YOU'VE BRAINWASHED HER.

THE QUARTET'S MOURNING OF THE HIPOGRIFF WAS INTERUPTED by Ron exclaiming in pain. He looked down at his bleeding finger in shock as Scabbers fell to the ground.

"He bit me," he said in disbelief. They watched as the rat scurried off. "Scabbers!"

"Ron? Ron!" Hermione shouted as he ran after the rodent.

"Ron, we have to get back," Ivy called as the three of them chased after him.

Harry yelled for him to wait, but Ron kept going. They ran across the grounds until Ron finally caught up to his pet. Ron seemed to pay no mind to his surroundings, but Ivy, Harry, and Hermione knew to stop.

"Harry, you do realize what tree this is?" Hermione asked nervously. Ron was cradling Scabbers as he took a seat on the grass.

"That's not good," Harry muttered.

"Ron! Ron!" Ivy shouted, trying to get his attention.

And she did get his attention. But the horrified expression on his face wasn't from the Whomping Willow. Instead, he pointed behind them with a shaking finger.

"Harry, Hermione, Ivy! Run! It's the Grim!"

They quickly spun, and Ivy relaxed, spotting the dog that Ron had never actually met face to face. "Ron, that's just Snuffles—"

Ivy cut herself off when she noticed the stance of her beloved dog. He was standing at his full height and looked deadly, growling lowly. Ivy had only ever been scared of the dog once, the year before when he had violently attacked Chase, and he had a similar look in his eyes now.

Then, snarling harshly, Snuffles bolted forward, jumping over Harry, Hermione, and Ivy completely as he headed straight for Ron. His jaw clamped down on Ron's leg and began to drag the terrified boy towards the Whomping Willow, calling for help. The others chased after them.

Harry dived and his hand brushed Ron's for only a second before Snuffles dragged the boy down a dark, concealed tunnel that ran under through the roots of the tree.

"Ron!" Ivy called, stepping towards the hole.

However, before they could follow, a branch came out of nowhere and knocked them off their feet. Ivy groaned, wondering if she had broken a rib as they all got to their feet. The Whomping Willow had woken up, swinging its branches wildly to protect the area. But they could still hear Ron's screams fading in the distance.

"We have to get him," Ivy said, taking the lead. She had never been so confused, wondering what had changed to cause Snuffles to be so violent. For a moment, she thought perhaps he had been attacked by something or even had contracted rabies. Whatever the case, she was on a mission to save both Ron and Snuffles. "Careful with the branches."

As they approached the tree, it threw down a great branch. "Move!" Harry ordered, and the three jumped apart.

As soon as they got to their feet, another branch came swinging. Hermione and Ivy ducked in time, but not Harry, who was knocked down. The onslaught of attacks grew quicker, and before any of them could wrap their heads around everything, Hermione was screaming while being flung through the air, Harry was rolling around without his glasses trying to not get crushed, and Ivy had a branch wrapped around her, waving her around.

Harry crawled across the ground, searching for his glasses as both girls called for his help. As he put them on, the branch holding Ivy smashed into his back. He fell back over but managed to keep his glasses. Then Ivy was released, roughly thrown into the base of the tree, knocking the wind out of her.

Then Hermione flew past and grabbed the front of Harry's shirt. As the branch slung around with both of them, she released him just as they passed the entrance of the tree. Once Harry disappeared inside, Ivy crawled over and followed him inside. A moment later, Hermione flew in, tumbling to the ground roughly and landing on the both of them,

"Oh, I'm sorry," Hermione mumbled, rolling off of them.

"Yeah, 'cause it's totally your fault that tree just beat us up," Ivy managed to say, getting to her feet. Then she helped Harry stand.

"Where do you suppose this goes?" Hermione asked.

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

"It goes to the Shrieking Shack," Ivy told them. "Stay behind me."

"But—"

"You're thirteen, HJ," Ivy interrupted, giving him a firm look. "I don't know what is wrong with Snuffles to make him act like that or what condition Ron is in. But he won't hurt me."

Hermione didn't point out that feral animals often didn't remember their owners and he could still attack Ivy. They let the older girl lead them through the lengthy tunnel. They walked for some time — just as long as the walk to Hogsmeade is.

By the time they reached the end of the tunnel, a long time had passed. Ivy climbed through the entrance into the Shrieking Shack before helping the others through.

"How'd you know we're in the Shrieking Shack?" Hermione asked quietly, watching Ivy. She stayed silent, knowing she couldn't reveal that this was where Professor Lupin came during the full moon.

"C'mon," Harry said, nudging Ivy forward.

They went up a set of stairs, following the sound of Ron's painful groans. They rounded the corner and entered a dusty, ancient-looking room. Ron was in the corner, leaning against the wall. The three of them ran over as soon as they saw him, and his moaning ceased.

"Ron!" Hermione said, relieved he was still alive. "You're okay."

"Snuffles, where is he?" Ivy asked. "I can't believe he—"

"Harry! It's a trap!" Ron said quickly, pointing behind them. "He's the dog. He's an Animagus!"

Slowly, the three of them turned and spotted the muddy paw prints that painted the rotting floor. They led to the very door they had entered through, which was then slammed shut.

Ivy felt her stomach drop when she saw not her dog, but a man.

He looked nightmarish, but perhaps not as bad as he'd look if a sweet little Hufflepuff girl had been feeding and caring for him for a year. It was why the robes meant for prisoners of Azkaban didn't hang off his body which had looked much more skeletal in his mugshot. His long, dark hair would have been matted if she hadn't constantly brushed her hands through the fur. Perhaps his striking gray eyes, which were trained on Ron, would have lost their life if she hadn't been keeping him company each day.

She was frozen in place as she faced not her dog, but Sirius Black.

Ivy may not have had the bravery of a Gryffindor, but she still stepped protectively in front of the thirteen-year-olds. "I - If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too," she declared, finally managing to find her voice.

Sirius's eyes drifted from Ron — or rather, his rat — and his eyes almost softened. "I'm not going to hurt you, Sweetheart." His deep voice, which was surprisingly warm for someone who had been locked up for twelve years, sent a small shiver down Ivy's spine, and she convinced herself it was fear. "No, only one will die tonight."

"Then it'll be you!" Harry shouted angrily. He shoved past Ivy and Hermione, who tried to grab him, and launched at Sirius. Wrapping his hands around the criminal's throat, Harry wrestled him to the ground, pinning him down and holding his wand to his neck.

Sirius only chuckled, sounding a bit mad. "Are you going to kill me, Harry?"

Before Harry could respond, the door burst open and Remus ran in. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted, immediately disarming Harry. Relief shot through everyone at the sight of the Professor. He gestured for Harry to get up with his wand, and he complied. Once he was to his feet, Ivy and Hermione both pulled him to stand behind them.

"Well, well, Sirius, looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within. Though, truly, I thought you'd look worse."

They didn't know how they expected Sirius to react at being caught, but they certainly didn't think he'd laugh gleefully. "Well, you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?"

And they certainly didn't expect for Remus to lower his wand and smile at the man. Then he offered Sirius a hand up. As the two embraced, the students looked on in disbelief. While Ivy was suddenly questioning all that she knew about the situation, Hermione was jumping to conclusions about Remus's involvement.

"I found him," they heard Sirius whisper excitedly.

"I know," Remus told him.

"He's here!"

"I understand."

"Let's kill him!"

"NO!" Hermione shouted, surging forward. She was glaring at Remus. "I trusted you, and all this time, y - you've been his friend. He's a—"

"Mione," Ivy hissed, not wanting her to let out his secret just because Sirius Black was there. "Don't—"

"He's a Werewolf," she revealed to the others, ignoring Ivy's pleading. "That's why he's been missing classes."

"How long have you known?" Remus asked, eying her carefully. "Or did Miss Arora tell you?"

"Since Professor Snape set the essay," Hermione told him.

"Well, well, well, Hermione. That's almost as quick as it took Ivy. You really are one of the brightest witches of your age I've ever met," he complimented, though it wasn't the time for such things.

Sirius seemed to think so as well. "Enough talk, Remus!"

"Wait—"

"I did my waiting!" Sirius roared, the anger and frustration and sadness clear in his voice. "Twelve years of it in Azkaban!"

Remus sighed heavily before looking back at the trembling students. After a moment, he held out his wand which Sirius happily snatched. "Very well. Kill him, but wait one more minute. Harry has the right to know why.

"I know why!" Harry snapped. "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 somebody who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead," Remus told him.

"Who was it then?" Harry asked angrily. He didn't believe a word out of either of their mouths.

"Peter Pettigrew," Ivy whispered, earning the attention of everyone in the room. But her wide eyes were fixed on the floor as she thought it all out. Then she looked to Remus. "I'm not the first Animagus to offer to help you on the full moon. Moony, Padfoot, Prongs. Wormtail. He's really alive."

"You've brainwashed her," Ron mumbled. "Ivy's been feeding you, and you've repaid her by making her go mad.

"That's my bright girl," Sirius said, ignoring Ron's ranting and holding out his arms, grinning. "Peter Pettigrew, and he's in this room. Right now! Come out, come out, Peter!"

"Expelliarmus!" Suddenly, Professor Snape burst into the room, disarming Sirius. They all turned to look at him, shocked by his arrival. "Ah, vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

Remus stepped forward to try and explain. "Severus, it's—"

"I told Dumbledore that you were helping an old friend into the castle, and now here's the proof."

"Brilliant, Snape," Sirius sneered. "Once again, you put your keen and penetrating mind to the task, and as usual, come to the wrong conclusion. Now, if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to."

Snape thrust his wand to Sirius's neck, earning a sharp gasp from him. Remus carefully stepped forward, ready to intervene.

"Give me a reason. I beg you," Snape drawled.

"Severus, don't be a fool," Remus told him.

"He can't help it. It's habit by now," Sirius couldn't help but tease in a mean tone.

"Sirius, be quiet!" Remus snapped.

"Oh, quiet yourself, Remus!"

"Oh, listen to you two, quarreling like an old married couple," Snape said, ready to end the situation.

"Why don't you run along and go play with your chemistry set—"

Snape responded by pushing his wand into his neck even harder. "I could do it, you know. But why deny those Dementors? They're so longing to see you. Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh yes. A Dementor's kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure. It's said to be unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

"Severus, please," Remus said.

As the three adults bickered, Harry inched closer to Ivy. She never had drawn her wand, even upon learning that Snuffles had been Sirius Black the whole time. He slipped his hand under her sweater to grab her wand he knew she kept secure in the waistband of her skirt.

"After you," Snape said. Then he looked at the students and nodded his head to the door, signaling for them to leave.

Harry stepped forward first, raising Ivy's wand. At first, it was pointed at Sirius, but he moved it quickly to Snape, shouting, "Expelliarmus," forcefully. Snape was blown back into the bed across the room, it breaking from the force. He was knocked out from the sheer power of the blow.

"Harry, what did you just do?" Ron asked in disbelief. Sure, they'd all imagined doing something like that to the worst Professor at Hogwarts, but they'd never dare carry it out.

"You attacked a teacher!" Hermione exclaimed, horrified.

"Tell me about Peter Pettigrew!" Harry insisted, pointing the wand at both Remus and Sirius.

"He was at school with us," Remus told him quickly. "We thought he was our friend."

"No. Pettigrew's dead," Harry stated, remembering the story he had overheard. He looked to Sirius. "You killed him."

Remus stepped protectively in front of Sirius. "No, he didn't. I thought so, too, until you mentioned seeing Pettigrew on the Map."

"The Map was lying then."

"The Map never lies!" Sirius snapped. "Pettigrew is alive and he's right there."

Sirius pointed to Ron, or rather the rat in his hands, but the boy didn't pick up on it. "Me? He's mental! I—"

"Not you, Ronald," Ivy said, watching him carefully. She was worried about what the rat would do.

"Ivy, you're not yourself," Ron told her, shaking his head. "You know Scabbers has been in my family for—"

"Twelve years? A curiously long life for a common garden rat," Sirius noted, stepping closer to him. "He's missing a toe, isn't he?"

"So what?" Ron asked, not seeing the point.

Harry slowly came to the correct realization. "All they could find of Pettigrew was his fi—"

"Finger!" Sirius shouted eccentrically. "The dirty coward cut it off so that everyone would think he was dead. And then he transformed into a rat."

"Show me," Harry ordered. Ron whimpered as Sirius moved towards him, forcing Scabbers out of his hand. "Give him to him, Ron."

"What are you trying to do to him?" Ron asked in a worried tone. "Scabbers! Leave him alone! Get off him!"

Ron's pleas did nothing to stop Sirius from crossing the room. Remus had grabbed his wand and pointed it at the screeching rat that Sirius was holding up. Suddenly, Scabbers weaseled his way out of Sirius's grip, who dropped him on the piano. He and Remus both cast spells at the retreating rat, trying to force him to reveal himself.

Just before he could disappear through a small hole in the wall, one of them hit him. Suddenly, the ragged rat transformed into a human. He turned into Peter Pettigrew.

Together, Remus and Sirius dragged him back into the room and threw him to the center. Ron looked at the man just as shocked as Ivy was to learn what Snuffles really was. Pettigrew cowered away for a second before his eyes landed on Remus.

"Remus?" he said in a hopeful and innocent tone. "Is - is this Sirius? My old friends!"

Then he suddenly bolted for the door, but the men easily caught him. Pettigrew spun in a circle before his panicked eyes landed on Harry, who took a step back. "Harry, look at you. You look so much like your father, like James. We were the best of friends, he and I—"

"How dare you speak to Harry!" Sirius angrily roared, getting in between the two and pointing his wand threateningly at Pettigrew. "How dare you talk about James in front of him!"

He tried to run again, but Remus and Sirius cornered him behind the piano. "You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?!" Remus accused, searching for a confession to what they already knew.

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

"I would have died! I would have died rather than betray my friends!"

Pettigrew crawled under the piano and ran to the door, but Harry blocked him. He grabbed him by the shoulders and whispered pleadingly. "Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed. You dad - your dad would have spared me. He would have shown me mercy!"

Remus quickly pulled him off the boy. "You should have realized, Peter, that if Voldemort didn't kill you then we would," Sirius threatened. "Together."

"No!" Harry shouted suddenly.

"You can't," Ivy said, stepping forward.

Remus froze but did not take his eyes off Pettigrew. "Harry, Ivy, this man is—"

"We know what he is," he assured him.

"You have to take him to the castle," Ivy told them, keeping her eyes on Remus. It was hard to look at Sirius. "If you kill him, you both go to Azkaban. Bring him back alive, then you have proof that Sirius is innocent. He can be free."

Because she wasn't looking at him, Ivy missed the caring look on Sirius's face. After everything, she was still thinking about his well-being.

"She's right. No killing him," Harry said, nodding to Ivy.

"Oh, bless you," Pettigrew said, falling to his knees. He reached for Harry, but he quickly kicked him back.

"Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you," Harry said, glaring at the man.

If Pettigrew wasn't terrified yet, he was now. His body shook with sobs as his eyes flicked around the room, searching for a way out. He looked at Ivy and scrambled forward.

"Sweet Hufflepuff. Clever girl, surely you won't—"

Sirius roared angrily as soon as Pettigrew dared to grab at Ivy's skirt. "Get your filthy hands off her!" he shouted, harshly pulling Pettigrew back and throwing him to the floor. Harry grabbed Ivy's hand and pulled her away as Sirius angrily pressed his wand to Pettigrew's throat. "Touch her again, and the Dementors will seem like a dream compared to me."