Sirius grabbed Pettigrew by the collar and hauled him into the air.
"Long ti no see, Peter!" Every word squeezed out from between his clenched teeth. Sirius's face had turned a deep, livid red, veins bulging on his forehead.
"Sirius??" Peter Pettigrew's eyes widened in disbelief.
Then, darting his gaze around the room, he quickly assessed his surroundings, searching for any chance to escape.
"Lupin?? Dumbledore?? This is the Headmaster's office??"
Realizing where he was, Pettigrew turned toward Lupin and Dumbledore, pleading desperately, "Help !! Sirius has gone mad!!"
"How dare you??" Sirius hadn't expected Pettigrew to twist the truth.
"You're the one who betrayed Jas!!" Sirius roared, spittle flying onto Pettigrew's face.
"It was you!!" The two argued furiously, their voices echoing through the Headmaster's office.
Wes Elwin tossed a vial to Lupin. "Veritaserum."
Lupin seized Pettigrew's cheeks, forcing his mouth open, and poured the entire bottle down his throat.
"What did you make drink??" Pettigrew gagged and clawed at his throat, trying to spit the liquid back up.
Soon, his gaze began to lose focus. A dazed expression took over as his body relaxed, eventually collapsing limply to the floor.
"Who was the Secret-Keeper for Jas and Lily?" Lupin asked urgently, desperate for the truth he had waited years to hear.
"It was ." Pettigrew's tone was flat and detached, as if telling a story that had nothing to do with him. "That arrogant fool Sirius thought this way would be completely safe."
Guilt was written all over Sirius's face. Once again, he was drowning in self-reproach.
Lupin finally felt the weight in his heart drop, but pressed on. "Why did you betray us?"
"Because I was afraid… of the Dark… Lord." Even under Veritaserum, Pettigrew dared not speak the na aloud. "He was too terrifying. Why give such a dangerous responsibility to ? I'm just a nobody—how could I possibly stand up to the Dark Lord?"
"No one asked you to fight Voldemort! I only told you to keep the secret!" Sirius shook Pettigrew violently.
Pettigrew remained unnervingly calm under the potion's influence. "What if the Death Eaters found and tortured ? I couldn't bear that, so I told the Dark Lord where Jas and Lily were hiding. It's all Sirius's fault—if he hadn't tried to be clever, none of this would have happened."
Sirius and Lupin were stunned. They could hardly believe that the companion they had lived alongside for years was such a coward.
Tears welled in Sirius's eyes. "It's all my fault… if it weren't for , Jas and Lily would still be alive."
Lupin looked at the scene before him, emotions in turmoil. Finally, he said to Pettigrew in bitter disappointnt, "You coward."
After the truth ca to light, Sirius had successfully proven his innocence. Yet, he felt no joy.
The crushing weight of guilt washed over him like relentless tides, pounding at his heart again and again.
His arrogance—the decision he had once believed to be right—had now beco a wound in his heart that could never be erased.
Because of his mistake, he had caused the death of his best friend. That pain pierced so deep it left him breathless.
In those darkest monts, he had even thought about ending his life, hoping to escape the agony and tornt within. It seed that only in death could he find release.
Remus stood quietly nearby, watching Sirius drown in self-reproach. His lips moved slightly, as though he wanted to say sothing to comfort him, but he didn't know where to start. The words stuck in his throat, refusing to co out.
All he could do was silently watch, hoping Sirius might find his own way out of this abyss. Then, suddenly, an idea struck him.
"Harry," Remus broke the oppressive silence, "have you seen Harry? He looks exactly like Jas—like he was cast from the sa mold. But those eyes… those eyes are just like Lily's."
Every ti Remus spoke of Harry, his voice carried unconcealed affection for the boy, along with deep nostalgia for the old days—perhaps also the most profound longing for his lost friends.
"Harry… Harry…" Sirius murmured the na again and again. To him, it wasn't just a na—it was the only light in a world shrouded in darkness.
As Remus's words sank in, sothing changed in Sirius's eyes. Where they had been dull and lifeless, a spark now flickered back to life. Harry's na was like a beam of winter sunlight breaking through thick clouds, illuminating the long-forgotten corners of his heart.
"That's right," Remus said, patting Sirius on the shoulder. "You're Harry's godfather. Jas may be gone, but that responsibility is now yours. You must step into the role of a father for him."
Looking at Sirius's face—drawn and worn from guilt—Remus felt a pang of pity. For Harry's sake, and for the precious friendship they had once shared, he knew Sirius would find the strength to stand again.
Because Sirius was brave and strong. As long as he was willing, he could erge from this painful mory and embrace the light once more.
"I have to find Harry…" Sirius shot up from his chair, unable to contain himself. He was desperate to leave the headmaster's office; every second of waiting felt like torture.
Seeing this, Remus quickly stepped forward and grabbed his arm.
"There are wanted posters of you everywhere," Remus warned. "If you go out now, soone will recognize you. Not only would you be in danger, but you might also put Harry at risk."
It wasn't an exaggeration—Sirius's situation truly was precarious. If discovered, the consequences would be dire.
"But I can't wait any longer, Remus," Sirius said, his voice pleading. "I need to see Harry right now. He ans too much to ."
"Don't rush, Black," Dumbledore said. "Now that Peter Pettigrew has been caught, your na will soon be cleared."
Dumbledore continued, "If you go to him now, you'll only frighten Harry. What we need is patience—let events unfold in the right order."
His words were like an anchor in the storm. He fully understood Sirius's urgency, but he also knew that acting on impulse would only cause greater trouble.
°°°
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