"He is currently in a secret passage inside the castle," Blake said calmly.
Professor McGonagall's mind whirled with mixed emotions. It had already been astonishing enough that Blake had caught Peter—after all, Peter's Animagus form as a rat made him nearly impossible to find. Blake's teleportation magic had allowed him to catch Peter directly.
But Sirius? Sirius Black, whom no one in the entire wizarding world had managed to locate? And Blake had just said last night that his magic couldn't lock onto Sirius. Yet now, after only one night, he had found him?
"How did you know?" she finally asked.
"Professor, now's not the time to explain," Blake replied without hesitation. "If we wait too long and Sirius leaves Hogwarts, it'll be very hard to find him again."
Blake really didn't want to get dragged into explanations now—especially since once Dumbledore returned, he'd have to explain everything all over again. It was tiring enough.
Professor McGonagall nodded quickly, recognizing the urgency. During the day, the Aurors from the Ministry of Magic had come asking for Peter, and their attitude had been aggressive. Even if Blake hadn't warned her, she'd already been reluctant to hand Peter over.
Then, suspiciously soon after the claim that Peter had "escaped," more and more Ministry people appeared around Hogwarts. Out of caution, she had written to acquaintances in Hogsmeade—and what she heard worried her further.
The Aurors weren't actually searching for Peter—they were searching for Sirius! They had even started searching for a big black dog in Hogsmeade after Mrs. Aliska, who lived there, mentioned seeing one at noon. Clearly, the fact that Sirius was an Animagus had been leaked.
With all his secrets exposed, Sirius was in terrible danger. They had to find him quickly—and protect him.
Without another word, Professor McGonagall left her office, Blake following close behind.
They soon reached the professors' common room. Most of the staff were there, busy grading students' papers. Blake noticed how buried they were in work—after all, each professor had to oversee students across all seven years. Suddenly, skipping homework didn't feel so guilty to Blake; maybe he was even doing them a small favor!
Professor McGonagall's eyes swept the room. "Filius, Pomona, Remus John, could you come with me?" she said.
She glanced toward Snape's usual seat—but he wasn't there. Right now, Snape had his own vital job: keeping watch over Peter. Peter could neither be allowed to escape nor be killed.
The three professors who had been called exchanged quick, silent looks. They had all guessed what this was about. With Blake present, it could only mean one thing—and the fewer who knew, the better.
They followed Professor McGonagall out into the empty evening corridors of Hogwarts.
As they walked, Professor McGonagall lowered her voice: "We found him."
Everyone understood at once that "him" meant Sirius Black.
"Where is he?" Lupin asked urgently.
"Follow me," Blake replied, leading them onward.
"Blake says Sirius is hiding in a secret passage," Professor McGonagall explained. "He doesn't know yet that we know the truth, so he'll be very wary of us. Everyone, please be careful."
She didn't say out loud what weighed on her heart: though Sirius had been falsely accused, a man unjustly locked in Azkaban for over ten years might not be completely sane. If his mind had been broken, he could lash out at anyone—even friends.
They soon arrived at a staircase on the second floor. In a corner stood a gleaming suit of armor, polished daily by the house-elves. Lupin's eyes lit up with recognition; he remembered the secret passage hidden there. Back when he, James, Sirius, and Peter had roamed the school as the Marauders, they had mapped nearly every secret way in and out of Hogwarts—more than even Filch knew.
"Blake, wait," Lupin murmured.
"Professor?" Blake looked at him, puzzled.
"Let me," Lupin said softly.
Blake understood, stepping aside.
Lupin drew his wand. With a light tap on the armor's left shoulder, there was a metallic ding. Then, touching the right shoulder: crack! The armor stirred to life, saluted Lupin by tapping its own chest, and stepped aside. A hidden door creaked open behind it.
"Oh… all these years at Hogwarts, and I never knew there was a passage here," Professor McGonagall whispered.
"Ahem…" Lupin coughed awkwardly, then led the way in.
Deep inside the passage, Sirius Black crouched in the dark. The musty air was heavy and stale, but darkness felt safer to him. His plan had been to stay hidden until late, when the professors would be asleep—then go out and look for Peter.
He closed his eyes, forcing himself to rest.
But then—creak. The door to the passage was opening!
Sirius instantly sprang to his feet and leapt into a small recess in the wall, holding his breath. He couldn't go back out; Aurors were swarming the exits. Staying hidden was his only chance.
He hoped it was just some students sneaking in, unaware.
"Oh… all these years at Hogwarts, and I never knew there was a passage here," came a voice.
Sirius' heart almost stopped. Professor McGonagall!
Had they come for him? Impossible. Surely, they'd just caught students exploring.
Light spilled into the passage, and Sirius squinted, trying to adjust.
Then he saw who had entered: Lupin.
"Something's wrong!" Sirius' instincts screamed. If Lupin and McGonagall were both here, they must know.
Sirius turned silently and started fleeing down the passage toward the other exit. If he stayed, he was sure to be caught.
Sirius ran, his footsteps silent on the stone. After several meters, he dared to hope: maybe they hadn't seen him.
Then—a young voice echoed behind him.
"Collapse!"
Whoosh!
A wave of dizziness crashed over Sirius. His limbs went limp, and darkness pulled him under.
Blake lowered his wand, then opened a pot of glowing sunflowers. Warm golden light filled the once-dark passage.
Professor Sprout stared at the enchanted flowers in surprise, but now wasn't the time for questions.
Lupin wiped his brow, still tense from the chase. Before he could say anything, his eyes followed Blake's gaze.
There, seven or eight meters away, lay a thin, ragged black dog—Sirius' Animagus form.
"Sorry, Professor Lupin," Blake said softly. "My eyes can see a little better in the dark. I saw him trying to escape, so I…"
"It's alright," Lupin said gently. "You did the right thing."
He looked sadly at the black dog, who looked so much frailer than he remembered.
"He doesn't know we know the truth," Lupin murmured. "If he'd gotten outside, the Aurors wouldn't just stun him…"
Drawing his wand, Lupin whispered: "Reveal quickly…"
Sirius' shape shifted violently—his fur retracting, limbs twisting—until there lay a gaunt, unshaven man in ragged clothes.
Lupin sighed at the sight. Once, Sirius had been the most handsome of them all. Azkaban had reduced him to this.
"Good brother… you've really suffered," Lupin whispered, voice catching.
"We have to move him," Professor McGonagall urged.
"And check him over," added Professor Sprout, eyes worried. "He looks half-starved."
"Let's wake him," suggested Professor Flitwick, raising his wand.
Blake quietly took out a vial of diluted nutritional potion.
Professor Flitwick tapped Sirius' forehead. Slowly, Sirius' eyelids fluttered open. His gaze was dazed, staring blankly at the faces above him.
Blake grinned. "Congratulations, the operation was a success. You're now a girl!"
"Um?"
Sirius' eyes widened, a flash of horror crossing his face before his mind cleared. Then, seeing Lupin, McGonagall, Flitwick, Sprout—and the young wizard he didn't know—he realized he was caught.
"Haha… you caught me…" Sirius rasped, his voice hoarse.
"We all know, Sirius," Professor McGonagall said, her voice unsteady. "You were wrongly accused. Peter was the real traitor."
"Wha… what?" Sirius breathed.
The words were like sunlight breaking through years of darkness.
"You all… know?" Sirius tried to stand, but his legs buckled. Lupin caught him.
"Yes," Lupin said softly. "You've suffered too long."
Tears threatened, but Sirius swallowed them back. There was something even more urgent.
"Then you know Peter's alive?" he gasped. "Then hurry! Take me to him! If we're too late, that rat will run!"
"Don't worry, we've caught that mouse," Lupin said.
"What? Really?" Sirius' breath quickened. "Where is he? Tell me! I'll tear him apart!"
"No," Blake interrupted calmly. "You can't. Peter's the key witness who can prove your innocence."
"I don't care!" Sirius roared, eyes wild. "Let me kill him! Then throw me back in Azkaban—let the dementors kill me—I don't care!"
He struggled, nearly breaking Lupin's grip.
"Oh? Fine," Blake said coldly. "Kill Peter, get yourself executed. Poor Harry… thinking he'd finally have a godfather to love him. Tsk."
Sirius froze, the words hitting him like cold water. His rage faded, replaced by guilt.
"Harry… how is Harry?" he asked, voice shaking.
"He's alive," Blake said, expression solemn. "But because someone failed to be there for him, he's suffered more than kids at our orphanage."
Blake's words pierced Sirius' heart. Regret burned through him, scorching like fire.