Game Over▬RL 2

A Ghost and Two Monsters

The silence was eerie in the Shrieking Shack. Nobody moved an inch. All eyes were on Remus Lupin. Who had his own on Renee Potter. "Ren, please undo the spell. Quite unnecessary." The woman nodded, pointing the wand at Hermione Granger. "Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione. Only one out of three." Remus laid his eyes upon Harry, "I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I don't want you dead." He sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "But I won't deny that I am a werewolf." Ron tried to move but fell back down, Renee moved to help him, noticing Remus' hesitation. The ginger's eyes widened.

"Oh, enough. I'm just going to wrap this up. We don't have everything I'd need to fix it nicely." She stated as Ron backed away from her. Ren waved the wand and his torn arm was covered in gauze. She did the same to the broken leg. Remus watched with a blank face, turning to the girl.

"How long have you known?"

"Ages," she whispered, "since Snape set the werewolf essay." Sirius scoffed and leaned an arm on Renee's shoulder once she was beside him. Ren picked at her nails as Remus discussed the topic with Hermione. She was startled as Harry raised his voice at her boyfriend.

"And he was wrong!" He yelled, "You've been helping him the whole time!" Sirius hid his face with his hand, moving his leg away from Crookshanks, he was rubbing against it.

"I have not been helping Sirius if you'd let me explain."

"Then she has!" Harry turned his attention to Renee who was just staring back. She stepped forward, letting Sirius' arm fall off her. Her hand came up in one swift movement, and the trio flinched. The wand she held landed in Harry's lap.

"I have been helping him, but not getting into the castle. I've been bringing him food, I brushed his hair and cut it. But getting into the castle, no, you can thank that cat." Remus gave the other two wands back. Harry stared at the adults stunned. He then sheathed his wand. Allowing the teens to be armed while the grownups were not. "Now, will you listen?"

✿

The rest of the conversation seemed to go off without a hitch. Remus explained what had happened leading up to the night of the Potter's death. Sirius pitched in the parts that he didn't know. Renee listened as well. Not fully knowing the events. Then she got to explain her own story.

"Peter came to me after it happened." She stared at her feet. "He brought me to the house, showed me their bodies and told me that Sirius had done it and ran off. I was going to go after him." She paused, locking eyes with her friend. "I was going to avenge them, but Peter didn't want me to." Ren looked back down, wiping a tear. "I don't know when but he took my wand, knocked me out while I was in my animagus form and left me in the owl cage with an ankle bracelet that kept me from transforming." Sirius looked away from her, his jaw set. The kids stared at her. Remus moved to wrap an arm around her.

"He left her wand at the scene where he left his finger." The werewolf stated, letting the woman take a break.

"Give them the rat," Harry spoke up, not looking away from his aunt. Ron tried to argue, holding a dirty old rat to his chest. "It's okay, Ron. If it's not him then we will get Scrabbers back. The ginger slowly let Renee grab the rat by its scruff. She held it close to her face to examine it. Quickly turning to Remus with a scowl.

"Do it, Rem." Remus nodded, pulling out his wand and pointing it at the squirming rodent. Unfortunately, the man stopped in his tracks, turning toward the slightly open door. His head tilted up as he sniffed the air. Severus Snape appeared in front of him, an invisibility cloak falling to the floor and a wand pointing at the tip of his nose.

"I'd figured I'd find you with him, Lupin." The group, who had all jumped in shock, stared at the two professors. "Found this at the base of the Willow. Very useful, thanks, Potter." His eyes flickered over to the woman behind Remus Lupin and they widened for a brief moment. "Renee Potter, I must admit I had never thought I'd see you again."

"Severus," Remus began, letting his wand arm fall to his side.

"I knew I'd find the proof of you letting your dear friend into the castle."

"Snape, this is something completely different than what you think. If you'd let us explain." Renee tried, stepping forward and placing a hand on his arm.

"Why should I listen to a ghost and two monsters? Two more for Azkaban tonight, or should I say three? I'm not quite sure what you'd have to do with this Renee. Unless you betrayed your blood." He looked at the hand with distaste and shook it off.

"You know exactly why we are here, you know because you checked the map," Remus argued, not liking where the conversation was going. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?" Within seconds Remus was toppled over bonded with cord around his ankles, hands, and mouth. Sirius marched forward with a frenzied look in his eyes. Renee jumped in front of the wand, pushing her friend back and swinging Scabbers around in her grip.

"That's enough!" The rat squeaked as she tightened her hold.

"Give me a reason," Snape stated with a shaking voice, eyes staring over the Potters shoulder. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will." Renee glanced at her nephew, she didn't know when he had gotten to his feet. She looked back at the Potions master, her jaw clenched.

"Professor, it wouldn't hurt to hear them out, would it?" Hermione stuttered out from her spot on the ground.

"Miss Granger, you children are all facing suspension for being out of bounds and in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue." Renee glared at the man, forcing herself not to jump at him.

"Severus, I swear, if we could bring the rat up to the castle, Sirius will follow." Ren reasoned, her tone sweeter.

"We won't need to go as far as the castle. I'll just call the Dementors as soon as we're out of the Willow. I believe they'll be so pleased they'd give Black a kiss." Renee watched as Severus Snape summoned the cords that tied up her boyfriend into his hands. "Come on, all of you. I've got the werewolf. Perhaps they'll give him the kiss as well." Renee started toward the man, who now faced away from her, however, was interrupted by Harry blocking the doorway.