Violet Summer: Prisoner of Azkaban

Chapter 41: Squint, Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

 The room fell into complete silence after the three of them spoke. Harry was so bewildered by the absurd accusation that he had completely let go of Toni's arm. His eyes circled the three of them with utter shock. It didn't take long before one of them spoke up about the ridiculous claims.

"Are you both completely mental?" Ron gaped, his eyes turning to Toni. "Did they give you something, Toni?"

"That's absolutely ridiculous!" Hermione chimed in.

"Peter Pettigrew is dead!" Harry insisted. "Black killed him twelve years ago!"

Harry's finger pointed accusingly at Black, who responded with a twitch of his face. "I meant to kill him," Black confessed. "But little Peter got the better of me... Not this time!"

In a sudden motion, Black lunged towards Scabbers, causing Ron to screech in pain as the impact landed on his injured leg.

"No, Sirius!" Lupin called out, launching himself towards Black and dragging him back. "You can't do it just like that! We need to explain!"

"If Toni can see an Animagus in its animal form, then why couldn't she see the signs around you when you pulled her inside?" Ron protested, trying to soothe his rat and leg simultaneously. "It doesn't make sense! You must have done something to her!"

"Perhaps when she accidentally hit the rock on the ground, it triggered her Violet Summer into action!" Black sneered, tauntingly, causing Harry's blood to boil.

"You're lying! It's just a rat!" Harry retorted.

Toni couldn't take her eyes off Scabbers. The violet hue and mist were undeniable. "If you can't believe them, then believe me!"

Harry was startled at the sight of Toni's darkened eyes filled with tears. His face softened slightly, feeling the weight of her pleas. But he couldn't believe this. How could he?

"They have a right to know - he's kept him as a pet all these years!" Lupin insisted, still struggling to contain Black's rage. "You owe Harry the truth!"

With that last comment, Black's fit subsided. His body limped and a frown crept across his face. His eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, but his mind seemed to soften.

"Alright..." Black said solemnly, admitting defeat. "Tell them then, Remus. Be quick about it, though. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for..."

"Nutters! The both of you!" Ron exclaimed.

"You will listen. All of you. Keep a tight grip on Peter," said Lupin.

"His name is Scabbers!" Ron snapped back, but Scabbers continued to squirm in Ron's grip, causing him to hold on tighter.

The room was hushed as Harry's eyes remained fixed upon Lupin. Lupin sighed and began to explain, "There were witnesses, ones who saw Peter Pettigrew die. A street full of them."

"Everyone thought Black killed Pettigrew, I did myself until I saw Peter's name on the map. He is in Ron's hand, Harry," said Lupin

"The witnesses didn't see what they thought they saw!" Black added, irritated in the shadows.

Harry's gaze shifted towards Scabbers, noticing Toni's intense glare and heavy breathing as she watched him. Her eyes dilated, similar to what Wolfe's had done in the memories, but not quite the same. If it were true, how could he have done it? What about the witnesses?

Hermione shook her head with denial. "It can't be true. We all did a class in Animagi with Professor McGonagall. The Ministry keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals. There is even a registration showing what animal they become and their markings and things... I went and looked, and there have only been several this century, and Pettigrew's name wasn't on the list-"