The room plunged into an eerie silence. A few seconds later, Harry, Ron, and Hermione finally began to grasp the shocking statement. If anyone other than Augustus had said it—even Lupin—the three of them would have thought the speaker had lost their mind.
"Peter Pettigrew is dead!" Harry shouted. "He was killed twelve years ago!" He pointed at Black, whose face twisted in a spasmodic grimace.
"I wanted to kill him," Black growled, baring his yellowed teeth, "but Peter got the upper hand... But not this time!"
Black lunged toward Scabbers. Crookshanks tumbled to the floor as Black's weight pressed down on Ron's injured leg, causing him to scream in pain.
Augustus frowned slightly, raising his wand. Under the effect of a summoning spell, Sirius was pulled away from Ron. "You need to calm down. Perhaps you've waited a long time for this moment, but let me remind you—regardless of the truth, your attitude matters. Even if Peter is the true culprit, your current behavior will make it difficult to prove your innocence."
Lupin stepped forward and held Sirius back. "Mr. Augustus is right. You must make them understand. We have to explain..."
"They... deserve... to know... everything!" Lupin panted, still struggling to hold Sirius. "Ron's been keeping him as a pet! There's so much even I don't understand! And Harry... Harry deserves to know the truth, Sirius!"
"That's true," Augustus added, his voice calm yet firm. "Harry's parents were victims of this tragedy. Don't you think you owe him the full truth? Do you think only you have endured this pain and suffering? Harry's pain might be no less than yours."
Sirius stopped struggling, though his sunken eyes stayed locked on Scabbers, who was trembling under Ron's bloodied hand.
"Fine," Sirius said, his gaze never wavering from the rat. "Tell them what you want, but make it quick. I was imprisoned for murder once—this time, I'll commit it."
"Everyone thinks Sirius killed Peter," Lupin said, nodding. "I thought so myself until tonight, when I looked at the map. Because the Marauder's Map never lies... Peter is alive. Ron is holding him. Harry."
"But Professor Lupin... Scabbers can't be Peter Pettigrew! That's impossible—it's not true—you know it's not true..."
"Why not?" Lupin replied calmly, as though they were in a classroom and Hermione had raised a question during an experiment.
"All Animagi are registered," Hermione said, her voice trembling. "I've read Professor McGonagall's records. There have only been seven Animagi in this century, and Peter Pettigrew isn't on the list!"
"Many Animagi exist in the wizarding world, far more than just seven," Augustus said, stroking his chin. "Among pure-blood families alone, there are at least twenty Animagi. Most don't register because they dislike being regulated by the Ministry. So, Hermione, not everything can be solved with statistics alone."
"Precisely," Lupin agreed. "The Ministry never knew that Hogwarts itself had three unregistered Animagi."
Lupin paused as a loud crack sounded. The bedroom door swung open on its own. All five people turned to look at the door. Lupin approached and peered at the staircase beyond.
"No one's there..."
"This place is haunted!" Ron exclaimed.
"No," Lupin said, still puzzled as he examined the door. "The Shrieking Shack has never been haunted. The screaming and howling villagers hear came from me."
"So, during the full moon, you were brought here to transform into a werewolf?" Augustus asked Lupin.
"Yes. Before the Wolfsbane Potion was invented, I transformed into a full-fledged wolf every month. I wouldn't have been able to attend Hogwarts otherwise—no parent would allow their child to be near me."
"But then Dumbledore became headmaster," Lupin said, sighing as he looked at Harry. "He was extraordinarily compassionate. He said that, with precautions, there was no reason I couldn't come to school.
"The Whomping Willow, which I told you was planted the year I arrived at Hogwarts, was actually planted for me. This house..." Lupin gestured around sadly, "and the tunnel leading here were created for my use. Once a month, I was smuggled out of the castle and brought here to transform. The Willow was planted to prevent anyone from encountering me while I was dangerous."
Augustus's silver eyes glimmered faintly. "Then how did Sirius come to know you? Clearly, as close friends, you couldn't have hidden your condition from them for long."
"Of course," Lupin said, nodding. "Despite my transformations, I was happier than ever. For the first time, I had friends—three great friends: Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew... and your father, Harry—James Potter."
"My three friends couldn't help noticing I disappeared every month. I made up all sorts of excuses, saying my mother was sick and I had to visit her. I was terrified they'd abandon me if they found out I was a werewolf. But of course," Lupin said with a faint smile at Hermione, "they figured it out... just as you would."
"And they didn't abandon me. Instead, they did something extraordinary. They made my transformations not only bearable but the happiest times of my life. They became Animagi."
"So, Peter transforms into a rat? And Sirius becomes a large black dog?" Augustus asked, his gaze fixed on Scabbers, who was struggling furiously.
"Yes. Werewolves are dangerous only to humans. They used James's Invisibility Cloak to sneak out of the castle every month. Peter, as the smallest, could slip under the Whomping Willow to press the knot that froze its branches. Then they joined me in the tunnel. Their presence made me less dangerous. My body was still that of a wolf, but with them, my mind was less so."
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