Harry entered the Gryffindor common room and decided to hang out with the twins. He glanced over their shoulders to look at the map as they were planning a prank for a couple of seventh year Ravenclaws when he noticed a name that shocked him. "Peter Pettigrew" was right next to "Ronald Weasley" on the map. He took a step back and looked again, maybe he had misread, but the name was still there. "Do you guys see a name next to Ron's?" Harry asked the twins.
"Well he's sitting with Seamus and Dean in the Great Hall," Fred replied.
"Stuffing his face, no doubt." George added.
"Anyone named Peter?"
"Nope, why?" George responded turning to Harry.
Harry knew that either the map was wrong, or the twins couldn't see Pettigrew's name, but why?
"Hey guys do you mind if I borrow this tonight?"
"What sort of mischief are you cooking up that you don't want us in on?" Fred asked.
"I'm not doing anything; I just want to check to make sure it works."
"Well, we've got to go anyways." Fred started.
"We've got a test to run on one of our newest inventions. So, enjoy the map, but don't have too much fun," George said before giving Harry the map and disappearing out the common room with Fred.
Harry decided to examine the map more closely. He saw Mrs. Norris stalking the Halls with Filch, Dumbledore pacing in his office, McGonagall sitting in her office, etc. Harry also saw on the map the third-floor corridor with a name Fluffy with large paw prints behind one of the doors. Harry then noticed that not only humans were on the map, pets were too, but Ron's infamous pet rat was missing. Harry scanned the map for several minutes and couldn't find Scabbers' name began to feel rather hungry, so he closed the map and folded it into his pocket and went to dinner.
Harry arrived and sat down at the Gryffindor table and ate with Parvati and the twins who were discussing how they had placed one of their newest inventions on the Ravenclaw table, Poultry Pasties. It wasn't until later in the meal that chaos erupted from the table as several students began to sprout feathers and when they tried to speak up all that came through were the sound of clucking chickens. Almost everyone was laughing at the entertaining spectacle, even the Slytherins.
Late that night when everyone went to bed, he examined the map once more to find Peter Pettigrew inside the Gryffindor Tower, and more specifically in the same room Harry and the other first-year boys slept. Harry crept silently back to the room to find where the man supposedly was, all he saw was Ron resting in his bed with his rat nestled next to his pillow. Harry looked at the map again, it still read Peter Pettigrew, and there was no Scabbers. The pieces then started to fit together in his mind, 'Pettigrew must be an Animagus, like Prof. McGonagall.' Unfortunately, Harry had no proof that the map wasn't broken, so he decided the only way to be sure was to find out more about Pettigrew and there were only two people who could help him with that. Sirius Black was in prison so the odds of being able to contact him were almost non-existent, so his only hope was Remus Lupin.
Harry almost couldn't sleep, thinking that there was a supposed grown man in his dorm room, but eventually sleep did overtake him. He got up several hours later and went to breakfast. Harry sat there in quiet contemplation as his classmates enjoyed the food and conversation with their housemates.
Harry knew one of two things must be true; either A: The map wasn't working which didn't make sense seeing as how it correctly showed everyone else, or B: Pettigrew was an Animagus and was hiding as Ron's rat. If A was true then the map would be untrustworthy, and if B was true then Sirius might be innocent. If Sirius was guilty and in Azkaban, why would Pettigrew hide? The only way to figure out which was which was to contact Lupin. 'But how?' Harry thought, 'I've never even met him before and I don't even know where he lives.' Harry was pulled out of his thoughts by Parvati who was waving her hand in front of his face.
"What?" Harry asked.
"You've been sitting there staring blankly at your food for almost five minutes. Something on your mind?"
"Just trying to figure something out, it's nothing."
"What are you trying to figure out?"
"My dad had some friends who were very close to my mom and dad. One is dead, and another is in prison, and I don't know where the third one is."
"Send him an owl."
"Um, I just said I don't know where he is, how am I supposed to send a letter."
"You think the owls can read the addresses on the mail?"
"Well they have to know how to find the person somehow."
"Owls are magical in their own way, they can somehow take a letter or package to the person who was meant to have it across large distances. It's something they are able to do naturally, which is why wizards use them."
"Oh, well that makes things a lot easier. Thanks Parvati."
"No problem now why are you trying to contact them anyway?"
"Oh, I wanted to know more about my parents, it's nothing," Harry lied. The two continued to talk and enjoy breakfast and soon after it was over Harry went to the owlery and wrote a letter.
Dear Remus Lupin,
Hi, I know you don't know me, but my name is Harry Potter. I was told you knew my parents when they went to Hogwarts and was wondering if I could ask you in person a couple questions about them. I know you're probably a busy man, and I don't mean to bother you over this.
Sincerely Harry James Potter
Harry looked over his letter once more and hoped Lupin would at least respond. He handed the letter to Hedwig after giving her a couple owl treats and she was off. 'Well' Harry thought, 'Here's to hoping he responds.'
Time Skip Saturday 7th of September
Remus had been awoken from his sleep on Sunday morning by a sound from his window. Getting up from his horribly uncomfortable bed he walked over to the window to find a beautiful snowy owl tapping its beak on the glass. he opened the window and the owl flew in and dropped a letter on his bed before resting its wings. He was curious, usually whenever he got letters, they were regular barn owls and they came with a letter that just said you're fired before they left. He opened the letter and his eyes grew wide at the name, Harry Potter, and felt ashamed of himself. When James, Lily and Peter died, and Sirius was locked up, he had shut down. All his close friends gone, the only people who knew his secret and didn't treat him like a monster, gone, and the one he had loved had done it all.
FLASHBACK
Remus had been outside the country on a mission from Dumbledore when he got a message from him to meet Dumbledore in his office. Using the floo he appeared inside the old headmaster's office and turned to see Dumbledore with a grave look on his face.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't know how to tell you this Remus, but last night Lily and James were attacked."
"What?" Remus shouted, "How? They were under the Fidelis Charm! There is no way in hell Voldemort could break through that!"
"He didn't," Dumbledore replied.
"Who was the secret keeper?"
"Sirius was."
"No! He couldn't! He wouldn't!"
"Remus…"
"He would never betray James! He would never betray me!" Remus shouted his heart breaking as realization of what the old man was saying took effect.
"I am truly sorry for this Remus, if I had suspected…"
"Suspect nothing! He didn't do it! He couldn't have… What about Peter, what does he think about…"
"Peter is dead. Killed by Sirius along with 12 muggles by Bombarda Maxima."
Remus became mute, he couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"There is some good news. Harry is still alive."
"How?"
"I'm not entirely sure, but when Voldemort tried to kill Harry something stopped him and now everyone is celebrating the end of Voldemort and calling Harry The-Boy-Who-Lived."
While it was good news the war was over, Remus didn't care, and left the headmaster's office.
FLASHBACK END
Remus' heart ached remembering how the quartet became a solo, but if Harry was going to learn anything about his parents it should be from him, so he decided to write Harry a response.
Dear Harry,
I would be honored to tell you more about your parents, but I will not be able to visit until the 5th of October.
Sincerely Remus Lupin
Lupin was going to give the letter to the owl, but the owl was still asleep, so he just laid the letter next to the owl to take when she woke up.
FASTFORWARD Monday 9th of September
Harry was eating breakfast when Hedwig swooped down and gave him the reply, Harry rewarded her with a treat and read the note. Harry was so happy he was going to visit but was a little upset that he would have to wait for so long, but soon after reading the letter it was time for Herbology.