Disclaimer: As mentioned before, I don't own the Harry Potter series, J.K. Rowling has that honor. I just own this fanfic, no copyright intended!

Ch. 8

A Gift From Fred And George

The next day after classes ended for the day, Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah were wandering the corridors. Harry remembered about the dream he had a couple nights ago, so the four Hufflepuff first years were on their way to their head of house's office. They were spotted by Fred, George and Lee on the way.

"Well, well," said Fred and George in unison. "If it isn't the Hufflepuff Quartet!"

"The Hufflepuff Quartet?" said Harry, surprised.

"Well, you four appear to be inseparable," said Lee. "And the Hufflepuff Quartet seemed like a suitable nickname for you four."

"Oh okay," said Harry. "I can see why."

"We have something for you, Harry," said Fred and George. "But let's find an empty classroom first."

So the four Hufflepuff first years followed Fred, George and Lee. They found an empty classroom and walked in, with the twins casting a couple charms on the door. Then Fred (or George) brought out some kind of blank parchment, which confused Harry.

"What's this?" asked Harry.

"We'll show you." said the twins in unison. They pointed their wands at the parchment and simultaneously recited, "I solemnly swear that I'm up to no good!"

The parchment activated and something began to form on it. The four Hufflepuffs were getting intrigued and they saw that it was actually a map of some sorts.

"Messrs Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs," Harry read the front of the map. "Are proud to present… the marauder's map." said Harry as he read the map.

Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah looked over the map, fascinated even more when they saw their names (as well as Fred, George and Lee's). The map showed Dumbledore pacing around in his office while Ron, Ginny, Seamus and Lavender were wandering outside.

"Where'd you get this map?" asked Harry.

"Oh, George and I nicked it…" said Fred.

"From Filch's office when we were…" said George.

"In our first year…" said Fred.

"After we got caught setting off…" said George.

"Dungbombs in a corridor on the…" said Fred.

"Sixth floor, by the caretaker." said George as he and Fred finished their twin talk.

"We were way more innocent at that time, unlike nowadays," said Lee. "We had to alphabetize his file cabinets and we saw one that was marked 'dangerous,' and our curiosity piqued."

"That's when Fred and I…" said George.

"Peeked in that drawer and found what…" said Fred.

"Looked like some sort of folded-up parchment…" said George.

"So we took it with us…" said Fred.

"And tried many time to get it…" said George.

"To work, after the map insulted us…" said Fred.

"So many times, but we never…" said George.

"Gave up, and we eventually succeeded." said Fred as he and George finished their twin talk again.

"That phrase Fred and George recited was required to activate the map," said Lee. "But if you want to wipe it clean until next time it's needed, you just point your wand at the map again and say 'mischief managed,' which is useful to prevent the wrong people from reading it."

"This'll definitely be useful for trying to steer clear of Ronald and Ginevra." said Harry.

"Yeah, they won't leave us alone, despite auntie's warnings." said Susan.

"We can prank Ickle Ronnykins and Ickle Ginnykins for you guys if you want." said Fred and George in unison.

"Thanks a bunch," said Harry. "Though, I don't want them harmed, just humiliated."

"Yeah, we'd rather do it that way anyway." said Lee.

"Maybe we can help you come up…" said Harry as he looked over the map again, and stopped talking when he spotted a suspicious name. "Peter Pettigrew!"

This got everyone's attention, Susan especially. They all looked for themselves.

"That name," Harry continued. "It was mentioned in my parents will. Peter was the real traitor, not Sirius Black."

"He must be over by Ickle Ronnykins bedside table," said Fred and George simultaneously. "He must be where Scabbers would be. Ickle Ronnykins got him when our brother Percy was given an owl in honour of him becoming a prefect."

"We'd better get Scabbers/Peter and report this to Professor McGonagall," said Lee. "If he escapes, that'll be trouble."

So Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah followed Fred, George and Lee over to where the Gryffindor common room might be located. The four Hufflepuffs waited nearby as the Gryffindor pranksters walked into their common room (at the same time, making sure neither Ron, Ginny nor their friends were close by). A few minutes later, the three pranksters stepped out of the Gryffindor common room with the cage that Scabbers was kept in.

"We spotted another thing that was suspicious about the rat," stated Lee. "It's missing a toe."

Fred (or George) held the cage up to show the Hufflepuff first years. Susan, Neville and Hannah widened their eyes in shock while Harry had a mixture of shock and confusion on his face.

"Most of the wizarding world believes that Peter died a hero's death," Susan told Harry. "But this proves that he faked his death and framed Sirius for the whole ordeal."

So the seven students began making a beeline for Professor McGonagall's office. That turned out to be unnecessary because they crossed paths with her (along with professors Sprout, Flitwick and Snape).

"Professor, we were looking for you," said Fred and George in unison. "We spotted something suspicious about Ron's rat, Scabbers."

"Let's go to my classroom," suggested Professor Sprout. "It's the closest."

Once they made it to Professor Sprout's office, the herbology teacher closed the door, locked it and cast some silence charms on it. The seven students sat down in front of Professor Sprout's desk while the other heads of houses stood close by.

"Mr. Weasleys, Mr. Jordan," said Professor McGonagall. "What did you see? This could be any ordinary rat."

"It's been with the family for twelves years, professor." said Fred (or George).

"Not only that," said George (or Fred). "But it's missing a toe."

The four heads of houses took a closer look at the rat and saw it themselves. They were beyond shocked to learn that this rat may be someone in their animagus form. Professor Snape grabbed the 'rat' and pulled it out of the cage while Professor McGonagall pointed her wand at it."

"Finite Incantatem!" chanted the deputy headmistress.

The 'rat' turned into Peter Pettigrew, who was cowering in fear once he came to. He knew there was no chance to escape, there were four wands pointing at him.

"Well, well, Mr. Pettigrew," said Professor McGonagall sarcastically. "How nice you to drop in."

Peter was speechless and sweating profusely, wondering how his secret was revealed. Surely he thought his plan all those years ago was fail-proof. He even thought that living in his animagus form would've done the wizarding world a favour in not harming anybody. Peter was nearly regretting leaving his finger behind, but it was the only way to elude the ministry. The glares he was getting from the teachers was making him cower even more.

"You sure have been displaying the Gryffindor bravery for the last ten years." Professor Snape told Peter, clearly with sarcasm in his tone of voice.

"And your days on the lam are over, Pettigrew." stated Professor Flitwick.

Professor Sprout went over to her fireplace and called for Amelia to come and bring some aurors over after informing the head of the DMLE of having caught somebody suspicious. Professor McGonagall turned her attention to Fred, George and Lee.

"Mr. Weasleys and Mr. Jordan, fifty points apiece to Gryffindor for bringing this matter to our attention." said the head of Gryffindor house, then she turned her attention to Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Bones and Miss Abbott, fifty points apiece to Hufflepuff for helping out."

The three Gryffindors and four Hufflepuffs smiled at that, feeling proud of themselves. Meanwhile in his office, Professor Dumbledore was trying to come up with something to persuade Harry to be resorted into Gryffindor. The wards around the castle flared up, which told the headmaster that Amelia Bones and several aurors made it to the entrance. Dumbledore was stunned at the ministry's sudden appearance at the castle, so he left his office to investigate. The headmaster nearly regretted going to check on why the aurors were at the school because Amelia just gave him a dirty look.

"Albus, do you care to explain why somebody with strong tie-ins to Voldemort is within the walls of this castle?" asked the head of the DMLE, in a no-nonsense tone.

"I-I would have to say that the wards need to b-be repaired." said Dumbledore nervously.

"Too right they do," said Amelia, in a voice that told Albus that he had no choice. "I suggest you do that before another death eater penetrates the wards."

"All students are to return to their house dormitories immediately." Professor McGonagall's voice announced throughout the corridors.

Professor Sprout escorted Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah back to the Hufflepuff common room while Professor McGonagall escorted Fred, George and Lee back to Gryffindor Tower. The other teachers were keeping an eye on Peter to ensure that he doesn't escape again. Once Amelia and the other aurors made it to Professor Sprout's office (where Peter was still being kept), they all even pointed their wands at the cowering man.

"Peter Pettigrew," said Amelia. "You are under arrest for murdering twelve muggles, tampering with evidence by framing someone else for your crimes, being an unregistered animagus and using to to your advantage."

Peter was placed in magic suppression handcuffs, led out of the castle and over to the ministry. Once that was taken care of, Amelia turned to Professors McGonagall and Sprout (who had just come back).

"Who was it that noticed Peter in his animagus?" asked the head of the DMLE.

"The Weasleys twins and their best friend, Mr. Jordan," Professor McGonagall informed Amelia. "Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Bones and Miss Abbott also helped out, too."

"Are they okay?" asked Amelia.

"Indeed, Amelia," said Professor McGonagall. "I was just escorting Misters Weasleys and Mr. Jordan back to Gryffindor while Pomona escorted Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Bones and Miss Abbott back to the Hufflepuff common room."

"Pettigrew's capture will be easier to get Sirius a trial now," said Amelia. "Albus might try to stop it from happening."

"We'll need to make sure the trial happens," agreed Minerva and Pomona. "Even if Albus needs to be distracted in any way possible, so he won't try to interfere."

"Maybe Kingsley can come by to escort Harry, Susan, Neville and Hannah to the ministry on the day the trial will happen," suggested Amelia. "When we get a date set for it."

"It may be best for the trial to be sometime during a weekend." said Professor McGonagall.

"Indeed," agreed Amelia. "I'd better get back to the ministry, so I can question Peter."

"Alright," said Professors McGonagall and Sprout in unison. "Good luck, Amelia!"

"Thank you." said Amelia.

Once she was back outside the wards, Amelia apparated back to the Ministry of Magic. Of course minister Cornelius Fudge believed that Peter was an imposter, but Amelia said that they can't know for sure until Peter has been questioned under Veritaserum. This wasn't going to be an easy task and Amelia knew that. If Albus tried to interfere in any way possible, it would make it next to impossible. But Harry definitely needed a father figure and Sirius was the first on the list of potential guardians for Harry.

To be continued!