Gryffindor Princess and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter Twenty: What really happened

"S-Sirius... R-Remus...", Pettigrew's voice was high pitched and fearful, "my friends... My old friends..."

"We've been having a little chat, Peter", said Lupin, giving Black a look, "about what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed the finer points while you were squeaking around down there on the bed-"

"Remus", Peter gasped, "you don't believe him, do you? He tried to kill me Remus..."

"So we've heard", said Lupin, "I'd like to clear up one or two little matters with you, Peter, if you'll be so -"

"He's come to try and kill me again!", Peter squeaked, he pointed at Black and Hope saw that he had to point with his middle finger, his Index had been cut off at the base, "he killed Lily and James and now he's going to kill me too... You've got to help me Remus..."

Black looked furious.

"No one's going to try and kill you until we've sorted a few things out."

"Sorted things out?", Squeaked Peter, "I knew he'd come after me! I knew he'd be back for me! I've been waiting for this for twelve years!"

"You knew Sirius was going to break out of Azkaban?", Asked Lupin, "when no one has ever done it before?"

"He's got dark powers the rest of us can only dream of!", Peter shouted, "how else did he get out of there?"

"But Pettigrew", Hope stood up, "if you really did think Black was going to try to kill you why would you fake your death in front of him, ensuring he was the only one who knew you were alive?"

"But - I - but I didn't!", Peter gasped, "he-who-must-not-Not-Be-Named taught him a few tricks!"

  Black started to laugh, a horrible, mirthless laugh that filled the whole room.

  "Voldemort, teach me tricks?" he said.

  "What, scared to hear your old master's name?" Black said, as Peter flinched, "I don't blame you, Peter. His lot aren't very happy with you, are they?"

  "Don't know what you mean, Sirius --" muttered Pettigrew, his breathing faster than ever. His whole face was shining with sweat now.

  "You haven't been hiding from me for twelve years," said Black. "You've been hiding from Voldemort's old supporters. I heard things in Azkaban, Peter. . . They all think you're dead, or you'd have to answer to them. . . I've heard them screaming all sorts of things in their sleep. Sounds like they think the double-crosser double-crossed them. Voldemort went to the Potters' on your information. . . and Voldemort met his downfall there. And not all Voldemort's supporters ended up in Azkaban, did they? There are still plenty out here, biding their time, pretending they've seen the error of their ways. If they ever got wind that you were still alive, Peter --"

  "Don't know. . . what you're talking about. . . " said Pettigrew again, more shrilly than ever. He wiped his face on his sleeve and looked up at Lupin. "You don't believe this -- this madness, Remus --"

  "I must admit, Peter, I have difficulty in understanding why an innocent man would want to spend twelve years as a rat," said Lupin evenly.

  "Innocent, but scared!" squealed Pettigrew. "If Voldemort's supporters were after me, it was because I put one of their best men in Azkaban -- the spy, Sirius Black!"

  Black's face contorted.

  "How dare you," he growled, sounding suddenly like the bearsized dog he had been. "I, a spy for Voldemort? When did I ever sneak around people who were stronger and more powerful than myself? But you, Peter -- I'll never understand why I didn't see you were the spy from the start. You always liked big friends who'd look after you, didn't you? It used to be us. . . me and Remus. . . and James. . . "