The silvery-white sphere did not stop after crashing into the Dementors. Instead, it flared like a newborn sun, its radiance growing brighter and brighter.
It leapt through the swarm of Dementors.
Any Dementor touched by that light did not even have time to flee. Like snow exposed to sunlight, they melted away in an instant.
Before Snape and the others could recover from their shock, nearly half of the Dementors above them were already gone.
Of those that remained, some fled at more than twice the speed they had arrived with, while others stood frozen in place, as if waiting to be erased.
Harry stared blankly at the stag he had summoned. It bounced in place twice, then dissipated.
Even if it hadn't vanished, it wouldn't have made a difference.
In the shadows, however, Peter Pettigrew curled his lips into a faint smile as he watched.
When he had first seen the Dementors, he had been certain he was finished.
But now things were different. With everyone distracted by the Dementors, all he had to do was turn back into a rat and slip away.
"I'd advise you to put those thoughts away," Tver murmured quietly beside Peter's ear. "Otherwise, if something goes wrong, it won't be something you can afford."
Peter jolted in fright at the sudden voice.
"Who are you?!"
His voice shot up an octave, shrill and squeaking like a rat, instantly snapping everyone's attention toward him.
"Professor?!" Ron exclaimed in delight as he looked at the figure who had appeared beside them.
"Good evening, everyone," Tver said with a smile, giving them a small wave. "Is tonight some kind of special occasion? Gathering at the edge of the Forbidden Forest… what, a midnight banquet?"
Snape visibly relaxed, though he still clicked his tongue in annoyance.
No matter how much he disliked Tver, he had to admit that Tver's strength was more than enough to guarantee their safe return to the castle.
"You're the Professor Fawley Snivellus mentioned?" Black asked, tightening his grip on his wand, his guard clearly up.
From what he had seen just now, this professor seemed more ally than enemy. The problem was that he himself was still a wanted man.
If this professor decided to hand him over to the Dementors, a fight would be unavoidable.
"That's right. And you must be the old friend Lupin talked about," Tver replied.
He paid no attention to Black's small movements, instead glancing up at the remaining Dementors.
His Patronus was close to its limit, but the Dementors had reached theirs even sooner. Aside from those still fleeing, there were hardly any left.
"Professor, please help Professor Lupin!" Harry said urgently, pointing toward the depths of the Forbidden Forest. "He turned into a werewolf and ran inside!"
"Is he wearing the bracelet?" Tver asked calmly as he drew his gaze back, then gave Peter a long, meaningful look.
Sensing the warning in that stare, Peter immediately froze, abandoning any further attempts to slip away.
Even without seeing it firsthand, from hiding in Gryffindor's dormitories and common room, he had heard enough to know that this young professor's strength was far beyond anything he could deal with in his current state.
Not to mention Black, who was watching him like a hawk, as though he were just waiting for an excuse to deal with him once and for all…
"He did," Hermione answered quickly. "When he tried to attack us, he looked like he was in a lot of pain."
"Then it's fine," Tver said. "Once Lupin regains consciousness, he'll make his own way back to the castle."
"But won't the creatures in the Forbidden Forest attack the professor?" someone asked anxiously.
"That's a werewolf, Hermione," Tver explained patiently.
"Werewolves have extremely strong magical and physical resistance. Ordinary attacks wouldn't even register as pain."
"And the bracelet itself provides some protection. Besides, if he can't win, he can always rely on his incredible mobility to escape."
Tver wasn't trying to lock a werewolf in a cage. He was simply suppressing the urge to attack during transformation.
As a werewolf, instinct alone was enough to evade most threats in the wizarding world.
And for the few dangers that couldn't be escaped, whether the bracelet was there or not hardly made a difference.
Seeing everyone finally relax, Tver clapped his hands as the silvery light in the sky faded away.
"All right, let's head back to the castle. You've made quite a scene tonight. Dumbledore and the others are still waiting for you."
At the mention of Dumbledore's name, everyone truly relaxed at last.
Everyone except Peter Pettigrew.
The group resumed moving forward at full number, except this time Lupin's place was taken by Tver.
Peter, sensing the fate awaiting him, panicked and began pleading wildly.
"Ron, Ron! I watched you grow up! I've been with the Weasley family since you were one year old. Your parents wouldn't want their pet killed!"
"Shut up!" Ron snapped. "If my parents knew the rat in our house was someone as filthy as you, they'd personally send you to Azkaban!"
Peter didn't take offense. Instead, he turned his attention to Hermione, who was helping Ron along.
"Dear Miss Granger, you're so clever. Surely you can understand my reasoning back then?"
"Of course I can," Hermione said with a dry laugh. "A despicable coward who betrayed his friends because he was afraid of a powerful enemy. Is that about right?"
"Honestly, I can't believe you were ever a Gryffindor."
"If you'd stayed for seven years, you'd know Gryffindor is full of exactly that kind of people," Snape said coldly.
"Still better than you, you Slytherin," Black shot back immediately.
Snape didn't reply. He simply gave Black a contemptuous smile, sharp enough to hurt more than any insult.
"Snivellus, don't think twelve wasted years mean I can't beat you!" Black snarled.
"In fact, even without those twelve years, you still wouldn't beat me," Snape said calmly, idly twirling his wand.
Even knowing now that the real traitor had been Peter Pettigrew did nothing to ease his hatred for Black.
Black's temper flared instantly. He lunged toward Snape, gripping his wand tightly.
But just then, as they neared the castle, an unexpected voice rang out.
"Black?! Quick, Dawlish, arrest him!"
Fudge and Dumbledore stood at the entrance, Fudge's plump face flushed with excitement, his raised finger trembling as if he were staring at a prize that would secure his promotion.
Then again, hadn't the Minister of Magic already reached the top?
Harry stepped in front of Black.
"You can't do this, Minister Fudge. Sirius was framed. The real traitor was Peter Pettigrew!"
"That's right," Tver added at just the right moment. "Peter has already told us what really happened. He's the one who framed Black."
"Isn't that right, Peter?"
Peter looked uncertainly from Black's twisted, furious face to Tver's gentle smile.
He desperately wanted to claim he'd been threatened, but this was the wizarding world. There were countless ways to pry the truth out of him.
In the end, he could only nod weakly.