Athena Potter 🎞

Chapter 19: Friends become Foes

As Pettigrew emerges from the gap, he prattles desperately:

Everyone sneers at the rat

Pettigrew: Turn me into a maggot. A dung beetle. A Flobberworm! Anything but the Dementors...[as Ron emerges] Ron! Haven't I been a good friend? A good pet? You won't let them kill me, will you? I was your rat...

"Get the fuck away from him" growled Arthur, everyone turned and looked at the angry Arthur. Never seeing him this way before.

As Ron draws back in disgust, a sleepwalking Snape BUMPS his head against a low limb. Hermione turns to Athena.

Hermione: Don't worry. He's under the Somnambulist Charm. It's primarily used to transport the seriously deranged.
Athena: [Shrugging] I wasn't worried in the first place

Everyone laughs whilst Snape glares at the girl.

Pettigrew's pleading eyes find Hermione.

Pettigrew: Sweet girl. Clever girl. Surely you won't let them...

Hermione tugs her robes from Pettigrew's sweaty grasp. Athena turns, sees Black staring in wonder at the castle, shining radiantly under the bright bowl of the night sky.

Sirius Black: Beautiful, isn't it? I'll never forget the first time I walked through those doors. It'll be nice to do it again. Freely [turning to Athena] That was a noble thing you did back there. He doesn't deserve it.

Athena studies Pettigrew briefly, looks away. Lost in thought.

Athena: I don't reckon my father'd want his best friends to become killers for a worthless piece of vermin like Pettigrew. Besides: Dead, the truth dies with him. Alive...you're free.

James nodded at Athena's statement. He wouldn't want his brothers to become killers.

Sirius studies Athena's profile, moved by this.

Sirius Black: I don't know if you know, Athena, but when you were born, James and Lily made me your guardian...
Athena: I know
Sirius Black: And, well, I'll understand if you choose to stay with your aunt and uncle, but, so you know, you could --
Athena: [enthusiastically] Come live with you? When!

Mia and Monty chuckle fondly at the girl.

Sirius Black: [Chuckles] Soon as my name's cleared...

Athena looks at Hogwarts. GRINS. Sirius does the same. Then, Hermione's voice rises on the air, quavering with fear.

Hermione: Athena...

"What now!?"

She turns, see Hermione staring at the FULL MOON. Her eyes shift. Lupin is a rigid silhouette, his fingers twitching.

Sirius Black: Remus, dear... did you take your potion tonight?

Lupin, twitching, SHAKES HIS HEAD. Pettigrew's eyes dart, taking in the situation, then slowly shift, note the WAND trembling in LUPIN'S LENGTHENING FIST.

Sirius Black: Run. All of you. Now.

"Do as he says and run" pleaded Remus.

But none of them do, transfixed, watching as BRISTLES POKE THROUGH LUPIN'S SKIN. Black steps forward, wraps his arms around his husband, presses his mouth to his ear.

Sirius Black: You know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh [Pounds his chest] This heart is where you truly live. This heart! Here!