OLD MAGIC
Chapter 52: Found...One Slytherin Rat
As the breakfast drama was playing out in the great hall, Fawkes appeared just outside the kitchens and took a perch upon a dentil that projected out from the cornice that ran along the ceiling of this corridor. Since he had asked for this meeting, he had to be patient until breakfast had been served, which by the sound of the activity beyond the doors he waited outside, hadn't occurred yet. He idly wondered what might have transpired to delay it ... ah well, will hear about it when return to my familiar's office.
A loud swooshing sound filled the corridor announcing the departure of a large amount of containers upward. Only a few moments later a broad shouldered and taller than normal house elf slammed out of the doors and strode up to him.
"Good morning, Firg," Fawkes greeted the elf warmly.
"Rare to see you down here, Fawkes. Important it must be, hmm?" Firg asked, getting to the point as was his wont.
"Indeed. Much to tell. Do you have the time … say perhaps an hour?" The Phoenix asked.
Firg looked aghast. "Long time away, lunch to be prepared, very important it must truly be?"
"It is and necessary. However, new worker you have, very smart he is and loyal, have him monitor lunch prep. Is sharp eyed and alert. Will ensure meal is done proper and quick. Dobby be his name," Fawkes said gravely.
"Dobby! But new he is … something more than ordinary house elf duties he has done?"
"Some ... more I cannot say. Involved in what I have to tell you he is," Fawkes assured him.
"Ahh, very well. I go, talk to Dobby then meet you back here?"
"That is fine."
Firg nodded and vanished with a snap of his fingers.
"Dobby!" He shouted when he reappeared moments later in the kitchen.
"Yes sir!" Dobby called out then wended his way through the busy kitchen to the leader's side. "What need?"
"Been advised you excellent house elf by one who is familiar with you. Firg must be away for about one hour and need assistant to insure lunch is prepared properly and on time. Dobby can do this?"
Dobby's eyes widened in shock. "You would trust Dobby to run kitchen for an hour?" Firg nodded. " Yes Dobby can do. You certain?" He asked, wondering how this had happened and why.
"Yes. One who advised I trust. Do what is needed, back soon." Without further words, Firg snapped away.
Dobby stood there in disbelief but shook out of it when he saw one of the house elves at a nearby stove begin putting too much salt into a pot. Instantly taking charge as he had been ordered he hurried over and had the elf dump the water and do it again. Since all the elves have such big ears, all had heard that Dobby was in charge and responded smartly without objections … at least for the moment. They didn't know him and didn't completely trust he knew what he was doing. Dobby would just have to show them he was smarter than he looked.
Firg reappeared below Fawkes. "Comfortable we may as well be," he rumbled snapping a chair for himself and a perch for the Phoenix.
"Thank you for your courtesy, now heed my words, I would not keep you over long," Fawkes said, as he settled on the perch and Firg sat, snapping a mug of something warm that sent steam in the air for him to drink.
For the next thirty minutes, the familiar related all the current news, what was discussed during the recent council meeting, Firg making a sound of pleased surprise at being told the Dark Lord was truly gone finally, the message that was being sent as they sat here to all of wizardom, and finally the changes occurring within Hogwarts.
Firg took a deep drink and offered something for the bird but Fawkes demurred. The leader of the Hogwarts house elves, though none knew that but Fawkes, sat and thought over all the news he had been given. It was a lot to digest and it was momentous. If all the things the council was trying to do came to fruition, all intelligent creatures would finally have more of a say in the running of the world they lived in instead of being kept apart from it. It was mind boggling but also very scary. House elves didn't like change much but this kind of change was necessary so that no more house elves had to suffer under bad masters. They would finally have the right to request a change of masters before a court and be heard and maybe see a master punished for cruel treatment. One could dream.
"Right you were. Much will change...perhaps for good if all goes well. Hope for that I will. Make list of those we certain are working for enemy and send to you before end of week. Want to check with all my contacts first. Anything else we can do?"
"Yes, request was made by Professor Snape," Fawkes said.
"Ahh, good fellow, well liked by elves," Firg said, nodding his head.
"He is, yes. He wishes to find an Animagus named Peter Pettigrew, thought dead by humans but known to be not so. Close minion of Tom Riddle and last seen with him when he was killed first time but not with him when spirit was destroyed. Suspect he may be inside Hogwarts in his rat form. Death Eaters also hunt for him to find out what he knows about death of their leader. But Pettigrew doesn't know. Worst spy in our midst and needs to be caught, yes?"
"Aye, we do and swiftly. Not dead? Caught only?" Firg asked wanting to be certain.
"Caught only. Bring to me."
"Will do. Done here?"
"Yes, thank you. Good day to you, happy working," Fawkes said, warmly.
"And you," Firg said, giving a short bow of his head in respect. Fawkes disappeared. Firg made the chair and perch disappear then walked through the doors into the kitchen rather than apparate.
None noted his arrival as he took a stance just inside the doors and quietly watched his kitchen staff with a critical eye for several minutes. What he witnessed pleased him greatly. In the hour and fifteen he had been gone, lunch preparation had moved smoothly ahead with no apparent mishaps. He could easily see that they were happily thirty minutes ahead of schedule.
It was then that Dobby spotted Firg and hurried to his side. Before he could speak though Firg did first.
"Brilliant! Work is head of time. You do good job, am very pleased. Use you as assistant again when needed, yes?"
Dobby blushed in pleasure. It was an honor to be selected assistant but with his other job he could not accept. "Dobby sorry but cannot. Am committed to an important task already. Can help if free like I did this time but may be called away without notice."
Firg eyed him a moment in thought. "So this is why Fawkes said Dobby was good as assistant. Dobby is agent for Light," he realized. Aloud he said, "Understand. Appreciate your help whenever you can be available. Unless otherwise needed elsewhere please to continue helping where needed in my domain," he said smiling.
Dobby smiled back and began to move off when Firg called to all the elves.
"Attention, pay heed, important mission needs doing because we be better at this than wizards." There were smiles of pleasure at that statement. "Keep eyes and ears sharp for rat Animagus named Peter Pettigrew. Wizard may be hiding here...he worked for Voldemort."
Hisses of displeasure and anger sounded in the room when they heard that name. Firg ignored it and continued. "This wizard may never take human form much if at all within Hogwarts so human mind may be more animal now. Catch rats and bring to me. Will determine whether it is human or just rat. Need to find wizard quickly. That is all. Back to work!"
Everyone hopped to it.
As a free elf, Dobby was able to go anywhere so after he had finished what he needed to do in the kitchen, he went and checked on Draco and Harry … they were safe and in class, then went off to do this new task, a systematic search for rats starting from the top of the castle.
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In the Gryffindor dorm, the noose around Pettigrew's neck drew tighter though he was unaware of it. The fat gray rat lay curled up against Ron Weasley's pillow where he had been for some hours after being fed choice bits of food from breakfast. It was still hours before lunch and since no one was talking about the Dark Lord, Pettigrew thought a nap would do him good.
His mind was growing more and more rat-like. Wizards with the ability to change form had to take great care not to remain in their animal form for too long or suffer the loss of their humanity. Those that failed to heed this danger were likely to retain more of their animal in human form or not be able to come back at all … living their lives out as their animal. Peter was in real danger of this happening as he rarely took his human form of late.
But the threat to his life was too high and the comforts of the castle were too good for Peter to care about such things. His mind was already losing ground to his animal nature and since he hadn't heard from his master in more than a few weeks now, his concern for his master grew less and less. When the thought did penetrate, it was quickly lost in the pleasures of food and the realization that not being contacted meant no nasty, life-threatening chores to be sent on.
The only time he had worried was when he'd heard about the death of the professor his master had been inhabiting. Did the Dark Lord's spirit perish with the fool Quirrell's demise? He didn't have any answers despite listening in on many conversations around the castle for days after.
On that last strange night, Voldemort hadn't asked for Peter to follow as was his wont. Instead he had been ordered to keep an eye on the brat Harry Potter and he had done so until he nearly met his end by that dratted kneazle that apparently was the boy's familiar. The kneazle had taken to stalking him every time he dared to leave Weasley's side. So he failed to follow Potter when he saw the boy slip away that night … the night the Dark Lord disappeared.
He didn't know what he was supposed to do now. He did know he should report to one of the inner circle but none of them liked or respected him despite or maybe because of his closeness to the master. No, going to them would be like putting his neck in one of those rat traps Filch was setting around the castle.
The only sad thing was, he didn't dare show his face anywhere because he was supposed to be dead. If he wanted to run away how was he to withdraw his money from the bank? There it sat just out of reach and he had no one left he trusted to retrieve it for him. So with no other choices, he remained a rat and enjoyed what luxuries a rat familiar could have. And it wasn't really that bad. That was the last time he even thought about his former master.
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While the rat enjoyed his nap, Dobby was closing in on him though the elf didn't know it yet. He had searched for hours the entirety of the castle except for the dorms. He wanted to be thorough. Now taking a moment to work in the kitchen, he let his mind work on the problem.
Since this rat was actually a wizard in disguise it stood to reason he was pretending to be a familiar. A great many students, mostly the poor ones, had rats as familiars. That was a lot of rats to search and it would cause an uproar if too many vanished. So a little bit of thinking was needed to narrow the search. He thought hard about it and finally had an "ah hah" moment.
A rat spying for the enemy would need to stay close to the ones he was spying on. Now that narrowed the search to all houses but Slytherin.
Dobby sighed. Still too many. "Perhaps, Dobby should search Gryffindor first as that is where the enemy's greatest threat … Harry Potter … be. Yes that I do next," he decided.
On his next break from the kitchen and check of his charges … there had been some excitement around Draco but it had resolved with no harm to the boy due to the first layer of defense and second layer keeping him safe … his help wasn't needed … so he was free to search Gryffindor quarters.
Being a house elf meant he had free access into any house so it could be cleaned, linens changed, and food delivered. So he didn't have to ask the fat lady in the painting on the door to allow him entry. He simply apparated straight in.
The only familiars he found in the common room were Hermione's cat, Crookshanks, and a Toad named Trevor, that was chilling in a pond made for it in the far corner of the room. He checked the girls dorm first finding a few more familiars … another cat, a bat hanging from a bed curtain rail, and a raven who cawed at him from a window sill. No rat here.
Next was the boy's dorm. Here he found Wine taking a nap on Harry's bed. Dobby paused to stare down at the kneazle who woke to stare back. The cat-like creature gave the house elf a questioning stare.
In a soft voice Dobby asked, "Hello Wine, Dobby is in search of evil wizard Animagus hiding as rat. His name be Peter Pettigrew..."
Wine hissed and rose up quickly. He made it clear he knew of this name and was unhappy to know this being might be here somewhere.
"Yes, Dobby has been told Animagus is maybe here in Hogwarts. Someone have rat familiar?"
Wine mewed softly jumped down from Harry's bed and made his way to the bed next to it. The curtain was open in front and there tucked beneath the pillows was a fat rat.
Dobby smiled wickedly and snapped the rat into a cage he made appear. The rat awoke in shocked terror, squeaking madly and running around the cage. Looking down at Wine, Dobby nodded.
"Rat act too scared to be pet who is used to being caged. Dobby thinks this our bad wizard." He gave Wine a pleased look. "Thank ye for yer help." Wine mewed, an evil look of satisfaction on his feline face. Dobby returned the look then apparated.
Wine was infinitely pleased with himself. He had his suspicions about that rat early on. It wasn't friendly as most intelligent familiars were and treated it's owner poorly. He hoped it was the evil wizard and that he got what was coming to him. He returned to Harry's bed and his interrupted nap with a pleased purr.
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The lunch time bells chimed thunderously throughout the huge castle and was immediately followed by the boisterous sounds of children spilling out of their classrooms and heading down multiple corridors towards the great hall. Dobby's hunt had been completed in time to catch Professor Snape before the man left for lunch.
"Professor Snape, sir," Dobby said from behind the door, catching the man's attention by tugging on his robe.
Snape halted and waited until the last of the children had left then closed the door. He stared down at Dobby questioningly.
"Dobby has perhaps found your enemy, sir." He made the cage with rat enclosed appear hanging from his hand.
"Ah, good work, Dobby." Snape turned and set a ward on his door so no one would enter that shouldn't. "Set the cage on the floor, Dobby and stand by please." Snape waited until the house elf did as he asked then moved out of the way and watched Snape to see what he would do. "Now let's see if it's you Peter." He spoke the transfiguration reversal spell. If the rat was an Animagus then it would turn blue before returning to human form, if it wasn't then it wouldn't change at all.
As soon as the spell was cast, the rat turned blue. Snape immediately vanished the cage and watched as a form emerged slowly from the writhing rat form. First the head, then arms, torso then legs finally revealed a short, hunched, man who's face looked more rat-like than human and who was wringing his long thin hands together in terror.
"So back from the dead, eh, Pettigrew ... ah ah …. I wouldn't try to run or use your wand." Snape snatched the wand that had just appeared in Pettigrew's hand and pocketed it. "There are two of us and the house elf is much faster than I. You have caused untold anguish and horror, you vicious little man but that ends today." Snape muttered a spell that bound the little man's hands behind his back.
"Nooooo, please pity meeeee!" Pettigrew sniveled and snorted disgustingly while also adding in some pathetic whimpering.
"Silencio!" Snape snapped in annoyance having had enough of the pathetic excuse for a Death Eater. Pettigrew continued to cry though there was no sound now.
"Now we shall go and see the headmaster." He turned to the house elf. " Thank you Dobby, you did a fine job of locating and capturing him," Snape said warmly.
"Dobby is pleased to have been of assistance, sir." Dobby grinned broadly before vanishing back to the kitchen where he immediately reported to Firg.
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Catching the head elf's attention, Dobby waited out of the way until Firg could come to his side.
"What need you Dobby," Firg asked, frowning.
"Dobby has good news, sir. Found rat wizard and delivered to Professor Snape but moments ago."
Firg grinned broadly and clapped Dobby on the back in pleasure. "Brilliant! You good elf hunter." He turned away and clapped his big hands, "Attention!" All the elves froze in place and turned their heads toward him. "Enemy rat has been captured by Dobby and delivered to Professor Snape. Hunt is over. Elves have succeeded and made Hogwarts safe. Back to work!" There was a short cheer at the good news before everyone returned to waiting for the signal to send lunch upward.
"You needed elsewhere?" Firg turned back to ask Dobby.
Dobby shook his head. "Dobby does have question though, sir."
"Ask!"
"What delayed the morning meal?"
"Ah, that I just learned. Seems four Slytherin children threatened another child with wands drawn," Firg reported. Dobby gasped in fear. "Gently, Dobby, no one was harmed. Professor Snape himself sent the rotten four to the Dark Tower," the head elf smirked with satisfaction.
Dobby relaxed and giggled. "That be good. But Dobby need to check on something then will return quickly to help."
Firg gave a knowing nod as Dobby bowed to him then apparated away.
Dobby quickly appeared in the great hall in a small alcove where he wouldn't be seen. He searched quickly with his eyes and sighed in relief as he saw Draco was alright and digging into his meal with his fellow Ravenclaws. He appeared happy. Glancing across the room, he found Harry was doing the same though the one known as Ron, friend to Harry, seemed troubled. He frowned a moment then shrugged, Not my concern. All is well, time for me to return to work. Satisfied, Dobby returned to the kitchen.
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With a firm hand on his prisoner, Snape released the ward on his office door, opening it with his other hand and forcing Pettigrew to walk beside him. It was an odd stumbling march to Dumbledore's hidden stairway due to the fact Pettigrew hadn't been in human form for some time.
After having been warned he wasn't changing the secret password with his gargoyle as often as he should, Dumbledore had accepted the chastisement from Hagrid with good grace and tried to remember to do a password change twice a day. It was "Maltesers" this afternoon. The gargoyle leaped out of the way and Snape shoved his prisoner up the stairs stumbling and crying all the way.
He knocked firmly and entered when he heard Dumbledore bid him in.
He pushed Pettigrew before him then pulled the door shut. The portraits around the room exclaimed in shock and anger at the sight of the disreputable and supposedly dead wizard with the ratty face.
Dumbledore jumped from his seat and headed toward Snape. Fawkes trilled a note of triumph from his perch.
"You have found him."
"No, Dobby found him. I merely took him in custody. But, yes, we do have him at last. I wanted to know what you wanted to do with him since he is a fount of information on the names of Death Eaters and where they might be found. Do we want to extract that ourselves or have the Order or Aurors do it?" Snape had no desire to do the task and there were plenty of willing hunters out there that would love the job.
"I believe Alastor would be pleased to do the honors. I will send for him. Would you be so kind as to send him to the Dark Tower for safe keeping?" Dumbledore requested, a pleased expression on his face.
"Of course, excellent idea." Snape did as asked. "Now, if it's alright with you, sir, I was heading for lunch."
"Oh yes, go of course. I will be down shortly." Dumbledore turned away and called for an owl at the window as Severus gave Fawkes a fond scritch to the head before leaving.
Fawkes was relieved his efforts had been rewarded. One more problem solved.
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They had been sent to this dismal place before breakfast and now it was lunch and none of the four had been fed. The Dark Tower was a forbidding place with no amenities and not much light as four so called windows were nothing but slits so only smoky, smelly torches provided illumination. As for any form of heat, none were provided. The huge fireplace looked like it had never been lit for centuries as webs festooned it's interior.
In each of the heavy iron barred cells, the furnishings were a wooden bucket in the corner for elimination that magically emptied whenever used and a bed of iron slats hung by two chains from the stone wall and filled with hay. No blanket provided. It was what it was, a prison for those that seriously broke the rules of Hogwarts. None of the four had ever had the occasion or the desire to visit this place and wished fervently not to have such intimate knowledge of it now.
When they'd been incarcerated their wands had, of course, been confiscated by Snape so they had no way to warm themselves or do much of anything else but stare miserably at each other through the bars.
"I'm thirsty," Goyle whined, leaning against the bars of his cage and trying to stay warm by huddling up but it wasn't working well.
"Shaddup ... we're all hungry and thirsty so stop whining about it," Flint snapped at him. The tall boy gripped the bars with his hands, fury making them white from how hard he gripped the bars. His heart burned with the need to get even with Draco for their humiliation. He didn't care if it meant he would be expelled. This school was a waste of time. He could learn more from his father than being here and he would make sure to tell his father so when he saw him, most likely sooner than later.
"When do you think they'll let us get out of here," Crabbe asked miserably. He only wanted to go back to his warm bed after eating enough to fill his achingly empty belly.
"When they're good and ready, I'm thinking," Derrick growled, rage keeping him warm. He had nothing but revenge on his mind for when he got out of here. His Da wouldn't do a thing to him if he got expelled so he wasn't worried. It was more important to deal with that traitor than school.
A great voice suddenly boomed inside their heads, deafening them. "So be ye so filled with hate ye cannot think at all?" It asked.
"Ow, ow, what the f**k is that noise," Flint yelled, covering his hears to no avail.
The others simply wailed in anguish.
In much quieter tones, the voice spoke again, "Such terrible children thou art. Hatred and rage fill thy hearts. Think only of revenge do ye?"
"Who the hell are you and how can you talk in our heads," Derrick demanded, trying to find the who was speaking.
"I be the heart and soul of Hogwarts!" It thundered. "Ye will heed the lesson I teach you now or ye will never leave here at all!"
That silenced Derrick and Flint instantly, a chill swept their spines. Goyle and Crabbe had already been reduced to huddled bodies shaking with fear when the voice first spoke.
"Wha ... What do you want from us!" Flint finally dared to ask when the voice kept silent for several long minutes.
"To learn the error of your ways ... now ... while ye are still young enough to change. If ye are still harboring dark hearts and thoughts after yer trip through history then ye be banished from this world with no magic and must learn to live as muggles do for there be no place for such hatred here any longer. Take heed the lessons I now bestow on yeu and learn or not it be on yeu!" The castle spirit warned before sending the miscreants into the past.
"Huh? What do you mean?" Flint asked but the world spun away as he and his companions were whisked into a vortex.
The four were spat out into hell ... at least it seemed like it as the world appeared to be exploding all around them. As they stood there in a huddle, they stared around in shocked dismay. Chaos roared everywhere they looked. It was clear they were in the middle of a war zone and though the four weren't familiar with the weaponry, they had enough experience, unfortunately, to know what to do and not be terribly afraid.
"Come on, let's find cover from these lunatics," Flint roared over the noise. He led his friends to a partially collapsed basement. They jumped through the fallen door and found shelter against the intact wall.
The castle spirit was disappointed but not terribly surprised by their behavior. So time to send them somewhere they would find true fear.
The four found themselves being whirled away again. This time they were in a prison filled with people. Surrounding them were high fences topped by razor wire. Within this place there was nothing but bare ground, long wooden buildings that looked like simple barracks, and at the far end of the prison were brick buildings with huge chimneys where a foul stench belched out into the gray sky.
"Where are we?" Goyle asked, shaking and afraid.
"How should I know," Flint snarled.
"Look at the people," Crabbe whispered, horror filling his voice.
They stared at the people milling about aimlessly or leaning out the windows of the barracks. Some were sweeping, others cleaning laundry by hand, and others doing things the four didn't recognize. But what made such simple tasks seem so horrible were how thin everyone was. There wasn't a bit of fat or muscle on a single body and all wore some kind of faded, thin uniform of gray with white stripes and a yellow star sewn on the right shoulder. Despite these children being dressed different and not looking thin at all, the people didn't approach or speak to them. And in every face they saw eyes filled with apathy or terror. That look filled the boys with fear at last.
Suddenly, a voice shouted in a different language. Derrick recognized it as German but didn't understand it. His father had taken him to Germany not long ago. the voice was followed by soldiers with guns who proceeded to shove and push many of the people before them. Before the boys could get out of the way, they were gathered up with the ones being marched toward those ominous belching buildings in the distance.
They tried several times to pull away from the group being herded only to be forcibly shoved back into line with the butt of a guards weapon which hurt a lot. Soon the group reached the buildings. Great doors were open at one end and they were herded inside. Again the voice of the leader shouted orders. The boys watched in horror as the people around them began to disrobe. They refused but were beaten until they obeyed. No matter how well they fought, they were overwhelmed and were soon nude like the others.
They shivered and hugged themselves and tried to remain as far back from the group ahead of them as they could. As they watched, small batches of people were shoved into an even smaller room with what appeared to be shower heads all around the walls. But the smell didn't have a water odor at all...no it smelled like a foul gas of some kind.
"NO!" Derrick screamed. "They are going to kill us!"
"What?" Flint grabbed Derrick and shouted in his face. "What are you talking about?"
"I...I...my father...he took me to a place where millions of muggle Jews had been slaughtered by the Nazi's in World War II. They...they were marched to concentration camps where they...they were gassed to death! This is where we are..." He pointed into the room whose door was now closing. "And that is where they die and so will we!"
Flint, Goyle, and Crabbe gaped at Derrick in horror. The smell of gas suddenly increased choking them and making them want to throw up even though they weren't in the room where the gas was actually being pumped in.
"Let us out of here!" Flint screamed. But his voice was drowned out by all the others screaming and crying to be released from this nightmare. The soldiers mercilessly ignored the cries as they opened the doors again revealing bodies laying in piles on the floor, expressions of terror on all the faces.
Goyle fainted. Crabbe started crying as he dropped to his knees. All Flint and Derrick could do was stare into that room like frozen statues. Then the voice of command shouted again and the soldiers began to shove the next group into the room as other soldiers removed the bodies through a back door. The boys were part of this next group and no amount of struggling helped them escape. It seemed like forever but must have been only fifteen minutes before their group was packed into the small room and the door was closed tight sounding like a vault door sealing up. It probably was.
Goyle was still unconscious so no longer was a part of the terror. His friends huddled about his body and listened to the cries of terror and anguish going on around them as people fought to escape, attacking each other or clawing at the walls. Just as the gas began to fill the room, the boys, who had their eyes closed now to shut out the horror, felt the sensation of swooping again.
Once more they found themselves somewhere else and fortunately wearing clothes again. But instead of the roar of guns, cannons, and gas there came the sounds of screams and spell casting. Zaps of lights in green, black, and white colors flashed everywhere in the darkness. People screamed, shouted, and wailed around them as the chaos of a wizarding war surrounded them. The four seemed to be in a small hollow with a few trees at their back keeping them hidden, for now at least. The sounds seem to grow louder and closer. Suddenly from the trees people ran firing wands and casting spells behind them as they fled whatever was chasing them, many stumbling over hidden obstacles as there was no moon to see by. A body yelped then fell to the right of them, the head had a hole burned through it's forehead. Goyle who had just come to, fainted again at the sight. The next wave of people dressed in black, nearly blending into the night, came running past them shouting the killing curse and other unforgiveables, somehow failing to see the four huddled out of sight, as they chased after the first group.
"Where are we now?" Derrick wondered when he thought it was safe to talk.
"I don't know what war this is..." Flint muttered.
"Maybe the one with Grindlewald?" Crabbe ventured.
Before anyone could answer him, they were transported yet again. This time they appeared in a field ... a field filled with the dead. It was midday, sun overhead, the bodies cooked with the heat of the day. The smell was horrendous and nauseating. Everywhere they looked they saw men, women, children of all ages, burned and dismembered as if hit with some tremendous force that had ripped them apart and killed them instantly. The ground looked just as blasted as did everything in the area from buildings to roads to cars to trains, besides the people who looked like they had been trying to run away.
"What happened here?" Derrick whispered though there was no enemy to hear him.
"Muggles happened." The powerful voice of Hogwarts answered. "At the end of their World War II, the Americans dropped a bomb onto the country of Japan. This was the result. Millions died. Just as millions had died in the concentration camps in Germany. Such atrocities go on all the time in the muggle world and in repeating cycles of the wizarding world. Is this the world you want to live in? No peace, no enjoyment of life, just endless death from endless hate. Is this what ye wish for with yer thirst for vengeance and the continuation of a useless war that ends in this? If ye should win this war ye think ye want then what? The leader is only interested in power. What do yeu gain? And if power...power over who or what? The war will have killed too many so none to worship yeu. Food, transportation, and communications will have suffered so none of the joys of life will be felt until they are restored. And what of the muggles? Ye think they will just lie down and die before the Dark Lord? Nay, just look at the horrors they propagate without the use of magic. They be even more vicious and horrifying than wizarding kind. When will it stop?" It ceased speaking, leaving them among the dead to think.
The four moved to a small amount of shade cast by what was left of a building then sat down. The sun moved slowly across the sky as they said and did nothing for a time and thought about the horrors they had experienced and seen. Is this what revenge leads to? Is hatred worth all this death? They were soo young ... was this what they wanted out of life?
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Alone in the dark tower, Peter Pettigrew stared around the forbidding room of cells. He had never been up here before and he didn't like it. Only four torches lit the interior. The windows were mere slits and provided no real light hence the torches.
He shivered in fear, missing the comfortable bed he had been laying in just a short time ago. There were no comforts here with a bucket for a water closet and an iron bed filled with hay to sleep in. No not a place Peter wanted to be.
"How had they found me? That house elf seemed to have been looking for me but none knew I was hiding here! No one! What gave me away?" He stewed and sweated for an answer but none came. "Where is my master? He should have contacted me by now. Will I even get a trial?" He worried. "If my master is still out there and his inner circle are in the ministry, I should be alright." But he didn't believe that. His small eyes hunted the room restlessly. The longer the wait the more anxious and terrified he became.
He knew what normally happened to traitors. Death! He shuddered and huddled down in the farthest corner of the cell. Perhaps he could beg to be frozen in his rat form for life. That would be infinitely better than what awaited him as a human.
Suddenly he was startled from his self pity party by the abrupt appearance of four boys. They looked badly shaken and exhausted.
"Now what the devil could they be doing here. They looked to be from Slytherin house," Pettigrew mused.
"Oy! Looks like someone else has been banished here," Goyle said, noticing the odd little man in the cell next to his.
"Huh, what you up here for?" Flint asked. At least the stranger was helping him forget what his day had been like so far.
Pettigrew frowned at them but didn't feel the need to talk. Even if they were Slytherin, they were but students and could be of no help to him.
"Stuck up are ya! Think you're all that do ya?" Crabbe demanded, shaken by his recent experience he felt the need to bully someone.
"Not learned yer lesson well have ye!" The castle spirit rumbled in a disappointed voice.
Crabbe squeaked in terror. "No...no...I didn't mean anythin' he just seemed stuck up is all."
"Ye have no right to demand an answer from him as none should demand one from yeu. Poor manners are yer problem and need to be addressed. As for this one, he has committed worst offenses than thee have and will now suffer the consequences of his poor choices. Death be his only freedom now," the castle spirit said, grimly.
The four suddenly shuddered and stared at Pettigrew with horror and pity. He looked at them confused, wondering who they were talking to as he couldn't hear the castle spirit speak.
"Slave to Voldemort he be. The Dark Lord's bidding he did without thought wanting only to be protected against all that he fears. He felt the Dark Lord was more powerful than the Light and spied for his master causing death among even those that thought him a friend. Is this what ye want to be? A follower who caused nothing but harm and in the end is left to die alone friendless and abandoned by the one he worshiped?"
The boys eyed the man thoughtfully before during their backs on him and sitting on their beds to think more on what they had learned and experienced this day and how that affected the paths they had been on up to now. What would happen if they did change the path their father's had set out for them? What would their father's do to them then? Who should they ask for advice? So they sat and thought in silence.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Just before the dinner hour, Auror Moody appeared at Hogwarts. He was met at the gates by Hagrid who had heard from Snape that Pettigrew had been captured.
Firenze had caught Hagrid just a few hours earlier to inquire for Magorian about why Greyback was hunting for someone in the Forbidden Forest last night and he was glad to be able to tell the centaur who it was and that the problem person was under arrest. They could do what they wanted with those that came seeking Pettigrew as they wanted.
Firenze looked pleased and was happy to pass that on. His leader was equally pleased and relieved that their network of people were working well as a team.
Magorian sent out word to his hunters that should Greyback or any of the inner circle of the Dark Lord come through their forest that it would be appreciated if they were to capture or kill the intruders whichever was required.
Things were definitely going their way at last.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
Hagrid had been thinking on all that had transpired the last view days when his wandering thoughts were brought back to the irritated man stumping by his side as they walked to Hogwarts doors.
"Where was Pettigrew found?" Moody demanded to know.
"Fawkes had sent out a search party by way of the house elves and one found the traitor sleeping happy if yeu please on a boy's bed in Gryffindor house. A perfect place to spy on the Light, eh?"
Moody scowled. "Yes and we should have realized he was hiding here once we were certain he had been responsible for betraying the Potters. No matter. He's in our hands now and no one in the enemy's camp knows it."
"Aye, and we intend to keep that a secret. I too was incensed to learn that little weasel or rat as it were was hiding right beneath our very noses. Turnabout is fair play yeu might say as the traitor knows not the Dark Lord is dead and none have enlightened him."
Moody smiled at that. "Thank you for that. It shall be my honor to inform him of that sad news. Should make breaking him easy."
"As to that, the spineless little man wont take any effort to break. He is a miserable coward and death is too good fer him for betraying his supposed friends that way," Hagrid growled.
"I thought you were a peace loving man," Moody said, eyeing him curiously as they made their way indoors and headed for the headmaster's hidden stair.
"I can be ruthless when it is called for and still be a peaceful man, Moody."
Moody nodded his understanding and waited for Hagrid to give the password. Within minutes they were standing before Dumbledore. After a short catch up conversation covering some thing Albus wanted found out, Hagrid did the honor of asking a house elf to bring the prisoner to the headmaster's office.
Seconds later, Dobby who had been standing by, appeared with the prisoner then left immediately as this wasn't his business any longer much to his pleasure.
Pettigrew looked exhausted from his short wait in his cell in the tower. Still he had enough energy to cower before the worst of the Aurors, though the man was no longer one, and want to die by wand now rather than later with Moody.
He made a pathetic run for it by turning into a rat again but Moody was fast and quickly froze the rat, enclosed him in a cage, and grinned evilly at the frightened animal. "Thank you for making it easier to transport you. Enjoy the ride while you can," Moody said coldly. Turning to the headmaster, he nodded. "I'll get back to you soon, Albus."
"You do that and thank you, Alastor. At least we wont have that leak in the castle any longer," Dumbledore said with satisfaction.
Smiles all around, Hagrid escorted Moody back to the gates and on his way. It would not be a good day for Pettigrew.
~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~o~
With Pettigrew dealt with, Dumbledore realized the four Slytherin boys were still in the tower. Taking a moment, he closed his eyes and made contact with the castle spirit.
"Good evening my friend. May I inquire if you have finished with four boys in your custody?"
"I have Headmaster. They seem to have seen the evil of the path they led and may prove amendable to guidance toward the Light. I believe ye will need to move gently but firmly with them if ye want to be successful in rehabilitating them. Also, running interference between them and their fathers is in order if they are to succeed in changing their ways permanently."
Dumbledore sucked in a breath as he adjusted to the castle spirit conversing with full words rather than the emotional communication, he was used too. Getting his wits about him he responded, "Sound advice. I will heed your words, my friend. May I have them now?"
"Of course, good evening, headmaster."
"And you as well, my friend. He sighed mentally. "I wonder if it will continue to speak to me in this way?He put that thought aside when there was a flash of light in the room.
Seconds later Flint, Goyle, Crabbe, and Derrick appeared before his desk looking more than a little worse for wear but thankfully, much calmer and subdued, at least their manners seemed to have underwent a massive change for the better as none of them showed any sign of belligerence nor disrespectful behavior ... so far.
"Gentleman, I hope we can sit down and have a meaningful discussion about your behavior this morning and what more should be done about it. Please have a seat," He instructed them. They found seats and set them before Dumbledore's desk then sat down, hands in laps, mouths shut, waiting for the headmasters next instruction.
Showing no sign how pleased he was by their response, Dumbledore rose from his desk and went to the fireplace, tossed some floo powder in and called, "Professor Snape would you come to my office now please?"
"Of course headmaster, be right there," Snape responded.
Moving back to his desk, Dumbledore called to the air, "Elf service."
Instantly Dobby appeared. Dumbledore smiled warmly. "Would you please bring six dinners to my office please and inform Professor McGonagall to begin dinner without me and Professor Snape."
"Of course sir, Dobby do right away." He snapped himself away only to return only ten minutes later. He made small tables appear before each boy and one before an empty couch chair. Then he snapped a meal to each place as well as one at Dumbledore's desk.
"Thank you, Dobby." The house elf nodded and left.
Snape arrived a few minutes later and joined the group, though a bit surprised by the sight of the meals. Making no comment, he took the empty seat and poured himself some tea.
The boys, meanwhile, had been surprised by the polite treatment but, again, remained silent except to mutter thank yous as they served each other some pumpkin juice and drank, the juice refilling itself each time they emptied it. They weren't so certain about eating though so they waited and drank.
Dumbledore watched them closely remaining cautiously optimistic about the boys change of behavior. It seemed the lessons the castle spirit had imparted had made a difference. Let's hope this is real and not something temporary caused by fear. We need these children. They are our hope for a better future.