Harry had stopped being as distant after that night in kitchens. Though he hadn't voiced a need to talk, Ron understood he wasn't keeping to himself either.
Actually he'd begun to stick rather close to Ron "Harry… is there a reason you're clinging to me lately?" Ron asked. They were at the library making notes on potions, or at least Ron was. Harry for once, did not have to run off to Quidditch Practice.
"Well, if you smell Scabbers or the dog, you'd go straight for it, right?" Harry said.
"I knew there was ulterior motive" he sighed "well I still feel like the moment you walk away it's going to happen."
"Don't say that," Harry said.
"With our luck," Ron said, shrugging.
His nerves were singing lately like something was going to happen and he couldn't quite tell when. Harry peered at Ron's notebook "what are you doing?" he asked.
"Copying the potions recipe to my notebook" Ron replied.
"That's not all, though, what's this?" Harry pointed at the extra instruction he'd put in to better describe how to prepare each ingredient.
"Making notes on the ingredients themselves helps me figure out the best way to cut, crush, and whatever you have to do," Ron replied underlining the word crush.
"I don't think Hermione does that" Harry said.
"She's by the book and some subjects need extra instruction or simplifying" Ron replied.
"You know how proper you sound when say stuff like that?" Harry said.
"Stuff like what?" Ron asked, looking up. Harry had on a smile, the first he'd seen for a while.
"Instruction, simplifying, ulterior, you never used words like that before. At least not so casually" Harry said.
"What, do I sound like my brother, Percy?" Ron asked.
"More like Dumbledore or Grey," Harry said.
"Harry, you talk like that too," Ron said, "when your not monosybillic- oh another big word. Donovan talks like that constantly, for a man whose first language was Romanian he has quite the English vocabulary"
"He has no accent, he just sounds English" Harry agrees.
"He claims he had 100 years of practice," Ron said and Harry laughed before realizing he was actually serious.
Xxx
Sirius Black sat in front of the fire at the shrieking shack, shivering slightly despite being as he could get. The thin uniform he wore definitely wasn't enough to warm him.
He hadn't known that the Weasley boy had been a vampire, he wondered if he was still in terrible pain. He'd had no choice but to drag him back into the shade and run.
He hoped the boy wouldn't be terribly burned from getting exposed to the sun.
Did Harry know the story? Did he believe that he was a murderer too? He sighed then laid in front of the fire and transformed into a dog. He gained the ability to not think so much, he was an animal hunting a rat, that was all.
Xxx
Christmas break was nearing in another two weeks and Don asked if he wanted to come to Romania with him. "What, for Christmas?"
"Yes, my wife has been rather insistent and I figured it might be the best time since your parents had decided to also visit Romania to see your brother. Perhaps we can host."
"Can I think about it?" he asked. He was worried about leaving Harry alone especially with all questions about Black and Pettigrew. Don agreed readily and Ron went out with Valkyrie who had reached his chest in height, exceeding the height of Fang easily.
Today had been hectic with Harry doing extra practice for Quidditch and Hermione was buried in books like always he hadn't gotten a chance to talk with them. Harry could only stay by him for so long.
Then a scent wafted across his nose and he allowed his eyes light up. Eventually, he'd asked what the glow in his eyes was for and Don had patiently explained to him once that similar to a dog, it was like they could see scents. This was their ability to track.
"I smell a rat," he said in Romanian, if Pettigrew could hear him he didn't want to alert him. "Valkyrie," she turned her attention to him "Harry, retrieve," he said.
She took off with excellent speed, he just hopes Harry would go with her willingly else she may take him by the collar and just drag him. Yeah, he had a good wolf.
He found the trail leading on the ground towards it, he pulled his wand out and when it stopped he stopped. Maybe it was best to stun him instead of chasing him.
It was too late though and the rat began to run the moment it spotted him. He ran to chase it, dodging trees and he aiming his wand but it kept dodging him. The rat was going deeper into the forest. Somehow he needed to steer out of it, he'd rather not run into Aragog and his 8 legged children any time soon.
"The deeper into this forest we go the better my advantage!" he called to him. "You know, my visions better than yours and my senses even better than a rat's" he said.
The rat continued but instead, it cut towards the outside. He'd managed to keep him closer to the castle. He picked his pace but there was no way to be faster than a rat. The best he could now focus on him and make sure not to let him go. They reached the and into the sunlight again then the rat stop and cut at full force towards. Ron watched as his former pet transformed into a disgusting lump of a man.
That man leaped toward him. He quickly reacted and pulled away, but the man clamped a disgusting hand onto his robes. He pulled him closer and Ron went down with the man on top of him and his necklace was gripped and yanked on breaking the chain. It was a very good thing that Don thought to give him those cuffs otherwise he'd be vulnerable.
The man had a crazed gleeful expression as he seemed to wait for Ron to scream about burning up in the sun. Had that been his plan? To get Ron into the full force of the sun and rip off his protection? He supposed he should be glad that Pettigrew was not a clever man but how stupid was he to not have seen through it?
Ron felt nauseated and sick from the smell of the man. Like urine, chewed up food, and such. "STUPEFY!" the man collapsed on top of him and Ron felt his whole body shudder and he shoved the man hard off of himself. The man went further than he'd expected.
Ron turned, he'd thought it had been Harry who'd done it but who he found was definitely not Harry. Draco Malfoy in his Quidditch robes. Malfoy stood there with his wand, a disgusted expression on his face "Weasley, what the hell is going on?" he demanded.
"Ron!" Harry was sprinting up to them, just a second behind with Valkyrie also running at full force toward him.
Ron opened his mouth to reply and then like a switch had been flipped, his nausea took a turn for the worse. He sat up, turned to his side and threw up onto the grass. Ron didn't even know Vampires could get sick like that, everything was of course liquid, but still.
"Ugh," Malfoy said and Ron felt a hand rubbing his back. Harry was crouched next to him.
" Petrificus totalis. For extra measure," Harry said.
"Can someone explain?"
He really wasn't in a state to answer so of course, Harry intervened. "What did you see?" he asked.
"Weasley ran out of the woods like a mad man after a rat that transformed into a man who knocked him down. I thought vampires were supposed to strong? I stunned him" Malfoy said.
"Well for once, you actually did something good"
"Watch your tone, Potter. What you think I'm gonna watch some pervert do what he wants? We have standards at Hogwarts even if some people lower it" Malfoy said.
Ron's stomach turned again at the thought of what Malfoy had implied "it wasn't like that" he croaked, he needed to get the man's smell out of his nose. "Ugh."
"We need to go get Professor Dumbledore and let Professor Grey know," Harry said.
"Oh for Merlin's sake," Malfoy fumed and pointed his wand into the air and shot two red sparks. "There, that'll have someone arriving soon enough. Red for importance, one for a problem, two for an emergency."
Harry and Ron stared at him "it's wizard code," he said, "who is this?"
"Peter Pettigrew" Ron said, he stood up trying to compose himself more. He'd thought that when he finally faced the man he'd be ready. He was, after all, a lot stronger physically and the man wouldn't have a wand with him.
But when he'd faced him and he'd been knocked down, what raced through his mind was all the places that man had been. He'd slept in his bed, in Percy's bed, and even been around his kid sister.
Malfoy's face went ashen and he stared down at the man. "I thought that you and Potter were mad from the beginning, but this is just stupid."
Dumbledore and McGonagall met them shortly after; Don had somehow gotten there equally fast. Ron wasn't terribly surprised, he had a sixth sense for something going wrong.
Xxx
Don held a tight grip on Ron's shoulder, it was reassuring since this was the least confident he'd felt in a while. Ron's nose felt clogged by the man's scent and he wanted to take six baths to get rid of it.
"I thought I could take him down," Ron said.
"Sometimes what we think will happen and what we prepare for isn't what is the outcome. You did what you could," Don replied. Ron nodded
"I feel nauseous," he said to him.
"I have just the thing," Don said then handed him a poach, he opened it curiously and there were several leaves inside. Mint from the look of it "suck on one and it'll neutralize any odor" he said.
Ron pulled one out and placed it on his tongue. After the mint smell sunk in, his stomach felt a bit more settled. Hermione met Harry and Ron at the office, flinging her arms around them both.
"We're okay, honest. It's… been a weird day" Harry mentioned and Ron just nodded. Hermione looked over at Malfoy who sat in a chair, arms crossed. "Yeah, he was the one who ended up stunning Pettigrew," Harry said.
"That's a strange turn" Hermione mentioned.
"No kidding" Ron sighed.
Fudge eventually showed up and the explanation on what happened was explained. They decided it was best they left out about Sirius Black being an animagus. Fudge revoked the order to administer the dementor's kiss on Black.
However, since they needed a trial, Black had to be found first and all attempts to catch him have been unsuccessful. Ron met Harry's gaze "the map" Harry whispered, nodding.
Malfoy was dismissed despite that he was unhappy at not receiving all the inside stories most likely to gossip about later. Ron refused to focus on that thought. They need to go find Lupin and get the map from his office.
Xxx
"You found Peter Pettigrew?" Lupin asked.
"Confirm with Dumbledore if you need to but for now we need to find Sirius Black with the map," Harry said.
"I believe you, Harry" Lupin said carefully, his eyes cloudy with worry.
"We think Peter Pettigrew framed Sirius Black, you know don't you?" Ron said "that Black is an animagus?" he said.
Lupin raised his eyebrows "why would you say that?"
"Harry told us that you and his dad were friends during your Hogwart's years. Harry's dad and Black were also friends and Pettigrew. You all were friends back then, it wouldn't surprise me if you all became animagus together" Ron said.
Hermione was bursting at the seams "Lupin's a werewolf, actually" Hermione said and Lupin paled "oh Mr. Lupin, don't worry. We won't say anything, be a bit hypocritical wouldn't it, considering Ron's a vampire" she said.
Ron's eyes widened and suddenly everything made perfect sense "so that's what I've been smelling" he muttered.
Lupin sighed "James, Sirius, and Peter became animagus to help me. Having animals around helped me not to tear myself apart when I transformed" he said.
"My dad became an animagus?" Harry asked.
"A stag" Lupin nodded "your father was brilliant, just like you," he said.
Harry flushed and Ron grinned patting him on the back. Harry deserved every bit the compliment especially considering the unnerving months they've had. "Why didn't you tell anyone?" Hermione asked.
Lupin looked to her and sighed "as much evidence that was put in front of me, I didn't want to believe Sirius could have killed anyone. Sirius hated his pureblood heritage and he'd never join the Death Eaters or betray James. I tried to see if I could find anything to help him but with Pettigrew supposedly killed and me being a werewolf and after the war, it was impossible for me to do anything."
"Professor, help us find him?" Harry asked and Lupin nodded taking out the map.
Xxx
They found Sirius and Ron and Hermione kept at a distance while Harry spoke with his godfather. After he'd explained how they'd changed the secret keeper.
Harry deserved some happiness in his life, someone who could tell him about his father. Hermione sighed as they spoke together in the officer, she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I hope this works out," she said.
"Me too" he replied.
They both sat up when Sirius walked over to them with Harry. "Um, these are my best friends. Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger" Harry introduced.
"Pleased to meet you under better circumstances," Sirius said, "I'm sorry with what happened the other day, I had no idea that you were a vampire" he added to Ron.
"No lasting harm is done" Ron said, "I recovered fairly quickly."
"I'm relieved" he responded. Sirius was thin and tired so they really only spoke for a minute. And then they left.
"I'm so glad for Harry, the trial needs to go well," Hermione said as they left for the great hall. Harry stayed with Sirius.
"It will be fine," Ron said firmly, he had to believe it would. As they nearly reached the great hall, Malfoy stepped in front of them.
"Weasley," Draco said.
"Malfoy," Ron said.
"I want to know the full story," Malfoy said in an entitled voice.
Ron sighed, for all of last year they'd been sure that Malfoy's had been hunting muggleborns and petrifying them but it hadn't been. He was a nuisance to them and cruel to Neville and others.
He really had no reason to give him what he wanted but he was involved by a stroke of really stupid luck. So.
"Fine" Ron said and Hermione turned to him with wide eyes.
"Ron" she argued, he glanced at her, shaking his head a little. She crossed her arms and he decided to continue.
"If you can tell me something," Ron said "why did you stun Pettigrew?" he asked.
"I told you," Malfoy said.
"The truth, you weren't even thinking were you?" Ron said.
"How do I know you'll tell me the truth in return?" Malfoy crossed his arms and glanced at Granger. "Granger doesn't seem to want to say anything."
"Oh, and I wonder why that is considering how kind and not at all a foul evil little cockroach for years to us" Hermione glared at him.
Malfoy's eyes flashed with anger and "listen here, you-"
"If the word that comes out of your mouth starts with an m you better stuff it."
"She just called me a cockroach" Malfoy hissed like one.
"Then take in how that felt and internalize it a bit. That's how it feels to be called the other term" Ron snapped and Malfoy reeled back, eyes flashing venomously.
"I didn't think, alright? I saw him going for you and I stunned him without thinking about it. Happy?" Malfoy said after a moment knowing he should tread carefully. Ron nodded, that was he'd thought. "Now uphold your end," he said.
"One more thing," Ron said "why do you want to know? Like an honest answer. No lies."
Malfoy was quiet "my father wants to know when something happens in the castle. If it comes out that I'm the one who stunned Pettigrew and if I don't get the story for my father. It won't end well."
"Pettigrew is really the one who betrayed the Potters. He was my brother's pet rat and then he was mine. That's how he got away with it and pretended to be dead for 12 years," Ron explained.
Draco's face becomes disgusted once again "ugh, you sure he didn't do anything?"
"You have your story to take your father," Ron said and walked past him, Hermione at his side, she was surprisingly quiet.
"Weasley," Malfoy said, "we're even now, alright?" Ron turned around "for the Hippogriff thing?"
"Sure" he agreed then headed out.
"I can't figure you out recently," Hermione commented and he met her gaze "but I trust you. Do you believe Malfoy?"
Ron wasn't completely sure but it matched "Malfoy is his father's pawn, he's practically a carbon copy or he's trying to be. So at this moment? Yeah, I bet that was true," he said.
"You know I thought you hated Malfoy and before this year, you would be spitting mad at him," Hermione said.
"Hating requires the energy I don't feel like wasting on Malfoy. He's more irritating than anything. Anyway, let's talk about something else," he said.
"I told McGonagall that I'd like to lighten my class load," Hermione said immediately changing the subject. Thank Merlin for Hermione, quick-witted extraordinaire.
"Really?" Ron asked.
"Yes and… I miss you guys. I feel like all these classes are cutting into my social life" Hermione said.
"Hermione Granger needs a social life?" Ron asked and she laughed shoving him. "I'd rather sit in the library than listen to that specky boy and the ginger head blather on," he made an impression of her voice.
Hermione laughed "I do not sound like that, Ron!"
