"Remus, would you mind giving Percy his reading lesson?" Molly asked. It was the second day since the nursery group had started, and things were going quite well. The three adults took turns caring for Ron, Neville, Susan, and Harry, who were grouped together, while Ginny (when she was awake), fell mostly under her mother's purview. Fred and George, who were three, played nearby, with one of the adults keeping an eye on them, or Bill (the oldest at ten) would do so when he wasn't busy with his lessons or playing with Charlie (who was eight). Percy, who was five, liked to keep to himself and enjoyed his lessons, which consisted of learning how to read and write and simple arithmetic.

"I'll be happy to," said Remus, and after picking out a book, called Percy over.

"Mr. Remus, see my new pet," Percy said when he came over. He held out a cage holding a grey rat. "I found him in the garden last night, and Mum and Dad said I could keep him. His name is Scabbers."

"That's nice, Percy," said Remus, then blinked when he realized that the rat appeared to be familiar. He took a closer look at the cage, and saw that not only was the rat pretty much identical to Peter Pettigrew's Animagus form, but he was also missing a toe on one of the front paws. Considering that all that had been found of Peter after he'd been blasted to death was a finger, this was suspicious.

"Percy, could you wait a couple of minutes before we start the reading lesson?" Remus asked. "I want to look closer at Scabbers and talk to your mother about him."

"Okay," said Percy, and he handed the cage to Remus. Scabbers started squeaking in fright and began scurrying around the cage. "Is Scabbers okay? Why is he acting like that?"

"I think he's just nervous around a new person," Remus replied. "Here, read the book to yourself while I go talk with your mother, Percy. It shouldn't take too long."

Once in the kitchen, Remus Stunned the rat, then asked Bill and Charlie to keep an eye on the seven youngest while he spoke with Molly and Alice. He hastily explained about how Sirius, James, and Peter had become Animagi, and had decided to not get registered until after the end of the war so that they could use their forms to spy on the enemy. "Anyway, Peter's form was a rat, and when Percy showed me Scabbers, I saw that he looked exactly like Peter when he was a rat, except for the missing toe. However, all that was found of Peter was a finger, so that would explain the missing toe."

"Then that would mean that we could be wrong about Sirius Black," said Alice. "I couldn't believe that he was a traitor, but since all the evidence had pointed that way…"

"Well, let's see if Scabbers really is Peter Pettigrew," said Molly, her face pale. She opened the cage and dumped the Stunned rat onto the floor. Alice took out her wand and did the spell that would turn something or someone back into its original form. There was a flash of light and the rat disappeared to be replaced with the Stunned body of Peter Pettigrew.

Molly looked even paler, and sunk down onto the nearest chair. Remus looked away, feeling guilt over believing that evidence that Sirius had turned traitor. Alice, her voice a bit shaky but otherwise looking composed, sent a Patronus message to Frank, who had resumed his job as an Auror. After half an hour, a return message was sent saying that he'd be there at once, followed two minutes later by the cracks of Apparation. There was a knock on the front door and Molly hastened to answer it.

Frank, two fellow Aurors, one of them Kingsley Shacklebolt and the other Alastor Moody, and Amelia Bones were there. Amelia took notes as Remus, Alice, and Molly explained everything. Moody bound Peter, then Renervated him for questioning. At first Peter claimed confusion, then innocence, but when nobody believed him (plus the fact that he had the Dark Mark on his arm), he admitted everything. The Potters had switched Secret-Keepers on Sirius's advice, thinking that they were being clever and not realizing that Peter was the spy in their midst. Peter was the one to betray the Potters to the Dark Lord, and when Sirius had gone after him, Peter was the one that had cast the spell blasting up the street and twelve Muggles and faked his death by cutting off his finger and escaping as a rat. He had traveled for the next three weeks, before ending up in the Weasley garden and arranging to become Percy's pet rat, so that he would be able to hear the news from the wizarding world.

"That would explain Sirius Black's behavior after his arrest," Amelia said, looking down at her notes.

Moody nodded. "Black was in shock that Pettigrew had managed to fool us and escape, and he no doubt felt guilty for suggesting the switch in Secret-Keepers in the first place."

"Did Sirius even have a trial?" Remus asked. "I don't recall ever hearing about it in the news."

Amelia shook her head. "Crouch took a statement saying that Black said he was guilty, and Professor Dumbledore confirmed that Black was the Secret-Keeper, so he had him sent straight to Azkaban. The Ministry was still under the wartime laws a month ago, so Crouch was able to do that."

Kingsley sighed. "Once it gets out that he sent an innocent man to Azkaban without a trial, wartime laws or not, his job is going to suffer even more. It's bad enough that Crouch has to deal with his son being caught going after you, Frank and Alice. This is going to pretty much ruin his career."

"Idiot," Moody muttered, and Stunned Pettigrew again. "Well, let's get Pettigrew to the Ministry and talk to Minister Bagnold. We have to set up a trial and get the real traitor sentenced, and free Sirius and give him some sort of payment for his wrongful imprisonment."

"There is the matter of him being an unregistered Animagus," Frank pointed out. "But I suppose we can put it as the month he spent in Azkaban to be punishment enough for it, or have him pay a fine."

Amelia nodded and the group picked up Pettigrew and Disapparated away with him. Once they were gone, Molly explained to Percy that Scabbers had actually been a very bad wizard pretending to be a rat, and told Percy that he could get a new rat for Christmas.

"So Scabbers was really a bad wizard?" asked Percy, eyes wide in shock. "But why was he pretending to be a rat? Was he hiding from someone that wanted to punish him for being bad?"

Molly nodded. "He made it look like someone else had been bad instead, and then ran away. But now that he's been found, he will go to prison, and the person that everyone thought was bad will be free."

Percy thought it over for a minute, then said, "Good. Scabbers will be punished for being bad. Mum, I don't want a new rat for Christmas. Can I get some new books instead?"

"Of course, Percy," said Molly, giving her son a hug. "If you're all right, you can go on and play."

When Ria and Arthur came home from work, Remus and Molly told them about Peter Pettigrew being discovered and how he had been the real traitor, faking his death and framing Sirius for the crimes.

"I had thought it odd that Sirius would betray his friends and become a Death Eater, considering how much he hated his family and their ideals," said Ria. "It's such a relief to find that he was framed. But why would Pettigrew join Voldemort and betray his friends like that?"

"Peter was the weakest one in our group," Remus said. "I felt sorry for him, and was the one that convinced James and Sirius to befriend him. Peter in turn was thrilled to have such popular and skilled wizards be his friends, and encouraged their misbehavior. I guess sometime after graduation, his habit of having to be around powerful people led him to Voldemort, and he could have easily been scared into serving him. And while we were Peter's friends, James and Sirius weren't above teasing him, and that could have eventually led to annoyance at being overlooked or thought less of."

"I suppose," Ria said thoughtfully. "In any case, once Sirius is released, I'll volunteer to be his Healer. He'll need to recover from his month's stint in Azkaban, and I can update him on what's going on and have him take over as co-guardian of Harry, since he is Sirius's godson."

The next day, the headlines of the Daily Prophet proclaimed Pettigrew's discovery and arrest, Sirius's wrongful imprisonment, and how Mr. Crouch had sent Sirius to Azkaban without a trial. After the trials of the Lestranges, Crouch Jr, and Pettigrew, Crouch Sr. was removed as the Head of the DMLE, with Amelia Bones promoted to the position in his place, and he resigned from the Ministry in disgrace.

Sirius was released, with a compensation of twenty thousand Galleons from the Ministry and the order to get his Animagus form registered as soon as possible. He then went to St. Mungo's to recover from his imprisonment, but other than the loss of weight and an air of gloominess, he hadn't suffered very much. As he confided to Ria and Remus, he had managed to stay sane by thinking of his innocence, which wasn't a happy thought that the dementors could suck away from him. Also, he periodically transformed into a dog, which lessoned the effects that the dementors had on him.

Being around Remus cleared up the gloominess, especially after they apologized to each other for thinking the other was the traitor and spent some time grieving together over James and Lily. Sirius started gaining back some of the weight he lost, thanks to the Nutrient Potions and the controlled diet that Ria put him on. After two weeks, he was as healthy as he had been prior to his imprisonment. That was when Professor Dumbledore came by to see him.

"I'm very sorry about that happened to you, Sirius," the headmaster said sorrowfully. "If I had known about the switch in Secret-Keepers, I would have done what I could to keep you from being arrested. Since I was still under the assumption that you were Secret-Keeper…"

"I understand, Professor Dumbledore," said Sirius. "Though I would have thought you would have at least doubted the turn of events and pushed for a trial, since you are Head of the Wizengamot. On the other hand, I suppose even the greatest wizards can be fooled. Even Remus ended up accepting the evidence against me and thought that perhaps I was a traitor, after all."

Professor Dumbledore nodded. "Peter Pettigrew had us all very well fooled. I really am sorry, Sirius."

"You're forgiven," said Sirius. "So, when can I see Harry? I remember Hagrid telling me that he was under orders to take Harry to you, or I wouldn't have gone after Pettigrew like that. But now that I'm a free man, I would like to see my godson and take custody of him, as per James and Lily's will."

"Harry is at his aunt and uncle's home," Dumbledore answered. "After the events of-"

"Excuse me?" Sirius interrupted angrily. "You don't mean to tell me that Harry is with Petunia and that Dursley guy she married? James told me all about their first meeting, and how it was a disaster. He promised Lily to make it up, but they never got a chance to, since Petunia only invited Lily and James to the wedding out of family duty and wanted nothing more to do with them after that. Harry being raised by the Dursleys is a horrible idea and I can't believe you actually did that."

"If you would let me explain instead of interrupting me, there is a reason I did that," Dumbledore said. "When Lily died, she invoked a magical protection on her son. Therefore, as long as Harry is living with his aunt and can call her house his home, he will be protected until he turns of age. There are wards I set up to ensure that, and I would be notified if Death Eaters tried to attack him there."

"The wards may protect him from Dark wizards, but will it protect him from his relatives?" Sirius retorted. "From Lily told me about her sister, Petunia was jealous about not being a witch and turned that into hate for the wizarding world and magic in general. Her husband would be just as bad, if not worse, since he seems to hate whatever he finds 'abnormal'. How do you know that they won't hate Harry for being a wizard and having to raise him? They could neglect him, or worse, abuse him."

"I am sure that no matter how much jealousy and dislike Petunia could have towards her sister and the wizarding world, she would still take in her nephew and properly care for him," Dumbledore said. "Harry will be fine, and will be raised away from all the fame, which is another concern of mine."

Sirius sighed. "You have a good point about that, and about Harry needing protection. But I still want to see him and visit him frequently. I am his godfather, and Lily and James charged me, along with Remus, with Harry's care in case something ever happened to them."

"I'm sorry, Sirius, but it would be better if you didn't visit Harry until after he starts Hogwarts," said Dumbledore. "It would be safer for him, and Petunia and Vernon could decide to turn over custody of Harry to you if you were to visit, which would be fine if he didn't need the protection so much."

Sirius, upon hearing that he was to be denied visits with his godson, became furious, but before he could say or do anything, Ria came in. "Professor Dumbledore, I think it is time you leave. My patient is still recovering and I don't want you upsetting him and undoing his healing."

"All right," said Professor Dumbledore, rising to his feet. "I am sorry for upsetting you, Sirius, but if you calm down and think it over, you'll understand. I will talk with you at another date."

Once he had left, Ria said, "Sirius, get ahold of yourself, and then I will take you to my home. There is someone you will want to see, and the only reason Remus and I didn't tell you before is because you were still recovering, and therefore we were unsure of how you would react to it."

Sirius looked confused, but composed himself and then the two Flooed to Ria's home. Remus was waiting for them, holding Harry in his arms. "Harry?" Sirius gasped, a dumbfounded look on his face. "How? Why?" Without waiting for an answer, he took Harry and kissed his godson.

Once Sirius had gotten over his shock and finished fussing over Harry, Ria and Remus explained what had happened. "Da-Drat!" Sirius swore. "I knew leaving Harry with his aunt and uncle was a bad idea. If you hadn't found him, Ria, or they hadn't left him where you could find him, who knows what could have happened to Harry. I'd give Dumbledore a piece of my mind, but I guess if he knew where Harry really was, he'd return my godson to the Dursleys and force them to keep him. So I'll hold off on that for now. So you're taking care of Harry while Ria's at work, Moony?"

"Along with Molly Weasley and Alice Longbottom," responded Remus. "Originally it was just Molly, as she has experience with children, what with having seven of her own, and you know Ria was once engaged to her brother. After contacting me and the Longbottoms, since we were friends with Lily and James and Ria wanted us in Harry's life, Alice and I got added to the caretaker list. You know Alice has Neville, and Molly's son Ron is only a few months older than Harry, so they'd be good playmates for him. Susan Bones got added to the group, since she's the same age as the other three, and she's the niece of Amelia Bones, who is best friends with Ria, and is the one that filed the adoption paperwork."

"Tomorrow we'll go to the Ministry and file another set naming you co-guardian, Sirius," Ria said. "I would have you take custody of Harry completely, but I think he needs a mother of sorts in his life."

"That's fine," said Sirius. "You were the one to find Harry, after all, and arranged everything for him."

"Er, this may upset you, but I did speak to Severus Snape," Ria said. "I know you didn't get along with him in school, but he was friends with Lily, and I can tell that he still cares for her despite her ending the friendship. He was mourning her death when I saw him, and he's willing, for her sake, to tell Harry about his mother, though he's going to stay silent on the subject of James."

Sirius opened his mouth, then shut it again. After a minute, he sighed, and said, "I don't like it at all, but it's true that Sniv-Snape was friends with Lily and would be able to tell Harry stories about his mother. The only stories me and Remus could tell before Lily and James started dating would be what James did to try to get Lily to go out with him, and the prefect stuff Remus did with Lily."

"Anyway, I spoke with Professor Snape yesterday," said Ria. "He's the Potions Master at Hogwarts, if you didn't know. He's accepted Remus's apology for what happened during school, will accept yours if you apologize, and is willing to be on civil terms, but has no intention of ever becoming friends."

"I suppose I did go too far with my behavior towards Snape in school," Sirius reluctantly conceded. "I will apologize to him, but I don't plan on being friends with him, either."

"That's fine, I just want the two of you to be civil, for Lily's and Harry's sakes," said Ria. "Now, let's get you settled in, Sirius, and you can feed Harry his dinner later, if you want."