And the second chapter of this story. This is my late Christmas gift to you all, as well as the first chapter of Wake Me Up (prequel to A Different Fate). Just remember not to confuse this story with the ADF universe. They are two different timelines after all.
Anyways, after watching Fantastic Beasts, I had a total brain blast and figured out how to get Sirius out of Azkaban and get Harry out of Privet Drive (two things I'd been struggling to figure out without copying other fanfiction writers, which in my book is a no-no - I sometimes get inspired by you guys, but I don't want to steal them).
Now, to the main event. Sending you all tidings of comfort and joy!
When Newt Scamander arrived the next night, the entire Weasley family was bursting with excitement.
"Please come in." said Arthur, keeping calm even though his wife and children seemed ready to explode.
Newt Scamander stepped inside the Burrow. Now that they were both standing, Arthur could see that Scamander was quite tall.
"Hello, there." said Scamander to the Weasleys.
"Hello, Mr. Scamander. Welcome to the Burrow." Molly managed to say, offering him tea.
"Call me Newt, please." he replied, accepting the cup.
Arthur introduced his wife and children quickly.
"Ah, so you're Charlie?" said Newt. "Your father told me about you. You certainly seem to have what it takes to be a magizoologist."
Charlie was practically beaming.
Molly led Newt to the kitchen, where everyone sat down. She had prepared a feast for the occasion. Charlie purposely sat down next to Newt, which seemed alright to the magizoologist, as he spent most of the next hour discussing magical creatures with the Quidditch player. The others added something every now and then, but when they reached the topic of dragons, only Charlie and Newt knew much.
Bill and Percy glared enviously at Charlie. Fred and George didn't seem to care, as they whispered quietly between each other. Arthur prayed they weren't planning a prank on Newt as he cut Ginny's food for her.
After dinner, they moved to the sitting room, where Arthur, Molly, and Newt discussed recent Ministry regulations. Newt seemed most concerned about the ones regarding magical creatures. Bill, Charlie and Percy listened while the younger Weasleys played together. As long as they were quiet, they were allowed to stay in the sitting room.
It was awhile before Arthur sent Percy to retrieve the rat.
"And this is Scabbers, Percy's rat." said Arthur. Percy held up the rat.
"Ah, yes! Thank you. May I hold him?"
Percy passed the fat rat to Newt, who held him up and peered at him curiously.
"Hmm… strange…" Newt muttered.
The Weasleys watched him as Newt looked at the rat from every angle. He cast a few spells on the rat, which displayed data on a piece of parchment. The whole time, Scabbers seemed to be trying to escape, but Newt held him firmly.
When Scabbers tried to bite, Newt conjured a cage and apologetically placed Scabbers inside. After a few more checks, Newt looked back at Arthur.
"You said he's been here for six years?"
"That's right. Just after You-Know-Who was defeated." said Arthur, thinking that their joy from the war ending was the reason they'd happily let Percy keep a rat.
"Interesting. And he hasn't changed at all?"
"He's only a little fatter." said Percy. "But otherwise, he's exactly the same as when I found him."
"I don't understand. What's so special about him?" asked Bill. "He's only a rat, isn't he?"
"Ah, but that's the problem, lad." said Newt. "This is not, in fact, a rat."
At those words, Scabbers started squealing and tried to escape the cage. Newt reached in and carefully took hold of the rat.
"Don't hurt him!" cried Percy.
"Hush, Percy." said Molly sternly. "What do you mean, he's not a rat? What else could he be?"
"A person." Newt pulled out his wand and muttered a spell.
Suddenly, the rat in his hand began to grow bigger. His hair disappeared and his nose grew shorter. His ears shrunk in size and his tail retreated back into his body. Before them was not Scabbers the rat, but a strange, nervous looking man in wizard robes.
"I don't believe it." said Molly. "Arthur, do you know who that is?"
Newt said nothing, but kept his wand pointed at the fat little man with the beady eyes. The man hadn't said anything yet.
"Molly, take the children upstairs." Arthur said, drawing his own wand. He grabbed a handful of floo powder. The children fearfully followed their mother up the stairs. Even Fred and George didn't challenge their father. Not when he had that expression on his face.
"N-n-no, p-p-p-please!" cried the man suddenly.
Arthur threw the powder into the fireplace. "Auror office. Immediate assistance required at the Burrow."
Moments later, three Aurors burst out of the flames, one after another.
"Arthur Weasley, isn't it?" asked Mad-Eye Moody, the leader of the group. "What's going-"
The three Aurors stared at the whimpering man on the ground.
"Isn't that…" said one of the Aurors, a young man with long dark hair pulled back in a ponytail.
Moody nodded. "Peter Pettigrew."
And the rat is busted! No need for applause - you are quite welcome. Ha-ha, sorry. I'm just kidding.
