Ron's New Familiar
Harry paced through the dark of the Hogwart hallways. His sleep broken by nightmares the boy moved under the invisibility cloak of his father.
"It was to close. We all nearly died at least half dozen times." Mused Harry in frustration. The sheer scale of the deception woven by Peter Pettigrew still surprised him. The man was a coward to betray his friends and leave them as an offering to the monster that was named Voldemort. Yet had still managed to keep everyone in the dark.
Ironically, Pettigrew probably would have raised him if he thought that would him buy more time. The man would do anything to survive and he had beaten him. He a thirteen year old in Hogwarts had beaten a grown man. "That worthless excuse for a wizard would be a dead man the next time he saw him." He sneered in his head.
He took a look into the room were Fluffy once sat. Once guarding a prize that almost anyone would die for. He remembered playing that flute, as he walked toward the trapdoor. He pulled up before dropping through on his Firebolt, feeling uneasy as he flew down the sheer drop. He shook his head after jumping off the broom before leaning next to the door as he opened the room. Something was bothering him but it wasn't the room.
"What is going on with me?" Harry thought as walked through the rooms down to the place where he had faced Voldemort. The traps by the Hogwarts staff long since dismantled. He paused looking across the room at the place where he had killed Quirrell.
"Because I didn't beat the rat that badly. I got lucky and that spell combination was the result of someone who knew what he was doing." Surmised Harry. The man was intelligent. He had jumped everyone after he got close to Him.
"Please, Harry I knew your father. He wouldn't kill me. "Wailed Pettigrew.. As he pleaded with Harry. Sirius and Remus rolled their eyes at the performance.
"You deserve death for the murders you caused alone, Vermin. Let alone the death of the Potters and-"
Pettigrew punched Harry in the stomach and grabbed the boys wand with his off hand in one fluid motion. Harry doubled over as Pettigrew pointed his wand at the other marauders while grabbing Harry in a chokehold.
"If you two move he is dead! I want out of here. Put down your wands or he dies." Yelled Peter Pettigrew.
Harry smiled ruefully. What Pettigrew hadn't counted on as was a well-placed Lumos from Hermione outside of the house. Pettigrew had spun looking for the light only for Ron to tackle him and punch in the jaw. Knocking the Animagus out soundly. Then Snape had come in ready to kill Sirius only for Harry to knock out Snape with his recovered wand. The Party had started back to the school with Professor Lupin handing back Harry's invisibility cloak after having borrowed it.
If anything had happen differently they would have died. Although He quietly wondered what would have unfolded if Pettigrew hadn't had gone for his holly wand.
"But I won't always be that fortunate. The only reason Pettigrew had tried something before that is he thought he could get away with it." Harry mused.
"On the other hand there was something going on. He didn't understand what was going on with our wands. Merlin! I don't understand what happened."
But could he beat Pettigrew or Voldemort if he faced either one again?
Not as he was.
"As long as Voldemort or the rat live my life is at risk. Not just my life but Hermione, Ron, the rest of the Weasleys, and even Neville." Harry reasoned with a groan. But it wasn't just those he knew. The shade who called himself Tom Riddle would use anyone and anything to eliminate those who stood in his way.
So who had stood in his way. The only one who came to mind was Dumbledore. A master of more magic than everyone in magical Britain. Or the world for that matter. Why?
Because Dumbledore was the only one who had ever matched Riddle. In Magical skill and power certainly but also in cunning. Harry smiled at that. He had hidden that stupid stone in a place where Voldemort and none of his minions could ever reach it. The only Voldemort had nearly gotten access to it was with Harry in his first year.
"Wait just a second. Why didn't he encase the Mirror of Erised in stone or something?" Thought Harry. If the goal was to prevent Voldemort from getting access to it. Then why make the Sorcerer's stone obtainable in the first place?
He thought about for a few minutes before shaking his head. Dumbledore probably had a reason but it would help him if he wasn't ready for the next time Riddle came after him.
Remus Lupin heard banging on the door. It was early in the morning for visitors and he really didn't feel like dealing with the rumor that he was a werewolf yet again. He shoved some clothes in his carpetbag as he made his way to the door.
"Harry! What are you doing up this early?"
"I came to see yo-. Are you going somewhere?" Asked Harry as took in the rumpled room of old clothes and books that were laid out by a carpetbag on the desk.
"You could say that, Harry. I'm retiring from teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts." Stated Remus as walked by Harry using a packing charm to place more clothes into his bag.
"But your the best teacher we ever had to teach that subject. You can't just leave." Protested Harry as he looked at his teacher pack away a books.
"Actually, I need to leave, Harry. For one when parents find out I'm a werewolf, I'll stand less of a chance of teaching than Sirius would. Not to mention I put the school at risk last night just because I forgot to take a potion. Secondly, Sirius needs help. Help, I've long denied him under suspicion and as an escapee from Azkaban he will need all the help he can get." Explained Remus holding his fingers up as he counted down the reasons for leaving.
"We still need you here, Professor. You're the bes-" Protested Harry as Remus held up his third finger and interrupted him.
"Thirdly, You need more help than I can provide as a staff member at Hogwarts, Harry." Stated Remus before continuing, "No one has told you enough about James and Lily. They were your parents. At the very least you should know them and their quirks, both accomplishments and failures. I can do a better job of helping you with that than if I was still a Professor."
"Then why haven't you taken me away from the damned Dursleys!" Snapped Harry feeling like the man was dodging him.
Remus faced paled as he took a breath and tried to speak. He repeated the same tick for a couple of seconds before answering, "Two reasons. One I was a drunk after your parents death, losing them drove me up the wall; Harry, and was in no way responsible enough to raise you. I was also a werewolf who was in danger of infecting and perhaps even killing you as a babe."
"It sounds like a pile of excuses to me." Harry said. Remus felt as if someone had struck him as Harry continued, "If you don't want to tell me about my parents or assist me anymore than as a Professor. I should go."
"Harry, wait! I-"
"Waiting will just get me and those around me killed, Professor."
"At least take this."
Harry looked over at Lupin writing on sheet of paper he had torn from one his books as he scrolled on it quickly. The effort seemed to be exhausting the werewolf before his eyes.
"Read it. I will see you over the holidays! Now go!" Said Remus with some urgency as he shooed Harry out of the room. Pushing the paper in his pocket.
"What is going? Professor!" Shouted Harry as Lupin fail on the ground in front of him.
"Will he be okay?"
"Madam Pompey said he would be okay." Said Harry as he talked to Hermione and Ron in the coach on Hogwarts Express.
The Green Countryside passed bye as they thought about the year, quietly chatting before there was knock on the door.
Harry opened the door with care expecting a visit from Draco Malfoy and one of his cohorts. Instead it was Fred Weasley and Alicia Spinnet.
"Harry, there's an Owl for you." Said Alicia handing a small barn owl about the size of a large hand ball. The Owl holding a letter to Harry. He took the letter from the waiting owl, who flew over to sit on Ron's knee.
"Yep. The daft bird wouldn't let go of the letter while it was trying to get aboard the train." Smiled Fred who continued his tell, "Thankfully, Neville Longbottom got to the owl before anyone else did. I guess a bunch of the purebloods recognized your family crest or something and were trying to get it."
"That's good, where is Neville?" Asked Hermione who was looking back at Harry's crest with an interested expression on her face.
"He's holding back Malfoy and company. They were desperate to get the letter something about family business or something. Neville just cast a couple spells at it, declared it safe before passing it of to Alicia and I to deliver to you." Explained Fred with a look on his face.
"And you just happened to be there?" Said Ron skeptically.
Harry was opening the letter. Before looking up at Ron's tone. Hermione was also watching the two older students. Fred and Alicia were both turning a light shade of red.
"No dear Ronniekins, we were outside on the caboose talking about quidditch when Neville came out to get the letter and the owl." Explained Fred. Alicia nodded her head alongside the older Weasley boy while taking a step to the right of the doorway putting a little more room between Fred and her.
"Quidditch? Sure." Drawled Ron as he smiled at his brother. Fred's face turned bright red as the older boy blushed before mumbling as he and Alicia left.
"Ronald!" Cried Hermione as she swatted at her friend.
"Ouch! Hermione, watch the owl." Cried Ron as Hermione's swat turned into a solid slug into his shoulder.
"The owl's name is Pidwidgeon." Stated Harry, as he looked back and forth before saying, "What's going on?"
"Really Harry. Fred likes Alicia. They were probably snogging." Stated Hermione as she rounded on Ron.
"And why would you even say that, Ron?"
"Two very short words, Hermione. Sweet Revenge." Stated Ron as he turned to Harry.
"By the way, mate. How did you know the owls name?" Asked the red head as he kept on stroking the tawny barn owl feathers.
"Well Sirius gave him to you." Explained Harry.
"What!"
"Yeah, he said since he lost your old pet and scarred you to death with his knife when was hunting Pettigrew in our dorm room." Explained Harry.
"That is really exciting Ron!"
"Calm down, Hermione it is really cool. I need to-"
Harry looked down at another paper. The letter from Sirius.
"Prongslet
I will be seeing you soon. Be ready for your crazy Uncle Padfoot.
P.S. "This should help you next school year."
Harry looked down at the Hogsmeade Permission form from Guardians to students. He could go to Hogsmeade nest year.