Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.
AN. He's the next chapter hope you like it
Chapter 10
Harry didn't know how he was going to get Ron and Hermione to make up or if that was even possible. Ron was so certain that it was the one Crookshanks who eat Scabbers, and since it was her cat, it was also Hermione's fault his pet was dead, Harry thought that was a little unfair, people can't control what their pets do, it would be like blaming him if Hedwig had eaten the rat.
Harry also thought Hermione was being stubborn not wanting to admit Crookshanks might have been involved, and kept on about the fact there really wasn't proof that Scabbers was dead, or that the blood on Ron's sheets was even Scabbers. Her thoughts even went somewhat like Harry's in saying one of the owls could have even flown into the dorm window and snatched Scabbers.
The point where Harry thought she went too far was when Ron said she was to blame for Scabbers disappearance for bringing Crookshanks to Hogwarts in the first place. Hermione said in that case he could be in fault for brining Scabbers because rats weren't even one of the pets on the list that a student could bring.
Harry decided to keep his thoughts on the matter to himself, he thought both made good points, and it was pretty likely Crookshanks did have something to do with Scabbers disappearance, but in fear of making Ron and Hermione mad at him like they were each other he kept the thoughts to himself.
Harry was forced to take turns spending his time between Hermione and Ron, and when he could get them together they either kept silent or made snappy comments to one another and couldn't help brining up Scabbers or Crookshanks. Harry feared the raft between his friends could never be fixed. It got so bad that Hermione and Ron begun to complain about each other to Harry when the other wasn't around, hell they did it when the other was there too. Harry found himself hanging out with Neville a lot just to get away from all the pointless bickering. But poor Neville was having bad luck too, he lost his wand or misplaced it, his friends in Gryffindor helped him look all over for it, and his Gran wouldn't get him a new one, so he wasn't able to do spells during class.
"Can't you make up with Ron?" Harry demanded one afternoon, as he and Hermione sat under the beech tree on the Hogwarts grounds, Harry was lying on his stomach, the Marauder's map laying out in front of him, as Hermione was leaning against a tree going over a law-book, anything to help Buckbeak's case, which would be that Monday, and Hermione had yet again started a rant about Ron, who had only moments before walked past with Neville, heading to who knows where. It was a real nice day, not too hot, and not too cold, but just right, with a nice breeze, which had bought a lot of students out of the musky dark castle and into the sunlight. Like Harry and Hermione, they had spent most the day outside, only going in to eat lunch.
"I've tried Ron won't listen." Hermione said. "Believe me, I am sick of fighting with Ron as much as you are, but you know Ron. Until I admit I am in the wrong and it's my fault Scabbers is gone, and he won't forgive me."
Harry sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "Can't you just say what he wants, even if you don't mean it."
"Of course not." Hermione scuffled. "What good would that do?"
"You two would stop fighting." Harry said.
"Yes, but it'll be lying, and misleading, Ron and plus he'll think he'll won every fight and I'll always be in the wrong." Hermione turned a page in her book.
"Jez, Hermione, you make it sound as if Ron is your boyfriend." Harry frowned deeply, jealousy could be heard in every word.
"Don't be ridiculous, Harry." Hermione said. "Ron's just a friend, and you don't lie to friends."
Harry rolled his eyes. "No, you just keep bricking over cats and rats."
Hermione chose not to answer Harry and stuck her nose back in her book, Harry, decided not to try to make her and went back to watching the map. A couple of months ago, in March they had their exams, and for the first time they actually had a DADA exam that was good. Lupin had sent up something like an obstacle curse, and the students had to get through the creatures they learned. They all did pretty good, but when Hermione had gotten to the Boggart, she screamed and came running out. She wouldn't tell Harry what she had seen, but she threw herself in his arms and cried on his shoulder for a good ten minutes before pulling back and running off.
"Your dad and Dumbledore still roaming the castle?" Hermione asked. Over the last hour or more, James Potter, Albus Dumbledore, and Remus Lupin, and to their surprise Sirius Black, had been roaming the castle together. Harry was itching the find out what, but Hermione talked him out of getting his cloak and following them.
"No, they're in Dumbledore office now." Harry said. "Wonder what's going on?"
"Sirius must be in his dog form." Hermione commented. "How else could a wanted prisoner go walking around a school without being noticed.
"Oh, come you don't still believe Buddy is Sirius Black." said Harry.
"Yes, I do." Hermione said. "It all fits."
"I get where you might see that, really, but I just don't think it's true. And yes, he probably is with them in his animal form, but we have no proof that form is a dog." Harry said. "I mean-What the hell." Harry suddenly raised up, frowning at the map.
"What is it?" Hermione damned looking up from her book. "Harry, what's wrong, what do you see?"
"Hermione, do you think this map can be wrong about someone?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione. She frowned, not getting the answer she wanted, but answered Harry's question.
"I guess...it could be possible." Hermione said. "Magic is a tricky thing, enactments on objects is one of the most complex, depending on how good the spell caster is and how long the object has been enchanted, some can last for a very long time, if not forever, some wear off within a few months, maybe even lasting years. But sometimes, if the spell caster isn't very good, objects may malfunction as the enchantments ware off" Hermione frown deepened as she looked Harry over. "Why?"
"Because, unless this map is malfunctioning, then Peter Pettigrew is roaming the castle right now." Harry answered.
"But, Harry, that's not possible." Hermione said. "Everyone thinks h's dead. People would notice if a dead guy was walking around a school."
"Then either the enchantments on this map is wearing off or he's in animagi form" Harry said, holding the map out to Hermione and pointing at Pettigrew's name.
"But...but...that's impossible." Hermione said. She looked up. "You don't think this is what your dad and Sirius have been after? Do you? Pettigrew himself."
Harry didn't answer, he suddenly jumped up "I'm going to find out."
"Harry! Wait!" Hermione tossed her book aside, jumped up and rushed after Harry, who was heading toward the castle. "I'm coming with you."
They entered the castle and headed toward the direction the map said Pettigrew was in, which was toward the dungeons.
"I don't understand." Hermione said. "Has Pettigrew been at Hogwarts all this time, living as an animal."
"If Sirius Black really is Buddy, then he's been living most the year as a dog." Harry said. "I guess it wouldn't be too hard for someone to live as an animal for twelve years, take in count, he wants everyone to believe he's dead and doesn't want to be seen. I'd say it's pretty possible."
"Do you think he might be one of the cats or owls at Hogwarts." Hermione said. "Or a Toad, Trevor is always trying to get away from Neville and your dad and Sirius wanted to get in Gryffindor tower for some reason."
"I don't think it's Trevor." Harry shook his head. "I've read a lot about animagus the last of couple years, and your animal reflects a lot of who you are. Cat, Owl, Toad doesn't really fit what I've learned what Pettigrew is like. I'd say he's more of a rodent type animal, rat maybe, Hogwarts is full of them.." Harry trailed off, looked over and Hermione both of their eyes were now wide.
Scabbers!" They said at the same time, stopping in their tracks.
"Harry, it's has to be." Hermione cried. "Scabbers isn't a magical rat, just a normal garden rat, which don't usually live for so long, how long..."
"Twelve years." Harry said. "I remember in first year Ron telling me he was Percy's rat first, then he gave it to Ron when he got Hermes for making Perfect. Bloody Hell...living twelve years alive as a rat...under everyone's noses.." Harry shook his head.
"Harry, this means Sirius Black really is innocent." Hermione said, eyes wide, mouth open in surprised. "But Harry, how can it be Scabbers , Crookshanks or something ate him."
Harry started shaking his head. "Pettigrew faked his death once, I bet he did it again cause Sirius and my dad was getting too close. Come one." Harry started walking real fast, almost running down the corridor.
"Harry, where are we going!" Hermione demanded. Running to catch up.
"Find Scabbers, then take him to my dad and Sirius in Dumbledore's office." Harry said.
"But, Harry even with the map how are you going to find a rat in a large castle."
"Just following this map to his footprints, hopefully he isn't in a wall or passageway or something of the like." Harry said.
"Maybe we should take this map to Dumbledore's office and show it to your dad, Harry, after all he's a train Auror." Hermione said. "He's use to having to track down bad guys, he'll know what to do."
"And by that time Pettigrew could be gone or something." Harry said. "If you want to go tell them go ahead, I'll follow the map, maybe even have the rat by the time you all find me."
"No, I'm staying with you." Hermione said at once. "I'm not letting you track down a killer all on your own. Though I do have a bad feeling about doing this."
Harry picked up his passed to a run, him and Hermione said no more, easier to run that way, they both turned down a right corridor and ran on a few feet, when suddenly Trelwanly came rushing out of another side corridor and right into Harry making him dropped the map.
"Professor!" Harry said, surprised, Trelawney looked at him with wide eyes, as if in a trance.
"The Dark Lord lies alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers. His servant has been chained these twelve years. Tonight, before midnight ...the servant will break free and set out to rejoin his master. The Dark Lord will rise again with his servant's aid, greater and more terrible than ever he was. Tonight before midnight the servant will set out to rejoin his master...
Professor Trelawnly leaned forward, almost falling, make a gurgling noise, Harry and Hermione had to grabbed her arms to keep her from falling.
"What the bloody hell were you just saying?" Harry demanded.
Trelawnely blinked and looking at both Harry and Hermione confused.
"What was it you said dear boy?" Trelawnely said. "I must have blacked out there a moment, happens sometimes when I see too many visions."
"You said something about the Dark lord coming back." Harry said. "What were you talking about?"
"What? I said no such thing." Trelawnely said. "Why would I, don't go around spreading such lies, I would not panic people like that. Now if you'll excuse me."
Trelawnely pushed passed Hermione and Harry, who went to grab Trelawenly's arm, but Hermione stopped him.
Let her go, Harry." She said. "Remember, she's nothing but a fraud, wouldn't cause panic in people. What does she think predicting people's death do."
Harry had a feeling this was different, he didn't think Trelawnely knew what she had this said, but he had other things to take car of right now, and picked the map back up and looked around for Pettigrew again, finding him scattering about in the east side of the castle.
"He's in the east wing, heading down a corridor." Harry said. Hermione leaned in to look.
"The dungeons." Hermione said. "Of course, that part of the castle hardly gets used by anything, and the Slytherin common room and potions lab, every thing else in the dungeons is on the other side down there. So he doesn't risk being seen, by one of the Weasley's and Ron still thinks he's dead."
"Come on we have to hurry." Harry said. "We can turn right up here and head back down, we'll get there in no time."
"I still think we should tell them in Dumbledore's office." Hermione said. Hurrying after Harry.
"No time." Harry said, hurrying along, Hermione right beside him.
They walked a few feet, turned down the corridor he mentioned and headed straight, until they came up on a dead-end, they turned and headed down a stairway leading to the dungeons.
"Wonder how many people know of these stairways." Hermione said, as they left the stairway and headed down the dungeons. "I don't remember them in Hogwarts A History. This place is really big, almost like a maze of some kind. It's really amazing."
Harry stopped frowning at the map.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"That's so weird." Harry said. "Pettigrew was supposed to be right here, but he disappeared off the map."
Hermione and Harry looked around, both frowning.
"Must be a passage not put on the map." Hermione said, she looked at the bottom of the wall. "Or maybe he went into a rat hole."
As they looked around neither heard or noticed the wall behind Harry opening up, both paying attention to the wall in front of them, Harry reached his arm over Hermione shoulder and laid his hand on it, pushing the stones trying to find a brink, but couldn't find anything. The way they were standing Harry was behind Hermione's back her back almost touching his chest, with his arm over her shoulder touching the way.
And when suddenly someone came up from behind them and gave Harry a hard pushed in the back, he fall forward into Hermione, who hit the stone wall in front of them, face first, and for a split second she was crushed between the wall and Harry, before both fall to the ground. Harry's head smacking the wall along with Hermione's face.
Dazed for a moment, Harry was a bit confused, he reached up, and felt something sticking running down his forehead, he pulled his fingers back down to see blood on them, but his vision seemed blurry then he realized his glasses and fallen off. Narrowing his eyes he looked around to find them and noticed Hermione laying on the ground not moving, forgetting his glasses a moment he crawled the little ways over to her. She lad on her side facing the wall, and Harry rolled her over, and even without his glasses he could see her nose was bleeding.
"Hermione." Harry said, shaking her shoulder. "Wake up, Hermione, please wake up."
Suddenly realizing what happened and that he had been pushed, Harry pulled his wand out and turned around real fast only to be hit by a bright light and fell to the ground next to Hermione.
When Harry woke up next he was a bit confused, his head was pounding, his glasses were gone, and he was laying down on a very uncomfortable bed. He reached his hand up and felt a sticky witness, and then everything came back to him.
"Hermione." Harry said, then realized someone laid next to him, and turned his head to see a familiar set of brown eyes looking at him, Hermione put her finger to her mouth, then pointed behind Harry, he looked to see a dumpy looking man, that was bolding, and had a face like a rat.
"Pettigrew." Harry mumbled. The man turned around and looked at Harry, his clothes were bagging, like someone who recently and suddenly lost a lot of weight.
"You look some much like your father you do." Pettigrew said, Harry opened his mouth to reply, but Hermione grabbed his arm.
"I knew you were Harry Potter the moment Ron sat by you on the train, even if your scar was hidden behind your bangs." Pettigrew turned his back to him and went on with what he had been doing before. "I was nervous at first, afraid you might figure out who I was, then I realized, James didn't tell you anything about our past. Our life in Hogwarts together."
Pettigrew turned around holding a piece of parchment and Harry realized it was he Marauder's Map.
"Where are we?" Harry demanded. "Why did you bring us here."
"You're my ticket out of here." Pettigrew said. "I know James, Remus, and Sirius, they aren't going to come after me if they think I'll hurt you."
"What about Hermione?" Harry demanded. "Let her go, you can take me, just let her go." To Harry's surprise Pettigrew started to laugh.
"Oh, how like your father you are, always the one to protect the Mud-blood." Pettigrew said. "I brought her along, because I couldn't just leave her laying there in the corridor could I, she would have been found and possibly led to me before I was ready to go."
"Let her go now then." Harry said, he felt Hermione's hand go down his arm and take his hand.
"And have her lead your father and godfather to where I am?" Pettigrew asked. He ran a hand through his bolding hair, and Harry suddenly realized something, Pettigrew was scared, yeah, he took Harry to get away, but Harry saw no he didn't really know how to go about it. He hadn't thought anything through.
Harry raised up, but suddenly felt dizzy and grabbed his head, Pettigrew pulled a wand out and pointed it at Harry.
"Don't try anything." He warned, standing, he looked close to panicking. Hermione sat up next to Harry, she was holding her side, Harry gave her a concern look by she ignored it.
"Why don't you just go?" She asked, looking around. "We'll stay here, give you time to get away, then come out..."
"No No No." Pettigrew shook his head. "I know them, they'll keep hunting me down, sooner or later my rat form won't even be of help. " Pettigrew stood and walked up to Harry. "I know your father he wouldn't let them kill me, hurt me yeah, but no matter how cruel James could get he never liked the idea of taken another's life. But your godfather, he's got Black blood running in him, no matter how much he denies his family, I'm the reason he had spent 12 years in prison, he'll kill me."
"Godfather?" Harry frowned.
Pettigrew laughed a little. "He didn't tell you, Sirius Black is your godfather boy, oh him and James were more than just best friends, they were closer than some brothers I knew, Oh Padfoot and Prongs, loved by all, admired by many, the best at both Quidditch and Magic, Moony right there with them, but ole' Wormtail, oh I was just the tag-a-long. "
"Hang on, did you see, Padfoot and Prongs?" Harry demeaned, his eyes fell down to Pettigrew's jacket pocket, and he saw, his and Hermione's wands sticking out of it. He decided to keep him talking, so he could make a plan to get the wands and get him and Hermione out of there.
"We're the ones who made this map." Pettigrew said. "We were the Marauder's, I was Wormtail, James Prongs, Remus Moony and Sirius Padfoot, we all became animagi to help Remus you see, on a count of him being a Werewolf."
"Werewolf?" He asked.
"Yes, Lupin is a Werewolf, we found out in second year, curious of him disappearing once a month and showing back up look ill. He was bit when he was five, Dumbledore got this crazy idea they could make it work, that Lupin had a right to go to school, batty old fool, took us until fifth-year, but we became animagi, and once a month we would sneak down here to the Shrieking Shack and turn into our forms and run around with Lupin, James and Sirius being the bigger animals were able to keep Remus from running off to far, be being the smaller animal I was able to get under the Whopping Willow and touch the knot under the tree to stop it moving so we could get in."
"Hang on." Harry cried. "We're in the Shrieking Shack. How-"
"I dragged you one at a time through a tunnel that led into the secret passage that led here, when I use to use in seventh-year to visit the Slytherins without being seen." Pettigrew said. "That's one it all started to fall apart was seventh year, James got with Lily and hung around her more us less, leaving Remus and Sirius hanging around each other, I was left out of everything in seventh-year, so I took up with the Slytherin, made new friends and the rest is history."
"I was attacked as a baby because of you." Harry said. "Neville's parents are spending there lives at St. Mungo's because of you."
"You think James is any better?" Pettigrew asked. "Did he ever tell you about the time he and Sirius played a trick on Snape and nearly got him killed."
"That's a lie." Harry cried. "My dad wouldn't do something like that!"
"He would and he did." Pettigrew said. "i was one of their best friends and they treated me poorly, think how they would someone they didn't like."
"You famed Sirius Black didn't you?" Hermione asked, getting up and standing next to Harry. "You killed all those muggles and faked your death."
"Yes, I farmed Sirius." Pettigrew said. "He was going to kill me, things got out of hand, I was marked by the Dark Lord it was either a life as a rat or Death, either by Sirius' hands or have my soul sucked out. I didn't really know he would get blamed and marked as a Death Eater."
Harry and Hermione looked at each other, and without a word, made a plan, while Harry kept Pettigrew talking, Hermione went for the map, and as Pettigrew turned to stop her, Harry took his fist and punched him to the ground, pulling his and Hermione's wands out of his pocket as he did so. Pettigrew went to stand, but both held him down by pointing their wand's in his face.
Before anything else could happen the sound of footsteps hurrying up stairs was heard, they suddenly, the door was thrown open and Remus Lupin, James Potter, and a man with long black hair that could only be Sirius Black came rushing in the room. All, but Sirius Black had wands held out.
James looked around, saw Harry and rushed toward him and gave him a hug. "Thank Merlin, you're okay."
"Dad, people are watching." Harry mumbled, pushing James back, who laughed a little.
"Well, looks like they didn't need rescuing after all." Remus said, nodding to Pettigrew on the ground and Hermione and Harry's wands pointing at him, so did James and Remus.
"I do believe we should take this scum up to the castle." Remus said. "Let Dumbeldore call the Minster, get Sirius' name cleared up."
"NO!" Sirius Black cried.
"Do you want to go back to Azkaban?" James asked, frowning at Sirius.
"I spent 12 years of my life in Azkaban!" Sirius cried. "All because of this two-faced, back stabbing bastard, he deserves nothing less than death!"
"Sirius-"
"No, James!" Sirius cried. "Remember what he did, he almost cost Harry his life, what about Neville? Alice and Frank? He deserves death."
"What good will that do Sirius?" James demanded. "You kill him, we have no proof you are innocent. And you go right back to that hell you've been living in the last twelve years."
"He's right Sirius." Remus said. "Think about it, please. You won't go back, you'll lose your soul, remember the paper this morning, Fudge order the Dementor kiss for you if caught."
"Padfoot, do it for me." James said, "For Remus." Sirius who had his wand pointing at Pettigrew's head the whole time was looking back and forth from Sirius to Remus, wand dropping a little. "For Harry, Sirius you've missed so much of his life, you broke out to keep him safe from Pettigrew."
Finally, Sirius dropped his wand, James let out a breath and Remus patted him on the back. Then both he and James reached down and pulled Pettigrew to his feet.
"Lets get this fifth up to the castle." James said. He turned to Harry and Hermione. "You two follow behind us."
Sirius picked up the wand Pettigrew dropped when Harry punched him and pointed it at his back as James and Remus headed up the stairs, Harry and Hermione with them. They walked in silence through the tunnel, when they made it out the sun was starting to set. Hermione was breathing pretty heavy and holding her side, the decided to let her rest a moment before heading to the castle.
"Set and don't move." James said, shoving Pettigrew to the ground, Remus and Sirius pointed their wands at him.
"How did you guys know where to find us?" Hermione asked, sitting on the ground, James at next to her to check out her side.
"Your red haired friend, that Weasley boy, Rob." Sirius said.
"Ron." Harry said. "How did he-"
"Found Hermione's book." James said. He pushed on Hermione's said and gasped.
"My book?" Hermione frowned. James smirked at him.
"Ron found your book under a tree took it to McGonagall and convinced her something had to be wrong." He explained. "Cause, Hermione just wouldn't toss a book like that." His words, not mine." James laughed a little as Hermione glared at him.
"Anyway, we looked around for you all." James said. "They both came busing in Dumbledore office to report you two missed, we checked all over, then Sirius thought maybe we should check the Shack."
"Good thing we did too." Sirius added.
"I don't think our rubs are broke, but they are burised pretty good."James stood and held his hand out to help, Hermione up.
"How?"
"I had to take some healing training to become an auror." James answered before she could ask. He turned to Harry.
"How's your head?" He asked, reaching out and touching it, Harry gasped and stumbled, James grabbed his arm to stop him from falling.
"I think we should get on up to Hogwarts." He said. "Pomfrey needs to check over you too, heal you."
"I'm fine." Harry said. "Dad, how come you never told me he was a Werewolf."
"That's not really your business is it, son?" James raised his eyebrow at Harry.
"JAMES!" Sirius suddenly cried, pointing, all three looked to see, Lupin going rugged, shaking. He fell to the ground, shaking, Harry could actually hear his bones popping and snapping as he changed shape, Harry looked up to the sky to see a full moon. Lupin was changing into a werewolf.
"Harry, get Hermione and get out of here." James cried. He gave Harry a little push. "NOW!"
"JAMES, LOOk OUT!" Sirius cried, Remus was now a full werewolf and had jumped up at James, put Sirius turned into a dog and caught him in mid air, knocking Remus to the ground, then bit his arm and took off running toward the woods, the werewolf Lupin went chasing him.
"You guys go, I have to help Sirius." James said, he turned into a stag and took off running were Sirius and Remus went.
"Harry, maybe we should listen-" Hermione started, but a sudden scream cut her off. "We need to get help"
"No time, Hermione, I have to help me dad." Harry took off running toward the scream.
"Harry, come back, please!" Hermione of course followed.
Harry and Hermione ran through the woods, until they came up on a clearing by the lake, Werewolf Lupin was nowhere to be found, but James and Sirius were laying on the ground, five or six dementors hovering above them as they cried and shook.
"Dad, Sirius!" Harry pulled out his wand and ran forward, he tried the spell, but nothing but sliver sparks flew out of his wand. "Come on, Come on!" Harry said, a couple of the dementors came at him, he dropped to his knees, again hearing screaming.
"HARRY!" Hermione cried out. Harry was able to ignore the screaming long enough to look over to see Hermione on the ground, a dementor inches from her face. But he was too weak to do anything, the dementors were taking all his strength.
Suddenly Harry heard a cry from across the lake, looked to see someone, but couldn't make it out for the bright silver light heading his way, then all went black.
AN. I decided to end thrid year so one or two more chapters and that will be yet, and I'll start fourth year. Also, I changed the Shack seen different, cause since they figured out Sirius was innocent it wouldn't make much sense for him to drag them in the shack. Hope it was good.