The evening of September first Remus sat nervously across from the headmaster watching the man's blue eyes race over the letter in his hand. Would he be willing to give Sirius the benefit of the doubt? He thought he probably would… look at everything the old man had done for Snape!
Albus reached the end and laid the paper down. He stared at it for a moment, his chin resting on his steepled fingers. Eventually he looked up to meet Remus' eyes over his spectacles in his usual penetrating gaze.
"I assume it's true that Peter Pettigrew was or is an unregistered Animagus." Remus nodded confirmation. Albus stared hard at him for a moment and Remus felt sure he knew what was coming and he struggled not to squirm. Finally Dumbledore sighed and gave a resigned laugh. "I don't even want to know how the least talented of you four managed to become an Animagus." But then a thought occurred to him and his gaze sharpened again. "Although, if our little jaunt up to the Tower yields no results, I will insist that you tell the aurors of Sirius' form."
Remus cleared his throat and tried to look innocent, but Dumbledore didn't buy it. "If Peter managed it, at least one other of you all did also. It would go a long way to explain how Sirius has successfully stayed on the run."
"You'll go then?" Remus asked, getting excited despite his best attempts to stay realistic.
"Indeed. We both will. I believe we'll take Minerva and Severus with us as well, the more witnesses the better if it turns out to be true. Plus I imagine someone would need to stay and explain to things to Mr. Weasley."
"When will we do it?"
"Well, as they say, there is no time like the present." He raised his wand and his phoenix Patronus shot away, presumably to summon the other two.
Together Remus and Dumbledore headed towards Gryffindor Tower, collecting McGonagall on their way. Snape caught up with them outside her office. Dumbledore explained nothing, he simply handed her the letter and her beady eyes flickered as she rapidly read it, her lips getting thinner and thinner the further down the parchment she got.
"Oh, Albus. Could this be true?" She asked quietly as she handed Snape the letter to read for himself.
"I do not know. We are about to find out, I believe."
"Please tell me you do not believe this tripe?" Snape asked in his oily low voice, his eyebrows up near his greasy hairline as he quickly finished the letter. Remus glared at him.
"I'll believe him if this rat turns into Pettigrew, that's certain." Dumbledore replied.
"Must I accompany you? This is just another juvenile prank of Black's. And Lupin's apparently." The party paused when Snape stopped walking. Remus smiled pleasantly back at Snape, refusing to be drawn into the one of pissing matches that his friends had loved so much with the greasy-haired git.
"Yes, I request you accompany us. If the allegations are true I want to take every precaution that Pettigrew is apprehended and punished properly for his crimes." Dumbledore said, staring at Snape more sternly than usual.
"This is a waste of time." Snape insisted, glaring at the headmaster. Remus' and McGonagall's eyes flicked back and forth between the stubborn men.
"Is it a waste of time to follow up on a rumor that the person responsible for James' and Lily's deaths may not be paying for his crimes?" Remus' eyes narrowed at the strange phrasing… Dumbledore put a strange emphasis on Lily's name. Snape was quiet for a moment and seemed to be debating. Without comment he swept up the hallway in front of them, looking as much like a bat as ever. Remus was surprised he'd complied without further argument; Snape hated Sirius with a burning passion. The other three followed quickly behind Snape's quick pace. Dumbledore had a sad little smile on his face and McGonagall seemed as though she hadn't listened to the conversation at all. Sirius had been a favorite of hers and it didn't look like she knew what to do with a possibility that he was innocent.
Remus trailed behind the party trying so desperately to stay calm that the walk was a blur and before he knew it they were climbing the stairs to the third year boy's dorm. The prospect of seeing Peter again, him being the traitor, and that Sirius might be innocent was too much for Remus to comprehend at the moment.
They paused outside the door and heard the muffled sounds of adolescent boys talking rowdily. Remus was forced to think back to his own dorm mates and how loud James and Sirius could get. Merlin he missed them both… and now there was a chance he could get Sirius back. Dumbledore's knock was answered quickly by Seamus Finnegan who had a sarcastic remark ready on his lips- that died a very fast death at the sight of the headmaster and three professors.
"Professor Dumbledore?" He asked, as if not believing his eyes.
"Indeed, Mr. Finnigan. Might we come in?" Dumbledore asked, as if inviting himself in for tea, not checking to see whether a thirty-four year old wizard traitor was living in secret with thirteen year old boys.
Seamus backed silently out of the way and the noise level in the room dropped to zero. Remus could see the rat in question lay curled up on the blankets of Ron's bed.
"Boys, I am afraid that I have the need of a private conversation with Mr. Weasley…" Ron visibly gulped and the other four boys leapt to their feet. "And Mr. Potter." Remus waited impatiently as the three other boys filed past. He closed the door behind them, casting several charms to keep it closed, locked, and private.
He turned back to see Harry and Ron looking pale and anxious, Remus suspected they were searching through recent transgressions to determine if anything was significant enough to warrant the present company. The rat stirred and slowly slunk back towards the pillows, presumably to hide out of sight. Was it simply a rat looking for a more comfortable spot, or was it Peter trying not to be noticed? Remus silently cast a charm that sealed the entire room- windows, chinks in the stonework, all of it. If that was Peter he was not getting away this time.
"Do not fret boys, you are not in trouble." Dumbledore chuckled softly as both boys visibly relaxed. Snape's teeth grinding was almost audible.
Remus wanted to stride across the room, jerk the rat up by the tail, and cast the charm that would force an Animagus back to his human form…. He restrained himself, barely.
"We are here for a rather strange reason, I must confess. I myself am slightly disbelieving." He walked slowly towards Ron's bed, Remus, Snape, and McGonagall advancing with him, spreading out so that they stood to either side instead of behind, the boys no longer seemed relaxed. "We are here, Mr. Weasley, to see about your rat."
"Scabbers?" Ron asked incredulously, but at the same moment said rat took a flying leap off the bed and raced towards the corner of the room, apparently knowing a better hiding place than under the pillows. Dumbledore was far quicker than Scabbers, however; and shot a spell that froze him in midair.
"Indeed, Scabbers. Professor Lupin was sent a very peculiar bit of post just last week. It accused your rat of being an Animagus." Dumbledore continued as if there had been no interruption.
"But… but he's been in my family for twelve years!" Ron protested, staring anxiously at his now frozen pet. Harry stood silently, his eyes flickering between all parties, Remus tried not to remember how pale the boy had been after the dementor had left. The adults froze at Ron's statement. "He was my brother Percy's rat!"
"Twelve years…" Minerva murmured under her breath. Remus' muscles clenched and a surge of adrenaline went through him: Sirius was right.
"Luckily, there is a simple way to determine if this accusation is true. A spell will force him to reveal his true form if he is an Animagus and if he is not, he will be unaffected by it and will only ever be your pet rat." Dumbledore said kindly. They all stood with bated breath, even Ron not speaking, as Dumbledore silently raised his wand and with a strange little twirl, a faint bluish light washed over the rat. It was instantly obvious that something was happening. Harry and Ron both scrambled backward as the adults pointed their wands at the rat quickly and grotesquely growing into a small, dumpy man. He was simultaneously hit by four spells and crumpled to the floor in a weirdly stiff manner, wrapped tightly in a very thick rope.
"Oh my." Albus said quietly as all they all stared in disbelief. "Well, I did the rope. What did you three do?" He asked, his eyes twinkling for a moment.
"Body-bind," Minerva answered faintly, her eyes wide and face pale.
"Stunner." Remus answered with no sympathy.
"Impediment Jinx." Snape said with his upper lip curled in distaste.
"Well, that'll about do it." Dumbledore smiled.
"Good gracious, Albus. Black is innocent then." McGonagall put a hand to her chest and lowered herself to sit on the nearest bed, running a shaking hand over her head. "Twelve years he was there… and he didn't do it!"
"Sirius Black you mean?" Harry asked in surprise, his hand still clenched around a wand that Remus hadn't even seen him draw. Ron was staring at Pettigrew looking disgusted. Remus imagined the boy would be quite creeped out by the realization that he'd been sharing his bed with that man for years. In fact, he'd suspected that as soon as the kid regained the ability to speak, he was going to turn lose a full-on freak out.
"Indeed, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore patted Minerva kindly on the shoulder. "Professor McGonagall shall give you a short explanation, but I am afraid most of the story will have to wait until tomorrow; we will be quite busy dealing with Mr. Pettigrew here." He pointed his wand at the unconscious man and levitated him towards the door; he turned back at the last moment. "Mr. Weasley, I am quite sorry about your rat. I imagine that in a few weeks, a very grateful Sirius Black might just replace him for you. Minerva, we shall see you in my office as quickly as you can."
Ron and McGonagall nodded weakly and watched as the four men left, three walking and one floating along in front of them.
Remus walked quickly behind Albus, glad to see the man's face had lost its humor. "Who do we floo about this? Fudge?"
"Merlin, no. We need someone competent; if Sirius is going to be fully cleared we need someone to do the job properly. We'll call Madam Bones; she's head of the DMLE for a good reason." Dumbledore waved his wand and the silvery flash of his Patronus shot out of his wand and disappeared into the night. "Let us hurry."
The group barely made it back to Dumbledore's office before his floo lit and a stern looking woman stepped through, flanked by two tough looking aurors. Her eyebrows rose at the sight of the bound man.
"Merlin, Albus, by the sound of your message I thought you'd caught Black. But who's this then?"
"This, Madam Bones, is Peter Pettigrew." Dumbledore answered, depositing him in the center of the room so that he was standing, facing the auror team.
"Pe… Peter Pettigrew? Well that's impossible. He's twelve years dead." She protested, striding forward to look more closely at the man's face.
"Have you any Veritaserum?" Dumbledore asked politely. "Apparently he has been living in his Animagus form, a rat, with one of our students. We apprehended him just now in Gryffindor Tower. He was indeed a rat when we found him."
"Yes… yes, I have some." She said, reaching into a pocket. Remus had to give her credit, she must be stunned by this information but she was still a pro. She was head auror for good reason.
"How did you find out he was a rat?" She asked as she gestured to one of the men behind her to begin taking notes.
"Believe it or not, Sirius Black contacted Remus here." He handed her the letter and her eyes roved over it, widening as they went.
"This is the first contact any of you have had with Black?" She asked abruptly. They all answered in the affirmative. "And he… provided the information that lead to… this?" She gestured to Pettigrew, still unsure about him.
"Indeed." Remus felt a little flare of pride in his former, and hopefully soon to be reinstated, best mate.
"Let's wake him up then. Everyone be sure you pay attention, only if this is really Pettigrew these memories will be picked over like none before."
Dumbledore flicked his wand at Peter and he snorted awake, looking fearfully at the bodies surrounding him. He immediately tried to turn back into Wormtail. "So sorry, Peter, but I'm afraid you'll have no luck. I'm quite good at charms." Dumbledore smiled coldly at the small whimpering man.
Madam Bones forcefully grabbed his cheeks and squeezed until he was forced to open his mouth to alleviate the pressure, she poured several drops of the clear liquid in and covered his mouth and nose until he swallowed. "What is your name?" She asked after a slow count to ten to make sure the potion was in his system.
"Peter Pettigrew." The aurors gasped, but Madam Bones remained stoic.
"Where have you been the last twelve years?"
"With the Weasleys."
"Did they know who you were?"
"No."
"Were you the Secret Keeper for James and Lily Potter's location in Godric's Hollow Halloween 1981?" Dumbledore stepped forward to contribute.
"Nnnn -Yes." The potion forced the truth out from his lips.
"It was not Sirius Black?" Madam Bones clarified.
"No, they chose me at the last minute."
"Did you give the secret to Voldemort?"
"Yes." Every jaw in the room clenched and fists tightened on wands.
"Did you kill those muggles the morning on November first, 1981 when Sirius Black cornered you?"
"Yes." Pettigrew was crying by this point, knowing that he was done for.
"Were you there that night?" Snape growled. "In Godric's Hollow? Were you there?"
"No." Peter's voice was quivering and his eyes were rolling.
"Did you frame Sirius?" Remus asked, sick to his stomach.
"Yes."
"Do you have any knowledge of Voldemort's current whereabouts?" Dumbledore asked, his tone full of ice.
"No."
"Have you any plans to harm Harry Potter?"
"No." Small comfort, that.
"Do you have the Dark Mark?"
"Yes."
"Did you take it willingly?"
"Yes."
Madam Bones unceremoniously Stupefied him and turned to the others in the room. She stared in silence for a moment, apparently at a loss for words. She huffed out a long breath. "Merlin's beard. Twelve years he was in." She said, obviously referring to Sirius. "I need to get back and get to work on this. I'll get the paperwork for Black started immediately. He'll be able to own the Ministry if he decides to."
"That's it?" Remus asked. "Just some paperwork and he'll be cleared?" There was not a single doubt in Remus' mind that Sirius was innocent. The man he was accused of murdering was sitting right there, having just confessed to all the wrongdoing! Guilt began to seep in with the dawning understanding: he himself had betrayed Sirius… he'd never sent a letter. Never visited. Never pushed for a trial on his friend's behalf.
Bones stared hard at all of them. "That should be it yes. He was never formally charged so really all I have to do is charge Pettigrew, call the manhunt off of Sirius, and convince Fudge to admit that the Ministry made this large an error. That'll be the hardest part."
"Indeed. Cornelius does not like to admit to any folly. If he won't listen to you I'll lean on the Wizengamot. Keep me posted, please, Amelia. Sirius has suffered enough."
"Of course, Headmaster. Boys." She gestured her men to Pettigrew and they left through the floo. Remus turned and collapsed into the chair he'd sat in only an hour ago and blinked in surprise as McGonagall slouched in the one next to him. He hadn't even noticed her return.
"I don't know about you lot, but I feel the need of a glass of brandy." Dumbledore said, sounding his age. He floated glasses to his professors who accepted them gladly.
Remus sat in a daze. "I… I don't even know." He looked up to see an understanding gaze from Dumbledore and a glazed look from McGonagall, Snape looked as though he might sick up and in fact, left the room without a word. "I'm so glad he didn't do it…" Remus said, sipping his brandy, trying to ignore the ache in his throat. "I never wanted to believe it…"
"None of us did." McGonagall answered quietly. "He was too loyal. We should've insisted on a trial. We should've done more!"
"I am afraid so. But all we can do now is move forward and help clear his name so that he can return to his life."
"This... I'm wondering…" Remus began, shakily setting his glass down and trying to gather his thoughts. "There's no way Fudge could trump up charges to avoid admitting they've kept an innocent man in prison for twelve years without ever trying him… is there?"
Minerva's lips thinned even more and Dumbledore's eyes held none of their usual twinkle. Remus' stomach sank as neither immediately responded in the negative. "Silence is an affirmation." He muttered quietly, rising from his chair to pace the room. Pausing in front of the window he looked out onto the Forbidden Forest. Was Sirius out there, waiting for him to give him the news? "What if… what if the Prophet somehow found out that Pettigrew had been captured? What if the question of Sirius' innocence was raised in the press before the Minister could attempt to hush it up like they do everything else that displays their incompetence?"
Minerva straightened in her chair and looked at Dumbledore who stared thoughtfully at Remus before he answered. "While I hate to start manipulations so soon… I believe we are going to have to play the game to the best of our ability to successfully clear his name. He has been much maligned in the press over the years; the seeds of doubt must be planted as quickly as possible. Perhaps Rita Skeeter will get an anonymous bit of information. Perhaps she'll be told of Pettigrew's capture… perhaps even be advised to look into Sirius' arrest record to discover he was never given a trial, which violates his rights according to wizard law." Dumbledore's idly refilled his glass, never once looking up at either of the two professors. "The Prophet will be an interesting read at breakfast."
There was an awkward pause as Albus finished. Remus cleared his throat, "Yes. Well. If we're finished I believe I'll turn in. Good night, professors." Remus fairly ran back to down the corridor, his mission firming up in his mind as he went.