Chapter 146
Harry and Hermione turned to see what had terrified Ron so badly.
There, standing only a few feet away, was a savage black dog, its lips curled back to reveal long, glistening fangs dripping with saliva.
The beast did not remain still. The moment its eyes fixed on the rat in Ron's hands, it charged with terrifying speed.
It leapt over Harry and Hermione in a single bound, sank its jaws into Ron's leg, and clamped down hard.
Ron screamed as the enormous dog dragged him bodily toward a hole at the base of the Whomping Willow.
"Harry! Hermione! Please help me! Save me!" Ron cried out in agony.
Harry sprinted forward, desperate to seize his friend before the creature could pull him away. But he was too late.
The dog slipped into the tree's hidden passage, dragging Ron and the rat with it.
"Damn it!" Harry shouted, his fists trembling. "I almost had him! What do we do now, Hermione?"
But before he could hear her answer, he caught sight of her being flung skyward, clutching a whipping branch of the furious tree.
Hermione's terrified voice rang out. "Harry! Run! Don't let the branches catch you!"
The distance between them made her words faint. Harry couldn't make them out.
He looked up, horrified, as Hermione dangled in the air, the violent branch thrashing left and right.
So focused was he on her peril that he didn't realize a branch had lashed around him as well. With a violent heave, the tree hurled him into the air.
Instinctively, Harry seized another branch as he was flung skyward.
The enraged tree shook them both mercilessly then hurled them down into the opening beneath its roots.
Harry and Hermione crashed into the passage below, groaning from the impact.
With effort, they staggered to their feet, realizing they had landed inside some kind of tunnel. It was almost like a hidden house built beneath the tree, rough-hewn like a cave.
Hermione, braver than her trembling legs suggested, started climbing the steps that led deeper inside. Harry followed closely behind.
At the top, they entered a shadowed room and froze at the sight of Ron lying on the ground, pale and terrified, pointing shakily toward the far side.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over. "Where's the dog?!"
Ron's voice trembled. "That that's no ordinary dog. He's a man!"
He lifted his hand, pointing at the door.
On the floor, pawprints still marked the dust. And then, the door creaked open, revealing a tall figure dressed in surprisingly fine robes.
Harry and Hermione stared. They didn't recognize the man.
Harry's only memory of Sirius Black came from the Daily Prophet filthy rags, matted hair, and a gaunt, deranged expression.
But this man was sharply dressed, his hair neat, his bearing composed.
Unbeknownst to them, Albert had already provided his father with new clothes during their secret meeting in the Forbidden Forest.
Harry raised his wand instantly, suspicion burning in his eyes. He didn't know who this was, but he would get answers.
Before he could act, Professor Lupin suddenly appeared, slipping into the room and disarming him with practiced ease.
"Calm yourself, Harry!" Lupin said firmly. "He isn't the one who committed that crime."
Harry froze, baffled. "What do you mean?"
But Lupin turned instead to the man. His voice softened. "It's been a long time, my friend."
A smile spread across the stranger's face. Sirius Black stepped forward and embraced him. Thirteen long years had passed since their last meeting.
Lupin spoke gravely. "Sirius, now isn't the time for vengeance. First, the boy must know the truth."
But Sirius shook his head, fury flashing in his eyes. "I've waited long enough, Remus! I rotted in that hellhole for thirteen years because of him! I'll kill him with my own hands! Where is he?!"
Harry and Hermione gasped. The truth dawned this man was Sirius Black, Albert's father.
Harry stepped forward, blocking Sirius and Lupin. "Are you truly… Albert's father? Sirius Black?"
Sirius raised his hand, pleading for Harry to listen. He wanted him to understand he was not the traitor who had murdered James and Lily Potter.
But Harry's voice cut through, calm and firm. "I know the truth. Albert told me everything."
Sirius blinked in shock. Even Lupin's eyes widened. How could Albert know what had truly happened? Sirius had always insisted his son keep the truth hidden until the right time, so Peter would not escape justice.
That, after all, was Albert's obsession: making certain Peter never slipped away again.
And Peter knew it too. Trapped in Ron's grasp, he felt the walls closing in. Sirius knew his secret that he too was an Animagus. Exposure was inevitable.
The rat struggled violently, trying to escape.
But Sirius was faster. With a snarl, he snatched the rat by its tail and held it aloft.
"This!" he roared. "This is the one! He is the reason my friends are dead why I lost my wife! Show yourself, you coward!"
He slammed the rat onto the table and cast the revealing spell.
In seconds, the creature began to convulse, twisting and warping until it was no longer a rat.
There, cowering before them, was Peter Pettigrew pale, trembling, his hands raised to shield his face.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione stood frozen, their minds reeling. Albert had told them the truth, but witnessing it the transformation from rat to man was something else entirely.
Peter forced a weak smile, raising his hands in mock greeting. "My… my old friends. What a joy to see you again after so long." His voice shook as he spoke, the fear behind his smile plain as day.
Sirius and Lupin raised their wands, fury etched in their faces.
And Peter's smile faltered.
To be continued …