Happier with you- Charlie Weasley

POA 17

It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in. Then Ron voiced what Harry was thinking.

"You're both mental."

"Ridiculous!" Hermione said faintly.

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

"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 he lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with pain as Sirius's weight fell on his broken leg.

"Pads stop a minute you drama queen" Rory shouts at him at the same time Remus shouts.

"Sirius, NO!" Remus yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging him 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!" Sirius snarled, trying to throw Moony 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!" Moony panted, still trying to restrain Sirius whilst his eyes met Rory's. "Ron's kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don't understand, and Harry and Aurora, you owe then the truth, Sirius!" Sirius 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," 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 I was imprisoned for"

"Moony I already know everything and Pads stop being so dramatic. 5 more minutes won't kill you" Rory smirks at him making him glare at her. "Love you really Pads honest" He crossed his arms and huffed as Remus let out a small laugh.

"You're nutters, both of you and you Rory" Ron said shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support. "I've had enough of this. I'm off." He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Remus 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 to hard. Ron swayed and Harry caught him and pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Sirius, Harry turned to Remus.

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

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

"Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter," Remus said, 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." Harry looked down at Ron.

"Well technically I never fully believed it Moony. So does that mean I'm your favourite person now Pads" Rory winks at Sirius who sends her a quick wink back. Remus looks between them amused. Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to will Remus 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?" Remus said calmly, as though they were in class and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an experiment with grindylows.

"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 keep stabs 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."