Something's wrong, something's very wrong.
Vincent did not sense any magical fluctuations from Lupin's wand; he was not healing Peter Pettigrew.
Their conversation didn't sound like that of long-lost friends; rather, it sounded like questioning? Or perhaps interrogation?
McGonagall frowned, her expression grave, as if she were hesitating.
Snape's face was full of schadenfreude, and his eyes showed not only disgust but also a hint of anticipation.
I don't understand, I don't understand at all.
Vincent winked at Hermione was equally puzzled.
If anything unexpected happens later, they will activate the Time-Turner before things get out of control.
"Haha—" Lupin suddenly laughed.
His laughter grew fainter and fainter, and then he stood up unsteadily.
"Wormtail —no, Peter Pettigrew, you're lying!" His tone grew increasingly harsh, as if he were losing control of his emotions.
Peter Pettigrew couldn't meet his eyes, kicking his legs as he frantically backed away from the school gate. "I... I didn't lie... I told the truth..."
Lying? What kind of lie?
Snape's eyes turned cold, and Vincent had no choice but to point his Serpent Staff at Snape's forehead.
If things get out of control again, a fight might break out.
"The truth?" Lupin's tone was full of mockery. "You say you're a coward and don't have the courage to show yourself, but you're not a stupid person."
He slowly walked towards Peter Pettigrew. "You are a hero awarded the Order of Merlin, First Class. The entire Wizarding World will do everything in its power to protect you once you show yourself."
McGonagall's face was grim as she gripped her wand tightly.
"I...I..." Peter Pettigrew seemed even more flustered, his little eyes scanning his surroundings back and forth.
With each step Lupin took, his legs would kick backward a few times.
He stammered and couldn't speak until a long, deep groove was pressed into the grass.
"Enough!" Lupin suddenly roared, striding forward and looking down at him.
"Padfoot is right here at school, right in the Forbidden Forest. His target isn't Harry, it's you, isn't it?"
Peter Pettigrew paused, looking extremely guilty. "You... you must be joking... Padfoot betrayed James Potter and Lily, his target is Harry..."
Snape's eyes narrowed instantly, and he gripped his wand tightly. "Wayne! Get up!"
Vincent placed the Serpent Staff on his forehead. "Professor, I think you'd better figure out the whole thing first."
Sirius Black was actually Padfoot, the third creator of Marauder's Map.
Moreover, according to Lupin, he had already arrived at the school, and was even in the Forbidden Forest.
Vincent and Hermione exchanged a quick glance.
If Sirius Black really was in the Forbidden Forest, they couldn't have missed discovering him before.
Just as the two began to suspect that he had arrived recently, Lupin revealed something even more shocking.
"What I saw in that Quidditch Match was indeed Padfoot, the one where the Dementors came."
If his target was Harry, then why didn't he act when he had countless opportunities?
Peter Pettigrew didn't push back any further, but remained in a sideways position. "I... I don't know what you're talking about..."
Lupin raised his wand. "You knew Padfoot was coming to school to find you, so you pretended to be missing and hid."
His hands were trembling. "Tell me! Why did Padfoot come looking for you?"
"I... I..."
Peter Pettigrew's eyes suddenly lit up. "Remus, I didn't expect you to know so much!"
He turned around, and in his hidden hand he held a magic wand.
This is Wales's wand, the wand he stole.
"You—" Lupin was knocked to the ground by a large ball of red light.
Peter Pettigrew's face no longer showed the timidity he had shown before; all that could be seen was an incredibly cruel smile spreading across his lips.
"This is..." Vincent sensed a strong aura of Dark Magic in the surrounding air.
They come from Wales wands and have an aura of destruction about them.
"Confringo!"
Peter Pettigrew actually used Dark Magic to amplify the Blasting Curse, doubling its destructive power.
A dazzling orange-red light exploded like flames, its powerful force instantly annihilating the air around the tip of his staff.
McGonagall quickly planted her wand in the ground, and the mound-like stone wall was instantly blasted into pieces.
The aftershocks of the explosion are still ongoing.
"Shield Charm!"
The Shield Charm released by the two snake heads of the Serpent Staff merged into one, forming a barrier that kept expanding outwards.
Vincent gripped the staff tightly with both hands, casting the Shield Charm repeatedly to expand its range to encompass Lupin and McGonagall.
The aftershocks of the Blasting Curse caused the barrier to tremble violently, and each additional ripple dimmed it.
A small figure darted out of the dust and ran frantically towards the school's exit.
Once the barrier had completely disappeared, Snape quickly stood up from the ground, his previously cold eyes now filled with horror.
Peter Pettigrew's Blasting Curse was one reason, Vincent's Shield Charm was another, and his and Hermione's sudden disappearance was the third.
With her hair disheveled, McGonagall approached Lupin and extended her hand to him. "Remus, what's going on here?"
Snape rushed over and grabbed Lupin by the collar as he stood up. "Black in the Forbidden Forest? Where is he?!"
Lupin forcefully pushed his hand away. "Ha—you annoying brat, aren't you always so proud of your intelligence? How come you still haven't figured out the whole thing?"
Peter Pettigrew actually knows Dark Magic, and can even amplify the Blasting Curse to this level of power.
Now that he's gone, Vincent and Hermione, who disappeared, must be looking for him.
Snape seemed not to hear Lupin's taunts, and sat helplessly on the ground.
He looked at his outstretched hands. "Was there something wrong with that explosion?"
Lupin ignored him and limped toward the school gate.
McGonagall pursed her lips and stood in front of him. "Remus, there's no need to chase after them. Those two kids have a way to find Peter Pettigrew."
Lupin looked around and realized that Vincent and Hermione were gone.
He gritted his teeth and sat down, silently accepting McGonagall's treatment.
After quickly finishing the task, Snape suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Tell me, Lupin, what exactly do you know?"
His tone was very soft, as if he were pleading.
McGonagall looked at Lupin, who remained unmoved. "Remus, do you suspect that the explosion back then was staged by Peter Pettigrew himself?"
Lupin remained silent, but his pained expression said it all.
That finger was left there intentionally. As for why they pretended to be killed by Sirius Black, even at the cost of the lives of 12 innocent Muggle, only the two people involved probably know.
One of them ran away, and the other, according to Lupin, is in the Forbidden Forest.
"Hmph—" Snape suddenly sneered, "Lupin, why are you scared now?"
You never imagined your friendship was so fragile, did you? You've been betrayed by your so-called friends more than once, and you're too afraid to face it—you coward!
Lupin stood up, trembling. "Who are you calling a coward!"
He punched Snape hard in Snape face. "You jerk, you know nothing! What makes you think I'm scared!"
Snape, lying on the ground, spat out blood and kicked Lupin in the stomach as Lupin was about to throw another punch.
"You want to fight, huh? Fine!"
McGonagall watched the two wrestle together and tried to intervene several times.
But she was very clear about the conflict between the two, and it was nothing more than a physical fight.
Before long, large patches of dark clouds drifted in from the sky.
Lupin and Snape, both bruised and battered, stopped at the same time.
Those are Dementors; they must be here to capture Sirius Black.
Strangely, they did not head towards the Forbidden Forest.
Snape wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. "Follow them, Black must be there!"
The Dementors were heading out of the school, the direction Peter Pettigrew was running away from.
Lupin snorted and silently ran behind him.
McGonagall loosened her tightly pursed lips slightly and quickly caught up with the two.
Regardless, the truth is right before our eyes.