The Prisoner of Azkaban

by J. K. Rowling

  Something flickered in Black’s shadowed eyes.

  ‘Lie down,’ he said quietly to Ron. ‘You will damage that leg even more.’

  ‘Did you hear me?’ Ron said weakly, though he was clinging painfully to Harry to stay upright. ‘You’ll have to kill all three of us!’

  ‘There’ll only be one murder here tonight,’ said Black, and his grin widened.

  ‘Why’s that?’ Harry spat, trying to wrench himself free of Ron and Hermione. ‘Didn’t care last time, did you? Didn’t mind slaughtering all those Muggles to get at Pettigrew … What’s the matter, gone soft in Azkaban?’

  ‘Harry!’ Hermione whimpered. ‘Be quiet!’

  ‘HE KILLED MY MUM AND DAD!’ Harry roared, and with a huge effort he broke free of Hermione and Ron’s restraint and lunged forwards –

  He had forgotten about magic – he had forgotten that he was short and skinny and thirteen, whereas Black was a tall, full-grown man. All Harry knew was that he wanted to hurt Black as badly as he could and that he didn’t care how much he got hurt in return …

  Perhaps it was the shock of Harry doing something so stupid, but Black didn’t raise the wands in time. One of Harry’s hands fastened over Black’s wasted wrist, forcing the wandtips away; the knuckles of Harry’s other hand collided with the side of Black’s head and they fell, backwards, into the wall –

  Hermione was screaming; Ron was yelling; there was a blinding flash as the wands in Black’s hand sent into the air a jet of sparks which missed Harry’s face by inches; Harry felt the shrunken arm under his fingers twisting madly, but he clung on, his other hand punching every part of Black it could find.

  But Black’s free hand had found Harry’s throat –

  ‘No,’ he hissed. ‘I’ve waited too long –’

  The fingers tightened, Harry choked, his glasses askew.

  Then he saw Hermione’s foot swing out of nowhere. Black let go of Harry with a grunt of pain. Ron had thrown himself on Black’s wand hand and Harry heard a faint clatter –

  He fought free of the tangle of bodies and saw his own wand rolling across the floor; he threw himself towards it but –

  ‘Argh!’

  Crookshanks had joined the fray; both sets of front claws had sunk themselves deep into Harry’s arm; Harry threw him off, but Crookshanks now darted towards Harry’s wand –

  ‘NO YOU DON’T!’ roared Harry, and he aimed a kick at Crookshanks that made the cat leap aside, spitting; Harry snatched up his wand and turned –

  ‘Get out of the way!’ he shouted at Ron and Hermione.

  They didn’t need telling twice. Hermione, gasping for breath, her lip bleeding, scrambled aside, snatching up her and Ron’s wands. Ron crawled to the four-poster and collapsed onto it, panting, his white face now tinged with green, both hands clutching his broken leg.

  Black was sprawled at the bottom of the wall. His thin chest rose and fell rapidly as he watched Harry walking slowly nearer, his wand pointing straight at Black’s heart.

  ‘Going to kill me, Harry?’ he whispered.

  Harry stopped right above him, his wand still pointing at Black’s chest, looking down at him. A livid bruise was rising around Black’s left eye and his nose was bleeding.

  ‘You killed my parents,’ said Harry, his voice shaking slightly, but his wand hand quite steady.

  Black stared up at him out of those sunken eyes.

  ‘I don’t deny it,’ he said, very quietly. ‘But if you knew the whole story –’

  ‘The whole story?’ Harry repeated, a furious pounding in his ears. ‘You sold them to Voldemort, that’s all I need to know!’

  ‘You’ve got to listen to me,’ Black said, and there was a note of urgency in his voice now. ‘You’ll regret it if you don’t … you don’t understand …’

  ‘I understand a lot better than you think,’ said Harry, and his voice shook more than ever. ‘You never heard her, did you? My mum … trying to stop Voldemort killing me … and you did that … you did it …’

  Before either of them could say another word, something ginger streaked past Harry; Crookshanks leapt onto Black’s chest, and settled himself there, right over Black’s heart. Black blinked and looked down at the cat.

  ‘Get off,’ he murmured, trying to push Crookshanks off him.

  But Crookshanks sank his claws into Black’s robes and wouldn’t shift. He turned his ugly, squashed face to Harry, and looked up at him with those great yellow eyes. To his right, Hermione gave a dry sob.

  Harry stared down at Black and Crookshanks, his grip tightening on the wand. So what if he had to kill the cat, too? It was in league with Black … if it was prepared to die, trying to protect Black, that wasn’t Harry’s business … if Black wanted to save it, that only proved he cared more for Crookshanks than Harry’s parents …

  Harry raised the wand. Now was the moment to do it. Now was the moment to avenge his mother and father. He was going to kill Black. He had to kill Black. This was his chance …

  The seconds lengthened, and still Harry stood frozen there, wand poised, Black staring up at him, Crookshanks on his chest. Ron’s ragged breathing came from the bed; Hermione was quite silent.

  And then came a new sound –

  Muffled footsteps were echoing up through the floor – someone was moving downstairs.

  ‘WE’RE UP HERE!’ Hermione screamed suddenly. ‘WE’RE UP HERE – SIRIUS BLACK – QUICK!’

  Black made a startled movement that almost dislodged Crookshanks; Harry gripped his wand convulsively – Do it now! said a voice in his head – but the footsteps were thundering up the stairs and Harry still hadn’t done it.

  The door of the room burst open in a shower of red sparks and Harry wheeled around as Professor Lupin came hurtling into the room, his face bloodless, his wand raised and ready. His eyes flickered over Ron, lying on the floor, over Hermione, cowering next to the door, to Harry, standing there with his wand covering Black, and then to Black himself, crumpled and bleeding at Harry’s feet.

  ‘Expelliarmus!’ Lupin shouted.

  Harry’s wand flew once more out of his hand; so did the two Hermione was holding. Lupin caught them all deftly, then moved into the room, staring at Black, who still had Crookshanks lying protectively across his chest.

  Harry stood there, feeling suddenly empty. He hadn’t done it. His nerve had failed him. Black was going to be handed back to the Dementors.

  Then Lupin spoke, in an odd voice, a voice that shook with some suppressed emotion. ‘Where is he, Sirius?’

  Harry looked quickly at Lupin. He didn’t understand what Lupin meant. Who was Lupin talking about? He turned to look at Black again.

  Black’s face was quite expressionless. For a few seconds, he didn’t move at all. Then, very slowly, he raised his empty hand, and pointed straight at Ron. Mystified, Harry glanced around at Ron, who looked bewildered.

  ‘But then …’ Lupin muttered, staring at Black so intently it seemed he was trying to read his mind, ‘… why hasn’t he shown himself before now? Unless –’ Lupin’s eyes suddenly widened, as though he was seeing something beyond Black, something none of the rest could see, ‘– unless he was the one … unless you switched … without telling me?’

  Very slowly, his sunken gaze never leaving Lupin’s face, Black nodded.

  ‘Professor Lupin,’ Harry interrupted loudly, ‘what’s going –?’

  But he never finished the question, because what he saw made his voice die in his throat. Lupin was lowering his wand. Next moment, he had walked to Black’s side, seized his hand, pulled him to his feet so that Crookshanks fell to the floor, and embraced Black like a brother.

  Harry felt as though the bottom had dropped out of his stomach.

  ‘I DON’T BELIEVE IT!’ Hermione screamed.

  Lupin let go of Black and turned to her. She had raised herself off the floor, and was pointing at Lupin, wild-eyed. ‘You – you –’

  ‘Hermione –’

  ‘– you an
d him!’

  ‘Hermione, calm down –’

  ‘I didn’t tell anyone!’ Hermione shrieked. ‘I’ve been covering up for you –’

  ‘Hermione, listen to me, please!’ Lupin shouted. ‘I can explain –’

  Harry could feel himself shaking, not with fear, but with a fresh wave of fury.

  ‘I trusted you,’ he shouted at Lupin, his voice wavering out of control, ‘and all the time you’ve been his friend!’

  ‘You’re wrong,’ said Lupin. ‘I haven’t been Sirius’ friend for twelve years, but I am now … let me explain …’

  ‘NO!’ Hermione screamed, ‘Harry, don’t trust him, he’s been helping Black get into the castle, he wants you dead too – he’s a werewolf!’

  There was a ringing silence. Everyone’s eyes were now on Lupin, who looked remarkably calm, though rather pale.

  ‘Not at all up to your usual standard, Hermione,’ he said. ‘Only one out of three, I’m afraid. I have not been helping Sirius get into the castle and I certainly don’t want Harry dead …’ An odd shiver passed over his face. ‘But I won’t deny that I am a werewolf.’

  Ron made a valiant effort to get up again, but fell back with a whimper of pain. Lupin made towards him, looking concerned, but Ron gasped, ‘Get away from me, werewolf!’

  Lupin stopped dead. Then, with an obvious effort, he turned to Hermione and said, ‘How long have you known?’

  ‘Ages,’ Hermione whispered. ‘Since I did Professor Snape’s essay …’

  ‘He’ll be delighted,’ said Lupin coolly. ‘He set that essay hoping someone would realise what my symptoms meant. Did you check the lunar chart and realise that I was always ill at the full moon? Or did you realise that the Boggart changed into the moon when it saw me?’

  ‘Both,’ Hermione said quietly.

  Lupin forced a laugh.

  ‘You’re the cleverest witch of your age I’ve ever met, Hermione.’

  ‘I’m not,’ Hermione whispered. ‘If I’d been a bit cleverer, I’d have told everyone what you are!’

  ‘But they already know,’ said Lupin. ‘At least, the staff do.’

  ‘Dumbledore hired you when he knew you were a werewolf?’ Ron gasped. ‘Is he mad?’

  ‘Some of the staff thought so,’ said Lupin. ‘He had to work very hard to convince certain teachers that I’m trustworthy –’

  ‘AND HE WAS WRONG!’ Harry yelled. ‘YOU’VE BEEN HELPING HIM ALL THE TIME!’ He was pointing at Black, who had crossed to the four-poster bed and sunk onto it, his face hidden in one shaking hand. Crookshanks leapt up beside him and stepped onto his lap, purring. Ron edged away from both of them, dragging his leg.

  ‘I have not been helping Sirius,’ said Lupin. ‘If you’ll give me a chance, I’ll explain. Look –’

  He separated Harry, Ron and Hermione’s wands and threw each back to its owner; Harry caught his, stunned.

  ‘There,’ said Lupin, sticking his own wand back into his belt. ‘You’re armed, we’re not. Now will you listen?’

  Harry didn’t know what to think. Was it a trick?

  ‘If you haven’t been helping him,’ he said, with a furious glance at Black, ‘how did you know he was here?’

  ‘The map,’ said Lupin. ‘The Marauder’s Map. I was in my office examining it –’

  ‘You know how to work it?’ Harry said suspiciously.

  ‘Of course I know how to work it,’ said Lupin, waving his hand impatiently. ‘I helped write it. I’m Moony – that was my friends’ nickname for me at school.’

  ‘You wrote –?’

  ‘The important thing is, I was watching it carefully this evening, because I had an idea that you, Ron and Hermione might try and sneak out of the castle to visit Hagrid before his Hippogriff was executed. And I was right, wasn’t I?’

  He had started to pace up and down, looking at them. Little patches of dust rose at his feet.

  ‘You might have been wearing your father’s old Cloak, Harry –’

  ‘How d’you know about the Cloak?’

  ‘The number of times I saw James disappearing under it …’ said Lupin, waving an impatient hand again. ‘The point is, even if you’re wearing an Invisibility Cloak you show up on the Marauder’s Map. I watched you cross the grounds and enter Hagrid’s hut. Twenty minutes later, you left Hagrid, and set off back towards the castle. But you were now accompanied by somebody else.’

  ‘What?’ said Harry. ‘No, we weren’t!’

  ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes,’ said Lupin, still pacing, and ignoring Harry’s interruption. ‘I thought the map must be malfunctioning. How could he be with you?’

  ‘No one was with us!’ said Harry.

  ‘And then I saw another dot, moving fast towards you, labelled Sirius Black … I saw him collide with you, I watched as he pulled two of you into the Whomping Willow –’

  ‘One of us!’ Ron said angrily.

  ‘No, Ron,’ said Lupin. ‘Two of you.’

  He had stopped his pacing, his eyes moving over Ron.

  ‘Do you think I could have a look at the rat?’ he said evenly.

  ‘What?’ said Ron. ‘What’s Scabbers got to do with it?’

  ‘Everything,’ said Lupin. ‘Could I see him, please?’

  Ron hesitated, then put a hand inside his robes. Scabbers emerged, thrashing desperately; Ron had to seize his long bald tail to stop him escaping. Crookshanks stood up on Black’s lap and made a soft hissing noise.

  Lupin moved closer to Ron. He seemed to be holding his breath as he gazed intently at Scabbers.

  ‘What?’ Ron said again, holding Scabbers close to him, looking scared. ‘What’s my rat got to do with anything?’

  ‘That’s not a rat,’ croaked Sirius Black suddenly.

  ‘What d’you mean – of course he’s a rat –’

  ‘No, he’s not,’ said Lupin quietly. ‘He’s a wizard.’

  ‘An Animagus,’ said Black, ‘by the name of Peter Pettigrew.’

  – CHAPTER EIGHTEEN –

  Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs

  It took a few seconds for the absurdity of this statement to sink in. Then Ron voiced what Harry was thinking.

  ‘You’re both mental.’

  ‘Ridiculous!’ said Hermione faintly.

  ‘Peter Pettigrew’s dead!’ said Harry. ‘He killed him twelve years ago!’

  He pointed at Black, whose face twitched convulsively.

  ‘I meant to,’ he growled, his yellow teeth bared, ‘but little Peter got the better of me … not this time, though!’

  And Crookshanks was thrown to the floor as Black lunged at Scabbers; Ron yelled with pain as Black’s weight fell on his broken leg.

  ‘Sirius, NO!’ Lupin yelled, launching himself forwards and dragging Black away from Ron again, ‘WAIT! You can’t do it just like that – they need to understand – we’ve got to explain –’

  ‘We can explain afterwards!’ snarled Black, trying to throw Lupin off, one hand still clawing the air as it tried to reach Scabbers, who was squealing like a piglet, scratching Ron’s face and neck as he tried to escape.

  ‘They’ve – got – a – right – to – know – everything!’ Lupin panted, still trying to restrain Black. ‘Ron’s kept him as a pet! There are parts of it even I don’t understand! And Harry – you owe Harry the truth, Sirius!’

  Black stopped struggling, though his hollowed eyes were still fixed on Scabbers, who was clamped tightly under Ron’s bitten, scratched and bleeding hands.

  ‘All right, then,’ Black said, without taking his eyes off the rat. ‘Tell them whatever you like. But make it quick, Remus. I want to commit the murder I was imprisoned for …’

  ‘You’re nutters, both of you,’ said Ron shakily, looking round at Harry and Hermione for support. ‘I’ve had enough of this. I’m off.’

  He tried to heave himself up on his good leg, but Lupin raised his wand again, pointing it at Scabbers.

  ‘You’re going to hear me out, Ron,’ he said
quietly. ‘Just keep a tight hold on Peter while you listen.’

  ‘HE’S NOT PETER, HE’S SCABBERS!’ Ron yelled, trying to force the rat back into his front pocket, but Scabbers was fighting too hard; Ron swayed and overbalanced, and Harry caught him and pushed him back down to the bed. Then, ignoring Black, Harry turned to Lupin.

  ‘There were witnesses who saw Pettigrew die,’ he said. ‘A whole street full of them …’

  ‘They didn’t see what they thought they saw!’ said Black savagely, still watching Scabbers struggling in Ron’s hands.

  ‘Everyone thought Sirius killed Peter,’ said Lupin, nodding. ‘I believed it myself – until I saw the map tonight. Because the Marauder’s Map never lies … Peter’s alive. Ron’s holding him, Harry.’

  Harry looked down at Ron, and as their eyes met they agreed, silently: Black and Lupin were both out of their minds. Their story made no sense whatsoever. How could Scabbers be Peter Pettigrew? Azkaban must have unhinged Black after all – but why was Lupin playing along with him?

  Then Hermione spoke, in a trembling, would-be calm sort of voice, as though trying to will Professor Lupin to talk sensibly.

  ‘But Professor Lupin … Scabbers can’t be Pettigrew … it just can’t be true, you know it can’t …’

  ‘Why can’t it be true?’ Lupin said calmly, as though they were in class, and Hermione had simply spotted a problem in an experiment with Grindylows.

  ‘Because … because people would know if Peter Pettigrew had been an Animagus. We did Animagi in class with Professor McGonagall. And I looked them up when I did my homework – the Ministry keeps tabs on witches and wizards who can become animals; there’s a register showing what animal they become, and their markings and things … and I went and looked Professor McGonagall up on the register, and there have only been seven Animagi this century, and Pettigrew’s name wasn’t on the list –’

  Harry barely had time to marvel inwardly at the effort Hermione put into her homework, when Lupin started to laugh.

  ‘Right again, Hermione!’ he said. ‘But the Ministry never knew that there used to be three unregistered Animagi running around Hogwarts.’