Chapter 67: The Truth of That Year

John's words made Professor Lupin pause slightly.

After a moment, he said slowly.

"I didn't expect you to have recognized it; that's right, that black dog is Sirius Black transformed."

Professor Lupin's gaze looked out the window.

"How should I tell you."

"To be blunt, I now believe his story and temporarily assume he was framed."

"However, I haven't verified the evidence he provided me yet."

Professor Lupin's fingers tapped lightly on the desk, the rhythm steady and carrying a trace of contemplation.

But John frowned; what did he mean by evidence he hadn't verified yet?

"Sigh, let me briefly tell you what happened back then."

Seeing that John didn't seem satisfied with his answer, Professor Lupin sighed lightly and continued to speak.

Soon, he told John about a tragedy that happened more than a decade ago from his own perspective.

This tragedy also involved Harry Potter and his deceased parents.

Simply put.

More than a decade ago, the Death Eaters' master, Voldemort, also known as the Dark Lord, suddenly began hunting Harry's parents and the newborn Harry Potter.

Later, to protect them, Dumbledore provided them with a magic called the Fidelius Charm.

This spell would seal a secret forever in the soul of a Secret-Keeper; as long as the Secret-Keeper didn't voluntarily reveal the secret, no one could discover it.

At that time, they used the Potter house as the secret to cast the spell, making it impossible for Voldemort to find the Potter house.

And then, Sirius was that Secret-Keeper.

So as long as Sirius didn't voluntarily leak the secret, Voldemort would never be able to find the Potter family.

But everyone knew the final result; the Potter family was brutally murdered by Voldemort.

So it was obvious that Sirius had leaked the secret.

After Sirius leaked the secret, their other friend, Peter Pettigrew, caught up with Sirius in a Muggle community.

The two had a fierce argument, and in the end, Sirius blew Pettigrew into pieces, leaving only one finger.

At the same time, he also blew up a Muggle community, causing twelve innocent Muggles to die on the spot, a scene too horrible to look at.

When the Ministry of Magic arrived, only Sirius was left standing in the ruins, laughing wildly.

Thus, the Ministry of Magic arrested Sirius on the spot, and not long after, sent him directly to Azkaban prison.

This was the sequence of events that Professor Lupin understood.

After Professor Lupin finished speaking, the water next to them also boiled, making a wooing sound.

He got up, lifted the kettle from the stove, and brewed a cup of tea for John and himself.

The fragrance of tea slowly permeated the air.

Just from this story, Sirius was indeed a nailed-down sinner.

But if that were really the case, Professor Lupin wouldn't have protected Sirius.

"So, what was the truth back then?"

"Did the Fidelius Charm fail? Or did Sirius leak the secret?"

John raised the hot tea, blew on it lightly, and asked curiously.

"Neither."

Professor Lupin shook his head.

"According to Sirius, the Secret-Keeper back then was actually not him."

"He secretly discussed it with Harry's parents, and in the end, they changed the Secret-Keeper to Peter Pettigrew, the person who was just said to have been blown to death."

Hearing this, John was stunned.

This was truly a development he hadn't expected.

In other words, the real leaker was that Peter Pettigrew?

"His idea at the time was to go out and act as a decoy, letting Voldemort mistakenly think he was the Secret-Keeper, attracting his attention."

"Then Peter Pettigrew would act as the real Secret-Keeper, keeping this secret forever."

Professor Lupin recounted the truth Sirius had told him that day.

Hearing this, John shook his head with amusement.

This Sirius's brain was muddled enough.

Since he had the determination to go out and be a decoy, enduring Voldemort's pursuit and even torture, why didn't he have the determination to be a good Secret-Keeper?

Anyway, either way, he was going to be hunted by Voldemort.

Then it would be better to keep the secret to himself.

Professor Lupin didn't notice John's expression and continued.

"At that time, they didn't tell anyone about secretly changing the Secret-Keeper."

"Then after Peter leaked the secret, Sirius angrily found him and killed Peter directly."

"After Peter died, there was no proof, and Sirius became the nailed-down leaker."

Well, Sirius really deserved to be thrown into Azkaban.

Not being the Secret-Keeper was one thing, but he also personally killed the only person who could prove his innocence.

And then he kept silent about Peter, the real leaker.

Taking all the blame himself and locking himself in Azkaban.

He probably thought this could atone for his sins.

Ridiculous.

Most importantly, such an important matter as changing the Secret-Keeper, not telling Professor Lupin, a friend, was one thing, but he didn't even tell Dumbledore?

John really couldn't think of anything that could help prove Sirius's innocence, unless Peter could be resurrected.

As a result, the next moment, Professor Lupin continued.

"Now, the reason Sirius broke out of prison is that he discovered that Peter Pettigrew actually didn't die at all."

"He is also an unregistered Animagus; he turned into a rat and hid for more than a decade."

?

John, who was drinking tea, was stunned.

No, is Animagus so easy to learn?

Wait.

Rat... more than a decade...

John suddenly remembered the rat that Big Orange had been catching.

"Ron's pet, the rat Scabbers that has lived for more than a decade?"

John asked Professor Lupin in surprise.

"I didn't expect you to guess it right away; that's right, it's him."

Professor Lupin nodded, confirming John's thought.

So the reason Big Orange wanted to catch Scabbers was very likely instigated by Sirius, and Big Orange also sensed that Scabbers was a bad guy?

It all connected, it all connected.

John suddenly figured out many suspicious points.

"So I'm also having a headache about how to explain it to Ron and let him hand Scabbers over to me."

Professor Lupin said helplessly while drinking tea.

"No, Professor, you've been infected by Sirius's idiocy; why is it so troublesome?"

"You just find a dinner party where Headmaster Dumbledore is also present."

"Bring Sirius in his black dog form, and then reveal Scabbers's Animagus form on the spot."

"If he really is Peter Pettigrew, then let Sirius restore his original appearance and confront him face to face."

"Headmaster Dumbledore will naturally judge, and Ron will have to thank you instead."

"But if! Scabbers is just an ordinary rat, then you just turn Sirius in directly; anyway, he's beyond saving."

After hearing John's words, Professor Lupin was greatly shocked.

Is it that crude?

But, it seems like a good method? ===== CHAPTER 68 =====