Hidden In The Shadows Part 1- Harry Potter Story

The Murderer

Estella followed the two into a small, decrepit building and her eyes widened. The Shrieking Shack. She rushed upstairs alongside the other two into an old bedroom. Ron lay whimpering on the bed, his leg bent at an awkward angle. Estella rushed forward and Ron jumped back.

"Don't!" He cried. "Harry, he's an Animagus!"

Harry frowned in confusion but Estella froze as a man morphed from the shadows. His face had been plastered over every newspaper for nearly a year.

Sirius Black's eyes glinted menacingly. "Hullo Harry."

Harry pulled his wand out, along with Hermione and Estella. Sirius flicked Ron's wand in his hand and they were all disarmed instantly. Estella couldn't breathe.

Harry was furious. "HOW COULD YOU?" he yelled. "YOU WERE HIS FRIEND." The boy's face crumbled. "AND YOU BETRAYED HIM."

Estella frowned as a flicker of sadness shone briefly in Sirius's eyes as he stepped forward.

"You're quite like your father Harry," he whispered, motioning at Ron. "Always there to save your friends." His eyes narrowed. "This will make things much easier."

"If you want to kill him, you'll have to kill us to," Ron gritted his teeth from where he was sitting up.

"There will only be one murder tonight," Sirius hissed.

"AND THAT WILL BE YOU." Harry lunged at the murderer, scrambling for his wand. Estella followed suit and wrestled Hermione's and hers from his grasp as Hermione kicked Sirius. The escapee began to choke Harry and Estella raised her wand with Hermione, throwing him back and tossed Ron's wand to him. The four students pointed their wands as Sirius Black grinned madly.

"Are you going to kill me Harry?"

"Nothing less than what you deserve," Harry spat. "You betrayed my parents to Voldemort."

"A fact I wholeheartedly agree with," Black murmured hoarsely. "But there is more to the story than what you've heard Harry."

Estella frowned, glancing over at the boy who now look completely confused.

"Please give me a chance to explain," Sirius begged, looking up with pleading eyes.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Remus Lupin burst into the room, disarming Harry, Ron, and Hermione once again. This time however, Estella was better prepared and deflected the jinx. She watched in horror as Lupin walked over to Sirius.

"Where is he?" the professor stated simply. Sirius raised a shaking finger at Ron, who scrambled back, yelping as his leg moved. Lupin frowned. "Why hasn't he shown himself? Unless," he looked at Sirius questioningly. "You switched and didn't tell me?"

Sirius gave a slow nod and suddenly Lupin laughed. He helped the criminal to his feet and embraced him in a fierce hug. Estella frowned, looking at Ron. There was nothing wrong with him.. unless, her eyes widened. The rat was an animagus.

Hermione however looked horrified. "I trusted you!" she cried. "I kept your werewolf secret for months."

Ron looked up. "He's a WEREWOLF?"

Lupin froze. "How long have you known?" he asked quietly.

"For ages. Ever since Snape assigned that essay," Hermione's voice trembled.

Lupin closed his eyes briefly. "He would be very proud, I believe that was his goal." He grinned bitterly. "You really are the brightest witch of your age." His gaze landed on Estella. "At least one of them."