Harry Potter : Bloodraven-Chapter 195: Remnants of Mischief (III) (CH - 215)

"There were witnesses who claimed they saw you die, Peter…" Lupin said, not knowing what to feel. "A whole street full of them…"

His emotions were in complete turmoil. Yes, Sirius had told him a completely different story from the one that everybody knew about that day. And even though it sounded much more believable, and logical in every sense, he still hadn't been able to fully accept it.

After all, they had been brothers once—James, Sirius, Peter, and him. He needed to hear it from both of them. Of course, thinking rationally, it was clear enough who the real traitor was. But when it came to family—or friends as close as family—who could possibly think rationally?

The iron door clanked open with a groan, and Jameson stepped aside wordlessly. Inside the dimly lit cell stood a second cage, and Peter Pettigrew sat curled at the center, chained with heavy enchanted manacles.

He wasn't going anywhere.

Sirius brushed past Lupin, entering first, his boots echoing across the stone floor. His fists were clenched, and his wand was already in hand, trembling slightly.

Jameson moved to the back to stand near Maverick, who leaned silently against the wall just outside. They were only here to observe while the two men confronted their past.

"They didn't see what they thought they saw!" Sirius snapped, voice raw with years of bottled-up rage, responding to Lupin's earlier remark. He looked ready to pounce, barely restraining himself from hexing the rat into mincemeat.

"S-Sirius… R-Remus…" Pettigrew finally managed to find his voice after the shock of seeing the last people he ever wanted to meet. His eyes darted toward the now-open cell door, but that was all he could do—look.

To escape, he would have to get free from the enchanted chains first, then unlock the smaller cage, and only then could he make a move. And even if by some miracle he managed that—how, in Merlin's name, was he supposed to get past his so-called old friends?

Back in their school days, James, Sirius, and Lupin had always been better than him with a wand, and there was no reason to believe that had changed.

"My friends… my old friends…" he choked out, eyes darting wildly, mouth twitching with panic. Should he plead? Apologize? Try to lie his way out, maybe fool one of them? He didn't know what might work—only that he had to say something.

Sirius's wand arm rose at once, but Lupin seized his wrist and gave him a warning look.