Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

53) Son of Nemesis

Happy Thanksgiving! Also, I think some stuff was deleted at some point, and it's not in the revision history, so if anything is awkward, I'm sorry.

Snape fired a spell.

I slid down the back of the wall, groaning. My arm had gone numb, and my head was throbbing. Lupin went to move towards me, but Snape waved his wand.

"Three more for Azkaban tonight," he said, his eyes gleaming. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this.... He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin... a tame werewolf —"

"You fool," Lupin said softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

BANG! Ropes shot from the end of Snape's wand. They twisted around Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles. He fell to the floor, unable to move. Roaring with rage, Black moved towards Snape, but Snape pointed his wand between Black's eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."

Harry moved beside me, staring down at me with concern. I shook my head, "Stop them."

Hermione took an unsteady step forward, and said weakly, "Professor Snape — it — it wouldn't hurt to hear what they've got to say, w-would it?"

"Miss Granger, you are already facing suspension from this school," Snape hissed. "You, Potter, Weasley, and Jackson are out-of-bounds, in the company of a convicted murderer and a werewolf. For once in your life, hold your tongue."

"But if -- if there was a mistake --"

"KEEP QUIET, YOU STUPID GIRL!" Snape snapped, looking a little crazy. "DON'T TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND!" Several sparks shot from the end of his wand, which was still pointed at Black. Hermione went silent.

"Vengeance is very sweet," Snape breathed at Black. "How I hoped I would be the one to catch you...."

"The joke's on you again, Severus," Black scowled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle" -- he jerked his head towards Ron -- "I'll come quietly...."

"Up to the castle?" Snape said coolly. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black... pleased enough to give you a little Kiss, I daresay...."

The little color still in Black's face left, "You -- you've got to hear me out. The rat -- look at the rat --"

Snape was angrier than I had ever seen him. "Come on, all of you." He clicked his fingers, and the ends of the ropes binding Lupin flew into his hands. "I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a Kiss for him too --"

Harry had crossed the room in three quick strides and blocked the exit.

"Get out of the way, Potter, you're in enough trouble already," Snape scowled. "If I hadn't been here to save your skin --"

"Professor Lupin could have killed me about a hundred times this year," Harry said bravely. "I've been alone with him loads of times, having defense lessons against the dementors. If he was helping Black, why didn't he just finish me off then?"

"Don't ask me to fathom the way a werewolf's mind works," Snape snapped. "Get out of the way, Potter."

"YOU'RE PATHETIC!" Harry shouted. "JUST BECAUSE THEY MADE A FOOL OF YOU AT SCHOOL YOU WON'T EVEN LISTEN --"

"SILENCE! I WILL NOT BE SPOKEN TO LIKE THAT!" Snape screamed, looking terribly angry. "Like father, like son, Potter! I have just saved your neck; you should be thanking me on bended knee! You would have been well served if he'd killed you! You'd have died like your father, too arrogant to believe you might be mistaken in Black -- now get out of the way, or I will make you. GET OUT OF THE WAY, POTTER!"

I made my mind up at that moment. I drew my wand from my pocket, and breathed, "Expelliarmus!" Only, I wasn't the only voice that rang out. Snape shot at the wall, and slammed into it, sliding down with blood dripping from under his hair. He was unconscious.

I looked around. Harry, Ron, and Hermione had all tried to Disarm Snape at the same moment. His wand had soared through the room, and landed on the bed next to Crookshanks.

"You shouldn't have done that," Black stared at Harry. "You should have left him to me...."

"We attacked a teacher.... We attacked a teacher...." Hermione whimpered, staring fixedly at the motionless Snape with terrified eyes. "Oh, we're going to be in so much trouble --"

Lupin was squirming against the ropes. Black quickly bent down and untied them. Lupin stood, rubbing his arms where the ropes had burned them.

"Thank you, guys," He said.

"I'm still not saying I believe you," Harry responded.

"Then it's time we offered you some proof," Black said. "You, boy -- give me Peter. Now."

Ron clutched Scabbers closely to his chest, and said weakly, "Come off it. Are you trying to say he broke out of Azkaban just to get his hands on Scabbers? I mean..." He stared up at Harry and Hermione for help. "Okay, say Pettigrew could turn into a rat -- there are million's of rats -- how's he supposed to know which one he's after if he was locked up in Azkaban?"

"You know, Sirius, that's a fair question," Lupin turned to Black, a light frown on his face. "How did you find out where he was?"

I hope you all are having a very good Thanksgiving, and if you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, I hope you have a good Thursday! Right now, we are making food, preparing to eat l a t e r. It's gonna be great. My aunt and uncle are here, along with most of my siblings (Fuck you, Sam, how dare you not be here (jk)). We've got pie and pizza and there's a h a m. It's gonna be great. Anyway, I'll keep this one short and sweet.

I hope you're having a great Thanksgiving, and I will see you on Saturday. Love ya!