"Huh... huh..." Black used his Animagus transformation to break free of Lupin's embrace, swiftly turning into a large dog and charging viciously at Pettigrew.
Pettigrew broke off and screamed.
Fortunately, just as Sirius's claws were about to touch Pettigrew's body, a woody vine caught him and yanked him backward.
Even so, his sharp claws tore a large piece from Pettigrew's ragged wizard robes, exposing the pale flesh beneath.
Su Er also saw droplets rapidly soaking the hem of Pettigrew's wizard robes, and a foul smell immediately spread through the air.
"Ah..." Hermione immediately covered her eyes and hid behind Su Er, who also frowned and pinched his nose in disgust.
Dumbledore gave a soft sigh and waved his hand. A breeze swiftly swept the smell away, the woody vines bound Black tightly, and Pettigrew's wizard robes became whole again.
"Now, Mr. Pettigrew," Dumbledore said softly, "I am very curious. Why, after learning that Black had been arrested and the Dark Lord utterly defeated, did you still turn into a rat and hide until today?"
"As far as I know, the Ministry of Magic awarded you an Order of Merlin, First Class Medal afterward. Why did you not come forward to claim it?"
"That is an unparalleled honor, Mr. Pettigrew. Very few wizards, I imagine, could resist such a temptation."
Pettigrew seemed to have been frightened senseless, standing blankly in place. Only after hearing Dumbledore's questions did he answer with a shudder, like someone who had received a terrible fright.
"I was afraid, Professor. I was afraid, even though I knew Black had been locked up in Azkaban."
"I was afraid he would get out of Azkaban and come after me." As he said this, Pettigrew glanced toward Black, his meaning self-evident.
Su Er shook his head and sighed. Even now,