disclaimer-I don't own Harry Potter. It would be nice though, wouldn't it?
Chapter Twenty Five
"Ron…psst…Ron…Ron…wake up!"
"Wassamatter?" Ron asked groggily, sitting up in his bed.
Harry glanced at the three sleeping boys who shared the room with them and then back at Ron. "Come down to the Common Room with me, I need to show you something."
"Can't it wait 'til morning, mate?" Ron asked with a yawn even as he threw his blankets off and slowly felt around for his dressing gown and slippers.
"It's really important, Ron," Harry insisted. "And I can't get up to the Girl's Dormitories to tell Hermione."
"Why not?" Ron asked, stretching as he stood up.
"It's the girl's dormitory, Ron," Harry said dryly. "Why do you think?"
"My pillow promises to answer that question in eight hours," Ron replied. "But now that I'm up, what's so important that it can't wait 'til the sun is out?"
Harry gestured for Ron to follow him, and then led the red-haired boy back down to the Common Room. Harry sat in the chair that he had vacated less than ten minutes previously, Ron taking the chair next to him. The piece of parchment that was Marauder's Map quickly made its way onto the table between the two boys.
"Fred and George gave this to me after you and Hermione went to bed," Harry informed Ron. "It's a map of Hogwarts that my dad, Padfoot, and Moony made together back when they were in school. I suppose Pettigrew may have helped as well," He added as an afterthought as he pointed his wand at the parchment. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good. It shows where people are in the school…and it shows secret passages."
"I always wondered how Fred and George did it all…" Ron murmured. "Gits, they didn't even tell me about this thing. But bloody hell, Harry, do you realize the stuff we could get away with, with this thing?"
"You said the same thing about my invisibility cloak," Harry replied. "But anyway, there's a bunch of stuff you can see on this map, too. And you won't believe who I saw on it."
"Did Padfoot come back?" Ron asked instantly. "And Moony?"
Harry shook his head, his expression grim. "Wormtail."
"And you're sure? You're absolutely positive?"
"For the thousandth time: yes, Hermione!"
Hermione just shook her head, the expression on her face clearly saying that she was extremely frustrated with the current situation.
"I just can't believe this!" She finally said. "I believe that you saw Pettigrew," She said swiftly as Harry opened his mouth, looking determined. "I just can't believe that Pettigrew would be so stupid to try to break into Hogwarts again. I mean, seriously, he couldn't get to you last time because of a portrait. And from what Padfoot and Moony have said he wasn't the greatest student and a barely mediocre wizard. What on earth could make him think he'd be able to break into Hogwarts and kidnap Harry Potter?"
"I'd guess Voldemort," Harry replied. "Or Bellatrix; she's always been rather insane, from what Padfoot has told me."
It was early on Saturday morning. Harry and Ron had sat up in the common room into the early hours of the morning, and had ended up falling asleep in their armchairs. It had been Hermione, coming down for an early breakfast, who had woken them up. Now, they sat in a secluded corner of the room, where Harry had had to explain several times to Hermione the events that had transpired the previous evening exactly as they had happened.
"I wish we knew where they went," Hermione whispered, knowing the two boys would know whom she was talking about. "Maybe Padfoot and Moony would know what would make Pettigrew so insane as to believe he could succeed in getting to you, Harry. Where could they have gone?"
Hermione's voice rose in volume with her frustration until she was practically shouting at the end of her little tirade.
"Calm down, Hermione," Ron said. "We understand; Harry and I feel the same way, Harry even more so."
"I've written Dudley a letter," Harry announced suddenly. "I had to let them know that I'd be coming directly to them for the Holidays."
"You could've come home with me, mate," Ron said. "And then mum or dad could've taken us to Grimmauld Place or even Godric's Hollow to see if there was any sign of Padfoot, Moony, or your Aunt."
"Dumbledore wouldn't have allowed it," Harry replied, sounding quite certain of himself, "Not without Padfoot here to convince him." He frowned suddenly. "I don't see how Dumbledore can even have so much control over my life when he's not even my legal guardian. And stupid Pettigrew has just made things worse by continuing to show up again and again."
"But Dumbledore doesn't know about this second appearance, does he?" Hermione theorized. "Pettigrew was in a hidden passage and the only reason you saw him, Harry, was by sheer luck. Seeing as that map was made to assist in rule breaking, I highly doubt Dumbledore has anything at all like it, or even knows of its existence. You might be able to get away with going to the Weasley's, Harry."
Harry shrugged half-heartedly. "I was going to have to go to the Dursley's at some point anyway. I did promise Aunt Petunia and Dudley I would visit over Christmas. And maybe I can convince her to stop by Grimmauld Place on the way back to Little Whinging, too. Dudley's always wanted to see it…"
"And I can try and stop by the house in Godric's Hollow while I'm visiting my Aunt," Hermione added in. "It'll be worth it to get out of that stuffy house, too."
"Well that sounds like a plan," Ron said, glancing down at his watch as he spoke. "Now, seeing as there's nothing we can do about Pettigrew for now, why don't we all go down to breakfast and then to Hogsmeade? I need to get in some last-minute Christmas shopping."
"You always put everything off until last minute," Harry said with a roll of his eyes as the trio stood up. "That's not healthy, you know."
"And I'm sure you're all done with your shopping, are you, Harry?" Hermione questioned him.
"Erm…maybe…maybe not." Harry replied slowly, looking a tad sheepish. "But I meant to put it off," he was quick to add.
"Yes, I'm sure," Hermione said dryly.
"Well, are you all done with everything, then?" Harry demanded of her.
"I've already gotten presents for everyone," Hermione replied easily. "I just wanted to pick something extra up for my mum and dad. Last time we went to Hogsmeade I saw these self-flossing string mints I thought they'd like."
"You're punctuality in getting gifts for others disgusts me," Ron informed her, his tone and expression both completely serious.
After a quick breakfast, the trio made their way down to the village after being cleared by Mr. Filch. As they wandered the streets, Harry thought back to the last time they had been there. After two whole months in school, Harry had still been upset with his aunt for not telling him that Remus was going to be teaching at Hogwarts. So Harry, Ron, and Hermione had spent the entire day trying to avoid Sirius, Remus, and Ginny as they roamed the village. But now, with no idea where his surrogate family was, Harry would give just about anything to go back to that day so he could see them again.
"It's not that Hogsmeade isn't a very interesting place to be, with lots of things to do," Ron began quite suddenly, "But somehow, it was more fun last time when we had to keep dodging your aunt, Harry."
"I was just thinking the same thing," Harry replied.
"You do still both have gifts to get, you know," Hermione reminded the pair, trying to find a distraction for them. "Who all do you need to buy presents for, Ron?"
"Um…" Ron furrowed his eyebrows. "Let's see, there's mum…dad…ooh, I've been meaning to pick something up for Charlie, and Bill, too. Oh, and then there was that sugar quill Percy had his eye on last Hogsmeade visit; I thought I'd get it for him. Then I've got to get something for Fred and George, as well. And Ginny, too!"
"So basically you've got to buy presents for your entire family?" Hermione questioned. "Have you done any Christmas shopping at all, Ronald?"
"Yes," Ron said reproachfully. "I got your present ages ago. Oh yeah, I've got to get you something too, Harry."
Hermione sighed heavily. "This is going to take a while…"
"Hiya Harry!" Dudley greeted his dark-haired cousin enthusiastically as soon as he crossed the barrier from platform 9 ¾ back into the muggle world, ready to begin Christmas break. "Did you miss me?"
"He's cried himself to sleep every night since September, that's how much he missed you," Ron spoke up before Harry could open his mouth to reply, as the redhead stepped out of the barrier directly behind his friend.
"That means a lot, you know, Harry," Dudley said with a wide smile.
"Hi Aunt Petunia," Harry said brightly, totally ignoring his cousin and turning to his aunt instead. "Thanks so much for picking me up. Have you been drugging your son?"
"It's all part of being a family, Harry," Petunia replied. "Now, have you got all of your things?" Harry nodded. "Well then we should be going, it's a bit of a drive back."
Harry turned to Ron and Hermione, who were both standing beside him. "See you after break."
"Happy Christmas, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, throwing her arms around his neck briefly.
"What she said, mate," Ron told him. "Have fun."
Harry turned to go, then spotted Ginny standing behind her older brother. "Merry Christmas, Ginny!" He called over his shoulder, causing the younger redhead's face to turn bright red. He quickly caught up with Dudley, he kept up a steady stream of information of just about everything that had been going on in his life since the pair had last seen each other. Most of it Harry already knew from letters, but he knew that Dudley was just stopping himself from asking the questions of his cousin that he knew Harry couldn't answer in such a public place. That no longer applied, however, once they were safely in Aunt Petunia's car.
"Why'd you ask to stay with us the whole break, Harry?" Dudley asked immediately. "What about your Aunt Ginny and all them? Don't you want to see them?"
"Well, you are my family, Dud, why wouldn't I want to spend time with you?" Harry replied sweetly.
"Uh…dad." Dudley said, as if this was the obvious answer.
"Minor details," Harry said with a wave of his hand. "But anyway, Aunt Ginny, Padfoot, and Moony all went somewhere and I haven't seen or heard from them in almost two months."
"Oh dear, I hope they're all alright," Aunt Petunia said, looking concerned. "I wish there was something we could do, but I'm sure you've tried contacting them already."
Harry nodded. "Funny you should say that, though. I was wondering if you could stop by Grimmauld Place—you know, Padfoot's house here in London—to see if there's any sign of them at all."
Aunt Petunia glanced at her watch. "No, I don't think that would be a problem at all."
"Yes!" Dudley said excitedly, "Finally, I get to see the inside of a real wizard's house."
"You've seen Aunt Ginny's house at Godric's Hollow," Harry reminded him as Aunt Petunia changed their course.
"But that was just a normal house. You've told me what kind of wizards your godfather's family was. It'll be so different."
"Well, if dark magic is what you're into…" Harry said with a shrug.
"No son of mine cares a thing about dark magic," Aunt Petunia stated immediately.
"'Course not, mum," Dudley said easily.
The rest of the car ride was spent in silence until, finally, Aunt Petunia pulled the car into Grimmauld Place.
"Are you both going to come in with me?" Harry asked his aunt and cousin.
"I think I'll sit this one out and let you boys go on your own," Aunt Petunia replied. "I feel a bit like having a nap now, anyway."
"You have fun with that, mum," Dudley said brightly, following his cousin out of the car.
The two boys slowly approached the dark house…well, Harry approached it slowly. Dudley couldn't see it at all, and therefore followed Harry, matching his slow pace. Harry came to a quite sudden halt just in front of number 12.
"The house is under something called the Fidelius Charm," Harry explained to his cousin. "Which means that someone called a Secret Keeper is the only person who knows where the house is. You can only see the house if the Secret Keeper tells you where it is. I'm not the Secret Keeper, Aunt Ginny is. But I'm pretty sure that I can just lead you into the house; that should work."
"Should?" Dudley questioned, the uncertainty in his cousin's tone making him nervous.
"Just shut your eyes and trust me," Harry replied, grabbing Dudley's arm.
Still walking slowly, just in case he was wrong about being able to bring Dudley into the house, Harry led his cousin up the front steps. And, after a tap of his wand, in through the front door. Back in the car, Aunt Petunia's eyes were drifting shut, but they flew wide open when she saw both boys disappear into midair with no warning. Shrugging to herself, she settled back into her seat; she never had understood her sister's world.
Meanwhile, inside of the house, Dudley made to open his mouth, but Harry hurriedly slapped his hand over his cousin's mouth, gesturing with his other hand for Dudley to keep quiet. He then silently led the way down the hall and into the passage leading towards the basement kitchen. Once the door was safely shut behind them, Harry removed his hand from Dudley's mouth.
"Sirius's mother doesn't like to be disturbed," Harry informed his cousin.
"I thought his mum was dead?" Dudley said, mystified.
"Insane portrait."
"Oh…"
Looking around the kitchen now, Harry saw that it was impeccably cleaned. It didn't quite have a lived-in feeling, but Harry could tell that Kreacher had been through here quite recently. With that thought, Harry had a sudden idea.
"Kreacher?" Harry called in a loud voice. "Can you come here?"
With a loud crack, the old house-elf appeared in front of Harry.
"Master Harry, sir!" The elf cried. "Kreacher was thinking that the masters and mistress all abandoned him forever. The mistress left ages ago and never came back. And Master Sirius promised Kreacher he would be home for Christmas, but he hasn't come yet."
"So, you haven't seen Aunt Ginny or Sirius or Remus?" Harry asked downhearted. Kreacher shook his head. "Neither have I. I was hoping that at the very least Aunt Ginny might have left something here explaining what was going on."
Kreacher's eyes widened suddenly, and he turned to the kitchen table, which was piled high with what Harry guessed was every copy of the Daily Prophet since the last time Kreacher had had company in this house.
"Kreacher found a note, Master Harry, sir," Kreacher told Harry. "It had Master Harry's name on it. Kreacher found it when he cleaned Mistress Ginny's room last week. Kreacher wanted to wait until Mistress came home, but then Kreacher thought Mistress would be pleased with Kreacher for keeping the house clean while she was gone."
"Where is the note now, Kreacher?" Harry asked.
"Kreacher will get it for Master Harry," Kreacher replied, trotting over to the kitchen table and deftly pulling an envelope out from under a stack of newspapers. He handed it to Harry. "Your letter, Master Harry."
As soon as Kreacher handed Harry the letter, the dark-haired boy couldn't explain the feeling he felt. He could no longer quell the hope rising in his chest. Finally, he was going to get some answers.
a/n-Just a bit of an explanation: I know Kreacher was really devoted to Mrs. Black and I really couldn't picture him calling anyone other than her 'Mistress' but I couldn't think of anything else for him to call Ginny. Also, with the change of heart he's had about Sirius, I think it would be reasonable to that he would no longer consider Ginny to be a blood-traitor. Hope you liked the chapter!
Rewritten 8/11/12