Redirection: A Second Chance

Redirection: A Second Chance

One

The Traitor

Thursday 9^th June 1994

"You should have realised, if Voldemort didn't kill you, we would. Goodbye Peter." Remus Lupin raised his wand, as did Sirius Black, the man standing beside him, as they both stared repulsed at the man cowering before them on the dusty floor of the Shrieking Shack.

Harry stared at the trembling form of Peter Pettigrew. He bit his lip. What could he do? Pettigrew may have betrayed his parents, but did he want him dead? Do they have the right to end a man's life? Did Pettigrew have the right to end my parents' lives? Do I have the right to watch and do nothing? In all fairness, Harry knew that his Pettigrew had had no right to betray his parents but it didn't give Sirius and Remus the right to kill him either. He knew what he had to do.

With his mind made up Harry ran forward, placing himself in front of Pettigrew, preventing Sirius and Remus from harming him. "You can't kill him. You just can't." He wanted Pettigrew to pay for what he had done to his family, but the thought of his new-found godfather killing someone was not what Harry wanted. Pettigrew deserved it, yes, but he could not condemn anyone to death. A lesser punishment would be more suitable.

He saw Sirius and Remus stagger, stunned by his movement. Hermione let out a gasp, covering her mouth with her hand and Ron gazed at him as if he was mental.

"Harry, this piece of vermin is the reason you have no parents. 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," said Sirius glaring at the cringing man on the floor, unable to keep the disgust out of his face and voice. He had every right to be angry. If anyone had any right to hand Pettigrew a fate then it was Sirius Black. After all, it was he who had suffered in Azkaban for something he hadn't done.

"I know," Harry replied, keeping his eyes focused on the two adults. "We'll take him to the castle. We'll hand him over to the Dementors. He can go to Azkaban...just don't kill him." That was the safer option, Harry knew. Allowing Pettigrew to wallow in prison was a fate far better then death. Azkaban was the place where murderers, betrayers and follows of Voldemort were kept, not innocent men. In that sense that was the place where Peter Pettigrew deserved to go.

"Harry!" Pettigrew gasped, and in one fluid motion he had flung his arms round Harry's knees. "You...thank you...it's more then I deserve...thank you..." He shuddered with relief, clutching tightly at Harry's trousers.

"Get off me," Harry spat, stepping back from Pettigrew in disgust. "I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it because I don't believe my dad would've wanted his best friends to become killers just for you."

Silence fell within the Shrieking Shack. Harry watched as Sirius and Remus exchanged a look and then, simultaneously, lowered their wands. Harry breathed a sigh of relief. He had to wonder though, whether they thought him mad. The look they had given each other was enough for Harry to believe that they thought he was not doing the right thing. Clearly, the two wanted Pettigrew to pay for what he had done: one of them had been condemned to prison, and the other left without friends thanks to his betrayal. Both of them had suffered for Pettigrew's decision to hide amongst a Wizarding family and not come forward to take the blame off another's shoulders. However, he also realised that they respected his opinion but then Sirius spoke quietly but it was evident that there was a little bit of shock in his voice.

"You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry, but think...think what he did," Sirius said, meeting Harry's gaze.

Harry shook his head, refusing to back down. "He can go to Azkaban. If anyone deserves that place, he does." He could hear Pettigrew shuddering behind him, wheezing in relief at the fate Harry had bestowed upon him.

"Very well, stand aside Harry." Remus raised his wand. "I'm going to stun him and then tie him up, in case he escapes. That's all, I swear."

Harry swallowed. Was it really necessary to stun Pettigrew? Reasons clashed together in his mind and he knew that, given the chance, Pettigrew would try to escape. He had avoided the blame before and he could do it again, unless they were careful. One question remained: did he trust Lupin enough to keep his word? Yes, I do. He's been helping me to defend myself against the Dementors. He could trust this Professor. Then, he moved aside.

"Stupefy!" Remus spoke. A jet of red light hit Pettigrew and he fell to the wooden floor with a thud. Then thin cords shot from the end of Remus' wand, binding Pettigrew's wrists and ankles together.

"Right, okay." Remus stepped across the room and over to Ron. "I can't mend broken 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." Again, he waved his wand, muttered a spell, and bandages wrapped around Ron's leg, strapping it tightly to a splint. Helping Ron to his feet, Harry watched as his friend placed his weight carefully on the splintered leg. He didn't wince.

"Thanks," Ron muttered.

Harry glanced over to the prone form of Professor Snape. His, Hermione's and Ron's spell had knocked their Professor out cold. "What about Snape?"

"There's nothing seriously wrong with him," Lupin muttered, checking for a pulse. "You were just a little over enthusiastic. He's still out cold. Perhaps we should leave him like that. He may cause trouble otherwise."

Harry allowed a small grin. He had seen Snape's reaction and pleasure at the prospect of being the one to hand Sirius over to the Dementors. He had to wonder what Severus Snape would do after he learned the truth of Sirius' incarceration. Probably appeal, he thought. Harry had to admit that Snape would likely be very angry and annoyed that someone he hated wouldn't get the Dementor's Kiss, but instead be pardoned for their wrongful imprisonment. In Harry's imagination he could clearly see Snape barricaded in his office cursing everything in sight and on top of that, complaining to Professor Dumbledore that Sirius didn't deserve freedom.

A moment later another spell had Snape drifting in the air, his head lolling onto his chest. Remus passed his wand to Hermione. "Keep the wand directed at Snape, it'll keep him mobile."

Hermione nodded. "Yes Professor." There was guilt evident in her voice. Attacking a teacher was something Hermione would never do, but the Potions Master's rant had caused the three of them to do something rash.

"Professor Lupin?" Harry asked, uncertainly. Remus was sitting down on a rickety old chair, wearing a grim expression on his face. "What are you doing?"

Remus traded a glance with Sirius. "It's the full moon tonight. It's cloudy at the moment, otherwise I'd have transformed. I can't risk harming you lot if I'm with you and the clouds part. It's better if I stay here. If we had left Peter conscious and I had transformed, he could've made his escape and I don't want that to happen. Too many mistakes have been made already in these past twelve years."

Harry agreed with that logic.

With Harry supporting Ron and Hermione walking behind levitating Snape, who was bouncing along beside her with his head bouncing on the ceiling, they led the way out of the room. Sirius followed levitating the unconscious Pettigrew, while Remus shut the door behind them, locking himself inside the room.

They made it into the cramped tunnel and began the arduous journey back out into the Hogwarts grounds.

-00000-

When they emerged from the tunnel, Harry glanced up into the sky. The moon was shining brightly upon the grounds, giving off shadows around them. The clouds had parted as they had emerged from the tunnel. Moonlight bathed the grounds and Harry could just make out Hagrid's cabin in the distance. Hogwarts castle was ahead of him, its many lights slowly beginning to fade as those inside got ready to rest for the night. He swallowed as realisation dawned. Professor Lupin had been right.

"What now?" Hermione asked, as she carefully laid the Potions Professor on the ground.

Harry hesitated. Fortunately someone else answered Hermione's question.

"Go to the castle. Find Dumbledore. It's best I think if I wait here," Sirius said. "I don't believe it is a good idea if I walked into the castle. They might assume I'm holding you hostage, Harry, or that I have confunded you into believing that I am innocent." He shrugged, brushing a weary hand through his tangled hair.

Harry nodded. He had to agree with that assessment. As of this moment, only he, Hermione, Ron and Professor Lupin (though he wasn't in the best condition to say anything) could vouch for Sirius' innocence and others might still believe that his godfather had committed the other crimes, even with Pettigrew as proof. "I wouldn't want anything bad to happen to you, now that I know the truth."

"Where will you go, Mr...Bla...Sirius?" Hermione asked. It seemed to unnerve her to call a convicted murderer by his first name.

"I'll hide in my Animagus form," Sirius replied, shrugging. "When I see you come out, I'll appear."

"It's probably the best idea," Harry said. He had seen that Hermione was about to object to that plan. "I mean; Fudge may still be at the school. If he saw Sirius coming into the Castle he would just order him killed, regardless of what we have to say."

Finally she nodded. "What about him?" Hermione pointed to Pettigrew, revulsion in her voice. "Ron's injured too, Harry!"

"I'm alright Hermione," Ron replied. He pointed to Pettigrew. "Getting him to Dumbledore is far more important then my leg."

Before Hermione could respond, Sirius interjected.

"Take Pettigrew with you. You need some proof to show Fudge, if he is there. Otherwise he will order the Dementors to search the grounds for me."

"Dumbledore wouldn't allow it," Harry replied. "He got livid when they came onto the Quidditch pitch during our match."

"It wouldn't stop Fudge. To him I'm a murderer and a menace to society. If you went in without proof of my innocence then he would set the Dementors on the grounds, whether he has Dumbledore's permission or not."

Hermione didn't dare object, even though the expression on her face said different. Harry had never seen Hermione concerned for Ron before.

"Come on then," Harry said as he grasped Ron by the arms and started to walk away with him. Sirius had passed the wand he held - Harry wondered where he had got it from (probably Snape) - to him, and he carefully got Pettigrew floating in the air, while Hermione did the same with Professor Snape.

Glancing back at Sirius, Harry saw him transform into the giant black dog, and hide amongst the shadows, obscuring him from view.

-00000-

They made it to the castle with little incident. The only thing that had happened was that Pettigrew had woken, but the way he was bound and gagged meant that he could not get away. Harry could see through the light of the Full Moon the fear reflected in the traitor's eyes. It had not stopped him trying to wriggle free but Harry had placed the wand at his throat, the meaning clear. "Transform and I won't hesitate."

Hermione opened the oak doors leading into the castle. "It's nine-thirty. Only the older students will be around now. Curfew is nine o' clock. We might be lucky enough to avoid unsavoury people."

"Like Malfoy you mean?" Harry asked.

"Exactly," Hermione answered, brushing her free hand through her bushy mane of hair.

Hermione led the way into the castle, casting her eyes about, but making sure that Snape continued to float in the air. Behind her Harry levitated Pettigrew, while helping Ron stumble through.

"Second floor, Dumbledore's office as quickly as possible," panted Harry.

As they made their way through the castle, Harry found himself praying that they wouldn't run into anyone. As luck would have it, they did.

Thankfully it was Professor McGonagall.

Her sharp eyes widened at the bedraggled state of Ron, Harry and Hermione, and then she saw Snape floating in the air, behind Hermione. She did not see Pettigrew. "What is the meaning of this? What has happened?"

Harry moved up the steps, leaving Ron to perch himself on the staircase. Above him he could see several curious students looking down at them from several floors up. The crowd was gradually getting bigger. He didn't want this. Levitating Pettigrew past Hermione, Harry saw McGonagall's face widen in shock.

"We need to see Professor Dumbledore. It's urgent," Harry blurted out. They couldn't waste time.

"This way, Potter. Miss Granger, take Professor Snape and Mr Weasley to the Hospital Wing."

Ron was about to protest but Harry shot him a look and mouthed "No."

Harry looked back at his friends, nodded at them, and followed McGonagall down the second floor corridor.

Silence was between them, apart from Pettigrew's pitiful attempts to wriggle free.

Coming to the stone gargoyle, McGonagall spoke the password: "Blue Pops." Moving aside, the gargoyle revealed steps. The staircase began to revolve upwards as McGonagall placed herself on the bottom step. Harry followed with Pettigrew floating behind him.

As they neared the door, Harry heard voices. Fear began to settle in his stomach. What if they didn't believe this was the real Peter Pettigrew? What if Dumbledore remained confident that Sirius was guilty?

McGonagall knocked. She opened the door, and stepped inside.

Harry distinctly heard Dumbledore's voice. "Professor McGonagall?"

"Professor Dumbledore, I apologise for intruding but I think you need to see what Potter has found."

McGonagall moved out of Harry's way, and he could clearly see who sat in the office. Cornelius Fudge and a woman he did not know sat at the Headmaster's desk with two men standing beside them.

They look like body-guards, Harry mused.

He levitated Pettigrew into the office behind him, and as he stopped in the centre, facing Dumbledore and the Minister of Magic, Harry saw surprise register across their faces.

"Professor Dumbledore, Minister," Harry said, "may I present Peter Pettigrew."

To be continued...