Good vs. Evil

Chapter 7

We walked out of the shack and felt relief wash over me. It was absolutely awful in there. Feeling unwelcome once again, I started back to the castle.

"Y/n?" Sirius Black called, "Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Yes?"

"I understand if you decline but I know how much you dread being home, so if you ever need a break you are welcome to stay with Harry and me."

"Oh," I smiled, quite surprised by the offer, "Thank you, that sounds wonderful."

"Harry!" Granger shouted. Sirius and I both snapped our attention over to the girl.

She pointed to the sky where the clouds were clearing to reveal the moon. Sirius ran to Professor Lupin.

"Remus, my old friend. Have you taken your potion tonight?"

Lupin started screaming, and I gasped in horror. I stumbled back, trying to get a safe distance from him.

"You know the man you truly are, Remus! This heart is where you truly live! Here! This flesh is only flesh!"

Hermione went to help Ronald up and Potter grabbed my wrist, pulling me closer to them.

We watched as Lupin's skin stretched and his face changed form. The rat grabbed the wand from the ground, pointing it at his head.

"Expelliarmus!" Potter sent the wand flying but the rat was already transforming.

I grabbed his wrist, stopping him from going after it. 

Lupin threw Sirius off of him and into the bushes, hunching over.

"Wait, wait," Hermione said, stepping forward. I took Ronald from her, keeping him upright.

"Bad idea, bad idea," Ronald whispered.

"Professor Lupin?" Hermione asked softly.

"Hermione, don't!" I whispered.

Lupin howled causing Hermione to stumble back.

"Nice doggie, nice doggie." Ronald whimpered.

Suddenly, Snape appeared, grabbing Potter.

"There you are, Potter." He spat. Lupin growled at him. He turned around, pushing us behind him.

Lupin slashed his face, going from his to mine. We all fell to the ground. I put a hand to my face, feeling the blood trickle.

He went to attack us again when Sirius came back, this time as a dog, lunging for his face.

We scrambled back to our feet. Snape pushed us behind him again.

The two continued to fight, eventually running off. Potter ran after them.

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I sat on the bed with my legs crossed, a huge bandage covering half my vision. My head was pounding and I could feel the wound throb.

Hermione sat in a chair in between Potter and I's beds, waiting for him to wake up.

He started to stir before quickly sitting up.

"Harry?" Hermione asked worriedly.

"I saw my dad."

My head snapped up, I looked over at him in disbelief.

"What?" She whispered.

"He sent the dementors away. I saw him across the lake."

"Harry, they've captured Sirius." I sighed, getting to the point. "Any minute the dementors are gonna perform the Kiss."

He jumped from the bed, "They're gonna kill him?"

"No. It's worse." Hermione helped him up, "Much worse. They're going to suck out his soul."

At that moment, Dumbledore pushed open the doors.

I got up from the bed, rushing towards him.

"Headmaster, stop them," I begged.

"They've got the wrong man," Hermione added.

"It's true." Harry nodded, "Sirius is innocent."

"It's Scabbers who did it," Ron called from his bed.

"Scabbers?" Dumbledore asked.

"He's my rat, sir." He explained, "He's not really a rat. He was a rat. He was my brother Percy's rat. But then they gave him an owl..."

"The point is," Hermione continued, "We know the truth."

"Please believe us." I begged.

"I do, Miss Fawley." He reassured, "But the word of four 13-year-old wizards will convince few others. A child's voice, however honest and true...is meaningless to those who have forgotten how to listen."

"Mysterious thing, time. Powerful...and when meddled with, dangerous." He went on, "Sirius Black is in the topmost cell of the Dark Tower. You know the laws, Miss Granger. You must not be seen."

Harry and I looked at each other, clearly neither of us knew what he was talking about.

"And you would do well, l feel, to return before this last chime. If not, the consequences are too ghastly to discuss. If you succeed tonight... more than one innocent life may be spared. Three turns should do it, I think." He started to walk away, "Oh, and by the way. When in doubt, l find retracing my steps to be a wise place to begin. Good luck."

He shut the door.

"What the bloody hell was that all about?"

"Sorry," Hermione looked between Ron and I, "But seeing as you can't walk and you can't see."

She put a chain over Harry, blocking what they were doing.

And they disappeared.