My mind had gone blank with shock. We stood transfixed in horror, the cloak forgotten. The rays of the sunset were casting an odd, red light over the shadowy grounds. A wild howling was heard from behind.

"Hagrid," Harry muttered. Without thinking about what he was doing, he made to turn back, but both Ron and Hermione seized his arms.

"We can't," said Ron, who was paper-white. "He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been to see him..."

Hermione's breathing was shallow and uneven. "How — could — they?" she choked. "How could they?"

"Come on," said Cole, whose teeth seemed to be chattering.

We set off back toward the castle, ducking under the cloak. We were walking slowly to keep ourselves hidden under the cloak. The light was fading fast now. By the time we reached open grounds, darkness was settling like a spell around us.

"Scabbers, keep still," Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. The rat was wriggling madly. Ron came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matter with you, You stupid rat? Stay still — OUCH! He bit me!"

"Ron, be quiet!" I whispered urgently. "Fudge will be out here in a minute —"

"He won't — stay — put —"

Scabbers was plainly terrified. He was writhing with all his might, trying to break free of Ron's grip.

"What's the matter with him?"

Harry gasped. Stalking towards us was Crookshanks, his eyes hungry.

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

But the cat was getting nearer —

"Scabbers — NO!"

Too late — the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers, hit the ground, and scampered awayRon had thrown the Invisibility Cloak off himself and pelted away into the darkness.

"Ron!" Hermione moaned, while I ducked from under the cloak, and picked Gennie up from where she'd slipped.

We looked at each other, before following at a sprint. It was impossible to run under the cloak—it flew out like a banner as we hurtled after Ron, his feet thundering along as he ran at Crookshanks.

I was running fastest, overtaking Cole and Harry in my haste. Ron was just ahead of me.

"Get away from him — get away — Scabbers, come here —" There was a loud thud. "Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat —"

Harry almost fell over Ron and me as he finally caught up. He was sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers was back in his pocket; he had both hands held tight over the quivering lump.

"Ron — come on back under the cloak —" Gennie panted, leaning against Cole. "Dumbledore — the Minister — they'll be coming back out in a minute —"

But before we could even catch our breath, something stalked towards us, as silent as a shadow—a pale eyed, jet black dog.

It was the one from Oxford park.

Harry reached for his wand, but too late — the dog had made an enormous leap and the front paws hit him on the chest.

Gennie shouted, and in a flush of fur and claw she was a wolf again, leaping at the dog, looking strikingly dangerous.

Ron was on his feet. The dog's jaws fastened around Ron's leg, and Gennie lunged forward, trying to tear the dog's skin. It threw her off as if she was a rag doll. Cole screamed as Gennie landed several feet away—but I ran after Ron instead.

Grabbing onto his out-stretched hand, I tried to drag him back, and I screamed as my arm dislocated, the dog now dragging the two of us away. I could hear Gennie howling but I couldn't see her, all I could see was Ron's terrified eyes.

The dog was dragging us towards the Whomping Willow. I had only seen it from a distance, but I knew the stories. I knew that Harry and Ron had crash-landed into it last year and almost died.

Branches were whipping around my head, and we both screamed, I pulled my free arm out, trying to protect us from the branches

I was going to be killed by a tree.

Ron seemed to try and seize a chance of escape, wrapping his free leg around a tree root. The dog was immanent of dragging us with him, and with a resounding crack, Ron was pulled down feet first. His ankle or leg must have been broken from the sound. I painfully fell backwards after Ron, my leg bent awkwardly as I tried to clench my legs above surface.

I swore loudly.

What was wrong with the dog? When you heard of dog's mauling people, it was over in a moment of teeth and claws. But this.... Seemed different. The dog seemed more in control, like it had a mind of its own.

"It's going to be okay Ron." I mumbled as we were dragged through an earthy tunnel. "We can overpower a dog, no problem."

A tiny shaft of light was coming into my vision. We had reached our destination. "Ron," I whispered. "We're in the shrieking shack."

It was a very dusty, disorganised room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded up.

The pressure came off my arm. The dog had released us. He nodded towards the stairs, as if he expected us to climb up there.

"Not bloody likely." Ron said adamantly from the floor. "You'll have to drag us."

With a tiny pop, the dog stood upright on two long legs, and now—we were laying in front of Sirius Black.

"Holy shit." I whispered. He was an animagus. Just like Gennie...

Black, with more strength than I expected, helped us to our feet. He led us up rickety stairs, and there was nothing we could do to get away.

Black led us into a room. There was a magnificent, dusty four-poster bed in the centre of the room. Black surprisingly gently pushed us onto the bed. "Wait here." Black said. "Don't try to escape, or there will be consequences."

Ron lifted his wand as Black started to move. "I wouldn't do that if I was you." Black said with a smirk, and he tugged it from Ron's hand.

Ron stared with fear and disbelief. Black disappeared, and shut the door behind him.

"Ron," I whispered.

"What?" Ron said, sounding equally as frightened.

"I met him before." I told him quietly. "Before I knew I was a witch. He was a dog. I talked to him... I told him my secrets..."

"You weren't to know, okay, Rory?" Ron said quietly. "Listen, the guys have probably gone to get Dumbeldore or something. We'll be out of here soon."

I went to open my mouth, but then Crookshanks walked into the room, bottle brush tail held high. The door shut behind him with a creak. He jumped onto the bed, and began to purr.

"I hope they come soon, I've done something to my ankle." I whispered, rubbing at the swollen skin.

Out of nowhere, the door was kicked in. Ron and I looked up in surprise. Cole, Harry and Hermione were in the room. But where was Gennie?

"Are you two alright?" Harry asked feverishly, coming to our sides.

"Where's Gennie?" I enquired to Cole.

"She went to get her dad, don't worry." Cole said.

"Where's the dog?" Hermione asked.

"Not a dog." Ron moaned, his teeth gritted with pain. "It's a trap."

"What--" Harry trailed off, looking scared.

"He's an animagus Harry, just like Gennie--"

The door clicked shut again, Sirius Black staring right at us. He looked like a corpse, waxy skin stretched over his bony face.

"Expelliarmus!" he croaked, pointing Ron's wand at them.

Our wands shot from pockets and hands, and he put them all into his pocket. He stepped closer, eyes fixed on Harry.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend and sister," he said hoarsely. His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using it. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful..."

The taunt about his father rang in my ears. I tried to get to my feet, anger channelling my thoughts. I didn't want to hit him, I wanted to attack him....

Harry started forward, but Hermione grabbed his arms. "No, Harry!" Hermione said in a petrified whisper.

Ron stood to his feet shakily. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" he said fiercely, though the effort of standing upright was draining him of colour.

"Lie down," he said quietly to Ron. "You will damage that leg even more."

"Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully to Harry to stay upright. "You'll have to kill all five of us!"

"There'll be only one murder here tonight," said Black, and his grin widened.

"Why's that?" I spat, trying to wrench myself free of Cole's hand trying to keep my down on the bed. "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?"

"Rory!" Hermione whimpered. "Please be quiet!"

"HE KILLED OUR MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared, and with a huge effort he broke free of Hermione's and Ron's restraint and lunged forward —

Black didn't raise the wands in time — one of Harry's hands fastened over his wasted wrist, they rolled together, hitting the wall. Everybody was screaming, and Black's free hand found Harry's throat. "No," he hissed, "I've waited too long —"

The fingers tightened, Harry choked, his glasses askew. I crawled across the floor and kicked Black hard in the stomach, forcing him to release Harry.

Cole threw himself onto Black, punching and kicking him with force, wands scattering across the floor. Black was struggling as Cole continued to lay blows on him, hitting Cole back with surprisingly less force. With one last amazing punch, Cole rolled off Black, picking up our wands.

Cole had scratches all over his face, a lump on his head and eye—and was limping, but there was a deep and dark anger in his eyes that proved that yes, he did willingly attack his brother in Durmstrang.

Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His thin chest rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walking slowly nearer, his wand pointing straight at Black's heart.

"Going to kill me, Harry?" he whispered.

Harry stopped right above him, his wand still pointing at Black's chest, looking down at him.

"You killed our parents," said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand quite steady

Black stared up at him out of those sunken eyes. "I don't deny it," he said very quietly. "But if you knew the whole story."

"The whole story?" I laughed shakily. "You sold them to Voldemort. That's all we need to know."

"You've got to listen to me," Black said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice now. "You'll regret it if you don't... You don't understand..."

"I understand a lot better than you think," Harry said coldly "You're the reason they're dead! You're the reason Rory had her memories wiped and was sent away from me!"

Something ginger streaked past Harry; Crookshanks leapt onto Black's chest and settled himself there, right over Black's heart.

"Get off," he murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off him. But Crookshanks sank his claws into Black's robes and wouldn't shift.

Harry raised the wand. He was going to do it. He was going to avenge our parents.

And then came a new sound —

Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor — someone was moving downstairs.

"WE'RE UP HERE!" Cole screamed suddenly. "WE'RE UP HERE — SIRIUS BLACK — QUICK!"

My heart leapt. Gennie was here with help. Black made a startled movement as the door burst open and Remus appeared, Gennie in low. He pointed his wand at Black, looking shocked.

"Expelliarmus!" Remus shouted.

Harry's wand flew once more out of his hand; so did all the others. Remus caught them, still staring at Black.

"Good job Dad." Gennie said proudly. "You alright guys?"

"Where is he, Sirius?"

Gennie's smile dropped, and my insides turned cold. What was Remus talking about? Black had no expression, pointing his hand at Ron.

"But then..." Remus muttered, staring at Black so intently it seemed he was trying to read his mind, "... why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless---"

Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Remus' face, Black nodded.

"Dad," Gennie interrupted loudly, "what's going on —?"

But she never finished the question, because what happened next made my voice die in my throat. Remus lowered his wand, helped Black up and embraced him.

. Gennie looked quite sick.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed.

Remus let go of Black and turned to her. She had raised herself off the floor and was pointing at Remus. "You — you —"

"Hermione —"

"– you and him!"

"Hermione, calm down —"

"I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. "I've been covering up for you, so have Cole and Rory—"

"Hermione, listen to me, please" Remus shouted. "I can explain —"

Gennie was shaking. "Dad....." she trailed off. "You told me you hated him, that you wanted him dead for all he'd done to Harry and Rory's family. Was that a lie? Were you his friend all along?"

"You're wrong," said Remus. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now — Let me explain..."

"NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too — he's a werewolf!"

There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were now on Remus who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale. Gennie looked close to tears, her secret finally out to Harry and Ron.

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione," he said. "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." An odd shiver passed over his face. "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

Ron made a valiant effort to get up again but fell back with a whimper of pain. Remus made toward him, looking concerned, but Ron gasped, "Get away from me, werewolf!"

"How long have you known?" Remus asked Hermione.

"Ages," Hermione whispered. "Since I did Professor Snape's essay...I told Cole after Christmas..."

"He'll be delighted," said Remus coolly. "He assigned that essay hoping someone would realize what my symptoms meant... You're the cleverest witch of your age I've ever met, Hermione."

"I'm not," Hermione whispered. "If I'd been a bit cleverer, I'd have told everyone what you are!"

"But they already know," said Lupin. "At least, the staff does. Gennie told Aurora when we met her."

"Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf," Ron gasped. "Is he mad?"

"Some of the staff thought so," said Lupin. "He had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy —"

"AND HE WAS WRONG!" Harry yelled. "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THE TIME!"

Ron edged away from both of them, dragging his leg.

"I have not been helping Sirius," said Remus. "If you'll give me a chance, I'll explain. Look —" He separated our wands and threw each back to its owner; Harry caught his, stunned.

"There," said Remus, "You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?"

"If you haven't been helping him," I said, with a furious glance at Black, "how did you know he was here?"

"The map," said Lupin. "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it, when Genesis came in saying a dog dragged you down here —"

"You know how to work it?" Harry said suspiciously.

"Of course I know how to work it," said Remus waving his hand impatiently. "I helped write it. I'm Moony — that was my friends' nickname for me at school."

"You wrote it? I've met my hero!" Cole said, his mouth open in awe, swaying slightly. I suspected any concussion he had was setting in.

"You might have been wearing your father's old cloak, Harry—"

"How d'you know about the cloak?"

"The number of times I saw James disappearing under it..." said Remus, waving an impatient hand again. "The point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak, you still show up on the Marauder's Map. I watched you all, and you were accompanied out of Hagrid's with somebody else.

"What?" said Gennie. "No, we weren't!"

"I couldn't believe my eyes," said Remus still pacing, and ignoring his daughter's interruption. "I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?"

"No one was with us!" I burst out.

"And then I saw another dot, moving fast toward you, labelled Sirius Black... I saw him collide with Ronald and see Aurora try and pull him; I watched as Sirius pulled three of you into the Whomping Willow —"

"Two of us!" Ron said angrily.

"No, Ron," said Lupin. "Three of you."

He had stopped his pacing, his eyes moving over Ron. "Do you think I could have a look at the rat?" he said evenly.

"What?" said Ron. "What's Scabbers got to do with it?"

"Everything," said Lupin. "Could I see him, please?"

Ron hesitated, then put a hand inside his robes. Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately. "What?" Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking scared. "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

"That's not a rat," croaked Sirius Black suddenly.

"What d'you mean — of course he's a rat —"

"No, he's not," said Lupin quietly. "He's a wizard."

"An Animagus," said Black, "by the name of Peter Pettigrew."

"God, this is a soap drama now." Cole muttered. "All we need is the dramatic music...."

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