Hogwarts: Legacy of the Necromancer

Chapter 176: Chapter 176: Solemn Oath: I Didn't Do Anything Good



Harry Potter was full of confusion. Just moments ago, when he had subdued Sirius, the man had completely given up resisting, wearing a foolish smile, as if awaiting release. But now, Sirius radiated an overwhelming murderous intent, almost tangible, pressing heavily on Harry's heart.

"Peter Pettigrew? I've heard that name before—wasn't he the one you killed? All they found was a finger."

Harry had once slipped into the Three Broomsticks under his Invisibility Cloak and overheard a conversation between the Minister for Magic and others, where he learned the official version of what happened back then.

The four boys who once shared a dorm—classmates, friends, brothers—had seen their bond shattered. In the end, Sirius betrayed that friendship by giving up the Potters' location and even hunting down another one of them—Peter Pettigrew.

The Aurors had only found a single finger. Alongside it, an entire street of Muggles perished.

Back then, the thought of such a powerful man coming to kill him had terrified Harry. But now it seemed there was more to the story.

"I always thought he was dead. I was willing to spend twelve years in Azkaban because of that belief. But not long ago, I found out Peter Pettigrew is still alive! He's hiding in Hogwarts—he's in this room with us right now!"

Sirius spoke in a frantic, almost deranged manner, making it hard for anyone to believe a word he said.

"But there are only five of us in this room. Where is this Peter Pettigrew?"

Hermione looked around, not seeing anyone else. She had no choice but to ask.

"How can you be so sure there are only five of us here? Come out! Come out, Peter!"

Sirius shouted with a manic grin, casting a suspicious glance toward the three children.

"I have a way to prove there are only five of us in here."

Harry pulled out a stack of parchment from his robe. If he opened the Marauder's Map, he could prove Sirius was wrong.

Lupin's eyes lit up when he saw the parchment in Harry's hands—it was a magical artifact created by the four of them in their school days.

"Come here! Let's play."

Sirius took slow steps toward the children. The map didn't matter to him anymore. He had already found his target.

"Levicorpus!"

Like a black bat, Professor Snape arrived silently and swiftly, swinging his wand and hoisting Sirius into the air, upside down.

"Expelliarmus!"

Just as Lupin turned around, Snape disarmed him, sending his wand flying.

"Ah-ha! The taste of revenge is sweet. I've always hoped I'd be the one to catch you."

Snape pointed his wand at the hanging Sirius. His usually lifeless expression was now twisted with rage. If he were to cast the Killing Curse on Sirius right now, Regulus Black wouldn't have been surprised at all.

"Severus…"

Lupin tried to explain, but Snape immediately aimed his wand at him, forcing him to step back.

"I kept telling Dumbledore—if Sirius escaped Azkaban, he'd come to Hogwarts, and he'd probably have an accomplice. And sure enough, it's you!"

Snape looked satisfied, as if everything was unfolding exactly as he'd hoped. After all, back in their school days, these two had always sided with James Potter to torment him. No—"torment" was perhaps too soft. "Humiliate" might be more accurate.

Those were painful memories of his youth, but now he finally had the chance to repay them.

Regulus Black sensed Snape was really about to strike and immediately signaled Hermione: "Stop Snape. Expose Peter Pettigrew."

Hermione was quick on her feet and stepped forward right away.

"Professor Snape! We were just discussing who was truly responsible for that tragedy. Harry's parents were killed by the Dark Lord, but it wasn't Sirius who betrayed the Potters—it was Peter Pettigrew."

No one in the room could understand why Hermione suddenly believed that Peter was the traitor. Still, that didn't stop them from being grateful to her.

Because Snape had truly been ready to kill—Sirius, and possibly Professor Lupin too.

"Peter Pettigrew is dead. It was this Azkaban prisoner who did it."

Only now did Snape seem to realize there were three students present. Killing someone in front of them wasn't a good idea.

"Hehehehehe… You say he's dead? But I've seen him—he's in this room right now. You were so focused on me that you reached the wrong conclusion. Go back to brewing your potions!"

Even though Sirius was in a completely unfavorable position, he showed no intention of yielding to Snape, continuing to mock him.

"Maybe you've been out of Azkaban too long. You've forgotten that the Dementors are still waiting for you. Maybe they'll give you a kiss."

Snape jabbed his wand into Sirius's neck. He couldn't kill him in front of students, but handing an escaped convict over to the Dementors was a neat solution—and it wouldn't dirty his hands.

"No one's ever described what a Dementor's Kiss feels like. They say people can't bear to watch. But I will—I'll stay and watch it to the very end."

Snape meant every word. Once they returned to Hogwarts, he would hand Sirius over to the Dementors—and make sure he died.

"Liberacorpus! Now, the two of you—move to the front."

Snape waved his wand, motioning for Sirius and Lupin to walk ahead of him. Watching Sirius receive the Dementor's Kiss, and personally escorting Lupin to Azkaban—both of these things would likely bring him a sense of satisfaction.

"Harry! Do you want to know the truth?"

Hermione whispered to Harry, then stepped forward. Harry noticed her wand tucked into the back of her waistband.

Yes—the truth! What is the truth?

He had thought Sirius came to kill him, but when they were face-to-face, there was no hint of murderous intent.

He had believed Sirius was the one who betrayed his parents, but Sirius completely denied it.

He had thought Peter Pettigrew was already dead, but according to Sirius, he was still alive—and right here in this room.

If everything Sirius said was true, then he had been falsely accused, imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years. And once Professor Snape dragged them back, this "truth" would never be proven.

If everything Sirius said was a lie, then even if he didn't try to kill Harry, Harry wouldn't let him go either.

So what if it meant killing? He was underage anyway.

Harry drew Hermione's wand. "Expelliarmus!"

Using all his strength, Harry cast the spell at Snape. 'Expelliarmus' didn't just knock away a wand—it could throw a person back as well.

Snape was hurled across the room and crashed onto a bed, sending up a thick cloud of dust.

"Accio wand!"

Thanks to his first- and second-year training, Harry was no longer a rookie who only knew how to cast 'Expelliarmus'.

The three wands on the floor leapt into the air and landed in Harry's hands. He reclaimed his own wand and returned Hermione's to her. Both of them now pointed their wands at Sirius and Lupin.

"Harry! What did you just do? You attacked a professor!"

Ron was still stunned by Harry's sudden attack on Snape.

"Tell me everything about Peter Pettigrew."

Harry held the other two wands—one belonging to Professor Lupin, the other to Professor Snape.

At this moment, every wand in the room was under Harry's control. So… he could ask whatever he wanted.

Lupin said, "He went to school with us. We considered him a friend."

Harry replied, "No! Peter Pettigrew is dead—Sirius killed him."

Sirius said, "Peter Pettigrew is alive! He's in this house, in this very room."

Lupin added, "Harry, I just saw you take out the Marauder's Map. With it, you can see everyone's location."

Harry said, "The map might be wrong."

Sirius responded, "The Marauder's Map never lies. Use it and see."

With the advantage now on his side, Harry immediately pulled out the Marauder's Map.

"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good!"

Ink spread across the parchment, outlining the surrounding area—and in this very room, the name Peter Pettigrew appeared prominently.

Harry stiffly turned his head and looked at Ron.

"Me? No… Harry, you're mad!"

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