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Chapter 145: Just a Mouse?
🕑 Added 2025-05-09 06:06:05 +0000 UTC
Confused, Sirius followed Noah and Snape through the golden space portal. As he stepped through and saw Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, and the others smiling at him, Sirius felt as though he were hallucinating.
Just three minutes ago, he had been hiding in the Shrieking Shack beneath the Whomping Willow—like a man abandoned by the world. Desperate. Helpless. Sustained only by a sliver of hope.
Two minutes ago, he’d run into his old friend—silent, sharp-tongued, and brave—Severus Snape. Although Snape had looked ready to knock his teeth out, Sirius couldn’t deny the familiarity. He was still his old friend.
A second ago, he had been glaring at Noah Finniel of Ravenclaw, still reeling from what just happened. But the boy had casually opened a golden door that bent space and time. And now… now he was here.
Sirius felt the urge to slap himself. This couldn’t be real—it had to be a dream. Or madness. But he held himself back. After twelve years in Azkaban… twelve years of torment… this was the first time in ages he’d felt even a shred of happiness.
Only one belief had kept him alive: James Potter’s son must know the truth.
Otherwise, in that soul-devouring hell that was Azkaban, surrounded by Dementors every day, he might have died long ago from despair.
“Am I dreaming?” Sirius muttered.
But the next moment, someone rushed forward and hugged him. Sirius tensed, ready to defend himself—but then he heard the trembling, familiar voice. He relaxed instantly and returned the embrace.
“Merlin’s beard! Sirius, look at you! You’re a bloody mess!” the man choked out.
Sirius grinned. “And your heart is still crazier than mine, Remus!”
They both laughed, half-sobbing, half-yelling.
“You bastard, why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you contact me?!”
“I’m sorry! I—I didn’t think anyone would believe me!”
Tears spilled freely from both of them.
Noah silently walked over to Harry. Other than himself, Harry Potter was the only student allowed to witness this moment. As the one directly involved, Harry had the right to hear the truth—even if that truth was more than he could bear.
The two friends eventually calmed down.
Lupin then explained everything in front of the professors: how Noah had acquired the Marauder’s Map, how he’d uncovered Peter Pettigrew’s deception, and how his deductions had led to Sirius’ discovery.
As the tale unfolded, Sirius kept glancing at Noah. He never imagined that a student—a student!—had been the one to uncover the truth and work to clear his name.
What kind of genius is this kid?
Sirius couldn’t help but feel his worldview shake. If someone like Noah had existed back in his day… maybe he wouldn’t have spent twelve years rotting in Azkaban.
He’d already witnessed Noah’s magic—teleportation into and out of Hogwarts wasn’t something even most professors could pull off. And now, his intellect?
Sirius pitied the teachers. It couldn’t be easy teaching someone like this.
After Lupin finished, Sirius walked up to Noah. “Thank you, Mr. Finniel. If it weren’t for you—”
“Clean it up,” Noah said bluntly, casting a cleaning charm over Sirius without even letting him finish.
As Sirius blinked in surprise, Noah gave a slight smile. “Don’t mention it. Just happened to be at the right place, right time.”
Sirius looked down at his now-clean robes, then back at Noah’s calm expression—and fell silent.
Noah turned to Harry and nudged him. “What are you waiting for? That’s your godfather, Harry.”
“Godfather?” Harry echoed, stunned.
Sirius nodded, his eyes softening. “Harry, you look just like James. Except for your eyes. You have your mother’s eyes.”
Joy bloomed on Sirius’ face—the first real joy he’d felt in over a decade. Harry could barely contain his excitement. He had family. He had someone in this world.
Noah stepped away to give them space. He wasn’t the type to stand around and ruin a reunion—not even as a metaphorical third wheel.
As he approached the professors, Professor Flitwick beamed at him and gave a discreet thumbs-up. Noah smiled and nodded back. Flitwick had always been kind to him. Quiet, but constant.
He’d even tried to help Noah get a scholarship by confronting the school board—though, unsurprisingly, the self-righteous bureaucrats had stonewalled him.
Dumbledore clapped Noah gently on the shoulder, clearly pleased. The deaths of Harry’s parents had haunted him for years. Now, seeing Harry reunited with Sirius—it filled the headmaster with joy.
Even Professor McGonagall and Professor Sprout were moved. McGonagall discreetly wiped her eyes behind her glasses.
Snape, of course, remained stoic, observing in silence.
Then, Snape broke the quiet. “Now that Black has been found… what will be done about Pettigrew?”
His voice was firm—loud enough to be heard by all.
Sirius immediately turned, fury igniting in his eyes.
“What do you think?! Kill him, of course!”
“No!” Lupin interjected. “It’s illegal. We should hand him over to the Ministry. Let Azkaban be his prison.”
“Impossible! Do you know who he is?!”
“Doesn’t matter! Hogwarts shouldn’t be stained with blood—especially not in front of students!”
“Then take the students elsewhere and do it!”
“You can’t!”
The professors erupted into argument—two clear camps forming around Peter’s fate.
Noah watched, amused. “Hogwarts shouldn’t be stained with blood?” What a joke.
Fifty years ago, Myrtle died and still haunted the bathrooms. And in the near future, Hogwarts would become a warzone. Fred Weasley would die in the final battle.
The idea of Hogwarts being ‘pure’ was laughable.
Meanwhile, Peter Pettigrew—timid, hunched, but clearly scheming—had begun eyeing the nearby sewer grate.
His magic was weak, but he was recovering. And with everyone arguing, he saw a sliver of hope—an escape route.
He began quietly gathering what little magic he had.
At the peak of the shouting match, when no one was looking, Peter transformed.
In a blink, he became a rat.
He bolted toward the sewer grate at lightning speed.
He could hear Sirius and the others shouting—but it didn’t matter.
Freedom! Survival! That’s all that mattered.
Peter ran, despite the exhaustion, despite the pain growing in his limbs. But something was wrong.
His vision blurred. His tiny legs trembled.
Why… am I so tired?
The world around him faded. He stumbled, struggling to stay conscious.
Sirius watched in disbelief. “What the bloody hell?”
McGonagall gasped, covering her mouth.
Dumbledore, the professors—and Harry—stood frozen.
Everyone slowly turned their gaze to Noah.
Noah calmly lowered his wand.
Harry’s voice cracked. “You… you killed him?”
Noah rolled his eyes. “Killed? Please.”
He pointed at the half-rat on the ground and sighed.
“Sorry. I just killed a mouse.”
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