.
---
Chapter 388: Are You Really Going to Kill Me?
"Are you really going to kill me?"
Sirius Black did not resist. He only looked up at Harry and spoke cautiously.
"Why don't you wake Darren first… and let him hear my story too?"
"Enough!"
Harry pointed his wand straight at Black's chest.
"You nearly killed Darren, and you still want to deceive him? I won't allow you to! I'm his brother!"
"When you die, everything will be over. Darren will never have to know anything about you."
"When he wakes up… there will be no Sirius Black in this world anymore!"
Hatred blazed in Harry's eyes.
"No—don't…"
Black panicked.
"You can't… you don't know what really happened!"
"And you can't kill, Harry. If you do, you'll fall into darkness like I did—"
"Darkness?"
Harry laughed bitterly.
"Like you? When you betrayed my family, did you think about that?"
"I once considered handing you over to the Dementors… but forget it."
"If you escaped once, you might escape again someday."
"I will never allow you to hurt my family ever again!"
Harry looked ready to strike.
But suddenly, Crookshanks jumped onto Black's chest and fixed his eyes on Harry.
As if pleading.
"Move!"
Harry shouted.
But Crookshanks refused.
Harry's fingers trembled.
He could kill Black.
But not Crookshanks.
For a moment, his resolve faltered.
"Harry… you can't kill him," Hermione said urgently.
"If you do, you'll go to Azkaban… What would Darren do then?"
Harry froze.
If Darren woke up and knew his brother had murdered someone…
It would destroy him.
Silence fell.
Harry still held his wand raised, but did not strike.
And then—
Footsteps.
Fast, heavy, approaching.
Hermione's eyes lit up with hope.
"Help! Professor, help us—It's Sirius Black!"
Fear flashed across Black's face.
He struggled violently.
Crookshanks was nearly thrown aside.
Harry nearly acted.
But his eyes fell on Darren's pale, sleeping face.
…He couldn't do it.
Before he could decide—
Figures burst into the room.
Remus Lupin stood at the doorway.
"Darren!"
He rushed forward instantly.
"What happened?"
"He was knocked unconscious by Black!" Ron said breathlessly.
Lupin waved his wand.
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry's, Hermione's, and Ron's wands flew from their hands.
Then Lupin knelt beside Darren and quickly checked him.
After a moment, he exhaled in relief.
"He's alive."
Then his eyes snapped toward Black.
His voice changed.
"Where is he?"
"Tell me—where is he?"
Harry froze.
Black looked startled too… then slowly turned his gaze toward Ron.
Lupin followed that gaze.
His expression shifted.
"…There you are."
Harry felt cold in his bones.
"What are you talking about? Professor?"
Before anyone could react—
Lupin strode forward and pulled Black up into a fierce embrace.
They stood together like brothers.
Hermione shouted in disbelief.
"You're his friend?!"
"No—listen to me—" Lupin said hurriedly.
But no one wanted to listen.
Harry roared.
"I trusted you! And you've been protecting Black all this time?!"
"Was Darren's attack your doing too?!"
Hermione's voice cracked.
"I covered for you… I knew you were a werewolf and never told anyone!"
"So this is the truth?! You wanted to kill Harry and Darren from the start?!"
"NO!"
Lupin shouted.
"I would never harm them!"
"…Darren is my godson."
The words hit like thunder.
"What?!"
Harry stared.
"You're Darren's godfather?"
"Yes," Lupin said quietly.
"My name is Remus Lupin."
"I planned to tell Darren after this semester."
"But… you're a werewolf… How could my father choose you?" Harry whispered.
Lupin gave a sad smile.
"He trusted me."
"Dumbledore trusted me."
"They all did."
Harry shook his head fiercely.
"Then why is Black here?!"
"To kill us?!"
Lupin slowly held out his wand—and gave it to Harry.
Then Hermione's.
Then Ron's.
"If I meant you harm," he said quietly,
"you'd already be dead."
"Please… let me explain."
Hermione hesitated.
Then she said firmly:
"Wake Darren."
"If he wakes up… I'll believe you."
Lupin sighed.
"…Darren is too strong. Even Sirius and I together wouldn't be able to stop him if he wanted to."
"And if he sends Black to the Dementors without knowing the truth… it will be too late."
"Please."
"Let me speak first."
---