Hogwarts: I Am Such a Model Wizard

Chapter 433: Just Keep Knocking

Professor Lupin shared stories of his school days, trivial memories and everyday moments, but Harry listened with rapt attention. The tales painted a vivid picture of the friends his parents once had, and it was as if he could feel their presence through Lupin’s words.

When Lupin reached the end of his seventh year, he glanced at Sirius, a touch of sadness in his expression. After graduation, he had been busy working for Dumbledore, reaching out to other Werewolves to rally them against Voldemort. He hadn’t known about the events that unfolded soon afterward. By the time he returned, everything had changed. James and Lily were dead, Voldemort had fallen, and the once-mighty Death Eater army was in shambles.

The Werewolves he had tried to ally with had also suffered heavy losses and vanished back into the shadows, refusing to be found.

As Lupin fell silent, Black, who had drifted back to the ground, finally spoke.

”It all began with a prophecy...” he murmured, sitting heavily on a rickety stool. With everyone watching him, he slowly began to reveal the painful truth of that time.

He explained how Professor Trelawney had prophesied about a child with the power to defeat Voldemort—a child born at the end of July. Two babies fit that description that year, but in the end, Dumbledore had focused his protections on Harry. Somehow, though, word of the prophecy had leaked to the Death Eaters.

”Peter must have told them…” Black spat, teeth gritted in anger. ”Dumbledore warned James to keep it a secret, but… he told us anyway.”

Harry’s eyes were wide with apprehension. ”And then what happened?”

”James and Lily took you and went into hiding from the Death Eaters,” Black said, eyes distant with painful memories. ”Dumbledore suggested an ancient spell to protect you as you grew up—the Fidelius Charm. It hides a secret in the mind of a chosen person, the Secret Keeper. For as long as the Secret Keeper doesn’t willingly reveal it, the secret is safe. Even if Voldemort had stuck his nose right up to the door, he wouldn’t have found them.”

As Black explained, Harry began to understand. ”So… Peter was the Secret Keeper, wasn’t he?”

”It’s all my fault!” Black groaned, pressing his fists to his head. ”I was supposed to be the Secret Keeper. But at the last minute, I convinced James and Lily to use Peter instead. I thought it would be clever—a double bluff. Voldemort would come after me first, and no one would suspect Peter, the weakest of us. I thought I was protecting them… but I sent them to their deaths instead.”

Black’s voice became choked, and he struck his fist against his head as if trying to rid himself of the regret and self-loathing that had haunted him for years. Each time he was overtaken by anguish, he would remember Peter’s current state and let out a harsh, hysterical laugh that was devoid of joy.

When he finally regained control, he continued, answering the others’ questions in short, strained sentences. He described how he’d seen a photo of Scabbers in the newspaper and instantly recognized him as Peter.

That discovery had spurred his escape from Azkaban, using his Animagus form to slip past the guards and come to Hogwarts.

”So it was you—the dog!” Harry exclaimed, pointing at Black.

”Yes, that was me,” Black replied with a grin. ”I just wanted to see you. I went to Privet Drive, but Iʼm sorry if I frightened you.”

Harry didn’t know how to respond. Black had unsettled him more than once, and the big black dog had kept him on edge for months.

”Sirius, I’m sorry,” Lupin said, stepping forward and embracing him.

”Long time no see, Remus,” Black said, hugging him back. ”I wouldn’t have blamed you for giving me a solid beating.”

”I was just thinking the same thing,” Lupin nodded, and without warning, he punched Black in the face. ”You should have told me sooner.”

Black stumbled backward, hitting the floor, but he only laughed. Lupin extended a hand, pulled him up, and the two hugged again.

”Forgive me, Remus...” Black murmured.

”Nothing to forgive, Padfoot, old friend,” Lupin replied. ”Now, perhaps you’ll forgive me for once suspecting you were a spy?”

”Of course,” Black said, a weary smile crossing his face. ”Iʼm just sorry...”

But before he could finish, Kyle stepped forward, clearing his throat. It was getting late, and he wasn’t keen to spend the night in a place like the Shrieking Shack.

Handing Black the cage containing Scabbers, Kyle said, ”Heʼs all yours now… but as compensation, youʼll need to get Ron a new pet. How about an owl?”

Black nodded without hesitation. ”Yes, of course. It’s the least I can do.”

Ron, who had been looking miserable, suddenly perked up. If only he’d known! If he’d realized Scabbers could be traded for an owl, he’d have given him up much sooner.

Black’s expression darkened as he took the cage, looking as though he’d like to devour Scabbers then and there. He glanced at Kyle, about to thank him, but suddenly paused.

”I think I’ve seen you before,” Black said thoughtfully. ”In Hogsmeade—you gave me a pack of jerky. It was the best thing I’d eaten in over ten years.”

”Oh, that time,” Kyle said, feigning a blank look. ”Well, you deserved it. That fire-walking performance was impressive.”

A silence followed.

”Fire-walking?” Lupin looked at Black with a bemused expression. ”You know how to do that?”

”Uh...” Black’s eyes shifted, but he quickly recovered, looking back with a defiant grin. After all, he’d been a dog at the time—what harm was there in jumping through hoops for food? Besides, it was all for survival.

A chuckle escaped Lupin, unexpectedly loud in the quiet room.

It was like setting off a chain reaction. Ron and Hermione quickly looked away, shoulders shaking.

”Pfft...” Harry, who had been lost in the intensity of the moment, couldn’t help but laugh, covering his mouth quickly to stifle the sound. To redirect the focus, he asked, ”So… what are you going to do with Peter?”

”Kill him, of course!” Black replied, glaring at the unconscious rat in the cage. ”But I could also leave him like this… keep him a rat forever!”

”Can he really not change back?” Harry asked softly. ”I mean… someone like that isn’t worth turning you into a real murderer. Peter was the real traitor. If anyone deserves to be in Azkaban, it’s him, not you.”

Black’s eyes reddened, and his breathing grew ragged. If he could prove Peter’s guilt, he could finally clear his name and be there for Harry openly. But the problem was, Black wasn’t sure if Peter could still change back…

Everyone instinctively turned to Kyle.

”Actually, yes,” Kyle said. ”After wizards discovered that Animagi could become trapped in their animal forms, they developed a few restorative potions.”

”Do you remember the people who were petrified by the Basilisk in second year?”

They all nodded. That year had been etched into their memories; Hogwarts had almost closed down because of it.

”The same potion that cured them—the Mandrake Restorative Draught—could restore Peter,” Kyle explained. ”It’s the only known remedy.”

He looked at the others’ startled faces before continuing, ”But before you make a decision, I think it’s best if you speak with Professor Dumbledore. Right now, everyone thinks you’re a traitor, and they see Peter as a hero. No one will believe your story—and you won’t even get a chance to defend yourself. The Dementors certainly won’t listen.”

”You’re right,” Black replied, calming slightly. ”I’ll go see Dumbledore first thing tomorrow.”

”No, you can go now,” Kyle said with a smile. ”He doesn’t sleep much. Just knock a few more times.”