Chapter 110: Ivan and Black's Deal

"I've been in prison for murder, and I came back here to commit it again!" shouted Sirius. "I'll kill him with my own hands I'll avenge James and Lily!"

"You can't do anything in your current state..." Looking at Black's appearance, Ivan shook his head silently.

"It's useless to say more. You've won, hand me over, go ahead!", Black closed his eyes weakly and his head leaned against the wall. He was completely decadent as never before.

Suddenly, his eyes opened again; he became enraged and shouted reluctantly. "That boy who lives in the same room as Harry, the Weasley boy, that boy's rat is an Animagus, is Peter Pettigrew!"

"Peter Pettigrew?!" Ivan blinked.

"Trust me, you're an Animagus too, just take a closer look at that rat, or use the Animagus reversal spell on him..." Black paused and said, "You must think I'm crazy, don't you?"

Ivan nodded and said, "To be honest, you don't look any different than a madman right now."

"I'm sure you're confused, do you know who Peter really is?" Black suddenly laughed, with a hate-filled grin, "Let me tell you, let me tell you about the real face of that hero in people's eyes. When we were at Hogwarts..."

Ivan said nothing. Looking at Black's appearance, I knew he wanted to remember his last days as a student, and Ivan did not mind hearing this hidden story.

However, it was not the right time, nor was it the right occasion.

This is the Owl Post Office here. There may be other people coming in at any time. Before the whole truth was revealed, I didn't want people to misunderstand them and I didn't want to be linked to Black.

Besides, Hermione was still waiting for him outside, and he couldn't stay here much longer.

"Sorry to interrupt your memories. Sirius, we'll get into it as soon as possible. About Pettigrew, he's Ron's rat. I believe you!" Ivan said quickly. "Actually, I know a lot of things about him."

"What!" Black's eyes widened and he suddenly yelped in excitement. "How much do you know about that man?"

"A lot! Definitely more than you think. Of course I still need you for more details, but not here." said Ivan in a relaxed tone. "And you'd better keep your voice down, unless you want to attract the attention of the Aurors and Dementors outside."

"What did Lupin tell you about Peter?" Black said quietly, his face was filled with a suspicious look. "No, he wouldn't say anything about us; maybe Dumbledore, he's a lot like him, but if it was really him, you wouldn't be here alone right now."

"I researched the events of that year, what happened before you were arrested and what you did at school wasn't a secret," Ivan said, blinking. "To be honest, the only thing I'm curious about is the Marauder's Map, where did you get enough mana to make it? I heard from Professor Lupin that you got help from a certain item in the Forbidden Forest. That place needs the approval of certain creatures to enter, who are they?"

"They're the Centaurs; the Centaur colony in the Forbidden Forest was hiding some kind of treasure left by Godric Gryffindor, that thing can provide a Wizard with a lot of mana." Black was excited again. "I can take you there and help you get the centaurs' approval, but getting it depends on whether or not you can pass the final test. In return, all you have to do is bring me Peter Pettigrew."

"Deal!" Ivan said hastily.

He listened to Sirius Black's statements and combined them with the information he already had.

If there was no false information, the legendary magical object hidden deep in the Forbidden Forest with the Centaur colony should be the key to Gryffindor's secret treasure.

However, he did not know how to get the approval of the Centaurs, nor did he know what the final test was.

This certainly wouldn't be simple, or else Black would have gotten it long ago.

Since all four had failed, Ivan was not sure he would succeed. However, he would not give up this opportunity to try. Besides, his original intention was to help Black.

Black became agitated and said, "Go back and grab that rat, no, no, it's too risky. Peter is weak, but he's an adult wizard. It's not safe for you, a young wizard to handle this. Just help me get into the Gryffindor common room. Everything else you'll leave for me to figure out."

Ivan shook his head and said, "I have a better idea, why don't we tell the professors?"

"Tell them?" Black shook his head. "Besides you, who else would believe me? They think I betrayed James and Lily, and then I killed Peter Pettigrew and twelve innocent Muggles, they all think I'm crazy and no one will believe me."

Ivan nodded at Black's words and said, "I don't know about the others, but Professor Dumbledore and Professor Lupin will still believe you."

"No, I can't risk that much. Now that they don't believe in me, I can't trust them, especially Lupin, he? In short, it's my fault I'm alone, I should be solving this on my own!" Black said stubbornly, "I convinced James and Lily to let Peter Pettigrew be their Secret Keeper, and they were killed because of my stupidity; it's all my fault I must kill him myself to avenge James and Lily!"

As Black was speaking; tears were flowing uncontrollably down his thin cheeks.

"All right, all right!" looking at Black, Ivan had a headache.

Black's decision increased the difficulty of the whole problem in several folds. He stubbornly believed that James and Lily's death was his fault. To preserve his pride and self-esteem, he would not accept any help in carrying out his revenge.

It was as if he would rather stay in Azkaban for twelve years to make atonement, rather than defend himself.

Not only could he not defend himself, but he also felt he was not worth it.

No wonder he wouldn't seek Dumbledore's help after his escape from prison; no wonder he hadn't tried for so long.

Even if this deal with Ivan was some sort of compromise, he is forced to go it alone.

In Black's eyes, Ivan was helping him catch Peter Pettigrew, and he was helping him get the Centaurs' approval in return. It was all more of a transaction than a help.

"The password to enter the Gryffindor common room is "Stranger Skins". Sir Cadogan will let you in." Ivan continued, "But I suggest you wait one more day, as the term will end tomorrow. I have confirmed that this Christmas, only four Gryffindor students will be at Hogwarts - Harry, Ron, Hermione and myself."

"Hmm, typical weak thinking, I wonder if you're really a Gryffindor or not!" Black was completely dismissive of Ivan's advice. "For this day, I've been waiting for twelve years, I won't wait any longer I'll do it tonight!"