Rowan had located Sirius Black, but the man wasn’t fleeing. He was hiding beneath the Whomping Willow, most likely resting inside the old passageway below it.
That detail mattered.
If Rowan had said Black was escaping, Hermione would have insisted on reporting it first and letting the professors handle the arrest. That would have been safer. It would also have ant Rowan earned no credit beyond providing information.
What he needed was the capture itself.
Alone.
"Isn’t it dangerous for Rowan to go by himself?" Ron said, watching Rowan disappear toward the trees. His voice shook despite himself. "That’s Sirius Black."
The only wizard to escape Azkaban under Dentor guard. A man the Ministry had hunted for a year. Soone who had broken into Hogwarts twice.
Before Hermione could answer, Ron yelped.
"Oi! Scabbers, what are you doing?"
The rat bit him hard, leapt from his arms, and vanished across the grass.
"Forget the rat," Hermione snapped. "Listen carefully. We split up. I’ll find Professor McGonagall. Ron, you get Snape. Harry, go straight to Dumbledore. The faster they get there, the safer Rowan will be."
She was worried. Even after seeing Rowan’s strength in Paris, Sirius Black was different. His reputation alone carried weight.
Harry clenched his fists. He wanted to go with Rowan. Wanted to face Black himself.
But Hermione was right.
"Fine," Harry said, already running toward the headmaster’s office.
They barely took three steps before colliding with soone.
"Harry, Hermione, Ron. Why are you three sprinting through the corridors?"
"Professor Lupin!"
Relief washed over them.
"Professor," Hermione said quickly, "Rowan used a tracking spell. Sirius Black is near the Whomping Willow. Rowan’s already gone to stop him from escaping."
Lupin froze.
"The Whomping Willow?" His face drained of colour. Then he turned and ran, faster than any of them had ever seen him move.
Ron hesitated. "Do I still need to get Snape?"
"I’m going with Professor Lupin," Harry said suddenly, pulling out his wand.
He wasn’t thinking about Azkaban. He wasn’t thinking about justice.
He wanted revenge.
With Rowan and Lupin there, the odds were finally good enough.
"I’m not letting you go alone," Ron said, drawing his wand and following.
"You two are impossible," Hermione muttered, then chased after them, flagging down passing students as she ran. "Go find Professor McGonagall! Tell her Sirius Black’s at the Whomping Willow!"
Rowan landed lightly in front of the tree and folded his wings away.
A ntal sweep confird it.
"Right where I thought."
Sirius Black was in terrible condition. Months of evasion had left him gaunt, filthy, and half-feral. His hair was matted, his limbs thin, his eyes sunken deep into his skull.
But he was still sharp.
The Whomping Willow stirred. Sirius sensed soone nearby.
He transford instantly, a massive black dog slipping from the tunnel entrance to observe.
Just a student.
Sirius relaxed, just a little.
Then the student spoke.
"Could you move aside, please?"
Rowan looked up at the Whomping Willow and spoke calmly, as if addressing a stubborn guard.
The tree froze.
Its violent branches hesitated... then parted, opening a clear path to the tunnel entrance.
Rowan walked forward without hurry.
The magic wasn’t a spell from Hogwarts. It was sothing older, sothing that forced its will through voice and intent. The Whomping Willow resisted for less than a second before yielding.
Sirius fled.
Rowan entered the tunnel and followed, unhurried. His awareness never left Sirius for a mont.
The passage opened into the Shrieking Shack.
The place was ruined. Peeling wallpaper. Broken furniture. Boards nailed over the windows. Dust and decay everywhere.
Empty at first glance.
Rowan stepped inside and raised his wand more out of habit than necessity.
"Sirius Black," he said evenly. "You don’t need to hide. I know you’re under the bed."
The response was imdiate.
A black blur exploded from beneath the fra.
Jaws snapped toward Rowan’s wrist, aiming straight for the wand.
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