Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

           Ittookafewsecondsfortheabsurdityofthisstatementtosinkin.ThenRonvoicedwhatHarrywasthinking.

           "You’rebothmental."

           "Ridiculous!"saidHermionefaintly.

           "PeterPettigrew’sdead!"saidHarry."Hekilledhimtwelveyearsago!"HepointedatBlack,whosefacetwitchedconvulsively.

           "Imeantto,"hegrowled,hisyellowteethbared,"butlittlePetergotthebetterofme...notthistime,though!"

           AndCrookshankswasthrowntothefloorasBlacklungedatScabbers;RonyelledwithpainasBlack’sweightfellonhisbrokenleg.

           "Sirius,NO!"Lupinyelled,launchinghimselfforwardsanddraggingBlackawayfromRonagain,"WAIT!Youcan’tdoitjustlikethat—theyneedtounderstand—we’vegottoexplain—"

           "Wecanexplainafterwards!"snarledBlack,tryingtothrowLupinoff.OnehandwasstillclawingtheairasittriedtoreachScabbers,whowassquealinglikeapiglet,scratchingRon’sfaceandneckashetriedtoescape.

           "They’ve—got—a—right—to—know—everything!"Lupinpanted,stilltryingtorestrainBlack."Ron’skepthimasapet!TherearepartsofitevenIdon’tunderstand,andHarry—youoweHarrythetruth,Sirius!"

           Blackstoppedstruggling,thoughhishollowedeyeswerestillfixedonScabbers,whowasclampedtightlyunderRon’sbitten,scratched,andbleedinghands.

           "Allright,then,"Blacksaid,withouttakinghiseyesofftherat.

           "Tellthemwhateveryoulike.Butmakeitquick,Remus.IwanttocommitthemurderIwasimprisonedfor..."