For some reason, once Sirius tidied himself up a bit, he did seem... easier to trust.
Lupin and Dumbledore evidently began to believe his words, which is why William and Lupin came to Ron to ask for the rat.
However, despite their hasty efforts, they seemed to be one step too late.
...Just one step.
Lupin couldn't help but clench his fist.
...
"Headmaster."
William led the way into the office. He first glanced at Sirius, who sat drinking hot tea by the wall, then noticed Phineas Black in the portrait frame, reading a book.
Was this old man here to support his great-great-grandson?
Finally, William looked at Dumbledore, whose expression was inscrutable, nodding as a greeting.
"..."
Without receiving a response, Dumbledore's mouth twitched, and he could only turn his probing gaze to Lupin... or rather, there was no need for a response, as the answer was almost written on Lupin's face, his low mood was impossible to hide.
Seeing them return, Sirius excitedly stood up.
But Lupin quickly sensed the gaze and looked up at him, then shook his head—Sirius's hopeful expression instantly vanished, a pallor creeping over his features, as if someone had gripped his throat, wanting to speak but only able to make incoherent sounds.
"Mr. Weasley's pet rat is missing; we only found... half a tooth at the scene."
Lupin took a breath, struggling to suppress his emotions. Upon hearing this, Sirius immediately began to shout hysterically, "Impossible! Absolutely impossible! I had it confirmed! That damned creature must still be with the Weasley boy!"
"Tell me, did you hide him!?"
The man roared, frantically attempting to grab Ron, who had just entered. But with a simple gesture from William, the man was pressed back into his seat.
Ron was startled and retreated two steps, while Harry screamed because he felt Ron's foot had aggravated his ingrown nail.
Indeed, Ron owned Scabbers, and Harry was brought over by Lupin's request.
"He needs to know the truth..."
Even on the verge of breakdown, Lupin was thinking of Harry. Really, I could cry to death.
Also present was the bewildered Professor Meow, who stared at Dumbledore, glanced at the struggling Sirius, and twirled her wand with a trembling voice, "Albus, I think you need to explain to me—to us—"
She placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, and the boy could feel the old woman trembling.
At that moment, Harry belatedly noticed the only stranger in the office.
Sirius...
Harry realized his identity, although the man's face was gaunt and pale, with hair wet from William hanging over his forehead, he could still see the resemblance to the man in the album Hagrid gave him, the same handsomeness, only now with a crazed look...
As if telepathically, Sirius met Harry's eyes, suddenly ceasing his struggle, a flash of pain crossing his own.
For some reason, Harry felt no hatred, as if it were an intuition...
Meanwhile, Dumbledore began to explain the situation in detail, "Such and such, this and that..."
"Yes, I wasn't very clear on the incident's details, so I urgently brought Black back to the school, coincidentally meeting the headmaster and Professor Lupin, who were coming to find me. They believed Sirius's words had a degree of credibility, so..."
"This can't be!"
Unexpectedly, Ron had the strongest reaction after hearing everything.
The boy uncontrollably shook his head, his face pale, wanting to deny everything, because if Sirius's claim was true, that Scabbers was really Peter Pettigrew, then didn't that mean... he had shared a bed with a filthy middle-aged man for years?
Ron had seen a picture of Peter Pettigrew in Harry's album... indeed, his appearance was somewhat... rat-like.
Harry ignored Ron; actually, no one paid mind to the nearly collapsing boy. Everyone's attention was focused on Harry because whether it was Sirius or Peter Pettigrew, the essence of the matter was linked to his parents' death—
The boy's face was equally pale. He looked at the sorrowful Sirius and swallowed, "Is everything you said true?"
"...Yes, Harry, I switched the secret keeper at the last moment with that beast."
Sirius's voice was tinged with sorrow, covering his face with his hands, tears streaming uncontrollably down his wrists, "I never imagined he had already joined the Dark Lord, although our information was consistently leaked during that time, I never once suspected him."
As he said this, Sirius instinctively glanced at Lupin, whose expression was a bit awkward. He knew that due to his identity, during the second Wizarding War, he was somewhat an outsider in the Order of the Phoenix. But he never thought, it turned out Sirius had also doubted him...
Which meant James must have...
Sirius chuckled, shaking his head helplessly.
"So, he deceived us—me, Lily, even James—and we all trusted him, believing he was a simple-hearted man..." Sirius's voice choked up, almost unable to continue, but he quickly took a deep breath, "I'm sorry, Harry, it's my fault your parents are dead, that James and Lily died..."
Everyone was moved by these words, even if Sirius was lying, he was extremely convincing—but William knew he wasn't.
William turned his head and exchanged a look with the Sorting Hat. The hat lifted its brim to reveal incense still burning underneath.
But Peter Pettigrew had not been caught, and no one could verify whether everything Sirius claimed was true, even though Veritaserum, a bug-like substance, existed in the magic realm, because it was still possible to fabricate under its influence, it couldn't be used as evidence—
Even Pettigrew's disappearance now seemed to indicate the high credibility of the matter.
But...
In the end, Sirius was still locked up by William, his spirit and energy seemingly vanished, and even when William teased him, he only replied with a grunt.
Harry didn't accept Sirius's apology, only responding flatly that until Peter Pettigrew was caught, he couldn't believe the words, then he hurriedly left with Ron, who was still questioning the meaning of life. Professor McGonagall also followed in silence—
Peter Pettigrew might not have escaped from the school. She needed to ensure the safety of the two of them.
Finally, Lupin also departed. They needed to search the castle for any sign of Peter Pettigrew, while William escorted Sirius back to the prison cell.
"A big blow?"
In a prison cell at the Room of Requirement... who knew why William's Room of Requirement had a prison component, but it objectively did. William leaned against the iron bars, munching an apple while watching the ashen-faced man inside the room.
"..."
"Because Harry didn't accept you as his convenient godfather?"
"..."
"Headmaster Phineas asked me to look after you, but... considering my relationship with him... I suspect he said this to harm you."
"..."
"Boring."
William sighed, discarded the apple core, and turned to the upper level of the Room of Requirement.
Fawkes landed on his shoulder, meaning Dumbledore wanted him to join the search for Peter Pettigrew. William paused, took out a familiar piece of parchment from his pocket, then enlarged the image, focusing his gaze on the area below Slytherin Dungeon.
A black dot labeled "Peter Pettigrew" was swiftly darting within.
Perhaps because Sirius could block the Marauder's Map, everyone subconsciously assumed Pettigrew could do the same?
William nodded, lucky for him, he was more astute.
Holding the Basilisk's head peeking out from his sleeve, William patted its head, "Little Green Pepper, can you catch mice?"