Weasley Charm | Fred Weasley

Chapter 3-11: The Truth

Delaney and Lupin hurried through the castle and only into the same underground opening Ron was taken into after Lupin muttered an incantation that still the Whomping Willow. They followed the trail into the Shrieking Shack, a destination Delaney certainly did not expect. As the two were walking up the stairs, and wands out, Lupin held his finger to his lip, indicating to Delaney to stay silent.

Hearing the conversation between her friends and her father sent several emotions coursing through her. With a deep breath and a nod from Delaney, she and Lupin burst through the door. Lupin quickly disarmed Harry before anyone could recover from their abrupt entrance. Delaney looked around the room to find her father laying on the ground with Harry standing over him. She felt herself still. Her father. She'd dreamed of meeting him throughout her entire childhood. And yet, seeing him now, she felt more unprepared than ever.

"Well, well Sirius looking rather ragged aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within," Lupin said, his wand pointed at Sirius.

"Well you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you Remus?" Sirius said with a smirk.

Lupin dropped his wand and gave Sirius his open hand, hoisting him up off of the ground. The two men quickly hugged each other. Delaney couldn't help the small grin that pulled on her lips. She wasn't only being reunited with her father, Lupin was being reunited with one of his best friends.

"I found him," Sirius said, clutching to Lupin's arms.

"I know," Lupin said, nodding in understanding.

"Let's kill him."

"No!" Hermione shouted, protectively stepping in front of Harry. "I trusted you, and all this time you've been his friend."

"Please just let them explain. Listen to what they have to say," Delaney pleaded.

"He's a werewolf, that's why he's been missing classes," Hermione said, pointing to Lupin as she turned to Ron and Harry.

"How long have you known?" Delaney asked, looking at her friends.

"Since Snape set the essay. I wanted to ask you about it but I never got around to it," Hermione said.

"Well, well, well Hermione, you really are the brightest witch of your age I've ever met," Lupin said.

"Hey," said Delaney, slightly offended.

"Well of course you're up there too," Lupin said, offering a quick grin.

"Enough!" Sirius called out. "Remus, come on, let's kill him."

"Wait," Lupin said, raising a finger as he turned to face Sirius.

"I DID MY WAITING!" Sirius shouted. "TWELVE YEARS OF IT...IN AZKABAN."

Lupin turned to look at Harry before handing his wand to Sirius. "Very well. Kill him, but wait one more minute. Harry has the right to know why."

"I know why. You betrayed my parents. You're the reason they're dead," Harry said, a pained bite behind his words.

"No, Harry, it wasn't him. Somebody did betray your parents but it was somebody who until quite recently I believed to be dead," Lupin corrected.

"Who was it then?" Harry snapped, not believing a word he said.

"Peter Pettigrew," Delaney said, finally clicking everything into place in her mind.

"And he's in this room right now. Come out, come out Peter," Sirius shouted, sounding every bit of a madman.

Delaney jumped at the sudden slam of the door. Snape entered with his wand pointed straight at Sirius, "Vengeance is sweet. I hoped I'd be the one to catch you."