The Potter Twins and The Prisoner of Azkaban

by B.E.A.T.N

During Harry and Michael's third year at Hogwarts, they slowly uncover parts of the story involving the death of their parents when a man named Sirius Black escapes prison, seemingly after the twins. Can Harry, Michael and their friends survive another crazy year at Hogwarts?

7. Chapter 7

The Potter Twins and the Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 7: The Shrieking Shack

OOMPH!

Harry hits the ground hard.

OOMPH!

Hermione falls on top of him.

OOMPH!

Michael falls on top of her.

Thump.

Fleet bounces on Michael's head.

Hermione, "thanks."

Harry, "don't mention it. Lumos."

As the tip of Harry's wand glows, it reveals a long, snaking tunnel.

Hermione, "where do you suppose this goes?"

Harry, "I have a hunch. I just hope I'm wrong…."

Michael, "well, we ain't gonna find out by just standing around…."

Fleet hides in Michael's scarf again.

Michael, Harry and Hermione make their way through the primitive passageway, ducking the roots that dangle overhead.

Then, abruptly, the tunnel…. Ends. Confused, Michael, Harry and Hermione glance about, then, as one, peer up. A small opening is above them. Harry reaches up, hoists himself through.

Harry pulls Hermione up. Hermione then pulls Michael up. They look about. Paper peels from the walls. Stains, suspiciously similar to dried blood, blot the floorboards. Shattered furniture lies strewn everywhere.

Hermione, "we're in the Shrieking Shack, aren't we?"

Michael, "it's certainly scary enough…."

Harry doesn't answer, staring at the dog prints in the dust on the floor. The ceiling creaks. They dash to the stairs. They come out and look down. A wide, shiny stripe cuts through the dust-laden floor, as if something has been dragged, to the end of the hallway, where a light seeps from a door.

Harry, "nox."

His wand-light dies. Slowly, they step to the door. All three exchange a look. Hermione nods, wand ready, Michael doing the same, and Harry kicks the door aside.

Ron sits upon a sagging bed, clutching his bloody foot.

Hermione, "Ron! You're okay!"

Michael, "thank God."

Harry, "the dog, where's the-"

Ron, "it's a trap, guy's. He's the dog. He's an Animagus…."

Michael raises an eyebrow upon hearing that word again as he and Harry look down and follow the law prints on the floor to a pair of filthy human feet. They look up slowly at the man standing in the shadows. Filthy, matted hair hangs to his shoulders. His skin is like a corpse.

Sirius Black!

He studies the boys' faces keenly. Harry draws his wand as Michael does the same.

Hermione, "if you want to kill Harry and Michael, you'll…. You'll…. Have to kill us, too!"

Sirius, "no. Only one will die tonight."

Michael thought that sounded odd. One? Why would he kill only one of them?

Harry, "then it'll be you!"

Hermione, "Harry! No!"

Just then, footsteps sound. Black wheels toward the door, edgy. Harry eyes Black, wand hand shaking violently, Michael being able to keep his wand more steady. As Black turns back, he stops and regards the twins cautiously.

Sirius, "going to kill me, boys?"

Harry, "yes."

Harry raises his wand.

BLAM!

The door crashes open: it's Lupin!

Harry, Hermione, Ron and Michael all yell, "Professor Lupin!"

Lupin ignores them, eying Black intensely.

Lupin, "looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius? Finally the skin reflects the madness within."

Sirius, "you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?"

The two regard each other, the moment taut with tension, then Lupin steps forward and…. Embraces Black like a brother.

Hermione, "no! I trusted you! I covered up for you. And all this time you've been his friend! He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes!"

Michael, "I knew it! That's why you're afraid of full moons! That's why you're so tired at night!"

Harry and Ron stare, dumbfounded, at Lupin. Black howls then, bitterly amused. Lupin eyes him, then turns back.

Lupin, "how long have you known?"

Hermione, "since Professor Snape set the essay."

Michael, "looks like he knew it and was trying to out you."

Lupin, "you're the brightest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione. And you're definitely as smart as your parents, Michael."

Sirius, "yes, you glow like the sun. And you howl at the moon. Enough talk! He dies. Now. If you won't do it with me, Remus, I'll do it alone."

Lupin, "wait, Sirius."

Sirius, "I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban! Trust me, you wouldn't have lasted a week!"

Lupin eyes Black, then nods.

Lupin, "alright then. As you wish…."

Harry, "no!"

Harry raises his wand when Lupin turns and, with a flick of his own, disarms him. Furious, Harry eyes Black murderously.

Harry, "you betrayed our parents!"

Michael, "you sold them to Voldemort!"

Sirius, "it's a lie! I never would've betrayed James and Lily!"

Lupin, "Michael! Harry! You've got to listen-"

Harry, "did he listen! When our mother was dying!"

Michael, "did he hear her screaming!"

Sirius, "no! I wasn't there! And I'll regret it the rest of my life!"

Michael and Harry's eyes flash to Black's, glittering with pain.

Lupin, "someone else betrayed your parents, boy's. Someone in this room right now. Someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead."

Sirius, "he's as good as dead."

Harry, "what're you talking about?"

Michael, "more accurately, who? There's nobody here."

Sirius, "oh yes there is…."

Black turns then, to Ron, and croons in a cruel sing song:

Sirius, "come out, come out, Peter. Come out, come out and play…."

Ron draws back from Black's demented gaze.

Ron, "you're mad…."

Michael and Harry's eyes shift from Ron's face to his hand, where Scabbers twists violently. Fleet seems to growl at Scabbers. As a curious expression befalls the twins, Lupin and Black, as one, raise their wands…. When….

"Expelliarmus!"

The wands fly from their hands. The others turn and find Snape standing in the doorway, smiling smugly.

Snape, "ah, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

Lupin, "Severus-"

Snape, "I told Dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle. And here's the proof."

Sirius, "brilliant! And, as usual, dead wrong. Now give us our wands back. Remus and I have a bit of unfinished business to tend to."

As Black approaches, Snape puts his wand to Black's neck.

Snape, "give me a reason. I beg you."

Lupin, "don't be a fool, Severus!"

Sirius, "he can't help it. It's a habit by now."

Lupin, "quiet, Sirius!"

Snape, "listen to you two. Quarreling like an old married couple. The creature and the criminal."

Sirius, "piss off."

Snape, "witty as ever I see. Tell me, will you be so irreverent when I turn you over to the Dementors? Do I detect a flicker of fear? One can only imagine what it must be like to endure the Dementor's Kiss. It's said to be unbearable to witness. But I'll do my best."

Snape's eyes harden. He gestures to the door.

Snape, "after you…."

As the others start to go, Harry glances at the table where Lupin has left Harry's wand. In a flash, it's in his hand.

Harry, "Expelliarmus!"

Snape soars into the air, hits the wall with a thud, and slides down. Michael, Ron and Hermione stare in shock.

Hermione, "Harry. You attacked a teacher."

Michael, "why would you do that!?"

Harry looks a bit shocked himself, then turns to Black.

Harry, "you said Peter before. Peter who?"

Lupin, "Pettigrew. He was at school with us. We thought he was a friend."

Michael, "what? No. Pettigrew's dead. He killed him."

As Michael points at Black, Black laughs mirthlessly.

Lupin, "I thought so, too. Until you mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map."

Harry, "the Map was lying then-"

Sirius, "the Map never lies. Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there."

Black points at…. Ron. Ron goes white with fear.

Ron, "m-me? He's a lunatic…."

Sirius, "not you, you idiot. Your rat."

Fleet squeaks in shock as Michaek said, "what?"

Ron, "Scabbers? Scabbers has been in my family for-"

Sirius, "twelve years. A curiously long life for a common garden rat. He's missing a toe, isn't he?"

Black unfolds a dog-eared clipping from The Daily Prophet: it shows Ron in Egypt with his family, Scabbers on his shoulder.

Ron, "so what?"

Harry, "wait, I remember! All they could find of Pettigrew was his-"

Sirius, "finger. Dirty coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead. Then he transformed into a rat."

Michael, "that would explain why Fleet, Crookshanks and other animals always didn't like him! Animals can better sense these things!"

Harry stares into Black's sunken eyes. Wanting to believe. Desperate to believe. He and Michaek glance at Ron, his agonized face. Scabbers squirms violently.

Harry, "show us."

Lupin and Black turn to Ron. He holds Scabbers protectively.

Ron, "what are you going to do to him?"

Sirius and Lupin exchange a glance.

Sirius, "together."

With that, Lupin takes out his wand and, as one, he and Black cast a stream of blue-white light. Scabbers twists madly in midair, then….

FLASH!

He transforms into…. A very short man with thinning hair and grubby hands. He looked more like a rat than a man, but there was no mistaking who this was.

Peter Pettigrew.

Pettigrew, "S-Sirius…. R-Remus. My old friends."

Neither speaks. Pettigrew's small, watery eyes darted toward the windows and door. Suddenly, he makes a break for it, but Sirius merely shoves him back.

Pettigrew's nose twitches, his gaze finding Harry and Michael. His hands flutter nervously, revealing a missing index finger.

Pettigrew, "Michael! Harry! Look at you! Y-you look just like your mother and father. Like Lily and James. We were the best of friends, James and I-"

Sirius, "shut up!"

Pettigrew, "I didn't mean to! The Dark Lord, you have no idea the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself what you would have done, Sirius. What would you have done!?"

Sirius, "died! Died rather than betray my friends! And you should have realized, Peter, if Voldemort didn't kill you…."

Lupin, "we would."

Pettigrew, "no…. Please…. You can't…."

As one, Lupin and Black raise their wands and point them directly into Pettigrew's face. He shrinks back trembling, closing his eyes in fear, when….

Harry, "no."

Michael, "don't do it!"

Pettigrew's lids lift. Lupin and Black turn, staggered.

Lupin, "Michael, Harry, this man…."

Harry, "we know what he is. But we'll take him to the castle."

Pettigrew, "bless you, boy's! Bless you-"

Michael, "get off! We said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you…."

Pettigrew shivers in horror.

….

We see the group going back down the tunnel.

Remus, "so, how was it disguising yourself as a dog the whole time?"

Sirius, "well, the tail I can live with…. But the fleas…. They're murder."

Michael seems very intrigued by Sirius' ability to turn into a dog.

….

Soon the group emerges from the gap.

As Pettigrew emerges from the gap, he prattles desperately, "turn me into a maggot. A dung beetle. A Flobberworm! Anything but the Dementors…. Ron! Haven't I been a good friend? A good pet? You won't let them kill me, will you? I was your rat…."

As Ron draws back in disgust, a sleepwalking Snape bumps his head against a low limb. Hermione turns to Harry and Michael.

Hermione, "don't worry. He's under the Somnambulist Charm. It's primarily used to transport the seriously deranged."

As Harry and Michael nod, Pettigrew's pleading eyes find Hermione.

Pettigrew, "sweet girl. Clever girl. Surely you won't let them…."

Hermione tugs her robes from Pettigrew's sweaty grasp.

Harry and Michael turn to see Black staring in wonder at the castle, shining radiantly under the bright bowl of the night sky.

Sirius, "beautiful, isn't it? I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again. Freely. That was a noble thing you two did back there. He doesn't deserve it."

Harry studies Pettigrew briefly and looks away. Lost in thought.

Harry, "I don't reckon my father'd want his best friends to become killers for a worthless piece of vermin like Pettigrew."

Michael, "yeah. Besides: Dead, the truth dies with him. Alive…. You're free."

Sirius studies Michael and Harry's profile, moved by this.

Sirius, "I don't know if you know, boy's, but when you were born, James and Lily made me your guardian…."

Harry, "we know."

Michael, "we heard it awhile back."

Sirius, "and, well, I'll understand if you choose to stay with your aunt and uncle, but, so you know, you could-"

Harry, "come live with you?"

Michael, "when!?"

Sirius, "soon as my name's cleared…."

The brothers look at Hogwarts and grin. Sirius does the same.

Michael, "that ability…. Being an Animagus…. How does one learn that?"

Sirius looked at Michael and chuckled, saying, "just like your father and me. So eager to learn. Dumbledore helped us with that. I'm sure he'd help you if you ask."

Michael smiles, hoping to learn how to become an Animagus.

Then, Hermione's voice rises in the air, quavering with fear.

Hermione, "Harry…. Michael…."

They turn and see Hermione staring at the full moon. Lupin is a rigid silhouette, his fingers twitching.

Sirius, "Remus, old friend…. Did you take your potion tonight?"

Lupin, twitching, shakes his head. Pettigrew's eyes darted, taking in the situation, then slowly shifted, noting the wand trembling in Lupin's lengthening fist.

Sirius, "run. All of you. Now."

But none of them do, transfixed, watching as bristles poke through Lupin's skin. Black steps forward, wraps his arms around his friend and presses his mouth to his ear.

Sirius, "you know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh. This heart is where you truly live. This heart! Here!"

As Lupin's wand drops, Pettigrew leaps towards it.

Harry, "no!"

Michael, "Expelliarmus!"

Lupin's wand flies from Pettigrew's hand and he freezes. Then He slowly turns. Face blank, eyes closed, he grins hideously. He transforms, stunned. Harry and Michael watch the rat dart into the night.

A howl pierces the air and the kids all turn. With a shrug, Lupin tosses Black into the air, then turns. He is no longer human. He's a werewolf. Michael, Harry and Hermione begin to edge back.

Hermione, "Professor…?"

The werewolf's eyes blaze. Long teeth glitter. Then…. A horrifying growl erupts from its throat. Michael, Harry and Hermione spin, begin to flee…. And run flat into Snape.

As they collapse in a great clumsy pile, Snape's eyes flutter open, the spell broken. Seeing Hermione atop him, he sweeps her aside….

Snape, "out of the way!"

…. And finds the werewolf preparing to pounce. Leaping to his feet, Snape draws his wand and steps forward, shielding Hermione, Michael, Harry and Ron.

The werewolf howls, sprints forward, when….

SWOOSH!

A giant dog intercepts it in midair. They hit the ground in a fierce tangle of flashing teeth, a single horrible flailing beast. Again and again, the dog pushes the werewolf back, but the werewolf is too strong.

Harry, "Sirius!"

The dog yelps, roars in pain, and the werewolf flings it into the tall grass. As it charges after, Michael and Harry push past Snape, dashing into the night. Hermione tries to follow, but Snape holds her back.

Hermione, "Harry! Michael!"

Michasl and Harry run full out. Up ahead, framed against a full moon, they spy the dog, lying inert, the werewolf's razor-sharp claws suspended over its neck.

Harry, "NO!"

Desperately, Michael plucks a thick branch from the ground and hurls it with all his might. Bull's-eye. The werewolf freezes and turns. They begin to move toward Michael and Harry.

They draw their wands, terrified, but tormented as well, knowing Lupin dwells somewhere within the beast.

Harry, "please, Professor. Stop…. It's us."

Michael, "we know you're still in there!"

Suddenly…. A howl pierces the night. The werewolf falters, cocking its head toward the forest.

The brothers wait, petrified. The werewolf's eyes shift back to them. It snarls, moves closer, ready to kill. Harry covers his face with his arm as Michael pushes Harry behind him, when…. A second howl echoes high above the forest. Slowly, Harry drops his arm and looks with Michael. The werewolf bounds toward the forest and vanishes. Their eyes shift. In the darkness, the wounded dog lurches through the tall grass.

Falls. Rises. Falls again. Each time becoming more human. As he disappears over the ridge, the twins sprint after.

They stumble down to Black, who lies on the water's edge, now fully a man, arms and face gleaming with lacerations.

Harry, "Sirius!"

Michael, "please, no!"

They look into his glassy eyes.

Michael, "please, wake up!"

Harry, "Sirius!"

A fragile mist escapes their mouths. A raw wind tosses their hair. Chill-bumps pebble their skin. A fringe of ice appears at the lake's edge. Then they appear, oozing like smoke through the trees across the lake. Dementors.

Harry, "no…. No!"

Michael, "not these things again!"

They draw their wands and both yell, "Expecto…. Patronum!"

A thin silvery wisp weeps from their wands, hovering like a veil, but the Dementors continue to come. Harry places his hand on Black's heaving heart, and both boy's poise their wands once more:

Harry and Michael, "Expecto…. Patronum…."

Both of their Patronus' blooms briefly…. And die. Their eyes flutter, the Dementors twisting madly in their vision, drawing closer. Black gasps. Silvery feathers of light tumble from his lips, as if their very soul were leaving them….

Then…. A light splinters the trees. The twins squint and see a fiery stag and fox appear…. Their bodies are luminous…. Slashing through the trees…. Sowing light in the darkness. The Dementors wilt in their wake, but more replace them, sweeping down in waves. Still, the stag and fox charge on. The light expands. The forest is blazing with it. The remaining

Dementors flee, drifting across the moon like ash.

The light ebbs. The fox and stag's luminous body flickers.

There is a bright flash and darkness returns, a single thread of light all that remains, spinning down to the size of a pearl…. In the palm or two figures, standing deep in the trees. Harry and Michael study the strangely familiar silhouettes, then…. They are gone.

Silence drops like a curtain. Mist rises from the lake as Snape appears at the top of the rise….

….

Reviews:

Canadude2029: yep. A lot happened in this chapter.

Bailey Radcliff: thanks so much. Hope you're doing well.

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