Five hours ago, at 11:30 p. m.
Two figures suddenly appeared outside the school.
The Auror at the distant sentry post rubbed his eyes.
I think I saw something flash by just now. Was I seeing things?
"Uh... it couldn't be those monsters from the Batman Family, could it..."
He swallowed hard, picked up the lantern, and went outside.
A gentle breeze blew by, and it felt like something was behind me.
He quickly turned around, but found nothing.
This is terrifying, especially at night.
Recalling those experiences of being inexplicably knocked unconscious and hung upside down, he hunched his shoulders and ran towards another nearby sentry post.
If we don't patrol this area several times tonight, we'll probably be on edge all night.
In the darkness that the lantern could not illuminate, the grass was crushed one after another along a single path.
The direction was towards the castle gate, and it was moving very slowly.
Half an hour later, Hermione appeared on the outskirts of the Forbidden Forest, supporting Vincent.
Are you alright?
"It's alright, much better than when I first used it to cast spells in succession."
Hermione helped Vincent to sit down next to a giant tree.
It's only a little before 11 o'clock, so they can rest for a bit and clear their minds.
If what Lupin just said is true, Peter Pettigrew's faked death back then was very likely staged.
Moreover, the fact that he didn't call Sirius Black by his name but instead used the nickname "Padfoot" suggests that he still trusts Sirius Black.
Hermione tried hard to recall what happened back then.
Sirius Black did not resist arrest, and he is a typical example of someone who was imprisoned in Azkaban without trial.
As she pondered, her eyes grew brighter. "Do you think it's possible that Peter Pettigrew was the one who betrayed the Potters?"
That cruel smile just now didn't seem like the first time he had used the Blasting Curse. No matter how scared he was, he wouldn't have disguised himself as a rat for almost twelve years without daring to show himself.
"I remember now!" Vincent suddenly sat up straight. "During the summer vacation, I went to Harry's birthday party, and the Sneakoscope that Ron gave him kept beeping."
Later, Uncle Arthur notified the Ministry of Magic, and even their equipment kept issuing warnings. Crucially, a complete search of the entire area yielded no trace of Black.
Hermione quickly connected the dots. "You mean the Sneakoscope wasn't aimed at Black, but at Peter Pettigrew was disguised as Scabbers next to Ron?"
Vincent frowned. "Professor Lupin is their friend. If even he doubts Peter Pettigrew..."
He took a deep breath. "If we can find Black, we'll know the truth about what happened back then."
But the Forbidden Forest is so vast, and the two of them had spent almost three years there using the Time-Turner without noticing anything unusual. Where could they possibly search now?
Hermione loosened her clenched lower lip. "Professor Lupin is Werewolf, Peter Pettigrew is Animagus, could Black become something too?"
The creatures that suddenly appeared in the Forbidden Forest, starting from the beginning of last semester...
Vincent's lips twitched. "I have a suspect."
"Who?"
"Little Black".
"Huh?" Hermione stiffly turned her neck, looking towards the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
The Little Black was brought back to Hogwarts from Hogsmeade, and it only got close to Harry, ignoring even Vincent, who brought it with it.
Lupin once said that if Sirius Black's target was Harry, then he would have countless opportunities to make a move.
"Let's go." Vincent stood up and stretched his arms and legs a little.
He's almost fully recovered. "Don't worry, I can take down Black in an instant."
Hermione looked at the Gunblade in her hand.
Since they were able to entrust her with such a powerful weapon, it's clear that the Serpent Staff wasn't their only trump card.
The two walked side by side into the depths of the Forbidden Forest.
Around 12 o'clock, the two arrived near the crypt of Jormungandr.
Little Black's doghouse was right next door, and snoring could be heard coming from inside.
Vincent gripped his Serpent Staff tightly and walked ahead, trying to shield Hermione's hand from the Gunblade.
The snoring suddenly stopped, and Little Black woke up.
It first shook itself, then slowly walked out of the doghouse.
When it saw the two people, it let out a soft call, as if to greet them.
"Good evening, Little Black." Vincent and Hermione stopped and kept a distance of three meters from it.
Little Black seemed a little impatient and turned to go back to its doghouse to continue sleeping.
"The Little Black I just mentioned isn't the literal Little Black, but your real name, Sirius Black Black."
Little Black suddenly stopped.
"We have a question, and we hope you will—" Vincent raised his Serpent Staff.
"Reveal your true form!" Two beams of light enveloped the direction in which Little Black had fled.
Its body rapidly expanded, and soon, a tall figure appeared.
"Don't move!" Hermione Gunblade and aimed it at the person who was half-crouched on the ground with his back to them.
He was wearing a white shirt, black trousers, and his smooth, medium-length black hair was casually combed back.
Vincent pointed his Serpent Staff at him. "We mean no harm. We just want to know one thing."
Was it you who cast the Blasting Curse, destroying half a street and killing 12 innocent Muggle?
The man's body jolted violently, and he slowly turned his head.
A slightly rounded, handsome profile covered in stubble appeared before their eyes.
Completely contrary to the hysterical madness depicted on the wanted poster, Sirius Black is not fierce at all now, and even looks a bit chubby.
His eyes swept over the Serpent Staff and the Gunblade, then settled on Vincent and Hermione's astonished little faces.
He raised his hands and slowly stood up. "I didn't cast that Blasting Curse."
The two did not let their guard down because of this.
Vincent's Serpent Staff glowed faintly red. "Do you have any evidence, Padfoot? Enough to prove that it was Wormtail who cast the Blasting Curse back then."
Sirius Black's gray pupils contracted instantly. "You... how did you know?"
Hermione's finger lightly touched the trigger of the Gunblade. "This is the moon... This is Professor Lupin's guess, and we have found Peter Pettigrew."
"What!?" Sirius Black was completely taken aback, clearly not expecting this.
He closed his eyes and remained silent for a moment.
When he opened his eyes again, his handsome face was contorted with rage. "I have no evidence, but the Secret Keeper of the Fidelius Charm wasn't me! It was that cowardly bastard!"
"Peter Pettigrew?"
Sirius Black clenched his fists, his body trembling violently. "It was him! It was because of his leak! He's the one who killed James Potter and Lily! He's the one who made Harry an orphan!"
If I hadn't persuaded James Potter because of family issues, and had replaced the Secret Keeper with anyone other than that traitor, perhaps that tragedy would never have happened..."
As he spoke, his eyes reddened.
He was Harry's godfather, and the remorse he expressed was genuine.
But Vincent still did not put down the Serpent Staff.
He slowly stepped forward. "I have a way to confirm whether you are the Secret Keeper of the Fidelius Charm."
Sirius Black calmed down a bit, feeling both helpless and angry.
Having disguised himself as Little Black for so long, he knew Vincent's personality very well.
They are suspicious, like to be in control, and always keep something in reserve.
It's confirmed to be fake; their real purpose is probably to subdue me.
Vincent's Serpent Staff struck his forehead.
"Search Curse— "
With the incantation, magical power surged rapidly from the brain into the body.
Sirius Black suddenly widened his eyes.
The expected thing did not happen; the magic was simply searching for something within his body.
"This... this is Search Spell?"
"Yes." Vincent retracted his Serpent Staff. "The evidence is there; you are indeed not the Secret Keeper of the Fidelius Charm."