adored by him | *under editing*

third year × 43

Nadia jumped in front of Harry protectively, aiming her wand at the ragged prisoner. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!"

He smiled menacingly. "Only one will die tonight."

Harry pushed Nadia behind him, yelling out in anger. "Then it'll be you!"

He charged at him, blood boiling, knocking him to the floor and crawling on top of him, hands clasped around his neck. Sirius laughed weakly. "Going to kill me, Harry?"

Suddenly, the door flew open as Harry's wand was whipped out of his hand, disappearing in the dusty room.

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione called but Lupin ignored her, eyeing Sirius intensely.

Nadia grabbed Harry and pulled him close, watching the scene with confusion.

"Looking a bit ragged, aren't we, Sirius? Finally the skin reflects the madness within."

"You'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you, Remus?" The two regard each other taut with tension. Then Lupin extended a hand, pulling Sirius up and embracing him in a brotherly hug.

Hermione stepped forward. "No! I trusted you! And all this time you've been his friend!"

Nadia stepped forward too. "He's a werewolf! That's why he's been missing classes." Ron and Harry stared, dumbfounded. Sirius looked amused and Lupin furrowed his eyebrows, regarding both the girls warily.

"How long have you known?"

"Since Professor Snape set the essay." Hermione answered sharing a glance with Nadia.

"You really are the brightest witches of your age I've ever met, Nadia. Hermione."

Sirius sighed heavily, rolling his eyes. "Yes, you glow like the sun. And you howl at the moon. Enough talk! He dies. Now, if you won't do it with me, Remus. I'll do it alone."

Lupin put his hands up. "Sirius, wait--"

"I did my waiting! Twelve years of it! In Azkaban!" Lupin eyed Sirius sympathetically then nodded.

"All right then. But wait one more minute. He has a right to know why."

Harry's knuckles turned white as he dug his fingernails into his palms. "I know why! You betrayed my parents! You sold them to Voldemort!"

"It's a lie! I never would have betrayed James and Lily!"

"Harry. You've got to listen--" Lupin started but Harry cut him off, rage swallowing him whole.

"Did he listen? When my mother was dying! Did he hear her screaming?" 

"No! I wasn't there! And I'll regret it for the rest of my life!" Harry's eyes caught Sirius' glittering with pain.

"Somebody else betrayed your parents, Harry. Someone who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead."

"Who was it then?"

"Peter Pettigrew." Sirius sneered. "And he's in this room! Come out, come out Peter. Come out to play." He taunted until the door flew open once again.

"Expelliarmus!" This time Snape appeared, sending Lupin's wand flying. The four jumped, watching as the scene unfolded.

He zoned in on Sirius, pointing his wand at his throat. "Ah. Vengeance is sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

"Severus--"

Snape then narrowed his eyes at Lupin. "I told Dumbledore that you were helping an old friend into the castle. Here is the proof."