Peter instinctively sprang to his feet.
He even forgot to spit out the rat in his mouth, and turned to run deeper into the Forbidden Forest.
His legs moved like wheels, clattering and crackling on the dry branches and leaves, his footsteps echoing throughout the forest.
After all, Peter, who had been in Animagus form beside Ron, wasn't carrying a wand.
In addition, he was extremely afraid of Sirius Black, and without his wand he had no confidence to resist, so it's no wonder that he instinctively ran away with his head in his hands.
However, in his panic, Peter naturally wouldn't have considered that if he didn't have a wand, how could Black, who had escaped from Azkaban and turned into a black dog, possibly have one?
In short, startled, Peter covered his head and ran away, with the black dog chasing closely behind him.
Peter ran incredibly fast, and having spent twelve years in Animagus form, he knew the rat's body better than his own.
Therefore, even though he is now in human form, he runs with a kind of sneakiness and agility unique to rats, weaving left and right around one big tree after another.
But the black dog was also fast in pursuit; its paws made almost no sound as it stepped on the fallen leaves, like a black shadow weaving back and forth through the gaps in the tree trunks.
Peter cursed himself inwardly as he ran.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
Who knew that this madman would run away from Azkaban and go straight to the Forbidden Forest!
Peter was running when he suddenly realized what was going on.
Back then, only Black knew the truth. If we can find a way to get rid of Black, the truth will be revealed with just a few words.
What's more... Black has always maintained his dog form.
Why?
Animagus Transformation can conceal a person's magical fluctuations and magical characteristics; this is a method Peter himself has used for twelve years.
If Black remains in the form of a black dog, the Dementor won't be able to sense his presence, because Dementor hunt for human emotions and memories, and a dog's emotions are as simple as a glass of water.
But once he transforms into human form, the Dementor will immediately spot him!
Besides... Peter suddenly realized that Black definitely didn't have a wand when he ran away from Azkaban.
Azkaban confiscated all the prisoners' belongings, leaving not even a single wand behind.
A wizard without a wand, no matter how powerful his magic, is just a Transfiguration mortal if he can't Wandless Magic.
A skinny black dog, so thin you could count its ribs on one hand, frankly, has limited fighting ability.
Peter looked down at what he was holding.
He grabbed a fairly handy stick as he ran past the campfire.
A stick against a dog.
Peter slowly straightened up and held the stick horizontally in front of him.
"Wait," he said, panting, his voice weak in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest, "Wait, Black."
The black dog approached him step by step.
"I knew it was you." Peter gripped the stick tighter. "Why are you chasing me? You don't have a wand now, and you can't turn back— the Dementor will spot you the moment you turn human."
The black dog stopped and stared silently at Peter.
Peter felt he had guessed correctly.
"If you dare to change back, those Dementor will surround you in a few minutes," Peter said, taking a half-step back.
"Think about it, is it worth it? You turn into a human to capture me, and then the Dementor take us both out?"
The black dog took another step forward.
Peter immediately raised the stick a little higher. "Don't come any closer! I'm warning you—if you come any closer, I'll yell!"
"If I shout, those centaurs will come right away."
"Even if you're a dog, it won't matter. The centaurs don't care if you're a dog or a human. If you escaped from Azkaban, they'll still hand you over to the Ministry of Magic."
The black dog stopped and let out a low whimper.
Peter a slight sigh of relief, but didn't put down the stick.
He's not confronting Black to the death; he just wants to force Black into human form to lure the Dementor out.
As for facing the black dog that Black had transformed into, he wasn't too afraid. After all, a human can't be weaker than a dog, right?
Peter, holding the stick, backed away, then suddenly lunged to the side and tried to run into the woods.
The black dog charged forward, Peter whirled around and swung the stick at it.
Unfortunately, the blow missed its mark, and the black dog dodged to the side with lightning speed, as swift as a shadow.
But Peter didn't expect to hit him anyway; he just wanted to see if Black would dare to turn back.
Change it! Go ahead and change it!
Peter screamed inwardly, "If you turn back into human form, the Dementor will find you! Then let's see how you run away!"
The black dog didn't change; it went around the stick, charged at Peter's calf from the side, and bit him.
Peter jumped back and swept the stick horizontally, hitting the black dog squarely on the back.
The black dog grunted and took two steps back.
Peter felt a little more confident; Black wasn't as formidable as he had imagined.
Indeed, after being imprisoned in Azkaban for twelve years, suffering from poor food and sleep, it's a miracle he even escaped alive.
The man and the dog then began to fight at the edge of the woods.
Peter swung the stick wildly, and the black dog dodged left and right, occasionally lunging to bite, but was always forced back by the stick.
Peter had several cuts on his body, two holes in his pants, and blood was seeping from the bite mark on his calf.
The black dog wasn't much better off; it had taken two blows to the back and was now walking with a limp.
Peter grew more and more confident as he fought, and he even felt a little smug looking at the black dog that seemed to be standing still and not daring to move forward.
His mind raced, trying to find a way to escape. He definitely couldn't stay in the Forbidden Forest, but where could he find refuge...?
Before he could figure out what to do, the black dog suddenly moved.
It didn't pounce on Peter, but jumped to the side, and Peter watched helplessly as the black dog's body stretched, expanded, and Transfiguration where the firelight and moonlight met.
In that instant, Peter had only one thought in his mind.
He's gone mad!
Black transformed back into human form.
A man who was incredibly thin stood up from where the black dog had been.
His hair was long and messy, and his face was so dirty that his features were unrecognizable, but his gray eyes were even more frightening than when he was a dog, filled with twelve years of suppressed madness.
Black's transformation was like a bright light suddenly illuminating the darkness for the Dementor roaming around Hogwarts, incredibly dazzling.
This directly triggered a riot among the Dementor around Hogwarts, who then surrounded the Forbidden Forest.
Meanwhile, Harry, Harry, and his friends were also at the edge of the Forbidden Forest, leaving them speechless with astonishment.
Anyone who witnessed the spectacular sight of Dementor suddenly surrounding them would inevitably feel astonished and fearful.