Trying | June Potter and the Mysterious Azkaban Escapee| Book 2

Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

  It took a few seconds for the absurdity of the statement to sink in with the three. Then Ron voiced his and Harry's thought

  "You're both mental."

  "Ridiculous!" said Hermione faintly.

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

  June watched the disbelief.

  "I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me... not this time, though!"

  And Crookshanks was thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with pain as Black's weight fell on his broken leg.

  "Sirius, NO!" Remus yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Black 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 Black, trying to throw Remus off. One hand was still clawing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron'sface and neck as he tried to escape.

  "They've — got — a — right — to — know — everything!" Remus panted, still trying to restrain black. "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 Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, and bleeding hands.

  "All right, then," Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat. "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," he said quietly. "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 his arm pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Sirius, Harry turned to Remus.

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

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

  "Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter," said Remus, nodding. "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."

  Harry looked down at Ron, and as their eyes met. Their story made no sense whatsoever to the boys. How could Scabbers be Peter Pettigrew? June could knew they were asking. Azkaban must have unhinged Black after all — but why was Lupin playing along with him? That question rang in June's mind, though the voice weren't her's; it was her brother's.  Then Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to kill Remus to talk sensibly.

  "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?" Remus said calmly, as though they were in class, and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an experiment with Grindylows.