Lucy Jones 3: Blackbird

14 The Secret Revealed

'Pettigrew was the secret keeper?' Harry repeats, and Lucy gasps.

At the same time, Hermione's hold on her wand tightens.

'I knew you were helping him, but Dumbledore didn't believe me.' Snape appears. He holds Harry's invisibility cloak: 'I found this at the entrance of the willow. I can say it came in handy.'

'Snape, that's not true. I can explain everything.' Lupin starts to say.

'You may be able to make them believe you. I was in your Room, Lupin. One look on your desk, and I knew everything I needed.' Snape mumbles a spell, and small green vines appear out of his wand, wrapping themselves around Lupin.

Sirius is fuming: 'This is what you always dreamed of, isn't it? Handing me over to the dementors.'

'Maybe we should hear them out first?' Hermione suggests.

Snape's stands stock-still: 'Keep quiet. There is reason enough as it is to throw you out of school. Don't make it any worse.'

'But what if there really is a misunderstanding?' Lucy suggests.

'I don't NEED to know the reasoning of a werewolf Miss Jones.'

'You're just SAD, ONLY BECAUSE THEY BULLIED YOU...' Harry yells

'SILENT.' Snape shouts: 'I DON'T want to be addressed like that. Now get out of the way.'

'Expelliarmus!' Ron, Hermione and Lucy do the same thing, and Snape falls.

Hermione squeaks: 'We attacked a teacher.'

Lucy turns her head away from Snape and looks at Sirius. Ron tries to hold his rat. 'Prove it.' Harry says.

Black moves to free Lupin: 'Thank you.' Lupin says and stands up.

'I didn't say I believe you.' Harry replies.

'Then it's time to show you the truth.' Black states.

Ron presses his rat closer to his chest: 'Who says this rat can even change form. Why do you even think that is him?'

'That's a good question.' Lucy says: 'How did you find out?'

'It's reasonable for them to want to know.' Lupin tells Black.

Black takes a crumbled piece of paper out of his pocket and shows it to all of them. It's a photo of Ron and his family from when they won the money. 'I noticed it here.'

'What is on it?' Ron demands.

'He misses a toe.' Black explains.

'Of course, that's brilliant. He cut it off himself.' Lupin says.

'Right before he changed form.' Black says: 'The biggest part of Pettigrew they found was a finger.'

Ron starts to protest.

'Your rat is twelve years on, isn't he? Did you never find it strange that he is still alive?' Black asks Ron.

'Give me that Rat.' Lupin requests.

'What are you going to do with him?'

'Force him to change into his human form.' Lupin says: 'Ready Sirius?'

'Together.' Black says. A blue light comes from their wands. When it reaches the rat, it changes form.

On the ground sits an extremely short man, no taller than Harry or Hermione. He has grubby skin, petite, watery eyes, and a pointed nose.

'Hello, Peter.' Black says.'

'It's been a long time.' Lupin adds.

Peter crawls over the floor: 'Remus... Sirius... My old friends.' He speaks in a squeaky voice, another lingering attribute of his rat form.

Ron and Lupin make sure Peter doesn't escape. Hermione, Harry and Lucy follow. Sirius makes Snape float in front of him. They leave the shrieking shack through the secret passageway.

Once outside, Lucy sees Harry talking with Sirius. He looks happy. It's strange how things can change.

Hermione looks up: 'Full moon.' Lucy looks at Lupin and sees that he is starting to change. Sirius reacts. Ron screams. Lucy tries to grab the wand that Peter took, but she is too late. Peter starts shrinking...

Lupin is fully transformed: 'RUN!' Sirius shouts and turns into a giant black dog.

Hermione helps Ron up, and they start to make their way. Harry stands still, staring at the scene in front of him. The wolf tries to get past the dog. There is growling and scratching. Lucy shakes Harry's shoulders: 'Harry, come on.' He looks away, and they hear howling from further away. The wolf-Lupin looks at where it comes from and runs off.

Harry and Lucy run towards Ron and Hermione at the lake: 'Are you okay.' Lucy asks Ron. He nods in response. Lucy sees Harry looking at the dog, and it changes back to Sirius. He is unconscious.

'Dementors.' Ron shrieks. Lucy looks up and sees them circling down.