"Thank you, Harry! Thank you for saving me. James would be proud of you…" Peter Pettigrew gasped, and opened his arms to hold Harry's knees.
"Don't mention my dad's name, you're not worthy of it!" said Harry spitting on the ground, and throwing Peter's hands off him in disgust. "Get off me. I'm not doing this for you. I'm doing it for Sirius! I don't want him to become a killer because of you!"
"Harry!" Black looked at Harry, with no anger, and he looked calm for the first time.
Harry looked back at him. No one but Peter moved and no one made a sound. Pettigrew clutched his chest, panting and gasping for breath.
"You're the only person who has the right to decide, Harry!" Black looked with great relief, as if looking at his old friend James, he slowly said, "But before making any decision, I hope you would think it over and consider carefully what he has done!"
"I know, he did a lot of bad things that I will never forgive. He should pay for what he did. For that, we can hand him over to Dumbledore or to the Dementors! He can go to Azkaban. If anyone deserves that place, he does!"
Little Peter, panting behind, hearing "Azkaban", and hearing "Dementors", his pale face was bloodless. He remembered that he had just talked to Evan in Lupin's office. The Dementors would not let him off. They would certainly give him a kiss!
That is the worst fate possible, worse than death.
From then on, his soul would be irretrievably lost. He would live in a dead body and will always be the Dementors' food in the terrible Azkaban.
No, he cannot let this happen!!!
Pettigrew had a flash of resoluteness in his eyes. He couldn't allow himself to be caught and sent to the Dementors. He had to flee.
Twelve years ago, he paid a finger to escape from Sirius Black; he could also escape this time, whatever the price.
He touched Harry's robe and hesitated.
His eyes peeked at the open gate of the castle. He had a great chance. Outside was the Forbidden Forest. It was very suitable for hiding in his Animagus Form. Besides, Dementors were not far away. They were stationed at the wall, and they did not know that Black was innocent.
If Black ever went out, they would catch him instantly, and even proceed directly to giving him the kiss.
"I haven't lost yet. If I can just run out of this door…"
Pettigrew thought of the magical barrier that had just blown him back, as Evan's wand that did not listen to his orders; he did not understand what was going on. It was beyond his reach, but he had to try again.
Maybe he can kidnap Harry to flee with him!
That magic on the portal might only work when one person passes through. Perhaps if someone is with him, they would both go out.
Peter gripped Harry's robe tightly. He hesitated and did not act immediately.
He was too close to Evan and Black, and he was not fully confident; if Harry struggled, if he didn't get his wand as soon as he tried, the consequences would be disastrous.
A moment later, Pettigrew saw Ron standing beside the door. Ron's face was as pale as his, full of pain and confusion.
Peter knew that Ron was trying to resist the Imperious Curse, but he had not yet broken away from his control.
His eyes were fixed on the wand in Ron's hand. He needed that wand. It was his only hope.
While Pettigrew was making up his mind, the conversation between Black and Harry continued.
"Do you know what it means to turn Peter in instead of killing him directly?"
"I know!" Harry said, "That means you become free!"
"Yes..." Blake hesitated and said, "I do not know if anyone ever told you, Harry, but James and Lily made me your godfather!"
"Evan told me!" Harry said softly.
"That kid knows everything. This time, I could catch Peter thanks to him. I really owe him too much. I'll try to repay him!" Black thought about the words that Evan had said to him in the Owl Post Office, yesterday. He said indifferently, "But Harry! There is one thing I must tell you about. I am your godfather and your parents have assigned me to be your guardian if anything happened to them…."
Evan, Harry, and Hermione were waiting for Black to carry on. They all had a hunch on what he was about to say
Under their gaze, Black was hesitant. He never seemed to be so nervous.
"Once my name's cleared… if you wanted a… a different home…you can…" Black looked at Harry. "I'll understand, of course, if you want to stay with your aunt and uncle."
"What… live with you?" Harry looked at him closely and couldn't wait to say, "Leave the Dursleys?"
"Of course, I thought you wouldn't want to," said Black quickly. "I understand, I just thought I'd…"
"Are you insane?" said Harry, his voice easily as croaky as Black's. "Of course, I want to leave the Dursleys! Have you got a house? When can I move in?"
"You want to?" he couldn't believe what Harry said. "You mean it?"
"Yeah, I mean it!" Harry replied. "This is something I have always dreamed of."
When he heard Harry, Black's gaunt face broke into the first true smile Evan had seen upon it. The difference it made was startling, as though a person ten years younger were shining through the starved mask.
Everything was over. That was probably the best outcome possible for this year's event.
They caught little Peter and they saved Black. In the summer vacation next year, Harry could move and live with Sirius. As for leaving the Dursleys and its effect on the Blood Protection given to Harry through his mother's sacrifice, that's something for Dumbledore to worry about.
Everything seemed to have been perfectly resolved, except that Ron did not break away from the Curse yet.
The conversation moved Ron very much, but it seemed that it was not enough. It did not help him strengthen his willpower sufficiently to resist Peter's control.
Evan sighed. If Ron does not succeed this time, it means that he might still be controlled by Voldemort or other Dark wizards over the next few years. He had to be careful with him. This time being controlled by Peter is already a lesson! Once Ron has any unusual behaviour, he must act decisively.
Evan's eyes turned to Ron, who was standing by, and he was ready to use the counter-curse on him.
But he suddenly realized that Ron had imperceptibly walked from the corner where he was standing before to Peter Pettigrew's side.
In that position, he was like a human shield, completely blocking everyone's wands against Peter.
Evan had a bad feeling, but he had not reacted yet, when Peter Pettigrew who had been kneeling on the ground, suddenly stood up…