Countenance [1] Sirius Black's Daughter

xxvi- vengence is sweet

"PETER PETTIGREW is dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago—" He pointed at Sirius, whose face twitched convulsively.

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

Sirius lunged at Scabbers. Ron yelled with pain as Sirius' weight fell on his leg, "Sirius, NO!" Remus yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Sirius away from Ron again, "WAIT! You can't do it just like that — they need to understand — we've got to explain —"

"We'll explain afterwards!" snarled Sirius, 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's face and neck as he tried to escape.

"You owe Harry the truth, dad!" Jessica exclaimed.

Sirius stopped struggling, though his eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, and bleeding hands, "Was that the first time you called me dad?"

"Maybe, I guess." Jessica shrugged.

"All right, then," Sirius 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, all 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 Jessica raised a wand at him, pointing it at both him, and Peter.

"You're going to hear him out, Ron," she said quietly. "Just keep a tight hold on the rat while you listen."

"SCABBERS HAS GOT NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS!" Ron yelled, trying to force the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting to hard. Ron swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him am pushed him back down to the bed.

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

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

"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter," said Remus, nodding. "I believed it myself. But the map never lies . . . Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry."

Then Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to will Remus to talk sensibly, "But Professor Lupin . . . Scabbers can't be Pettigrew . . . it just can't be true, you know it can't . . . "