Harry Potter: Raised By Roses

Chapter Fifty: Hunting Down A Rat

The trio flinched as they heard the crash downstairs. They had no idea how someone had followed them. They had made sure that no one had been going after them when they had gone after Krinos. 

"Who could that be," Krinos wondered.

"Hades if we would know," Harry said. "Melody and I made sure that we moved in a way that would not draw attention."

"Plus, who could make it past that tree without Luna or you controlling it," Melody says.

"Black did," Krinos pointed out.

The trio looked at the newly-discovered-innocent fugitive. He was still under the effects of the truth spell and would remain that way for another twenty-three hours. He could still act like himself, unlike when truth potions are used which only allow the drinker to answer questions and do nothing else, but all questions that he is asked will be answered with the truth.

"How did you and Krinos get past the Whomping Willow when Krinos was unconscious," Harry asked.

"There is a knot on the trunk," Sirius answered. "When it is touched, the whole tree freezes. I used the levitation charm on a stick to touch the knot before shifting back into my dog form. I used my tail to knock the stick away when I entered the tunnel."

"How did you even know that knot was there," Melody was curious.

"When I was a student here, one of my best friends needed to easily access the tunnel," Sirius said. "So we studied up on the tree and found out about the knot. Then it was just trial and error to find the right spot on the tree that caused it to freeze."

"Who was your..." Krinos was interrupted.

The door to the room they were in slammed open. In came Professor Lupin. His wand was at the ready as he saw the trio, Luna, and Sirius Black in the same room. It did not seem to register that the students did not have their wands out or even trying to defend themselves before Lupin aimed his wand at Sirius.

"STAY AWAY FROM THEM, TRAITOR," he yelled at Sirius.

"Professor, wait," Melody called out to Lupin.

"Stay behind me, kids," Lupin ordered them.

"You don't understand, Professor,"  Krinos said.

"Moony's a professor," Sirius smirked. "About time somebody looked past his furry little problem."

"DON'T YOU DARE USE THAT NICKNAME," Lupin yelled at Sirius again. "YOU LOST THAT RIGHT WHEN YOU SOLD OUT JAMES AND LILY TO YOUR PATHETIC MASTER!"

"He didn't betray my birth parents, Professor," Harry says, trying to get him to calm down.

Lupin shot around to look at the four of them.

"What," he gasped.

"He didn't betray James and Lily Potter," Krinos said. "He confessed to us what really happened that night."

"He's nothing but a liar and a traitor," Lupin growled. "Don't believe anything he ever tells you."

"We used the truth spell on him," Melody tells their teacher. "The same one used on criminals when they go to trial back home. Any question he is asked he is forced to answer with the truth. It is impossible to fight the spell and many have tried. None have succeeded."

Lupin turned back to Sirius.

"Ash him anything," Harry says. "You will get a truthful answer in return."

Their teacher looked at the four students behind him. There was one question he could ask Sirius that would get him to see if he really was under the truth spell or not. Sirius would never say the truthful answer unless he was forced to or if those around already knew about his condition.