messy love •harrypotterxoc•

• chapter forty one (3)

It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in before ron let out a loud scared laugh

"You're all mental."

"Ridiculous!" said Hermione faintly.

"Peter Pettigrew's dead!" said Harry. "He killed him twelve years ago!" He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively.

"heads up harold, pointing is rude" addy shrugged as the 3 glared at her

"I meant to," he growled, his yellow teeth bared, "but little Peter got the better of me...not this time, though!" And Crookshanks was thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with pain as Black's weight fell on his arm leg.

"Sirius, NO!" Lupin yelled, 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 and addy at the same time, 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 as addy went around to grab him but ended up tripping on some carpet and falling near harry who looked at her with disgust

"They've -- got -- a -- right -- to -- know -- everything!" Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black

he turned giving addy a 'wtf' look as she lay on the ground with a hurt expression on her face at harrys snarling one "Ron and addy have kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand, and Harry -- you owe Harry the truth, Sirius! addy knows, let harry"

Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched, and bleeding hands "All right, then," Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat.

"Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for..."

"You're nutters, all 3 of you," said Ron shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support. "I've had enough of this. I'm off."

He tried to heave himself up but Lupin raised his wand again, pointing it at Scabbers.

"You're going to hear me out, Ron," he said quietly. "Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen."

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

"There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die," he said. "A whole 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 was holding him and addy was trying to get him, Harry."

Harry looked down at Ron, and as their eyes met, they agreed, silently: Black, Lupin and the girl harry loves and ron's twin sister had both lost their minds. Their story made no sense whatsoever. How could Scabbers be Peter Pettigrew? Azkaban must have unhinged Black after all -- but why was Lupin playing along with him? he understood addy though, hanging around with them slytherins long enough, she was bound to turn evil soon enough

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..."