messrs moony, wormtail, padfoot, and prongs
9 june 1997
Euphemia’s POV
“You’re mad,” I can’t help but scoff at the accusation that Ron’s rat, a rat that has been in his family for years, is actually a wizard who is supposed to be dead.
“You’re mental,” Ron cries, cradling Scabbers closer.
“Ludicrous!” Hermione says softly.
“Peter Petirgrew is dead! You killed him!” Harry says, pointing his wand at Black.
“I meant to,” Black growls, glaring at the rat furiously. “Little Peter fooled me once but not this time!” Black lunges forward towards Ron and Scabbers but Lupin holds him back.
“Wait! Sirius, we have to explain why!”
“I’ll explain afterwards! I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for!”
“They have a right to know, Sirius! You owe it to Harry and Mia to explain it. Ron’s kept him as a pet, some of it even I don’t understand yet. Wait,” Lupin says, gripping Sirius’ face and making him look at him. The two men share and glance and even a blind person could tell their history runs deep, deeper than friendship or roommate. Black stops fighting Lupin and nods, turning to pace closer to the bed while stile glaring at the rat in Ron’s hands.
“There were witnesses to Petigrew’s death. A whole street of Muggles,” I say, remembering the conversation we overheard at the Three Broomsticks.
“They didn’t see what they thought they did,” Black says.
“Everyone believed, even I, that Sirius killed Peter but when I saw it on the map I knew,” Lupin explains.
“Then the map was lying-“ Harry starts
“The map never lies. Peter’s alive and he’s right there!” Sirius growls, pointing a bony finger at Ron.
“Listen, it’s quite a long story…” Lupin starts but all our heads turn towards the door as there’s a loud creak. Lupin looks out to the landing but seeing nothing, turns back to us. “No one there.”
“This place is haunted,” Ron says, sounding more scared at the thought of ghosts than confronting Black.
“It’s not. This whole story starts when I became a werewolf. I was very young when I was bitten. Now, the Wolfsbane potion, which Professor Snape brews for me every month, is rather a new discovery and it lets me keep my mind when I transform. It used to be every month, I became a full fledged monster. I never thought I could come to Hogwarts but Dumbledore became Headmaster and was sympathetic. He said he would set up precautions for me. The Whomping Willow was planted to hide the tunnel that they dug to this house. All of it was built for my use during the full moon.” Lupin sits on an ottoman near the door, looking weary. “Once a month, teachers brought me here to transform and keep me from anyone else.’’
We all listen carefully although I can’t see how any of this matters concerning our parents' deaths.
“It was horrible, the transformation, in those days. The screams the villagers heard were me. I was separated from humans to bite so I hurt myself instead. Dumbledore encouraged the rumors of violent sprites to keep suspicion off but other than the full moons, I was happier than ever at Hogwarts. For the first time in my life, I had friends; Sirius Black, Peter Petegrew and James Potter. I tried telling them all kinds of excuses to explain my disappearances but they were smarter than that. James and Sirius worked it out easily enough, just like you, Hermione. I thought they’d abandon me but they didn’t, not at all. Instead they became Animagi.”
“What?” I exclaim, bewildered. The Animagus process is said to be incredibly difficult and I find it hard to believe they managed it on their own without anyone finding out.
“Our dad too?” Harry asks.
“Took us the better part of three years but yes,” Sirius mumbles, watching Remus for a moment before turning his gaze back to Sacabbers and Ron.
“Sirius and James were the cleverest in our year, possibly the whole school, besides Lily. Peter needed Sirius and James’ help of course but during our fifth year they managed it.”
“But how would that help you?” Hermione asks, confused.
“A werewolf is only dangerous to humans. So they snuck out of the castle with James’ Invisibility Cloak. Peter, the smallest as a rat, could reach the knot on the tree to immobilize it and they slipped down the tunnel to join me. I became less dangerous in their company. My mind seemed to stay with me more under their influence.”
“Hurry up, Remus,” Sirius snarls.
“I’m getting there,” Lupin says impatiently. “Eventually, we started leaving the shack and roaming the grounds at night. Sirius and James transformed into such large animals that they were able to keep me in check. That’s how we discovered as much as we did about Hogwarts and Hogsmeade. The tunnels and such. That’s how we came to write the Marauder’s Map and signed it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot, Peter is Wormtail, and James was Prongs.”
I open my mouth to ask what kind of animal warrants a nickname like Prongs but Hermione beats me to it. “What’s really dangerous! What if you’d given the others the slip and ended up hurting someone?” she cries indignantly.
“You’re right of course,” Lupin says heavily. “And there were plenty of near misses that we laughed about afterwards. We were young, foolhardy, carried away with our cleverness… But I forgot all the guilt as soon as we began planning the next adventure. And I haven’t changed…” Lupin's face hardens with self disgust, “All year, I’ve battled with myself at admitting it all to Dumbledore. Knowing Sirius being an Animagus meant he could slip in and out of the castle better than anyone…. But I couldn’t face it. You were right to call me a coward, Mia. I am one,” he says looking at me. Guilt weighs heavily in my chest as I recall the nasty insults I slung his way on my birthday but before I can apologize Lupin forges on. “Dumbledore’s trust means everything to me, everything I have I owe to him admitting me to Hogwarts when no one else would. So I convinced myself that Sirius was using dark magic he learned from Voldemort instead. Really, Snape had been right about me all along. He’s been telling Dumbledore I’ve been helping Sirius all year. He has a sound reason…” Lupin and Black share a heavy glance and Black nods subtly, shame creeping into his eyes for a moment. “Sirius played a trick on him while we were at school. Severus was very interested as to why I disappear every month- we were in the same year you see- and we didn’t get along well. He especially hated James, jealous I think.” Harry and I share a look, well aware of Snape’s dislike of our father. “Anyway, Sirius thought it would be… amusing to tell Snape how to bypass the Willow. James found out what Sirius had done and went after him, pulling Snape back at the last moment. He caught a glimpse of me though. Dumbledore swore him to secrecy but he still knew…”
“That’s right,” a cold voice sneers from the doorway and Snape appears, pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointed right at Lupin. Hermione yelps and Lupin jumps up from his seated position to face Snape. “Found this at the base of the Whomping Willow. Very helpful, Potter. Thank you. Well Lupin, I’ve just been to your office to bring you your potion and luckily there was a handy map lying open on your desk. One look told me everything I needed to know,” Snape sneers, looking more hateful than ever.
“Severus,” Black says darkly, glaring at the man.
“Oh vengeance is sweet, how I’d hoped to be the one to catch you,” Snape says, turning to Black. Lupin takes a step towards him but Snape points his wand back at him and he backs up to stand next to Sirius. “I told Dumbledore you were helping your old friend into the castle and now I have proof. Never thought you’d have the nerve to use this place as your hideout,” Snape sneers at the two men.
“Brilliant, Snivilous,” Black speaks up, “Again you’ve put your keen and penetrating mind to the problem and as usual come to the wrong conclusion. Now if you’ll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished busin-“ Black starts in, his voice mocking the Potions professor but Snape steps forward, holding his wand to Black throat causing Lupin to jump forward. Harry, Ron, Hermione and I press further back against the wall, wands still in our hands, and we share a look, knowing Snape will get in the way of us getting some real answers.
“I could do it, you know, but I’d rather watch the dementors. They’re so longing to see you, Sirius. And they’ll be so pleased to bring you along too, Remus,” Snape threatens.
“Severus don’t be a fool, we can explain everything,” Lupin says placatingly.
“He can’t help it. Habit by now,” Black says mockingly at Snape.
“Sirius, be quiet.”
“Be quiet yourself, Remus!”
“Look at you too, still quarreling like an old married couple,” Snape mocks.
“Just run along and play with your chemistry set!” Black snaps.
“Severus really, is a school boy grudge worth putting an innocent man back in Azkaban?” Lupin attempts to reason. It’s hard to tell whose face shows more hatred, Snape’s or Black’s, as they glare at each other, each daring the other to test them.
“Give me a reason,” Snape sneers, pressing his wand further into Black’s throat, ignoring Lupin.
“Severus, please,” Lupin pleads. Harry and I share a look, knowing we have to hear our father’s best friends out now. We’ve gone most of our lives with no real answers and now that they are in reach, we have to have them. Harry and I raise our wands at Snape simultaneously.
“Expelliarmus!” Harry casts.
“Stupify!” I cast myself and the combined force of our spells sends Snape flying backwards into the dusty four poster bed. Before anyone can react we turn our wands back to Black and Lupin.
“You attacked a teacher,” Hermione says quietly, her voice squeaky.
“You shouldn’t have done that, you should’ve left him to us,” Black says, looking at Harry.
“Yeah, you were doing a great job, weren’t you?” I snark.
“Thank you,” Lupin says, shooting a pointed look at Sirius.
“We’re not saying we believe you yet,” Harry says, his wand still raised towards Black.
“Tell us about Peter Petegrew. How do you reckon Scabbers is him?” I ask, the rat in question writhing wildly in Ron’s grip.
Black reaches into his robes and pulls out a very crumpled up piece of paper which he hands to Remus. “Fudge came to do an inspection last year. Gave me this and I knew… I’d recognize him anywhere,” Black explains and I step forward to see the paper. It’s the Daily Prophet picture and article of the Weasley’s in Egypt and on Ron’s shoulder sits Scabbers.
“He’s missing a toe… Godric,” Lupin says examining the picture and the rat in Ron’s hands.
“What about it?” Ron asks.
And then it hits me. “All they could find of Pettigrew was his fi-“
“His finger! The filthy coward cut it off so everyone would think he was dead and then he transformed into a rat!” Black spits. “Just as I caught up to him he yelled to the whole street that I’d betrayed Lily and James and before I could do anything he blew up the whole street with his wand behind his back. Next thing I knee, a rat was scurrying off down to the sewer.”
“He probably just got into a fight with another rat he’s been in my family for ages,” Ron counters, still not believing it.
“Fifteen years, yes? Curiously long life for a common garden rat,” Black points out.
“We take good care of him!” Ron argues.
“Well he doesn’t look too good now. I suspect he’s been looking sickly since he heard Sirius had escaped,” Lupin observes.
“No, he’s afraid of that crazy cat!” Ron exclaims pointing at Crookshanks.
“Ron, they’re right. He’d been looking ill before ‘Mione got the cat,” Harry reminds Ron.
“I told you, Ron!” Hermione says, seemingly relieved that her cat is innocent.
“This cat isn’t mad. It’s quite intelligent actually,” Sirius says, patting Crookshanks. “He recognized Peter for what he was immediately, same with me when we met. He knew I wasn’t really a dog and once I got him to trust me, we learned how to communicate. He’s been helping me, you see. Tried to bring Peter to me, but couldn’t so he took the passwords to the Tower. But Peter figured it out and ran for it. This cat- Crookshanks you called him?- told me there was blood on the sheets. Peter must have figured faking his death worked once well enough,” Black growls the last part.
“Yes but why did he fake his death?” Harry speaks up, looking furious again. “Because he knew you were about to murder him like you did our parents! And now you’ve come to finish him off!”
“No, Harry-“ Lupin starts but Black cuts him off.
“Yes, I have.”
“Then we should’ve let Snape take you!” I say angrily.
“No, don’t you see? All these years, we thought Sirius betrayed your parents and Peter tracked him down but it was the other way around-” Lupin says placatingly.
“No, he was their Secret Keeper. He admitted it before you turned up. He killed them!” Harry yells, angrily, his hand shaking as he points his wand at Black.
“I as good as killed them…” Black says quietly, grief making his voice heavy. “I convinced Lily and James to switch to Peter at the last moment, make him the Secret Keeper instead. I’m to blame, I know it… That… The night they died, I’d had plans to check in on Peter but when I arrived at his hideout he was gone. It didn’t feel right, there were no signs of a struggle. I was scared…. I went to check on your parents and I saw the house… their bodies… I realized what Peter had done. What I did…” Black looks up at Harry and I, grief overtaking his features as a tear rolls down his cheek. “You two were crying in Harry’s crib… screaming for your mum who-- who was dead on the floor in front of you, the roof blown off, both of you bleeding. I tried to take you, keep you safe but Hagrid wouldn’t let me. I figured I’d take care of Peter and then Remus and I would come back and take you home…” Black looks between Harry and I, his eyes pleading for us to believe him. I blink as tears flood my eyes, filled with grief not only over our parents but the life my brother and I might have lived. Two lives really; one with our parents alive and happy and one being raised by the two men in front of us. Both options far happier than the lot we ended up with.
“Enough of this,” Lupin says, a steely tone in his voice, one I haven’t heard from the man before. “There’s one way to prove all of this. Ron, give me the rat.”
“What are you going to do to him?” Ron asks, holding a squirming Scabbers close to his chest.
“Force him to show his true self, if he really is a rat then it won’t hurt him,” Lupin responds. Ron considers Lupin for a moment but eventually, he holds Scabbers out to Lupin. Scabbers starts squeaking and writhing more widely. “Ready, Sirius?” Lupin asks. Black has already picked up Snape’s wand from the bed and approaches Lupin and the squirming rat, hsi eyes burning.
“Together?” Black asks to which Lupin nods. They count to three, Lupin holding Scabbers aloft, and a flash of bright blue lights erupts from both wands and Scabbers falls to the floor- Ron crying out for his pet. But there was another flash of light and from the small rat on the floor, slowly grows a man. A very short, mousy looking man, with thin colorless hair. He stood sort of hunched over, his skin grungy looking and unwell. Peter Petigrew looks around at the rest of us in the room, his eyes darting between Harry, me and the door.
“Hello, Peter,” Lupin says with a faux pleasantness. “Long time no see.”
“S-S-Sirius, R-Remus, my old friends!” Cries Peter, his voice squeaky, as his eyes dart to the door and he tries to dart between the two men towards the door but is stopped by Lupin and Black. Peter turns to Harry and I, stepping closer to us and I push Harry behind me and Peter approaches, keeping my wand between me and the rat like man.
“Harry? Look at you, you look so much like your father, like James. And you Euphemia, just like Lily. We were the best of friends, we-”
“How dare you speak to them? How dare you talk about James and Lily in front of them!” Black shouts, pulling Peter away from us.
“You were the spy! You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn’t you?” Lupin chimes in, the two men pinning Peter against the piano.
“I-I didn’t mean to!” Peter squeaks. “The Dark Lord! You have no idea the power he possesses. What would you have done, Sirius?”
“I would’ve died! I would’ve died rather than betray my friends!” Black bellows. “You haven’t been hiding from me all these years, Peter. You’ve been hiding from Voldemort’s old supporters. I heard things in Azkaban, Peter. They think the double crosser double crossed them. They think you gave Voldemort bad information knowing it would lead to his defeat!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about! You tried to kill me!” Peter yelps and tries again for the door but I beat him there first, preventing him from leaving.
“Mia, your parents wouldn’t have wanted me killed. Your dad, he would’ve shown me mercy!” He pleads, trying to grab at me but my raised wand keeps him at bay until Remus and Sirius manage to pull him back towards the piano.
“You should’ve realized that if Voldemort wouldn’t kill you then we would. Together!” Black says angrily, Lupin by his side as they both raise their wands at the rat like man who cowers from them.
“NO!” Harry and I yell simultaneously, stopping them.
Lupin turns to us, “This man-”
“We know what he is,” Harry snaps. “We’ll take him to the castle.”
“Bless you, boy,” he sighs, falling to the floor to claw at Harry’s feet.
“Get off him!” I snap, sending sparks to Peter’s hands causing him to back away. “He said we’d take you to the castle. Then the dementors can have you,” I sneer at the man cowering on the ground at the idea of the dementors.
“Thank you,” Peter squeaks from the floor.
“We’re not doing this for you,” I spit.
“You two are the only ones who have the right to decide… but why?” Lupin asks, eyeing Harry and I carefully. Harry and I share a glance, only needing that much to know we are on the same page.
“I don’t think our parents would want their two best friends to become killers,” Harry states simply.
“You believe us then? Believe me?” Black says, looking between us, hope in his eyes for the first time all night.
Harry and I nod and it's as if the weight of the world falls from Black’s shoulders, joy and hope making him look younger. Harry looks to Ron and Hermione who have watched the whole thing in shock and awe. And as I stand there, staring at my brother and our godfathers, I can’t help as hope starts to creep into my chest as well.