Haunted by her second year and now with a murderer on the loose, Gwenevere Everill finds herself facing more battles that she does not think she can win.
Tormented by dementors and struggling under the impact of her new studies, will Gwen be able t...
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It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in. Then Ron voiced what the other three were thinking.
'You're both mental.'
'Ridiculous,' said Hermione faintly.
'Peter Pettigrew's dead,' said Gwen.
'He killed him twelve years ago!' Harry shouted, pointing at Black, whose face twitched.
'I meant to,' he growled. '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 broken 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, trying to throw Lupin off, one hand still calwing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like a piglet and 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 fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron's bitten, scratched and bleeding hands.
'Alright then,' said Black, 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, both of you,' said Ron shakily, looking around at Gwen, 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 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 overbalanced, and Harry caught him, pushing him back onto the bed.
'It might not be so farfetched,' Gwen murmured. Her mind was working overtime, the cogs turning so fast she was struggling to keep track of all her thoughts. Harry, Ron and Hermione stared at her.
'You believe them?' Ron cried.
'Ron, he's a dog!' Gwen said, pointing at Black. 'I'm just saying we should hear them out!'
Harry rounded on her. 'There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die!' He looked at Lupin. '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 hand.
