RUNNING WITH WOLVES remus lupin

O25. 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐍𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐎𝐍 𝐏𝐓. 𝐓𝐖𝐎

𝐓 𝐖 𝐄 𝐍 𝐓 𝐘 - 𝐅 𝐈 𝐕 𝐄

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"NO ONE WAS WITH US!" said Harry, growing irritated at being ignored, and how Remus, according to him, anyway, wasn't explaining anything, just spouting out an explanation that, to him, made no sense, at least, so far. "And then I saw another dot, moving fast towards you, labeled Sirius Black… I saw him collide with you, I watched as he pulled two of you into the Whomping Willow– "

Okay, now he's just rambling. Elodie thought to herself. 

This time, as Remus was actually getting somewhere, he was intercepted in his explanation by Ron as he retorted angrily, "One of us!"

Remus stopped for a moment, both in his explanation and his pacing, to emphasize gently, turning to gaze at Ron as he said, "No, Ron, two of you."

"Do you think I could have a look at the rat?" Remus then asked calmly. At this, Sirius perked up a little and raised his head from his hand, watching the proceedings warily, but mostly kept his gaze on Ron.

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

"Everything," replied Remus, then asked politely, "Could I see him, please?"

Ron hesitated and then put a hand inside his robes, where he had, at some point, placed his rat. Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately; Ron had to seize his long bald tail to stop him escaping. Crookshanks stood up on Sirius' lap, making a soft hissing sound. 

Remus moved closer to the rat, looking at it carefully. He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed at Scabbers intently. 

"What?" Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking scared. "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

Where Sirius had previously let Remus do all the talking, he couldn't help but respond this time before Remus could, "That's not a rat." Elodie's eyebrows jumped up in confusion. What does he mean by that?

"What d'you mean... of course, he's a rat– " 

"No, he's not," said Remus quietly. Sirius quickly, with all the subtlety he possessed, glanced in Remus' direction for a moment, as he had all but said that he now believed me. He had implied something of the sort previously, but that was without the proof. Somehow, this weighed more, even though I was grateful to him for believing me, without actually seeing Pettigrew– the map didn't really count, after all. "He's a wizard."

Sirius finished what Remus was going to say, "An Animagus, by the name of Peter Pettigrew."

There were a few moments of heavy silence.

Then Ron bluntly blurted out, in a matter-of-fact tone, "You're both mental." Harry looked as if he agreed. Though she never thinks badly of Remus, it's like she can't. She's starting to agree as well. She's known the Weasley's for a long time. Fred and George Weasley are her best friends. And they've had scabbers for a long time.

Hermione voiced her agreement with her friends, her voice faint, "Ridiculous!"

"Peter Pettigrew's dead! He -" Harry pointed at Sirius, and I shook in anger at the thought of how that rat had gotten the better of me, of how he had framed me. "killed him twelve years ago!"