History

XLVII. THE FULL MOON

chapter forty-seven; the prisoner of azkaban

1994

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Zoe had never been part of a stranger group. 

Crookshanks 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. Harry, Zoe 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. Harry could see them edging awkwardly along the tunnel in single file. Crookshanks was still in the lead. Harry went right after Black, who was still making Snape drift along ahead of them. He kept bumping his lolling head on the low ceiling. Zoe had the impression Black was making no effort to prevent this.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as Zoe looked at her.

"It's all just a bit much," Zoe said, "and I can't even imagine how it must be for Harry. Are you okay?"

"I'm alright," Hermione said, "slightly shaken up."

Zoe nodded, looked back at Harry then back to the front. 

"The way Harry defended you," Hermione added, "you can't tell me that boy isn't head over heels for you." Zoe went pink as she shook her head slightly. 

"Shut up," she said as Hermione chuckled.

They did not speak again until they had reached the end of the tunnel.

Crookshanks darted up first. He had evidently pressed his paw to the knot on the trunk, because Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron clambered upward without any sound of savaging branches. Black saw Snape up through the hole, then stood back for Harry, Zoe 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

"Are you alright?" Zoe asked, walking next to Harry. She crossed her arms over her chest as Harry looked at her.

"I'm leaving the Dursleys," he said as Zoe furrowed her eyebrows. 

"Pardon?" she asked. 

"Sirius," Harry said, "I'm moving in with him."

"Harry, that's amazing!" Zoe said, chuckling lightly. "When are you moving in with him?"

"I'm not sure yet," Harry said as Zoe beamed. 

"I'm so happy for you," she said smiling as Harry smiled at her.

"One wrong move, Peter," said Lupin threateningly. The two teens turned around. 

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 Black, his chin bumping on his chest. And then, a cloud shifted. There were suddenly dim shadows on the ground. 

Their party was bathed in moonlight. 

Snape collided with Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron, who had stopped abruptly. Black froze. He flung out one arm to make Harry and Hermione stop. Harry could see Lupin's silhouette. He had gone rigid. Then his limbs began to shake.