The Secret Life of Regulus Black

10

Again, it's mostly j.k. Rowlings.
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"You're both mental." ron said

"Ridiculous!" said Hermione faintly.

"Peter Pettigrew's dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago!" He pointed at Sirius, whose face twitched convulsively.

"I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me ... not this time, though!" And I was thrown to the floor as Sirius lunged at pettigrew Ron yelled with pain as Sirius's weight fell on his broken leg.

"Sirius, NO!" Lupin yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Sirius away from Ron again, "WAIT! You can't do it just like that – they need to understand – we've got to explain –"

"We can explain afterwards!" snarled Sirius, trying to throw Lupin off, one hand still clawing the air as it tried to reach Pettigrew, who was squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron's face and neck as he tried to escape.

"They've – got – a – right – to – know – everything!" Lupin painted, still trying to restrain sirius. "Ron's kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand! And Harry – you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!" Sirius stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on pettigrew, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched and bleeding hands.

"All right, then, Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for ..."

"You're nutters, both of you," said Ron shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support. "I've had enough of this. I'm off." He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wand again, pointing it at Scabbers.

"You're going to hear me out, Ron, Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen."

"HE'S NOT PETER, HE'S SCABBERS!" Ron yelled, trying to force the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting too hard; Ron swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him and pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Sirius, Harry turned to Lupin.

"There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die, A whole street full of them ..."

"They didn't see what they thought they saw!" said Sirius savagely, still watching Scabbers struggling in Ron's hands.

"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter, I believed it myself – until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder's Map never lies ... Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry."

"But Professor Lupin ... Scabbers can't be Pettigrew ... it just can't be true, you know it can't ..."

"Why can't it be true?" Lupin said calmly.

"Because ... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework – the Ministry keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things ... and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the register, and there have only been seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew's name wasn't on the list –"

"Right again, Hermione! But the Ministry never knew that there used to be three unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts."

"If you're going to tell them the story, get a move on, Remus, " snarled Sirius, who was still watching Pettigrew's every desperate move. "I've waited twelve years, I'm not going to wait much longer."

"All right ... but you'll need to help me, Sirius," said Lupin, "I only know how it began ..." Lupin broke off. There had been a loud creak behind him. The bedroom door had opened of its own accord. All five of them stared at it. Then Lupin strode towards it and looked out into the landing. "No one there ..."