The Twice Blessed Child

Chapter 28

Previously on The Twice Blessed Child...

Hermione doesn't even look at Peter. Lupin and Black raise their wands, point them directly into Peter's face. He shrinks back trembling, closing his eyes in fear, when...

"No," Harry said

"Come again?" I ask

Peter's lids lift. Lupin and Black turn to look at Harry.

"Harry, this man..." Lupin said

"I know what he is. But we'll take him to the castle." Harry said

"Bless you, boy! Bless you -" Peter said

He stands up and grabs ahold of Harry.

"Get off! I said we'd take you to the castle. After that, the Dementors can have you." Harry said

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Later...

As Peter emerges from the gap, he prattles desperately:

"Turn me into a maggot. A dung beetle. A Flobberworm! Anything but the Dementors...Ron! Haven't I been a good friend? A good pet? You won't let them kill me, will you? I was your rat..." Peter said

As Ron draws back in disgust, a sleepwalking Snape bumps his head against a low limb. Hermione turns to us.

"Don't worry. He's under the Somnambulist Charm. It's primarily used to transport the seriously deranged." Hermione said

We all nod, Peter turns his pleading eyes to Hermione. Who won't even look at Peter once again. Hermione tugs her robes from Peter's sweaty grasp.

"That was a noble thing you did back there. He doesn't deserve it." Sirius said

I see Harry turn to look at Peter.

"I don't reckon my father would want his best friends to become killers for a worthless piece of vermin like Pettigrew," Harry said

We all look at Hogwarts. We are broke out of thought by Hermione.

"Harry... Ana..." Hermione said in fear.

We turn to see Hermione staring at the Full Moon.

"Sirius," I said

"Shit," Sirius said

Sirius moves so he stands in front of Remus.

"Remus, old friend...did you take your potion tonight?" Sirius asked

Lupin twitching shakes his head. Well, I'm all for taking steps forward but tonight was a bad night.

"Run. All of you. Now." Sirius said

None of us move, we are all transfixed watching as bristles poke through Lupin's skin. Sirius steps forward, wraps his arms around his friend, presses his mouth to his ear. I'm standing close enough to hear.

"You know the man you truly are, Remus. This flesh is only flesh. This heart is where you truly live! This heart! Here!" Sirius said

Sirius and I were paying to much attention to Lupin and didn't notice anything else till we heard Harry yell. I turn and see Peter turn back into a rat. Harry and I watch as Peter as a rat darts into the night.

A howl pierces the air I turn back around to see Lupin toss Sirius into the air, then turns to face us. He is no longer human. He's a werewolf. We all begin to edge backward and into a little group.