George and Fred instantly held their breath and exchanged a shocked glance. Both strained their ears to catch the snatches of conversation upstairs. The voices were muffled, but one sounded weary and low, while the other was hoarse and urgent.
One of the voices was very familiar to them.
"We have to tell Harry... he has a right to know..." said the hoarse voice.
"I know, Sirius, I know you want to... but the timing... it's too dangerous..." The weary voice tried to soothe him.
Sirius?! The twins' hearts almost skipped a beat in unison. The fugitive Black?! He was here?!
And the other voice... though it was very quiet, both of them found it familiar.
George and Fred slowly climbed out through the trapdoor and crept toward the stairs leading to the second floor, trying to catch the faint voices and hear them more clearly.
"I'll help you... you know that..."
The two huddled beside the stairs. The voices grew a little clearer, and the low, weary voice sounded increasingly familiar.
They exchanged a glance, each seeing the terror in the other's eyes.
"It's Professor Lupin!" George mouthed silently to Fred.
Fred went pale and nodded vigorously.
Merlin's beard! Why was Professor Lupin with Sirius Black? And why were they having a secret conversation in this haunted shack? They were talking about Harry...
It didn't sound as though Lupin was berating Black or trying to arrest him. Instead, was he discussing something with him? Trying to dissuade him?
Both quickly recalled the story they had heard at the Three Broomsticks—Lupin had said he and Black had been friends when they were young. Could it be...
"He... the truth... traitor... make him pay..."
Black's voice rose with agitation, thick with bitter hatred.
Peter? A traitor? The twins' minds raced as