Chapter 21 Halloween and the Rat
Thanks to my betas, darrelldeam and alix33, checking this over. All mistakes are my own. Remember the rewrite doesn't have a beta.
Woohoo, two chapters in one day, but like I said, I'm trying to get this up before I lose my internet.
There might be a few mistakes in this one, since I only read over it a few times. I read it until my eyes went googly, so if you see something, feel free to let me know.
Hphphp
October 31, 1991 Hogwarts
The month flew by with nothing important happening. School went on in it's usually manner of lessons and studying. The Mutineers were tighter than ever and all efforts from Dumbledore to break them up were negated by their favorite gossips, Parvati and Lavender, who made sure to counterattack whenever they heard anything bad being said. Those two were Merlin sent. They were very good at what they did. It was only the few times that it happened and it was more of the same. Gary was doing such and such as to not alienate his brother. The only people who seemed to be paying attention were those that hated the Boy-Who-Lived on principle.
So far they were being taught DADA by the Headmaster, who made sure to praise Gary every chance he got, and downplay Harry's accomplishments. He didn't do it often, just enough to get tongues wagging. The Gryffindor gossip queens were just as quick to stop the rumors.
It was now time for Halloween, which was a time of celebration for the Potter family. They felt this was the day that they survived and became stronger for it. They also knew that this was night when they gained a very special friend in Sally. So when the day started the Potter twins delved into it with gusto. They were so excited. They were going chat with their parents and Sally this night and share stories about years gone by. Not that they didn't mirror call their parents often, but on tonight Sally would bring those that died to join them. It was now an annual tradition.
Hphphp
It was at lunch that a kink came up, which made the excitement a little less. A special edition of the Daily Prophet came with the headline:
The Boy-Who-Lived Turns Down Quidditch for Lesser Brother
By: Rita Skeeter
The article that followed blasted the Potters for the way they raised a selfish child and made the readers think that Gary didn't care about anyone else —except Harry. Rita had a way of twisting words to make the reader feel as if they should be more important than anything else, and that celebrities should be thinking of others, and not their fame or family. It had quotes —all anonymous of course— that stated that Gary was a stuck-up brat that only thought of himself and Harry.
This was only a minor bump in their day, the twins knew that their parents would sue the pants off this woman and in doing so it would make her look like a liar. The youngest Potter looked around the Hall and could see that a large majority of the student body were outraged on their behalf. He could only think that it was thanks to Pandora's crystals that they were thinking for themselves and not being led like sheep.
"Wow, she is really going to get in trouble for this one," Gary thought to his brother. He could feel Harry laughing his arse off through the link.
"You should hear what Padma is saying. That girl could peel rust off a pipe with the words coming out of her mouth," Harry sent back with a chuckle clear in the projection.
"Our Gossip Queens are already starting a rebuttal," the younger twin sent back, after looking at the two he mentioned, who had their heads together and were whispering frantically at one another.
"Look at Dumbledore," Harry thought to him. "He looks happy about this. I'll bet he was the one to leak the story. Too bad he probably did it via an unsigned letter and we'll never know."
"I wonder what took him so long. I am beginning to believe he has gone senile," the Gryffindor thought as he looked at the Staff Table. Sure enough the conniving old man did have a smug look about him. Gary nudged Parvati with his foot and jerked his chin towards Dumbledore.
She narrowed her eyes when she saw that face and her plotting with Lavender became even more excited.
The Headmaster turned his gaze to the red and gold table and his face morphed into one of pity, like he was feeling bad about the article instead of satisfied. So the younger twin gave him a hurt look, as if the paper had did what the man had been hoping for and made a dent in his bond with Harry. "Hey, if he looks at you try and look weak and pathetic, like you feel guilty for holding me back."
"Yeah, I can do that," came Harry's smug reply and his face took on such a look, to the confusion of the Mutineers around him. He just shook his head slightly and lipped 'later' so they would understand.
These actions actually garnered them more support. The students saw the forlorn faces of the twins, heard the gossip coming from the Gryffindor table, which said that the poor boys were being prosecuted unfairly. Many swore they would try and make them feel more welcome.
Meanwhile, the twins were laughing their arses off at whispers knowing that this was one more plot that didn't work.
Gary peeked to Ron and noted that he was behind the article 100%, which made him stop laughing. It was never easy to lose friends. He sent a mental prod to his brother to remind him that there were some that believed this garbage.
The rest of the day was spent fending off supporters on both sides. The Gryffindor twin was happy to hear Hermione berate Ron and Seamus for thinking exactly what Rita wanted them to. She still went back and forth between the estranged groups, never really settling for one or the other. She was more than happy to learn and help. Her bossiness dimmed some, but it was such a deep part of her that most learned to ignore it.
Gary had to wonder just what was said at the Weasley household that could make such an impression on the kids. They were like complete opposites, the Weasley twins were supporters of the Potters and Ron and Percy were supporters of Dumbledore. To the younger twin it only made sense that the adults in that house were equally divided. If he had to guess, it was Mr. Weasley that thought that maybe the Potters were right, while his wife took the Headmaster's side. He just hoped it wasn't important enough to split that family completely.
Harry was getting tired of play acting like the hurt brother, but was happy that the Mutineers defended the twins' right to choose what they wanted, and the rest of the Wizarding World could just bugger off.
Hphphp
Later that day, study hall was a noisy affair and very little work got done. Gary slipped out early so he could get some peace and quiet and was wandering the halls. It was as he was roving that it came to him that Rita must have been in the school, yet he never saw her. Sure she probably got the tip from Dumbledore, but there were quotes from the students. Being the smart boy he was, he automatically figured out that the woman was an Animagus and made a mental note to tell all the Mutineers to check their maps daily to keep a look out for her. He was pulled from his thoughts when he heard his name called.
"Potter," came a male voice from behind as the sound of footsteps hurried to catch up with him.
Since he didn't recognize who was calling him, Gary's hand was at the ready to cast a defensive wandless spell if needed. He turned to the voice and saw an upper-year Slytherin approaching him.
The older dark-haired boy stood a good two heads above the shorter first year. His face was chiseled; giving him a hard appearance and making him look threatening. It also made Gary more cautious. He had nothing against Slytherins, but he knew that some of them were not to be trusted.
"Yeah?" the non-Boy-Who-Lived asked, trying to look innocent. His hand was hidden in his robe at his side still charged with magic, just in case.
"Forgive me if I startled you. I just wanted to introduce myself, and give you a belated welcome to Hogwarts. I was hoping that we could be friends. My name is Adam Goddard, please to meet you," the Slytherin said, holding out his hand.
Gary looked on the older boy's face and saw no falsehoods. So he released the magic back into himself, relaxed and took the offered hand. "Gary Potter, glad to make your acquaintance" he said with confidence as he shook with the boy's hand in a firm business-like manner, making sure to speak formally.
"Pleasure," Adam stated, returning the handshake in kind. "So… friends?"
"I would like it if we were at least not enemies. However, due to my very unwanted status I am very cautious about making instant friends," the messy-haired boy stated with a small smile. "You are more than welcome to join our study group and if you get along with everyone else, you will be welcome to the Potters as a friend of the family."
Being the pure-blood that Adam was, he knew just what the young man was saying about making immediate friends. It was much the same as his father told him over the years. So he nodded his head in understanding. "I will be more than happy to take you up on that offer. I wanted to make sure that you knew that not all Slytherins were out to get you. And that some of us would like to be in your… group. We feel that the House rivalry has gone on long enough. Some of us know that it has not always been such and want it to go back to the way it was before this great rift started," he stated hoping to convey that not all from his House were evil, like the rest of the school thought. To his surprise Gary chuckled.
Gary shook his head to ward off the hurt he could see in the upper-year's face and said in a much more casual tone, "No, no, I'm not laughing at you, but didn't you notice that there are over fifteen of your Housemates in our study group? We welcome all students as long as they get on well with one another. Hey, do you have one of the guided meditation crystals? I can hook you up with one if you want," he said as a peace offering for laughing at the young man.
"No, my father felt they were useless. However, I would be more than happy to take you up on that."
"Sure thing, come to the study group tomorrow, bring your friends, and I'll have a few I keep handy as gifts," Gary offered and gave a final nod of his head. "I have to get back to the group, they'll send out a search party for me sooner or later."
"Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. To tell you the truth, from what the paper was saying, I didn't think it would be this easy," Adam replied and with a nod of his head. He then turned and went back the way he came.
'Well that was different,' Gary thought and with a shake of his head started back to the Great Hall.
Hphphp
It was later that night and tables were laden down with all sorts of sugary treats. The food was all made to look festive. There were Lady's fingers with sugar bandages, pumpkins filled with candy, grape eyeballs that moved, witches' hats that laughed, candy made to move like bugs, orange spiced biscuits shaped like pumpkins and bats, the occasional fruit bowl made to look like wiggling body parts, chicken legs made to look like zombie legs, ham cut in the shape of jack-o-lanterns, pasta made to look like either snakes or worms and other Halloween styled food. All this moving food was disconcerting for the Muggle-raised, but seeing the wizard-raised not batting an eye at it, they soon relaxed.
The Hall was decorated with large jack-o-lanterns instead of candles. Bats were seen in the light of the sky like ceiling. And every ghost in the castle was wandering about the tables, telling tales of Halloweens past. Children's laughter filled the air. Stories of deceased relatives were passed along; as it was wizard custom to honor the dead on this night.
The magic was so encompassing that everyone could feel its warm embrace. The castle seemed to literally sing with a song of happiness.
All and all it was a magical meal.
After the feast the Headmaster stood to give a speech. He waited until all heads turned his way and started. "Now that we have eaten our fill, a toast to Gary Potter, who on this night rid us of an evil Dark Lord," he said as he raised his glass towards Gary.
Gary blushed, shook his head, stood and held his hands up to stop the cheering. "No, don't toast me," he stated to the shock of the now quiet room. "I didn't do anything that warrants it. If you must recognize anyone, toast my mum. It was she that cast the spell to protect the children she loves. Or salute the people who died in that war. Give tribute those who lost their live while fighting against Voldemort. Praise the Aurors, who died protecting the Wizarding World. Remember those that fought other Dark Lords. But, don't give glory to a child that did nothing except sit in his crib and simply didn't die," he said in his loudest most passionate voice, conveying that he meant every word he uttered.
As one the Mutineers all stood and raised their glasses to the dead. Slowly others followed and soon statements such as 'To Mrs. Potter…', 'To my Uncle Stuart…', 'To my Mum…', and 'To Alexia Bones who died…' filled the air as they raised their glasses and paid tribute.
Gary nodded his head and joined in, glancing at the very disgruntled looking headmaster, and internally smirked.
After the acknowledging was done, a strange music surrounded the Great Hall. Everyone looked around to see where it was coming from. Suddenly twenty-two ghosts appeared in the front of the Staff Table. Some were recognized as relatives that were killed in the war. Others wore clothes or uniforms of old times. You could see battle wounds and reasons for death on many of them, though none too gruesome.
The presences were formed in tiers, like a choir, and they started to sing. They sang about love and devotion to family and moved on to wars gone by. Their voices were so beautiful that none of the staff tried to stop them. Soon enough there were only a few dry eyes in the room.
Harry and Gary noted that Sally was standing in front of the choir waving a baton and guiding them. They would ask her later what was going on.
After the choir was done, the spirits that had family in the student body moved off to join them. The others dispersed around the Hall and talked to whoever asked them a question.
Dumbledore was talking to Professor Watts, trying to find out how these specters appeared in his castle. Since they came the same way she did, he felt she would know. He regretted the fact that he couldn't read the minds of ghost. Isobel just kept shaking her head and stating she had nothing to do with it.
It was around ten p.m. that the feast ended, and the students went to their dorms, all excitedly chatting about what occurred.
After doing his nighttime ritual, Gary went to his bed. He cast a Muffliato, got his mirror out and activated the security rune—one can never be too careful. "Harry Potter."
"What's up, Gary?" his brother said, appearing in the mirror, in much the same manner of dress.
"Did you know Sally was going to do that?" Gary asked as he nestled down into his pillows, it had been a long day.
"Nope. Not a clue. She isn't there with you?"
"Nope. I was hoping she was there with you since it is your night. That's way I'm on the mirror. I wanted to ask her what the ghosts were all about," he answered.
"Hmmm, I wonder if she is keeping those new apparitions here," Harry mused, also snuggling into his pillows.
"Don't know, I hope so, maybe she is thinking they could be spies for us," Gary said thoughtfully.
"And you would be correct," Sally said as she appeared sitting cross-legged on Gary's bed.
"Are all of them from this past war?" Harry asked, perking up at that bit of news. Professor Watts had put the love of History in the boys and spirits were a fountain of information.
"No, some of them are from Grindelwald's war. They wanted to come and confirm what Isobel is teaching you guys. There are even some who knew Tom when he was here in Hogwarts," she replied, bouncing in place making her pigtails bob up and down, reminding Gary what he wanted to talk to her about.
"Hey, Sally, I was wondering. Do you always look like a six year old? I mean, I've seen your bony body, but…" he trailed off as he tilted his head to the side and waited for her answer.
"I can change my appearance to whatever I want," she quirked an eyebrow at him, making her look adorable.
"Well… don't get me wrong, you are cute, but I was thinking you could, ummm, you know, age with me and Harry. Or even a few years older. I mean I love you to death, no pun intended, but it is hard to take training serious when you're taking orders from a six year old girl," Gary said quickly, hoping he didn't offend her.
Sally got a thoughtful look on her lovable little face and slowly aged right before Gary's eyes. She still looked like an innocent child, but now appeared to be the age of the twins. Her tiny pigtail's grew longer and didn't bob quite as much. Her dress, while still in a baby-doll style, became longer in the skirt and straighter in the blouse, not quite as many ruffles. Her shoes and stocking remained the same.
"How's that?" she asked with a cute little scrunch of her nose.
"Much better, now I feel like you're equal to me, and not like I'm beating up some little kid," Gary answered and turned the mirror so Harry could see the changes.
"Yeah," Harry added his two Knuts' worth, "you look like someone I'd date, you know, if I was old enough." His cheeks reddened with embarrassment.
Sally just laughed and shook her head. "You mean if I was young enough. Remember, even though I look eleven, I'm as old as the earth," she said, reminding them just who she was.
"It is still weird fighting a girl," Gary added as he viewed her with a wary eye.
"There are female Death Eaters, get over it," she said sharply.
The boys nodded sagely and Harry brought the topic back to the ghosts. "So, those new guys are your spies?" he asked.
"Yup, they wanted to come back and look after the kids. They said if Isobel was given the chance, they wanted one as well. I tried sending Moaning Myrtle on, but she wanted to stay. I did learn some of her secrets though. I'm going to have Isobel give a lecture on those tidbits of information —next year," she replied with a conspiring wink.
"Not fair," came the twin replies and pouts. "You can't give us info like that and then make us wait. That's cruel."
"Too bad, you're just going to have to wait until next year," she said smugly and with a wave disappeared.
The two boys talked for a while and then signed off to call their parents. They told the Potters what happened during the day and were told that yes they were going after Skeeter and yes their solicitor told them she was in violation of the restraining order and she would more than likely get a fine and some jail time. They also told the boys that their rebuttal was already on the way to the Prophet and the Quibbler and they were going to do and interview with the Wizarding Wireless.
They all talked until midnight, and when the witching hour approached, they gave thanks to the dead. Sally brought some of the relatives, and they all had a nice reunion. It was about 2 a.m. that the twins signed off, started their crystals and went to sleep.
November 1, 1991
It was the next night and Gary was sitting on his bed, he had already talked to his parents and Harry. Now, he just wanted to lay down with his crystal and go to sleep. But he couldn't, it was his night with Sally, and she would be here any minute.
"Gary, all your dorm-mates are asleep, come on. Quietly," Sally said, holding out the invisibility Cloak. "Bring your map we're leaving the tower tonight. I've found a new place to go. I'll explain while we walk," she ordered softly. "You're probably going to have to wait awhile, but I don't want you to go to sleep, so to the common room with you."
Gary nodded to show he understood. He grabbed his mirror, his map and his wand. He took the Cloak, tucked it in his robes, and then followed Sally down to the common room. There were still a few people hanging about, one was Hermione. He went, sat across from her, and gave a nod in greeting.
"Why are you up so late?" the bushy haired girl asked, placing the book she was reading onto her lap.
"I just felt like sitting by the fire. I could ask you the same," Gary replied, making a show of warming up by sticking his feet near blazing fire. It was actually cold in the room so it was a good enough excuse.
"Doesn't your room have a stove? Ours does and it keeps the room warm enough," Hermione asked, tilting her head to the side in confusion. She thought all the rooms were the same.
"Of course it does, but there is nothing like looking into the flames of an open fire," Gary defended, turning to face her so as to not seem rude.
"Oh, well yes I guess I understand that," she said with a small blush.
"Thanks, by the way, for sticking up for me and Harry, about the article," the young boy said with a heartfelt voice, sincerity showing on his face and in his expressive jewel green eyes.
"That's okay," Hermione said, more pinkness staining her cheeks. "It was no bother. I just don't understand why Ron is so adamant that you play Quidditch. I can't seem to make him understand that studying and family are important. You'd think with a family as large as his he would understand that." She folded her arms and sat back on her chair with a slight huff.
"I don't either. I mean, I've never showed that I wanted to play. We've had been friends for years. We went to the same non-magical school. He used to hang out at our house and play with me and the gang. I'm not sure what happened, but once we got to Hogwarts he and Seamus just stopped hanging around us. I think it has something to do with some of the people in our study group being from other Houses," he said with a shrug, knowing full well that that was the reason, but not wanting to bad mouth his ex-friend to someone who hung around him.
"Well, that's just stupid," the bushy-haired girl said, flopping further back on the chair and pouting at the absurdity of boys.
"You didn't answer my question, why are you still up?" Gary asked, changing the subject.
"Oh, well I didn't know it was this late until you came down. I must have got caught up in my reading. This is one of the books Professor Watts recommended, the one that tells of the Dark Lords. You're in here you know. Only a sentence or two, but it is your name," she said excitedly, bouncing in place. It was always exciting meeting someone mentioned in her books.
Gary looked at her blandly and said, "Yes, I know."
"Aren't you excited that your name is in print?" she asked in a very confused voice.
"No," he deadpanned with a blank look.
Hermione's face took a crestfallen look. She looked thoughtfully at the book, then at Gary and wondered why he would react like that. There was a bit of hurt in her eyes that the messy-haired boy noted.
"Look, I'm sorry I was short with you," he apologized. "But fame isn't everything people make it out to be. Besides, my parents have been trying to tell the public for years that they have no idea which of us got hit that night," he explained, not wanting to alienate the girl.
This made the first year girl perk up. That was defiantly not something written in the books she had read. "Really, well then why do all the books say it was you?" there was a lace of doubt in her voice, but she was happy to talk to the source.
"Dumbledore," came the short answer, like it was supposed to answer everything about the situation. It did— to the Potters and the Mutineers, but not to an outsider.
"Well, if he says it must have been you, then maybe he knows. Why would he say it unless it was true?" she asked completely confused as to why the boy would be so… blank when it came to the famed man. Everyone knew that the Headmaster was the greatest wizard of this time.
"He wasn't even there," the boy said and then waved it away, "Look, I don't want to talk about this anymore, just don't believe everything you read about me, okay?" He looked back to the fire and ended the conversation.
Hermione harrumphed, grabbed up her book and stomped up the stairs to the girl's dorm.
The tired firstie glanced around the red and gold common room and noticed that everyone was getting ready to go to bed. Percy was making his way to the stairs, and stopped to remind him not to stay up late, then continued on his way.
Gary waited a good ten minutes before he donned the Cloak and followed Sally out the door. They made it to the Room of Requirements. The embodiment of Death happily explained how she had found the room with the help of the Founders and now it was going to be used for training.
The room Sally called up was nothing special, just a large open room with gym mats on the floor and walls. There were various items scattered about; like chairs, books, rocks of all sizes and statues, to use as shields or weapons. However, Gary made a note to investigate further when he wasn't training. If what Sally said was true, there were no limits to the type of rooms he could call. Maybe even a room with a pool.
Sally stood to the side and watched a dummy to start cursing Gary. She shouted encouragement or instructions on whether to duck or fight, which spell to use or which item was best to use as a shield. Gary would wandlessly and wordlessly call the items to him or banish them to the dummy. He would dodge the spell fire or send spells back if he saw an opening.
They worked out for about two hours. When they were done, Gary got an idea and asked the Room to provide him with a shower. After he cleaned himself off, he stood at the door and pulled out the map. Even though he had the Cloak, he didn't want to run into any roaming teacher. After his revelation about Rita yesterday, he took an extra careful look at the map. He looked at the path to the tower and saw it was clear.
And then he noticed it, out of the corner of his eye —a yellow dot, with the name of Peter Pettigrew.
It was in his room.
Ron's rat.
Gary pulled out his mirror. "James Potter" he whispered, like Peter was in the same room as him. He had to repeat himself three times, getting louder with each call. Finally his dad answered.
"Gary?" the sleep worn man asked as he gave a big yawn. "Why are you calling this late?"
"Dad, you need to call Madam Bones," the youngest Potter said, sinking to the floor in relief.
That got James' attention. "Why? Are you and Harry alright? What happened?" he asked, waking his wife to call the Head of the DMLE.
"Peter Pettigrew is in my dorm," he answered a bit calmer now that he was sitting and had his dad talking to him. He knew he could take on the man, but he was raised to let the adults handle adults.
"What?!" James shouted, startling his wife. Gary heard her asking what was wrong as she tried to wake Amelia. "Gary said that Wormtail is in his dorm," he relayed to her, and her calls got more frantic. The oldest Potter then turned back to his son. "Are you sure?" he asked.
"Yeah, I was on my way back to bed, after training with Sally—she found this super cool room— and I remembered yesterday that Rita Skeeter might be an Animagus. So I was keeping an extra look out for that. That's when I saw Peter's name. Dad, I can't stay here, someone will notice and ask why I'm out of my dorm," Gary explained, rubbing his hand through his hair. He really wanted to march to his dorm room and attack the traitor.
"Look at the map, is the coast clear?" his dad asked in a much calmer voice.
Lily was explaining to Amelia what was going on.
"Yes, there's no one on this floor. Snape is two floors down and Filch is three floors up," Gary answered, his eyes trained on any part of the map not his room.
"Good, be quick and go to your common room. If you hear someone, pretend you were asleep on one of the couches," James softly ordered.
"Okay, okay, I can do that," Gary said, standing up, donning the Cloak and taking another deep breath. He put the mirror in his pocket, still activated and he glanced at the map once again. Seeing the coast was clear, he folded it and tucked it away. He then quickly made his way to the dorm. He glanced around the halls, as if, any second now, the wanted man would jump out of the shadows and kidnap him. His wand was firmly gripped in his hand, if that unlikely scenario happened, he'd be ready.
"Quickly now," came the muffled advice from his pocket, even though his dad couldn't see a thing.
The firstie made it to the portrait of the Fat Lady, gave the password and ignored her inquiry as to who was there. He scrambled in the door, handed the Cloak to Sally, and swiftly made his way to the couch. He laid down and put a blanket over his legs.
Sally gave him a thumb's up and disappeared.
"Gary," came his mother's voice.
"Oops, sorry, Mum," Gary said, pulling the mirror from his pocket and then remembered to put the security on.
"Gary, Amelia wants to know how we know. So we had to tell her about the maps. Don't worry she has taken a vow not to reveal any of our secrets. Now, I want you to call her and show her his name. She is waiting for you. When you're done call us back and we'll keep you company until someone gets there. Don't go after Peter, you let the DMLE take care of it. We can't come. There is no logical reason that we can come up with for us to be there that we can give to the headmaster. Amelia can always say she got an anonymous tip, we can't," Lily said all in one breath.
Gary smiled and said, "Okay, Mum. I love you."
"I love you too, be careful. Call us right back. Done." And the mirror went blank.
The slightly nervous young man once again activated the security on the mirror. "Amelia Bones," he called and noted it was answered immediately.
"Mr. Potter, I hear you have a man in your room that my department is looking for," Amelia said with a raised eyebrow. You could tell she was roused from her bed as well. Her hair was out of the tight bun she usually wore it in, and she was still dressed in her night clothes.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Your parents told me you could show me his name on a… map?"
"Yes, ma'am," he said again, and pointed the mirror at the once again activated map and showed her everyone's name in his room. He then showed her where the headmaster was so she would see it was not a trick.
"Thank you, Mr. Potter. I'll take it from here. I want you to call your parents. Stay in the common room. Don't go upstairs for any reason. Do you understand?" she ordered in short and clipped sentences, already getting up to prepare to get a team together and go to Hogwarts.
"Yes, ma'am. Thank you, ma'am. Done." The mirror went blank once again and Gary called his parents. They had sat and talked for about a half an hour when Sally appeared and told him that people were coming. He said a hurried goodnight, told them he would call them when it was over, signed off, hid the mirror in the special pocket, laid down and pretended to sleep.
The portrait opened and quiet arguing voices drift through.
"My dear, I assure you there are no hidden criminals here at Hogwarts," the Headmasters voice stated as he, Madam Bones, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape and six red robed Aurors came through the hole. "The wards would have let me know," he argued, and Gary could tell he was telling the truth. Maybe it was time to update the wards.
The Headmaster and Snape were still wearing the clothes they wore that day, so Gary could tell they hadn't been to bed yet. McGonagall, on the other hand, was dressed in an old-fashioned nightgown, with a long and heavy robe, her feet covered with slippers and a sleeping hat upon her head. She did not look happy about being here at this hour.
"I've already told you, Albus, I have to investigate. I received a tip that a wanted man was here and I must clarify that," she loudly whispered back, frustration clear in her voice, like she had been repeating the same thing since she got to the castle, and knowing Dumbledore she probably had.
"Albus," the Transfiguration Professor said frostily, "it will not hurt to take a look. Do you really want to take the chance with the children's lives?"
Dumbledore sighed in defeat and waved his permission to Amelia.
Gary made a show of stretching and loudly yawning as if he just woke up. "What's happening?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Mr. Potter, why are you in the common room and not in your bed?" his Head of House asked tartly.
"I must have fallen asleep watching the fire," he said, blinking tired green eyes at her. "I was talking to Hermione and then when she went up, I just got comfortable and I guess I drifted off. I remember Percy telling me to go to bed, but I was cozy."
"Young man, do you know if there is a rat in this dorm?" Madam Bones asked quietly, as if she didn't know exactly where it was.
"Well," Gary said, tapping his finger on his chin as he pretended to think, an innocent yet confused look upon his face, "Ron has a pet rat, but I don't know if anyone else does. Why would you be looking for a rat?"
"That is none of your concern, young man. You stay right here and let the adults do their job," Amelia softly ordered, with a sly wink.
Gary's face just got more confused, but he slowly nodded to show he understood. "Are you going to wake my friends?" he asked in concern.
"We can wake the other, but the Weasley boy will have to stay. You two go and get the ones besides the redhead out. You," she pointed to the shorter one, "stay there and protect the boy. I have no idea if he has a wand or not. If you can, stun him in his sleep, but wait until the room is clear of the other boys."
The two Aurors nodded and soon enough, Neville, Dean and Seamus were herded down the stairs. They sat with Gary and asked what was going on, only to be shushed by McGonagall.
"Now, I want every nook and cranny covered, we're chasing a rat. Seal them with magic, if you know how. If he runs try and stun him. No lethal spells. We're around children. If a student gets in your way let the rat run to the next Auror. I want him alive," Amelia ordered in a harsh whisper. "You three, with me, the rest of you stay here in case you're needed. If the children get up and come downstairs corral them into one part of the room, away from the portrait. If this is who I think it is, then he might use the children as hostage. Don't let him get the chance."
"Yes, Ma'am," came the response from the remaining Aurors. They stood ready waiting for a signal.
"Is this really necessary?" the Headmaster questioned —again. McGonagall shook her head and Snape pinched the bridge of his nose.
Amelia just rolled her eyes and started going quietly up the stairs, wand ready and her Aurors at her back. The Headmaster and the Professors followed.
Gary didn't know what was going on upstairs, but after a few minutes there were shouts of 'He's running,' and 'Don't let him get way.' The students were heard saying 'What's going on' and the running of feet sounded throughout the tower. Soon enough rest of the boys started coming down the stairs and were told to go to the far corner. Gary and his roommates joined them.
Scabbers scrambled down and stopped in fright at the sight of the Professors, who had already sealed the common room.
The students looked at the scene, whispering in confusion and when Percy started forward to pick up his brother's pet, he was ordered not to touch it.
Seven shots of red light were seen going towards the rodent, but it moved just in time and headed to the kids. Who, even though they didn't know what was going on, all shuffled to the side to keep the rat from getting in the middle of them.
A barrage of red light flew towards the moving target. Students and Aurors, plus Gary, all fired stunners at the same time.
Both Gary's and one of the other stunners finally hit the scrambling rat and it dropped to the floor in mid jump.
Gary smirked and thought, 'that'll leave a bruise.'
McGonagall transfigured a pillow into a cage and Amelia floated the rat into it.
"Well, now that is enough excitement for the night," Dumbledore said, turning to the still confused students. "I think, perhaps, it is time for you to return to your beds. I will make an announcement at dinner tomorrow to inform you of what you need to know."
The students all went up the stairs grumbling and moaning that they once again didn't know what was going on. Gary went to his bed and gave a full body shudder as to what he had been sharing his room with all this time. He gave a fleeting thought as to whether or not wake his brother, but decided to tell him in the morning.
"Why did they take Scabbers? I mean, what could they want with a common garden rat?" the poor confused Ron asked, looking forlornly at his bed, missing his pet already.
"I don't know," Gary lied, his innocent mask firmly in place. "I was asleep when they came into the common room. I think I heard something about a wanted criminal, but I'm not sure."
"That doesn't make sense," the confused redhead said, shaking his head.
"Well, Ron," Neville said thoughtfully, looking out of the corner of his eye at Gary and receiving a slight nod in return, "you know that the Marauders were all Animagus, right?"
"Yeah, what about it?"
"Ron, think… what type of animal was Pettigrew? And who would the DMLE be looking for in a rat form?" the sandy-haired boy asked, shaking his head at his ex-friend. They had all heard the story about the group of friends that terrorized Hogwarts with their pranks. So it was not hard to come up with that conclusion.
"You can't mean that I've been sharing my bed with Pettigrew?" the other boy all but shouted. His face and ears were turning an alarming shade of red.
"I don't know for sure, but that's what I think. It makes sense," the Longbottom heir answered with a careless shrug and once more climbed into his bed. "Just think about it. I'm going to bed." And with that he closed his curtains and was seen no more that night.
"I'm too," Gary mumbled, not offering his unwanted opinion. He was hoping to stay as far away from the rumor mill as possible. He closed his curtains, pulled the mirror out of his pocket and called his mum. "Lily Potter."
"Oh, Gary, are you alright?" she asked quickly, scanning her baby boy's face.
"Yeah, they got him. I stayed in the common room like you guys told me to," he answered with a yawn.
"Okay, sweetie, thanks for calling us and letting us know. Go to bed, it's late. Remember to turn on your crystal. You probably really need it tonight," she said softly, relieved that it was finally over.
"Okay, Mum, tell Dad I love him. Love you too. Goodnight," the tired young man replied as he rolled towards the crystal set up on the night stand. Casting a silencing charm, he started the crystal and as Pandora's voice filled the air he heard, "Love you too, sweetie. Done." The mirror dropped on to the bed and Gary fell asleep almost instantly.
Hphphp
Gary told Harry what had happened as soon as he woke. They mirror called the Mutineers and start a daisy chain, letting them know what really happened. Also making sure that because of this they really needed to keep a closer eye on those maps. They let them know Gary's theory about Rita so that they wouldn't be caught unaware if she was around. Maybe, they should set up a schedule so that at least one Mutineer was watching the map at all times. It was something to vote on.
It was at dinner that the Headmaster did indeed make a short announcement. "I know some of you had a fright in Gryffindor Tower last night. I just wanted to say that the Department of Magical Law Enforcement has everything under control," he said, after he got everyone's attention. He then sat back down and started a conversation with McGonagall. One thing the old man didn't seem to realize is that the less information he gave, the more children's imagination ran wild and the scarier the rumors became.
The following week it was those rumors that let them know that because it was the wards that were at fault and not the Headmaster, he was not to blame and was just on probation. Sometimes the Potters wondered if there was a large Confundus Charm on the entire population of Wizarding Britain. That man seemed to get away with everything.
Hphphp
A/N: I changed quite a bit this chapter. I brought the Invisibility Cloak into play and made the mood between Gary and Hermione better, and made the twins less of cowards. The boys are still eleven and I'm not going to pit them against full-grown wizards. Not yet. However, the sobbing and fear got on my nerves so I changed it.