•This story takes scenes from the Harry Potter series. I want to make it clear that I don't own those scenes. That's owned by
J.K. Rowling. Thank you•

•This chapter is especially long and takes a lot of scenes word for word from the book. So please remember that I am giving J.K. Rowling all of the credit for those scenes•

~Scarlett~

The euphoria of the game lasted at least a week.

Even the weather seemed to be celebrating; as June approached, the days became cloudless and sultry.

O.W.L.s had come, and they had been stressful. I even found Fred and George studying at one point.

But they had ended, and it was now end of year exams for the other years.

On this particular day, however. I was exploring the grounds. Mainly around Hagrid's Hut, as I was drawn to that area. It was quite pretty. The tall hills and giant trees.

I had been admiring it for a few minutes until I had bumped into literally nothing.

"Scarlett?" A voice asked.
"Uh, someone who's invisible?" I mimicked.
"Oh, sorry, we're right here," Another voice said.

Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared out of thin air, a big piece of fabric clutched in Harry's hand.

"Is that an Invisibility Cloak?" I questioned wide eyed.
"Yeah, we've just been using it to get back from Hagrid's," Harry stated.
"Ah," I nodded, watching as the sun set.

Ron stopped dead.

"Oh, please, Ron," Hermione began.
"It's Scabbers – he won't – stay
put–"
Ron was bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat was going berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and flailing, trying to sink his teeth into Ron's hand.
"Scabbers, it's me, you idiot, it's Ron," Ron hissed. "Scabbers, stay put–"

Scabbers continued to squeal.

"What's the matter with you, you stupid rat? Stay still – OUCH! He bit me!"
"Ron, be quiet!" Hermione whispered urgently. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute!"
"Fudge?" I questioned.
"Yeah, they've just executed Buckbeak," Harry sighed.
"Oh, poor Hagrid," I frowned.
"He won't – stay – put –"

Scabbers was plainly terrified. He was writhing with all his might, trying to break through of Ron's grip.

"What's the matter with him?"

"Crookshanks!" Hermione moaned, and I turned to see the orange cat moving towards us. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!"

But the cat was getting nearer–

"Scabbers – NO!"

Too late – the rat had slipped between Ron's clutching fingers, hit the ground, and scampered away. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him, and before any of us could stop him, Ron bolted after him. The three of us chased after him, panting as we ran.

"Get away from him – get away – Scabbers, come here–"

There was a loud thud.

"Gotcha! Get off, you stinking cat–"

We all almost fell over Ron, skidding to a stop behind him. He was sprawled on the ground, but Scabbers was back in his pocket; he had both hands held right over the quivering lump.

"Ron – come on – we've got to get back – to the castle –" Hermione panted. "We've got to go – before Fudge – and Dumbledore –"

But before we could move, before we could even catch our breath, we heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws....Something was bounding toward us out of the dark – Snuffles.

"Snuffles!" I called.

Snuffles made an enormous leap and his front paws hit Harry in the chest, sending him backwards. But the force of his leap had carried it to far; he rolled off him.

Snuffles growled as he skidded around for a new attack.

Snuffles sprang forwards toward Ron, fastening his jaw around Ron's outstretched arm. Harry lunged forward, seizing a handful of Snuffle's fur, but Snuffles was dragging Ron away toward the–

Whomping Willow!

Before I could say anything, a branch came, knocking me off my feet. Hermione shrieked and I looked over to see her and Harry on the ground as well, a gash on Harry's face.

Ducking out of the way of the branches, I could see Snuffles dragging Ron down the base of the tree.

"Ron!" Harry shouted.

The only thing visible of Ron now was his leg, and then it was gone when a horrible crack rang through the air like a gun shot.

"We've got to go for help!" Hermione gasped.
"No! That thing's big enough to eat him; we haven't got time–"
"We're never going to get through without help–"
"Stop! Harry's right, we need to go help him!" I exclaimed.
"And how are we supposed to do that?" Hermione questioned.
"If that dog can get in, we can," Harry panted, trying to find a way through the vicious, swishing branches, but he couldn't get an inch nearer to the tree roots without being in range of the tree's blows.
"Oh, help, help," Hermione whispered frantically, dancing uncertainly on the spot, "please..."

Crookshanks darted forward. He slithered between the battering branches like a snake and placed his front paws upon a knot on the trunk.
Abruptly, as though the tree had been turned to marble, it stopped moving. Not a leaf twitched or shook.

"Crookshanks!" Hermione whispered uncertainly. "How did he know–?"
"He's friends with that dog. Snuffles, did you call him?" Harry asked.
"Yeah," I nodded.
"Well, I've seen Snuffles and Crookshanks together. Come on – and keep your wand out –"

They covered the distance to the trunk in seconds, but before they had reached the gap in the roots, Crookshanks had slid into it with a flick of his bottlebrush tail. Harry went after Crookshanks. Then Hermione. And then I went last; I crawled forward, headfirst, and slid down an earthy slope to the bottom of a very low tunnel.

"Lumos!" We all whispered, the tips of our wands lighting up.

"Where's Ron?" Hermione whispered in a terrified voice.
"That way," I stated, pointing at Crookshanks, who was walking off down the tunnel.
"Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione asked breathlessly.
"I don't know....it's on the map, but no one's ever gotten into it," I replied, squinting in the dark to make sure I could still see Crookshanks. "It goes off the map, like it leads to Hogsmeade or something?"

It seemed like forever before Crookshanks stopped, causing me to stop abruptly.

"Scar!" Hermione gasped as she ran into my back – followed by Harry – sending us all tumbling forward.

Crookshanks hissed when my hand landed on his bushy tail, but quickly scurried off when I lifted my hand.

"Why'd you stop?" Harry asked after getting up, brushing himself off.
"Look," I said, pointing to a small crack where a light was shining through, "there's a light."

We all raised our wands as we made our way over.

Pushing through the crack, it revealed to be a small, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; there were stains all over the floor; every piece of furniture was broken as though somebody had smashed it. The windows were all boarded up. A door was open to our right, leading to a shadowy hallway.

"Um, I think I know where we are," I breathed, glancing around the place. "This is the Shrieking Shack."
"What? But, isn't this supposed to have been done by ghosts? Cause ghosts did not do that," Hermione gasped.

At that moment, there was a creek overhead. Something had moved upstairs. We all looked up at the ceiling.

Quickly as we could, we crept out into the hall and up the crumbling staircase. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust except the floor, where a wide shiny strip had been made by something being dragged upstairs. Finally, we reached the dark landing.

"Nox," we all whispered.

Only one door was open. As we crept toward it, we heard movement from behind it; a low moan, and then a deep loud purring. We exchanged a last look, a last nod.

Holding our wands tightly, Harry kicked the door open.

On a magnificent four-poster bed with dusty hangings lay Crookshanks, purring loudly at the sight of us. On the floor beside him, clutching his leg, which stuck out at a strange angle, was Ron.

Harry and Hermione dashed over to him, talking frantically. But I was frozen in my spot, wide eyed and staring in one place.

Sirius Black, my father, was standing in the corner behind the door. A mass of filthy, matted hair hung to his elbows. His eyes were shining out of deep, dark sockets. His skin was stretched so tightly over his bones that it looked like a skull. His yellow teeth were barred in a grin.

But he hadn't seemed to notice me. He was focused on Harry and Hermione. In fact, he walked by me easily.

I wanted to scream at Harry and Hermione to turn around, but I was frozen.

But before Black could get to them, Harry and Hermione whirled around, their wands out.

"Expelliarmus!" Black croaked, pointing Ron's wand at them. Their wands shot in the air, landing in Black's hand.

His eyes were fixed on Harry.

"I thought you'd come and help your friend," he said hoarsely. His voice sounded as though he had long since lost the habit of using it. "Your father would have done the same for me. Brave of you, not to run for a teacher. I'm grateful...it will make everything much easier...."

I could see the rage cross over Harry's face at the mention of his father.

"My father was a better man than you'll ever be," Harry seethed.
"You think I don't know that?" Black breathed, "James was better at everything."
"You mean like being a father? Do you realize what you've put Scarlett through?!" Harry roared.

I went to say something, but Black spoke.

"You're right, James was a better father than me. But I tried. And the three years I got to be her father was the greatest years of my life," Black muttered.
"Bullsh-"
"Scarlett!" Hermione scolded.
"Scarlett?" Black questioned, whipping around in my direction.

His eyes filled with tears at the sight of me, threatening to spill.

"Scarle-"
"No, Harry!" Hermione gasped.

Harry had ran forward, aiming to tackle Black, but he held his arm up to hold Harry back.

"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" Ron said fiercely, standing up with struggle.

"Lie down," Black said quietly to Ron. "You will damage that leg even more."
"Did you hear me?" Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully to Harry to stay upright. "You have to kill all four of us!"
"There'll only be one murder here tonight," said Black, and his grin widened.
"Why's that?" Harry spat, trying to wrench himself free of Ron and Hermione. "Didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those muggles to get at Pettigrew....What's the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?
"Harry!" Hermione whimpered. "Be quiet!"
"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared, and with a huge effort he broke free of Hermione's and Ron's restraint and lunged forward.

Perhaps it was the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Black didn't raise the wands in time. Harry collided with him, sending them both back into the wall.

Hermione and I were screaming; Ron was yelling; there was a blinding flash as the wands in Black's hands sent a jet of sparks into the air that missed Harry's face by inches.

Black managed to get his arm free, holding it against Harry.

"No," Black hissed, "I've waited too long–"

Out of nowhere, Hermione's foot swung over. Black let go of Harry with a grunt of pain; Ron had thrown himself on Black's wand hand and Harry heard a faint clatter–"

Harry lunged for his wand.

"Argh!"

Crookshanks had joined the fray; his claws sunk into Harry's arm. Harry threw him off, but Crookshanks now darted towards Harry's wand–

"NO YOU DON'T!" roared Harry, aiming a kick at Crookshanks that made the cat leap aside, spitting; Harry snatched up his wand and turned.

"SCARLETT DO SOMETHING!"

Snapping back into reality, I grabbed my wand, pointing it at Black.

But Harry had already held his wand to Black's heart.

"Going to kill me, Harry?" Black whispered.
"You killed my parents," said Harry, his voice shaking slightly.
"I don't deny it," said Black quietly. "But if you knew the whole story–"
"The whole story?" Harry repeated. "You sold them to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."
"You've got to listen to me," Black said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice now. "You'll regret it if you don't....You don't understand...."
"I understand a lot mo–"
"Can you just let him explain, Harry?" I interrupted.

Harry turned to me, his eyes narrowing into a glare.

"Are you defending him?! You think because he's your father he must be good?!" Harry bellowed.
"Of course not Harry! But I'd rather not see my godbrother murder someone, particularly my own father," I explained.
"You are defending him," Harry accused.
"Maybe I am, Harry! But can you blame me?! I've lived without a father for twelve years, and now I may actually have one!" I exclaimed.
"He's a murderer!" Harry yelled.
"Thank you Harry!" I laughed dryly.

Harry glared.

"You sound like your mother," Harry spat, gripping his wand tightly.

Before I could even open my mouth, footsteps could be heard downstairs.

"WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed suddenly. "WE'RE UP HERE – SIRIUS BLACK – QUICK!"

Black made a startled movement that made Harry grip his wand even tighter.

The door swung open. Red sparks flew everywhere, and Professor Lupin – or Moony, I suppose – came hurtling in.

"Expelliarmus!" Professor Lupin cried, pointing his wand at Harry.
"Stop him Scarlett!" Ron yelled, struggling to get to Lupin and stop him from getting any closer to Harry.
"Don't even try, Ron, she's a traitor like her father," Hermione seethed.

My mouth fell open.

"That was uncalled for," Black glared at Hermione.
"Because I care what you think," Hermione spat.
"Hermione!" I exclaimed, grabbing her attention, "I understand that I'm not really doing anything and that frustrates you, but put yourself in my situation. My father, who I don't even remember, is standing in front of me. Murderer or not, he's here."
"Exactly, Scarlett. He is here, in front of you, capable of killing at any second, and you're more concerned over the fact that your father is here," Hermione scowled.
"Both of you calm down!" Professor Lupin exclaimed. "Where is he, Sirius?"

Hermione groaned.
"I don't believe it! A mass murderer, the daughter of said mass murderer, and a man who's been working alongside the mass murderer!"

"Hermione, listen to me, please!" Professor Lupin shouted. "I can explain–"
"I trusted you!" Harry shouted, his voice shaking, "and all the time you've been his friend!"
"You're wrong," said Professor Lupin. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now – Let me explain...."
"NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too – he's a werewolf!"

There was a ringing silence. All eyes were now on Professor Lupin.

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione," he said. "Only one out of three, I'm afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don't want Harry dead...." he paused, "but I won't deny that I am a werewolf."

Ron made a sudden movement to get up and fell. Professor Lupin went to help him, but was stopped by Ron.

"Get away from me, werewolf!" Ron exclaimed.

Professor Lupin stopped dead.

"Okay I don't bloody care how mad you are at me, but you're all being immature brats and need to suck it up. Yeah, okay Hermione, we're in a room with a werewolf and murderer. But they said they want to explain, so let them explain!" I yelled.

Hermione glared.

"Wait," Harry interrupted. "How did you even know we were here?"
"The map," Professor Lupin shrugged.
"You know how to work it?" Harry questioned.
"Of course he does, he's Moony," I sighed, wanting to get to the explaining.
"How do you know that?" Hermione scowled.
"Because I've admired the Marauders since I was eleven. I know who I'm looking at," I snarled.
"Scarlett please stop, you're starting to look like your father," Harry sighed.
"Thanks, Harry," Black muttered.

I glared at Harry.

"Can you two just explain? I've had enough with those three," I scowled.

Black looked at me with, sympathy?

"Right. Well, I was surprised by what I saw on the map. I mean, I knew better than anyone that the map didn't lie. But right there with you four and Sirius, was someone I believed to be dead," Professor Lupin breathed.
"No one was with us!" Harry explained.
"Harry just shut up and listen!" I groaned.

Professor Lupin ignored us and walked towards Ron.

"I finally understood when I saw Sirius dragging the two of you into the Whomping Willow–"
"One of us!" Ron said angrily.
"No, Ron," said Lupin. "Two of you."

He reached his hand out to Ron.
"Can I see your rat?"

"What does Scabbers have to do with this?!" Ron exclaimed.
"He's got everything to do with this Ron. So please, may I see him?" Professor Lupin repeated.
"I'm not giving you my ra–"
"Just give him the bloody rat!" I snapped.
"He's just a rat though!" Ron stated.
"No, he's not," said Professor Lupin quietly. "He's a wizard."
"An Animagus," said Black, "by the name of Peter Pettigrew."
"What?" I questioned wide eyed.
"You're both mental!" Ron yelled.
"Ridiculous!" Hermione said faintly.
"Peter Pettigrew's dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago!" He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively.
"I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me...not this time, though!"

I gasped as Black lunged at Scabbers. He landed on Ron's leg with a thud, causing Ron to yell in pain.

"Sirius, NO!" Professor Lupin yelled. "WAIT! You can't do it just like that – they need to understand – we've got to explain –"
"We can explain afterwards!" snarled Black, trying and succeeding to throw Professor Lupin off of him.
"They've got a right to know!" Professor Lupin gasped as he landed on the floor.

I took a deep breath before saying something that I knew would be a huge risk. I'd sound mental to him if he truly was a murderer, but there was a chance it would work.

"Dad stop!" I screamed.

Black froze.

"W-what?" Black choked, turning with tears in his eyes.
"Please, Dad. Just explain what's happening, and we'll deal with..Peter, later," I sighed.

Tears now rolled down his cheeks. He nodded a little at Professor Lupin, signaling for him to start speaking.

"For you to be able to understand, I'll start from the beginning," Professor Lupin started, looking over at Black hesitantly. As if asking him if it was okay.

But Black was staring at me. As if admiring me.

It was odd. It wasn't like he was some creep checking me out. But like a parent admiring how much their child has grown.

He was acting like a true father.

There was a loud creek that snapped Black out of his trance.

"No one there..."
"This place is haunted!" said Ron.
"It's not," said Professor Lupin. "The Shrieking Shack was never haunted....The screams and howls the villagers used to hear were made by me."

Black and I held eye contact for a second before I turned to look back at Professor Lupin.

"That's where all this starts – with my becoming a werewolf. None of this could have happened if I hadn't been bitten...and if I hadn't been so foolhardy...."
"Moony..." Black muttered, looking up at him. But Professor Lupin shook his head.

Why would a "murderer" be this caring?

"I was a very small boy when I received the bite. My parents tried everything, but in those days there was no cure. The potion that Professor Snape has been making for me is a very recent discovery. It makes me safe, you see. As long as I take it in the week of the full moon, I keep my mind when I transform....I am able to curl up in my office, a harmless wolf, and wait for the moon to wane again.
"Before the Wolfsbane Potion was discovered, however, I became a fully fledged monster once a month. It seemed impossible that I would be able to come to Hogwarts. Other parents weren't likely to want their children exposed to me.
"But then Dumbledore became headmaster, and he was sympathetic. He said that as long as we took certain precautions, there was no reason I shouldn't come to school...." Professor Lupin sighed, and looked directly at Harry. "I told you, months ago, that the Whomping Willow was planted the year I came to Hogwarts. The truth is that it was planted because I came to Hogwarts. This house" – Lupin looked miserably around the room – "the tunnel that leads to it – they were built for my use. Once a month, I was smuggled out of the castle, into this place, to transform. The tree was placed at the tunnel mouth to stop anyone coming across me while I was dangerous."

Professor Lupin sighed, smiling sadly at Black. Black smiled back sympathetically.

"My transformations in those days were – were terrible. It is very painful to turn into a werewolf. I was separated for humans to bite, so I bit and scratched myself instead. The villagers heard the noise and the screaming and thought they were hearing particularly violent spirits. Dumbledore encouraged the rumor....Even now, when the house has been silent for years, the villagers don't dare approach it...."

Ron went to speak, but Hermione quickly shushed him.

"Apart from my transformation, I was happier than I had ever been in my life. For the first time ever, I had friends, three great friends. Sirius Black...Peter Pettigrew...and, of course, your father, Harry – James Potter.
"Now, my three friends could hardly fail to notice that I disappeared once a month. I made up all sorts of stories. I told them my mother was ill, and that I had to go home to see her....I was terrified they would desert me the moment they found out what I was. But of course, they, like you, Hermione, worked out the truth....
"And they didn't desert me at all. Instead, they did something for me that would make my transformations not only bearable, but the best times of my life. They became Animagi."
"My dad too?" Harry asked.
"Yes, indeed," said Professor Lupin. "It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father and Sirius here were the cleverest students in the school, and lucky they were, because the Animagus transformation can go horribly wrong – one reason the Ministry keeps a close watch on those attempting to do it. Peter needed all the help he could get from James and Sirius. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will."
"But how did that help you?" Hermione asked.
"They couldn't keep me company as humans, so they kept me company as animals," said Lupin. "A werewolf is only a danger to people. They sneaked out of the castle every month under James's Invisibility Cloak. They transformed...Peter, as the smallest, could slip beneath the Willow's attacking branches and touch the knot that freezes it. They would then slip down the tunnel and join me. Under their influence, I became less dangerous. My body was still wolfish, but my mind seemed to become less so while I was with them.

Black sighed impatiently.

"I'm getting there, Sirius," Remus muttered. "Well, highly exciting possibilities were open to us now that we could all transform. Soon we were leaving the Shrieking Shack and roaming the school grounds and the village by night. Sirius and James transformed into such large animals, they were able to keep a werewolf in check. I doubt whether any Hogwarts students ever found out more about the Hogwarts grounds and Hogsmeade than we did....And that's how we came to write the Marauder's Map, and sign it with our nicknames. Sirius is Padfoot. Peter is Wormtail. James was Prongs."
"What sort of animal–?" Harry began, but Hermione cut him off.
"That was still really dangero–"
"Hermione, just stop with the dangerous stuff! We're in a room with a werewolf and my father, who is supposedly a murderer!" I yelled frustratedly.
"I'm not a murderer," Black mumbled sadly.

I frowned slightly at him.

"We don't know he's telling the truth, so stop sympathizing him!" Ron scowled.
"If he's guilty of murder than Snape must be a Hufflepuff," I scoffed.
"Snape?" Black questioned. "What's Snape got to do with this?"
"He's here, Sirius," said Professor Lupin heavily. "He's teaching here as well."
"Who else is teaching that I didn't know about?" Black asked sarcastically.
"Claire?" Professor Lupin said hesitantly.

Black froze once again, but quickly shook it off.

"I knew that," Black sighed. "Merlin's beard I miss her so much."

I wanted to comment, but a voice filled the room.

"Neither Bennet or Lupin will be working here once I've told Albus about this," A cold voice sneered.

My head snapped in the direction of the voice, where Professor Snape stood sneering.

Hermione screamed and Black leapt to his feet.

"I found this at the base of the Whomping Willow," said Professor Snape, throwing the Invisibility Cloak aside, his wand keeping still against Professor Lupin's chest. "Very useful, Potter."

Professor Snape glanced around the room before continuing.

"You're wondering, perhaps, how I knew you were here? Well, I've just peen to your office, Lupin. You forgot to take your potion tonight, so I took a gobletful along. And very lucky I did...lucky for me, I mean. Lying on your desk was a certain map. One glance at it told me all I needed to know. I saw you running along this passageway and out of sight."
"Severus–" Professor Lupin began, but Professor Snape cit him off.
"I've told the headmaster again and again that you and Bennet are helping your old friend Black into the castle, Lupin, and here's the proof. Not even I dreamed you would have the nerve to use this old place as your hideout–"
"Severus, you're making a mistake," said Professor Lupin urgently. "You haven't heard everything – I can explain – Sirius is not here to kill Harry –"
"Two more for Azkaban tonight," said Professor Snape, his eyes gleaming. "I shall be interested to see how Dumbledore takes this...He was quite convinced you were harmless, you know, Lupin...a tame werewolf–"
"You fool," said Professor Lupin softly. "Is a schoolboy grudge worth putting an innocent man back inside Azkaban?"

I gasped slightly. I figured Black was innocent, but it seemed to good to be true. But hearing Professor Lupin say it seemed to confirm my suspicions. My father was innocent, and when this was over, I may get a normal life.

I was interrupted from my thoughts as a loud bang echoed around the room. Thin, snakelike cords burst from the end of Professor Snape's wand and twisted themselves around Professor Lupin's mouth, wrists, and ankles; he overbalanced and fell to the floor, unable to move. Black started toward Professor Snape, but Professor Snape pointed his wand straight between Black's eyes.

"Give me a reason," he whispered. "Give me a reason to do it, and I swear I will."

Black stopped dead.

"Vengeance is very sweet," Professor Snape breathed at Black. "How I hope I would be the one to catch you...."
"The jokes on you, Severus," Black snarled. "As long as this boy brings his rat up to the castle, I'll come quietly...."
"Up to the castle?" Professor Snape repeated. "I don't think we need to go that far. All I have to do is call the dementors once we get out of the Willow. They'll be very pleased to see you, Black...pleased enough to give you a little Kiss, I daresay...."
"You-You've got to hear me out," Black croaked. "The rat – look at the rat–"
"Come on, all of you," Professor Snape cut him off, clicking his fingers and allowing the ends of the cord around Professor Lupin to fly into his hand. "I'll drag the werewolf. Perhaps the dementors will have a Kiss for him too–"

"Expelliarmus!" I screamed, pointing my wand at Professor Snape. He went flying into the wall behind him, making me gasp. Turning around, I found that Harry had done the same.

"You shouldn't have done that," said Black, looking at Harry and I. "You should have left him to me...."

Professor Lupin stood up and brushed himself off. "Thank you, Harry, Scarlett."

"I'm still not saying I believe you," Harry retorted.
"Then it's time we offered you some proof," said Black. "You, boy – give me Peter. Now."

Ron opened his mouth to say something, but stopped himself when he caught my glare.

"What are you going to do with him?" Hermione questioned.
"Kill him," Black hissed, eyeing the rat that was still grasped in Ron's hands.
"No!" I screamed. I didn't want anything to do with this Peter Pettigrew, but I also didn't want my father to have to go back to Azkaban because he actually committed the murder he was originally imprisoned for.
"Then I should've let Snape take you!" Harry shouted.
"Harry, Scarlett, don't you see? All this time we've thought Sirius betrayed your parents, and Peter tracked him down – but it was the other way around, don't you see? Peter betrayed your mother and father – Sirius tracked Peter down –"
"THAT'S NOT TRUE!" Harry yelled. "HE WAS THEIR SECRET-KEEPER! HE SAID SO BEFORE YOU TURNED UP HE SAID HE KILLED THEM!"
He was pointing at Black, who shook his head slowly; the sunken eyes were suddenly overbright.

"Harry...I as good as killed them," he croaked. "I persuaded Lily and James to change to Peter at the last moment because Claire hadn't felt comfortable with me being the Secret-Keeper. I thought Peter would be the best option, and James and Lily agreed. I'm to blame, I know it....The night they died, I'd arranged to check on Peter, make sure he was still safe, but when I arrived at his hiding place, he'd gone. Yet there was no sign of a struggle. It didn't feel right. I was scared. I set out for your parents' house straightaway. And when I saw there house, destroyed, and their bodies...I realized what Peter must've done....what I'd done...."
His voice broke. He turned away.
"And then they took me to Azkaban. But, somehow Azkaban didn't seem like the worst part. The worst part was the fact that I thought I'd never be able to see Claire or Scarlett again. But now I get to see you," Black sighed, turning to look at me and smiling slightly.

"Enough of this," said Professor Lupin, a steely note I had never noticed in his voice. "There's one certain way to prove what really happened. Ron, give me that rat."
"What are you going to do with him if I give him to you?" Ron asked tensely.
"Force him to show himself," said Professor Lupin. "If he really is a rat, it won't hurt him."

Ron handed over the squirming rat hesitantly.

"Ready, Sirius?" Professor Lupin questioned.
"Together?" Black asked, Snape's wand pointed at the rat.
"I think so," Professor Lupin nodded. "On the count of three. One – two– THREE!"

A flash of blue-white light erupted from both wands; for a moment, Scabbers was frozen in midair, his small gray form twirling madly – Ron yelled – the rat fell and hit the floor. There was another blinding flash of light and then a man was standing where Scabbers once was.

He was very short – shorter than me, which says something – and was quite round. He had thin straw-like hair that sat disheveled upon his small, round head. A bald spot was clear and bright at the back of his head. His skin was grubby like a rats, and his watery eyes couldn't be compared to anything other than a rat.

"Well, hello, Peter," said Professor Lupin. "Long time, no see."
"S-Sirius...R-Remus..." Pettigrew's voice came out squeaky and highly annoying. His small, watery eyes darted around the room, frantically looking for an exit. "My friends...my old friends..."

Black's wand arm rose, but Professor Lupin seized him around the wrist, gave him a warning look, then turned again to Pettigrew, his voice light and casual.
"We've been having a little chat, Peter, about what happened the night Lily and James died. You might have missed the finer points while you were squeaking around down there on the bed–"
"You don't really believe him, do you?" Pettigrew squeaked, looking around and wincing as everyone nodded.

His eyes landed on me and he gasped. He crawled over to me on his hands and knees, grabbing my small hands in his large, grimy ones.

"You better get your hands off my daug–"
"Don't listen to your father, Scarlett, he tried to kill me. H-He killed James and Lily, and he abandoned you and your mother–"
"DON'T TALK TO MY DAUGHTER LIKE THAT! AND DON'T YOU DARE BRING MY WIFE INT–"
"She's not your wife anymore," Pettigrew glared.

Black glared right back at him.

"Maybe not right now, but she will be again," Black seethed.
"Either way, you can't call her your wife, because she's not right now," Pettigrew stated.
"I'd suggest you stop talking, Pettigrew," Black snarled.
"Or what?" Pettigrew shot back, his confidence growing slightly.
"Or I may just have to leave you in here whenever Moony here turns. I'm sure you remember what that's like," Black scoffed.

And just like that, his confidence was gone.

"Y-You wouldn't," Pettigrew cried.
"Oh I sure as hell will if you don't leave Scarlett alone," Black growled.

Pettigrew looked back and forth between Black and I, before turning back to me and raising his wand.

Everything seemed to go black as I felt myself get thrown back into the wall. I could hear Black screaming at Pettigrew, and I could feel someone by my side, but that's all I remember before I completely blacked out.

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I groaned as my eyes fluttered open. A blinding white light made me retreat, squeezing my eyes shut in pain.

"Oh great! You're awake!" A familiar voice exclaimed.

Opening my eyes cautiously, I found Hermione standing next to me.

"How're you feeling?" Hermione questioned.
"Fine," I mumbled, looking around. "What time is it?"
"It's just midnight. You've only been out for a few hours," Hermione replied.
"Mm," I hummed in response, wanting to sleep.
"Look, I'm sorry for what I said earlier. I was stressed about the whole situation, and I just wanted to let you know I really am sorry," Hermione sighed.

I nodded sleepily, but quickly sat up as I remembered what all had happened.

"Where's Black?! And Pettigrew?! Is Black okay?! Did they end up killing Pettigrew?!" I exploded with questions.
"Everyone's okay, but Pettigrew got away," Hermione sighed.

I sighed as well, thinking about what Black would be feeling.

"Where's Black?" I questioned.
"He's with your Mum," Hermione replied. "And, Scar, you don't have to call him Black."

I nodded.

"Yeah I know, but it'll take some getting use to," I mumbled.
"Of course it will, but it's obvious that he truly loves you and your Mum. I don't think it'll be that hard to see him as your father," Hermione stated.
"Thanks, 'Mione," I smiled.
"Anytime, Scar. Now go back to sleep, I can see how badly you want to," Hermione laughed.

I laughed with her, but followed her advise and fell into a deep slumber.

This was going to be weird.
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I FINALLY FINISHED THIS CHAPTER! YES!

Now, I don't usually do word counts, BUT THIS CHAPTER HAS 6459 WORDS! I usually only write chapters between 1500 to 3000 words! Granted, this chapter takes a lot from the actual chapters in Prisoner of Azkaban. Which, by the way, I'm giving J.K. Rowling full credit for. So please don't get this story reported, I don't want to have to deal with that.

But moving on to the chapterly question! We've got a question from IIFANFICFANATICII
Is there anything that has drastically changed or deviated from the plot you thought this book would be at first?

My answer(Is long. But I really like this question),
There is actually, a few things I've changed about the plot that I would call drastic. I think one of the biggest changes, is that this was supposed to be a four book series; Dancing In The Rain, Dancing In The Storm, Dancing In The Stars, and Dancing In The Clouds. Dancing In The Storm would've been just Prisoner Of Azkaban. Dancing In The Stars would've carried from there to the end of the war. Then Dancing In The Clouds would be about Scarlett's life after the war. But I decided to combine Dancing In The Storm, Stars, and Clouds.
A couple of small, but still kind of drastic things I've changed, would be one, that Claire's dad dies. He would be the same as he was, as in, he'd be kind, and then change when finding out about Sirius. From there he was suppose to live a life Claire and Sirius free. But I ended up having him apologize, and then he just died. Whoops?
Another thing I changed, was Camellia's relationship status upon death. What I mean by that, is that she was supposed to die after she married Remus. But I didn't want it to be a really perfect, "They were all happily married to the people they always liked." I feel like that would've been really boring, and I didn't want that.
Another, is Claire miscarrying. I honestly did not mean to do that. I had wanted her to struggle with pregnancy – not in an evil way, but for the same reason I didn't marry Remus and Camellia – but I couldn't really express that to where it went along with the timeline. But then, I was writing about Sirius and Claire's fight, and my fingers just, slipped? I'm clumsy I'm sorry. XD
That's all of the big things I've changed about the plot. There have been a lot of small changes, but those are the bigger ones.

Anyway, I hope my extra long chapter made your day fabulous! I love you all! Bye!
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