We went down to dinner with everyone else, but we didn't return to Gryffindor Tower afterward. Harry had the cloak hidden down the front of our robes.

"Ready?" Harry asked us. And we all crowded into the Invisibility Cloak. You would not believe how difficult it was to move all 5 of us underneath the cloak.

"Maybe we should make the cloak bigger." Ryan suggested.

Harry shushed him. It was a good idea. But we were all kind of in a rush. 

At the very least, we did reach Hagrid's hut just as the sun had set. 

We knocked on the door. And Hagrid opened it, staring around in confusion, looking for who did it.

"It's us." Harry hissed. "We're wearing the Invisibility Cloak. Let us in and we can take it off."

"And can you do it fast? It's getting cramped in here." Ryan asked. 

"Yeh shouldn't have come." Hagrid whispered. But he stood back and let us in anyway. He shut the door quickly behind us, and Harry pulled off the cloak.

He wasn't crying, nor did he throw himself onto our necks. He looked like a man who did not know where he was, or what to do. Couldn't say I blamed him for that.

"We had to." I told him.

"Wan' some tea?" Hagrid asked. His big hand shook as he reached for the kettle.

"Where's Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Hermione asked hesitantly.

"I-I took him outside." Hagrid answered, spilling milk all over the table as he filled up the jug. Really wished we had Chocolate Chip Cookies with us right now. "He's tethered in me pumpkin patch. Thought he oughta see the trees an'- an' smell fresh air- before-" 

His hands trembled so violently that the milk jug slipped from his grasp and shattered all over the floor. "Sorry." He grumbled. "There's another one in the cupboard."

"I'll get it." I offered.

"Isn't there anything else we can do, Hagrid?" Harry asked. "Dumbledore-" 

"He's tried." Hagrid answered. "He's got no power ter overrule the Committee." 

"Yeah, neither does Malfoy, but he intimidated the Committee." I pointed out. 

"They're running scared... yeh know what Lucius Malfoy's like... threatened 'em I expect... an' the executioner MacNair, he's an old pal o' Malfoy's... but it'll be quick an' clean... an' I'll be beside him..."  And Hagrid swallowed as I got the jug.  

Oh, that Committee thinks that Malfoy is intimidating? They have never seen Ethan when he's angry. 

"Dumbledore's gonna come down while it- while it happens. Wrote me this mornin'. Said he wants ter-ter be with me. Great man, Dumbledore..."

I let out a small stifled sob. And I could hear Hermione do the same.

"We'll stay with you, Hagrid." I said in-between my tears. "Please?"

"You'll do no such thing." Hagrid shot down "I'm sorry, Kassie. But yeh've to got back up ter the castle. I told yeh, I don't wan' yeh watchin'." He then turned to Harry. "An' yeh shouldn' be down here anyway... if Fudge an' Dumbledore catch yeh without permission, Harry, yeh'll be in big trouble."

Malaka! This was just too much. I couldn't take it anymore. I put some milk into the tea. And then I saw something quite odd.

"Scabbers?" I asked.

Ron picked up his head. "Did you say Scabbers?" He asked.

I carried the jug over to the table and turned it upside down. With a frantic squeak, and much scrambling to get back inside, Scabbers gave up and slid out onto the table.

"Scabbers!" Ron claimed blankly. "Scabbers, what are you doing here?"

"What?! How is he not dead?" Ryan asked in disbelief.

Scabbers looked thinner than ever, large tufts of hair fell out and he writhes in Ron's hands as though desperate to be free.

"It's okay, Scabbers!" Ron assured. "No Cats! There's nothing here to hurt you!"

But just then something came through the window and smashed the jug of tea.

"What was that?" Hagrid asked.

"Ow!" It looked like something had thumped Harry as well. He turned around to see what did that. But he looked out the window. "They're coming." He told us. 

We all whipped around. A group of men were walking down the castle steps. In front was Dumbledore, then Fudge, those Feeble Committee member, and the executioner.

"Yeh gotta go!" Hagrid told us. Every inch of him was trembling. "They mustn't find yeh here... go on, now..."

"No!" I shouted. They couldn't do this to Buckbeak. I don't know. But I wanted to say.

"Kassie..." Hermione said to me calmly. "We have to go." 

Ron stuffed Scabbers into his pocket and Harry scooped up the Cloak.

Hagrid showed us out the back way. And we fell into his garden. Buckbeak sat peacefully in the garden, with no idea what was coming. 

"Buckbeak?" I asked weakly. 

"It's okay, Beaky." Hagrid said softly. "It's okay..." He turned back to us. "Go on. Get goin'."

"Hagrid." I took out two coins for Buckbeak. "For the Ferryman." I said with tears streaming down my face.

"Thank you, Kassie." Hagrid nodded. "Now go. It's bad enough without you lot in trouble an' all."

"It's going to be okay, Hagrid." I told him hurriedly, before Harry threw the cloak over the five of us.

"It's going to be okay, right?" I asked as we went up the sloping lawn towards the castle, the sun sinking fast.

"I can't stand it. I can't bear it." Hermione whispered while holding Ron's hand.

The sky turned into a clear, purple-tinged grey, but to the west there was a ruby red glow.

Ron stopped dead.

"Oh, please." Hermione said. 

"It's Scabbers- he won't- stay put-"

Ron bent over, trying to keep Scabbers in his pocket, but the rat was going totally berserk; squeaking madly, twisting and failing. 

"You think he has rabies?" Ryan asked.

I looked over at the Garden. My focus all as I saw the executioner with his giant axe blade. And he used a mighty swing, and the thud of an axe. 

And the crows flying in the air. 

They did it. Buckbeak... he... he was gone...

I was stone faced as I saw the crows fly. "Malfoy, you bastard!" I screamed.

"Sh. They'll hear." Ron whispered to me.

"Hagrid." Harry muttered. And without thinking twice, he tried to turn back, but Ron and Hermione seized his arms.

"We can't. Ron told him. "He'll be in worse trouble if they know we've been to see him..."

"How-could-they?" Hermione choked. "How could they?"

Ryan shook his head. "Bastards." He commented.

I couldn't tell you what I was thinking at that moment. Anger, Sadness. It was all things. "Let's just... let's just go b-back." I sobbed. 

The sky had started to turn darker now. Like a spell had settled around us. And we set back off towards the Castle.

"Scabbers, keep still." Ron hissed, clamping his hand over his chest. But he then came to a sudden halt, trying to force Scabbers deeper into his pocket. "What's the matter with you, you stupid rat? Stay still- OUCH! He bit me!" 

"Ron, be quiet!" Harry told him. "Fudge'll be out here in a minute-" 

"He won't- stay-put-" Ron was trying to get his grip on Scabbers.

Scabbers looked really freaked out. I mean really freaked out. He was writhing with all his might, trying desperately to break free of Ron's grip.

"Just drop him." I told Ron. 

"What's the matter with him?" Ron asked.

"I think it might be him." Ryan answered pointing to Crookshanks.

"Crookshanks." Hermione suddenly moaned. "No, go away, Crookshanks! Go away!" 

But Crookshanks did not listen. He got closer to us. 

"Scabbers- no!" 

The rat slipped between Ron's fingers, hit the ground and scampered away. In one bound, Crookshanks sprang after him and before we could stop it, Ron threw the cloak off him and pelted away into the darkness.

"Looks like we're going for a ride." Anubis commented.

"Ron!" Hermione yelled. 

The remainder of us looked at each other before sprinting after him; the cloak streamed behind us like a banner as we hurtled after Ron; we could hear his feet thundering ahead and his shouts at the Cat.

But I did manage to turn back and grab the Cloak.

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

There was a loud thud.

"Oh come on, Crookshanks! I just got Scabbers back!" Ron complained. 

"Huh. I half expected Ron to yell at Crookshanks." I said.

"I would, but Anubis is right here!" Ron explained to me. 

The rest of us nearly tripped over Ron; and we skid to a halt right in front of him. He's sprawled out on the ground with Scabbers safely back inside his pocket. 

"Okay, fantastic. You got him. Now can we please get back under the cloak?" Hermione requested. "Dumbledore and the Minister will be coming back out in a minute-"

"We could put him in this Scabbers proof box." Ryan suggested holding up a box. 

"That would be nice." Ron said like he had a Cheering Charm on him. 

But just then.

"Hold up!" Horus announced. He looked around him. "We're not alone." 

I looked up. "What is it?" I asked. And I heard the soft pounding of gigantic paws. Something was coming towards us out of the dark. A giant pale eyed, jet black dog. "Nevermind." 

Harry was looking at it too. "That looks like the dog from-" But the Dog made an enormous leap and it's front paws hit Harry's chest. It kneeled over backwards in a whirl of hair.

"Nice Doggie!" Ryan shouted trying to get it off of Harry.

Ron climbed to his feet as the dog sprang towards him, knocking Harry aside; the dog's jaws fastened around Ron's leg, knocking him to the ground.

"Anubis! Get him off!" Ron shouted.

"Wait!" Anubis shot back. 

"What do you mean, wait?!" Ron asked in horror.

I grabbed on to Ron's hand as the Dog began to drag us both. 

"What is this Dog's problem with Ron?" I asked.

Then I remembered something from my visions. "The Black Dog." I froze then. "But why-" 

"Kassie, look out!" Hermione shouted at me. 

I realized where we were quickly as something hit me hard in the face, and it hit as hard as a Bludger. I was knocked off my feet. And I heard Hermione and Harry shout in pain too, as they fell too. We were at the Whomping Willow

Ryan managed to dodge a branch that swung at him. "Missed!" He declared. Until he got slapped in the back by another branch. "Didn't see that one coming." 

I reached out for my wand. "Lumos."

My wand- light showed us the trunk of the thick tree. "That Rat!" I grumbled. It's branches were creaking as though the high wing, whipping backwards and forewords to stop us from going any further.

And there, at the base of the trunk, was the dog, dragging Ron backwards into a large gap in the roots.

"Anubis! What is he doing?! Is this some sort of Dog thing?! Of course you'd know all about that!" Ron asked.

"First of all, I'm a Jekyll. Secondly, this is not an ordinary Dog!" Anubis answered. 

Ron screamed. "I'm going to die!" Before his head slipped out of sight. 

"Ron!" I shouted, tryin to follow, but a heavy branch whipped lethally through the air and it forced me backwards again. 

All I could see now was one of Ron's legs. Which he hooked around a root in an effort to stop the dog from pulling him further into the tree. But then a horrible crack cut through the air like a gunshot; Ron had broken his leg. Next minute he disappeared entirely.

"Ron!" I shouted.

"Kassie, Harry, Ryan! We've got to go for help-" Hermione cried, bleeding too; the Willow having cut her across the shoulder, and Harry across the cheek.

And another branch whipped down at us, it's twigs clenched like knuckles.

"Oh, Malaka!" I knew what was coming. 

"Hang on!" Horus declared. He took over Ryan and grabbed the Trees Branches. All of them. 

"In! I'll hold it as long as I can!" Horus yelled at us. 

"Come on!" I yelled going into the gap of the tree.

Harry and Hermione were right behind us.

We slid through the gap of the tree, and through an earthly slope to the bottom of a very low tunnel. And seconds later, Harry and Hermione were at the bottom as well.

And then about a second later. Ryan was behind us. "Ryan? How did you-"

"Tell that to him." Ryan pointed to Crookshanks who had also fallen to the ground with us.

"Crookshanks?" I asked.

"He went up to the tree and put his front paws on the knot on the tree. And it stopped moving." Ryan answered.

"How did he know?" Hermione asked confused.

And that's what I wanted to know. 

"He's friends with that Dog." Harry answered. "I've seen them together. Come on- and keep your wands out-" He told us. 

"Where in the name of Hades are we?" I asked looking at the tunnel. "And where is Ron?"

"This way." Harry said to us setting off, bent backed, and after Crookshanks.

This was creepy. "Ron?" I called.

"Where does this tunnel come out?" Hermione asked.

"No idea... it's marked on the Marauder's Map, but Fred and George said no one's ever got into it. It goes off the edge of the map, but it looked like it ended up in Hogsmeade..." Harry answered.

We moved as fast as we could, but carefully. For all we knew. This place could've been a gateway to the lair of a Cyclops or something.

"Ron." I called out again. And Crookshanks tail bobbed in and out of view.

"We follow the Cat." Horus declared.

It felt like we might've been walking for hours.

"This feels just as long as Honeydukes." Harry joked.

"Um... Ron is going to be protected right?" I asked. I couldn't help but think of what that Dog was doing to Ron right now. I was seriously hoping that Anubis would protect him.

"I believe so. There's nothing to protect Ron from at any rate." Horus explained. "And besides. You can't kill a God. Not with an animal like that dog."

"Ron." I called out again.

"You better be right about this, Horus." Ryan said to Horus.

"Ah!" I turned to see Hermione screaming as a skeleton was on top of Hermione. 

And we all screamed and ran. "Get this thing off me!" Hermione screamed.

And I was having a bad flashback to when I was separated in the Labyrinth with Ethan and Penny and living skeletons chased us.

After a minute. Harry kicked the skeleton off of Hermione and crushed the skull. "From now on. We don't take any more stowaways." He declared.

"Is it safe to open my eyes now?" Hermione asked as she was on the floor with her eyes closed.

I looked to see the tunnel rose. "Ron's still out there. We have to find him. He'd do the same for us." I told everyone. 

And we continued to follow to where the tunnel. Forget where Crookshanks was. He was long gone. But I could see a patch of dim light through a small opening.

"I've got a bad feeling about this." Hermione said quoting Han Solo. Or any other Star Wars character for that matter.

But we raised our wand to see what lied beyond. 

It was a room, a very disordered, dusty room. Paper was peeling from the walls; and by the Gods. Stains on the floor, which I hoped wasn't blood. And pieces of furniture was broken as though someone smashed it The Windows were all boarded up.

"Sheesh. Talk about a fixer upper." Ryan commented.

"All clear." I whispered. The room was deserted but a door to my right stood open, leading to a shadowy hallway. 

Harry went through first. But Hermione suddenly grabbed our arms.

"Guys. I think we're in the Shrieking Shack." Hermione whispered.

"What was your first clue?" Harry asked sarcastically. "The stains on the floor, or everything looking like it's broken?"

"Or the sign that says this is the Shrieking Shack?" Ryan asked pointing to a sign: Welcome to the Shrieking Shack. Now go home!

"Well, that's not very nice." I commented. But if this was the Shrieking Shack, how come we didn't see any Ghosts?

I then looked around and saw a wooden chair next to us. Or whatever was left of it. There were chunks that were torn off And one of the legs was ripped off entirely. 

"I... don't think Ghosts did that." Ryan said. 

There was a creak ahead. Something moved upstairs. We all looked up to the ceiling. Everything was covered in a thick layer of dust. 

We crept towards the open door, hearing movement behind it.

I held out my wand for good measure. And I thought of something else. Something bad. "Um... guys?" I asked.

That's when we heard a moaning. It was coming from Ron.

"Ron!" Harry yelled as went through first. And there was a big four poster bed with dusty hangings. And on it, was Crookshanks purring loudly at the sight of us. On the floor beside him, clutching his leg, was Ron. And his leg was struck out in a strange angle.

"Ron!" I dashed towards him.

"Are you okay?" Ryan asked.

Ron didn't say a word. 

"What happened to the Dog?" I asked. 

"Not a dog." Ron told me with eyes full of fear.

And that's when it occurred to me.

"What were you saying before, Kassie?" Hermione asked.

"What if there's something or someone else in here?" I asked remembering what I Wanted to say earlier.

"You mean, like Sirius Black?" Hermione asked. 

"Y-Yeah." I answered. "What if he's been using this place as a hideout the whole time?" 

"That's a good point." Harry agreed. 

And it made me want to get out of here sooner than later. "Yeah. Let's get out of here before Sirius Black shows up." I suggested.

That's when Hermione turned around. And her eyes went wide. "There's no need for that anymore, Kassie." She said nervously.

I started to feel a sense of fear. "W-What do you m-mean, Hermione?" I asked. Even though I probably knew what she meant.

"He's here!" Hermione yelled. 

I turned around to see a mass of filthy, matted hair which hung to his shoulders. His eyes turned into dark sockets. And he looked like a lost soul of the Underworld. The waxy skin was stretched so tightly over the bones of his face. "Malaka. Someone looks like they crawled right out of the Underworld." 

"That's him! That's Sirius Black!" Ron exclaimed. "He's the Dog! He's an Animagus!" 

"Gods help us." I prayed as I pointed my wand at Sirius Black. 

"Expelliamus!" Black croaked as he pointed Ron's wand at us. Our wands were shot out of our hands, high into the air, and Black caught them. He took a step closer to us. But his eyes were fixated on Harry. 

"I thought you'd come and help your friend." Sirius Black said hoarsely. His voice sounded as though he 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..."

Harry stepped forward. But Hermione grabbed him pulling him back.

Ryan looked at Sirius Black. "Horus?" He asked.

"Steady." Horus advised.

"Get away from him!" I yelled at Sirius Black while stepping in front of Harry with my arms stretched out. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill me, too!" 

"And if you kill, Kassie, you'll have to kill us, as well!" Ron declared fiercely. Though the effort to do so drained him of all color as he swayed slightly.

"Lie down." Black said quietly. "You will damage that leg even more." 

"That's what I tried to tell him." Anubis commented. 

"Not now, Anubis." Ron groaned.

"Well, either way! You'll have to kill all five of us!" I told him. 

"No. Only one will die tonight." Black replied. His grin widening. 

I spat at him. "You're going to have to kill me first before you can lay one hand on Harry. And if you do anything to me, my brothers will show you NO mercy!" I threatened. Even though I knew that Jacob and Ethan probably wouldn't make it in time.

Sirius laughed. "Your Brothers? And just who are you?" He asked me.

I breathed in. "K-Kassandra Bauer."

Sirius stopped laughing. His expression changed and he looked confused. "Bauer? You said Bauer." He told me.

"Y-Yes." I answered.

"Daniel and Caroline had another child?" Sirius asked.  

"N-Not exactly. I'm adopted." I answered. Even though I was nervous, there was no sense to lie to him.

"Your Father, Daniel was a good man, Kassandra. It broke my heart when I heard he died." Sirius said to me.

"Why do you care?" Harry suddenly interrupted. "You didn't care last time, did you? Didn't mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew... What's the matter? Did you get soft in Azkaban?" 

"Harry!" Hermione whimpered. "Be quiet!"

"HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!" Harry roared, and with huge effort he broke free of Hermione and broke free of Hermione's restraint and lunged forward past me, forgetting that he had magic.

I watched as Harry fastened his hand over Black's wrist, forcing the wand tips away, the fist of Harry's other hand punching the side of Black's head, and they fell backwards into the wall.

The rest of us were all screaming, and there was a flash as the wands in Black's hand sent a jet a sparks into the air, which missed Harry's face by inches. Harry tried to punch Black, but Sirus' hands found their way around Harry's waist.

"Leave him alone!" I yelled trying to come to Harry's defense.

"No." Black hissed as he pushed me aside. "I've waited too long-" 

His fingers tightened. Harry was getting suffocated. His glasses all discombobulated. "I said, let him go!" I shouted trying to get on Black's back and rip him off. But Black threw me off and I landed on my back hard.

But he did let go of Harry with a grunt of pain. Ryan threw himself on Black's wand hand. And I heard a faint clatter.

Crookshanks joined the fray; his front claws sinking into Harry's arms. 

"Get off!" Harry yelled. He threw Crookshanks off, but then he darted for our wands.

"NO YOU DON'T!" Harry roared, aiming a kick at Crookshanks that made the Cat leap aside, spitting. But I was able to get my hand on my wand again. But still whimpering in pain. The Gods of Egypt were not going to be happy about that.

"Go!" I shouted at my friends.

They didn't hesitate to get their wands back and scrambled aside, all with new injuries. Hermione's lip was bleeding. While Ryan had a sprain on his shoulder. He pulled out a sign that said: 'Ouch!' Like the Wild E Coyote from Looney Tunes. 

Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His thin chest rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walk slowly to him. And Harry pointed his wand directly at Black's heart.

"Going to kill me, Harry?" Sirius asked looking up at Harry.

"You killed my parents." Harry said dangerously calm.

"I don't deny it." Sirius replied very quietly. "But if you knew the whole story-"

"The whole Story!?" Harry repeated furiously. "You sold them out to Voldemort! That's all I need to know!" 

"You've got to listen to me." Black now had a strange note of urgency in his voice. "You'll regret it if you don't... you don't understand..."

"Shouldn't we do something?" Ryan asked Horus.

"One moment. I want to see where this is going." Horus answered.

"I understand a lot better than you think." Harry replied to Sirius Black. "You never heard her, did you? Mum... trying to stop Voldemort from killing me... and you did that... you did it..."

Before any of us could say anything else, Crookshanks streaked past us and leaped onto Black's chest, settling himself down right over Black's heart.

"Crookshanks?" I asked. "What are you doing?" 

"Get off." Harry murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off.

"Harry! Wait!" Anubis warned. 

"NO!" Harry yelled right as Crookshanks sunk his claws into Black's robes and wouldn't shift. That cat was stubborn, I would give him that. He turned his face to Harry and looking up at him with great yellow eyes. Hermione gave a dry sob.

"What is this Cat's issue?" I asked. "Unless... he's in league with the Dog." 

"He's not in league. He's simply protecting the heart." Horus explained. 

"And how do you know that?" Harry asked.

"Hello? God of Egypt." Horus reminded. "The Heart is the most sacred of the organs. It's why Priests never took it out of the body."   

And Harry continued to stand down at Crookshanks. His grip tightening on his wand. "Move aside, Crookshanks." He ordered. "I won't ask a second time!" 

"Harry. I don't think it's such a good idea to kill the cat, especially since it's right in front of the Gods!" I warned.

But Harry did not seem to care. He raised his wand. 

Black stared up at him with Crookshanks standing his ground.

And that was when we heard a new sound.

Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor.

"WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione screamed quickly. "WE'RE UP HERE- SIRIUS BLACK- QUICK!"

"Stop right there!" I could see Beatrice come charging into the room.

"Bea!" I exclaimed. "What are you doing here?" I asked as happy as I was to see her.

"You didn't come back from Hagrid's hut... so, I either came down with two conclusions. Sirius Black had kidnapped you. Or the Shadow of Nyx did." Beatrice answered with her wand pointed at Sirius Black. "Are you guys, okay?" She asked us.

"Uh huh." I answered.

"My leg is hurt." Ron answered.

Beatrice noticed Ron's broken leg. "I can see that."

"Beatrice. I'm sorry..." I started to say.

"Ah, this is just what we call Tuesday for us, isn't it?" Beatrice asked sarcastically. She then turned to Sirius Black. "Thought you could get away with trying to kill my Sister in Law, and her friends, eh?"

"No! Miss..." Black looked for a name. For a Serial Killer, he had nice manners. 

"Haywood. Beatrice Haywood." Beatrice answered with her wand pointed at the face of Sirius. 

"Right then. Miss. Haywood. Only one will die tonight." Black repeated.

"Don't tempt me." Beatrice warned. "My sister was taken from me by a Psychopath in this very Shack. It won't happen to another."  She was referring to when Penny was kidnapped. 

"And in the name of the Circle of Khanna. You are under arrest, Sirius Black!" She declared.

"Are you threatening me, Miss. Haywood?" Black then made a startled movement that almost dislodged Crookshanks; and I think that Harry could use this as his cue to kill Black.

And the door burst open again in a shower of red sparks. It was Lupin! He came hurtling into the room, his face bloodless and his wand raised and ready. But why was he here?

"Professor Lupin?" I asked confused.

"Expelliamus!" Lupin shouted.

Harry's wand flew out his hand again; so were the other two that Hermione was holing. Lupin caught them all deftly, then moved into the room, staring at Black, who still had Crookshanks lying protectively across his chest.

"Jesus, Lupin! You didn't have to disarm them like that!" Beatrice shouted.

But Lupin ignored Beatrice and stared at Black. "Where is he, Sirius?"

I had no idea who they were talking about. "Where's who?" I asked.

Black's face looked expressionless. For a few seconds, he didn't move at all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand and pointed straight at Ron. 

"What? Ron?!" I asked.

"Unless. He's talking about Anubis." Ryan suggested.

Ron just looked bewildered. "Do you know what's going on, Anubis?" He asked.

"No. But I am curious to see where this is going." Anubis answered. 

But Lupin wasn't talking about Anubis at all. 

"But then..." Lupin muttered and he stared at Black so intently, it almost seemed like he was trying to read his mind. "...why hasn't he shown himself before now? Unless-"

"Kassie. Get behind me." Beatrice jumped in front of me.  

"-Unless he was the one... unless you switched... without telling me?" Lupin went on.

And very slowly, his gaze never leaving Lupin's face, Black nodded.

What was even going on right now?

And Harry was thinking the same thing. "Professor." He interrupted loudly. "What's going on-?"

But he never finished the question, because Lupin lowered his wand, gazing fixedly on Black. And as Crookshanks fell to the floor. Lupin and Black embraced like Brothers.

"You see... this is why I can't trust Defense Against the Dark Arts Professors." Beatrice muttered.

I felt like I was missing something here.

"I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" Hermione screamed.

Lupin let go of Black and turned to her. She had raised herself off the floor and was pointing at Lupin, like her eyes were as intense as Ares. "You- you-"

"Hermione-" 

"-you and him!"

"Hermione, calm down-"

"I didn't tell anyone!" Hermione shrieked. "I've been covering up for you-"

"Hermione, listen to me, please!" Lupin begged. "I can explain-" 

"Can you explain it to all of us?" Ryan requested. "Because I don't get it."

"Yeah... I don't get it either." I added.

"Easy, Kassie." Beatrice told me. "This is the part where he tells us why he did the things he did. It's a whole bad guy thing. And his whole master plan." She then turned to Lupin. "You are going to do that, right?"

"I trusted you!" Harry shouted shaking with fury. "And all this time, you've been his friend!" 

"You're wrong." Lupin replied. "I haven't been Sirius's friend, but I am now- Let me explain-"

"Please do." Ryan said looking confused. "Are you and Sirius friends now? Or have you always been friends? Then you took a break, or..."

"NO!" Hermione screamed. "Harry, don't trust him, he's been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too!" 

"What?" I asked in disbelief. "It was you?" I looked at Lupin. And my heart felt like breaking. "How could you?"

"It's because he's a Werewolf!" Hermione answered for Lupin.

There was a ringing silence. Everyone's eyes were now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale.

"He is?" I asked confused.  

"Yeah, did you not know about that?" Beatrice asked me rather casual.

"Wait! You knew?!" Hermione asked Beatrice in disbelief.

"Oh, yeah. I found out years ago." Beatrice answered.

Hermione looked like her eyes might've popped out of their sockets.

"Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione." Lupin 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..." An odd shiver passed over his face. "But I don't deny that I am a werewolf."

"Well... that checks out." Ron commented.

You know. I had half expected Ron to flip out and turn on Lupin. But he just stayed where he was. "You're not freaking out in the slightest?" I asked him. 

"Not really. Lupin's not the first werewolf I met." Ron answered. 

Lupin then with obvious effort turned to Hermione. "How long have you known?" He asked.

"Ages." Hermione answered. "Since Professor Snape sent the essay..."

"Oh, he'll be delighted." Lupin said coolly.

"So... that's why Snape had us do the essay on Werewolves." Ryan realized. "But wait... what does being a werewolf have to do with any of this?" He asked.

"It really doesn't if you think about it." Black answered.

"Isn't it obvious? Werewolves are dangerous creatures!" Hermione shot back. "They're monsters! 

That's when Beatrice turned to Hermione. "Hey! Back off!" She yelled. "Not all Werewolves are dangerous beasts! One girl who was in my Sister's year, Chiara Lobosca is a Werewolf. And she was the sweetest girl you could ever meet! So don't just assume that Werewolves are dangerous monsters! Because Chiara is the farthest thing from a Monster!" 

"But Beatrice-" Hermione tried to say. 

"But nothing!" Beatrice shot down. "And if it wasn't for Chiara. You wouldn't all be here! She saved Ethan!" 

"A werewolf saving Ethan?" Hermione asked. 

"Is that so hard to believe?" Beatrice asked waiting for Hermione to respond. 

I'd get involved. But I knew Chiara as well. And Beatrice was right about her being so sweet. I also remembered Ethan being her friend back in the day. And helping Chiara through her years in Hogwarts.

"Oh, I remember Chiara Lobosca. We last spoke at Ethan and Penny's wedding. She still working at St. Mungo's?" Lupin asked.

"Oh yeah, she's doing great. Still at St. Mungo's now. And she's still dating Jae Kim, of course." Beatrice answered.

"Well, if anyone deserves that much. It's her." Lupin replied smiling.

"They let a Werewolf work in the Hospital? Are they mad?!" Hermione still did not sound convinced.

"Oh, shut it!" Beatrice told Hermione. "And stop being so closed minded." 

"She's got a point you know, Hermione." Ron said.

"Says the guy that's against Crookshanks." Anubis commented.

"And is... St. Mungo's cool with it?" Ryan asked. "I would think they would have something about like strict rules over who can work there and what not." 

"Oh, yes. Same with the Hogwarts Staff and Dumbledore when they hired me." Lupin answered. "Though... I do admit that Dumbledore had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I'm trustworthy-"

"AND HE WAS WRONG!" Harry yelled. "YOU'VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THAT TIME!" He pointed to Black, who had crossed to the four poster bed and had sunk into it, his face hidden in one shaking hand. Crookshanks leaped up beside him and stepped into his lap, purring. Ron was going to edge away, but Anubis stopped him.

"Stay where you are." Anubis told him. 

"I have not been helping Sirius." Lupin said. "If you'll give me a chance, I'll explain. Look-" 

He separated the wands he confiscated and threw them back to their owners.

"There." Lupin said, sticking his own wand back into his belt. "You're armed, we're not. Now will you listen?"

"You've got our attention." Beatrice answered.

"What she said." I added. For all I knew this could've been a trick. "And can you please explain all of this? Because I'm not sure where this is all going." 

"So... if you weren't helping him." Ryan said still trying to understand what was going on. "How did you knew he was here?"

"The map." Lupin answered. "The Marauder's Map. I was in my office examining it-"

"You knew how to work it?" Harry asked suspiciously. 

"Of course I know how to work it." Lupin answered waving his hand impatiently. "I helped write it. I'm Moony- that was my friends nickname for me at school." 

"I knew it!" I exclaimed.

"And you were right, Kassie. Top marks." Lupin replied to me. "But the important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening, because I had an idea that you, Harry Ron, Hermione, and maybe Ryan, he was a maybe you would've brought him. It was... probably debatable. Anyway. I thought you might all try and sneak out of the castle to see Hagrid before Buckbeak was executed. And I was right, wasn't I?"

"Um... yes." I answered.

Lupin started to pace up and down.

"You might have been wearing, your father's old Cloak, Harry-"

"How d'you know about the Cloak?" Harry asked.

"The number of times I saw James disappearing under it..." Lupin answered, waving the impatient hand again. But he seemed to be calming down. "The point is, even if you're wearing an Invisibility Cloak you show up on the Map. I watched you cross the grounds and enter Hagrid's Hug. Twenty minutes later, you left Hagrid, and set back off towards the castle. But you were now accompanied by somebody else."

"We were?" I asked. "Well, Beatrice couldn't have been-" 

"Not Miss. Haywood." Lupin interrupted. "I couldn't believe my eyes. I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?"

"How could who be with us?" Ryan asked. "Sorry. But I feel like I'm missing something." 

"I feel like I'm missing everything." I said. 

The Gods for all I knew were just watching the show and trying to take all the information in. 

"And does this HE have a name?" Beatrice asked still keeping me behind her.

"No one was with us!" Harry added.

"And then I saw another dot, moving fast towards you, labelled Sirius Black... I saw him collide with Harry, I watched as he pulled two of you into the Whomping Willow..."

"One of us!" Ron interrupted. "Though if the map counted two, I Suppose it would be me and Anubis!"

"Not Anubis!" Lupin informed. "And there were two of you."

"Enough talk, Remus. Let's kill him." Sirius insisted.

"Wait one more minute-" Lupin instructed.

"I DID MY WAITING! 12 YEARS OF IT! IN AZKABAN!" Sirius yelled.

I couldn't really blame Sirius for that outburst. Azkaban was scary. And he had been there for 12 years.

"Okay. Slow down a second." Beatrice interrupted. "If Sirius Black dragged 2 people with him. And Ron was one of them. And we don't include Anubis. Then who was the other?" She asked. 

"Him!" Lupin pointed to Scabbers.

"Scabbers?" I asked. 

"Do you think I could have a look at the rat?" Lupin asked evenly.

"What?" Ron asked. "What does Scabbers have to do with it?"

"Everything." Lupin answered. "Could I see him, please?" 

Ron hesitated, then put a hand inside his robes. Scabbers emerged and thrashing harder than ever before. It was so bad that Ron had seize what was left of his long bald tail to stop him escaping. Crookshanks stood up on Black's leg and made a soft hissing noise. Which was typical of Crookshanks at this point.

Lupin moved closer to Ron. He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at Scabbers.

"What?" Ron asked, holding Scabbers close to him, and looking scared. "What's my rat got to do with anything?"

"Good question." Beatrice answered very cautiously. 

"Because that's not a rat." Black croaked suddenly. "Or at least... he's not a normal one." 

"What d'you mean? Of course he's a rat-" Ron started to say.

"No, he's not." Lupin replied quietly. "He's a wizard." 

What? But that could only mean-

"He's an Animagus!" Black told us. "By the name of Peter Pettigrew!"