Forms revealed
Harry Potter
When Harry woke up, it was because he heard a pounding on the door.
He sat up sharply, expecting Aunt Petunia to shout at him- tell him to get up and to make breakfast- but that never happened. Instead he looked around quite blearily and quickly realized he was at Grimmauld place with his dad in the cellar; he was not back in his cupboard, it had just been a dream.
His jaws parted in a bone cracking yawn, then he winced as he stretched out his front paws. Yikes… he never got used to the aching. One of his ears twitched errantly as the pounding door from his dream resounded again.
Hold on.
Remus was standing, his hackles raised. They were both still transformed- who was knocking at the door? He’d been promised that no one could get past the blood wards if they had bad intentions, but this was still very bad depending on who exactly had come to visit. Considering the hour, Harry didn’t have too much confidence.
He forced himself to his paws and shook out his fur, directing a soft questioning yip at Remus. Remus replied with a sneeze, prowled toward the steps with several sniffs, then shrank back as the front door creaked open and voices faded into earshot. Harry let out an involuntary whimper and crept up to press himself to Remus’s side. Remus huffed softly in a tone that generally meant reassurance, then pressed his nose to Harry’s ear. Together, they stayed silent- hoping their visitor would leave.
“…not home? That’s weird-“
“Or just asleep. I knew this was a bad idea- why’d I let you talk me into this?”
“We asked if you were up to it Ronniekins, you didn’t have to come-“
“We didn’t make you, did we?”
“You’d have made fun of me for days if I didn’t! Don’t pretend you wouldn’t!”
Harry stiffened, he recognized the voices of Ron, Fred and presumably George. He could smell them too, as their scents were trailing down the stairs. He was meant to be joining them the following day, so what were they doing here now? Let alone while it was still the dead of night.
“Should we yell for them?”
“Are you asking to be hexed?”
Harry couldn’t help but think how foolish they’d been to come in at all. They’d knocked at an ungodly hour, no one answered, then they’d let themselves in. Of course they’d be hexed if either Harry or Remus had been sleeping upstairs. He was certain he’d locked the door, and when he’d begged Remus had shown him how to cast the sealing charm as well as let him perform it. Had he managed to mess it up somehow?
“Do we just… stand around then?”
With a soft ‘pop’, and a squeaky voice Harry immediately recognized as Floppy’s, the house elf interrupted the Weasleys’ rather rude house invasion.
“Can Floppy ask what you is doing in her master’s home, sirs?”
“MERLINS BOLLOCKS-“ the twins shrieked together.
“BLOODY HELL-“ Ron burst out at the same time.
Harry could’ve whined with relief. Thankfully he had the presence of mind to keep his muzzle shut.
“We uh… we came to pick up Harry? Y'know- to stay with us?”
“You are the Weasleys?”
“Yeah!”
“It is being very early to pick up Mister Potter-“
“Oh uh… we uh…”
“We thought a bit of adventure would cheer him up is all- yeah?
Bloody Gryffindors… Harry sank to the stone floor and covered his face with his paws. Despite his exasperation he couldn’t help the curl of fondness that worked its way around his heart. They’d risked the wrath of Molly Weasley that Harry had heard so much about from Ron for him? To cheer him up when he was supposedly sick again?
Still though, it was dreadful timing.
“Would the Weasleys mind waiting for Mister Harry?”
“…”
“…..”
“Er- no- I guess not I-“
Harry thanked Merlin for Floppy- she’d distract them until the sun ro-
THUD
Both he and Remus jumped as three thumps came from the floor above. Exchanging a look, he and his dad both leapt to the stairs and hurried to check on the situation. They peeked around the corner, hiding in shadow, only to see that Floppy was gently turning each Weasley over so they weren’t lying uncomfortably. She then tucked both a pillow under their heads and a blanket around their bodies.
“Floppy is taking care of it sirs!” She said cheerfully to the two werewolves.
Harry reminded himself to never irritate Floppy. Ever. He knew how powerful house elves were but… By Morgana…
Remus approached them with a shake of his head, as displeased as Harry. More so maybe because Harry knew for a fact that both Fred and George were his students the previous year in Ancient Runes. He trotted after his dad and sniffed at Ron, and since he was able to smell the house elf’s magic with finer detail in this form, he identified a sort of sleeping charm.
“What would Mister Harry like Floppy to do now?” Floppy prompted Harry, who glanced up as Remus began sniffing Ron’s shirt pocket. Curious about the rat scent, no doubt.
Harry tilted his head and whined, unsure what she wanted him to do. He couldn’t respond to her- not like that- but she wasn’t stupid enough to believe a transformed werewolf could speak English, surely.
“A bark with intention would be enough, Mister Harry. Floppy is not needing to understand wolf language for magic to help her follow Mister Harry’s orders.”
That was convenient. He knew about magic’s semi-sentience but this was new- he’d have to ask Floppy about it later. He glanced at Remus, who had a slow growl rumbling in his throat. Harry’s hackles raised, and he crept over to sniff the pocket to try and comprehend what his dad could possibly be upset about. He only detected Ron’s weird rat’s smell- nothing new.
Harry tilted his nose at Floppy, then yipped. Wondering what they should do. Remus’s face, even in his wolfish form, was stony. He pressed a paw pad to Harry’s chest, then barked as he motioned with his head toward the Weasleys.
He wanted to tell them?
Harry whined. Why? Ron was possibly one of the worst of his friends he could think to tell- he’d heard his opinion about werewolves before. They weren’t good.
Remus nuzzled his head, and Harry forced himself to relax. He’d have to trust his dad’s judgment, but he was going to do as much damage control as possible in any case.
‘Wake them just before we transform back,’ Harry tried to convey to Floppy with a yawn and a sneeze, ‘Have them secured so they can’t run and tell anyone before we can explain.’
“Floppy is doing as Mister Harry requests!” The house elf nodded eagerly, then turned toward the Weasleys and carefully began levitating them toward the lounge where a huge hearth warmed the room. Harry padded after her, warily glancing at his dad as the older werewolf followed. He smelled like anger and grief- Harry wasn’t sure what to make of that.
They laid on the carpet, and Harry was silently so very glad for Demeclus Belby, the inventor of the Wolfsbane Potion; because of him, he and Remus didn’t have to be concerned about ripping their clothes or transforming back to their human bodies naked. The clothes changed with him, which he’d theorized with Remus privately that he thought was due to their heightened level of control. They could subconsciously transfigure their clothing like an animagus would because their magic made it so. This gave him a solid suspicion that the root of the werewolf curse had to be related in nature to how one becomes an animagus.
Due to this, Harry had learned of animagi that summer in some of Remus’s old stories of his birth father. He’d dreamt of what it would be like to romp the forest with his friends as a wolf, they as animals. It only made his chest hurt though, so he tried to forget as soon as he’d recall.
The point of the matter was that when he and Remus would transform in front of the Weasleys in a few hours, they would not be as bare as the day they were born. Harry and Remus had transformed in separate areas of the shrieking shack the previous transformation (the one without wolfsbane) because of that. Neither were fond of wrecking their clothes.
Harry and Remus curled up together beside the hearth, still exhausted and hurting, but Harry had too much on his mind to think about his misery. It was a blessing to be able to forget about his pain for a moment, but also a curse because he knew he should rest if he was going to the Weasleys that afternoon.
If he was going. It was very possible that they may decide they didn’t want him to come anymore.
Remus rested his head on Harry’s back, making a vocalization of questioning. He was asking if Harry was okay. Harry huffed in return, wagging his tail. He wasn’t, ‘okay’, but he would be. Remus would never let anything bad happen to him and he’d never let the Weasleys’ hurt Harry. Not that they would- not physically- but if they told the wrong person about what they were about to see it would certainly hurt Harry both socially and emotionally.
Hours passed, Harry tried not to think too hard but as dawn grew closer he just couldn’t help it. He’d stood up and begun to pace while Remus watched the window impassively.
“Floppy is waking them now.“ Floppy warned, then snapped her fingers.
Slowly, each red headed boy roused in turn.
The moment they were awake enough to comprehend, Ron was the first to shout in alarm and try to scrabble away. Harry might’ve found it comical, the way Floppy had magically stuck him to the wall, if it weren’t for the seriousness of the situation. The twins similarly squirmed.
“What did you do to us?!” Ron demanded, “Let us go!”
Harry didn’t have time to even make an attempt at a response. The sun’s rays were brightening the window, and Harry’s stomach lurched as his transformation began. His spine reshaped first, then his ribcage, and the change moved outward for each limb joint by joint. Before long he was trembling on the carpet. Ron’s struggling noises were effectively silenced by the shock of having watched it all happen as Harry panted on the floor, trying to recover as beads of sweat dampened his brow.
Then he retched. Quite embarrassingly.
His dad was there though, and he gently guided Harry to the couch before taking his wand from Floppy to magically clean the front of Harry’s pajamas and then the floor.
The room was filled with silence that only three stunned boys and two miserable werewolves could make. A sort of standoff- who would speak up first? Who would ask a question or explain?
I ended up being Fred.
“Not often someone gets us that good-” He said, a nervous laugh bubbling in his throat. “We’re the pranksters, so, shoulda seen it I guess but we uh…”
“We didn’t take you for one.” George finished, throat bobbing.
“A prankster that is.”
“-Because this is a prank.”
“Masterful work, really.”
“Funny stuff. Gotta teach us that… that trick.”
“It’s not a joke or a prank.” Harry sighed, pressing a shaking palm to his forehead.
“I was not the pranking type in my group of friends.” Remus gave them a weary smile. “This is all too real, I’m afraid.”
“Bloody hell, you’re a… you’re both …” Ron finally spoke up, blanched pale. Even his myriad of freckles seemed to have lost pigment.
“Werewolves.” Harry supplied, knowing his voice was dull, but couldn’t bring himself to care how he was coming across.
He watched tiredly as Fred, George, and Ron all exchanged glances with wide eyes. He could smell their fear still, potent and sharp, and from where Remus was standing he could still scent anger and turmoil. It was making his skin prickle and his heart race, so he was grateful when Sunny came trotting across the room. Her red tail was held high and bobbing as she moved, then she leapt into his lap. He petted her absently, endlessly grateful for the feline for her steady support.
“… can you become a wolf whenever you want?” George asked. The question made Harry involuntarily snort.
“Yeah- yeah! -and is that why you eat so much meat?” Ron asked.
“I’ve always thought you had a sharper smile than other students.” Fred nodded.
“No I can’t, and yes it is. If we let you go- do you promise you won’t scream or tell anyone?” Harry asked them, wincing as he stood up with Sunny cradled in his arms. The cat stared at them, like a warden glaring down inmates.
“Yeah, mate. Course’ not.” Ron looked almost offended. “I mean. I’m shocked.. and a bit uh… nervous- but- you’re my friend… so…”
Harry walked up to him and held out a pinkie as Floppy dropped their magical restraint to the wall. They each dropped to their feet and staggered a bit, then Ron looked at Harry’s finger in confusion.
“Pinkie swear. Link your pinkie with mine and shake. It means you can’t break the promise.” Harry told him, frowning seriously, “Or your prick will fall off.”
Ron’s eyes bulged; Fred and George barely stifled their laughter, and Harry was certain his stone cold expression was only making it funnier. Even Remus coughed a little behind them, fist to his lips and head turned away.
“You serious?” Ron asked.
“Yeah. Muggle magic.”
“Muggle magic?” Ron frowned, but he linked their pinkies and shook, “Now I know you’re just having me on…. Aren’t you? Bah- doesn’t matter. I won’t break that promise anyway…” Once he released Harry’s pinkie he scuffed his shoe a bit, “Suppose’ it would get you in a lotta trouble if anyone found out… huh?”
“It would.” Harry nodded, then turned to Fred and George with his pinky out. Both twins linked his pinky and shook it, grinning widely.
“Wouldn’t wanna lose our pricks, would we George?”
“Not at all, Fred. Quite fond of mine if I’m honest.”
Somehow Harry felt that he’d gained their approval- whatever that meant.
“I will be informing your whole family.” Remus told the boys, who all, including Harry, turned in surprise. “There is something I must discuss with Molly- and will need her to be aware of the context. Considering you are likely here without permission, I would appreciate it if you don’t tell her that our house elf stuck you to a wall. In return, I will suggest a lighter punishment on your behalf. Is this agreeable?”
The Weasleys exchanged looks, then Fred said, “Think you could argue no punishment?”
Remus hummed, seeming to ponder, “Perhaps. You will no doubt have a lecture in wait no matter what I say-“
“That we can deal with.” Ron blew out a puff of air, as if imagining it, “Fred and George have done worse anyway-“
“Us?”
“No way- we’re positively angelic.”
“Mum’s never yelled at us in our whole lives.”
Remus shook his head, taking their joking good naturedly, then crossed his arms and took on a serious tone once more, “Can I get a verbal promise from each of you that you won’t share what you learned today? The safety of both Harry and myself are on the line if you let anything slip. I will ask the same promise of your whole family.”
“We promise.” Ron nodded seriously, coming to stand at Harry’s shoulder and gently clapped a hand on his shoulder. Fred and George joined the gesture, knuckles nudging Harry’s shoulder in a faux punch.
“Promise.” They said at the same time.
“Wouldn’t be very good junior marauders if we couldn’t keep a secret.” Fred said, a certain pride straightening his spine.
“Marauders?” Remus’s brows raised.
“Yeah!” George seemed to puff up his chest in pride, “Taking after Moonie, Prongs, Padfoot and Wormtail.” Then he glanced to Fred, had a silent conversation, then added, “We’ve got their map.”
Remus huffed amusedly, “Might I see the map for old times sake? When we get to the burrow- of course- and things have settled down.”
“Old times sake?” Fred’s eyes went very wide.
Harry knew where this was going, and grinned despite his exhaustion. He’d just heard a few stories about the marauders while they were waiting to turn into their wolf forms.
“Yes. It’s been a very long time since anyone has called me Moonie.” Remus said.
Fred and George were gobsmacked, and Ron looked at Harry in questioning confusion. Harry took pity and leaned over to mutter a small explanation, but Remus beat him to it.
“When I was a boy, transforming into a werewolf without the aid of wolfsbane, my three closest friends were James Potter, Sirius Black, and Peter Pettigrew. They were Prongs, Padfoot, and Wormtail respectively. On the full moons, we found that animagus animal forms were not susceptible to cursed werewolf bites and their presence soothed my wolf enough that I was not as feral. We would run amok in the forbidden forest from dusk to dawn- I don’t recall more than flashes but I was always told it was the best hours spent in my friends’ lives.”
“They became animagi that young?” Ron gaped. “Dad’s always saying it’s really difficult- and there’s a really small registry that only adults can get their names on. It’s illegal for kids.”
Remus snorted, “-illegal isn’t a word the marauders knew. I was the sensible one, and alas- on the full moon- I was a wolf.”
“Can you teach us?” Fred and George asked, crowding around Harry’s dad, “To become animagi?”
“Wouldn’t be very responsible of me as a professor to do so-“ Remus held up a hand to silence their protests, “-but, when you are of age, if your transfiguration marks are good enough, Professor McGonagall might take you on and teach you for extra marks on your transfiguration NEWTs. You’d have to register with the ministry, but if you prove yourselves I cannot see why she wouldn’t allow it.”
Fred and George exchanged glances, then Fred prompted, “So… you won’t teach us how to do it?”
“I will not be the one to show you, no. It was very irresponsible of my friends in our youth- much could have gone wrong- but if we had done thorough research, perhaps… well. If anonymous questions appear under my door, and I leave the answers pinned to the cork board in my office.. I won’t question their disappearance. Especially if these questions have to do with safety. ” Remus trailed off, glancing away. Harry understood that he wasn’t banning them, just telling them he wouldn’t be the one to teach them directly and to be safe while they no doubt wouldn’t listen to his telling them not to.
“Understood Professor.” George beamed.
“Now-“ Remus looked to Harry, “-you still need to pack don’t you?” Harry nodded, and Remus turned to the Weasleys to say, “You three will be staying here for a few hours to get some rest. Floppy will set you up in our guest room with a few beds- and I will step through the floo to speak to your mother. You’ve been up all night, it wouldn’t do to have you exhausted all day, and Harry needs a rest before he can return to The Burrow with you. Once you’ve rested, I will drive you back home. Are we all in agreement?”
“Yes sir.” The Weasleys echoed, interspersed with a yawn from Ron. They did look a bit tired now, Harry noticed, now that they weren’t alight with fear.
“Floppy? Kreacher?” Harry called the house elves. Both popped in front of him.
“Yes Mister Harry?” Floppy asked cheerfully.
“What does the young mutt want…?” Kreacher rumbled.
“Can you please set up the guest room for Ron, Fred and George?” He asked. When Floppy nodded, and Kreacher scowled, Harry gave an approving nod, “Thank you.”
They disappeared again and Harry gestured for the three Weasleys to follow him as Remus stepped toward the hearth and reached into the jar of floo powder. He heard him call ‘the burrow’ and a whoosh of flame as Harry mounted the steps with his three house guests.
The room was ready when they got there- house elf magic was truly a marvel- and each Weasley flopped gratefully into a bed.
“If they need anything, can they call for you Floppy?” Harry asked the house elf, who was tucking each of them in gently. Ron was already asleep.
“Yes Mister Harry.” She beamed.
“Have a good sleep.” Harry told them, and received snores in response. Harry rolled his eyes with a fond smile, then turned to go back to his own room.
He snuggled under the covers with Sunny, her whiskers tickling his cheek. Although the night was stressful, and he hadn’t expected what happened (nor Ron’s reaction), he was pleased nevertheless. It felt like a small weight was lifted from him now that more people knew- and he fell asleep wondering what animal Ron, Fred and George would be if they became animagi.
Remus Lupin
“Molly? May I step through? I’ve found your sons.”
Remus had stuck his head through the flames first, doing the polite thing and asking before barging in as the three young men about to occupy his guest room hadn’t.
“Of course, Remus- thank goodness-“ Molly’s reply came.
Remus stepped through properly and dusted off a bit of ash. Molly was properly frazzled, her hair a mess and her robe tied haphazardly around her waist.
“I’m so sorry if they’ve caused you trouble- when I saw the car was gone and they had put pillows under their covers I just… ohh I could just shake them sometimes!” Molly scowled.
“It’s quite alright, Molly. They’re safe. It seems they wanted to cheer Harry up with a late night adventure- they’re sleeping in my guest room right now. I’ll return them in the car in the afternoon, if that’s alright?” Remus smiled, opening his arms to the woman, “It’s been a very long time, how are you?”
Molly’s anger deflated a little, and she allowed a small smile as she accepted Remus’s hug.
“Quite well, Remus. It’s good to see you. How long has it been?”
“Years, I’m certain.”
“Would you like some tea?” She pulled away and gestured to the kitchen, “Arthur is working late I’m afraid- raids have been more and more frequent.”
Remus nodded, following Molly to her kitchen where she had magic hard at work cleaning dishes and dusting. He sat at the kitchen table and accepted the steaming cup when offered, but didn’t drink right away even as Molly sat across from him.
“You look troubled..” she noted, his brow arched in concern.
“I am.” Remus sighed. “Molly I… can I get a promise from you? That you’ll not repeat what I tell you?”
Molly stared at him, thumbing her teacup.
“If it endangers my family, I will not promise such a thing, but I have no trouble in keeping my lips sealed for a dear friend otherwise.” She replied eventually.
“It will not endanger them, I take careful consideration to ensure that-“ Remus looked down at his cup, and he could feel Molly’s apprehension building as she stared at him. “There is no easy way to say this, so I’ll be blunt. Harry and I… are cursed with Lycanthropy. We are werewolves.” He heard the strangled gasp from Molly, and continued before she could say anything, “We take wolfsbane, so we keep our faculties on full moons, but your sons discovered us last night when they came for Harry. Our house elf kept them away from us until sunrise when we could explain.”
It was Molly’s turn to stare down at her cup.
“You’re certain you’re safe…?” She asked.
“Severus personally brews our potion, and always stays the first half hour to ensure it takes effect.”
Molly was silent a long time, but eventually she said, “… well.. then I suppose all I have to say is I’m sorry. I’m sorry my sons forced you to reveal this- and… oh… poor Harry-“ she shook her head.
“It’s not something I wish upon a child- but… he’s been coping well. In any case he has been happier with me than with his relatives. They were not kind to him.”
Molly’s anger returned in a flash, “What do you mean?”
“… to.. put it lightly-“ Remus swirled his tea just to have something to do with his hands, “-When I found him, following his bite, it became clear he’d been mistreated. Quite skinny.”
Molly fumed, “Well. I will never say that I’m glad he was bitten- but things do happen for a reason, and I’m very happy he’s with you now, Remus.”
“Thank you, Molly.” He nodded, sipped his tea, then pushed it aside. He couldn’t stomach more than a mouthful. “There is more I need to tell you, however.”
Molly leaned back in her chair, frowning deeply, “Worse than you’ve told me already?”
“… yes.” He nodded. “It would be best if I demonstrated. Where would I find your son’s rat?”
Molly wasn’t sure how to reply for a moment, it was obvious in the way her jaw dropped slightly, “Well I… I imagine his room-“
“May I?”
“I… yes. It’s the room at the top of the stairs- Ron put a sign with his name up.” She nodded absently, then watched him as he mounted the stairs and headed up toward Ron’s room.
Remus stifled the rage in his chest hard, able to do it during the conversation with Molly because he knew logically that he must, but it was more difficult as he picked up the scent he knew all too well. Rat, and that underlying smell that was one man, and one man alone.
Peter Pettigrew. Wormtail.
He’d scented him on Ronald, and knew at that moment he had to take care of it. Revealing he was a werewolf was nothing in comparison to letting a family believe their beloved pet was anything but a grown man. Harry had talked of scabbers- how he often slept on Ron’s bed and had been Percy’s rat too- and he didn’t even want to think about Peter being in the same room as adolescent boys changing each day at Hogwarts.
He cast a notice-me-not charm as he entered Ron’s room silently, and scanned carefully for the rat form knew so well. In a moment he spotted him snoozing on Ron’s pillow.
He stalked forward, feet light, then grabbed for him like a predator pouncing on prey. Wormtail squealed, thrashed and bit his hands, but Remus held firm and drew his wand.
“Petrificus totalus!” He hissed, and Wormtail froze, the whites of his eyes showing as he gazed up at Remus in terror. He did not loosen his grip as he walked down the steps, released his notice-me-not charm and placed the frozen animagus on Molly’s table. She blanched.
“What is this Remus? Why have you-“
“Cast homenum revelio.” He growled, not bothering to curb the wolfish sound.
Molly flinched, but shakily took out her wand despite her confusion. She cast the spell, then audibly gasped, “What-“
“This is not an ordinary rat. I scented him on Ron’s clothes tonight. This is why I told you about my curse, so that you’d know my nose is strong enough to tell such a thing. I grew up with this rat, and know him by sight and by smell. Do you see his missing toe? Do you know who has been sleeping in your children’s beds and traveling in their pockets for almost a decade? Since just after Halloween, nineteen-eighty-one?”
Molly’s eyes were trained on Wormtail, and Remus watched the gears turn in her mind. Then her expression turned stormy, a raging tornado amidst a hurricane.
“No.”
“It’s true.”
“No- I… no- Remus. You’re saying I have allowed a … a grown man- to be around my children-“
“I am saying that no one knew he was an animagus. I am also saying that his existence- his being alive- means that Sirius Black is an innocent man, or at least that we do not know the full truth. That my Harry, an innocent boy, was deprived of a God-father, a guardian, all these years because this man framed Sirius for the deaths of their closest friends.”
His anger built alongside Molly’s, swelling and surging with thunder and lightning. He watched her jerk to her feet, raise her wand, and accio an owl cage sat by the door to her. She tossed Wormtail into it, then looked seriously at Remus with cold blooded fury,
“You know how to ward this, don’t you? I will alert Dumbledore.” She told him, then spun on her heel.
Remus did as he was told. He transfigured a bit of coal from the hearth in the living room into chalk and began drawing up a containment rune onto the floor of the cage. One not even an animagus would be able to break even if he tried.
While runes were used as language in the wizarding world, they were also used as anchors. Powerful symbols with specific meanings that carried magical value in creating wards and rituals.
He began the innermost circle, and inscribed mannaz to bind the man within Wormtail, then berkanan encircled with kaunan, to symbolize the death of liberation, a cage. Then outside of all of the symbols he drew algiz, for a protective shield, and kaunan again so that said shield would burn the one who tries to breach it. The final thing he wrote was Wormtail’s name along the edge of the innermost circle in the runic alphabet, then he grabbed a knife and reached into the cage. He pricked Wormtail’s skin, and swiped the bead of blood on the tip of his wand before tapping it to the finished rune circle.
He spoke not in Latin, as runes had no connection to the language, but proto-Nordic. He called upon each rune individually, mannaz, berkanan and kaunan first, then algiz and kaunan once more. With a final tap of his wand, an utterance of Wormtail’s true name, and a push of his magic through its tip, he drew the barrier of the ward through the air. Once he’d finished, the chalk glowed white, then red, and faded. The writing was gone, but Remus could smell its power and knew it had worked.
He wiped off the blood with his sleeve and scourgified the fabric as the floo wooshed to life. While he knew he would get no judgement here from using blood in his wards- it was still not entirely legal. Wards were strong without them but he did not take chances when he knew that blood could ensure success.
He turned to see Molly leading both Dumbledore and Severus into the kitchen, and stepped back so both could get a look at the rat within the cage.
The moment Dumbledore got a good look at him, he glanced at Remus with a slow nod, “It looks as if you will get your wish, my boy. This is certainly proof that will get Sirius Black the trial he always deserved.”