Chapter Text
Harry felt hope rise within him. Sirius Black had just asked him if he would like to live with him. Giving Harry the possibility to get away from the Dursleys. This was a dream come true. Literally. He had always dreamt of a person rescuing him from that hell on earth which was the Dursley household.
Harry had agreed immediately and felt a small skip entering his steps because he felt so happy at the moment. Someone wanted him. Him.
In front of them, Professor Lupin was levitating Snape’s unconscious body none too gently, and behind them, Hermione helped Ron along whose foot had been broken by the dog that was his Godfather Sirius Black. The aforementioned man was levitating the also unconscious body of Peter Pettigrew, making it bump the walls every now and then.
So, what if Black and Lupin weren’t the nicest of people? They at least liked Harry and that was all that counted in his mind.
When they came out of the tunnel and stood out of reach of the Whomping Willow on the grounds at least, Professor Lupin stiffened and stopped walking abruptly. The Potions Master’s body dropped to the ground, as he lost hold of his spells.
“Oh no!” Hermione cried out in despair, “The full moon is up! Run!”
But it was too late. Professor Lupin was transforming. And unconscious Snape was waking up.
Black transformed into his Animagus form at once to keep the werewolf at bay.
This made Pettigrew drop to the ground and wake up as well. The skittish man did the same as his fellow Marauder and transformed into his rat form. But for some reason, he left his clothes behind. He then tried to escape immediately with his tiny feet running as fast as they could
Meanwhile, Professor Snape stepped protectively in front of the students, raised his wand toward the newly transformed werewolf, and yelled, “Imperio Lupus!” frowning in deep concentration.
He had lain awake for many nights thinking what he would do if in this exact situation again, so this action didn’t need any forethought. He just reacted.
And the wolf stopped and whined.
It worked!
The Grim looked from the werewolf to Snape, nodded, and jumped after the escaping rat, catching it quickly and biting down hard. The rat squeaked and transformed back into a now naked and bleeding Pettigrew and fell unconscious once more. This time without the help of any spell.
Black transformed back into his human form and barked at Snape, “Can you restrain Moony while walking and maybe send him into the woods? We need to get the children to the castle!”
Snape nodded, sweat running down his face as the werewolf whined and bounded into the woods. The only reason Severus didn’t let his hate for Black come to the surface was his fear of the beast, which had just been endangering them all. He was able to prioritize, thank you very much.
And Pettigrew was here, too. So, there might be more to the story than he thought, a tiny part of his mind noticed.
Sirius, who was thankfully still clothed, waved his wand and Pettigrew rose to the air again and levitated next to the escapee. Harry grabbed the clothes on the ground. “Evidence,” he said and shrugged, following along next to Hermione helping the hobbling Ron.
As they neared the castle, he said, “Maybe you hide while we clear up this mess, Mr. Black? Or they will attack first and ask questions later? We have Pettigrew now, after all, so we should be able to get your kiss-on-sight order dropped?”
Hermione nodded but cautioned, “But what if Pettigrew changes again and makes a run for it after he is healed? Is there a way to stop him from transforming again?”
Sirius thought about it, “Yes, there is a way. But it’s dark magic and only I can lift the curse again.”
“Then do it,” Harry more or less ordered.
“Your wish is my command,” Sirius let the body of Pettigrew drop to the ground none too gently and waved his wand over the man’s body and said an unknown incantation.
The blood, dripping out of the bite wounds, formed two shackles and wrapped around his wrists and ankles, sinking into his skin again.
“There you go,” Sirius grunted and levitated the unconscious man toward the castle again.
Harry, who was looking over his shoulders yelped, “The Dementors are coming, we have to hurry!”
They made it just in time and slammed the huge doors closed behind them.
Snape leaned against the next wall and slowly slid down, panting, “I let go of the Imperius. Lupin has free reign again.”
They heard quick steps coming and Harry hissed to Sirius, “Transform.”
Sirius Black did so just in time and Pettigrew’s body dropped to the floor for the third time.
Headmaster Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall rushed into the Entrance Hall and sighed in relief at seeing their wayward students alive, if not well in Ron Weasley’s case.
“What happened, Severus?” Dumbledore asked Snape, looking down at the panting man while McGonagall stared at Pettigrew in shock.
“Lupin got distracted, forgot his potion, transformed, and was run off. Meanwhile, Pettigrew was found alive and bitten by that dog there, while Pettigrew was in his Animagus form. He transformed back. I think he needs medical attention. And Weasley does too. Maybe you see to them before you ask for a detailed report, don’t you think?” Snape said with his voice full of sarcasm.
The Headmaster frowned but couldn’t refute that point. And so, the whole parade was brought to the Hospital Wing where the Matron took charge of Ron and Pettigrew immediately.
Dumbledore asked Harry, “Who is your friend, Harry?”
“Uh, a dog I befriended this year. I named him Snuffles.”
The huge dog yipped and licked Harry’s face, much to the teen’s disgust and amusement.
The Headmaster blinked and frowned. Something was strange about the animal, but alas, no time to investigate it just now.
“Can you tell me about Pettigrew?”
“Yeah. He was Ron’s pet-rat Scabbers! He lived with the Weasleys for a long time. I think he was Percy’s first until Percy got an owl and gave Scabbers to Ron,” Harry frowned. “Anyway, we learned today that Pettigrew was my parent’s Secret-Keeper back then and betrayed us to Voldemort. He was the traitor, not Black, and the stupid Ministry didn’t give Black a trial and just chucked him into prison.”
Dumbledore looked old and frail when he heard that story, “I didn’t know, my boy.”
“Aren’t you some big boss in the Ministry, as well? Why didn’t you ask for a trial? Or were you and Black enemies?”
Dumbledore sank into himself even more and said quietly, “No, he was in my group of resistance fighters against the Dark. And you are right. I should have…”
Harry frowned, “Part of your group? Wow, I don’t think I want to be in any of your groups then.”
It was like all the filters he normally had were gone, and his mouth was running the show and he just didn’t care. Maybe he was just exhausted?
The huge dog lent against him and gave him something to hold onto.
“I am sorry to hear that, Harry.”
Harry huffed and said, “Did you know that Sirius is my godfather?”
Dumbledore nodded, wondering where this was going.
“And you wanted me to go to the Dursley, right? Can you swear to me the reason you didn’t help Sirius wasn't because he would have disagreed?”
Unfortunately, Professor McGonagall saved the Headmaster from answering that very uncomfortable question, “Mr. Potter. You cannot talk to the Headmaster like that. Twenty points from Gryffindor.”
Harry huffed, “Whatever,” and turned to go to Ron’s bed, the dog following him loyally.
“Minerva, this could have been handled better. He…” The old man rubbed his face, feeling exhausted, and questioning his past decisions. If Harry lost his trust in Albus everything was lost.
The Transfiguration Professor huffed and answered, “Albus, no one can talk to the Headmaster like that, especially not to you. After all the things you have done for the boy.”
She didn’t notice her old friend flinching at that, she was feeling much too self-righteous about it.
Harry walked over to Ron and saw Professor Snape sitting on the bed next to his friend.
“Did you tell the Headmaster how I held the werewolf off? With which incantation, I mean?”
“No, sir.”
“Good. Please don’t. That spell is very Dark and one goes to Azkaban right away, if one casts it on a wizard or witch.”
“And on a werewolf?”
“That is a gray area. Because the wolf is normally a wizard or witch and it’s quite open to interpretation.”
“Oh, ok. We won’t tell, then. You saved us all.”
Hermione, Ron, and even the dog nodded.
Snape sighed in relief and said, “Then you cannot look Albus Dumbledore in the eyes anymore. He is an accomplished Legilimens and constantly scans the surface thoughts of anyone.”
“Whoa. He can read minds?”
“In a way. It’s a hard skill to learn and it needs eye contact.”
Snuffles nodded again and Harry frowned, “I don’t think I looked at him, just now. I was angry with him for not getting a trial for Sirius.”
Snape’s eyebrows rose, “He didn’t? But Black was a member of his Order of the Phoenix.”
“His resistance group?”
“Indeed.”
“Well, I asked him if he didn’t give Sirius a trial so I would have to go to Aunt Petunia. But McGonagall interfered and took 20 points from me,” Harry scowled.
Hermione, who was about to admonish Harry for not saying ‘Professor McGonagall’ gasped and glared at the woman standing at the end of the Wing talking to a thoughtful-looking Professor Dumbledore.
The five then decided to get their stories straight, leaving Professor Lupins’ werewolf curse and Sirius Black’s involvement out. And then Professor Snape called the Aurors through Madame Pomfrey’s Floo before Dumbledore could sweep everything under the rug once again.
Soon, the Wing was filled with officials from the Ministry. The Head of the Magical Law Enforcement Department had come and even Minister Fudge was there.
And that man tried to sweep the whole thing under the proverbial rug as well, much to the children’s confusion. But to no avail. That story was out and couldn’t be contained, Severus decided.
“What’s his problem anyways?” Ron asked in a moment the three children and Professor Snape had a break from giving their testimonies and were watching as Pettigrew was bundled up, cuffed, and transported away while the Minister crumbled his green bowler hat in his pudgy fists.
“The Minister build his whole election campaign on the fact, that he was the first wizard on the scene of Pettigrew’s ‘murder’. He was the one that arrested Black. If it gets out he that buggered this whole thing up so mightily, his approval ratings will drop. That’s his problem,” their Potions Professor explained.
“Politicians,” Hermione huffed.
“Indeed.”
Snuffles woofed.
“What will we do with you now, Black?” Snape asked. “You should wait, till they issue a pardon or something like that for you. That Minister could still let a Dementor have a go at you if you aren’t careful now.”
Snuffles whined.
“Hmm,” Snape thought about it and then squared his shoulders. “I do have a house in a rather rundown part of Northern England. Not up to your normal standards, but if you promise not to destroy it, you can stay there for a while. It is warded and stocked. So, you should be able to heal up until the Ministry decides to acquit you.”
Snuffles tilted his head and looked first to Snape, then to Harry, and then to Snape again, and nodded with a little yip.
“Very well. Meet me tomorrow morning at the Gates and I will give you a Portkey. And no making fun of my upbringing again, understood?” Snape looked seriously at Snuffles who looked as confused as a dog was able to and nodded again.
Snape frowned then, looked to Harry again, and said quietly, “Did you say earlier that you are living with your Aunt Petunia? Like in Petunia Evans, Lily’s sister? And that the Headmaster put you there?”
Harry nodded big-eyed and said, “Yes. Do you know her? And it’s Petunia Dursley now.”
“So, she married that walrus?”
“You do know her! Yes, she did.”
“That is no place for a magical child. She hates magic.”
“You tell me…”
“Fuck!” The Professor exclaimed much to Hermione’s shock.
Harry couldn’t agree more, though, and Ron was just awed.
“You will take the boy as soon as you are free,” Snape pointed at Snuffles, who nodded and was looking quite impressed now. “Good. Don’t mess it up. Petunia. What the hell.”
All went as planned. Sirius was bustled off to Cokeworth, Peter was in custody and Ron was announced to be fully healed the next morning.
Remus’ secret was kept safe for now, with Snape filling him in to keep their stories straight.
At least, the werewolf will keep Lupin from getting his mind read, Severus thought. Small mercies and all that.
The Potions Master had warned the children that the truth about Black being there that night of Pettigrew’s capture and Lupin’s secret was going to get out, as soon as Pettigrew was put under the truth serum, but that he hoped that the rat-man hadn’t heard Snape saying that dark curse at that very moment as he had been transforming at that very moment. Snape would prepare for the worst, though.
Remus Lupin was quite thankful to Snape for stopping him and told him so with great emphasis. Snape seemed a little less stressed after hearing this. The Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor also told them that he would quit the job because he just couldn’t stay after he had forgotten the potion. Whatever the reason, there was no excuse in his opinion. And the rest had to agree. It had been rather scary and really dangerous, after all.
But Harry and his friends were sad to see him go. He had been so much better than Quirrell and Lockhart in teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Remus was going to the house in Cokeworth as well in a few days, keeping his friend company. Meanwhile, Snape planned to stay at Hogwarts for the time being like he often did during the summer, and he would only visit them once in a while to make sure his house was still standing.
Dumbledore was busy at the Ministry, trying to do the right thing for his former Order member for once, even if he had no idea, where Sirius Black was. Harry’s questions had rattled him a little. So, he forgot all about the black Grim-like dog.
But after a few days, his good intentions got put aside because the Greater Good called for action.