Ron was still fighting Crookshanks, but the cat dodged when Theo cast a spell their direction.

There was a blinding flash of blue white light and then abruptly Ron was scuttling away from a man standing there, looking every bit like the rat he had been only a moment before. Both Hermione and Theo cast binding spells and the man could move no more.

"He really is an Animagus." Hermione whispered. "But that would mean he was unregistered."

"Precisely." Came a voice no one expected. There in the doorway stood Professor Lupin, looking not even the least bit shocked. "This is a very long story. I hope you all have the patience to listen...and Harry...can you please let your godfather up."

Harry hesitated, but finally moved away from Black, too shocked to argue. All his anger at Black had melted away instantly at the sight of Pettigrew alive and fidgeting with worry.

Listening to the tale of how Lupin had been a werewolf, a fact Harry, Hermione, and Theodore all already knew, in school and visited the shack monthly in order to be able to attend while Sirius Black, James Potter, and Peter Pettigrew had made the effort to become Animagi to help his turns be more bearable was perhaps the most interesting thing Harry had heard in a long time. Then they learned how Pettigrew had become the Secret-Keeper and how he had made everyone think it had been Sirius Black and how Black had escaped Azkaban as a dog after learning Pettigrew was at Hogwarts and met Crookshanks who had begun helping him. And also how Lupin had been using the Marauder's Map and found out where they all were and how the Marauder's Map had been the four of them. Lupin was Moony, Pettigrew was Wormtail, Sirius was Padfoot, and James had been Prongs because he was a stag.

After the story was told, Snape revealed himself, offering his assistance to have "the rat" brought before Fudge, who happened to be at the castle "wondering where Harry and Theodore are."

"Why is Fudge looking for you?" Ron asked, stunned.

"Um..." Harry hesitated, but luckily Lupin began giving instructions and soon they were all exiting the Whomping Willow to head towards the castle.

"You know." Sirius began hesitantly. "I don't know if anyone told you, but I'm your..."

"Godfather." Harry finished for him. "Yes. I know."

"Well, I don't know if you'd want to, but when this is all settled, you could come live with me...if you wanted."

"Really?" Harry gasped. "I could really live with you?"

Sirius nodded, smiling slightly. "Of course."

"That would be...that would be amazing!" Harry almost laughed for how excited he was.

Then hell broke loose. Lupin had forgotten to take his potion and began to change while Snape and Pettigrew were still attached to him and Harry had tried to save the two, but Snape managed to free himself, sending a stunner in the direction of Pettigrew in the same process, knocking the man clean out.

Lupin tore at Snape violently, but Sirius morphed into a dog and attacked the werewolf and the two rolled off into the brush. Harry rushed to his professor, but was stopped by the return of the werewolf who began to chase Harry only to have Theodore get in the way, sending out stunners, Hermione and Ginny trying to mimic him. The werewolf shook off most of them, but he was now confused over which person to attack. Harry joined in the fray until a spell from Snape sent the werewolf barreling into the Forbidden Forest.

Harry wasted no time rushing off to find Sirius despite the hollers of those behind him. Theodore was close behind him, trying to stop him, but Harry didn't stop and soon found himself at the edge of a lake with Sirius. He came too late. They were surrounded by dementors and no matter how much him and Theo cast the Patronus Charm, they simply weren't strong enough.

Then something happened from across the lake and Harry was sure he saw his dad there, a stag running down the dementors.

He didn't remember anything else about the night as he was consumed by darkness.

Rather rushed, but if you're reading this story you already know how this goes, so I didn't want to bore you with a reiteration.

Hope you enjoyed. Review if you want.