▌𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐓𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐒𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 ━︎━︎ 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐰 ▌

━︎━︎━︎━︎𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐃𝐒 𝐎𝐅 Ron's screams echoed from the hole. Hermione and Harry stood up, joining Juniper who was staring at the moving limbs of the tree. They ran towards the tree, determined to get to Ron. The tree threw it's limbs at them, trying to keep them away. They were so close to the hole when a limb came flying towards them. Hermione and Juniper ducked but Harry stood there and the tree limb came towards him, hitting him aside and knocking his glasses off. Hermione and Juniper stood back up, quickly jumping over another limb. Before Juniper could react another limb came flying and hit Hermione but she grabbed onto it, swinging around with the tree.

     "Hermione!" Juniper yelled her name before letting out a yelp of surprise when the tree limb came flying towards her. Clenching her jaw, Juniper reluctantly let it hit her but grabbed onto it so she could stay on the limb. Her stomach ached with the pain of impact, but she brushed it off. there was going to be a bruise there for sure. Hermione was letting out screams and Juniper was just trying to protect her face whilst Harry kept getting attacked. Hermione yelled his name, making the boy look up blindly.

He grabbed his glasses, standing up. The limb Hermione was on came towards him and she reached out, grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him with her. Hermione threw him into the hole and then jumped off and went flying in herself. Juniper muttered curses under her breath before jumping from the limb and sliding into the hole. She landed with a grunt, her head slamming onto the ground. A groan left her lips as she felt her vision blur. Harry and Hermione quickly rushed over to her, pulling the girl up from the ground.

     "Why does everything keep trying to kill us?" Juniper ranted. "First a teacher, then a giant snake and diary, and now a tree. A tree!"

     "You done?" Hermione asked. Juniper nodded. She sighed, brushing dirt from Juniper's shoulders. They were in a tunnel, a long dark tunnel. "Where do you suppose this goes?"

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

     Juniper looked at him expectantly. "Care to elaborate?" Harry and Hermione kept walking. "No? Alright. That's cool. I'll just figure it out myself." Juniper stepped forwards, almost tripping on a step. "Who puts steps in a tunnel?" She continued to complain to herself before they found an open hatch. Harry went in first.

     He climbed out from the hatch, pulling Hermione up and then Juniper. They were in a shack, a very dilapidated one. Hermione sighed. "We're in the shrieking shack, aren't we?"

     Juniper's eyes suddenly brightened. "Really?" She looked around, letting out a low whistle. "Place looks like shit."

     "What were you expecting? Polished furniture?" Hermione remarked.

     "You know, this attitude of yours. . ."

     "Save it for later." Harry interrupted the banter. "Come on." Harry started up the stairs and Hermione looked at Juniper before grabbing her hand and following after Harry. They made it to the top of the steps and the sound of Ron yelling could be heard. "Ron!" He ran into the room, Ron sitting on an old mattress holding Scabbers in his hand.

     "Ron, you're okay!" Hermione ran towards him.

     "Thank fuck, I thought you died."

     "June!" Hermione looked at her with wide eyes.

      "What?" Juniper threw her hands up. "It's a relative assumption!"

     "The dog, where is it?" Harry asked.

     Ron shook his head, eyes wide in fear. "Harry, it's a trap!" He pointed towards the door. "He's the dog! He's an Animagus!"

     Slowly they turned, looking at the paw prints that were placed in the dust that covered the floor. Slowly, they lead to the door where they could see a person standing. The door closed and Juniper stumbled backwards in surprise. Hermione grabbed onto her, holding her steady. Sirius Black stood there in front of them, still in his clothes from Azkaban. Hermione quickly pushed Juniper behind her, taking a stand in front of Harry. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us, too!"

     "No." Sirius Black spoke, his voice somehow soft and rough at the same time. "Only one will die tonight."

     "Then it'll be you!" Harry yelled, pushing away from Hermione and running towards Sirius. He placed his hands around Sirius's throat, pulling him down to the ground. Hermione immediately backed up, keeping Juniper behind her.

The girl was completely frozen in shock. Usually she'd find a way to make light of the situation, or even attempt to help, but she couldn't move. Every muscle in her body was locked up tight, for a moment she forgot how to breathe. That was her father. Her father was standing right there. Juniper didn't know what to do. She didn't know how to react. She wished that Remus were here to comfort her. She didn't realize her wish would come true, just not in the way she expected.

     Harry pointed his wand at Sirius and the man laughed. "Are you going to kill me, Harry?"

     Suddenly the door slammed open and Remus stepped in. "Expelliarmus!" He yelled, disarming Harry. Harry looked at him and Remus nodded his head, silently telling him to get off. Remus walked towards Sirius. "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, still laying flat on his back.

     Remus lowered his wand and a small smile formed on his face as he leaned down and helped Sirius up. And then the two hugged. Juniper didn't think she could go into more shock, but here she was, mouth agape, staring between her father and Uncle. She was going mad. "I found him!" Sirius said. "He's here!"

     "I understand," Remus nodded.

     "Let's kill him."

     "No!" Hermione yelled in disbelief. "I trusted you. And all this time you've been his friend!"

     "You trusted him?" Juniper asked, looking at Hermione with bewilderment. "He's my Uncle for Merlin's sake! How do you think I feel right now?" Juniper stumbled back, suddenly dizzy. "I need to sit down."

      "He's a werewolf!" Hermione told them, pointing at Remus. "That's why he's been missing classes."

     Juniper looked at Hermione like she was insane. "I think I'd know if my Uncle was a werewolf."

     "She's right Juniper," Remus sighed. "How long have you known?"

     "Seriously?!" Juniper cried, frustrated tears pooling in her eyes. She sat down on the mattress beside of Ron, placing her head in her hands. "So much is happening right now."

     "Since Professor Snape sent the essay," Hermione answered.

     "Well, well, well, Hermione. You really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met. Besides Juniper, of course."

     Juniper narrowed her eyes. "That really bruises my ego, you know?"

     Sirius rolled his eyes, getting agitated. "Enough talk, Remus! Come on, let's kill him!"

     "Wait!" Remus urged.

     "I did my waiting!" Sirius snapped, the silence suddenly very loud. "Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!" He looked close to crying and Juniper slowly stood back up, looking at him. For a moment, Sirius looked at her. He really looked at her. He realized how much she looked like his wife. How much she looked like him.

     Remus looked at Harry before looking back at Sirius. "Very well." He handed Sirius Harry's wand. "Kill him. But wait one more minute. Harry has the right to know why, so does Juniper."

     "I know why!" Harry scoffed. "You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead."

     "No, Harry, it wasn't him." Remus denied.

     "What do you mean it wasn't him?" Juniper asked, completely confused. Her head was a jumbled mess right now and she just wanted to be back home, safe, with her mother and her dog.

     "Somebody did betray your parents, but it was somebody, who until quite recently, I believed was dead."

     "Who was it, then?" Harry challenged.

     "Peter Pettigrew!" Sirius answered. "And he's in this room! Right now!"

     Juniper looked around, seeing no one but them. "What is he? A ghost?"

     "He's here." Sirius promised her. "Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!"

     Suddenly Snape appeared from nowhere. "Expelliarmus!" The wand went flying from Sirius's hand.

     "Am I the only one who's extremely overwhelmed and confused?" Juniper asked, looking at her friends.

     "Ah, vengeance is sweet." Snape said, looking at Sirius. "How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

     "Severus," Remus tried but Snape pointed his wand at him.

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

     "Brilliant, Snape." Sirius complimented. "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." He'd gotten closer to Snape until Snape pressed his wand against Sirius's throat.

     Juniper took a step forwards but both Hermione and Harry held her back. "Give me a reason." Snape dared. "I beg you."

     "Severus, don't be a fool. He can't help it. It's habit by now." Remus shook his head. "Sirius, be quiet."

     "Oh, quiet yourself, Remus!" Sirius snapped.

     "Oh, listen to you two, quarreling like an old married couple."

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

     Snape jabbed the wand harder into his neck. "I could do it, you know. But why deny the dementors? They're so longing to see you." He looked at Sirius. "Do I detect a flicker of fear? Oh, yes. A dementors kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like to endure. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

     "Severus, please." Remus begged. Harry leaned an arm around Hermione, carefully pulling her wand from her pocket.

     "After you." Snape said as Harry walked forwards, nodding his head towards the door.

     Harry raised his wand, pointing it at Sirius before quickly moving his wand to point it at Snape. "Expelliarmus!" He sent Snape flying across the room, crashing into the old bed that lingered in the far corner.

     "Harry, what did you just do?" Ron asked, sounding as confused as Juniper felt.

     "You attacked a teacher." Hermione looked at him with disbelief and worry.

     "I'm so so confused right now." Juniper shook her head.

     "Tell me about Peter Pettigrew." This time he pointed Hermione's wand back at Sirius.

     "He was at school with us." Remus explained as Harry pointed his wand at him. "We thought he was our friend."

     "No. Pettigrew's dead." He pointed the wand back at Sirius. "You killed him!"

     Remus stepped 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 informed. "Pettigrew's alive. And he's right there." Sirius pointed at Ron.

     Ron pointed to himself. "Me? He's mental!"

     Sirius scoffed. "No, not you! Your rat!"

     "Scabbers has been in my family for―︎"

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

     "So what?!"

     "All they could find of Pettigrew was his―︎"

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

     "Show me." Harry demanded.

Sirius went to take the rat from ron but Ron fought back before Harry told him to give it to him. Ron yelled for his rat as Sirius took it, Hermione holding onto him as Ron begged Sirius to leave the rat alone. Sirius placed Scabbers on the piano. Scabbers went running as both Remus and Sirius tried to use a spell to transform him back. Just before he could run through a hole in the wall, Sirius got him and suddenly Scabbers became a person.

     Juniper swallowed thickly. "And the plot thickens."

     Sirius and Remus pulled Peter from the hole, shoving him back. Peter looked at the two adults. "Remus? Sirius? My old friends!" He went running but Sirius and Remus caught him, pushing him back again. Peter looked around before seeing Harry. "Harry, look at you." He approached Harry. "You look so much like your father, like James. We were the best of friends he and I."

     Sirius ran forwards, angry. "How dare you speak to Harry!" Juniper quickly ran up and joined Harry's side, grabbing his hand and standing slightly in front of him. Peter ran and Sirius followed. "How dare you talk about James in front of him!"

     "You sold James and Lily out to Voldemort, didn't you?" Remus asked, pointing his wand at Peter.

     Peter cried, "I didn't mean to! 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!" Sirius yelled. "I would have died rather than betray my friends!"

     Peter crawled under the piano, heading for the door. Juniper and Harry quickly blocked his path. He grabbed onto Harry. "Harry, James wouldn't have wanted me killed. Your dad would have spared me. He would have showed me mercy!"

     "Get off of him, you rat." Juniper growled, shoving him backwards into Remus and Sirius's arms.

     "You should have realized, Peter, that if Voldemort didn't kill you, then we would, together." Sirius and Remus both pointed their wands as Peter.

     "No!" Harry and Juniper both yelled.

     "Harry, Juniper, this man is. . ."

     "We know what he is." Harry cut Remus off. "But we'll take him to the castle." He stalked closer to Peter.

     "Oh, bless you, boy!" Peter fell on his knees in thanks. "Bless you!"

     "Get off!" Harry snapped, stepping back so that his hands would fall to the floor. "I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the dementors can have you." He let out a whimper.

     Sirius and Harry helped Ron down the steps and out of the tunnel with Hermione and Juniper following behind. Juniper was quiet, too uncharacteristically quiet for Hermione's liking. She looked over the girl, telling that she was in deep thought. She grabbed Juniper's hand, bringing her back to reality. "Are you alright?"

     Juniper stopped. "Am I alright?" Juniper shook her head. "No, Hermione, I'm not alright. I'm so. . . confused. Conflicted." She glanced in the direction Harry, Ron, and Sirius had went before looking at Hermione. "I don't think he recognized me."

     "Well, at least you know you were right." Hermione offered. "That should give you some peace of mind."

     "It should, you're right." Juniper nodded. "But it means nothing if he doesn't remember who I am." Juniper could feel the tears in her eyes and she looked away from Hermione, pushing the tears back.

     "It's going to be alright, Juniper." She placed a hand on Juniper's shoulder. "I promise." Juniper managed a small smile before they continued their way out.

The two girls made their way out, Ron sitting on a rock with Harry at his side. Sirius stood off a little ways, staring at the castle. Juniper looked at him and Hermione nudged her slightly. She turned to look at the girl before glancing towards Harry who nodded for her to go. Juniper swallowed before nodding her head. Hesitantly, she made her way towards him.

     "It's beautiful, isn't it?" Sirius asked before she could even say anything.

     Juniper managed a small smile as she came to stand beside him. She nodded. "It is. Very beautiful." Juniper hesitated. "Do you. . . do you know who I am?"

     "No," Sirius answered. Juniper deflated. Sirius looked at her. "I know your name, but I don't know you."

     "Oh." Juniper whispered. "Alright." She went to walk away but he gently grabbed her wrist, stopping her. Juniper looked at him and was surprised to find tears in his eyes.

     "Want to know what I do know?" Sirius asked. Juniper slowly nodded. "I know that you are the best thing that I have ever accomplished." Juniper looked at him in surprise, tears of her own pooling in her eyes. "I'm sorry I couldn't be here to watch you grow."

     "You remember me?" Juniper asked, her voice cracking.

     "Of course, I do." Sirius nodded. He kneeled down, looking at her. "You are the one thing I do remember. My daughter." He pressed a hand against her cheek, looking at her. "How could I ever forget you? You have a lot of your mother in you, but there's a little bit of me sprinkled in there too. How is she? Your mother?"

     "She misses you," Juniper admitted. "You're all she ever talks about."

     "Good things, I hope."

     "The best things." Juniper nodded.

     "I know I wasn't there before, but I am here now, if you'll let me." Sirius promised her. "And when you need me, I'll come. Always."

     Juniper sniffled, laughing a teary laugh. She nodded her head. "I'd like that." She threw her arms around him and he was surprised to say the least but nonetheless he hugged her back. Holding her in his arms again was something he'd always dreamed of. Having his daughter back, his little girl, his little star, that's all Sirius Black could ever ask for. He held her tight, never wanting to let her go. He made a promise to himself, he wasn't going to leave her again. He didn't care if the whole world was after him, he would be there for her when she needed him. He would burn the world down if that's what it took to get to her. No one was going to harm her ever again.

     Slowly, she pulled away from him. "Did you know it was me? Back in the castle?"

     "No, but an instinct told me that I should."

     "Is it true?" Juniper asked. "Harry?"

     "He's my god-son." Sirius nodded. He looked at Harry who seemed to be waiting to approach. "Your god-brother."

     "You should tell him," Juniper suggested. "He should know he's got more family out there."

     Sirius stood up. "Why haven't you told him?"

     "Just in case an occasion like this popped up." Juniper answered. She gave her father one more hug. "I always believed they were wrong, you know." She pulled away. "I love you, dad."

     Sirius pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "I love you more, little star."