Old Friends Meet

"What's going on here? Professor Snape, what are you doing?"

A gasp interrupted Snape's revenge.

"Cut!"

Snape was very unhappy.

He was so excited when he first saw Black that he forgot to mute Black's voice.

"That bastard got off too easy!"

Snape kicked Black in annoyance.

"Professor Snape! Please explain the situation!"

Professor McGonagall looked at Snape seriously.

The chaotic scene before him left the old professor somewhat confused.

She was already getting ready for bed. People tend to get sleepy as they get older.

As a result, she had just changed into her pajamas and lay down on the bed when she vaguely heard a series of pitiful screams.

At first, Professor McGonagall didn't pay much attention, thinking it was probably just Peeves causing trouble again. She decided to go out and teach Peeves a lesson, to show him how precious sleep is for the elderly.

However, upon arriving at the crime scene following the sound, Professor McGonagall was presented with a scene completely different from what she had expected.

"It's nothing, just teaching a Wanted Criminal a lesson."

Snape was contemplating whether he should kill Black right now.

Although he didn't really want to kill anyone under Harry's gaze, which resembled Lily's, if he didn't act now, he might not have another chance later.

The Ministry of Magic would not hand over the power of execution to him.

"Divine Striker..."

Just as Snape made up his mind to take Black by surprise, a dazzling red light suddenly struck him.

"Expelliarmus!"

A semi-transparent shield appeared, blocking the sneak attack. However, Snape was still knocked back two steps, and the Curses he was about to cast was interrupted.

"Ha! I told you, you're in cahoots with Black! Dumbledore didn't believe me! What? Finally couldn't resist showing your true colors?"

Snape looked behind Professor McGonagall. There, Lupin stood, Wand raised and pointed at him.

Lupin frowned as he looked at the Shield Charm on Snape's body.

His office and Professor McGonagall's office were not far from here, so, like Professor McGonagall, he was also attracted by the screams.

However, unlike Professor McGonagall, Lupin immediately recognized the person lying at Snape's feet screaming in agony as his former best friend, Sirius Black.

Knowing how much Snape hated them, Lupin instinctively cast a Disarming Charm at Snape.

Although Lupin also believed that Black deserved to die, he did not want to see Black die at Snape's hands.

That said, when did Snape cast the Shield Charm? Why didn't he notice anything amiss?

Lupin admitted that Snape was indeed a bit stronger than him, but not by that much, right?

Lupin, whose vision was limited by poverty, was unaware of the existence of Defensive Trinket.

"I'm not with Black; I just want to stop Snape's abusive behavior."

Lupin looked at Professor McGonagall and explained.

At this moment, the old professor had already drawn his Wand and was watching him warily.

Lupin suddenly bent down, dodging a Curses.

It turned out that while Lupin was talking to Professor McGonagall, Snape, seeing an opportunity, didn't hesitate to shoot a Petrification Curse at Lupin.

"Stop it! Both of you, stop right now!"

Professor McGonagall was furious!

She never imagined that one day, the professors of Hogwarts would actually fight each other in the castle!

And this happened in front of the students!

The professor's authority has been completely lost!

Unfortunately, neither Lupin Snape had any intention of obeying Professor McGonagall's orders.

Lupin dared not stop.

He was certain that the moment he stopped, that cunning Snape would kill Black immediately.

Snape wanted to stop, because that way he could take the opportunity to kill Black!

But Lupin couldn't just stand there and take the beating if he didn't stop.

Moreover, Lupin was no match for him to begin with, and now he has the aid of magical items. It won't be long before he defeats Lupin and then kills Black.

The thought of Black dying at his hands filled Snape with excitement, and even his Curses became much smoother than usual.

Just as Snape had predicted, Lupin was soon cornered. He was about to...

"No--!"

A flash of white light appeared, Snape's Shield Charm, as if made of paper, proved to be completely ineffective.

With a wave of his Wand, Dumbledore broke the Curses on Harry and his two friends.

He sighed and glanced at the unconscious Snape on the ground, then turned his gaze to Black.

"Long time no see, Black."

"Yes, it's been a long time, Professor Dumbledore."

"Black said weakly."

Snape's two Cruciatus Curse had left him already weakened, making it difficult for him to even speak.

Nodding, Dumbledore ignored Black and turned to look at Harry and his two companions.

"You three come with me. I think you must have a lot to say to me."

"Minerva, please lock Black up and notify the Ministry of Magic. It seems those pesky Dementor can finally return to Azkaban."

"Professor Dumbledore, may I... may I speak with Black alone for a few minutes?"

Lupin scrambled to his feet, looking disheveled.

He never imagined that Snape would become so strong after all these years. He was even stronger than he had expected.

After staring into Lupin's eyes for a while, Dumbledore nodded.

"The Auror will probably take a while to get here. In the meantime, you can catch up with him."

In an abandoned classroom, Black was tied to a chair and couldn't move at all.

"Sirius, I only have one question for you: why did you betray us!"

Lupin has been pondering this question for over a decade, but he still hasn't been able to arrive at a satisfactory answer.

Based on his understanding of Sirius, he simply couldn't imagine why the other party would do that.

"I did not betray you. The real traitor is Peter Pettigrew."

Black still felt very bad about being misunderstood by one of his former best friends, Remus Lupin.

"It seems the Dementor have driven you mad, Sirius. Little Pettigrew is long dead. Have you forgotten? You killed him with your own hands, leaving him a mangled corpse."

Lupin said through gritted teeth.

He felt that he understood why the other party had betrayed him back then.

"No! He's not dead, at least not initially! I always thought he was dead too! Until recently, I saw a picture in the Daily Prophet!"

Black roared with his last ounce of strength.

He could calmly face any accusations, but he absolutely could not let him hear the name Peter Pettigrew.

No amount of time could erase even a trace of his hatred for her!

"If Pettigrew isn't dead, then why... wait, you said before that Pettigrew was the traitor?"

Lupin shuddered as a ridiculous conjecture suddenly popped into his mind.