Chapter 321: Missing Fingers, Reviving a Living Person
"Potter, I have you to thank." Snape sneered, throwing the Invisibility Cloak to the ground. "I found this under the Whomping Willow, it's very useful."
"Severus."
Lupin was about to say something else when Snape pointed his wand at him. "I told Dumbledore you were helping an old friend enter the Castle, and this is the proof.
I never even thought you'd dare to use this old place as your refuge."
"Excellent, Snape." Sirius scoffed. "Your keen insight has failed you again, leading you to another wrong conclusion.
We won't be staying; Remus and I have unfinished business to resolve."
Before Sirius could finish, Snape's wand was at his throat. "Give me a reason, a reason to strike, and I swear I won't go easy on you."
"Severus, you've truly misunderstood." Lupin said urgently. "You arrived a bit late."
"Not late, just in time." Snape said triumphantly. "Everyone's here, caught red-handed."
"No, you haven't heard the whole story. If you knew the full context, you'd understand…"
"You'd understand that Azkaban will have two new residents tonight." Snape interrupted. "I'd like to see Dumbledore's reaction; he was so sure you were harmless and even vouched for you."
"Lupin, he's always been foolish; explaining things to him is a waste of time." Sirius looked at Snape with disdain. "Why don't you go play house with your Potions!"
Snape poked Sirius's neck hard. "I could kill you myself, but I'd rather let the Dementors do the honors; they've been eager to meet you!"
Hearing this, Sirius couldn't help but shiver, retreating uncontrollably.
He wasn't afraid of Snape, but Dementors were absolutely his nightmare.
He had witnessed the horror of those creatures in Azkaban; they would drain a prisoner's happiness, and for those on death row, they were even more cruel, draining their souls.
Without a soul, a person was merely a walking corpse, a fate worse than death.
"You seem a little scared.
The Dementor's Kiss, just imagine it!
That taste must be unbearable. Some say the sight is truly gruesome, but I'd still like to witness it."
Seeing this, Harry slowly picked up his wand.
"What are you trying to do?" Aaron asked playfully. "This is Professor Snape's personal grudge; letting him vent a little should be fine, right?"
Harry was momentarily speechless, and more importantly, with Aaron watching, he had no chance to intervene.
"Professor Snape." Hermione said timidly. "There's no harm in listening to what they have to say, is there?"
"Miss Granger, I advise you to keep quiet.
You're already facing suspension, yet you dare to plead for a murderer and a Werewolf."
"But there really is a misunderstanding." Hermione was frantic, then looked at the excited Aaron beside her, grabbing his arm and shaking it. "Say something fair, quickly!"
"Sigh!" Aaron sighed. "Professor Snape, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but please let them finish speaking!"
"Aaron, you shouldn't interrupt me." Snape frowned slightly. "I can guarantee to the Principal, using the credit for catching Sirius, that you won't face any punishment."
"Severus." Sirius's voice trembled slightly. "As long as you bring that rat back to the Castle, I'll go with you to see Dumbledore."
"That won't do. Dumbledore is too lenient. I still think I should hand you directly to the Dementors."
"Professor." Aaron walked over to him helplessly. "Listen to him, it concerns the truth behind Harry Potter's parents' murder."
"If you want to know, I can tell you later."
Aaron knew that what Snape knew was likely the same version most people knew.
Thinking of the grudges between Snape, Sirius, and Lupin, he forced a smile. "Professor, you definitely don't want to miss his struggles before death.
It might be quite interesting to see what other stories he can concoct for his crimes, wouldn't you agree?"
Snape's expression cleared. "That seems to make some sense."
Sirius's eyes widened in astonishment, feeling inexplicably choked up.
He opened his mouth, wanting to say something. But Lupininterrupted him first.
"Shut up, Black."
Although explaining the truth this way was difficult, since Snape was the one who caught them, it was already quite a feat to get him to listen.
Snape used his wand to corner the two against the wall. Aaron immediately wiped a chair clean. "Professor, please sit.
Leave the rest to me. Just watch comfortably; I promise not to disappoint you."
"You've never disappointed me."
Snape's lips curled into a slight smile, and he sat down triumphantly.
Watching his two enemies cowering before him, he couldn't have been happier.
Harry and his two friends looked at each other, bewildered. You can play it like this?
Although it felt strange, keeping Snape calm was a success.
"Severus, I won't forget what happened today." Sirius said with humiliation.
"That's wonderful, I won't forget either."
Lupin looked at Aaron. "Should we start from the beginning?"
"Uh… let's just continue!"
"What did he say before?" Snape asked curiously.
"He said Sirius, James, and Pettigrew were Animagi."
"That's absurd; only seven people are registered.
But I do hope it's true; an illegal Animagus, that's an aggravated offense!" Snape said indifferently, but as soon as he finished, he thought of something. "Is this true? Is that why Black could avoid the Dementors?"
"Presumably." Aaron shrugged, then pointed at Scabbers. "They also said that Peter Pettigrew isn't dead, he's that rat."
"They have no proof." Ron nervously hugged Scabbers. "There are thousands of rats in the world. Sirius was in Azkaban; how would he know which one to catch?"
"I must say, Weasley, you truly impress me!" Snape praised.
He simply disliked Ron, but his hatred for Sirius and Lupinwas intense.
"You must have evidence, right?" Hermione said with a complex expression. "Mr. Black wouldn't just come to Hogwarts to kill a rat based on a hunch, would he?"
"Miss Granger." Snape said displeased. "Watch your words. One is a murderer and the other a Werewolf; they don't deserve to be called 'Mister'."
"We'll give you some proof right now. Give me Peter, and my wand."
"Lupin, you want your wand, don't you?
Do you think I'm foolish enough to give you back your wand?"
"Just give me the rat, then." Sirius said, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes.
Scabbers immediately struggled violently, squeaking, but Ron's large hand held him down tightly.
"No, absolutely not." Ron immediately refused. "You'll kill Scabbers. Look how scared he is."
"Black, do you have any other evidence?" Lupin said helplessly. "Evidence that doesn't require directly using Peter?"
Sirius hesitated for a moment, then pulled a folded piece of paper from his robe and unfolded it for everyone to see.
"The Daily Prophet?" Aaron looked at Ron. "If I'm not mistaken, that should be the Weasley family photo, shouldn't it?"
"It's a picture of our family when we traveled to Egypt." Ronasked, puzzled. "Why did you take it out?"
"Fudge gave it to me when he was inspecting Azkaban." Sirius explained. "Peter probably never imagined I'd find a trace of him in a photo; he's perched on your shoulder."
Aaron took the photo and compared it to Scabbers. "It's true. Ron, you really need to keep a close eye on your rat."
"You also think he's Pettigrew?"
"He is. Look at his front paw; isn't there a missing toe?
Twelve years ago, only one of Peter's fingers was found at the crime scene."
"That coward cut it off to make people think he was dead." Sirius said. "The moment before he transformed, he yelled that I betrayed Lily and James, then he killed everyone within twenty feet and scurried into the sewers with other rats."
"What a talent! He's truly ruthless to himself to survive." Aaron sighed. "In my opinion, let's just kill him now. Keeping a rat like this is only a scourge (calamity).
Afterward, we'll make another pact to keep what happened tonight a secret."
"Agreed." Sirius looked at Aaron with appreciation. "I'm grateful beyond words; please, allow me to do the deed."
"Wait." Snape interrupted.
"Severus, we've explained so much; don't you understand yet?" Lupin said helplessly. "Is it really worth it, just because of some old school rivalry?
To lock up an innocent person in Azkaban and let the real culprit go free?"
"I generally understand the situation, but as far as I know, Black was their Secret-Keeper, wasn't he?" Snape said scornfully. "If he hadn't betrayed them, You-Know-Whowouldn't have been able to find them past the Fidelius Charm."
"It's because I convinced them to change their Secret-Keeper at the last minute. I thought I could divert Lord Voldemort's attention to myself; no one would have thought Pettigrewwould become the Secret-Keeper.
But when I saw their bodies, I realized what Peter had done, and what I had done. It was as if I had caused their deaths." Sirius's hoarse voice gradually choked up; speaking this truth seemed to drain all his strength.
"Now do you understand?" Lupin spread his hands. "If you still don't, then give me my wand, and I'll make him transform."
Snape frowned deeply. He looked at Ron. "Give it to me."
"But…"
"Don't make me say it a second time, Weasley."
"Ron, give him the rat." Harry said.
Ron was on the verge of tears. "P-Professor Snape, what are you going to do with it?"
"I just want to see if the truth is as they say." Snape stood up, took the struggling rat from Ron's hand, and then pointed his wand at it.
A flash of blue light, and the rat rapidly grew, its body, head, and limbs undergoing massive changes.
It was a short, fat man with messy, balding hair, rat-like features on his face, dirty and wrinkled skin, and an air of sleaziness about him.