Begin Again (George Weasley/Draco Malfoy)

Seven.

"How could they?" Says Hermione.
   
"Come on," said Ron, and we set off back towards the castle again. "Scabbers, stay still." Ron hissed, and started to stuff Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matter with you, you stupid rat? Stay still - OUCH! He bit me!"
   
"Ron, keep it down." Hissed Hermione.
   
"He won't stay put!" Ron hissed back.
   
We then saw the glowing yellow eyes of Crookshanks in the darkness. "Crookshanks, no! Go away! Go away!"
   
But the cat didn't listen.
   
"Scabbers - NO!"
   
Too late. The rat had slipped from Ron's clutching fingers and scattered from us. And before we could stop him, Ron took off after his rat.
   
"Ron," Hermione moaned.
   
We all followed him in a sprint. Ron was able to get the Rat, and before we could all recover ourselves and catch our breath, we heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws. Something was bounding towards us, as quiet as a shadow - a big, pale eyed, jet black dog. Harry reached for his wand but it was too late. The dog made an enormous leap and hit him on the chest. It rolled off of him and made for Ron, clutching his leg with its jaw and dragged Ron away into the hole of the trunk of the Whomping Willow.
   
Hermione said we have to go for help, but Harry said if that dog can get in there that we could. Crookshanks darted forward, he slithered between the darting branches like a snake and placed his paw on a knot on the trunk and the tree stopped moving. We made it for the tree then and we all went through the tunnel together. Ron and that dog were nowhere to be seen.
   
We got out at the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade. We ran upstairs to find Ron laying on the floor in a room. We all dashed towards him. Harry asked him, "Ron, are you okay?"
   
"Where's the dog?" I ask.
   
"Not a dog," Ron moaned. "It's a trap! He's the dog! He's an Animagus!"
   
Ron pointed over past us, and we turned to see Sirius Black staring the four of us down. A mass of matted, dark, long, curly hair flung around his face as he shut the door. If he hadn't been moving, you'd think he was a corpse. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over his skin.
   
"EXPELLIARMUS!" He croaked, pointing Ron's wand at us and our wands went flying out of our hands. "I'd thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely. His eyes looked to both Harry and I as he continued. "Both of your fathers would have done the same for me. Brave of you, not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful. It will make everything easier." Harry went to charge at Sirius, but Hermione and I were able to hold him back. 
   
"If you want to kill Harry you'll have to kill us too!" I cry out.
   
"There will only be one murder here tonight," said Black, calmly.
   
"Did you not get enough last time?" Asks Harry, "when you had my parents killed?"
   
He lunged at Black again, somehow able to free himself from our grasp. Black's head hit the wall as Harry pinned him to it. Ron, Hermione, and I began to yell. Black's free hand had found Harry's throat. I crept forward up to them slowly and once I was close enough I swung my leg, knocking him onto his back. That's when Harry pointed his wand right at his heart.
   
"Going to kill me, Harry?" Asks Black, a smirk evident in his tone.
   
"You killed my parents," Harry said, his voice shaking slightly.
   
"I don't deny it, but you don't know the whole story."
   
"The whole story?" Harry asks.
   
The sound of footsteps came from downstairs. Someone else was here. Hermione noticed it too and she screamed, "WE'RE UP HERE - COME QUICK - SIRIUS BLACK!"
   
The door burst open as my dad entered in a stream of red sparks. His wand was raised at the ready. His eyes flickered over to all four of us students. My dad then shocked us all with one word. He pointed his wand at Harry and said, "Expelliarmus!" And Harry's wand went flying across the room. We stood there shocked at what we just saw. Then my dad spoke in a very tense voice. "Where is he?"
   
Harry looked to the three of us standing far from the adults in the room and he came over to us as my dad continued to speak. "But then, why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless he was the one. Unless you switched without telling me."
   
Black nodded at my dad.
   
"Professor," said Harry, "what is going on?"
   
My dad then looked down at Black, lowered his wand, and then sized his hand and pulled him to his feet and they embraced like two brothers. My jaw felt like it had dropped to the ground.