Ron held onto Ria's arm while she maintained eye contact with the man in front of her. The heavens knew she was scared, but of course, she couldn't let the murderer know that. She took a sharp intake of breath, steadying her grip on the wand.

Sirius Black had doubt in his mind. He felt like he knew her, but couldn't really pinpoint it. Therefore all he could do was chose to ignore it for the while.

"Where is Harry Potter?" asked Black politely, taking a step forward.

"Don't you dare take another step." Ria warned.

His filthy face broke out into a smile. He chuckled. "Do you really think you could hold a fight against me, dear?"

For the first time in a while, she let her fear play out. And it worked. The place began rumbling. He looked around the room, watching as dust and small chunks fell down.

"Not really, I couldn't." She admitted. "But I can crumble this place to pieces. You won't even survive, let alone carry out your mission." She threatened, her body feeling more firm now.

To her surprise, he chuckled. "Well, if you do that, you wouldn't survive either."

Her confidence faltered for just a second before she regained it again. "Doesn't matter." She shrugged. "I'll be happy knowing that I took you with me."

"I don't know if you're just that strong or naive. Standing fearlessly in front of someone like me takes some nerve. Are you sure some wiring up there isn't loose?"

She shrugged again. "Who knows? Being an Enchantress does that to you, I guess.."

At the words, his gaze softened. He did find her appearance familiar. And she was an Enchantress.. Could she be..?

His eyes widened slightly. That was why she was here.. in front of him with her wand raised, ready to even threaten her life to protect him.

"He doesn't deserve what you're doing for him." said Sirius, tear pooling in a single eye. "He doesn't deserve your sacrifice."

"What— What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"I know what he means to you, but trust me, he deserves nothing but death for what he has done—"

"What are you talking about?!"

Just at that moment, another figure entered in and stood right in front of her. Her eyes looked at the messy bundle of black hair, and they widened in disbelief. He shouldn't be here.

"Harry! You shouldn't have come! He isn't a dog, he's an Animagus!" yelled Ron, trying to get up. Hermione rushed to his help, but he denied it.

"If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!" He threatened, and although his leg was bleeding, although his face had lost its colour, he still stood upright and brave.

"No. Only one will die tonight." Black replied, his gaze set on Ron. He still didn't falter.

"Then it'll be you!" shouted Harry, rushing to him and grabbing him by his collar. He had waited so long for this moment. This was his time to get revenge.

"Harry, no!" Ria yelled, but it was too late. He had tackled him on the floor and had his wand against his throat.

Something came between them. And it was Crookshanks, meowing angrily at Harry, taking the criminal's side. Ria and Ron just stared at Hermione, while Black laughed. "Are you going to kill me, Harry?" He asked madly.

Suddenly, the door thud opened and Harry's wand flew out of his hand. Ria was in the midst of shouting a spell, but she was disarmed too. And then her gaze properly settled on the man at the doorstep. Remus Lupin. Her heart dropped.

Harry hurriedly got off the man as the Professor walked towards Sirius. "Well, well, Sirius. Looking rather ragged, aren't we? Finally, the flesh reflects the madness within." Lupin taunted the man while having his wand pointed at him.

"Well, you'd know all about the madness within, wouldn't you? Remus?" Sirius taunted back.

Then something unexpected happened, Lupin lowered his wand and a small smile tugged at his lips. He offered Sirius his hand, and pulled him off the floor to embrace him like a brother.

Ria stared at the pair in disbelief. She felt betrayed.

"I found him. It's him!" Black grinned madly at him.

"I know, I understand." replied Lupin.

"But what about her?" He asked, sparing a looked at Asteria. "She wants to protect him."

"She'll understand. We'll help her to."

"You traitor!" Ria bellowed. "How could you? I— I trusted you!"

Lupin sighed, turning to her. "Ria.. you've misunderstood it."

"No, shut up!" She shouted, then turning towards the three. "Remember him missing classes every month? He's bloody werewolf, that's why!" she told him. "I kept it a secret.. thought he was harmless.. Should've reported him when I had the chance."

"How did you find out?" asked Hermione, and something about her tone told Ria that she'd known it too.

"I brewed Wolfsbane for someone, and then found out it was for him." she answered, still wary of the man in front of her. "You?"

Hermione nodded. "When Professor Snape set the essay.. that's when I knew." she answered. "He was giving us hints from the start.. trying to warn us."

Lupin sighed again. "You two really are clever for your age."

Behind him, Sirius forced out a laughter. "Enough talk, Remus! Come on, let's kill him!"

"Wait!"

"I did my waiting!" He shouted in response. "Twelve years of it, in Azkaban!"

Remus silently looked back at the group, then at him again. He handed him his wand. "Very well. Kill him." He said. "But wait for a while. Harry and Asteria have the right to know why."

"I know why!" Harry interrupted him, then looked at the prisoner. "You betrayed my parents! You're the reason they're dead!"

"No, Harry, it wasn't him!" Remus was quick to jump to his defence. "Somebody betrayed your parents. Somebody who, until quite recently, I believed to be dead!"

"Who was it, then?" asked Harry.

"Peter Pettigrew!" Black snarled. "And he's in this room, right now! Come out, come out, Peter! Come out, come out and play!" He yelled madly.

"Isn't he dead?" Ria breathed out. Oh God, it was true when they said Black had completely lost his mind. "Why would you try to kill a dead man?"

"Wait.. You think he's dead?" asked Lupin. She nodded in an obvious manner.

Sirius's mad expression dissolved for a second. "Who're you trying to protect then, if not Pettigrew?"

"Uh— my friends, who're clearly alive." Ria argued back. "I get that he was my Godfather, but why would I try to protect a dead man anyway?"

"Oh.." said Black in realisation. "That's one problem out of the way, then. Now give me Pettigrew!" He lunged at the group, but Lupin held him back.

"Whoa! Whoa! Are you crazy?" bellowed Asteria. "Who am I talking about? Of course, you are! Pettigrew's dead! You killed him!"

"I meant to," Sirius growled, his yellow teeth bared. "But little Peter got the better of me. Not this time, though! He's alive! And he's right there, in front of me!" He yelled, pointing towards Ron. His eyes went wide.

"Me? Are you mental?!" accused Ron, making Black scowl.

"Not you! Your rat!" He bellowed.

The redhead looked offended. "Scabbers has been in my family for—"

"Twelve years?" Sirius mocked. "Curiously long life for a common garden rat! He's missing a toe, isn't he?" He pointed at the struggling rat.

"So what?" inquired Ron.

Hermione spoke up in realisation. "All they could find of Pettigrew was his—"

"Finger!" Black completed, looking at her. He looked at Harry. "Dirty coward cut it off so everyone could think he was dead! And then he transformed into a rat!" Sirius added as he lunged towards Ron, who shouted in fear.

"Sirius, NO!" yelled Lupin, launching himself forwards and dragging Black away from Ron again, "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 to throw Lupin off. One hand was still clawing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron's face and neck as he tried to escape.

"They've— got— a— right— to— know— everything!" Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. "Ron's kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand! And Harry— you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!"

Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still transfixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, and bleeding hands.

"All right, then," He said without taking his eyes off the rat. "Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder they imprisoned me for.."

"You're nutters, both of you," said Ron shakily, looking around at Harry, Hermione and Ria for support. "I've had enough of this. I'm off."

He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wand again, pointing it at Scabbers. "You're going to hear me out, Ron," he mumbled. "Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen."

"HE'S NOT PETER, HE'S SCABBERS!" yelled Ron, trying to force the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting too hard; He swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him and pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Black, Harry turned to Lupin.

"There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die," he said. "An entire street full of them.."

"They didn't see what they thought they saw!" said Black savagely, still watching Scabbers struggling in Ron's hands

"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter," said Lupin, nodding. "I believed it myself— until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder's map never lies... Peter's alive. Ron's holding him, Harry."

Then Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to will Professor Lupin to talk sensibly. "But Professor Lupin.. Scabbers can't be Pettigrew.. it just can't be true, you know it can't.."

"Why can't it be true?" Lupin asked calmly, as though they were in class, and Hermione simply had a doubt in her DADA studies.

"Because... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework— the Ministry of Magic keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there's a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things.. and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the register, and there have been only seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew's name wasn't on the list—"

Lupin laughed. "Right again, Hermione!" he said. "But the Ministry never knew that there used to be four unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts."

"If you're going to tell them the story, get a move on, Remus," snarled Black, who was still watching Scabbers's every desperate move. "I've waited twelve years, I will not wait much longer."

"All right... but you'll need to help me, Sirius," said Lupin, "I only know how it began.."

He broke off. There had been a loud creak behind him. The bedroom door had opened of its own accord. All six of them stared at it. Then Lupin strode toward it and looked out into the landing. "No one there.."

"This place is haunted!" said Ron.

"It's not," said Lupin, still looking at the door in a puzzled way. "The Shrieking Shack was never haunted.. The screams and howls the villagers used to hear were made by me." He pushed his greying hair out of his eyes, thought for a moment, then said, "That's where all of this starts— with me becoming a werewolf. None of this could have happened if I hadn't been bitten.. and if I hadn't been so foolhardy.."

He looked sober and tired. Ron started to interrupt, but Hermione said, "Shh!" She was watching Lupin very intently.

"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 asked Asteria to make for me is a very recent discovery. It makes me safe, you see. As long as I take it in the week preceding 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.." 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."

"It.. It must've been really horrible.." said Ria, her voice low and sympathetic. "Having horrible transformations.. and feeling lonely."

But Lupin only smiled. "Yes, it was. My transformations in those days were— were terrible. It is very painful to turn into a werewolf. I was separated from 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 rumour.. Even now, when the house has been silent for years, the villagers don't dare approach it.."

"But apart from my transformations, I was happier than I had ever been in my life. For the first time ever, I had friends, four great friends. Sirius Black. Peter Pettigrew. Isabella Diggory. And, of course, your father, Harry.. James Potter."

"Now, my four 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. Even Isabella; I believed she would desert me even when she was the least likely to.. But of course, they worked out the truth on their own.."

"And they didn't desert me at all. Isabella even scolded me.. that how could I dare think she'd desert me when she was an outcast herself.. you'd know why." He looked at Ria, and she nodded. Because she was an Enchantress. "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?" said Harry, astounded.

"Yes, indeed," said Lupin. "It took them the best part of three years to work out how to do it. Your father, Sirius and Isabella 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 those three. Finally, in our fifth year, they managed it. They could each turn into a different animal at will."

"But how did that help you?" said Hermione, sounding puzzled.

"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. And Isabella helped me get out if I felt too weak. She even helped in the healing process. She was a Phoenix.. you see? She could apparate in and out of anywhere by bursting apart into flames—"

"She—" Ria hesitated. "She was a what?"

"A Phoenix, yes." He nodded with a small laugh. "But yes, she was.. A Patronus and an Animagus form of a person are the same. So.. like how love can change someone's Patronus, an Animagus's form may change or evolve if they feel strong compassion or resentment towards something." He explained. "Her form changed because of both.. And now she can transform into a white hawk.. your father's Patronus."

Harry's jaw dropped to the floor. White.. hawk..

His little bird friend.. IT WAS ISABELLA ALL ALONG?!

Asteria blinked. Again.. Why did her mother hide the most awesome parts of her life from her?!

"Anyway.. 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."

"Hurry up, Remus," snarled Black, who was still watching Scabbers with a horrible sort of hunger on his face.

"I'm getting there, Sirius, I'm getting there.. 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. Isabella is Ray. James was Prongs."

Ria felt dizzy with all the information. It was too much to handle.

"What sort of animal—?" Harry began, but Hermione cut him off.

"That was still really dangerous! Running around in the dark with a werewolf! What if you'd given the others the slip, and bitten somebody?"

"A thought that still haunts me," said Lupin heavily. "And there were near misses, many of them. We laughed about them afterwards. We were young, thoughtless— carried away with our own cleverness."

"I sometimes felt guilty about betraying Dumbledore's trust, of course.. he had admitted me to Hogwarts when no other headmaster would have done so, and he had no idea I was breaking the rules he had set down for my own and others' safety. He never knew I had led four fellow students into becoming Animagi illegally. But I always managed to forget my guilty feelings every time we sat down to plan our next month's adventure. And I haven't changed.."

Lupin's face had hardened, and there was self-disgust in his voice. "All this year, I have been battling with myself, wondering whether I should tell Dumbledore that Sirius was an Animagus. But I didn't do it. Why? Because I was too cowardly. It would have also meant exposing and endangering Isabella when she is already considered a threat by many in the Ministry. It would have meant admitting that I'd betrayed Dumbledore's trust while I was at school, admitting that I'd led others along with me.. and his trust has meant everything to me."

"He let me into Hogwarts as a boy, and he gave me a job when I have been shunned all my adult life, unable to find paid work because of what I am. And so I convinced myself that Sirius was getting into the school using Dark arts he learned from Voldemort, that being an Animagus had nothing to do with it.. so, in a way, Snape's been right about me all along."

"Snape?" said Black harshly, taking his eyes off Scabbers for the first time in minutes and looking up at Lupin. "What's Snape got to do with it?"

"He's here, Sirius," said Lupin heavily. "He's teaching here as well." 

He looked up at Harry, Ron, Hermione and Asteria. "Professor Snape was at school with us. He fought very hard against my appointment to the Defence Against the Dark Arts job. He has been telling Dumbledore all year that I am not to be trusted. He has his reasons.. you see, Sirius here played a trick on him which nearly killed him, a trick which involved me—"

Black made a derisive noise. "It served him right," he sneered. "Sneaking around, trying to find out what we were up to.. hoping he could get us expelled.."

Lupin cleared his throat, sparing a small glance at Ria's direction. "Severus was very interested in where I went every month." Lupin told, especially to her. "We were in the same year, you know, and we— er— didn't like each other very much. He especially disliked James (yeah, Ria had heard that). Jealous, I think, of James's talent on the Quidditch field.. anyway Snape had seen me crossing the grounds with Madam Pomfrey one evening as she led me toward the Whomping Willow to transform."

"Sirius thought it would be— er— amusing, to tell Snape all he had to do was prod the knot on the tree trunk with a long stick, and he'd be able to get in after me. Well, of course, Snape tried it— if he'd got as far as this house, he'd have met a fully grown werewolf— but your father, who'd heard what Sirius had done, went after Snape and pulled him back, at great risk to his life.. Snape glimpsed me, though, at the end of the tunnel. He was forbidden by Dumbledore to tell anybody, but from that time on he knew what I was.."

"So that's why Snape doesn't like you," said Harry slowly, "because he thought you were in on the joke?"

"That's right," sneered a cold voice from the wall behind Lupin. Severus Snape was pulling off the Invisibility Cloak, his wand pointing directly at Black.

The four students looked at him in shock. Snape had his eyes locked on Sirius, a cold smirk growing on his face. "Vengeance in sweet. How I hoped I'd be the one to catch you.." He sneered.

Remus took a step towards him. "Severus.."

Snape pointed his wand at him, making him back away. "I told Dumbledore you were helping a friend into the castle. Here's the proof." He smirked.

"Brilliant, Snape. You've put your keen mind to the task and come to the wrong conclusion." mocked Sirius. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Remus and I have some unfinished business to attend to—"

Snape had pushed his wand to Black's throat. "Give me a reason, I beg you!"

"Severus, how's this?" Ria interrupted, making all of them look at her in surprise since she was addressing him so informally. "Take their wands away, and we'll listen to what they have to say before concluding—"

He sighed. "Asteria, I want you to keep quiet—"

"Severus, don't be a fool!" Remus warned.

"He can't help it. It's a habit by now." retorted Sirius.

"Sirius, be quiet!" Lupin snapped.

"Be quiet yourself!"

"Are you two done quarrelling like an old, married couple?" taunted Snape.

"Why don't you run along and play with your chemistry set, Snivellous?" Black taunted, making him press the wand tightly against his throat.

"I could do it, you know? But I can't deny the Dementors—"

"Why can't we just listen to what's true first?!" Ria bellowed, making Snape turn towards her.

"The truth is right in front of you.. These two are here to kill your best friend, Asteria!"

"You don't know that, Severus!"

"You know nothing about this man, I suggest you keep quiet!" He shouted.

"You have no right to talk to her like that!" Sirius muttered angrily.

Snape looked at him with a stiff smile. "Looks like I very much have.. Since I happen to be her Godfather." He informed, making all the heads in the room snap to her.

Ria kept her gaze down. And that was answer enough.

"You're barking.." Sirius forced a laughter, looking at Lupin, who slowly shook his head.

"At least, I've been able to do my job as a Godfather and as a friend properly, very much unlike you, Black. And yes, the Dementors. They're so longing to see you.." Sirius paled at their mention. 

"Do I suggest a flicker of fear?" It was Snape's turn to taunt. "Oh, yes. A Dementor's kiss. One can only imagine what that must be like. It's said to be nearly unbearable to witness, but I'll do my best."

"Hermione.." whispered Ron, taking her attention. He glanced towards the wands on the floor. She nodded and nudged Ria, gesturing towards the wands. The two nodded in understanding.

Remus caught their whispers and glanced at them quietly. He quickly recognised their intentions. However, he made no effort to stop them.

"Severus, please.." Remus requested. Ron quietly picked up the four wands and passed them to Hermione. Ria tugged at Harry's hand. He looked at what the three were doing, and quickly understood the plan.

"After you.." Snape snarled, gesturing at Black and Lupin.

Sorry, Severus.. Ria thought as she gripped her wand in her hand.

"Together.." Harry breathed, making her nod. "Three.. Two.. one."

The four raised their wands simultaneously at Snape, "Expelliarmus!" They shouted. The force of four disarming spells flew him back onto an old bed, knocking him unconscious.

"We attacked a teacher! We attacked a teacher!" Hermione exclaimed in panic and disbelief.

"I attacked my Godfather.." Ria closed her eyes and sighed in guilt.

"Thank you for that." sighed Lupin, taking Snape's wand from beside his unconscious body.

"I'm still not believing you.." Harry replied. Black lunged for Ron again, finally taking the rat— and Ron's wand— from his grasp. Ron leapt for Scabbers.

"No! Scabbers! Leave him alone!" He yelled in distraught, but Hermione held him back. "Get off him! What are you doing?" Black placed the rat on the old piano. Scabbers ran as Black and Lupin shot spells at him. Ron kept crying and whining.

Scabbers kept running around the room while rows of spells followed him. He somehow scurried up a wall, which had a window. Sirius and Remus yelled in desperation as they watched the rat run out of the window.

The silence hung in the air for a while, before a screech came in. A white hawk came thrashing into the room through the window with Scabbers clutched tightly in its claws. Sirius laughed in victory.

The hawk flung Scabbers to the ground, and Remus quickly shot a spell at him. The hawk was in the corner of the room, transforming into her true form. Scabbers dived through a hole in the wooden wall while transforming, and was now stuck in a human form. He looked filthy, ugly, basically like a disgrace as he nervously looked around the room.

Ria looked at her mother in confusion. "What on earth are you doing here, Mum?"

Isabella paid no mind to her confused daughter. Her eyes were glazing with anger. Remus and Sirius grabbed the man by his robes and yanked him out of the hole. He stumbled a few feet back, before catching the sight of the three in his front with their wands pointed straight at him.

"Remus? Sirius? Isabella?" He looked at the three of them. "My old friends." He cried, but tried scurrying away through the small gap in between Remus and Isabella. They caught him and threw him back. Peter fell to the corner of the room, whimpering in fear. Isabella leapt towards him, clutching her fists tight.

"You— You filthy bag of scum—" before she could hit him, Remus had held her back. "Fucking. Leave. Me. Remus! I'm gonna murder this— this disgraceful—" she struggled in Lupin's grip while giving Peter the filthiest string of profanities the group of people had ever heard.

"Isabella! Stop! We need to know what happened next! Merlin, would you stop?!" Remus growled in annoyance.

Isabella threw her hands in the air. "Okay— Okay fine! I'm calm, just leave me." She said in a much calmer tone.

Remus released his grip. She walked away from the rat-man, but took another deep breath before turning back and hitting him across the face. "For fuck's sake!" Lupin whined, pulling her back from a whimpering Peter.

Sirius watched curiously as Isabella cleaned her fist on a curtain, cringing as if she had touched the filthiest creature ever. He then looked at Remus, who tried to look anywhere but at her. A small smile dared to creep on his face. She felt his gaze and looked at the man with a clenched jaw.

"What are you looking at?" She asked in annoyance, making Sirius' head snap in another direction.

Pettigrew looked at the familiar face in the room and a wide smile grew on his face. "Asteria.. My dear goddaughter.." cried Peter, making Ria cringe. He took two gigantic steps towards her, "Look how beautiful you've grown to be—"

"Expulso!"

Before Isabella could react, a blue light erupting from Ria's wand sent him flying into the wall. He cried out in pain, while her mother had a burst of pride in her heart.

"Don't you dare.." Ria warned, eyeing him with disgust as he attempted to get up.

"Harry.. Look at you. You look so much like your father.. We were the best of friends." At this statement, all three looked at him in anger.

Sirius took a threatening step towards him. "How dare you speak to Harry!" He growled. Peter cried and ran away from him. "How dare you talk about James in front of him!" The three cornered him at the piano.

"You sold James and Lily to Voldemort, didn't you?!" asked Remus. Peter cried, cowering in fear.

Isabella looked at the two, angry and confused. "I still don't understand." She admitted. "I came here because of your letter.. because you only mentioned Peter being alive and nothing else." she told Lupin.

"Sirius convinced James and Lily to change their secret-keeper at the last minute, seeing as he would've been too obvious." He explained. She gave Sirius a look. "And I thought Sirius was the spy all along.." He sighed in guilt.

"Both of you had suspicions about each other.. It's still unbelievable, to this day." Isabella sighed. "Sirius, what powder were you snorting while making him the secret-keeper?" She asked incredulously.

"The same stuff you snort while choosing little star's godfathers." Sirius responded. Both the mother and daughter cringed at the old nickname. "Obviously, I didn't know, Isabella!" He added.

"Now tell them!" Sirius turned to Peter. "Tell them how you betrayed your best friends that night. Tell them how you betrayed us all along!"

"I didn't mean to.." He trailed off, whining. "The Dark Lord. You have no idea of the weapons he possesses! Ask yourself, Sirius! What would you have done?" asked Peter.

"I would've died!" Sirius cried in pain, making Pettigrew crawl from beneath the piano. "I would've died rather than betray my friends!"

Peter ran for the door, but Harry blocked his escape route. He held him by his shoulders, standing too close to him for his liking. "Harry.. James wouldn't have wanted me killed. He would've spared me. He would've showed me mercy—"

Peter didn't get to complete the sentence. Another 'expulso' from Asteria's wand had flung him into the wall. The three Marauders rounded up on him.

"You should've realised if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Together!" Sirius exclaimed, and the three raised their wands at him in sync.

"No!" Harry bellowed. All the heads in the room turned towards him.

Isabella sighed, pointing towards Peter. "Harry, honey.. This piece of shit here—"

"I know what he is.. But we'll take him to the castle." He walked towards them.

Pettigrew fell on his knees. "Bless you, boy, bless you.." He croaked out, falling at Harry's feet.

Harry backed off, making him face plant. "Get off!" shouted the boy, glaring at the man because of whom his parents were dead. "I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you.." He concluded. Peter started crying.

Remus smiled gratefully at Isabella. "Thank you for coming.." He admitted thankfully.

She nodded. "I came here for the children.. and for James and Lily. Not for us.." She then pointed her wand between herself, Remus and Sirius. "This changes nothing between us.."

The smile on their faces faded away, and they looked down, but nodded in understanding. It was fine. Just knowing she's alright is great. They had to admit.

Harry took his eyes off Peter, and as soon as he did, he found himself being almost tackled by Ria's hug. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around her and sighing in relief.

Across the room, Remus's eye caught them, and he turned towards his friends. "Oh.. by the way. I have something to tell you.." He said, his tone laced with the smallest hint of excitement.

"Are you alright?" Ria asked, not letting go of the hug just yet.

He nodded. "Yeah. You?"

"Better than ever." she said, backing away. "Now that all this is solved. And that you're safe."

"And that your visions have been fulfilled?" He asked hopefully, and was relieved when she nodded. "That's great, then."

And that was all it took. A small talk, a little glance, a reassuring hug. That was all it took to calm their hearts. Heavens knew what they meant to each other, many others did too, but they didn't. 

Not yet anyway.

But it was enough. Whatever they meant to each other for now.. it was more than enough. They wouldn't change a thing.

The group of people that was coming out of the Shrieking Shack had to be the strangest group ever. Crookshanks (Sirius's ally) led the way down the stairs, his tail held high in honour. Lupin, Pettigrew and Ron went next, looking like entrants in a six-legged race. Next came Professor Snape, drifting creepily along with his toes hitting each stair as they descended, held up with his own wand by Sirius. Ria and Hermione were after them. Harry and Isabella brought up the rear.

"So.. you were the hawk that came to see me?" Harry was quick to start this conversation, now feeling much more comfortable and closer to her. Why wouldn't he? They had known each other all this while, after all..

Isabella nodded, looking down. "I never had the courage to tell you.. the courage to face you when I had failed to protect your parents.. and you." She forced a smile at him, eyes quickly tearing up. "And as if that wasn't enough, I couldn't even.. couldn't even take you in my care. Save you from your terrible aunt and uncle. The only way I could keep an eye on you was.. through this.."

Her voice cracked. She took a deep breath and looked at him. "I should've fought for it. I know how bad the Dursleys treat you. I wanted to take you in, but Dumbledore asked me not to. But I should've fought for it. I'm sorry.." She apologised.

"Even after Dumbledore didn't let you, you were always there for me.." Harry smiled at her. "That meant a lot. Thank you for watching over me.." He said, hesitantly hugging Isabella. But she hugged him back even tighter, making him melt as if he were in his mother's embrace.

So.. that's what it felt like..

When they let go and continued to tread outside, Harry was met with a sight.. The sight of Sirius looking up at the Hogwarts castle, as if reminiscing memories from his school days. He looked at Isabella. "What happened between you three?"

She shook her head. "I'm not brave enough to recall it just yet.."

"Do you ever plan to talk it out with them?"

Turns out, she was looking at him too. She lightly chuckled, wiping the tear off her cheek. "Some things are better left as they are.. Harry." She said, looking at him with a small smile. "Less resolved, no doubt, but less complicated and less hurtful. But we never know what the future holds, obviously.."

"Don't let that hold you back, though." She said, keeping a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "He's your godfather, and you have every right to want to stay with him."

Harry gave her a surprised look, since she had said exactly what he had been thinking about. He sighed. "It's not like I don't enjoy your company. I love being with you two—"

Isabella chuckled, patting his back. "I know.. I know. You don't have to explain. You just feel closer to him because he is your Godfather, and not just your parents' best friend, or your best friend's parent. Don't worry, I won't be mad or hurt." She said.

"Well.. I haven't talked to him about it. Do you think I should?" He asked. She nodded encouragingly, and he gave her a small smile before making his way towards Sirius.

"Purveyors of mischief by heart.. reunited then?" Her daughter's voice broke her trance and she looked at her, who walked closer with a comforting smile. "How do you feel?"

Isabella was silent for a while, but then she just shrugged. "I don't know. I think I'll have to wait and find out."

Ria nodded, knowing that she had to be patient. She had heard her conversation with Harry, about talking things out with Sirius and Remus. She knew that tone.. it was the same one when she reminisced about her days with her father.

There was a word for it: Hiraeth. Nostalgia, longing, homesickness, a deep feeling of yearning for something, someone or somewhere.

When Ria had first heard of that oddly beautiful word, she had thought of her mother for some reason. She thought her voice poured out that feeling when she talked about her father. The tone didn't resemble exactly when she talked about Remus and Sirius, but it was close. It was really close.

"Well.. I hope the finding out goes well." Ria smiled at her mother, who returned it back.

"Well.. anyway.. I have one question." She said. "I know you were a Phoenix, but the name Ray.. it doesn't quite make sense."

"It's done already?" Peter asked, looking at the map in awe.

"Why didn't you tell us you had decided your name?" Sirius asked, looking at Isabella and Remus with a look of betrayal. "And I thought you loved us!"

"They change, Padfoot!" James added in the same, melodramatic tone as his. "They change so fast.. Snitches!" He sneered.

Isabella looked at her four best friends in pure confusion. "What on earth are you all talking about?"

"Remus put our names on the map!" Peter exclaimed happily. "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Ray and Prongs are proud to present the Marauder's Map."

"Hold on— Ray? When was this decided? Why wasn't I informed? It's my nickname after all!" She looked at Moony, and he just shrugged.

"I gave you a name that represents the real you."

"I'm a Phoenix, Remus.. Not a ray of sunshine. It makes no sense."

"Well.. you are our Ray of sunshine." He said. And Bella stared at him for a while before speaking.

"Ughh! That was so cheesy.. Moony, never say that again, please!"

"No, no! He's got a point!" said James, his lips contorting into a wicked smile. He then looked at Sirius, Remus and Peter. Their faces held similar grins as they looked at Isabella. She raised her hands in a defensive position.

"Don't you dare—" But before she could complete, they had ran to her and gripped her into a bone-crushing group hug. "Oh Godric! Get your smelly butts off me before I send them flying!"

"You don't know how to use your powers yet!" Remus taunted.

"I know! And I don't wanna go to Azkaban if I accidentally kill you, so gerroff!" She yelled, laughing after as they started losing balance.

"No!" Sirius yelped. "Remember! You're our ray of sunshiIIIHHH!" He squealed as they toppled on the floor, laughing while looking at each other.

The voices faded away into nothing but memories, and she wiped a lone tear away. "I have so much to talk about, but right now is not the time.." said Isabella. Ria sighed in disappointment, but nodded. She hugged her daughter, quickly kissing her head before letting go. "I'll see you soon.." Her mother said. She nodded again.

Asteria watched happily and fondly as her mother turned into a white, black-dotted hawk and flew away into the night.

With a content smile, she turned her attention towards her friends. Pettigrew was tied up, with Remus pointing his wand at him. Hermione was aiding Ron's leg. She had muttered some spell that had bandaged his leg over Ria's sweater.

But the smile didn't last long as she saw the ground dimly light up, casting their shadows on the ground. The star chart in her head went off, turning red into blaring alarms.

"Harry! Sirius!" She yelled, taking their attention and pointed at the night sky. A cloud had shifted, revealing the glowing, full moon in the sky.

Lupin went rigid. All of them watched in horror as his limbs began to shake, his comforting brown eyes turning into deranging black ones. Ria's eyes went wide in fright. She knew those symptoms.

"No! He hasn't taken his potion tonight! He's not safe!" She warned as she saw him backing away from his students.

"Run.. run, now!" Black commanded. But the four stayed at their place. Peter was still tied to Ron and Remus. Harry leapt for him, but Sirius held him back. "Leave it to me! RUN!"

There was a loud snarling noise. All of them froze. Lupin's head was lengthening, so was his body. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibly on his face and hands, which were curling into clawed paws. Crookshanks hissed at the sight, quickly backing away.

An enormous black dog attacked him, Sirius had disappeared from beside Harry. He lead him away from Ron and Pettigrew. The two canines battled furiously, jaw to jaw, with claws ripping each other. Everyone was too in shock to say anything, but it was until Hermione screamed.

Pettigrew had dived for Lupin's wand. A bright light shot out of it which hit Ria. She flung backwards and collided with the Whomping Willow. Blood trickled down the back of her head and her vision blacked out.

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