OOO
"About the Marauders Map... well, first things first, I suppose," Draco looked at them each quite seriously, his grey eyes taking on a severe look that Theo and Harry rarely saw. "You must promise that you will never repeat any of what we're about to tell you to anybody. Don't laugh!" He cut Fred's smirk off. "This is completely serious. We could get into a lot of trouble - and some people more than just trouble - if you run your mouths about this."
"You make it sound like you killed somebody," George replied with a skeptical look on his face.
"Just... look, Theo, isn't there anything you could do? Put a hex or spell on them to make sure they'd be quiet?"
"There's nothing I can do at my current skill level, Draco. Nothing that I could promise would work or wouldn't cause a disaster. I thought we were going to trust them?"
"Yes... but... I hate taking chances..."
"I'm with him," Harry nodded to Draco. "I mean, I like you guys," he said with a glance at Fred and George, "But sometimes it's better safe than sorry."
"We already had this discussion," Theo sighed. "Let's just get on with it!"
"Crimney! What's got you lot so nervous?" Fred looked from boy to boy. "This must be something big. I've never seen you three so worked up."
"It is big. It's... OK. Let's start with the map. Made by Mooney, Wormtail, Padfoot and Prongs, right?"
"That's what it says," Fred concurred.
"Well, we know the makers," Draco told them. "Kind of. One is dead and the others... OK. Absolute silence, right? You promise?"
"As one group of trouble-makers to another, you have our word. Besides, if you know the creators, we owe them a large debt," George grinned.
"Prongs was Harry's dad. And the other three were his friends. You see the one, well..." Draco swallowed as he got to the first major secret. "The one who went by the name Mooney was a werewolf. And so the other three, Harry's dad included, decided to become Animagi to keep him company. They did all sorts of stuff... pranks and hijinx and messing about Snape..."
"Sounds like our kind of guys," Fred laughed.
"They were. Are. You see... You see. Even though they were friends when the whole," his voice dropped to a whisper, "Voldemort thing happened, Harry's parents got betrayed by one of them."
"Sirius Black, right?" Fred nodded. "Everybody knows about that."
"NO!" Draco burst out before he could stop himself, flushing with anger. "Sirius didn't do that!"
"Draco!" Theo glared at him. "Watch it!"
"You're saying..." Fred dropped his voice at another glare from Theo. "You're saying that Black didn't do it? How do you know?"
"Because Black went by the name Padfoot. And he's..." He gestured to the dog who barked. "I've had him since I was two. Taught me half of what I know. He saved my life - literally and figuratively, as Theo would say. He didn't do it. Peter did it. Wormtail. Sirius convinced the Potters to switch and that rat sold them out. And when Sirius went to... to confront him, he screamed that Sirius did it, chopped off his own finger and fled. At least that's what Sirius thinks."
For a moment Fred and George sat in silence then burst into laughter.
"Good one. One-toed rat - sounds like that stupid animal Percy and Ron picked up. How dumb do you think we are?"
"This is serious - no pun intended!" Draco insisted. "Ask Harry and Theo - they know! We stayed at his place! Grimmauld!"
The twins looked to Harry and Theo who nodded in unison.
"So you're saying... that you've been harboring a criminal that nobody knows about... for almost a decade?" George asked.
"Pretty much."
"Awesome!" They shouted in unison.
"He must know a ton more about Hogwarts than we do!"
"Bet he has ideas we could use!"
"Can we meet him?"
"You are sure he's not a crazy murderer, right?"
"You double checked?"
"You know," Theo snapped, "I think there are more important things we should be thinking about."
"Like what?" Harry inquired.
"Like what do you think the chances are of the Weasleys taking in a rat with one toe?" He demanded. "When did you adopt him?"
"Oh, ages ago," George rolled his eyes. "I'm surprised he's not dead yet."
"Ages? That doesn't sound like a normal rat. What year?"
"Dunno exactly" Fred admitted. "Probably..." his eyes grew wide. "Probably when Ron was about two."
"We need to find that rat," Theo demanded. "We need to find it and bring it to... to somebody."
"Dumbledore?" Harry suggested.
Dragon started growling.
"Wait a second, everybody," Draco interjected. "Are you sure about this? We'll have to expose Sirius..."
"If Pettigrew shows up not dead, there's no way that he'll maintain innocence. They can use various potions on him, too."
"I don't know..." The volume of the barking increased and Draco sighed, relenting. "Fine then. Let's go find Ron. If he's in the Slytherin common room, I don't know what we can do about it, though."
"We'll use the Marauders Map," Fred said, pulling a parchment out from his bag. "That gives names as well as locations." He touched the wand to the map. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good!" Curls of ink spread across the page and Fred scanned it for what he was looking for. "The library. He's there with," his expression twisted into one of distaste, "Pansy Parkinson."
"Quickly then. Let's not waste time." Theo stood. "And keep your wands at the ready. Although - Draco? Maybe hang back with Dragon? Pettigrew might bolt if he sees you."
"Good point," Draco nodded. "You guys go first," he said to Fred and George. "Since you're his brothers. And he kinda hates us. Besides," he sighed. "I'd like to keep him from finding out about Sirius at all, if we could manage it."
"What? Why?" Theo jogged along with the twins.
"Because... well... my parents won't be too happy if they find out that Dragon and Sirius are the same. And if we use Sirius to catch Peter, they'll have to find out. I might never get to see him again." He looked down at Dragon. "I want your name to be cleared. But I don't want to have to say goodbye."
"Well... well, it could be done," Theo stated thoughtfully as they reached the castle door. "After all, the Marauder's Map shows names, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Then just say that you noticed the name of Peter Pettigrew when you were studying it and that you recognized it. Knew he was supposed to be dead, saw him with Ron, realized that he had to be Scabbers."
"That's... surprisingly plausible," Fred admitted.
"We'd have to tell people about the map, though," George pointed out.
"Better the map than Sirius if it means estranging him from Draco. Besides," Theodore considered, "It might be best if nobody knew about him being here."
"Hows that?" Harry asked as they wound their way up the stairs, their voices dropping now that they were inside.
"Because having an unmarked Animagi could be useful. That the Malfoys didn't recognize him shows that Peter must not have told many, if anybody at all, about him. The trick will be keeping whatever Peter might admit from getting out."
"Let's just focus on catching him first," Fred murmured. "I don't see him with Ron or in the Slytherin dorms."
The twins reached the library just in time to run into Ron and Pansy on their way out.
"So a Great Eagle would be nice..." He trailed off when he noticed his older brothers. "What are you two doing here?"
"Ron, where's Scabbers?" Fred asked in a voice that attempted to be casual.
"What's it to you?"
"Tell us or Lee and we will see that you regret it," George threatened impatiently.
Ron looked at them, then thought the better of refusing; he'd had too much experience with his brother's pranks to take George's threat lightly.
"I got rid of that nasty old thing. Who wants a stupid rat for a pet anyway?"
"WHAT?" The group bellowed in unison.
"I don't see how it's any of your business," he snapped, annoyed but casting a wary glance at the twins, "But I threw him into the Forbidden Forest earlier today. Probably lived, the nasty old thing, but it doesn't really matter to me."
"Shows how hygenic your family is," Pansy added. "Giving rats to their kids for pets. A disgusting lack of breeding is what that is."
"Now move aside," Ron pushed forward, "Or I'll call Madame Pince and tell her you're harassing us."
The two first year Slytherins vanished down the stairwell, a book about owls tucked under Ron's arm, leaving the others behind in disbelief.
"The Forbidden Forest?" Draco murmured in dispair. "And today! We just missed him!"
The twins glanced at each other. "We could go in... but the map doesn't cover much of the forest."
"Don't know how we'd find a single rat in all of those trees."
"Well we have to try, don't we?" Draco was getting worked up. "We can't just let him get away! What if he dies? We might never know! He'll never be cleared!"
"Draco, calm down. First, it is unlikely that he's dead," Theo tried to reassure him. "Animagi keep their minds, for the most part. He will be smarter than to get caught. And if he was just thrown in today, then he won't have had much chance to get into trouble. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he ran right back out and is trying to find his way back into a castle."
"If that's the case," Harry interjected, "Maybe Dragon should stay in your room."
"What? Why?"
"In case Peter would run into him. He would probably recognize him - and might even somehow expose him."
Draco sighed. "I guess," he muttered. "For his own good."
"Well find him," Theo stated in a cold, determined voice. "His type won't put up with the forest for long. He'll be drawn back into the wizarding world. And when he does, it will have to be Hogwarts."
"His type?" Harry glanced at Theo.
"Cowards," Theo spat with disgust.
OOO
Later that evening, while Draco was having dinner with the Hufflepuffs, Theo turned to Harry and caught him off guard.
"You know, I've been thinking..." He began.
"About what?" Harry shoved in another mouthful of kidney pie and chewed. "Dragon?"
"No. Another dog. You know - that one. The one he heard."
Harry looked at him for a moment, mouth hanging open, then swallowed and laughed. "You, thinking about that?"
"Yes. I think we should do and see it. I have... suspicions."
"You? Suggesting a venture that could..." He leaned in a whispered. "That could well get us into trouble?"
"I know, I know! If I've said it once, I've said it a hundred times - bad influence. Besides, I have an idea I want to test out."
"As much fun as it promises to be, and as much as I hate to miss out, I have Quidditch practice tonight for the first time and I don't know how long it will last. I'm sure I'll be getting bored with all the particulars that Wood thinks I don't know while you're off having fun. But I'll bet Draco would be up for it."
"He has to come anyway," Theo said as he sprinkled pepper on his potatoes. "He's the one with the cloak, remember?"
"Oh yeah. I keep forgetting about that."
"You'd better not, unless you want to get in trouble with Filch."
"Anyway, I need to run. I'll go let Draco know you want to do that on my way out. Promise to fill me in after?"
"Of course."
"Thanks." Pushing his plate away, Harry sprang up and grabbed his bag before detouring to the Hufflepuff table. Finding Draco in the center of an animated group of the Hufflepuffs they'd met the other day, he leaned over. "Theo wants to see that dog tonight, OK?" He blurted out, before dashing up to the Gryffindor dorm to retrieve his Nimbus 2000.
Draco watched him leave, surprised into silence.
"Dog?" Susan asked curiously. "I thought Theo knew about Dragon."
"Um... well..."
"Speaking of which, I haven't seen him all day. Doesn't he usually come to dinner with you?" Ernie asked innocently.
"Well... about the dog thing..." He couldn't tell them about Sirius, so he fell to the other subject for distraction. "It's the third corridor!" He whispered. "Don't tell anybody - but we heard a dog behind there and we're going to check it out tonight."
"Can we come with you?" Hannah asked brightly.
"Well..." He bit his lip. "You see... I have an invisibility cloak. Not sure if we could all fit under but... well, we can give a try can't we?" He said brightly.
Ernie and Hannah looked enthused but Susan frowned nervously.
"Won't we get into trouble?"
"Wouldn't it be worth it if we do?" Draco's voice was low and suggestive. "It's an adventure! Harry and Theo and I have them all the time! It's fun, trust me."
"I'm in," Hannah said prompty.
"The bigger the number the more likely we might be caught..." Susan started, then sighed. "Oh, fine. Once. If we get caught, though, I'll never forgive you."
"Awesome. Hufflepuff common room, half past ten. I'll let Theo know."
OOO
Eleven o'clock found five first years beneath an invisibility cloak, some more nervous than others. Dragon was not with them, whimpering at being left behind though Sirius ultimately saw the wisdom in the advice. Theo, however, had shown up with a package tucked beneath his arm that he refused to explain. The group moved along slowly so as not to allow the cloak to slip off; Susan was clutching her portion of the fabric so tightly that, Draco noticed, her knuckles were white.
"At least it expands to fit whatever we need it to cover," Draco suggested brightly. "Probably enchanted to fit... larger wizards. And such."
"That doesn't matter now. Let's see..." Theo tried the knob after they all approached in careful unison. "Locked. Well, that's no surprise. Alohomora!" The door sprang open and they stepped quietly inside.
There it was, in all of it's huge, hideous glory. Four of them recoiled but Draco stepped forward, his eyes shining when they set upon the three headed dog as it lightly slumbered.
"He's beautiful..." Draco whispered, moving towards him, hand extended as if it pet him. In a moment he'd slid out of the cloak and was visible once more.
"Draco!" Susan gasped. "Stay under the cloak!"
A low growl came from the beast and it sniffled, as if it was picking up on their scent. Then one set of large, glassy eyes opened and looked at Draco. Draco looked right in them and Susan and Ernie gasped in terror. Hannah darted out from under the cloak and went to pull him back, but before she reached him a sound came from behind her. Turning, she saw that Theo had opened up and taken out what was in the package - a sleek violin. Tucking it beneath his chin and lifting the rosin-smeared bow, Theo began to play a simple yet elegant tune.
"Look," Ernie whispered.
The dog was slowly nodding off. Coming closer, Draco petted each of its three large heads in turn. Theo, however, looked not at the dog but downward. Continuing to play, he saw was he expected.
"Just as I though," he murmured. "A trap door."
"Should we go through it?" Ernie asked haltingly. The dog was quite a sight to see, but mysterious trap doors guarded by such dogs might be too much of an adventure for him to handle.
"No. We need to know more about what might be beyond before that." He shifted keys and played another, equally soothing melody.
"What do you suggest?" Hannah asked, lifting up the cloak for her and Draco to get beneath.
"There's only one person I can think of who would know something about a beast like that," Theo said quietly.
"Hagrid!" Draco gasped.
"Exactly. Now let's get out of here; best not to press our luck too much."
Theo closed the violin up and they dashed out of the room before the dog could wake. Draco dropped Theo off at the Gryffindor common room first. As Theo turned to the Fat Lady's portrait, Draco spoke up.
"Hey."
"Yeah, Draco?"
"How did you know to bring the violin anyway?"
"Just a hunch. Looked up dog-like creatures in the library that would be big enough to make sense as guard animals and be able to make noises like the ones described. Saw the three headed one and well - you know the about Orpheus and Cerberus, right?"
"Um... no?"
Theo sighed. "Never mind Draco. Lucky guess."
"This is one of your book things, isn't it?"
"Yes. It is. Now hurry - before anybody hears us."
The four Hufflepuffs came back, Draco and Ernie watching the girls go up into their area and then sneaking into their own beds as quietly as possible.
"Fun, wasn't it?" Draco asked, pulling on his night clothes.
Ernie grinned and nodded. "I have to admit... yeah. It was. Although I think I could stand a break before the next one."
Draco laughed, quietly, then gave Dragon a pat before drifting off. The dog was quite an adventure, but now that he was back in Sirius' presence his attention was divided between wanting to know what was in that trap door and wanting to figure out a way to find Peter among all the numerous fauna in the Forbidden Forest. He was so close, Sirius' freedom was almost within their grasp... if only...
He fell asleep worrying about Sirius and, despite the fun of sharing mischief with the Hufflepuffs, he felt he couldn't be completely happy knowing Peter was free - even if is situation was no better, and possibly worse, than Sirius'.
OOO
A/N: There will be a little more character variety next chapter, promise. And things will get a little more exciting regarding Sirius and Peter in addition to the problem of the stone. :) Hope you enjoyed and that you'll stick around for the next installment. Reviews are, as always, appreciated and constructive criticism/suggestions are as well.