Author Note: DennisUD Lets just say this Sirius is a bit more goal oriented and proactive than the canon version.
There aare some parts in here that might prove uncomfortable, or not. Your milage may vary. See a doctor if irritation persists and as always bon apetite!
Harry came out of the floo at the Leaky Cauldron mostly upright and under control. The others had put him in the middle as usual just in case they had to grab him.
"Harry you're getting a lot better at this." Lavender said hugging him.
"Yeah thanks."
Looking around the cauldron they saw that it was a usual crowd for mid week. There were wanted posters hanging up though about Sirius Black over the bar and on the wall by the entrance to the loos.
Once the party had gathered again they began walking to the Weasley's abode. There was an auror standing by the entrance to the Alley at the back of the Cauldron and they noticed that the auror presence was doubled with teams of four patrolling the street.
Arriving at the building they saw that it was on a side branch between Diagon and Nocturne called Octagon Alley. Harry sighed about the naming conventions in the wizarding world but otherwise looked for the building number that Ginny had told him.
Octagon Alley looked like it was a buffer between Nocturne and Diagon Alley. Not quite as seedy and dilapidated as Nocturne but not as thriving and vibrant as Diagon. Most of the buildings looked like a row of drunks leaning on each other for support home from the pub. Their brickwork with loose mortar and faded patches. No shops only row after row of Victorian era tenements.
Hermione was looking aghast at the buildings. "Oh my. This is straight up Dickensian. How can the Wizarding world be this stagnant?"
"It is a peculiarity of the Wizarding mind Hermione. We live longer, don't get injured or ill as easy and magic solves most of our problems so there is no drive to improve or alter things. The status quo is a lot more comfortable." Remus explained.
"Well I don't like it."
"Okay Mione I'm not exactly fond of this either but maybe inside is a lot better. Some expansion charms, light charms, it could work." Lavender said trying to be optimistic.
Neville holding her hand sighed, "Maybe the walls are reinforced with magic. You know and this is just because no one really cares about the appearance."
Hermione just grunted non-committally. "Yeah well even with an expansion charm and all there is only so much you can do."
They reached the building and found that the Weasley's were on the third floor up. Walking up the creaking stairs the interior of the building was not quite as bad as the outside. There was faded wallpaper and little brass plaques outside each tenement. It seemed to be two per floor one on either side of a central well. With a large skylight capping the stair well Harry noticed looking up.
Finding their friend's rooms Harry knocked on the door. A moment afterwards a tall girl with long red hair and deep blue eyes opened the door. She had freckles splayed across her cheeks and nose with Harry noticed a moderate sized bosom constrained by a simple peasant style dress. She was not a Weasley he recognized though, but she definitely was a Weasley.
"Uh Hi. I'm Harry and..." That was as far as he got before the girl had flung open the door and stepping out began to hug him. Harry was shocked and startled both. Fortunately he had been around people who cared long enough he didn't have a panic attack although he did stiffen up and not quite know what to do with his arms.
"Sorry Harry. I just got overwhelmed. Come on in. Ginny and I are the only ones home. Everyone else is either out looking for work or at work." A familiar voice said.
"Ronald?" Luna queried.
"UH yeah I'll explain inside."
=====xxxxx=====
The interior of the rooms was not as bad as Hermione had expected. The place while small was neat and tidy. There was a couch with some books on a table beside it. Molly's family clock in the corner and a wall of pictures of the family. A table and some chairs in a kitchen area with a window was visible. There were two doors to the other side and one by the kitchen.
"Wow this is not what I was expecting." Hermione did say.
"What Ron or the flat?" Ginny chuckled.
"Uh both I guess."
"Well I can explain the flat easier than I can Ron. Dad says they can't use an expansion charm for these tenements as they are too close together and the fields would overlap causing some kind of bad thing to happen."
Remus thought for a moment. "Probably some sort of harmonic resonance at the thaumic level which could cause the fields to collapse or explode. Or just send you off into some strange other dimension."
"Yeah I think that's what he said."
Ron was standing there awkwardly fluttering his hands around. Smoothing the dress down as Harry and Lavender both looked at him.
"Uh you have boobs."
"Well spotted Harry. I want to thank you guys. Letting me be Hermione let me feel what it was like to be a girl and I realized that's what I wanted. That's what I should have been."
Hermione came over and studied Ron. Poking his breasts a bit causing Ron to laugh a bit until Hermione grabbed between his legs causing him to yelp. "Okay you got creative with the Engorgio and Reducio spells. You just look like a girl you didn't manage to transform into one yet."
Ron sighed, "Yeah. Trust you to figure that one out. Mom doesn't know the right spells to do it permanently she said and the ones who do charge an extraordinary amount to do so."
Hermione gave Ron a hug then stepping back, "Well I'm sure if it makes you happy something can be figured out.
"Yeah. So what brings all of you here?"
Remus stepped up at this point and showing the picture of Ginny and Scabbers to them, "What can you tell me about this rat."
Ron paled visibly and biting his lip shook his head, "I can't tell you anything about Scabbers."
Remus shook his head. "Not good enough. You have to know something. I can tell. I smell your fear."
Ginny looked between them, "It's just a dumb lazy fat rat that went off somewhere to die."
"NO this is Peter Pettigrew. An animagus. He was hiding in plain sight the whole time. Tell me what do you know about this rat?"
Ginny cried out, "What? It was a wizard? Are you joking?"
"No I'm not joking. His name is Peter Pettigrew. He was a member of the Marauders named Wormtail. I would recognize him anywhere."
Ginny ran to one of the bedrooms crying. Luna and Lavender both turned and went to comfort her. Ron though sat down on the couch with a heavy flump. Harry sat down next to him.
"Ron look. Sirius Black escaped from Azkaban. He might be coming for your sister because he's hunting Pettigrew as well. I know you want to help. Please tell us what you know."
"I can't. I can't tell you anything. I'll die."
"What do you mean Ron?" Harry was getting frustrated.
"I. Can't. I. Can't say anything or I WILL die."
Hermione suddenly understood, "Wait. You made an unbreakable vow with him. You literally can't tell us anything."
Ron nodded. Sighing. "All I can say is that Scabbers was Percy's before they gave him to me. Mom got a special permission from Dumbledore to let us bring him to school. Scabbers was a rat."
Ron looked up at Harry with tears in his eyes. "You have to believe me. I didn't know what else to do. I've been afraid and I was wrong. I just can't talk about it."
Harry took Ron's hand. Seeing him dressed and looking like a girl was not as weird as Harry had thought it would be so he felt okay comforting him like that. At that moment though a strange house elf popped into the room. Grinning maniacally it shoved Harry backwards and grabbed Ron. Popping back out before anyone could do anything.
=====xxxxx=====
One second Ron had been sitting on the couch by Harry and the next some strange creature had appeared grabbing him and popping out to this place. Wherever this place was.
The strange elf, Ron saw what the being was, shook its long gnarly boned finger at him growling "Stay here touch nothing" in a deep voice that sounded like it gargled with gravel and battery acid daily. It then turned and walked out.
Ron was too scared to do anything other than sit quietly and look around. He took stock of the situation. He had no wand, had no idea where he was and no idea why they wanted him. So he looked around. The room was obviously a library with a set of large bookshelves around three walls. Some of the bookshelves were enclosed by brass, silver and copper cages. Thick cold iron bars across others. The carpet was a deep crimson with a raven and skull motif woven through it. The walls covered in deep emerald green wallpaper with a series of silver vines on it. A large curio cabinet filled with strange implements and tools along with a skull that had some kind of strange runes carved into it sat in the corner. Over the door was a large gold heraldic crest that had the words Tojurs Pur on it.
A tall man with graying black hair wearing an extremely outdated suit came striding into the room, "Ah Hello Miss Weasley I'd like. to. Apologize." He started talking cordially then slowed and stopped looking at Ron curiously.
"Kreacher!" he called out.
The ancient creature appeared in the room, "Yes Master. As you commanded only because you are the head of the family now. Last of the family unless he can breed."
"Kreacher What did I tell you to do?"
"Kreacher was told go find Weasley girl The one that was girlfriend of Harry Potter. That is this one. She was hugging and holding hands with him in the hew-mon mating rituals."
Sirius exhaled in frustration. "Kreacher you myopic manatee you need your vision checked. This is a boy pretending to be a girl. How could you make that mistake."
"She has the fleshy chest bits. She is wearing a dress. The Potter was holding her hand sitting beside her."
Rubbing his face the tall man confused Ron by shaking his head, "Fine this one will have to do. You took him er her, or whatever, right out from in front of Potter?"
Kreacher nodded vigorously with a feral grin.
"Fine go tell them we are merely borrowing this one and will be returning them unharmed when we're done. Then come back here. OK?"
"Kreacher does what Kreacher is told master. Kreacher will obey." He then vanished.
"Well sorry about that. We're still getting a few of the kinks worked out in this master servant relationship. So you are a Weasley aren't you?"
"Uh yeah I'm Ron Weasley."
"And Ginny is your sister?"
"Yeah. What do you want with her?"
"I want to know everything about the rat Peter Pettigrew."
=====xxxxx=====
When Ron and the strange being vanished Harry leapt to his feet drawing his wand, "What the hell was that thing?"
"I think it was a house elf." Neville said drawing his own wand looking around.
Hermione did not draw her wand she was studying the location where the two of them had last been.
"Well it was an ugly little spud." Harry said as Lavender, Luna, and Ginny came bursting into the room hearing the shouting.
"What's going on? Where's Ron?" Lavender was asking in confusion.
"I was sitting on the couch talking to him when this weird little house elf that looked like it was old when Merlin was a boy popped in and grabbed him."
"Great. Do we know whose elf it was?"
"It wasn't wearing colors." Hermione observed.
"Great."
"So what do we do?" Lavender asked the room.
"Why would someone want to steal my brother?"
Remus cleared his throat. "I believe I may know why they wanted your brother. The same reason we are here. To learn about Peter."
"I don't know anything. I didn't even realize the stupid rat was a person. I took him into the bath with me, he watched me change clothes. He slept with me." Ginny shivered in disgust.
"Did he ever act out of the ordinary for a rat?"
Ginny shuddered, "I never really noticed other than he liked snuggling in my underwear drawer. And. And." She broke down crying.
"Ginny I know this is disturbing. You don't need to tell us anything else about what happened. We understand." Lavender said pulling the girl into a hug gently.
"Sorry. I just. I feel so dirty now."
"I know."
At this point the strange creature reappeared. It bowed to Harry with its arms wide as everyone pointed their wands at it.
"Kreacher's master has told Kreacher to let you know that master is only borrowing the Weasley girl until Master is done with her. She will be returned unharmed at that time." The being popped back out before anyone could ask any questions.
The stillness the sudden appearance of the being apparently named Kreacher was broken by the giggling of Ginny.
"What's so funny?" Luna asked.
"That thing referred to Ron as the Weasley girl. Man are they going to be surprised."
Harry looked between Hermione and Remus. They both nodded understanding what the true target had been.
"Should we call the Aurors?" Neville asked.
Remus shook his head, "There isn't much to go on. The warping effect that Elves use to travel doesn't leave a trace that wizards can follow. Another elf can if they are there close enough and quick enough."
"So all we can do is wait for Ron to be brought back?"
"Yeah."
Harry and the others sat and talked to Ginny. Trying to help comfort her about the shock that her pet rat had actually been a dangerous death eater.
=====xxxxx=====
Back at the library with Ron and Sirius he was sitting in a chair opposite Ron. Ron sighed feeling very trapped in the middle of this strange tug of war.
"Like I told Harry I. CANNOT tell you anything. Not that I don't want to but that I can't."
"You can't. Like magically can't?"
Ron nodded. He was sitting there quietly waiting to be tortured or whatever this strange person was going to do to him.
The man got up and went to the bookshelves. Opening one of the ones with the cage over it. He pulled out a book and flipped through the pages. Kreacher had returned by then and was standing in the corner waiting.
"Ahh here it is. Kreacher go bring me the guy from the coffee shop down the street."
Kreacher growled and vanished only to return with a dumpy fat balding man wearing a uniform with a mermaid and crescent moon logo on it. "Whats all this?" he managed to say before the kidnapper went "Imperious"
"Ahh much better. Now Miss Weasley if you would kindly take this gentleman's hand we'll get that vow transferred so you can talk about Peter."
"Why would I want to help you?"
"Well because I can help you. And if you don't I can rip it from your mind in a horribly painful and deadly process killing you. I'm not really in the mood to be nice as much as I used to be."
"Uh yeah. Okay. How could you help me?" Ron asked his self serving nature bubbling back to the top.
"Well you're pretending to be a girl. That means you either lost a bet, have a kinky attitude or want to be one. So which is it?"
"I'd like to be a girl. It..." Ron started before his kidnapper turned benefactor interrupted him.
"I don't care why. Okay. There is a book in this collection that has the recipe to turn you into a full fledged monthly bleeding, baby carrying female. You'll be a real woman with all the fun and problems and everything that carries. If you work with me."
Ron sat there looking around. He looked at the obvious muggle standing there quietly.
"So what are you going to do?"
"This will transfer the unbreakable to this guy who was rather rude to me yesterday. He will get your inability to talk about Peter and you'll be free and clear."
"And if I tell you what I know you'll turn me into a girl?"
"Well I might have a few other things for you to do but nothing too major. Not like I'll need you to kill anyone."
"Okay good. And I won't hurt my sister, or my friends. They've been real nice to me."
"Fine by me. I don't care about them I just want Pettigrew."
"Okay." Ron got up took the arm of the muggle. Sirius took his stolen wand and ran it up the arms of the two of them chanting in some strange ancient tongue that did not sound like the Latin they taught at school. This was more guttural and had strange throat clicking sounds. A glow formed over Ron's arm and drew from him into the muggle who staggered and fell down when the spell was completed.
"There ya go. Alright take Fatty cake here and get him back to his shop. Ron how ya feeling."
"Wow. I can talk about him now?"
"You better."
"His name was Peter Pettigrew not Scabbers." Ron said quickly holding his breath waiting to die. When nothing happened he began grinning. "It worked."
"Yep sure did. And as a reward." Sirius put his wand between the pseudo-breasts of Ron and chanted something in that strange language again. Ron felt a strange twisting sensation pass through his body then fade.
"What was that?" She said in a voice a few notes higher in pitch.
"That was a disguise spell that temporarily transforms you into the body of a female. You're functional enough but no womb, no monthlies. It'll only last until the next sunrise but it'll give you a little taste of the joys."
Ron ran her hands across her body with a grin. "I'm your girl. What do you want to know?"
"Well anything to do with Pettigrew. Where he is, what he's doing. Why the hell was in he in your sister's arms."
"Well that's because he was hiding in our house. I caught him coming out of mom's bedroom the year before I got my letter. That's when he made me take the oath never to tell anyone about him the person just him the rat. Ginny doesn't know anything. We all worked to keep it from her."
"So still up to his nasty ways. I knew he used to go hang out in the girl's showers. Figures he'd upgrade to molestation."
"Yeah but he never had sex with my sister. He kept saying the boss wanted her a virgin. He wanted to and Lucius wanted him to but they got overruled last year. Said she had to be a virgin for the ritual the boss wanted to use."
"Ahh a Kandorian re-birthing ritual? Makes sense. Yeah that's probably it. Only so many ways to get a body back when you're a formless spirit. That would have not been healthy for your sister as he would have burst out of her womb fully formed and an adult."
"Yeah Draco Malfoy couldn't keep his mouth shut about that. That's why I helped Harry and them stop him."
Well well well. Lucky Lucy has a son? Are you sure? I would have sworn Lucy played for the other team. Anyhow. Pettigrew and Malfoy are working together?"
"I guess. I mean they know about each other. And Drake talks to him."
"Well well well. How wonderful. And do you think Peter is staying with the Malfoys?"
"I dunno. He ran off from the school when the Headmaster turned up the anti-animagus wards."
"So. They finally installed anti-animagus wards. That will be a problem. Not a bad one but one I'll have to look into. So did Pettigrew do anything else at your house?"
Ron shook her head. "No. He made mom take a vow too and he forced her to have sex with him and brew potions for him. He mainly stayed quiet. Pretended he our pet."
"I somehow think you're lying."
"Uh no I'm telling you the truth. Please. You said you wanted to know about Peter Pettigrew and I've told you all I know. He stayed at our house and hid with us. Dumbledore gave mom permission for us to take him to school but I don;t think he knew he was a rat. Mom just said it was guilt over her brothers or something that made him do that as a favor. Pettigrew had sex with mom and spied on Ginny. I knew about it but was afraid to stop him as I didn't have any power. My brother Percy spent a lot more time with him than I did. Maybe he knows more."
"Percy Weasley?"
"Yeah he works for the ministry now. He has a flat in the north of London. Up in Crouch End."
"Well looks like I'll be paying another Weasley a visit. Thank you very much young miss. I'll be in touch. Remember this only lasts until sunrise.." He said leaning over to kiss the back of Ron's hand. She felt a tingle go through her and she started breathing faster. Feeling various things that she had never felt before going on with her new body she definitely liked them.
Grinning at her her benefactor sighed, "Well that's a taste. I'll let you go quench the fires now. Say hi to Harry. Kreacher take her back now."
=====xxxxx=====
The twins had returned and were incensed to find out what the rat was. They swore to do all they could to help Remus find him and bring him to justice. For the honor of the Weasley clan.
Ginny even wanted to help join their training to fight back. To not let anyone do that to her again. They were talking about what to do when suddenly Ron and the elf reappeared. He shoved her at Harry and then popped back out.
"Hi guys. Wow. You would not believe what just happened." She said with a grin.
"Ron? IS that really you." Harry said lowering his wand a bit to look at her. She was just as tall as she had been with red hair flowing to her shoulders. A rounder face with full lips and bright blue eyes framed by it. A body that was not athletic but not curvy, somewhere in between but definitely feminine. With hips and breasts that were not an illusion or engorgio induced approximation.
"Yeah. Call me Veronica I think. So you like how I look Harry? Neville?"
"Yeah you look great whoever you are. Now prove you're Ron?" Neville said his wand pointed directly between the blue eyes.
"Uh yeah okay. You got pissed at me for trying to sit with you on the train Harry. You called me a liar. Which I was. There were several empty compartments."
"Okay yeah that happened." Harry said looking to Neville who narrowed his eyes.
"Still not good enough. You get popped out and suddenly you're back and a girl. Just what you always wanted. Gee that's not suspicious at all."
Hermione started to speak up in Ron's defense but Neville made a good point. "Okay can you prove you're you."
"Fine. And I'm not totally a girl. He said this would only last until sunrise. And he's probably going to go after Percy next."
"Why would he go after Percy?" Fred asked.
"One thing at a time!" Neville commanded. Remus put his hand on Neville's shoulder to calm him down as the tip of his wand had started to glow a dull red.
"Okay. Fred and George turned my teddy bear into a giant spider when I was three. I had a relationship with Draco last year because I thought he cared about me until I found out he was going to sacrifice Ginny. I am Ronald Bilious Weasley. Honestly." She started crying.
Harry stepped in front of Neville. "C'mon stand down Nev. She's him, er her, er Ron. OK."
Neville lowered his wand, "This is getting crazy man."
"Look he said he would help me if I told him about Peter. He transferred the unbreakable to some guy in a coffee shop that made him mad. So I thought if that's all he wanted to help me what harm could it really do? Besides I think he would have killed me."
"How do you know he would have killed you?" Hermione asked.
"Because he told me he would. His eyes. They were cold. Dead. Like looking into a ghost's eyes."
Remus turned to Fred and George, "Boys lets go visit your brother's flat. Even if he's not home we can see what's going on."
"The prat won't like this. He has walked out on the family." George declared.
"Well I'm not so concerned about him but what he knows about Pettigrew. Veronica. Please tell Harry and everyone else everything that happened."
"Yes sir."
Remus and the twins left as Ron settled in on the couch. Crossing her legs under her. She giggled. "Sorry I just don't know how to feel right now. This is amazing. I didn't get a lot of chance to explore being a girl when I was pretending to be you but now. Wow."
"Okay why don't you tell us everything that happened after that weird elf took you out of here." Harry said.
"Sure thing Harry." Ron said batting her eyelashes.
"Okay that stops right here. All the girlfriend positions are filled and there are no open ones girl." Hermione declared rather forcefully.
Ron just giggled, "Okay sorry just practicing. And feeling a bit uh funny I guess. When he kissed the back of my hand I just oh my god. The sensations this body has. If this is what its going to be like when he turns me fully girl I can't wait."
"Yeah wait a month and see if you still like it." Lavender and Hermione both grumbled while Luna and Ginny just shook their heads.
"Back to subject." Neville prompted.
Ron nodded and recounted what happened. They asked for every detail and she gave them as much as she could remember. Including the promise to turn her fully female for helping. That he didn't want to kill Harry but was very focused on Pettigrew.
"Well great. Not much we can take to Ms Bones. I suppose the fact Malfoy knowing about him might get her to investigate but who knows."
"No not really Harry. He has money and would probably say Ron is doing it to get back at Draco for breaking up with her."
Hermione sighed, "Neville's right. There probably isn't much we can do right now. So how did he say he was going to transform you. Hell how did he transform you like this? I mean I can see your body posture and mannerisms are all feminine. Like more so than they had been."
"I dunno. He spoke in this weird guttural language. It had a rhythm and all but some of it made sounds at the back of the throat."
Luna said something in a very harsh language that caused Ron's eyes to grow wide in shock. "Yeah that sounds a lot like it. And eh he recognized the thing they was going to do to Ginny as an ancient Kandorian ritual."
"Kandoria was a region in the ancient Sumerian empire. They worshiped a demon lord named Eskaranth. Many of the darker spells in existence originated in that region." Luna explained.
"Wait a second. He used a dark spell to turn me into a girl?"
"I said many of the darker spells originated there not that all spells from the region were dark. They also originated many light or practical spells. Their language was harsh as they were a harsh people in a harsh land. I doubt this was a dark spell. Do you feel like drinking blood, swallowing souls or otherwise doing anything dark?"
"Uh no. I feel kinda tingly, warm and funny in my belly and my nipples keep getting tight."
Hermione put her head in her hands, "Okay you're aroused. Welcome to the club. It happens around these two." She said with a frustrated growl.
"Oh yeah? Cool." Ron said smoothing her dress down over herself.
"So back to the topic of Sirius Black. He used an ancient Sumerian."
"Kandorian more likely." Luna interrupted.
"Kandorian," Harry corrected smoothly, "spell to change you into a girl. A different one to transfer the unbreakable vow from you to some muggle. And said that he would somehow use a ritual to turn you into a girl permanently and completely all because you told him what little bit you knew about Peter Pettigrew?"
"Well I do owe him a few more favors he said. Before he'll shift me permanently. This was to just get a taste of it he said."
"What kind of favors." Neville rumbled.
"Uh he didn't exactly say. He said he'd contact me."
"Well that's rather open ended. Don't you ever think about anything but your own wants?"
"Hey that's not fair. Ok. Not all of us are big damn heroes like you five are. Some of us are just normal people trying to get by without getting killed or messed up. Sorry I don't stand up to your high moral standards Hermione Granger!"
"That is not what I meant. You have no idea what sort of favors this man is going to ask of you. Especially if he can turn you into a good looking girl."
Ron recoiled in surprise for two reasons. One that Hermione had a point about what kind of favors a man who had been in prison for a long time might want, and that she said she was good looking.
"Yeah sinking in isn't it. A man who was in prison for over a decade. He might have some idea of what he could use a pretty girl for."
"Okay. Maybe you have a point. But still I don't think I did bad. I mean I got the unbreakable vow off of me to tell you guys what I know."
"At the expense of some muggle!"
"That wasn't my idea. That was his. He said he made him grumpy. I was not wanting to do the same."
"She has a point Mione. It was probably a good idea not to make him mad." Lavender pointed out, "And besides how likely is it for a random muggle to discus this with anyone?"
"See. She understands."
Hermione just pursed her lips in a fair imitation of Professor McGonnegal. "Fine. I suppose you did the best you could do."
"Well next time I'll let them kidnap you and see how you fare."
"Okay look lets try not to have anyone get kidnapped ok?" Harry snapped finally.
Both Hermione and Veronica looked abashed and agreed, "Sorry Harry."
=====xxxxx=====
Remus and the twins arrived at a stylish flat in the Crouch End part of town. Remus having to side-along each of them to the park nearby before they walked the few blocks. The door was answered by a pretty blonde girl. She was tall and slightly on the curvy side. Seeing who was at the door she smiled and came out to hug the twins.
"Hey guys. I'm sorry Percy isn't back from work yet. Not that he's probably ready to see you anyhow." She said sadly.
"Hey Penelope. Yeah we know. But this is important. This is Remus Lupin a friend of Harry Potter's. He needs to talk to Percy."
"Oh hello. Well you can all come in for now I suppose."
"So what are you doing here?"
"I guess he didn't tell you did he?" She said holding her left hand out. A small silver ring with a diamond chip on it sitting on the appropriate finger.
"Whoa. Big brother proposed? So when are you due?"
Scoffing at their impertinence she chuckled, "No I'm not pregnant. We haven't even gone all the way yet. He's saving that for after the wedding you perverts."
"The rumors around the school had the two of you in every broom closet in the place."
Laughing she shook her head, "Yeah we played around a lot but that's all."
Remus cleared his throat, "I'm sorry for interrupting but I have to ask. Has Percy ever mentioned anyone named Peter Pettigrew?"
Penelope thought for a moment before shaking her head. "No not really. I think I would have remembered if he mentioned it. Though didn't we learn about him in history class?" She turned to the twins seeking confirmation.
"Maybe. I didn't exactly stay awake for that."
"Neither did I dear brother."
Sighing she shook her head again. "Well they're useless. But no Percy has never mentioned anyone by that name."
"What about his behavior. Has he spoken of any people that he might have made friends with or what he does at the ministry?"
"Well he works as chief assistant to the Undersecretary for the Minister. A woman named Umbridge. He doesn't have a lot of friends he talks about. But he does some very important work keeping her schedule and notes and things. And since she has the ear of the minister that means he moves in some high circles."
The twins grunted in disgust. "Uppity prat."
She shrugged, "See that's why he left you guys. He was given the opportunity to graduate early to take this job. He proposed to me and father put the condition that I have to graduate first but otherwise gave his blessing. You could stand to be a bit more like your brother. He's a real go getter."
Remus cleared his throat again, slightly more forcefully, "Yes well that aside. We should probably go.
"Okay. Try to get these two to get serious."
"Oh believe me I sincerely hope to get Sirius."
=====xxx-xxx=====
Back at the Weasley abode they had broken into two groups with Veronica talking with the girls about girl things. While Harry and Neville sat by the front window looking out at the street.
"Why did you freak out so much when Ron came back?"
"Because that would be the best way to ambush us Harry. We need to be on guard."
"I know. But we can't get so jumpy that we go crazy. Otherwise every time someone goes to the loo they'd have to get a security check."
"Ok I don't trust him."
Harry looked over as the girls laughed about something. His eyes caught Veronica's and she seemed to be happier than Harry had ever saw her. "Ok yeah. She's got some issues. I admit that. And it is suspicious Sirius offering her everything she wanted. But Luna seems to be accepting her. And I trust Luna."
"I know. I love and trust Luna too but she's not perfect. Gramma always told me stories about dad and wanted me to grow up to be like him. Maybe now that we're heading for war again I'm trying too hard to be him."
Harry smiled at Neville, "Nev I'll be happy if you're just you. My brother."
Neville looked up. He smiled, "You know I'm still not going to kiss you."
Harry laughed, "And that's just fine." He noticed movement of red hair outside and took a closer look. "Hey Arthur is coming back and looks like Molly is with him."
Veronica suddenly jumped up. "Oh my god. How do I look. Am I ok? Mom has an unbreakable on her still too. So please don't say anything." She rapidly gushed her words.
"Okay. Just relax and act casual." Luna said patting the couch.
Veronica sat down her legs crossed demurely.
The door opened a few moments later and the adult Weasleys came in. Looking at the number of people Molly got a concerned expression then she seemed to recognize them. "Oh uh I wasn't planning on having this many for dinner."
Harry smoothly stepped up, "No problem. I had heard you were back in town and wanted to check on how things went. Also Hermione had been testing some new spell ideas and wanted to see if Veronica would be a good test subject."
"Oh that explains her new look. I was wondering about that." Arthur said. "Very natural looking."
Hermione glared at Harry but covered it with a smile at Arthur, "Thank you sir. I really wish Harry hadn't bragged too much as its still experimental. Ron will be back in the morning and I'm not sure it'll be able to be repeated."
"Well such as it is. So where are the twins?"
"They're with a friend of mine Remus Lupin. He had some work for them."
"Oh good. That'll come in handy. I received a letter at the post from Salem. They decided not to hire me. Something about employment laws and foreign visas."
"Well my offer is still good."
"Thank you Mr Potter. We'll do our best for you then."
"Oh good. As soon as Remus and the twins return we'll go on about our business and leave you to your dinner."
"Actually Harry was going to bring Ginny and Veronica out to eat with us. Weren't you dear?" Hermione said giving Harry a look like a cat with a mouse might.
"Uh well I didn't want to presume anything."
Molly stepped up, "Oh no. Take them both. We don't mind do we dear. It'll be alright if you want to take them home too. Go ahead." She said smiling.
Arthur looked a bit confused, "Uh I thought we discussed your matchmaking. Besides I'm sure Mr Potter has more than enough girls in his life right now." He said pointing generally at Hermione and the others.
Luna stepped up, "Ginny and Veronica are just friends ma'am. They are not in the running to be lovers. Even casually." She said looking curiously at Hermione.
"Oh well yes. I'm sure. But you know how teenagers are and how things go. I'm just saying. It's all right. Well I need to freshen up after today." She said turning for the loo. Harry and Arthur shared a confused look but chatted a bit about the job and the house being built for them. Hermione took Luna back over and relaxingly chatted a bit about the upcoming school year. Speculating on the new Defense instructor.
Molly came out and started preparing dinner for the Weasleys. Remus and the twins showing up about then. So Harry and the crew said their farewells and moved off to the Leaky Cauldron. Hermione shuffling the two Weasley girls to the center of their little group. Until they arrived back at the Longbottom Dowager house.
=====xxx-xxx=====
"Okay want to explain to me what just happened Hermione? Why we have the two of them with us?"
"Sorry Mr. Lupin sir. Sirius knows that Ginny had Scabbers. Ronnie here told him basically everything throwing Percy under the bus. Plus she owes him a pair of favors, at least, for figuring out how to turn her into a real girl fully at some point in the near future."
"So you think Sirius will send that freaky elf after either one or both of them?"
"But I tried to make sure he understood Ginny had nothing to do with Pettigrew. That she didn't know the rat was him."
"How mentally stable did Sirius seem to you?"
Veronica frowned, "Not really much. He seemed a few bristles short of a full broom."
"So you trust him to believe you?"
"I dunno."
"There is the problem. Alright. So we have these two in our protective custody until you return to school?"
"Probably. I don't suppose his elf can get in here?"
"Ever since Dobby Habin has been drilling the other elves into a security force for the house."
"Too bad we cannot send an army of elves after Voldemort."
"Harry House elves are bound to only use force to defend their house and their wards. They are magically unable to be utilized as an attack force like that." Luna rattled off grumpily.
"Okay Sorry. I was joking mainly."
"Not a funny joke." Luna huffed.
"Okay anyhow. Percy is engaged to his girlfriend and working for the Undersecretary to the Minister. So he seems to have moved up in the world." Remus explained.
"Great." Ginny grunted. Veronica just shrugged which made things move in interesting ways Harry observed. Lavender did too.
"Okay Ron. Next lesson undergarments. C'mon."
"Habin any word from Gramma?"
"Yes Sir. She says she may be late as the Ministry is pushing for greater security measures to be taken to find Mr Black."
"Oh like what?"
"She was not specific."
"Well I will see to a few friends of mine. He had a few places he liked to haunt back in the day. Plus the ancestral Black manor as well as their townhouse. Maybe I can find him before the Ministry loses their collective wigs."
"Do you want any help?" Harry asked.
"NO I think I had better handle this alone. Some of the people are not entirely trustworthy.
=====xxxxx=====
Harry and Neville were sitting talking to Hermione and Ginny about the potential security measures they might take at the school and what to do if they encountered a Dementor when Lavender came into the room. She cleared her throat to get their attention.
"Okay guys. I did a little bit of work with Veronica. So allow me to introduce her."
She waved to someone outside the room. That someone being Veronica Weasley who walked into the room on some small heels wearing a light blue dress that showed off a bit of her cleavage. A silver tear drop necklace nestled in the middle of them. A hint of rose lipstick and eye shadow highlighted her face. Pale pink nail polish capped each finger.
Harry and Neville both stood up as she entered the room causing her to smile awkwardly.
"Wow. You clean up rather nicely."
"Thanks Harry. Lavender did most of the work."
Neville nodded to her, "Good job Lav."
"Thank you. I am an artiste." She said with a wave of her hand.
Sitting back down with Veronica next to Hermione they resumed their discussions. Until Augusta returned. She was surprised to meet Veronica and hear what happened but at least was happy that they had some leads she would tell madam Bones. Augusta was concerned that Remus was out hunting Sirius on his own but accepted it.
Dinner was a polite affair with Veronica learning the proper way to eat. The discussion on Sirius and what sort of spells they would need to defend themselves. As well as the physical training. Veronica didn't seem as excited by that but Ginny was ready to begin right there. They worked on a few things until it began to get late and they broke apart to get ready for bed.
Hermione noticed Veronica watch Harry and Luna wander off to his room wistfully. Their hands together and whispering some joke to each other. She furrowed her brows trying to make a decision before she took Veronica's arm. "Come with me."
Veronica was surprised but knowing that if she resisted Hermione was not only physically capable of knocking her down but a faster and better spellcaster. She nodded and followed unresisting into Hermione's room.
=====xxxxx=====
"Okay. I know you have a crush on Harry. What is it with you Weasleys? Ginny had one and you did even before you turned into a girl."
Veronica sat on Hermione's bed. "You'll just get upset with me if I told you."
"I'm likely to get upset if you don't explain this. I know Harry is a good looking guy but c'mon."
Veronica hung her head, "Okay look. Mom was telling Ginny all these stories about Harry Potter being a hero and how she was the kind of girl he would look for and want to settle down with. How she was the one true love destined for him. It was all on Dumbledore's suggestion I found out the year before we all went to Hogwarts. That's why I tried to make friends with Harry. I was supposed to become his best friend. Dumbledore even hinted that if Harry liked boys I would come in really helpful. And if he didn't like boys then there would always be Ginny. I don't know why but Dumbledore really wants Harry to be with a Weasley. Honest."
"What do you know about your family history?" Hermione asked frowning.
"I know that the Weasleys have been in Cornwall since the viking era. That we've not had any girls born for at least the last seven generations and we've been pure-blood at least as long."
"And what about the Potter family history do you know anything about them?"
Veronica shrugged, "Only that they've been pure bloods for about as long as we have if not longer. That they're loaded rich but don't have any titles or estates or anything. And other than that nothing."
"Come with me."
Veronica shrugged and followed Hermione to Harry's bedroom door. She listened for a moment then knocked. Harry opened the door enough to stick his head out.
"Uh Hermione, Veronica."
"Yes Harry can we come in?"
"Uh let me get some pants on."
"Don't bother. I'm giving Veronica a free pass for this."
Harry raised his eyebrows in surprise but shrugged and opened the door for them to enter. Veronica looked at Harry without looking and blushed.
Hermione sighed, "Okay check him out. Go ahead."
"Uh don't I get a say in this? Harry said walking over to grab his robe.
"At the moment I'm not entirely certain. There is something very curious going on."
Luna sat up in the bed the covers falling below her naked bosom. "What do you mean curious?"
"Ron just told me that Dumbledore has been pushing for Harry to be with a Weasley."
"What do you mean BE with a Weasley?"
Hermione turned to Veronica, "I mean he encouraged mom to all but throw Ginny at him. We knew Harry was going to be stuck outside the platform and we were to collect him. That way maybe Ginny's cuteness would get his attention or if he liked boys I was to be the one. But either one of us was to wind up in his bed."
Harry sat down looking peeved. "You're kidding?"
"No I'm not. Back before we went to the school Dumbledore said I needed to be your best friend. That way if you liked boys you'd have someone to support you. And if you didn't Ginny was the one. He really wants you to be with a Weasley as in fall in love get together and make babies someday. He mentioned what your kids would be like."
"What? That's crazy. Why would he want to do that?"
Veronica shrugged, "Look I don't know. All I know is that All my life I've felt like something was wrong and its just been getting worse until I took that poly-juice and pretended to be Hermione, Until today. When Lavender helped me look pretty and you and Neville looked at me like that. It felt like the entire world settled into place."
"So Dumbledore the manipulator strikes again."
"It would seem as such Harry. Veronica and Ginny both."
"Yeah that's why I got so tired of it all when you rejected me and I went to Malfoy. Pettigrew had told me he liked boys and would treat me better. He would treat me right. They lied to me. Malfoy manipulated me, Dumbledore manipulated me. And now I let Sirius Black manipulate me. I'm just a stupid gullible sheep." She sat on the end of the bed crying.
Harry sighed and moved down to put his arm around her letting her cry on his shoulder. Luna and Hermione shared a look as Hermione pulled up the bedside chair.
"Harry have you found anything in your family that would give a reason for Dumbledore wanting you to be with a Weasley?"
"No no idea."
"And you don't have any feelings for Ron right now?"
"Well I mean I'm upset she's crying and hurt, but that's pretty much the way I act for any girl."
"We know." The three girls in the room echoed then giggled.
Harry shook his head. "Okay smarties. What are you talking about?"
"Okay how do you feel about Ginny?"
"She's turned into a neat kid sister. I care about her but I don't feel any sexual thoughts about her or anything."
"Okay and Veronica. How do you feel about her?"
Harry inhaled and pulled the robe a bit closer around himself. "Uh well I mean I am a guy and Veronica," he said stressing the feminine name, "is a pretty girl and was pressing herself up against me. But with the crying wasn't doing anything until you kinda put my mind in that direction."
"So just the normal healthy male physical reaction then?"
"Uh yeah I guess. I mean no offense but I do like girls."
"Yeah I know."
Hermione sat in the chair with her fingers steepled deep in thought. "Harry kiss Ron, on the lips please."
Everyone turned to look at her. "Hermione do you think that's wise?"
"Well I doubt we're in a Grimm Fairy tale. Just humor me."
Harry looked at Luna who shrugged. He turned to Veronica who looked surprised but shyly excited. He shrugged and leaning in kissed her on the lips. A moderately passionate kiss that lasted for several seconds before they broke apart.
"Okay how do you feel Harry?"
"I want to point out I am a mostly naked healthy teen male who just kissed a girl in front of the two girls he loves. So the kinkiness factor is off the scale high."
"So in other words you're horny but wouldn't care which one of the three of us serviced you over any others."
"I wouldn't exactly put it that clinically Mione but yeah."
"And Ron how do you feel?"
Ron was sitting there with a dazed smile on her face. Flushed cheeks and shallow rapid breathing told Hermione and Luna that obviously Harry's kiss had an effect on their new girl.
"Ron? Earth to Ron?" Hermione said snapping her fingers in her face.
"Yeah sorry. Wow Harry you kiss a lot better than Draco."
"Thanks. I'm glad about that."
"Yeah and you've got a bigger wand too."
"Okay. Thanks." Harry pulled the robe over himself as it had slipped when he shifted position to kiss Veronica.
Hermione laughed softly, "Okay but aside from being aroused do you feel anything unnatural or pulling you to Harry or anything?"
Ron considered a moment, "I guess not. I mean this is the first time I've been kissed as a girl. I'm not sure what some of these feelings are normal and what ones aren't."
"Okay fair enough. But neither one of you feel anything other than normal sexual arousal."
The two of them looked at each other and then agreed with Hermione that it seemed there was nothing magical about that kiss in the thaumaturgical meaning. Harry found it nice but not more than his betrothed, Ron felt the world skip a cog among other poetic statements.
"Okay well you're not having sex with him."
Ron looked dissapointed but nodded her head. "Okay I know by the old rules as his wife you get to have final say on mistresses."
"Uh yeah that's right." Hermione said not aware of that but going with it.
"I better go get ready for bed." Ron went to get up. Hermione pushed her back down on the bed with a yelp.
"Look I'm not going to get you and Harry all worked up and then leave you hanging or make you go off and take care of yourself. We'll have a little make out session, NO penetration of anyone then you can go get in your own bed."
"I get to make out with Harry?" Veronica said like she had just hit the jackpot.
"Consider it a reward for finally coming clean with us."
=====xxxxx=====
The next morning Harry woke up with Hermione on one side and Luna on the other. Veronica had been satisfactorily pleased and returned to her own room in a groggy half awake state. Hermione and Luna had tested to see if Harry had had any negative side effects which he passed with flying colors.
The door to the bedroom flung open quickly enough that it slammed into the wall. Both girls had rolled off Harry and into combat crouches within seconds. Harry sat up grabbing his glasses to see Veronica standing in the door way in confusion. Sunlight streaming in the windows highlighting her naked form.
Neville and Lavender came charging in almost running Veronica down with their wands drawn a few seconds later. Lavender in a sheer negligee while Neville was in his Y fronts.
"What the hell is going on?" Neville grumpily demanded.
"I'm still a girl!" Veronica replied, "HE said I'd turn back by the next sunrise. Yet I'm still a girl!"
"Well hell. Everyone can see that. Wait. Yeah its past sunrise." Neville was still getting his mind in gear now that the threat of combat hadn't materialized. "What the hell?"
Lavender came over and looked at Veronica. Poking her in the breast and casting a few spells. Augusta and Ginny came walking in about that time. Ginny wearing a full body covering plain dress under a robe while Augusta was in her night clothes with a thick wool robe over them.
"Miss Brown can you please explain to me why there is a naked red headed girl that should be a boy by now in the middle of this room?"
"Uh no I don't think I can. I need to call my mother and have her come check this out."
"Very well. Breakfast will be in an hour. Try to be dressed for it." She said turning and walking back to her wing.
Lavender excused herself and went to contact her mother. Neville went stomping back to his bedroom grumping about stupid spells and crazy girls.
Harry sat there staring at the now blushing Veronica. The blush spreading from the tip of her ears down to other tips making Harry realize that getting to the shower was going to be a hard walk.
"Uh sorry. I just got a bit excited. I'll go back to my room and get dressed."
Hermione stood up, "Uh yeah you do that." She said in confusion.
After Veronica left Harry turned to Hermione, "I thought you said she would be a he again this morning?"
"That's what she said."
"It seems things may be more complicated than we thought."
"I didn't do anything to cause that did I?"
Hermione looked at him with a sardonic expression, "You're a powerful lover Harry but I don't think you're that powerful."
"Ouch. Okay. Point taken. Still. She is still a she."
Luna lifted the comforter and observed, "Yeah and you don't seem all that upset about it."
"Okay. Hello! Healthy teenage male. Naked girls randomly running in and out of my bedroom. Its amazing I can even walk."
As Luna slid over Harry's body she cooed, "Aww poor Harry he lives such a hard life..."
=====xxxxx====
When they came down to breakfast Lavender was talking to her mom who was looking at Veronica strangely.
"Okay lets go eat and then we'll figure this out. DO you have any idea what the specific spell was used on you?"
"No idea it was in some ancient language."
"Have you ever had a shape-change or other transformation potion or spell used on you before?"
Veronica shook her head, "uh no. Not that I remember."
"Okay well I'll examine you after breakfast. Just relax. You don't feel any discomfort or anything?"
"Uh well I kinda got this weird tight feeling in my stomach. Right under the belly button."
Every female in the room got a curious expression Harry noticed. Neville obliviously went on into breakfast.
=====xxxxx====
After breakfast Augusta and Amanda took Veronica off into one of the other rooms while the teens retired to the lounge.
"Uh guys when Veronica said she was feeling tight. She's getting a period right?"
"Yeah Harry. 10 points for observing." Hermione sarcastically said.
"Hey I live with 3 girls. I better pay attention to stuff like that."
"Well he's learning at least." Lavender said nodding at Neville who had a furrowed brow.
"What's wrong Neville?"
"Girls get periods. Ron's a guy. I thought it took a ritual to actually change someone's pattern like that. Normal transfiguration wouldn't work for that."
"Apparently the spell that transformed him into her was either more powerful than she thought or there is something else going on." Luna explained.
"That means Sirius is either more powerful than we thought or has access to more powerful spells at least. That's disturbing." Neville considered.
"Yeah it is."
"So is Sirius going to be an ally though? I mean he could have grabbed me if he had wanted to instead of Ronnie."
"Yeah that is true Harry. I know. I think he's going to be his own piece in the puzzle." Hermione carefully said after some consideration.
"Great. Dumbledore on one side and Voldemort on the other with us in the middle and now comes Sirius fucking Black. Just wonderful."
"Well at least its not a Battle of Five Armies you know." Hermione said with a wry grin.
Neville groaned, "Keep up those jokes and somebody is going to be thrown into a volcano."
"That only works for virgins." Hermione said sticking her tongue out at him.
"Well that lets you out."
They joked and worked on a few more spells and charms until Veronica and the adults came into the lounge. Veronica had a strange confused, surprised happy look on her face.
"Well What's going on?"
"I'm going to need to take Veronica to Saint Mungo's for some more in depth testing. I'm going to need to contact one of her parent's before I can so I'll be back."
"Is everything going to be okay." Ginny asked in concern. She might have her issues with her brother but she did care about him
"Well aside from the fact that I think you now have five brothers instead of six and that she will need to have the talk from the girl's perspective before the next couple of days are out yeah."
"If you'll excuse me." Amanda said heading for the floo.
Augusta looked at the group sternly, "What that means is that young Miss Weasley there is a real girl from the tip of her toes to the womb she has inside her. So you fellows better not go getting her in the family way as she's as fertile as any Weasley. And that'll play merry hob with your little quorum there."
Everyone turned to stare at Veronica who was sitting on the side of the chair with a strange goofy smile. "Yeah hey guys. I'm a real girl."
"Now I have to go to the planning committee meeting so I'll be back in time for tea."
"Yes gramma." The group murmured still in shock at the announcement.
=====xxxxx=====
When Veronica returned that evening just before dinner she was subdued and confused. The Quintet helped her settle into their lounge.
"So how'd it go?" Lavender asked.
"Well uh. This is me. This is apparently who I'm supposed to be."
"What?" They asked as Ginny nodded in silent confirmation.
"There isn't any residual spell effects on me, any signs of transformation and well I am a girl with all the normal drives and emotional responses. That's why as a boy I never liked girls. I never really did the boy stuff. I mean yeah I like Quidditch but so does Ginny and Katie and Angelica and..."
"We get the point. Okay so you're a girl. You were supposed to be born a girl. What happened?"
"They don't know Neville. Mom and Dad don't know. Mom went to a midwife back then not Saint Mungo's and the midwife was killed during the uprising by him. So there wasn't any records."
Harry had a very bad feeling about things but wasn't sure he wanted to ask but felt the deep need to, "Was Dumbledore involved in your family at that point?"
Ron thought a minute before answering, "Yeah Dad said he used to work with Dumbledore back in the uprising. I don't know what he did. He wasn't one of the Order though."
Ginny furrowed her brow then said, "I've heard mom mention that they had some troubles after her brothers were killed that Dumbledore helped with. He was a friend of theirs."
Neville groaned in exasperation rubbing his forehead. "Dumbledore was involved. Again. Why does EVERYTHING come back to either him or Voldemort?"
"Because they're playing some huge game and the rest of the world is caught in the middle." Harry flatly stated.
"So how did your parents take it?" Lavender asked.
Ginny laughed derisively while Ron looked awkward.
"Well uh. Mom was excited because she has two daughters now. And dad was okay. He said he loves me still the same no matter what."
"OH go ahead and tell them what else mom said." Ginny prompted.
Ron blushed and ran her hand up through her hair messing it up to Lavender's consternation but she quietly said, "Mom was hoping Harry would be a lot more enthused to take me as a mistress at least now."
Harry started rubbing his forehead. "Your mom is... and what do you want?"
Ron blushed and hung her head shyly. "Well uh. I mean you and Neville are good looking. I've always thought that and I would be more than happy to be your girlfriend but you've already got them so uh. I guess I'll see what happens. Maybe someone else at school will give me a look and not be freaked out."
Harry nodded looking at Hermione and Luna who had begun whispering with Lavender. "Okay I can deal with that. You're not all that bad I guess. Now that you've stopped being such a prat. We can be friends?"
Ron looked up smiling a brilliant smile. "I can live with that."
Ginny snorted but said nothing else.
"What about you Ginny?" Harry asked.
"I'll be happy to be your friend but I feel dirty. I slept with that rat for the last year. I bathed with him. I was kidnapped and staked out naked because of him. I don't know if I'll ever want to be naked in front of a man. Much less touched by one."
Ron looked like she had been hit with a whip while Luna moved closer to Ginny and held her hand.
"I'm sorry sis." Ron mumbled looking at the floor.
"I know. And you can say that until judgment day but it won't change anything."
"I know."
Harry Didn't know what else to do so he sighed and said, "Okay well since you're our friends lets get ready for dinner then some study and practice. We've got a little over a week left before we go back. Might as well get ready for whatever happens this year."
======xxxxx=====
A couple of days later Remus Lupin showed up. He was looking tired and depressed but unharmed physically. The quintet plus two let him get fed and showered and settled before they descended upon him with their questions.
"Hold yourselves. I'll tell you what I know and already told Madam Bones."
They stilled and waited.
"The Black estate is still deserted. It actually has burned and been looted by someone. I don't know who. The town house in London is being protected by that crazy house elf and the wards are at full lethal power. It'll take a team of curse breakers to get in there. And since its in the middle of a muggle street they'll have to do it carefully. A couple of the old Marauder haunts haven't seen him. Its like he turned into a ghost and vanished."
"Did he visit Percy? I kinda threw him at Black to get him off me." Ron explained.
"No. And that's what's disturbing. Either he didn't believe you or is waiting for something before he does so. If he does Amelia has a team watching Percy to try and catch him."
"Good. Isn't that stretching the Aurors kinda thin though?" Harry asked.
"Yes which brings us back to one of the bad ideas Fudge has been pushing. Or more specifically his Undersecretary. The Dementors."
"Oh No. They are not actually considering posting those creatures around. I read up on them. That would be a horrible idea." Hermione shuddered.
"Fudge is still convinced that Sirius wants to murder Harry. To finish the job he started years ago. He won't listen to anything else. He won't accept that Pettigrew is alive. He and Umbridge his Undersecretary finds it a personal affront that anyone managed to escape from Azkaban. The unbreakable fortress, the inescapable prison." Remus scoffed.
"So where does he want to put them?"
"Platform nine and three quarters, hogsmeade and hogwarts. Dumbledore is spitting fire and ready to go toe to toe with Fudge over this."
"Well good to see him actually doing something useful."
"Neville that's not fair. He produces carbon dioxide which the trees and plants use." Hermione said dripping with sarcasm.
Harry shook his head, "Okay guys even a stopped clock is right twice a day. Remus we found out something though about Dumbledore and Veronica."
"Augusta told me about her situation and your suspicions. It does and doesn't make sense. It makes sense that he would be one of the few to have the power to do that, but why would he do that is the question."
"I know Molly Weasley has been pushing her and Ginny at me."
"More like throwing them at you." Hermione pointed out.
Ignoring that Harry continued, "And she apparently claims that she was always aware that Ron was a boy. Even in the womb." He looked at Ron who nodded.
"Well there is some odd things there. I just do not understand why or see a benefit from it."
"Neither do we. It just doesn't make sense why?" Hermione explained.
=====xxxxx=====
Far away in a small dying industrial town known as Cokeworth in the part of town called Spinner's End a dark haired man was walking back from the local store. He had a bag of groceries in his hand and his other was in his pocket holding a thin special stick. It was not the child of a log but a magic wand. It did him utterly no good as he felt another sharp pointy stick thrust itself into his neck and the word Stupefy was whispered. The lights went out for Severus Snape.
When he woke up he was tied to a chair in his Y fronts and undershirt. He was not concerned about that as he had no body confidence issues what did concern him was the man sitting in a chair directly opposite him in his kitchen. Playing with one of his ever-sharp enchanted steak knives.
"Ahh Snivellus welcome back to the land of the living. How long you remain here depends entirely on the conversation we are about to have?"
Raising his eyebrow he dead panned, "I sincerely hope it is better than some we shared in school."
"Oh how droll. You've not improved since then. I however have been put into the crucible and all extraneous matters have melted away. All I want to know about is Pettigrew. Where. is. he." Sirius said leaning forward and plunging the tip of the knife into the chair inches away from Snape's personal anatomy.
Snape though barely registered any expression as he yawned and said, "You do recall who it is I have served and worked with? Attempts at physical intimidation are rather pointless."
"Oh I suppose you're right but it couldn't hurt to try having a little bit of fun you know. My dear cousin Bella she certainly loves to play. Does she still get off from the crucio or has she gotten over that?"
"Why don't you tell me as she was still in Azkaban last I heard. Where you were supposed to be."
"Ahh yeah about that. Pettigrew. He's alive. He was with the Weasleys but he scampered off. WHERE THE FUCK IS HE! I WANT TO KNOW!" Sirius growled out grabbing the front of Snape's shirt and putting his face inches from Snape's. The spittle flying out of Sirius' mouth coating Snape's face.
"Why do you want to know. To clear your name or revenge?"
Sirius let go of Snape who teetered back in his chair close to falling for a moment before balance was restored. Meanwhile Sirius showed that his balance was still way off as he began a frantic pacing monologue.
"Revenge. I shall be avenged seven times seven upon him. And by the by Snivellus my life is already gone. I have no reason to be exonerated. My brother was killed. Pettigrew led the bastard right to them. James and his beautiful wife. Lily the beauty in the field. She who is the bright star of our soul. I loved her Snivellus. I loved him. They were my real family. You know that." He said waving the knife around casually.
"Their son still lives."
"I heard about that. He has a harem and a brother in the Longbottom boy. Good for him. I hope he fraks until it falls off and they stick it back on. He deserves it. He deserves a lot. I've taken measures to ensure he gets what he deserves. Yes he will. HE will!"
"What are you going to do to him?"
"To him nothing. Nothing at all. I'm his godfather. You know about that. The oath we take and swear by our blood to protect and care for him should his parents be unable to. Blah Blah Blah. Hahahah. Well I'm not exactly going to win godfather of the year but yeah he's going to be taken care of."
Snape swallowed not sure where the flow of this conversation was going. "And as for myself?"
"I thought about killing you but then I realized that you still haven't told me where Peter is. Dear sweet little Peter. That little cock-sucking rat." Sirius said throwing the knife so it buried itself to the hilt in the cabinet door. "Did he ever suck your cock? I bet he did didn't he. I know he did Malfoy. He told me all about it. How when it was his turn to take the mark he knelt before the blonde prince of ponce and accepted the rod of obedience. Peter pufferfish should have been his form."
Suddenly he pulled the chair he had been sitting in back up onto its legs and quietly sat down. Calmly crossing his legs he folded his hands in his lap and smiled at Snape. This unnerved him more than when he was brandishing the knife. A quiet Sirius Black was a unpredictable Sirius Black.
"So Severus. Severus old school chum of mine. Tell me where is Peter Pettigrew?"
"I do not know for certain. I have heard rumors that he may be staying at Malfoy manor. Why don't you ask your cousin Narcissa for a dinner invitation?"
"Because I do believe my sweet cousin's husband would not be as happy to see me as she would be. She did say I was one of her better fucks though. Of course I was 12 at the time."
"Consider myself shocked that your family engaged in such close relations."
"Oh yeah. We are a close knit family. So loving and caring. Now seriously where is Peter?"
"Seriously I do not know." Snape deadpanned.
"I am really beginning to get annoyed with those words."
"Yes well you are searching for an individual who can transform into a rat. That does not narrow down the locations he could be very much does it?"
"No no it doesn't. But you know what. If I start burning all the places he could go for safety there won't be anyplace left."
"You are quite correct. There will be no place left. You would have to burn all of the United Kingdom. Wizarding and muggle. As a rat he could survive just about anywhere. And while Pettigrew is not the brightest candle in the bunch he is still a cunning and animalistic being with a strong sense of self preservation."
"Haha sort of like looking in a mirror there eh sniv?"
"Far from it. While I do place a premium on personal survival, there is nothing animalistic about myself. Thanks to my vastly superior intellect I am able to form a plan based firmly on logic, reason, and percentages of probability."
Sirius started laughing so hard he had to hold himself in the chair. Finally he smiled and said, "Oh Sev you bring back so many good times. So tell me why I shouldn't kill you?"
"Because if I am dead you cannot get the help you will need."
"So far you haven't been much help."
"No. Not as of yet. However you are asking the wrong questions."
"Oh and what pray tell me oh lord of snarkness, what are the correct questions?"
"What does Pettigrew what. What does Pettigrew plan to do. No doubt he has heard you are running loose again. That would not be something he would be happy to know. He would go somewhere he feels safe and protected. Where is that?"
"Where is that. Where is that." Sirius seemed to ponder. Snape wondered how this man had managed to escape and elude the authorities this long when his mind seemed to flitter about like a butterfly. He debated saying something but he was not entirely sure he wanted Sirius to be reminded he was still in the same room.
Sirius snapped his fingers, "I've got it. Malfoy Manor. You're brilliant Sevvy baby. Absolutely brilliant." Black then lept up, kissed Snape on the lips and apparated out.
Spitting a few times Snape sighed deeply. "Well that was certainly unappealing"