Chapter 25
Severus had heeded the advice Jen had gotten from the grey lady, and the house elves had been asked to help search for the Ravenclaw diadem. The elves had made short work of turning Hogwarts` old classrooms and store rooms on end. Finally the diadem was found in what was by some known as the room of requirement, and it was destroyed with great fanfare.
"Iˋm glad Riddle didnˋt ward this Horcrux as much as he did the ring, if any student had picked this up theyˋd luckily just risked becoming moody" Jen said in a relieved tone of voice.
"One would think every one of them was carrying a Horcrux around in that case" Severus said, thinking back on ten years of teaching very moody teens.
"Shame" Jen said swiping at him in a playful manner before growing serious again "now there just remains the last vestiges of Riddle. Has your spies told you where he may be hidden"?
"They suspect Romania for some reason, Remus and Sirius have volunteered to take a trip there this summer. If anyone can find where the remains of Riddle are, itˋs them" Severus answered.
Luckily for their plans summer was a very short way off, and there were only the exams separating them and a welcome rest. One day in the middle of exams though their dreams of finding and getting rid of Riddle without fuss was seriously cramped by a new development.
"Weasley, why have you brought your rat" asked professor McGonnagall sternly in the middle of the transfiguration exam. The nervous boy stammered a bit, and Jen went closer to see what was transpiring. In an istant she knew that this was no normal rat, and she tried to grab it so she could incapacitate it. With surprising speed the rat bit Weasley, leapt off his hand and vanished out of the classroom. "My rat" the boy exclaimed "where is it going"?
Jen excused herself instantly and almost flew to Severus "we must arrange a thorough search of the castle" she said breathless.
As he just looked at her curiously she made an effort to breathe normally before saying "Percy Weasley brougt a rat to the exam, but it was no normal rat. I am certain it was an animagus, and it had serious signs of being affected by dark magic" looking thunderous Severus roared "that must Pettigrew" before he stormed off leving Jen looking after him curiously.
Some hours later
"Thank you both for coming" Severus said to Lupin and Black, I donˋt know if you heard but we found and lost Pettigrew today. As Iˋm sure he will be seeking to join the Dark Lord, we must do our best to find and destroy the Dark Lord before Pettigrew finds him.
The two men opposite him smiled grimly "weˋre in, and if Peter gets in the way he will not live to regret it". Severus looked at them sternly "you two are of no use in Azcaban, leave Pettigrew to the Aurors, we will concentrate on the Dark Lord".
