𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝 {𝐇. 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫}

47

Johnny had never been part of a stranger group. Crookshanks and Quorra led the way down the stairs; Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron went next, looking like entrants in a six-legged race. Next came Professor Snape, drifting creepily along, his toes hitting each stair as they descended, held up by his own wand, which was being pointed at him by Sirius and Evelyn. Johnny, Jakob, Harry and Hermione brought up the rear.

Getting back into the tunnel was difficult. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron had to turn sideways to manage it; Lupin still had Pettigrew covered with his wand. Johnny could see them edging awkwardly along the tunnel in single file. Crookshanks and Quorra were still in the lead. Johnny went right after Sirius, who was still making Snape drift along ahead of them; he kept bumping his lolling head on the low ceiling. Johnny had the impression Sirius was making no effort to prevent this.

"You know what this means?" Jakob said abruptly to Johnny and Harry as they made their slow progress along the tunnel. "Turning Pettigrew in?"

"You're free," said Johnny and Harry in unison.

"Yes..." said Jakob. "But I'm also -- I don't know if anyone ever told you -- I'm your godfather, Harry."

"Yeah, I knew that," said Harry.

"Well... your parents appointed me your guardian," said Jakob stiffly. "If anything happened to them..."

"I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle," said Jakob. "But... well... think about it. Once my name's cleared... if you wanted a... a different home... you could come with your aunt and I, and Johnny of course, we can be a family."

"What -- live with you?" Harry said, accidentally cracking his head on a bit of rock protruding from the ceiling. "Leave the Dursleys?"

"Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to," said Jakob quickly. "I understand, I just thought I'd --"

"Are you insane?" said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Jakob's. "Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! When can I move in?"

Jakob and Evelyn turned right around to look at him.

"You want to?" Evelyn said excitedly. "You mean it?"

"Yeah, I mean it!" said Harry.

Jakob's gaunt face broke into the first true smile Johnny had seen upon it. The difference it made was startling, as though a person ten years younger were shining through the starved mask; for a moment, he was recognisable.

"And of course, Hermione," Jakob called to Hermione. "You're welcome to come around whenever you want!

"Thank you, Mr. Grindelwald!" Hermione called back, a wide smile on her face.

"Jakob, dear!" Jakob said, grinning teasingly at Johnny. "You're my son's girlfriend after all!"

They didn't speak again until they had reached the end of the tunnel. Crookshanks and Quorra darted up first; evidently pressing his paw to the knot on the trunk, because Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron clambered upward without any sound of savaging branches.

Sirius and Evelyn saw Snape up through the hole, then stood back for Jakob, Johnny, Harry and Hermione to pass. At last, all of them were out.

The grounds were very dark now; the only light came from the distant windows of the castle. Without a word, they set off. Pettigrew was still wheezing and occasionally whimpering. Johnny's mind was buzzing. He had nearly all his family. Harry was coming to live with them. He felt dazed...

"One wrong move, Peter," said Lupin threateningly ahead. His wand was still pointed sideways at Pettigrew's chest.

Silently they tramped through the grounds, the castle lights growing slowly larger. Snape was still drifting weirdly ahead of Sirius, his chin bumping on his chest. And then -