Chapter 18: The Truth Uncovered
Tonks hurried back to the castle in search of assistance. Earlier that night, Remus had told her that Sirius was spotted going into the Whomping Willow. Tonks and Remus resolved to find him.
As Tonks hurried through the halls of the castle, she only hoped that Cassiopeia was not attempting anything foolish. She knew Cassiopeia was too hardheaded when it came to her husband. Tonks only hoped that Cassiopeia stayed in that room for her child's sake.
At last, Tonks had finally reached the person she was so anxious to find.
"Severus," Tonks said.
Snape turned around and nodded. "Tonks."
Tonks knew this was her only chance. She knew that she had to make this worth Snape's while. She did not trust Sirius Black, and she was not going to let him get away again.
"Sirius Black has been sighted on campus. I know exactly where he is going. I know you have a grudge," Tonks said. "Do you want to get your payback?"
Tonks could not be sure, but she thought that she saw a smile crease Snape's lined face. If it was a smile, it was a brief one. However, Snape's eyes were glowing with delight.
"I would love to," Snape replied. "What about his wife? Where is his beloved Cassiopeia?"
"That's beside the point. He probably her stashed away somewhere," Tonks said dismissively.
Snape frowned. "I know she's here. The Dementors should have a kiss for her, too."
"Oh, really? Where's your proof?" Tonks asked smartly. "Do you want me to lead you to Sirius or not?"
"I want both Blacks," Snape said, his voice dripping with hatred. "Are you covering for your cousins?"
Tonks stared Snape straight in the eye. "No."
"I hear that Mrs. Black is pregnant. Is that true?" Snape asked casually.
"I wouldn't know. I haven't seen her in twelve years," Tonks shrugged.
Tonks hated to lie, but she had no choice. If she was going to win over Snape, she had to feign ignorance of Cassiopeia or her baby.
"Shame about her brat," Snape said.
"Yea, seeing as I'm the closest relative. Oh, well. It doesn't matter," Tonks said nonchalantly.
"I'll find Mr. and Mrs. Black and make sure they meet the Dementors," Snape said, his voice filled with determination.
"Fine, see if I care," Tonks said. "I only make the request that if the rumor is true and Mrs. Black is pregnant that you wait to send her to the Dementors till after the baby is born. It's against my code to hurt innocent children."
"If I wait, she may escape again," Snape said.
"Oh, don't worry, she won't. Not if the child is at stake," Tonks reassured him.
Snape shook his head. "I can't risk it. I'm afraid the brat will have to be punished, too."
Tonks shook her head in disbelief. "Really, you would harm an innocent child? I thought I knew you better."
Suddenly, a memory flashed through Tonks's mind. She remembered the night Lily and James died, and the man in black.
"Yes, it was you, wasn't it?" Tonks asked. "You were the one at the Potter house twelve years ago. You told me to take Harry. You told me not to be afraid after I saw Lily's dead body. That was you, wasn't it?"
"Yes," Snape replied. "I cannot spare the murderers of their children."
"You protected me then. How is any other child any different?" Tonks argued.
"Just leave the Blacks to me," Snape said.
"You won't be able to find them without me. I know where he's going," Tonks said.
"Take me to them," Snape said.
Meanwhile, Remus had just reached the Shrieking Shack when he found Harry struggling on the floor with Sirius. Harry had one hand on Sirius's throat, and his wand pointed at his chest.
"Expelliarmus!" Remus shouted.
The wand flew out of Harry's hand, and he backed off toward Ron and Hermione.
Remus towered over his friend on the ground. "Well, well, Sirius, looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within."
"Well, you'd know all about the madness within wouldn't you, Remus?" Sirius asked.
Remus smiled and pulled Sirius into a brotherly embrace.
Sirius was quivering madly. "I found him, Remus. It's him."
"I know. I understand," Remus said calmly.
"Let's kill him!"
"NO!" shouted Hermione. "I trusted you. And all this time, you've been his friend."
"You're wrong," Remus said. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now. Let me explain."
"No!" Hermione protested. "Harry, don't trust him. He's been helping Sirius get into the castle. He wants you dead, too. He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes!"
Remus smirked. "Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione. Only one out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle, and I certainly don't want Harry dead. But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all froze in shock.
"How long have you known?" Remus asked suspiciously.
"Since I did Professor Snape's essay," Hermione replied.
"Well, well, Hermione, you really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met," Remus said.
Sirius had enough. "Enough talk, Remus! Come on, let's kill him!"
"Wait!" Remus said.
"I DID MY WAITING! TWELVE YEARS OF IT! IN AZKABAN!" Sirius exploded.
Remus dithered for a moment. He knew Sirius had suffered, and he could not let his friend suffer any longer.
"Very well, kill him," Remus said, handing Sirius his wand. "But wait one more minute. Harry has the right to know why."
"I know why!" Harry said furiously. "You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead!"
"No, Harry, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents, but it was someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead," Remus explained.
"Who was it, then?" Harry demanded.
"Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius interjected. "And he's in this room, right now! Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"
"Expelliarmus!" said a deep voice.
Sirius turned to find Snape with his wand drawn. Tonks was behind him. Sirius glared at Snape. Both Snape and Sirius's faces were etched with hate. It was unclear who resented each other more.
"Sorry, Uncle Sirius. Looks like I betrayed you," Tonks said coldly.
Sirius's eyes widened. "Nymphie! You stay out of this, Snivellus!"
"It's okay, Uncle Sirius. I brought him here," Tonks said.
"Vengeance is sweet," Snape said, glee and hatred in his voice. "How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."
"Severus," Remus began, but stopped short.
"I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend into the castle, and now here's the proof!" Snape gloated.
"Brilliant, Snape. Once again, you've put your keen and penetrating mind to the task, and as usual, come to the wrong conclusion," Sirius snarled. "Now if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to."
Snape pointed his wand under Sirius's chin. "Give me a reason. I beg you."
"Severus, don't be a fool," Remus pleaded.
"He can't help it. It's habit by now, Remus," Sirius said.
"Sirius, be quiet!" Remus shouted.
"Oh, quiet yourself, Remus!" Sirius snapped.
"Oh, listen to you two quarreling like an old married couple," Snape spat.
"Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set?" Sirius taunted.
Snape seemed to soften. "Tell me, Black, I hear you have a baby coming. Is that true?"
"Yes, and what's it to you, Snivellus?" Sirius spat.
Snape seemed to be enjoying himself. "Such a shame. I'm afraid the brat will suffer."
Tonks shook her head. "That's the only part I didn't agree with in the plan. But sending you away, Sirius, I'm fine with that."
Sirius's eyes flashed. "Do what you want to me. You stay away from my wife and my baby, Snivellus!"
"Oh, I'm sure she's safe wherever she is, Sirius," Tonks said.
"Enough. Let's take the werewolf, too. I expect he'll lead us to Mrs. and Little Black."
Snape pointed his wand out the door. "After you!"
Suddenly, Tonks and Harry raised their wands. "Expelliarmus!"
Both spells hit Snape, sending him colliding into the decaying, four-poster bed. Snape was knocked out.
Tonks turned red with embarrassment. "Oops! Do you think he'll be mad about that?"
Everyone shook their heads at the same time.
Tonks's face went a darker red. "Oh, well, I meant to hit Sirius. Oops."
"I'll ask you this, Sirius: do you even have proof that Peter is still alive?" Tonks asked dubiously.
Before Sirius could answer, another voice filled the room. "Sirius!"
Cassiopeia sped into the room, nearly colliding into Sirius's arms. Cassiopeia's lips found Sirius's and she shared her first kiss since arriving at Hogwarts. Remus and Tonks simultaneously slapped their palms to their foreheads.
I should've put more spells up, Remus thought.
"Cassie!" Tonks gasped. "I told you to stay put!"
"How'd she get out?" Remus groaned.
"One of the students let me out. A Gryffindor, by his badge. It was the Longbottom boy. I can't remember his name," Cassiopeia explained.
"Neville?" Tonks asked.
"Yes, he's the one," Cassiopeia replied. "He rescued me."
"Oh, great!" Tonks groaned. "It doesn't matter. Sirius, if you have no proof that Pettigrew is alive, then I have to take you."
"Cassie, you shouldn't be here," Sirius said, holding Cassiopeia close.
"I couldn't stay behind," Cassiopeia said. "Besides, Nymphie locked me up."
"I told her to protect you," Sirius said.
"I don't want protection. This baby will stay in my belly until it's ready to come out. You need me right now," Cassiopeia said lovingly.
"I'll be fine. Now go back to the castle," Sirius reassured her.
"No, I'm not leaving without you. I want to make Pettigrew pay," Cassiopeia said firmly.
"I'll make him pay for you. Now go," Sirius told her.
"No. Please don't make me leave you. Not again. I go wherever you go," Cassiopeia pleaded. "What kind of wife am I if I leave you?"
"One who needs to be safe," Sirius replied.
"Says the most reckless man I've ever known," Cassiopeia laughed. "I'm not going anywhere."
"I want you to be safe at the moment," Sirius said in earnest.
"I'm perfectly safe with you," Cassiopeia said lovingly.
Tonks rolled her eyes. "That's all well and good, but you have no proof that Pettigrew is alive."
"The map was lying!" Harry shouted.
"The map never lies. Remus and I wrote it," Sirius said. "Pettigrew is alive, and he's right there."
Sirius pointed at a pale Ron. "Me? He's mental!"
"Not you!" Sirius groaned, rolling his eyes. "You're rat!"
Tonks looked at Sirius as if he were mad. "A rat, really? It's a rat. That's not Pettigrew. Sirius, you really have gone mad."
"Scabbers has been in my family for-" Ron said.
"Twelve years!" Sirius interjected. "Curiously long life for a common garden rat!"
"He's missing a toe!" Cassiopeia said.
Harry put it all together. "All they could find of Pettigrew was his-"
"Finger," Sirius finished. "The dirty coward cut it off so that everyone would think he was dead."
"He's an Animagus," Cassiopeia said.
"Fine, show me," Tonks said.
Sirius wrestled a squealing Scabbers from Ron's hands and set him down on the piano. The rat instantly made a mad dash as Sirius, Cassiopeia, and Remus drew their wands. Before the animal could scurry to safety, Cassiopeia was quick to stop him.
"Oh, no you don't!" she shouted.
Suddenly, a lump of a man with graying hair crashed through the wall. Remus and Sirius grabbed him and drew their wands. As soon as Tonks saw this man's face, she jumped behind Remus like a scared child. Remus wrinkled his brow.
"Sorry, he's freaked me out since I was a kid," Tonks said, turning red. "He's just creepy."
Cassiopeia was livid as she pointed her wand at Pettigrew. "This…rat kidnapped me. He trapped Sirius and me to make it look like we killed him."
"Yeah, yeah, just keep him away from me," Tonks said dismissively.
Pettigrew smiled. "Remus, Sirius, Cassie. My old friends!"
Pettigrew tried to run, but Remus and Cassiopeia forced him back.
Pettigrew's gaze turned to Tonks. "Nymphadora Tonks!"
"Don't call me that!" Tonks said, backing away from Pettigrew.
"You've grown so much," Pettigrew gasped.
Just then, Pettigrew grabbed Tonks, holding her tight. Tonks struggled and screamed to no avail. "Let me go!"
"Get away from her!" Cassiopeia shouted.
Remus pulled Tonks away from Pettigrew, holding her to his side.
"Don't touch me again, you pervert!" Tonks shouted.
Pettigrew's eyes fell on Harry. "Harry, look at you! You look so much like your father, like James…"
"How dare you look my godson in the eye! How dare you speak his name!" Cassiopeia said venomously.
"How dare you speak to Harry! How dare you talk about James in front of him!" Sirius snarled.
"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?" Remus demanded.
"I didn't mean to!" Pettigrew whined. "The Dark Lord, you've no idea the weapons he possesses. Ask yourself, Sirius. What would you have done?"
"I would've died! I would've died rather than betray my friends!" Sirius said furiously.
"Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed! Your dad would've spared me…showed me mercy!" Pettigrew pleaded in Harry's ear.
Sirius and Remus tossed Pettigrew backward, their wands drawn.
"Let's kill him!" Cassiopeia shouted, raising her wand.
Before Sirius, Cassiopeia, and Remus could strike, Harry and Tonks shouted. "No!"
"Harry, this man is-" Remus said.
"He's a murderer!" Cassiopeia interrupted.
"I know," Harry said, eyeing Pettigrew with as much hatred as the three of them.
"And as a Ministry worker, it would be wrong of me to let you all kill him. We'll take him to the castle."
"After that, the Dementors can have you," Harry said menacingly to Pettigrew, who quivered and bit his dirty nails.
"Fine," Cassiopeia agreed.
Cassiopeia, Remus, and Sirius lowered their wands. Unable to control herself, Cassiopeia's fist flew into Pettigrew's face, knocking him backward.
"I've been waiting twelve years to do that," Cassiopeia said, as if in triumph.
"For that, I'll look the other way," Tonks said before wincing in pain. "Oww! My arm is stiff!"
"The cut again?" Cassiopeia asked.
"Yeah," Tonks said, unwrapping her bandage. "Oh my gosh, the cut is bleeding again!"
"Ah!" Cassiopeia gasped, wincing.
"Cassie, are you alright?" Remus asked.
"I'm fine. Just the little one being feisty," Cassiopeia reassured him.
Remus snatched up Pettigrew, holding him at wand point. Sirius and Harry supported Ron and headed out of the shack.
"Sorry about the bite," Sirius said apologetically. "I reckon that twinges a bit."
"A bit? A bit?" Ron gasped. "You almost tore my leg off!"
"I was going for the rat," Sirius said. "Normally, I have a very sweet disposition as a dog. In fact, more than once, James suggested that I make the change permanent. The tail I could live with, but the fleas…they're murder."
Sirius gave a playful wink at Harry and Cassiopeia.
"My husband always had a colorful sense of humour," Cassiopeia said, beaming.
As they reached the grounds, Sirius and Cassiopeia could do nothing but stare at Hogwarts. To them, it was a past they had not forgotten. It was a shining example of their past and future. Harry stood by their side.
"It's beautiful, isn't it?" Sirius breathed. "I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again as a free man."
"And one day, send our children," Cassiopeia added.
"That was a very noble thing you did back there," Sirius said proudly. "He doesn't deserve it."
"I could've sworn I saw Lily in you tonight," Cassiopeia beamed.
"Well, I just didn't think my dad would've wanted his best friends to become killers," Harry said wisely. "Besides, dead the truth lies with him. Alive, you're free."
Cassiopeia smiled wider. "I always knew you had your mother's brains."
"I don't know if you know, Harry, but when you were born, James and Lily made Cassie and me your godparents," Sirius whispered.
"I know," Harry replied.
"Well, I could understand if you choose to stay with your aunt and uncle, but if you ever wanted a different home…"
"What? Come and live with you?" Harry gasped, the joy written on his face.
"We'd like that very much, you know," Cassiopeia said, taking Harry's hand.
Suddenly, Cassiopeia doubled over, clutching her round stomach.
"Cassie, are you alright?" Sirius asked.
"I'm fine," Cassiopeia said. "Just a big kick, that's all."
Tonks rolled her eyes. "That better be all it is."
"HARRY!" Hermione screamed.
A pin drop could be heard as everyone stared at the round, full moon.
"Oh, no. Remus, did you take your potion?" Tonks asked.
Remus did not respond. He turned white and seemed to be convulsing. He only screamed in pain.
"I'll take that as a 'no!'" Cassiopeia said.
"That's not-" Tonks began, but fell over screaming.
Sirius jumped to Tonks's side and noticed her mark. "Cassie, what's wrong with Nymphie? Where'd that cut come from?"
Cassiopeia did not answer Sirius. Instead, she turned pale and was screaming like Remus.
Oh, no. Please no, Sirius begged to himself. Please don't let this be what I think it is.
"Sirius, the baby is coming!" Cassiopeia screamed.
"No joking, Aunt Cassie," Tonks groaned.
"Tell me you're kidding," Sirius said in disbelief.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Cassiopeia shouted, between shrieks of pain. "My water broke! The baby is coming…NOW!"
A/N: UH-OH! Remus forgot his potion and Cassie is in labor, Merlin's beard! Stay tuned for the next chapter when Sirius and Cassiopeia's baby arrives! :D I hope you don't mind the changes I made. Most of the bits in the film I preferred and some from the book. I hope you don't mind. Thank you to my readers, many times! I adore and appreciate you all. And thank you to my mate, Roza Anne :D Keep reading, reviewing, and enjoy!