The Forgotten Prophecy [Book 2]

XXIX. Reunion

...
'Welcome to my world of fun.
Liars settle into sockets.
Flip the switch and watch them run.'
...

        Harry, Ron and Hermione stare at Professor Lupin as he explains the truth, unsure if they can still trust him. "There are witnesses who saw Peter die," Harry tells Professor Lupin. "Everyone believed Sirius had killed Peter. I did so too, until I saw him on the Marauders Map tonight... The map never lies. Peter is alive, Harry. Ron is holding him," Professor Lupin says, staring at the rat Ron holds. Ron faces Harry and they lock eyes. "He's mental." "They're making no sense." I shake my head. They still don't believe him. Hermione clears her throat. "But Professor Lupin, it can't be true.. People would have known if Peter was an Animagus. We learned about them in Transfiguration class. I was looking them up and I saw that the Ministry of Magic kept tabs on everyone who can turn into animals.. There's only seven registered Animagi and Peter's name isn't there. So--" Professor Lupin laughs. "Right again, Hermione! But the Ministry never knew of the three unregistered  Animagi that ran around Hogwarts." 

Sirius groans impatiently. "If you're going to tell them the story, get on with it.. I waited twelve years for this moment.. I'm not waiting much longer." Professor Lupin nods. "Right.. Well, it started because of my condition. You see, I was bite by a werewolf as a young boy. My parents tried everything, but couldn't cure me. There was nothing they could do. Luckily for me now, the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered. Professor Snape makes it for me. It helps me keep control of my mind on the nights of the full moon. I can curl up in my office as a werewolf but without the urge to kill-- completely harmless.. But that wasn't always the case. Before the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, I became a fully fledged monster on those nights. I was so scared to come to Hogwarts.. What would the other students' parents think? Would I even be allowed to study here? Luckily for me, Professor Dumbledore became headmaster. He assured me that as long as we took certain precautions, there was no reason I couldn't come to school." 

Professor Lupin looks around the old room. "The Whomping Willow was planted the year I came to Hogwarts.. It was planted for me. This house, the tunnel that leads to it, it was built for my use. Once a month during the full moon, I would come down here and transform. The screams and noises people claim to hear were mine. Those nights were terrible. I often hurt myself during the transformation since I was all alone. Anyways, Dumbledore encouraged the rumors. People believed spirits lived in this house. No one ever dared to enter here, so I was safe. But apart from my transformations, Hogwarts was the place where I met three amazing friends. Lifelong friends who I would do anything for." Professor Lupin turns to look at Sirius. "Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and of course, James Potter," he says, looking at Harry. "They didn't notice at first, but eventually they found out about my condition. To my surprise, they didn't desert me. Instead they became Animagi." 

"My father too?" Harry asks in awe. Professor Lupin nods. "Yes. You see, James and Sirius were the cleverest boys at Hogwarts. If it wasn't for them, I don't think they would have succeeded with the Animagus transformation. It's a very dangerous process. It took a lot of time. Finally, in our fifth year, they mastered it. The three of them became Animagi to help me." "How did that help you?" Hermione asks him. "Werewolves are a danger to humans. So the three of them kept me company as animals. Being with them helped me mentally. Even though I turned into a werewolf, I didn't feel so murderous with them." Sirius crosses his arms, still glaring at Scabbers. "Hurry up, Remus," he growls. 

"I am, Sirius.. Anyways, as animals we explored the castle. I doubt any other student has explored Hogwarts or Hogsmeade as much as we have. That's how we came up with the idea for the Marauders Map. We signed it with our nicknames," Professor Lupin says, pointing to themselves. "Professor Lupin is Moony. Sirius is Padfoot. Your father, Harry, was Prongs. And Peter Pettigrew is Wormtail," I say, adding to the story. They all turn to me. Ohhh, I shouldn't have said that. "How do you know?" Hermione asks me. "Uh, I-" "She already knows this story," Professor Lupin says quickly. "I see you confided all our secrets with a teenager," Sirius teases Lupin. "I didn't tell her anything," Professor Lupin whispers to him. Sirius raises an eyebrow and smirks as he looks at me. Before he could speak, Hermione does. "That was very dangerous! You shouldn't have explored Hogwarts as a werewolf! You could have attacked someone!"