PHANTOM FIGURES | harry potter

32. hermione's secret

     Aspen had never been part of a stranger group. Crookshanks led the way down the stairs; Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron went next, looking like entrants in a six-legged race. Next came Professor Snape, drifting creepily along , his toes hitting each stair as they descended, held up by his own wand, which was being pointed at him by Sirius. Aspen, Jasmine, Harry, and Hermione brought up the rear, finally feeling their pain as their adrenaline went down.

     Getting back into the tunnel was difficult. Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron had to turn sideways to manage it; Lupin still had Pettigrew covered with his wand. Aspen could see them edging awkwardly along the tunnel in single file. Crookshanks was still in the lead. Sirius kept bumping Snape's lolling head on the low ceiling; Aspen had the impression he was making no effort to prevent this.

     "You know what this means?" Sirius said abruptly to Harry - who was directly behind him - as they made their slow progress along the tunnel. "Turning Pettigrew in?"

     "You're free," said Harry.

     "Yes..." said Sirius. "But I'm also - I don't know if anyone ever told you - I'm your godfather."

     Aspen felt she was interrupting with her presence.

     "Yeah, I knew that," said Harry.

     The Ravenclaw tried to ignore their conversation and not listen but it was quite hard when Sirius was basically asking if Harry wanted to live with him. She felt extremely happy for the boy.

     After Harry had answered with a yes, they didn't speak for the rest of the journey until they reached the end of the tunnel. Crookshanks darted up first, he had evidently pressed his paw to the knot of the trunk, because Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron clambered upward without any sound of savaging branches.

     Sirius saw Snape up through the hole, then stood back for the four kids behind him to pass. At last, all of them were out.

     The grounds were very dark now, the only light came from the distant windows of the castle. Without a word, they set off. Pettigrew was still wheezing and occasionally whimpering. Aspen could only imagine how much Harry's mind was buzzing.

     "One wrong move, Peter," said Lupin threateningly ahead. His wand was still pointed sideways at Pettigrew's chest.

     Silently they tramped through the grounds, the castle lights growing slowly larger. Snape was still drifting weirdly ahead of Sirius, his chin bumping on his chest. And then -

     A cloud shifted. There were suddenly dim shadows on the ground. Their party was bathed in moonlight.

     Snape collided with Lupin, Pettigrew, and Ron, who had stopped abruptly. Sirius froze. He flung one arm out to make Aspen and her friends stop.

     Aspen could see Lupin's silhouette. He had gone rigid. Then his limbs began to shake.

     "Oh, my-" gasped Hermione. "He didn't take his potion tonight! He's not safe!"

     "Run," Sirius whispered. "Run. Now."

     "Er - guys-" Jasmine said, clearly wanting to listen to Sirius.

     But Aspen couldn't run. Ron was chained to Pettigrew and Lupin, she couldn't just leave him there. Harry leapt forward, but Sirius caught him by the chest and threw him back.

     "Leave it to me - RUN!"

     There was a terrible snarling noise. Lupin's head was lengthening. So was his body. His shoulders were hunching. Hair was sprouting visibility on his face and hands, which were curled into clawed paws. Crookshank's hair was on end again, he was backing away -