Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER TWENTY

 I couldn't help but gawk as the not-so-incriminated Sirius Black and our werewolf Professor, Remus Lupin, stood on either side of Peter Pettigrew, a large, his suit torn much worse than Lupin's ever was. I was shocked, it might not have been something I was directly involved in, but I was now completely invested in the crime. I had never heard of a victim coming back to life after faking their death, and it turned out they had indeed been the criminal all along.

They leaned over and started to tug on the round man, he was much rounder than even I was, not that it was wrong to be bigger, hell I couldn't say shit, and within a few seconds, the man stumbled back, scratching his head like a rodent, sniffling like one too. Then he opened his eyes and smiled with a rotten, buck-toothed grin, "Remus! Sirius!" He outstretched his hands, "My old friends!" He tried bolting past them to the door, but they both blocked him and shoved him back, pointing their previously tossed wands at him with cold, hard glares.

He sniffled once more seemingly in a panic, jerking his head about before his eyes landed on Harry, "Harry! Look at you!" He began to make his way over to him, his eyes held a crazed look, "Y-you look just like your father. Like James. We were the best of friends, he and I–"

Sirius shot over and shoved himself in front of the poor boy, "How dare you speak to Harry!" he growled. Pettigrew jumped back, "How dare you talk about James in front of him!" He chased the man around the room. Pettigrew trapped himself behind the piano with Lupin on the other side.

"You sold Lily and James to Voldemort, didn't you?!" I recoiled back, and I don't believe I was the only one surprised to hear the Professor use his name, peeked over at Harry who still held the wand halfway up, then to Hermione who did a double take, and Ron, he was gaping with his mouth opening and closing like a guppy.

"I didn't mean to!" Pettigrew cried out, "The Dark Lord, you have no idea the weapons he possesses!" He pointed his grotesque nail at Sirius, "Ask yourself what you would have done, Sirius. What would you have done!"

"I would have died!" He yelled back. Pettigrew jumped and ran around the piano, playing a back and forth game with them, "I would have died rather than betray my friend!" Pettigrew ran up to Harry, holding him and whispering in his ear harshly something I could barely make out except for the end where he yelled as he was pulled back, "He would have shown me mercy!"

"If Voldemort didn't kill you then we will! Together!"

"No!" I released the breath I held, what was Harry doing? Lupin shifted on his feet, slowly turning his head, "Harry... this man–"

"I know what he is, but we'll take him back to the castle," Harry took a brave step forward towards the man who fell to his knees, "Bless you, boy! Bless you!" He bent forward as if he were to grovel. What a weak and pathetic man, "Get off!" Harry stepped back quickly, "I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you," Pettigrew shrank and whimpered in his spot. I had been wrong, we all had. Sirius Black... was innocent... The Professor... I stared down at my feet. I felt quite ashamed. It seemed I would need to take the time to apologize to him once more.

Sirius and Remus seemed to relax a bit turning their back for a moment to speak with Harry, and Peter thought it would be a good idea to bolt once more. I pointed my wand at him, "Don't. Move," I grounded out through my teeth. Pettigrew gulped, "Y-You won't kill me will you?" Oh, how I longed to, but that wasn't my call, because honestly, Harry had the choice himself. He was the reason his parents were gone. I smirked, "No, not if you stay still and behave."

Pettigrew shuddered and bit his nails. I glanced over at the three, Harry and Lupin seemed a bit surprised at me, but Sirius, gave a look of impression, smirking as he spoke, "So you're not frozen?" I gave him a deadpan look, "Do I look like I am?"

He shrugged, "No offense, but you were pretty stiff before..."

"Sirius..." Lupin muttered as he pinched the bridge of his nose, "You can't blame him, a lot has happened in such a short time..."

"Besides he's rather new to the chaos I seem to bring," Harry muttered. I shook my head immediately, "Harry, none of this is your fault, it's his for being a traitor!" I glared down at the rat man, who couldn't even meet my eyes, "He's a coward, don't ever sell yourself short for a coward Harry," I looked back over at him with a smile, "You're the bravest I've ever met," I watched Harry's eyes turn watery and he gave a small grin back. Relief grew on his face.

"Well," Lupin cleared his throat, "it's getting later, we should...we should take him to the castle..." Right, we were standing in the middle of the Shrieking Shack. I had almost forgotten where we were with everything going down the way it did.

"Right, let's go then, someone help me grab Ron?" Harry spun around and went to Ron's side.

"I will...: Sirius muttered, "Might as well since I'm the one who injured him..."