First thing after dinner, Harry, Hermione and Ron went to see Professors Lupin and Gumtree.
"Wormtail!" Melissa exclaimed when the three told of the voice in the hall.
"This is the first time, isn't it?" Remus asked.
"Yes."
"Liss, this is bad. If Wormtail was at Hogwarts that means Voldemort must be nearby." Remus' face was white.
"I don't know. Voldemort couldn't easily be this close to Hogwarts without Dumbledore knowing." Hermione was shaking, and Ron looked paler than Lupin.
"I wish Sirius were here, he'd know what to do," Melissa said quietly.
"So the Ministry thinks they've spotted him, Melissa?"
"Yes. Over in Little Whinging. Spotted him today, actually."
"Who?"
"Someone named Polkiss, a kid your age, I reckon," Melissa said.
"Funny they're worried about Sirius with Voldemort on his way back to power," Remus said.
"Yes, it is a bit strange. But then again, they're still convinced Sirius was working for Voldemort, aren't they?" Melissa looked angry.
"Damn Pettigrew," she muttered.
"Are you all right?" Remus asked.
"That rat ruined my life! Fudge thinks I was working for Voldemort, too, because I tried to convince him Sirius was innocent, and I haven't been able to speak to my twin in fourteen years!"
"What did Morgan ever see in that rat, anyway?" Remus asked bitterly.
"I'll never know," Melissa said.
"Whatever happened to Cassie and Karen?"
"Actually, they went to Beauxbatons instead of Hogwarts."
"Beauxbatons? Why?"
"I don't think Morg wanted them around here, for some reason. Maybe she thought there would be too many things to remind them of their dad and the man who "killed" him," she muttered sarcastically.
"It's not her fault, really. She doesn't know the truth, and love blinds people, Liss. You know that. If Sirius were guilty, you wouldn't want to believe it, would you?"
"I suppose not. But I always knew he was innocent. Lily told me about the switch from the start!"
"But you never genuinely knew for sure he didn't blow up that street, did you?"
"Well............. No."
Harry was listening intently to the whole conversation, as were Ron and Hermione. He knew they were taking in as much of it as they could. But now a silence had formed.
"Did you bring us here for a reason?" Ron asked, breaking the silence.
"We need your help," Melissa said.
"Huh? Us? Why?" Ron asked.
"We need you to help us clear Sirius' name. I'm positive I have a way to do it, and it'll be even easier since tonight showed us Wormtail must be nearby."
"What do you need us for?"
"Well, Remus tells me that you are top of the grade, Hermione. That could be of help. And Harry's his godson, he deserves to be in on it. As for you, Ron, Remus told me that you kept Pettigrew as a pet unsuspectingly. I think you should help catch the rat."
"How do we do it?"
"Well........................"