Ron put Scabbers in his cage and left his common room. The old rat barely moved and Ron sighed. He liked his pet rat but the only reason he got him was because Percy was trying to be nice. Most of his siblings had gotten something special when they went to Hogwarts. By the time it was his turn, money had been a little tight so he got a hug and a pat on the back. He knew his parents loved him but most days he felt invisible. He wasn't the first or second son and he wasn't the youngest girl. He was just the middle child and he knew the twins and Percy felt the same way. He was glad Percy had found someone to help him relax. He had never seen his stern brother so carefree. He had even seen him skip studying to go watch Marcus Flint play Quidditch! The twins joining the club had alarmed him but they had easily fit in with everyone. They hadn't even made fun of him for sewing! He knocked on the Hufflepuff entrance and the barrel opened to reveal Tonks.
"Wotcher Ron!" She said happily and let him in.
"Hiya Tonks! I love the hair!" Her hair had turned a vibrant red to match his.
"Why, we look like twins!" She laughed. He saw Cedric Diggory squint at them and say "Hogwarts can't survive two sets of Weasley twins." Ron agreed with him. He had barely survived the twins! Harry came down the stairs and hugged him. "Hi Ron! I missed you!" Ron couldn't help but hug Harry back. Harry always made sure to tell him how much he meant to him. It made Ron feel valued and important. Sometimes he needed his friend's reassurance. It was easy to fade in the background.
"Here's Scabbers, Harry!" He ruffled his friend's hair making it stick out even more.
"Thank you Ron!" They talked about snakes, Harry's favorite topic for a little bit before Ron left. He thought it was cool Harry could talk to snakes!
When he was younger, he thought he was a Parselmouth. It had given his parents a heart attack. It turned out that he was just hissing at them, not actually speaking. Maybe Harry could teach him!
Harry poked Scabbers in his cage. If this was the man who had betrayed his parents, he was going to have Jupiter pretend to eat him. He didn't know his parents but this man had been one of the reasons why. Giving the cage a little shake, he ignored the rats squeals as he walked to Mr. Severus's office. Opening the door, he saw Sirius, Mr. Malfoy, Mr, Severus and Professor Lupin.
"Harry, my precious son! Professor Sprout had called me when she left the Headmaster's office. I had been on my way when Dobby informed me it was already over!" Mr. Malfoy gave a wail. "I can't believe I wasn't there to protect you." Harry set down Scabbers and hugged Mr. Malfoy.
"It's okay. I just insulted Professor Dumbledore's bird and got some good dirt for Hermione's essay." Mr. Malfoy was squeezing him and sniffling.
"Father also heard you speak to snakes. I've already started construction for a snake enclosure. I think Draco's a little miffed I beat him to it."
"Really? You're doing that for me?" Harry had trouble grasping the fact that so many people wanted to help him. He had always been independent. He had to be. Aunt Petunia wouldn't lift a finger to help him, even if he was drowning. She probably would have pushed him down further.
"Of course dear. Draco got his peacocks and you have your snakes." Mr. Malfoy said happily. Harry felt his eyes fill up with tears and had to wipe them away quickly. No use in crying, no one ever cared.
"Harry! I'll build you ten snake enclosures! Please don't cry!" Sirius said as he shoved Mr. Malfoy out of the way to hug him.
"Well I'll build him twenty!"
"Oh yeah? Our whole house will be snake themed!"
"Be quiet, you dunderheads!" Mr. Snape said sharply as he handed Harry a tissue.
"Now, shall we see if this rat is missing a toe?" Harry appreciated Mr. Snape taking the attention off of him. He was rather embarrassed he had made a scene but he couldn't help his smile. He had found people who cared for him and he would never let them go.
Severus checked on Harry and the child seemed to have calmed down. He knew he must be feeling overwhelmed. Severus had been the same way when he was younger. His father had been a cruel man and his mother could barely take care of herself, let alone him. With Lily and later Lucius and Narcissa being so kind to him, he didn't know how to process such positive emotions. It had led him to acting out negatively and sometimes hurting those he was closest with. Thankfully he had learned that some people genuinely cared about him. He would keep an eye on Harry to make sure he wouldn't accidentally hurt any of his beloved friends.
"Well look at this!" Black had his face pressed against the cage and he was grinning madly.
"Hello Peter!" He watched Lupin's eyes turn amber and tried to repress his shiver. He froze when he heard hissing and turned to find Harry with Gemma Farleys's snake. They were hissing back and forth before the snake lunged for the cage. Pettigrew was squealing non stop, trying to get away.
"Harry, you probably shouldn't feed Wormtail to that snake." Lupin chided him. Severus couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the man. Lupin barely knew the boy and he was trying to reprimand him?
"Ten points from Gryffindor." Severus said. The other adults looked at him. "For being annoying."
He heard Harry laugh and reached over to pat his head.
"I'm not going to make Jupiter eat him. I was just scaring him a little bit." Harry pouted and grabbed the snake.
"Well, let's let him out of the cage." Lucius sighed and reached for the door.
"We're going to get some answers."
Augusta Longbottom was worried. Of course, she didn't show it. Her grandson had asked her to come to Hogwarts. He never asked her to visit him. She reluctantly admitted to herself that it was her fault the child didn't confide in her. She knew she had been too strict with him as a boy. After Frank and Alice were tortured, she had to make herself hard. If she didn't, she probably would have never gotten out of bed in the morning. So she was firm with her grandson, trying to make him strong to take on the cruel world. It had backfired spectacularly. The boy avoided her whenever he could and when he couldn't, he talked to her like Dowager Longbottom and not his grandmother. That was her burden to bear for failing her grandson. She was wandering around Hogwarts after meeting with Dumbledore. The man had seemed slightly frazzled though she didn't care why. She was disgusted with his behavior over Lord Black's trail. He had been a part of the Order and the man hadn't even questioned him? It was truly despicable.
"Hello, Dowager Longbottom. How are you?" The Malfoy Heir asked her. She was surprised by her grandson's friendship with him. She had never seen Neville so lively before so she was grateful.
"Hello Heir Malfoy, I'm looking for Neville. Have you seen him?"
"Ah! He's probably in the club house. I would be happy to show you the way?" The boy offered her his arm and she couldn't help but be impressed with his manners.
"Thank you, young man. I didn't realize Neville was in a club?" Fifteen minutes later, she regretted asking. The Malfoy Heir had been prattling on about Harry Potter and how beautiful their wedding was going to be. She had seen the two boys at the Winter Ball and thought they made a striking couple. She hadn't realized the Malfoy boy was an absolute nutter about him though. He was talking about what they'd name their children! He was eleven, for Merlin's sake! She let out a sigh of relief when they entered the room and she saw Neville talking to some plants.
"Gran! What are you doing here?" He looked surprised that she would actually show up.
"You wrote that you needed to see me." He looked unsure and the Malfoy boy cleared his throat.
"Perhaps we should sit down and I'll have Dobby bring us some tea?" Neville looked relieved as he agreed and pulled out a chair for her. A house elf appeared wearing a butler outfit and an odd pin.
"Here's your tea, little master Draco!"
"Thank you, Dobby!" He poured tea and gave Neville a gentle nudge.
"Gran, I'm not a squib!" He announced. She stared at him. She had never thought he was one? He was just a late bloomer, like his grandfather.
"I can't keep using dad's wand. It doesn't like me and my magic doesn't like it. I'm sorry if this makes you hate me but I have to be honest." She continued to stare at him. He thought she hated him? Her own sweet grandson?
"If House Longbottom can't afford to get Heir Neville a new wand, House Malfoy would be more than willing." Young Malfoy said, making her eyes narrow. He had just insulted her while allying himself with her grandson. Clever.
"Neville, I don't care about the wand." She said firmly. He blinked at her, looking confused.
"Gran, dad's wand hates me." He repeated.
"Your grandfather's wand burned my hand the one time I tried to use it." She said slowly.
"Why didn't you tell me it didn't work with you? And what's this nonsense about being a squib?" She watched as he shared a look with Heir Malfoy and said "well the whole family thought I was a squib. That's why I got injured so much." She felt her heart stop and said "what? The family said you were clumsy!" He scuffed his feet and said "I thought you knew." He thought she had purposely let those fools hurt him? Had encouraged it? Merlin's pants, no wonder he could barely stand to be in the same room as her! She stood up and said "I had no idea the family was hurting you! I don't give a damn if you're a squib or not! You have made me so proud to call you my grandson. Now, let's go get you a new wand!"
Harry stared at the bald man strapped to the chair.
"Sirius! It's not what you think! I had no choice. He was going to kill me!" Sirius looked downright rabid.
"Then you should have died! We all would have died for you!" He looked like he was about to rip him to shreds.
"Uh Sirius? We should probably call the Aurors." Harry said softly. The man's beady eyes narrowed on him.
"Harry! You look just like your father but you have Lily's forgiving heart!" He reached forward and decked him before anyone could stop him.
"I just don't want Sirius to go back to Azkaban. He's getting married soon." Pettigrew's nose was bleeding. "And my parents are probably rolling in their graves from being fooled by a prat like you!"
Mr. Severus rushed forward to spell his hands clean. "Harry, you don't know where he's been!"
Mr. Malfoy used the floo to contact the aurors and a woman came through. She was stocky and looked like she ate nails for breakfast.
"Hello Mr. Pettigrew. It seems you're alive and well. This is going to give me so much paperwork."
Two Aurors led him away and she took their statements.
"And why was his face bleeding?" Harry spoke up and said "I tripped ma'am!" He tried to look apologetic but couldn't quite manage it.
"I see. Well stranger things have happened." She said, "Oh Mr. Potter! Congratulations on your upcoming wedding. My niece Susan has been telling me all about it." Harry looked at her closely and could see traces of his Housemate.
"Thank you ma'am! Susan has been teaching me the Bones tradition of stealing brides, in case Draco tries to run!" She gave him a sly grin and patted his shoulder "You should always be prepared!" And left through the floo.
"Harry? Who is Sirius marrying?" Professor Lupin asked.
