Chapter 39: Odd Bloke!

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I've tried to keep my mouth shut, but I can't anymore. "Just leave it be, Harry. Maybe he'll grow up and get over it. There are more important things to think about."

"William!" Hermione hisses.

"It's true, Hermione! He wasn't trying to be funny, he was being serious! Maybe Ron will get a hold of his jealousy on his own, but I wouldn't count on it. All he sees is the prestige of the Tournament, he doesn't realize the danger. None of us do." Except me. "The First Task will be a clear reminder of that, I bet."

"That makes me feel loads better," Harry says sarcastically.

"Well, you don't expect me to sugarcoat it for you, right?" I say with a grin. "I'm just kidding Harry, the First Task will be a breeze! All you'll have to do is cast a pretty Shield Charm and then we'll all sing songs and eat rainbows and live happily ever after!"

Hermione's snort diminishes the effect of her glare.

"You're an odd bloke, William," Harry says, chuckling. "An odd bloke."

"Hey, rainbows probably taste good, if you think about it."

"You can not eat rainbows, William." Hermione says, rolling her eyes.

"Nonsense! Haven't you ever heard of Skittles?"

Hermione scoffs and turns away, but I can see the edge of a smile. We walk in silence a little ways, but I can tell Hermione wants to say something. Harry must have sensed it too.

"What is it, Hermione?"

"Erm...well...I was thinking...you should write to...your g—your friend."

Ah, I get the hint. "Well, I'll let you two talk. I'm going to go, uh, work on my stuff. What do you guys think about meeting in the Room after lunch to try and figure out what spells we should have Harry work on? We've got just over three weeks to get him ready for the d—the Tournament." Wow, way to almost blow your own cover there, genius.

The two of them share a look silently for a moment. "See you there, William." Hermione says.

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"So what do you know about Sirius Black?" Hermione asks as soon as we hit our separate cushions in the seating area of the Room of Requirement.

Now that's a question I was not expecting. I might know more than either of these two at this point, though I'm not sure how much of that 'knowledge' would be attributed to fanfiction.

"I see you know something," Hermione prods.

I look at her askance, and nod slightly. "I know he was accused of betraying Harry's parents to Voldemort and killing Peter Pettigrew along with twelve Muggles when he was caught. He gave up without a fight and then spent a dozen or so years in Azkaban without a trial, until he escaped last year. He was caught again while he was here but somehow escaped again."

Hermione raises an eyebrow. "Interesting verbiage, William. Now that I think about it, I've just realized one of the things that has bothered me about you. You don't seem to be surprised or frightened by anything. And I can tell you know more."

Harry's jaw drops, and my face turns red. Damn it, I might be a good liar at first, but I just made the answer to that obvious. Now what?

"William."

"Yes, Hermione?"

"Please do not lie to me right now. Do you know more?"

I shift uncomfortably. "Yes."

"And?"

My eyes flicker to Harry, and he's leaning forward expectantly. Hermione looks the same way, and I'm somewhat relieved to find a lack of anger. I sigh. "He didn't really betray Harry's parents or kill Peter Pettigrew. Sirius was going to be the Potters' Secret Keeper, but he convinced them at the last minute to use Peter instead. It was Peter who betrayed them, and Sirius attacked Peter when he found out. The latter lost a finger in the attack, turned into his animagus form - a rat - and escaped to make his way to the Weasleys, where he posed as their pet Scabbers..." I almost said more, but stopped myself.

Harry nods, but Hermione looks even more intent. "Keep going."

"Hermione, he couldn't possibly—"

"No, Harry, he does. William, I've got you figured out now. I can see you know more. Please, keep going."

I cast about, searching my brain for more safe information. "Sirius saw a picture of the Weasleys in the Prophet and escaped Azkaban in his animagus form - a dog - and came to Hogwarts to save Harry from Pettigrew, because Sirius is Harry's godfather..."

"You aren't done yet."

That's already more than I should know by any means, but at this point I just want to spill everything. "Last year's DADA Professor Remus Lupin was the fourth Marauder, along with Peter, Sirius, and Harry's father. Sirius and Lupin captured Scabbers by kidnapping Ron. You and Harry followed him under the Whomping Willow, where you found out the truth. Snape came in and you knocked him unconscious with multiple, simultaneous disarming spells. Harry stopped Sirius from killing Pettigrew, but on the way back to the castle Lupin turned into a werewolf and Peter escaped in the confusion. Sirius turned into his dog form to attack Lupin to allow you both to escape."

"Hermione drew Lupin away, and Harry went to Sirius, where he was attacked by a swarm of dementors. A stag Patronus drove them away, and then you all made it up to the hospital wing, while Sirius went into custody. You used your time turner to go back, save Buckbeak from execution and then you both went down where Harry cast his stag Patronus to save his past self. Then you took Buckbeak to Sirius to allow them both to escape." With that I blow out an exhausted breath and collapse against the back cushion.

Now they are both gaping.

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