Chapter 72: Werewolf (1/2)
”What?” Black said with an irritated tone.
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”Oh! Sweet girl, Christina!” gasped Pettigrew, and he flung his arms and tried to reach Chris. ”You — thank you — it's more than I deserve — thank you —”
”Don't. Just come near me and I'll change my mind.” Chris spat. Pettigrew started to step back.
”But why? Why shouldn't we kill him?” Lupin asked confused.
”You see, if he dies here, in front of just a few of us, then I think it'll be really difficult to explain to the ministry that Mr Black is innocent and He was the one who did all of that,” Chris said seriously looking down at Pettigrew. ”I don't think the minister will believe three thirteen years old students, a criminal in loose, a twelve years old student or — er — a werewolf. Sorry didn't mean it like that Professor —”
”It's alright.” Lupin nodded.
”So, yes, but if we can give Pettigrew to them, then they can confirm everything by using truth serum on him. Everything will be clear as much as possible. And the Dementors will take him.”
”No. I'll —” Sirius Black made a violent move towards Pettigrew but Harry came in between.
”I agree with Chris. You can't kill him.” Harry said.
”Harry, this piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents,” Black snarled. ”This cringing bit of filth would have seen you die, too, without turning a hair. You heard him. His own stinking skin meant more to him than your whole family.”
”I know,” Harry panted. ”I'm not doing this for him. I'm doing it because I don't reckon my dad would've wanted his best friends to become killers — just for him.”
No one moved or made a sound except Pettigrew, whose breath was coming in wheezes as he clutched his chest. Black and Lupin were looking at each other. Then, with one movement, black lowered his wand.
”Fine. It's your decision to make.” Black said.
”Very well,” said Lupin. ”Stand aside, Harry.”
Harry hesitated.
”I'm going to tie him up,” said Lupin. ”That's all, I swear.”
Harry stepped out of the way. Thin cords shot from Lupin's wand this time, and next moment, Pettigrew was wriggling on the floor, bound and gagged.
”But if you transform, Peter,” growled Black, his own wand pointing at Pettigrew.
”Oh don't worry, then he will be as good as dead,” Chris said glaring at Pettigrew.
”Well, I don't doubt your abilities, Christina,” Lupin said smiling. Then he turned towards Ron. ”Ron, I can't mend bones nearly as well as Madam Pomfrey, so I think it's best if we just strap your leg up until we can get you to the hospital wing.”
He hurried over to Ron, bent down, tapped Ron's leg with his wand and muttered, ”Ferula.” Bandages spun up Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint. Lupin helped him to his feet; Ron put his weight gingerly on the leg and didn't wince.
”That's better,” he said. ”Thanks.”
”And two of us should be chained to this,” said Black, nudging Pettigrew with his toe. ”Just to make sure.”
”I'll do it,” said Lupin.
”And me,” said Ron savagely, limping forwards.
Black conjured heavy manacles from thin air; soon Pettigrew was upright again, left arm chained to Lupin's right, right arm to Ron's left. Ron's face was set. He seemed to have taken Scabbers's true identity as a personal insult. Crookshanks leapt lightly off the bed and led the way out of the room, his bottle-brush tail held jauntily high. Chris walked behind Pettigrew, pointing her wand towards him.
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. Chris knew what was she going to do if Pettigrew tries to escape.
Crookshanks was still in the lead. Hermione walked with Chris, and at the end, Sirius Black and Harry.
”You know what this means?” Sirius said abruptly to Harry, 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.”
”Yeah, I knew that,” said Harry.
”Well — your parents appointed me your guardian,” said Sirius stiffly. ”If anything happened to them — I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle,” said Sirius. ”But — well — think about it. Once my name's cleared — if you wanted a — a different home —”
Chris felt excitement inside her, she finally did it. She solved it.
”What — live with you?” Harry said, accidentally cracking his head on a bit of rock protruding from the ceiling. ”Leave the Dursleys?”
”Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to,” said Sirius quickly. ”I understand. I just thought I'd —”
”Are you mad?” said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Sirius's. ”Of course I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?”
Chris smiled and looked at Hermione and found her smiling as well.
”Thanks, Chris. I was wrong.” Hermione whispered clearing her throat. ”You were right.”
Chris just smiled and looked at Pettigrew again. That's when it hit her, it's a full moon tonight. Her sky-gazing habit reminded her. She almost shouted, ”STOP.”
Everyone abruptly stopped.
”What happened?” Harry asked.