"I understand!" Dumbledore said softly as he walked toward the Whomping Willow, speaking almost to himself.
"So that's how it was... Animagus. Sirius Black became an Animagus, and that's how he escaped Azkaban. He also used the same method to sneak into Hogwarts through the Shrieking Shack!"
"I've taught Transfiguration for over ten years, and I actually forgot such a simple method!" Dumbledore sighed. "How shameful."
Jon knew that normally, he should be asking Dumbledore more about Animagi at this point...
But with the story on the verge of collapsing, he had no mind for that!
This was a disaster! Dumbledore already knew Black was innocent... and soon Peter wouldn't be able to escape. Dumbledore would capture him for sure... Then Voldemort wouldn't be able to resurrect through Peter... Everything was unraveling!
They reached the Whomping Willow.
Dumbledore suddenly stretched out his hand, stopping Jon from moving forward.
A figure was approaching from the castle, heading toward the Willow.
It was Remus Lupin. He picked up a broken branch, tapped the knot on the trunk, and slipped into the opening.
"It seems my arrangement worked," Dumbledore said with a faint smile.
"Perhaps we should follow and see exactly what—" He broke off mid-sentence.
The castle doors opened again, and Severus Snape came hurrying out toward the tree.
They saw Snape pause near the Willow, glance around, then pick up the Cloak of Invisibility that Harry had left behind. He threw it over himself and vanished into the passage.
"Looks lively in there already!" Dumbledore said jokingly. "Our turn, Jon... I assure you, no one else is coming. We'll be the last two to join the chorus."
...
They slipped under the Whomping Willow and entered the Shrieking Shack, where Black and Lupin already were. Finding a good hiding spot, they began to watch from close range.
Since Dumbledore had no intention of interfering, Jon certainly wasn't about to protest.
Events unfolded almost exactly as in the original story... Lupin first returned the wands to the trio, then began explaining the story of James, Sirius, and Peter, the three Animagi, and the truth about the Fidelius Charm and the Secret Keeper.
Every so often, Dumbledore whispered explanations into Jon's ear—such as what exactly the Fidelius Charm was. Naturally, only Jon could hear him.
Out of the corner of his eye, Jon kept studying Dumbledore's expression. He looked genuinely surprised—clearly unaware of the truth, or that Peter was still alive.
Once Lupin had completely gained Harry and Hermione's trust, Snape appeared, disarming Lupin first before cornering Black.
But just as Snape prepared to savor his revenge, Harry, Ron, and Hermione struck together, firing three Disarming Charms at once and knocking him unconscious.
Jon's gaze shot straight to Dumbledore.
There was no way three third-years could take down a wizard of Snape's level—especially when he was on full guard. And a simple Disarming Charm shouldn't have been enough to render a grown wizard completely unconscious.
Dumbledore gave Jon a subtle wink as he slid the Elder Wand back into his pocket, motioning for him to keep watching.
Fortunately, with so many people in the room, no one noticed.
Lupin eventually won Ron's trust and took Scabbers from him...
With a spell, Scabbers transformed back into his true form: Peter Pettigrew.
Peter went pale. Faced with Lupin and Black's accusations, he tried to argue, but no sound came out.
Black raised his wand to his chest, ready to strike him down—but Harry Potter stopped him.
Harry made his choice: Peter would live, to spend the rest of his days in Azkaban. That way, Sirius's innocence would finally be proven.
Lupin and Black accepted Harry's decision.
To prevent Peter from escaping, they took out handcuffs and linked Lupin, Ron, and Peter together.
Then Black used Snape's wand to levitate him, and the group—seven people and one cat—filed out of the Shrieking Shack toward the Whomping Willow's exit.
...
"What a fascinating tale!" As the Shack emptied, Dumbledore's Disillusionment Charm faded away.
"Yes," Jon said, nodding outwardly, though inside he felt nothing.
And if memory served... as soon as that little group stepped out of the Willow, disaster awaited.
Right on cue, a wolf's howl echoed from outside.
"Oh, Remus!" Dumbledore's face changed, and he grabbed Jon's hand. Jon felt himself rushing through the tunnel at incredible speed.
Within seconds, they surfaced on the far side of the Whomping Willow.
Jon saw Lupin already free of the handcuffs, locked in a vicious struggle with Black in his Animagus form. Peter, meanwhile, had seized Lupin's wand and swiftly knocked out Ron and Crookshanks.
Then he transformed back into a rat and bolted toward the Forbidden Forest.
"I must catch Peter!" Dumbledore said grimly. "You protect the others!"
Before Jon could answer, Dumbledore vanished from his side.
Black, still in his Animagus form, didn't hold up for long. Malnutrition had weakened him—though he was normally a match for Lupin, after only a few exchanges he was hurled to the lakeside, bloodied and unconscious.
The werewolf's gaze shifted to Harry and Hermione. He opened his bloodstained jaws wide.
Jon's eyes flicked around desperately. According to the original story, by now Harry and Hermione should have used the Time-Turner to distract the werewolf, saving themselves.
But now—there was no sign of them.
There was no time. In a few more seconds, Harry and Hermione would be torn apart by Lupin—or worse, turned into newborn werewolves.
That would throw everything into complete chaos.
Jon drew his PSM pistol, its chamber already filled with silver rounds, and aimed it at Lupin.
Bang! The shot rang out, muffled almost entirely by the werewolf's howls.
The silver bullet only grazed Lupin's shoulder before flying past. At this range, even a direct hit wouldn't have done much damage.
But Jon had achieved his goal: he had the werewolf's full attention.
With a roar, Lupin abandoned his prey and charged toward him.