The Potter Timeline
Chapter 58 - The Traitor and the Trap
A large, wolf-like dog with shaggy black hair slowly stepped forward, its dark eyes staring unflinchingly at the teenagers.
At first, Harry was stunned by the fearsome-looking beast. But then it hit him: this dog looked exactly like the one he saw staring at him and Hermione in Diagon and Knockturn Alleys. In fact, he had a sneaking suspicion it was the same dog.
"Don't be alarmed," Lupin said to the teens with an outstretched hand, "he won't harm you."
The professor then looked down at the dog standing beside him.
"Isn't that right?" he asked the canine.
The dog looked up at him and nodded. It then resumed gazing at them. They were both astonished.
The dog understood English?
"Well, perhaps you should join us properly, then," the professor continued, "I'm sure Harry has more questions for you than for me...Sirius."
Harry and Hermione were stunned as they gazed wide-eyed at Lupin then back at the dog.
The beast crouched down. Closing its eyes, it shuddered slightly before its body began altering, its messy charcoal-colored hair smoothing out, its back rising as it stood on its hind legs. Then, the body expanded, its front and rear legs thickening and its paws changing into...human hands. Its head now morphed into a human shape until finally, those dark eyes, that dark beard, and unkempt hair became familiar - just like the picture Harry and Hermione saw in The Daily Prophet.
Sirius Black indeed!
But he no longer wore the tattered prisoner's clothes from the image in the paper. Black seemed a bit more cleaned up, though the brown tweed jacket, gray shirt, and beige slacks he wore were worn and a bit overlarge for the man, as though he'd procured them from a rubbish heap.
The thin, ragged-looking man now blinked a few times as though waking from sleep. Then, his eyes fixed on Harry. A burst of emotion appeared in his expression as if seeing a friend he had thought long dead. Black let out an involuntarily cry and rushed forward, wrapping his arms around Harry tightly. Harry was taken aback and didn't quite know how to respond.
After a few moments, Sirius released him and stood back, placing both hands on Harry's shoulders, staring at the teen.
"Harry! Damn, it does me good to see you!" he uttered brokenly with emotion, "my, my! Look at you! All grown! He's a spitting image of James, don't you think, Remus?"
Remus smiled.
"Indeed. I thought the exact same thing when I first saw him."
An expression both relieved and yet worried came over the escaped convict.
"How are you, Harry? How are things going for you?" he asked desperately.
Harry, still stunned by all this, gazed hesitantly at the wizard.
"I'm...good. Everything's good...Sirius," he uttered.
Glancing at Hermione, he saw a confused look on her face. Black went on.
"I'm so glad to hear it. I've waited a very long time for this day, you know."
The wizard now glanced at Hermione and let go of Harry. The girl's face showed uncertainty as she stared back at him while pushing a swath of hair behind her ear. Sirius then looked at Remus.
"Is this her? Is this the Granger girl?" he asked.
"Yes," Remus said with a nod.
Harry and Hermione exchanged puzzled looks. How did Black know about her? Harry took her hand and she stepped closer to him.
"This is Hermione," Harry told him, "my best friend. My...girlfriend."
A huge grin appeared on Black's face. He took Hermione's free hand in both of his.
"Glad to make your acquaintance, young lady. Just looking at you I can see Harry has a good head on his shoulders when it comes to picking friends."
Hermione's cheeks burned slightly as she smiled back at him. Remus stepped closer.
"In case you two were wondering, about a month back I was at the house where I've spent my isolation for these many years when a certain escaped convict showed up at my door. Naturally, I had doubts as to what my old friend was up to. But when he explained what happened to him and the news he brought, I thought it best I should come out of hiding and take action."
"So, you answered Professor Dumbledore's query about the DADA post," Harry said.
Remus nodded.
"Yes, Harry. And when you hear what Sirius has to say, I think you'll understand why I felt it imperative I be installed at Hogwarts if at all possible. And I'm sure you're both curious as to how Sirius escaped Azkaban and more importantly, why he's here."
Harry looked at his godfather.
"Yes. We were told you were coming after me, that you were intending to finish the job Voldemort couldn't. But I confess, I had my doubts." he told the man with a questioning look.
Sirius smiled at him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Smart lad," he said, "I have come for you, Harry, but not to kill you. I've come to...warn you - warn you both, in fact."
The teenagers were astonished.
"Warn us of what?" Harry asked.
Black's face took on a very serious expression.
"Of a plot, a plot to...kidnap and possibly...kill you."
Hermione squeezed Harry's hand. He glanced at her to find a worried expression. This was stunning news.
"By whom?" Harry asked the wizard.
Sirius paused, as though he couldn't quite remember, his eyes darting back and forth frantically.
From the beginning of this meeting with his godfather, Harry could see the wizard was disturbed and incredibly nervous. No doubt all that time in Azkaban had taken its toll on him. He still seemed intact mentally, however, and his words were coherent and sound. But his manner was jittery and unnerving.
"Tell them what you told me, Sirius," Lupin said to prompt the man, "tell them what you saw in Azkaban."
Black's eyes suddenly lit up.
"Yes! In...Azkaban!" he muttered as the memory seemed to return.
The wizard began pacing the room, rubbing his hands together, mumbling to himself as though attempting to piece something together. He then turned to look at the teenagers
"It was...last Spring. Word got 'round in Azkaban of a famous prisoner arriving - one...Lucius Malfoy!" he uttered with disgust.
Hermione and Harry exchanged looks again. Black continued.
"I had to see it for myself, of course. I had to see it to believe it. So, I escaped from my cell to see if the rumors were true. And if true, to find out why he of all people would wind up in that...hell hole."
Remus smiled and stepped next to Black.
"Harry, Hermione, as you no doubt noticed, Sirius is an animagus," Lupin said before turning to his friend, "you might explain to them how you were able to get out of your cell, and ultimately escape the prison."
Black looked at Lupin and nodded.
"Yes, my old friend. Indeed."
He stepped closer to the teenagers.
"The Dementors prey on human emotions, in particular their bad experiences and feelings. It's how they keep the prisoners in their cells and keep them tormented day and night. The Dementors cannot see like we do because they have no eyes. But they can sense us and sense our state of mind. But because I can change into a dog, I discovered I could trick them."
"How?" Hermione asked.
"A dog doesn't think like we do. Its brain operates in a different fashion, its emotions are lower, more...base than a human's. Thus, when I took my canine form in my cell, the Dementors had a hard time sensing my whereabouts...or simply thought I was going mad like the rest of the prisoners. I think that ability helped keep me from going mad, in fact..."
Sirius seemed to stare off at nothing in deep thought. But he snapped out of it.
"Anyway, I began escaping from my cell on a regular basis. I spied on the other prisoners from time to time...even on our old enemies, Remus."
"The Deatheaters," Lupin said.
Black nodded.
"Yes, including my dear cousin...Bella!" he uttered with disgust.
He seemed lost for a moment, but then returned to the subject at hand.
"But when I learned about Malfoy, I went and found him in his cell. You wouldn't believe what I saw!"
The man began pacing again and turned around, shaking his hands in front of him.
"He dwells in Azkaban like a king! His cell is the largest I've seen in the place. He has fancy furniture, a fireplace, and even one of his house elves attending him."
Harry and Hermione glanced at each other.
"Dobby!" he uttered to her. She nodded back.
"That's why he couldn't appear!" she said.
Sirius obliviously continued, not knowing who Dobby was, apparently.
"The Dementors don't go anywhere near the foul man, mind you, and I'd bet anything someone in the Ministry has seen to that! Night after night I've watched him eating his four course meals with a fine glass of wine. Sitting by the fire, reading The Prophet like he was at his own manor house instead of prison. And he receives visitors too."
"What visitors?" Harry asked.
"Some familiar faces," he said while looking at Remus, "Fenrir, Yaxley, and several others of You-Know-Who's old guard who managed to escape conviction. He even received a visit from Fudge after our magnimous minister visited me in my cell."
Black seemed lost in thought again as he stared off into nothing.
"Tell them what you learned, Sirius," Remus again prompted him and the wizard came to.
"Ah, yes!" he said while walking around again, "it was hard to make out everything Lucius and his slimy friends discussed. But it became clear that he was afraid of something, some dread attended every visit as though his 'guest' would deliver some piece of bad news. But from what I heard, it seems he and them are still in contact with...the spirit of You-Know-Who."
Harry's eyes lit up.
"That's right! Last year, I experienced several nightmares or visions because of the soul shard in my scar. I heard Malfoy talking with the spirit of Voldemort, I believe. And in one of them, Voldemort scolded Malfoy for endangering his Horcruxes. His snake, Nagini, then bit the man."
Remus and Sirius both looked at one another slack-jawed.
"So, our suspicions were correct, Sirius," Remus said.
Black nodded then looked at Harry.
"Thats what Lucius and his pals were discussing then. But I also heard them planning something. Some trap involving the pair of you. Whatever else they may have said, I don't know. But I distinctly heard the words 'Potter' and 'Granger'. Apparently, the two of you got on You-Know-Who's radar in a bad way, as the muggles are fond of saying. He wants you eliminated. That's the main reason I escaped, to find you both, and warn you."
Harry and Hermione threw worried looks at the man, gripping each others hand tighter. But then, Hermione remembered something.
"During the summer, when I was with my parents on holiday in Italy, I kept seeing a man who appeared to be following and watching us. I wasn't sure if I was imagining it or not. But it sounds like my initial hunch was correct."
Black and Lupin gazed at the girl.
"Can you describe what he looked like?" Remus asked her.
"Well, I happened to take a photograph of him. I can show you."
Remus nodded.
"Very well. That would be a start. But in the meantime, both of you need to be cautious."
He then threw them a questioning gaze.
"Do the third-years still get visiting privileges for Hogsmeade?" he asked.
"Yes," Harry replied.
Remus nodded again.
"I see. Well, it's possible this 'trap' Sirius is talking about could take place there. As long as you are at Hogwarts, it's highly unlikely they'd attempt something, though not entirely beyond the realm of possibility. Therefore, at the least, I would urge you both not to visit the village or leave the school for any reason until this can be investigated further and the danger removed."
They both nodded.
"Apparently, the circumstances have become grave enough, and Voldemort's spirit desperate enough that he needs to get the two of you out of his way, permanently. But rest assured, Sirius and I will not let that happen if we can possibly help it."
"That's right," Black said with a nod, placing a hands on Harry's shoulder in reassurance, "I let my godson down once before, but never again. I swore to James and Lily I'd protect their son to my dying breath and I fully intend to keep my vow."
The teens smiled back at him.
Remus stepped beside the three.
"But there's another reason you escaped as well, Sirius. Perhaps you should tell them what you saw during your meeting with Fudge."
Suddenly, Sirius's eyes became like fire and an enraged expression took over.
"Right, Remus! That's when I saw it! That's when I knew!"
This image of Sirius Black with a supreme look of vengeance was frightening, to say the least.
"You saw...what?" Harry asked hesitantly.
Black stared hard at Harry.
"Mine and Remus' old friend...PETER PETTIGREW!" he shouted.
Harry and Hermione were stunned by the man and his sudden, fearsome behavior.
"Peter Pettigrew? But Professor Dumbledore told us he died in the explosion the night of my parents' murders," Harry said.
"That's what we thought too, Harry," Lupin replied while stepping toward him and producing something from his pocket, "until Minister Fudge showed Sirius this."
He handed Harry a torn-out page from The Daily Prophet. Front and center was a moving photograph of...the Weasleys! Very curious now, Hermione leaned in to gaze at it with him. Arthur, Molly, their six sons, and Ginny were smiling and waving at the picture-taker, each of them wearing Middle-eastern garb, by the looks of it. Indeed, they appeared to be standing in the sand and in the distance behind them was an enormous pyramid.
Above this image was a headline.
Ministry of Magic Employee Scoops Grand Prize
Harry read the article below the image out loud.
"Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, 'We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank.' The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend."
Harry looked up at the two men.
"So...what does this have to do with Peter Pettigrew?" he inquired.
"He's there, Harry!" Black shot out, "he's right there!"
The wizard poked a finger at the moving image of the Weasleys so hard, Harry though he would tear it. He stared at the man with a furrowed brow and for a moment wondered if his godfather was actually insane.
"But I...don't see anyone but the Weasleys," he said hesitantly.
"The rat, Harry," Remus intervened, "see the rat?"
Harry looked at the image closer and saw it. It was Ron's rat, Scabbers. The one the redhead was holding when he entered the Great Hall at the start-of-term banquet. The one he mentioned in McGonagall's class too. In the photograph, Ron held the mangy-looking creature out with two hands while beaming back at the camera.
"That's Peter?" the teen asked.
"Yes, Harry. He's an animagus, like Sirius, like your father was," Remus told him.
Harry shot a surprised look at him.
"My dad was an animagus?" he asked pointedly.
"Oh, yes," Sirius told him, a bit more relaxed now, "we all were, with the exception of Remus, of course. As a werewolf, he has no choice in the matter. But James, Peter, and I each became an animagus voluntarily so our cursed friend here wouldn't be alone. And Peter ironically took the form of a rat, of all things, something which would foreshadow his treacherous future, his treacherous deed against your parents."
"But how do you know this is in fact Peter?" Harry asked the two.
"I'd recognize that fiend in his animagus form anywhere, Harry!" Black uttered with that fierce look again, "I spent enough time with him, you know."
"And we wager that if it is indeed Peter," Lupin said with a slightly uncertain look at Sirius, "he'll be missing a toe."
"Exactly!" Black uttered.
Hermione, her eyes wide, put a hand on Harry's shoulder.
"Harry, Professor Dumbledore said all that was left of Pettigrew was a finger, remember?" she said.
Remus and Sirius both nodded at this. Harry understood now and looked at Black.
"So...Peter was the one who blew up the street, and faked his own death in the process?"
Sirius' face became downcast and he slowly walked a few steps away in thought before turning and facing Harry again.
"Yes, Harry. When word got 'round the Order that something had happened at Godric's Hollow, I flew there as fast as I could. When I arrived on the scene, who should I find exiting your parents' cottage in a damn hurry but that loathsome slime of a man we once called our friend. And by the look on his pudgy face I knew what he'd done...that he betrayed your parents...and you! We quarreled and he tried denying what he did. But realizing it was futile, that coward blew everything up with a wand behind his back. The blast knocked me unconscious and threw me several meters away. When I came to, Peter was gone and those muggles...those...poor muggles were..."
Sirius broke down and placed his face in his hands, sobbing. The other three were silent. Hermione took Harry's hand again. Harry appreciated this, seeing the broken man before them and feeling his pain. This was no servant of Voldemort, no cold-blooded killer out to avenge the death of his supposed master. This was a contrite, noble soul who had simply made a mistake and had lived for twelve years with the guilt of it.
Finally, Sirius stared back at Harry.
"It was my fault, I'm sorry to say. My error in judgment. I should have known. I should have known Peter would be capable of such betrayal. He was always the weakest one, you know. No doubt the Dark Lord put tremendous pressure on him to do the dirty deed. And that coward didn't have the courage to stand up to him."
Black now walked over and placed a hand on Harry's shoulder again, a sorrowful look on his face.
"While I told you I had waited a long time for this day, a long time to finally see my godson, I've also been dreading it. I've dreaded that he...wouldn't forgive me for being so...careless, for trusting that traitorous fiend."
Harry let go of Hermione and placed a hand on his godfather's shoulder, giving him a reassuring smile.
"I don't hold it against you, Sirius. I know you meant well. And there was nothing you could do to stop what happened. I'm sorry about that. But I'm really glad to know that my parents, and me, had such good...friends."
Sirius let out a burst of emotion and smiled at him, a few tears falling down his face as he placed on hand on Harry's arm and squeezed it. And with that, the man's countenance brightened and relaxed as though a tremendous weight he'd been burdened with for twelve solid years was finally lifted. Remus stepped over to the three again.
"And now that we've cleared that up," he said respectfully, but firmly, "the question is what to do about Peter."
Black looked at him with a determined expression, anger reappearing.
"Right, my friend. What to do about...Peter," he muttered, going off into his own world for a moment.
"He needs to be captured and held accountable for what he did all those years ago," Lupin continued.
"And punished!" Black added with furious look.
Remus nodded.
"Yes, Sirius, and punished. The question is how to go about it."
Harry thought for a moment and looked at the two of them.
"We should let Professor Dumbledore know about all this. He can help."
Sirius and Remus exchanged concerned looks.
"I don't know about that, Harry," Remus said, "the three of us are already in trouble as it is, helping to...conceal a wanted 'criminal'. Would Dumbledore willingly implicate himself in it as well?"
Harry gave them a firm look.
"I believe he would, professor. When he discussed what happened at Godric's Hollow with Hermione and me, he expressed his own doubts about Sirius's guilt. If he hears what you've told us, Sirius, and knows that Peter Pettigrew is alive and is here at Hogwarts, I believe he'll be willing to aid us - to get the truth out."
"And if Peter can be made to confess to what happened," Hermione added, "we're sure the headmaster, as Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot, would be willing to open up a real trial for you and have you cleared of blame. He did so for Hagrid last year, which is why he's a full-fledged wizard once more."
Sirius and Remus both looked at one another wide-eyed. Black now threw Harry and Hermione both a wide grin full of emotion.
"Indeed! To be...cleared of blame and see Peter punished! I like that idea very much!" he exclaimed.
But Remus grimaced.
"However, there's another problem," he said, "Sirius, Peter, and James were all unregistered animagi. There could be consequences for Sirius when that fact is made public. And I dread the fallout too. I must confess to feeling guilty myself all these years."
"For what?" Harry asked.
"For concealing the fact of my friends' transformative abilities from Professor Dumbledore. And the four of us using our abilities to wreak mischief on the school and our fellow pupils. After all he's done for me, I fear facing the man about it. That's perhaps cowardly of me, but there it is."
Harry chuckled.
"Dumbledore told Hermione and me our first year that he's aware of everything that happens at Hogwarts and even considers it his responsibility. I'd be willing to bet he's known all along about Sirius, Peter, and my dad's transformative abilities and just never said anything. I'm sure he'd be willing to forgive you, professor."
Remus smiled and nodded.
"Perhaps you're right, Harry. And perhaps it's time I got over my cowardice and tell Dumbledore the truth. If it means seeing justice done for Sirius and seeing Peter in Azkaban, I'll be glad to risk getting sacked from my post...or worse."
"Me too," Sirius added, "letting the world know what Peter did and making sure he pays for his crimes is more important than personal concerns. I'm willing to risk it, if it means avenging James, Lily, and you, my dear boy."
He placed a firm hand on Harry's shoulder again and smiled.
"And Dumbledore also needs to know about the plot against these two, Sirius. If anyone has the resources and ability to stop it, he certainly can," Lupin said.
"Right," Black replied with a smile at the teenagers, "I'll risk my life for that as well."
Harry and Hermione smiled at one another and took each others hand again. Remus continued.
"Now, I know you both told me you're not exactly friends with Ronald Weasley. But does he know you well enough to draw you into his confidence, so we might be able to apprehend his rat?"
The teenagers looked at one another.
"I don't know, professor," Harry answered, "we...kind of had an 'incident' with him our first year, and though he's been amiable since, I'm not sure he would buy it if Hermione and me suddenly expressed interest in being friends with him."
"I see. And since he's in Hufflepuff, it makes it even more difficult. If he was in Gryffindor it would be a different matter."
"I could try to break into Hufflepuff, Remus, in my dog form, and drag the foul fiend out myself," Sirius suggested.
"Perhaps you didn't know, Sirius," Hermione said, "after the fire incident with Ginny Weasley in our dorm last year, Professor Dumbledore had password entry measures put on every dorm room in the castle. Even if you made it into the Hufflepuff common room, or even if Harry or I made it in with his invisibility cloak, we couldn't get into Ron's dorm room without him or his dorm mates uttering the password."
"And I highly doubt Ron would let the rat anywhere outside of his dorm at present," Harry added.
"Why is that?" Lupin asked.
"He sounded spooked over something Professor Trelawney predicted about his rat disappearing without a trace," Harry replied, "if I had to guess, I'd say he has it locked up tight and out of harm's way."
"That's clever, really!" Black uttered with a mad look in his eyes.
"Well, perhaps the headmaster will have an idea, or at the very least, can enter Weasley's dorm himself, if necessary," Remus stated.
But an idea suddenly struck Harry.
"Hang on!" he exclaimed while looking at Hermione, "Fred and George!"
Hermione beamed back at him and nodded. Harry went on.
"If anyone could sneak into the Hufflepuff dorms Ron's older brothers could. And perhaps they could just simply get Ron to let them in too."
"Not a bad idea, Harry," Remus stated, "you should speak with them then, see what ideas they might have to apprehend Peter. In the meantime, I'll talk with Professor Dumbledore and ask him to meet us all here tomorrow morning at say, ten o'clock? And be sure to bring the photo you spoke of, Hermione."
"Yes, professor," she replied.
Remus continued.
"Then, depending on the headmaster's response, we'll see what's what. Agreed?"
"Agreed," Harry and Hermione replied together. Lupin continued.
"In the meantime, stay low and remain here, Sirius. If anyone catches wind of your presence at Hogwarts, this could all be in vain."
"Of course, Remus. I'll stay put like a good dog and be patient," Black said with a smile at Harry and Hermione.
The teenagers chuckled. Sirius continued.
"I've waited twelve years for this, after all. What's another couple of days? But you don't mind if I clean up the place, do you? You've left it in a bit of a mess."
Harry and Hermione laughed, Remus following suit.
"Of course, my old friend, of course."