I own nothing, J K Rowling IS Harry Potter. All my 'ideas' are basically ripped from stuff I enjoy; Harry Potter (duh!), Lord Of The Rings, Star Wars, Star Trek, Dragonball, The Matrix, The Lion King, 24, and anything else that even remotely looks far too creative for me to just make up! Don't say I didn't warn you alright!

Blaise is a guy! Really? Hmm oh well, just ignore it and assume he is a she, I know quite a few other stories that have done the same so...

Yes I follow the cricket. Ricky Ponting and Andrew Symonds are dead-set legends for the Aussie one-day team! Both are very powerful batters and have brilliant throwing arms, somewhat appropriate for a chaser I reckon.

Oh and yes, I have got and played the Prisoner of Azkaban game, that's where I got the Glacius and Carpe Retractum spells from. Quite enjoyed the game too, but nowhere near as…complete as Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic. Now THAT is a game!

Chapter 15 – First Contact

The first training session for the new look Gryffindor Quidditch team went by, and Harry had to admit that he was impressed with what he saw. Ron, Ginny and Katie had told him stories last year of what he could expect from Jack and Andrew, but during training, Harry had to sometimes take a double look to make sure he wasn't seeing the Weasley twins back in action. Andrew admitted to Harry after practice, that they'd practiced hard over the holidays. Harry told Andrew that it had definitely paid off.

Ron had become much more confident in his keeping abilities, and Harry felt this was due to his performance during the final Quidditch game of last year. Ginny and Rick were settling in nicely, and Katie had been somewhat surprised at just how well the three of them had worked together. She told Harry that it took some time for Alicia, Angelina and herself to become the team they were, and that she felt very confident with the two newcomers. Harry had asked her why she didn't get the captaincy, but Katie told him that she didn't think she'd have time with her NEWT's this year. Harry admitted she had a point, before walking back to the dorm with Ron.

Harry was sitting on his bed in the dorm later that afternoon, arguing with Ron about the Marauder's map.

"C'mon Harry, just let me borrow it. Please?"

"No Ron, you didn't ask for it last year, why do you want it now?"

"I forgot you had it all right! Please let me borrow it. It'll make my patrols way easier" Ron pleaded.

"For Merlin's sake Ron, which part of 'no' don't you understand. You're paired up with someone from Ravenclaw. If they even see this, they'll become suspicious and it'll end up being confiscated. I'm sorry, but you'll have to patrol the hard way."

Ron looked hurt, but had to agree that Harry had a point. So Ron had sulked out of the dorm to start his patrol while Harry was shaking his head at how stubborn Ron could be sometimes. His mind drifted to the map that was at the bottom of his trunk. Remus had told Trent that Peter was somewhere inside Hogwarts, but was unaware that Harry had heard him.

Harry never mentioned this to anyone, and decided to see if Peter showed up on the map. After all, Remus and Sirius had mentioned that the map never lies, so Harry thought he'd put that theory to the test.

He rifled through his trunk and pulled out the bit of old parchment and whispered the password. The map materialised and Harry could make out all the people that were wandering the castle. He saw that Ron was walking alongside someone named 'Samantha Everclear', and Harry assumed that she was his patrol partner for tonight. His eyes scanned every part of the map until they finally rested on a dot labelled 'Peter Pettigrew'.

Harry felt his hands begin to clench into fists. The man who'd betrayed his parents and sold them to Voldemort was again within the walls of Hogwarts. The problem was that Harry saw that Peter was being held in a dungeon that he'd never been in before. He also noticed that there was a dot labelled 'Severus Snape' standing nearby.

Harry decided to check the map every night and wait until Peter was alone before confronting him. Harry wanted answers, and wasn't going to let this opportunity slip by.

A few days went by before Harry was able to see that Peter was alone, so he grabbed his invisibility cloak and crept his way towards where Peter was located, checking the map for any signs of trouble.

He got as far as being outside the dungeon where Peter was held, when he spotted Remus' dot coming closer. Harry squeezed up next to the wall and waited while Remus came into view. His werewolf senses didn't seem to pick up Harry, and when Remus opened the door, he didn't notice when Harry slipped in behind him.

Harry followed Remus at a safe distance, only stopping when Remus stopped and started talking. Harry couldn't see Peter but inched his way closer, straining to hear what Remus was saying.

"…conversation didn't end particularly well, Peter. I know why you were at Harry's place during the summer. I know how you managed to capture Harry's owl, and impersonate his Uncle. The sad thing is that you were caught by the one you were sent to capture. Harry told me the story of how he found out who you were, and stunned you. Remarkable for a sixteen year old isn't he? Not that you care of course. How do you think Voldemort feels not knowing where you are?"

"Don't say his name. The Dark Lord is far superior to Dumbledore or that Potter brat..." Peter was cut off when Remus sent a hex at him.

"Never talk about Harry like that. He's twenty times the wizard you'll ever be, Peter. You're spineless. I can't believe Harry doesn't want me to kill you, but it is more than you deserve. You deserve to know what he's going through. Thanks to you, James, Lily and now Sirius are dead Peter. And you know as well as I do, that you are responsible for those deaths."

"Not Sirius'. That was Potter's own idiocy to think that the Dark Lord had captured…" he was cut off again by another curse sent by Remus.

"I told you not to say that about Harry. Next time I won't be as pleasant, Peter. You're going to be here until you tell us what Voldemort is planning. And even after you do tell us, you're not going back to Voldemort. Oh no, Severus has a much better use for you. He's dying to try out some new potions he's been working on" Remus smirked.

Peter managed to squeak out "you…you wouldn't! Remus, it's me…your friend!"

"You aren't the Peter I once knew. That Peter would never have betrayed James and Lily. That Peter would've died, just like Sirius told you that night in the Shrieking Shack" Remus snarled.

"You…you're right, Remus. I…I'm an idiot. I didn't know what I was doing. I'm sorry. I don't know what the Dark Lord is planning. All I know is he's trying to get those who got caught out of Azkaban."

"You lie! You know much more than that, Peter. I'm not stupid you know. You're lucky Dumbledore's not letting us use Veritaserum on you. We'll continue this chat later. I'd better go before I break Harry's promise of not killing you."

With that Remus stalked off and left the dungeon. Harry made his way over to where Peter was and nearly gasped. He looked terrible. He had cuts and bruises all over his face, arms and legs. His hair was a matted mess of dirty blond. Peter's clothes were spattered and stained with blood. His eyes looked dead and haunted, and Harry felt that he mustn't have had a decent meal in a good while. For a brief moment, Harry felt sorry for him.

Harry couldn't bear to look at Peter anymore, and quickly made his way back to the dungeon door. He glanced at the map to check if anyone would see him and was thankful that no one was around. He opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

He made his way back to his dorm, but found he couldn't get the image of Peter out of his mind. It reminded him of the way Sirius looked when Harry had first seen him in his human form. The same sunken face, those haunted eyes. Harry found himself wondering what happened to the Peter his father had become friends with, and what had driven him to join Voldemort's ranks.

Harry was still brooding about last night and Peter, when Trent tapped him on the shoulder and brought him out of his thoughts. "Harry, you seemed a bit distracted today. Is something wrong?"

"Why don't you read my mind and find out" Harry replied, somewhat snappishly.

Trent ignored Harry's tone and smiled.

"Actually Harry, I doubt I could. You see, your Occlumency blocks out mind readers. And as you've got your shields up, I can't break through."

Harry smiled weakly back, and an idea formed in his mind. "Could I see you about something? I need your help."

Trent looked suspicious before replying, "depends on what it's about. Tell you what, I'm quite busy this week, but I should be free by next Tuesday. You can come by after dinner and see me then if you like."

Harry agreed then made his way from the classroom. He was going to ask Trent about teaching him to apparate like the house elves. While he was at it, he also decided to see if Trent would help him to detect people's magical aura. Much like he had started in the Spirit Room just under two months ago.