During the Care of Magical Creatures class, Hagrid was deeply distraught. He seemed terrified by the Commission's verdict.
"It's all my fault. I stumbled over my words. They were sitting there, dressed in black, and I kept dropping my notes and forgetting the dates you sent me, girls. Then Lucius Malfoy stood up and spoke, and the Commission did exactly as he commanded..." Hagrid said tearfully.
"There are still appeals," Ron said fiercely.
"Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"
The five of them were walking back to the castle with the rest of the class. Ahead, they saw Draco, walking with Crabbe and Goyle, constantly looking back and laughing mockingly.
"It's no use, Ron," Hagrid said sadly when they reached the castle entrance.
"That commission does what Lucius Malfoy tells them to. I'm just going to make sure the last few hours of Buckbeak's life are the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that..." Hagrid turned around and ran towards his cabin, his face hidden in a handkerchief.
"Look at him crying like a big baby!" Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle had stopped at the castle doors, listening.
"Have you ever seen anything more pathetic?" Draco asked. "And they say he's our teacher."
Harry and Ron turned violently towards Malfoy, but Cassi held them back at the last moment.
However, to her surprise, Hermione was faster.
Fuck
She punched Draco in the face with all the strength she could muster.
Draco nearly fell backward, and Cassi, Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood frozen, astounded.
Hermione practically growled,
"Don't you dare call Hagrid pathetic, you, you foul, loathsome, evil little cockroach!"
Cassi couldn't help but laugh, with her hand on her knees.
"Sorry, sorry, mate. But you deserved that."
"Mione!" exclaimed Ron weakly, and he tried to grab the girl's hand as he saw her gather herself for another strike. Hermione pulled out her wand, and Cassi instinctively raised her hands, momentarily freezing her friend.
"Get out, Draco, quickly," Cassi instructed, unsure if she could contain Hermione for much longer.
"Let's go," Draco murmured, running and giving a slight thankful smile to Cassiopeia.
In an instant, the three of them had disappeared into the corridor that led to the dungeons.
"Mione!" Ron exclaimed again, appearing both amazed and impressed.
"Nice right hook," Harry said, panting.
The three of them nodded in agreement, and Hermione blushed.
"Thanks," Mione said, her face turning ruby red.
Harry looked at Cassi and widened his eyes.
"You used wandless magic!"
⁀➷,
In the dark atmosphere of the Shrieking Shack, Cassi sat on a dusty old sofa with Crookshanks nestled in her lap. Sirius shared stories from his youth, eliciting laughter from Cassi at every turn.
Sirius described how devastated he felt by Potter's death. He was more than a friend; he was like a brother to him. His face was marked by a mix of sadness and contained anger, while his words carried the weight of twelve years of guilt and regret. His voice trembled slightly as he described the emptiness and devastation he felt from the loss. He explained how his truth was distorted and misinterpreted, being treated as a madman and sent to the terrible wizard prison. The guilt consumed him because he knew that, even though he didn't commit the heinous acts, it was his decision to trust Peter that led to the tragedy. The expression on his face revealed the pain and remorse he carried within.
He was wrongly accused, denied a trial.
Sitting beside her uncle, she reached out her hand, offering a gesture of support. Although words were insufficient to alleviate the burden Sirius carried, Cassi's presence and attentive listening served as a reminder that he was no longer alone.
Sirius paused for a moment, looking closely at his niece, his eyes filled with tears.
"You have Reggie's smile,"
Then, with a choked voice and tears in his eyes, he excused himself. He needed a moment to clear his mind. With a gentle nod, he stepped away, leaving Cassi sitting in one of the chairs, immersed in her own thoughts.
She remained there, in silence, pondering whether to follow her uncle and offer support or wait for his return. The internal dilemma was intense, as she wanted to be there for Sirius but also respected his space and the need to compose himself.
As she struggled with this decision, she heard screams.
Suddenly, Sirius returned in his Animagus form, dragging Ron by the leg.
Cassi, perplexed by the scene before her, ran to help Ron, who seemed to be in pain. She quickly examined her friend, checking for any visible injuries.
"You crazy dog! What do you think you're doing?!" Cassi reprimanded him, her voice filled with shock and concern.
Sirius, transforming back into his human form, looked at Cassi with determined eyes and a mixture of sadness. He sighed deeply before responding, "I'm sorry, little fox, but it's the only way."
Crookshanks, appearing out of nowhere, jumped onto Cassi's lap, purring and seeking comfort. The sudden presence of the cat caught Ron's attention, and he gave Cassi an accusing look.
"You're with him! And that treacherous ball of fur too!" Ron accused, his expression filled with suspicion and anger directed at Cassi.
"Shut it, Wesley!" Cassi responded impatiently, cutting him off abruptly. She was tired of being the target of Ron's suspicions and had no time to deal with his unfounded accusations.
However, before the tension could escalate further, Cassi heard Harry and Hermione's shouts approaching.
"Ron? Are you okay? Where's the dog?" Harry asked, his voice filled with concern as his eyes searched for his friend.
"CASSI?" Hermione exclaimed, her puzzled expression reflecting surprise and fear. "And Crookshanks?" Hermione fixed her gaze on Cassiopeia, her left eye twitching slightly.
"Harry, it's a trap, he's the dog! He's an Animagus!" Ron exclaimed, his voice full of exasperation, pointing at Sirius who was hiding behind the door.
Hermione stepped protectively in front of Harry, assuming a courageous stance. "If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill me too," she said determinedly.
Cassi couldn't help but laugh at witnessing Hermione's brave attitude, although she received a betrayed look from her friend.
"I thought you would come to help your friend," Sirius hoarsely said, his tone containing a mixture of challenge and admiration.
"Your father would have done the same for me. It was a brave move not to seek a professor. I appreciate that... it will make things much easier..." Sirius paused, his piercing gaze passing through each of those present.
"Don't worry, young one, only one will die tonight," he declared with a mad laugh, revealing his disturbed mind.
Consumed by anger, Harry forcefully pushed Hermione aside and charged furiously at Sirius.
"And IT WILL BE YOU!" Harry shouted, knocking Sirius to the ground and pointing his wand at him, his eyes filled with fury.
Sirius laughed maniacally, defying Harry, "Will you try to kill me, Harry?"
" Sirius, is it serious?!" Cassi retorted, but immediately realized the unintentional pun she made. She slapped her forehead and let out a frustrated sigh. Crookshanks, on the other hand, took the opportunity to escape Cassi's arms and jump to the floor.
"You'd killed my parents," Accused Harry, his voice slightly trembling, but his hand holding the wand firmly.
"If you knew the whole story-" Sirius attempted, but Harry cut him off.
"The whole... The complete story? You sold my parents to Voldemort. That's all I need to know."
"You have to listen to me," said Black, urgency in his voice now. "You'll regret it if you don't listen to me... You don't understand..."
"I understand much better than you think," said Harry, his voice trembling more than ever.
"You never heard her, did you? My mother... trying to protect me from Voldemort... and it was you who did that... you did..."
Before either of them could say another word, Crookshanks ran past Harry and jumped onto Black's chest, sitting right on top of his heart.
The man blinked and looked at the cat. "Get off," he muttered, trying to push Crookshanks away. But the cat dug its claws into Black's robes and didn't move. Then it turned its squashed face towards Harry and stared at him with those big yellow eyes...
Hermione looked betrayed.
Harry stared at Black and Crookshanks, gripping the wand tighter in his hand.
Cassi thought for a second that Harry was going to cast a spell on both of them, so she raised her wand towards Harry. "Enough, Potter," Cassi said calmly.
"Traitor!" Hermione shouted, pointing her wand at Cassiopeia.
Then a new noise was heard... Muffled footsteps echoed on the floor, someone was walking downstairs.
"WE'RE UP HERE!" Hermione suddenly yelled. "WE'RE UP HERE. SIRIUS BLACK, HURRY!"
The door to the room burst open with a push from Lupin, his face shocked, and his wand raised and ready.
"Expelliarmus!" Lupin shouted. Harry's wand flew out of his hand once again, as did the one Hermione was pointing at Cassi. Lupin skillfully caught them and moved through the room, looking at Black, who still had Bichento lying in a protective position on his chest.
"Well, well, Sirius... You're looking rather worse for wear. Finally, the body reflects the inner madness," Lupin mocked, helping Sirius to his feet.
"And you know about inner madness quite well, don't you, Remus?" Sirius retorted.
The two embraced as Sirius said, "I found him, I found him! Let's kill him."
Suddenly, Hermione screamed.
"No! I trusted you, both of you!" Hermione pointed at Cassi. "And all this time, you were helping him!"
"He's a werewolf! That's why he hasn't been teaching," Hermione declared.
"About time you found out, Hermione, honestly," Cassi said, rolling her eyes, annoyed with her friend's accusing gaze. She still hadn't fully recovered from the Chamber of Secrets incident.
"For how long have you known?" Curiously asked Lupin.
"Since Professor Snape assigned the essay," Hermione said.
"Since the first class with the Boggart," Cassi said, surprising Lupin.
"What? You're not that subtle," Cassi chuckled, going to check on her uncle to make sure he was alright.
"Well, well, well, you two truly are the brightest witches of your age, the most intelligent I've ever known," Lupin seemed very proud.
"Enough talking, Lupin. Let's kill him," Sirius pleaded, breaking free from Cassi.
"Wait."
"I've waited long enough. Twelve years of waiting in Azkaban," Sirius cried.
Cassi felt a wave of anguish seeing her uncle so distraught. "Fine, kill him. But wait one more minute, Harry has the right to know the reason," Lupin handed the wand to Sirius.
"I know why! You betrayed my parents! You're the reason they're dead!" Harry said through tears.
"No, Harry, it wasn't him!" Cassi interrupted, already stressed with the confusion.
"Harry, someone indeed betrayed your parents, but it was someone we thought was dead until now," Lupin stated.
"And who was it then?!" Harry asked.
"Peter Pettigrew. And he's in this room, right now!" Sirius shouted. "Come on, Peter, show yourself so we can play!"
Snape suddenly appeared and, with surprising agility, took the wand from Sirius' hands. A broad, satisfied smile formed on his face as he looked at Black.
"How sweet the revenge is," Snape said with a tone of satisfaction. "How I dreamed of being the one to catch you."
"I told Dumbledore that you were helping your boyfriend enter the castle, and now here's the proof."
"Brilliant, Snape. Once again, your sharp mind has come to the wrong conclusion. Now if you'll excuse us, Lupin and I have unfinished business," Sirius taunted.
The three of them started arguing like children, and Cassi had had enough.
"I'm sorry, Professor, you're my favorite," Cassi said before pointing her wand at Snape. "But don't take another step."
Snape flicked his wrist in Cassi's direction, but Harry was quicker and took Cassi's wand and shouted, "Expelliarmus!"
Snape flew backward towards the old bed.
"Harry! What have you done??" Ron asked, disturbed.
"Show it now," Cassi pleaded, exasperated.
"We... We hurt a professor," Hermione mumbled in panic. Cassi went to her friend, trying to calm her down.
"Show it to me," Harry requested.
Sirius walked over to Ron and took Scabbers from his hand, while the rat squealed in fear. Ron, in a panic, tried to protect the animal, stating that it wasn't Peter but Scabbers.
"Give it to him, Ron," Harry requested with seriousness.
The next moment was complete chaos. Sirius took the rat from Ron's hand, and flashes of blue-white light erupted from the two wands engaged in the struggle. Scabbers tried to escape through a hole but ended up getting stuck. It was hard to keep up with all the movements, but suddenly, where there was once a rat, a man appeared.
Crookshanks huffed and growled on the bed, with the fur on his back standing on end.
The man now standing before them was very short, almost the same height as Harry and Hermione. His thin, bleached hair was unkempt, giving him a disheveled appearance. He had a saggy look, as if he was a man who had lost a lot of weight in a short time.
The two approached the treacherous worm and pulled him out of the hole.
"Remus? Sirius? My old friends!" He tried to approach, but Sirius forcefully pushed him away, keeping him at a distance.
"Harry, look at you! You look so much like your father," Pettigrew said, trying to get closer to Harry. Cassi immediately pointed her wand directly in his face, growling and showing her teeth.
"Step away from him now,"
Sirius ran after Pettigrew, cursing him and expressing his anger at him for getting close to them.
"How dare you come near my godson and MY NIECE!" Sirius exclaimed furiously, chasing Pettigrew until he was cornered between Sirius and Lupin.
"You handed James and Lily over to Voldemort!" Lupin pointed his wand at him.
"It wasn't my intention," Peter whimpered. "You can't imagine the tricks of the Dark Lord. Ask yourself, Sirius, what would you have done?"
"I would have died!" Sirius shouted with tears in his eyes. "I would have died before betraying my friends, my brother!"
"You should have thought about that, Peter! That if Voldemort hadn't killed you, we would have!" Sirius and Lupin aimed their wands, but Harry stopped them.
"Harry... This man!" Lupin began.
"I know what he did! But let's take him to the castle. The Dementors will take care of him afterward."
(...)
"Sorry about the bite, must be hurting a bit," Sirius said to Ron.
"A bit? A bit? You nearly ripped my leg off!" Ron accused.
"I was trying to catch the rat!" Sirius defended himself. "I usually behave very well as an animagus."
"I don't understand, it's not possible," said Hermione.
"What's not possible, Hermione?" Lupin calmly asked.
"Because... because people would know if Peter Pettigrew and Sirius were animagi. We studied animagi with Professor McGonagall. And I looked for more information when I did my homework, the Ministry of Magic controls the witches and wizards who can transform into animals, there's a registry that shows what animal they transform into, what they do, their identifying marks, and other data... and I looked up Professor McGonagall's name in the registry, and I saw that there have only been seven animagi in this century, and your names weren't on the list..."
Cassi barely had time to admire Hermione's dedication to homework when Lupin started laughing.
"All right, again Hermione! But the Ministry never knew that there were three unregistered animagi roaming around Hogwarts."
Hermione, with wide eyes, couldn't believe it.
"Three unregistered animagi?!" she exclaimed, her voice full of disbelief. Her mind was spinning, trying to process how this was possible.
Sirius let out a cheerful laugh, clearly enjoying Hermione's reaction. "Actually, it's four now," he corrected, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
"We have a new cunning fox in the group."
"Hey, I'm going to register! I think..." Cassi said, blushing.
"YOU'RE AN ANIMAGUS?" The three Gryffindors shouted in unison.
"When? What kind? How?" Hermione started a barrage of questions, absolutely fascinated by her friend.
Cassi laughed, enjoying the intensity of Hermione's curiosity. "Don't laugh, but I knew the animal during Divination class. As for the training, I needed to study a lot of potions and transfiguration and practice tirelessly. It was a long process, but it was worth it."
Harry, excited, interjected with a quick connection. "So, you're the fox I saw with Sirius and Crookshanks!" he exclaimed, his eyes sparkling.
Sirius looked at Crookshanks, and made a teasing remark. "The ugly cat likes to go for walks with us," he teased.
Cassi and Hermione reacted instantly, defending the feline. "He's NOT ugly!" they protested in unison, causing laughter among the group.
Lupin explained that the Shrieking Shack was never actually haunted, and the sounds of screams and howls that people heard were actually him during his werewolf transformations. Rumors about the place being haunted arose, and Dumbledore allowed these rumors to spread to discourage people from getting too close during Lupin's dangerous moments.
He revealed that he was bitten as a child and initially couldn't control his transformations. The other parents didn't want to risk exposing their children to this danger, so Lupin was kept isolated. However, he mentioned that despite all the pain he faced, he had never been happier than when he had his friends by his side: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and of course, Harry's father, James Potter.
The three friends discovered Lupin's condition as a werewolf and instead of running away or abandoning him, they supported him. Furthermore, they did something that made his transformations more bearable and provided some of the best moments of their lives: they became animagi to accompany him and make the transformation process more tolerable.
Lupin mentioned that they researched for three whole years to learn how to become animagi, and it was lucky that James and Sirius were extremely intelligent. Becoming an animagus is not something that everyone can successfully achieve, and there are many risks involved. However, they achieved success in their fifth year at Hogwarts.