Chapter Fifty-Seven – Pettigrew Revealed
Harry stood in the center of the headmaster's office. Blaise and Millie flanked his sides, and all three waited with their heads bowed. They were not alone. Ron Weasley was had been brought there as well, though he'd put some distance between himself and the trio. From beneath his fringe, Harry chanced occasional glances at the Gryffindor. Each time he dared, he found Ron directing an angry glare in his direction. Ron was not putting on the same act of penitence as the others. And why should he? It was Harry's fault that he'd been mixed up in this situation.
They were listening to a conversation, or rather an argument, between the adults that had gathered around the headmaster's desk. Naturally, Dumbledore was there, his elbows resting on the smooth surface before him, fingers laced as he calmly observed Mrs. Zabini rant against Minister Fudge. Snape stood at the headmaster's side, silent but for the occasional comment that seemed designed to add fuel to the fire of Mrs. Zabini's outrage.
"You took him to the hospital wing?" Fudge demanded once more of Snape, as soon as Mrs. Zabini had tpaused for breath. The Minister for Magic wrung his lime green bowler hat between his hands, having completely crushed it in his anxiety. His alarm over the announcement that Black had been apprehended made it impossible for him to fully appreciate Mrs. Zabini's complaint – namely, that her boys were placed in danger due to the dementors on school grounds.
"He was wounded," Snape said simply. It was the only defense he offered of his own role in the whole affair.
"He could escape!" Fudge insisted, "You've put yourself to unnecessary trouble, Severus! The dementors should be brought in to administer the Kiss directly! If you had not intervened, they could have finished the job out there by the lake!"
Mrs. Zabini uttered a cry of indignation, but Snape responded as if he had not observed her outburst.
"There is no one more eager than myself to see Sirius Black get what he rightly deserves," he said, " But the circumstances were not favorable. I'm afraid if I had allowed Black to be taken by the dementors, then Potter, having attempted to interfere, would have..."
Mrs. Zabini would no longer remain silent. She cut into Snape's comment, no doubt an observation that allied Harry with a wanted fugitive, with a few strong words of her own.
"I would like to know why my children were on the grounds in the first place, where they were exposed not only to the very dementors we've been discussing, but a dangerous werewolf as well!"
Her sharp tone was directed not to Minister Fudge, nor to Snape, but to Dumbledore himself. Accordingly, the headmaster uncrossed his fingers, sat up in his chair, and began to speak. Unlike the other adults, who had worked themselves into a frenzy as they'd argued in circles, Dumbledore's voice remained calm, patient, and kind.
"A very good question," he said, "I confess I have been sitting here this last half hour wondering something similar, myself. And now I think, if we simply speak to the children, we might find all the answers to our questions quite quickly."
He turned pointedly toward Harry, this simple gesture unquestionably identifying him as the ringleader of their little cohort.
"Harry?" he asked, not unkindly, "Can you explain what you and your friends were doing on the grounds, after curfew, with a wanted criminal?"
"I've already given an explanation, headmaster," Snape interrupted, "Lupin and I found Potter and the others in the Chamber of Secrets. It seems they had been harboring Black there for months.
"So you have said, Mr. Snape," Mrs. Zabini said coldly. Professor Snape had prevented her from pulling Harry out of school during the petrification attacks on students the previous year, and it seemed that she held a sort of grudge against the Potions Master, "But you have conveniently failed to mention how you managed to lose track of four children and an unarmed man, leading to a near-fatal attack of dementors and a loose werewolf on the grounds!"
Snape curled his lip and directed a hateful glare toward Mrs. Zabini, though he was silenced for the moment. Dumbledore, as if he hadn't witnessed this terse exchange, invited Harry to continue with a motion of his open palm.
"We... We were chasing a rat..." Harry said, unsure of where to begin and realizing too late that the story sounded ridiculous.
Fortunately, help came from an unexpected source. Ron jumped in before Harry could say anything more.
"They've all gone mad!" he cried, "Professor Lupin asked to see Scabbers, and I thought something was wrong, so I followed him out of the Great Hall, and the next thing I knew, Sirius Black and all the rest were after him! They were after Scabbers!"
His exclamation at least proved that Harry had not been fabricating the fact of chasing a rat across school grounds.
"Thank you, Ronald," Dumbledore said, silencing Ron before he could tear into his own indignant rant, "Rest assured, I do not suspect you of conspiring with the others. Perhaps Harry can now enlighten us all on what was so interesting about this rat?"
Harry didn't like Dumbeldore's use of the word "conspiring." It made it sound as if he and the others had done something wrong. But Ron's interruption had given Harry some time to gather his thoughts. He took a deep breath to steady his nerve, and began afresh.
"I believe... No... I know that Ron's rat is really an animagus named Peter Pettigrew."
Fudge scoffed, "Peter Pettigrew? What nonsense! Pettigrew has been dead for years, murdered by the very man you were seeking to conceal!"
Fudge must have forgotten that he was speaking to the Boy Who Lived. Harry might have reminded him of that fact, had he not noticed the twinkle in Dumbledore's blue eyes. He knew then that somehow, the headmaster believed him.
"He was unregistered," Harry continued, bolstered by the confidence Dumbledore had shown in him, "Only three people knew about his ability. He used that secret to fake his death, and framed Sirius... Framed Black in the process. That's why we've been helping him. We were trying to find Pettigrew to prove Black's innocence."
Fudge again began to bluster through his objections to the contrary, and this time Snape was on his side.
"I agree, this story is completely ludicrous. We should not take Potter's word seriously, Minister. I believe the children have been under the effects of the imperious curse. Black was already serving a life sentence in Azkaban. I am sure he would not hesitate to use an unforgivable..."
"Were you also under the imperious curse?" Mrs. Zabini interrupted, challenging Snape, "You didn't attempt to locate the headmaster or Cornelius when you apprehended Black, did you? You were as much a part of the catastrophe tonight as anyone else!"
Snape's face twisted into an uncomfortable grimace. He was forced to admit, "Professor Lupin appeared rather convinced by some piece of evidence Potter provided. I was merely going along with his suggestion that we investigate the matter while seeking the headmaster."
"Evidence?" sputtered Fudge, "What evidence?"
Harry feared that Snape might reveal the existence of the Maruader's Map, but to his surprise, Snape replied, "Forgive me, Minister, but you'll have to ask Professor Lupin about that."
"Professor Lupin is chasing centaurs around the Forbidden Forest at the moment," Mrs. Zabini said testily, "I'm afraid he's not available for comment."
"Nevertheless," Dumbledore said smoothly, "These allegations must be investigated. Otherwise a terrible mistake might be made."
His comment was directed at Minister Fudge, who did not seem to share Dumbledore's conviction. However, he must have had the public opinion in mind. If, by some bizarre accident, he sentenced an innocent man to the Dementor's Kiss, it would be a PR nightmare. He therefore reluctantly submitted to the headmaster, though he tentatively mentioned that Mrs. Zabini had a point. What could they do with no proof and no witnesses?
"What became of the rat?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry, casting his eyes back down to his feet, admitted then that because of Professor Lupin's alarming transformation, the rat got away.
"It was my fault, sir," Millie said, attempting to take some of the pressure off of Harry. Millie hated being the center of attention, and yet she held her chin high under the stares of the adults. "I kept chasing the rat when the others... That is, I might have caught him if I'd been faster, but he got away from me..."
This did not look good for their case. Without the rat, there was nothing to prove their story. They could wait until dawn for Professor Lupin to return, but there was no way Minister Fudge would accept the word of a werewolf.
As Millie continued to stammer through her explanation of the chase, the office door swung open. Professor McGonagall, wrapped in a tartan dressing gown, stepped quickly into the office, ushering Hermione Granger along with her.
Hermione was dressed in her school uniform, though it looked as if she had put it on in a hurry. It was now well past midnight, and the rest of the school had already gone to bed. Hermione had clearly been summoned for a purpose, though Harry couldn't fathom what that purpose was.
"Ah, Minerva," Dumbledore said pleasantly, as if they were all in the midst of a tea party, and were merely waiting on the professor to serve the biscuits," You're just in time."
"I've brought her, Albus. As requested. However, I must say..."
Dumbledore motioned gently for patience, and then turned with a kind smile to Hermione.
"Ms. Granger, thank you for coming tonight. I trust you were given some information on why you are here?"
Hermione shook her head nervously. She looked terrified. Harry could only imagine what she was thinking, being brought to the headmaster's office in the middle of the night like this. For a staunch rule-follower like Hermione, it must feel like a nightmare.
"You were told to bring the time turner, I believe?" Dumbledore asked.
Hermione immediately reached under the collar of her school robes and pulled a gold chain over her head. Harry briefly caught a glimpse of a small charm dangling from the chain before Hermione handed it to Dumbledore.
"I've only used it for my classes!" she said, her voice coming out as a petrified squeak, "Just as instructed, sir."
"And congratulations on a job well-done!" Dumbledore said, "I am told that your exam results were superb. But I did not call you here to quiz you, Ms. Granger. I have a different task in mind."
He turned back toward Millie and asked where she lost sight of the rat.
Millie, looking just as confused as Harry by this turn in the conversation, replied that it was just past the Whomping Willow.
"The rat ran among the roots of the tree. I tried to follow, but I couldn't get close enough without getting hit by the branches."
"And you're sure he didn't escape some other way?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry was surprised. Dumbledore must have known about the passage to the Shrieking Shack, though he didn't say it outright.
Millie must have noticed this as well, because she glanced at Harry before replying cagily, "I saw which way he went. I just wasn't fast enough."
"And do you think you could find that place again? The exact place where you lost him?"
"Yes, I know where it was... But I don't see how..."
Millie and Hermione might have been at a loss, but Professor McGonagall had not been deputy headmistress for so long without knowing a little of Dumbledore's mind. She could tell where this was going, and she opposed it vehemently.
"Albus! You can't seriously be considering...!"
"Indeed, Minerva. I am afraid it is our only option," Dumbledore said as he handed the chain and its charm back to a bewildered Hermione.
"But it would be a gross misuse of the time turner! Such a decision cannot be taken lightly!"
Mrs. Zabini, always quick to catch on, chose that moment to add her own objections to that of the deputy headmistress, "You can't be thinking of sending the children! They've already been subjected to enough danger!"
"I fully agree with both of you," Dumbledore said with the same calm as before, "But it seems that the decision has already been made."
He looked pointedly at Professor McGonagall, who seemed to understand him. She heaved a heavy sigh, defeated, and merely reminded Dumbledore that the time turner was under special dispensation to Ms. Granger for the sole purpose of helping her get to class.
"If this is your only remaining objection, Minerva, then it is a very good thing that the Minister for Magic is here to grant a special exception in the interest of justice."
Dumbledore was practically bouncing on his feet as he delivered this speech, and he turned with a smile to Fudge once more.
Fudge looked quite as lost and overwhelmed as Harry, but he understood enough to realize that Dumbledore was asking for his permission to use whatever trinket Hermione held in her hand.
"Oh... Well, yes... Alright, I suppose if you think that's the only way...?"
Dumbledore said nothing, he merely looked his approval of the plan, and Fudge could only throw up his hands in despair.
"Fine! Permission granted! Though when I consider the paperwork..."
Fudge's complaints devolved into muttering that only he could hear. No one was paying attention to him anymore. He had served his purpose. Mrs. Zabini was the only remaining holdout, and she could only say to Millie, "I can't tell you what to do, my dear. But I don't think your parents would approve of what the headmaster is suggesting. Not by any means. As for my boys..." she continued, squaring her shoulders and looking Dumbledore full in the face, "I won't have them endangered any further."
"Of course," said Dumbledore with the air of a man who would never consider using the famous Harry Potter to achieve his own goals, "Now that it's all settled... Miss Bulstrode? If you would please join Ms. Granger."
Millie eyed Hermione with skepticism, but she complied with the request. Dumbledore asked her again if she was sure she could find the exact spot where she had lost track of the rat. By then, Harry was sure that Dumbledore had something planned, and that it had to do with the talisman in Hermione's possession. But as he still had no idea what a time turner was, he couldn't fully grasp what was about to happen.
Hermione was more clever than he, or at least in this case better informed. She nodded her head when Dumbledore suggested that "three turns ought to suffice."
Before Harry could muster the courage to ask what he meant by three turns, Hermione had already taken the long chain of the necklace and thrown it over her and Millie. Harry felt certain that the chain had only been long enough for one, but before he could speculate over the spell that caused it to change length, Hermione had already twisted the charm three times, and before Harry's eyes, his two friends vanished.
Ron and Blaise looked just as perplexed as he, though none of the adults expressed any alarm over this wild phenomenon. Harry was about to ask how they had done it, as the children had not been taught how to apparate, and besides, it was impossible to apparate in and out of Hogwarts, much less the headmaster's office... And then the door opened once more, and Hermione returned.
It was not the same Hermione he'd seen a moment ago. She was still dressed in her school robes, but they were torn, and mud was caked on the hem. Her hair looked even bushier than usual, and he could see small twigs and leaves stuck in places. Stranger still, she held a falcon on one arm.
This bird was easily the most unusual sight. Owls were commonplace among witches and wizards; this particular bird of prey was not. But Harry wasn't so much interested in its plumage or exotic appearance. He was more fixated on the rat the bird clutched between its sharp beak.
Harry, speechless still, watched as the falcon spread its wings and swooped across the room in one easy motion, dropping the rat on Dumbledore's desk before looping overhead.
Harry followed the bird's movements with his eyes as it circled back toward Hermione, where it landed, not perched on her arm as before, but on the ground, where it promptly transformed into Millie.
"Nefarious Nazgul!" Blaise shouted.
He was not alone in his surprise. McGonagall's hand flew to her chest when she saw Millie's transformation. Mrs. Zabini gave an audible gasp, while Minister Fudge looked ready to faint on the spot. Like Blaise, Ron had also given a shout, but his eyes were not turned toward Millie. He was staring at his rat, laying motionless on Dumbledore's desk.
"Is he... dead?" Ron asked weakly.
Dumbledore had been inspecting the rat carefully, prodding it with his wand, as if unwilling to touch it with his bare hands.
"No," he replied in response to Ron's question, "He's only unconscious. Fainted from all of the excitement, I suppose."
His eyes flickered toward Millie then, as if waiting for a confirmation of this guess. But Millie remained silent, and merely stared back at him.
Ron, looking terrified, yet protective, demanded to know what the headmaster planned to do with Scabbers. Dumbledore tore his gaze from Millie then to offer Ron a consoling smile.
"It's a simple charm to see if what Mr. Potter said is true," he explained, "If your pet is nothing more than a rat, it will have no effect on him."
Ron glanced down at Scabbers once more. The rat was just starting to twitch, showing signs of regaining consciousness.
"Okay," he said with reluctance, "Just don't hurt him."
"I can assure you, Ronald, the spell will do no harm."
Harry noticed that Dumbledore never promised that no harm would come to the rat after the spell was performed. But if his suspicions were correct, then Ron wasn't likely to care what became of Scabbers afterward. He watched, holding his breath as Dumbledore lifted his wand toward the rat once more.
The headmaster did not speak, but he tapped the wand against the rat's gray, balding body. While the rest looked on, the rat's form twisted before abruptly expanding into that of a small, rodent-like man. It was the work of an instant. Mrs. Zabini jumped backward and screamed, while Minister Fudge let out a few choice oaths. Snape, who never for a moment believed that Harry's story could be true, now looked as if he were capable of committing murder.
The spell had not only returned Pettigrew to his human form, it caused him to fully awake from his swoon. His beady eyes blinked in terror at being thus exposed and surrounded by enemies.
Dumbledore alone remained calm. He wished Pettigrew a pleasant evening, though it was in the coldest voice Harry had ever heard used by the headmaster.
Pettigrew – short, dumpy, and nearly bald – turned his face around, seeking someone among those gathered who might sympathize with him. Then his eyes fell on Harry.
"Harry!" he cried out, "Harry, please! I don't know what Sirius told you, but I only went into hiding because I was frightened! He would have killed me, too! Your father..."
"Don't you dare mention him in front of me!" Harry nearly screamed, surprising even himself with the vehemence of his anger. For months he had talked about Pettigrew's betrayal with Sirius, but only in the vaguest sense. They were always focused more on how they would capture him, and how Sirius would then be freed. But now, confronted with the man who was truly responsible for the deaths of his parents, Harry felt the anger boiling inside of him, stronger than ever before.
It was evident from the look on his face that any appeal toward Harry would be met with swift repulsion. Pettigrew instead turned to Ron.
"Ronald! I've always been a good rat, haven't I? I've never done anything to anyone! Not for twelve years! You'll tell them, won't you?"
Ron had turned an unpleasant shade of green. He looked like he might be sick all over the carpet. Pettigrew sidled off the edge of Dumbledore desk and attempted to make his way toward the children, as if being closer would aid his attempts to plead his case. But with the adults present, he didn't make it far. Snape and Mrs. Zabini fired stupefaction spells at the same time, both hitting Pettigrew in his back. He toppled to the floor, unconscious once again.
No one showed the least bit of concern for him while Dumbledore addressed the Minister for Magic, "Now then, Cornelius. It would seem the only thing to do now is take Pettigrew to Azkaban to await trial for his crimes."
Fudge looked as if he had been struck with a confundus charm.
"His... His crimes?" he repeated weakly.
"Yes, Cornelius. By failing to register as an animagus and faking his own demise, Pettigrew has caused an innocent man to be sentenced to prison for twelve years. The reparations the Ministry will have to pay for this grievous mistake can only be imagined. I assume that the Wizengamot will want the circumstances of Pettigrew's choice to go into hiding thoroughly investigated."
Horror dawned across Fudge's face as the full import of the headmaster's words began to sink in. He started to voice a feeble protest, but Dumbledore continued ruthlessly.
"Of course, Sirius Black will no doubt be immediately released from protective custody. After all, the man he was accused of murdering lays on the floor directly in front of you."
"But... the muggles..."
"Ah, yes. Many people died in the explosion that was believed to have killed Pettigrew. I expect he will now have to stand trial for their murders, as well. Perhaps if the Ministry issues a public apology to Black, he will agree to be a witness?"
Snape was positively grinding his teeth, and Fudge looked deeply uncomfortable. He was well aware of how far the situation had spun out of his control. But his indecision was the product of only a moment more, then he quickly agreed with Dumbledore's assessment.
"Yes, yes. Quite right, Albus. Of course we... The Ministry must do its part to, er, investigate this matter. I suppose that, under present circumstances..."
And so in a similar strain, Minister Fudge eventually stammered out the orders. Pettigrew was to go with him to the Ministry for Magic, and from there to Azkaban. Black was to be exonerated.
"Allow me to assist you, Minister," Snape said as Minister Fudge made ready to leave. "It would be my pleasure to escort Pettigrew off school grounds, personally."
Snape conjured the same rope-like bindings he had used to secure Sirius's wrists earlier that evening, only this time the ropes coiled around Pettigrew's entire body. Using a levitation spell, he began directing Pettigrew's unconscious form out the door of Dumbledore's office. Fudge followed behind him, but was not quite out the door when Dumbledore called out.
"I assume this means the dementors will be dismissed by daybreak?"
Fudge muttered a few more incoherent sentences to the effect that yes, the dementors would be swiftly removed. Dumbledore, with a wide smile on his face, pleased at having the detestable creatures out of his school and off the grounds for good, turned toward the shaken children still standing around his office.
"The five of you have done amazing things this evening. If I hadn't already granted the House Cup to Slytherin... But then, I don't know that house points are enough to fully thank you for what you've done. You all have played a critical part in saving the life of an innocent man."
Harry realized that Dumbledore had counted Ron among their number, but he didn't bother to correct him. Instead, he allowed himself to feel the pride he justly deserved for their hard work, and asked the question that was foremost in his mind at that moment.
"If that will be all, sir, can we go to the hospital wing? I'd like to see Sirius."
Dumbledore continued to smile at him, though he shook his head.
"Need I remind you that it is already well past curfew? I can assure you that Sirius is sound asleep. Plus, there is Madame Pomfrey to consider, and you know how she can be about her patients. I suggest all you head off to bed. Sirius can wait until morning."
Harry saw Millie stifle a yawn behind her hand, and he knew that Dumbledore was right. He didn't know how he could possibly sleep after everything that had happened, but he reminded himself that they had all missed the feast, and right now he was running on pure adrenaline alone.
"I will see you tomorrow," Mrs. Zabini said, giving Harry, Blaise, and Millie each a hug in parting, "We'll meet before the train leaves for London."
"Do you want to walk down with us, mum?" Blaise asked, rubbing his eyes. Like Millie, he was starting to show signs of fatigue.
"No, you go on ahead of me. I'm going to stay and have a quick word with the headmaster."
It was spoken kindly, but Harry worried for Dumbledore. He had seen the way Mrs. Zabini ranted against Minister Fudge, and knew she was not a woman to be intimidated by Dumbledore's reputation as a powerful wizard. She clearly had more on her mind, and there would be no rest for the headmaster until she had shared it. It was fortunate for Dumbledore that Professor McGonagall had not left. She could be as willful as Mrs. Zabini. The headmaster might get off with a light scolding this time.
He was still wondering what Mrs. Zabini wanted to say to the headmaster as they walked out of the office, then Ron caught his attention. He was still pale as a sheet, and hadn't spoken a word since Pettigrew was revealed in front of him. Harry realized then that no one had really taken the time to explain what had happened to either him or Hermione.
Harry reached a hand out toward the Gryffindor, gripping his shoulder lightly as he said, "Hey, Ron? Are you alright?"
Ron violently jerked away from Harry's comforting touch, but when he turned to stare at Harry, it was with a look of terror, not anger.
"Don't touch me!" he said, his voice high and tremulous, "Don't you come near me, Potter! You're cursed!"
"Cursed?" said Millie, her tone angry, "What are you talking about? If it wasn't for Harry, you'd still be fondling some old man as if he were a housepet!"
Ron shook his head in disbelief, staring at the ground now, his hands in fists.
"It's always the same, isn't it? Everything goes wrong when you're around."
Harry was hurt, and in indignation he agreed with Millie, "I saved you from sharing your home with that disgusting excuse for a wizard!"
Ron's face flushed crimson, and he countered, "Scabbers was a normal rat until you showed up!"
Now it was Hermione's turn to speak. She had been as shocked into silence as Ron, but she could not hear this false statement without saying, "That's ridiculous, Ronald! Your rat must have been that man the whole time! I was there when Millie caught him!"
"Just stay away from me, Potter!" Ron shouted again, "Stay away if you know what's good for you!"
He stormed away, leaving Harry and the others standing on the middle of the staircase. Harry watched him go, then turned to Hermione. She was still looking rough from her adventure that evening, and Harry absentmindedly picked a twig out of her hair while saying, "Thanks for trying to defend me, Hermione."
"Just ignore him, Harry," Hermione said, her smile dampened by the dark circles that had formed under her eyes. "We're all a little shaken tonight. No one thinks you're cursed."
Harry wished he shared her confidence. After everything he'd experienced since coming to Hogwarts, he was beginning to wonder if there was any truth to Ron's accusation. He pushed the thought from his mind, and changed the subject entirely by asking, "Are either of you going to tell me what happened?"
"Yeah!" Blaise said, "When were you planning to tell us you were already an animagus, Millie?"
"I didn't know I could do it until... Well, until I did it!" Millie said, then she stifled another yawn, "I'll tell you about it later. Right now, all I want to do is sleep."
"But you both vanished!" Harry said, refusing to move further down the steps until he had answers. He knew it would be useless to prod Millie. She could easily carry him down the stairs if she had to. But Hermione might explain, and he looked to her for satisfaction.
Hermione, looked down bashfully, but as Harry was standing a step below her, she couldn't quite avoid his gaze.
"We didn't vanish... We... went back in time."
"You did what?"
"It's how I've been getting to my classes all year," she finally admitted, "But after tonight, Harry... I don't think I'll be using the time turner anymore."