syed: Not many people are willing to listen to whatever Sirius Black says on his defense. As far as most of those who heard about Pettigrew being an unregistered Animagus are concerned, Sirius made it up. Remus' testimony on the matter of Pettigrew being an Animagus won't help because of his 'furry little problem'.

davycrockett100: thanks

InAnnaCat: Thank you!

Guest: The issue shall be addressed.

Chapter 17: Pettigrew Found?

It was lunch at Hogwarts and everyone was reading the Daily Prophet's article about the attempted robbery. Harry then approached Severus Snape. "Professor Snape, didn't you say Professor Quirrell's accomplice wasn't identified." He commented.

"By which I meant he wasn't correctly identified, Potter." Snape stated. "Whoever identified him probably didn't have time for a long look since he assumed it was Peter Pettigrew. That Pettigrew is alive and an Animagus are two things I find it hard to believe. Your father and Your godfather being unregistered Animagi is one thing since both of them had the necessary arrogance and talent for it but not Pettigrew. Black probably knew the identity of a Death Eater who secretly became a Rat Animagus and took advantage of this for his scheme to frame Pettigrew."

"Someday Peter Pettigrew will be exposed for the Death Eater he is." Harry declared.

"Thirty points from Ravenclaw for disrespecting a martyr, Potter." Snape replied.

"Professor Flitwick, I request that punishment to be reviewed on the grounds that there's no proof that Peter Pettigrew is a martyr that doesn't deserve the so-called 'disrespect'." Harry pleaded to his Head of House.

"The case is so controversial no one should be discouraged from saying who they believe for as long as the discussions don't become too heated." Professor Flitwick declared. "I revoke that punishment."

"Favoritism." Some people were under the impression Snape muttered that word.

"Harry, my boy, I understand Sirius Black had enough time to make your mind but his guilt is as clear as the fact Peter Pettigrew is dead." Dumbledore pleaded.

"That much I can agree since nobody found enough of Pettigrew's body to prove him dead." Harry argued. "And I'm not your boy, Headmaster." He added as he walked back to the Ravenclaw table.

The news also had a positive effect for the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black. Or at least for Lord Arcturus Black, who summoned his grandsons. "What do you want us for, Grandpa?" Sirius asked.

"Great news, my grandsons!" Arcturus happily explained. "With the Pettigrew sighting, some of the Pureblood families that started deeming us too Dark are finally starting to believe it's safe to marry into our family again. Do you know what it means?"

"Marriage contracts." Both Sirius and Regulus said. Regulus was happy and Sirius wasn't.

"Correct." Arcturus replied while ignoring Sirius' sadness over the matter. "Now you have a chance to continue our line."

"Grandfather, I already have a child to do it." Sirius argued.

"Acquila may be able to continue our blood but not our name unless she marries someone who agrees to take our surname and our standing still isn't that high, Sirius." Arcturus explained. "You must get a new wife and sire a son."

"What about me, Grandfather?" Regulus asked.

"As you're just a backup heir, even if to the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, it'll take more time for you to receive a proposal, Regulus." Arcturus explained. "If only… only… on." He then fell down.

"Not again." Regulus said upon seeing another sign of his grandfather's deteriorating health.

As the days passed, Harry and Acquila were approached by Ronald Weasley again. "Black, what did you do to Scabbers?" He asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Weasley." Acquila answered.

"My pet rat." Ron explained. "You probably did something to him to make me upset. You're evil like all Slytherins."

"I'm a Ravenclaw!" She protested.

"No matter where you're sorted, all Blacks are Slytherins on the inside and your father proves it!" Ron declared.

"My Godfather was never proven guilty of any Death Eater activities." Harry intervened. "For all I know, Scabbers is Peter Pettigrew's animagus form."

"Sirius Black made it up to make people believe that lie about Pettigrew still being alive." Ron replied. "Headmaster Dumbledore confirmed his guilt."

"Dumbledore wants people to think my father is guilty because he wants to be the main magical influence in Harry's life." Acquila protested. "That desire of his is my reason to believe he's behind my mother's death."

"Headmaster Dumbledore wouldn't do that." Ron defended his idol. "That's even more ridiculous than that theory that Mad-Eye Moody would have killed her for the McKinnon estate."

"That's the Anti-Black bias talking and you shouldn't rule out either possibility." She replied. "I'm still worried that Moody will have me killed."

"Your family must be really evil or really insane if they raised you to have this fear." Ron commented.

"Lower that wand before I dock points from all of you." Professor Snape showed up and said upon seeing Acquila drawing her wand. The students started wondering if Snape could apparate within Hogwarts grounds to be able to catch them by surprise so often.

Meanwhile, Pettigrew and Voldemort were hidden somewhere evaluating their options. "What do we do now, master?" Pettigrew asked.

"The Philosopher's Stone is out of question now, Wormtail." Voldemort said. "There's a ritual that can restore my physical form but one of the required ingredients is particularly difficult to obtain."

"Blood, Wormtail." Voldemort answered. "Forcibly taken from an enemy."

"It's not so difficult, master." Pettigrew argued. "You have several enemies."

"It mussssst be the boy." Voldemort stated in a tone that made Pettigrew too afraid to question his master.

"No problem, master." Pettigrew declared. "With my Animagus form, I can reach the boy with a knife and steal some blood from him."

"NO!" Voldemort shouted. "The other ingredients must be secured first and I'll need someone with me while you do that."

"Whose help do we get, master?" Pettigrew asked.

That, Voldemort thought, was the million galleon question. Seeing Snape still as a Hogwarts Professor made him afraid his spy joined Dumbledore for good and, as far as he knew, anyone else he'd trust was either dead or in Azkaban.

End chapter.

Author's Note: Perhaps I'll have regained enough confidence on FFN's security to send future review replies as PMs instead of doing as I did with the previous chapter's reviews.