Chapter Two: Catching the Rat, Informing the Wolf, and Returning the Dog

I rushed around the house packing some of the last items in the house, Harry on my hip as I ran up and down stairs. We would be leaving for America in a mere few hours and I wouldn't have the pleasure of just popping back to England to grab something I had forgotten. I would be part of a new country, a new world of wizards. Some of the Hogwarts teachers had given up their positions to start a new school and some Aurors had come to protect us and let the loner wizards and witches of America know that a wizarding world was being started in their country. It was definitely going to be a new experience in America.

Suddenly a rat dashed across the floor and under the still regular sized dresser. I put Harry onto the dresser and quickly muttered a charm to bring the squirming rodent out of his hiding place and into a magical cage to contain it until I could dispose of it properly. But I stopped. The rat was missing a toe. Pettigrew was missing a finger. Pettigrew was an animangus and his form was a rat. Could this rat be the newly thought dead Peter Pettigrew?

I quickly called Albus, Alastor Moody, and the temporary Minister of Magic William Thomas. "Misses Black!" Mr. Thomas shouted. "What is the meaning of this?"

"My husband is innocent," I said. "My proof is in this cage,"

Before any of the three men could argue I shouted the spell to turn the rat back into the bloody traitor he was. The rat fell to the ground glowing a soft blue color as his rat features turned back into those of a man.

In mere minutes the beady eyes of Peter Pettigrew starred into mine. My hatred of the man came up to the surface, but I restrained myself. This wasn't the time for arguments and curses.

I grabbed a bottle of truth serum out of my pocket and asked the men for permission. They nodded numbly. "But I shall be asking the questions Misses Black," Albus said.

"Of course," I said. I quickly held the man down and forced him to drink the potion. Peter's eyes clouded over and his face held no emotion.

"What is your name?" Albus asked.

"Peter Jacob Pettigrew," Pettigrew answered.

"When were you born?"

"March twenty-first nineteen-sixty,"

"Were you friends of the Potters?"

"Yes,"

"What happened to lead to the murders of Lily and James Potter and the attempted murder of Harry Potter?"

"Black thought it was an obvious choice to everyone that he would be the Secret Keeper, so he convinced them to switched to me. But he wasn't aware I had been serving the Dark Lord for almost a year by then,"

"You betrayed Lily and James?"

"Yes," Gasps were heard around the room.

"What happened later that night on October thirty-first?" Albus continued.

"Black was going to kill me," Peter said, his voice void of any emotion. "I shouted to the streets and the people that Black had betrayed the Potters, cut off my finger, and blew the street apart. I got away free because I turned into a rat and scurried into the sewers,"

Everyone in the room was shocked, even me. I hadn't been informed of what had fully happened that night and this information brought up the fact that everything Peter had told us was a lie. A lie to save his lazy ass.

"We'll return to the Ministry now," Albus said. "Mister Pettigrew, you'll be charged with the murders of Lily and James Potter, along with the murder of twelve muggles, the attempted murder of Harry Potter, being a Death Eater, and framing Sirius Black for your crimes," Albus paused as Pettigrew shouted and begged for mercy. "Misses Black," he said, smiling at me and the little toddler in my arms. "Your husband should be joining you and Mister Potter in America in, at most, a weeks time. Good day to you,"

Alastor bounded Pettigrew and I handed my memories of the switching of Secret Keepers to Albus as they left. I smiled when I was in my house, only with my godson as company. The Potters would get justice, my husband would be back in my arms, and Harry would have his godfather back.

I shrunk everything and left that house for the last time. "Were going to visit Uncle Moony really quick Harry," I said. "I need to talk to him about Uncle Padfoot,"

"'Kay Aunt Roe," he said.

I quickly flagged down the Knight Bus, not wanting to have Harry vomit the moment we arrived at Remus'. Harry was already used to Stan and his monstrosity of a bus and wouldn't throw up, no matter how fast he went.

We arrived in Junsham and rushed over to the little flat that belong to Remus. I knocked on his door fast. "Remus!" I shouted. "It's me, Rose!"

Suddenly the door flew open to reveal a disheveled and furious Remus Lupin. "Uncie Moony!" Harry shouted.

His face softened at the sight of the toddler. "Is there something wrong Rose?" Remus asked, trying to hide his anger.

"Pettigrew is alive," I said. "He was discovered today and given the truth serum. He admitted to betraying the Potters. He admitted to betraying Sirius. He was the spy! Sirius is going to be free later in the week Remus!"

Remus starred at me like I had grown a second head. "I give you permission to look at my memories if you don't believe me Remus," I said, my voice deadly quiet. "But if you don't believe me and try to do anything to ruin the process, I will personally find you, curse you until you can no longer feel anything because your under so much pain, and kill you with my own two hands. Got it?"

Remus nodded and entered my mind, quickly finding the memory of Pettigrew and the others. We must have stood there for about ten minutes before Remus pulled away and let me into his flat. "I can't stay long Remus," I said. "I must be on the boat by three and it's nearly one. I need\to make a few other stops before I can leave the country. I'm going to miss you Remus,"

Remus grabbed my shoulder. "I'll come over to visit when I can," he said. "You better come over and visit too. Do you now anyone who's going to America with you?"

"The Weasleys are," I said. "Along with the Longbottoms and I believe the Malfoys are coming, minus Lucius. Did you hear that he left Narcissa for Jennifer Bones, Amelia's sister?"

"Yes I did," Remus said. "I heard that James' cousin Eric is coming with his sons. Going to start a ranch in Texas,"

"I'm starting a ranch in Montana," I said. "It'll be nice to be away from the big city and look at the stars every night with Harry and Sirius. Remus, can you keep a secret?"

Remus looked stunned. "Of course I can," he said. "What's wrong Rose?"

"Nothing is wrong," I said. "I just wanted Sirius to know about it first. Remus, I'm pregnant,"

There was a silence in the room, except for Harry playing with the toy stag I had let him carry instead of packing so he wouldn't be completely board. I thought Remus was going to shout and scream, that he couldn't believe I was pregnant. But all he did was smile and start laughing. "That was the last thing I ever expected to hear today," Remus said. "How far along are you?"

"A little over two months," I said. "I had just figured out the day before Halloween and before I could stop myself I told Lily. She congratulated me and joked that Sirius would have my head for telling her first. I think she told James later that night,"

"So they knew that they were going to have a niece or nephew?" Remus asked.

"I'm sure they did," I said. I stood up and grabbed Harry. "I have to go. I need to stop at Gringotts to grab some muggle and wizarding money and then hand over the potions shop to Severus. I'll probably see you around Christmas time if I'm settled by then,"

"Bye Rose," Remus said. "Bye Harry. I'll see you two soon enough,"

"Bye bye Uncie Moony!" Harry shouted. Remus laughed and kissed his forehead.

"I'll see you later Remus," I said. "For this is not a forever separation, only a further distance between two hearts and bodies, but nothing for the mind and soul,"

"You're talking in riddles again," Remus said, shaking his head. "I'll see you at Christmas time,"

"See you then," I said and quietly left Remus, disappearing with a pop.

Three days later…

I sighed as I rushed about the farmhouse to make breakfast and wake up a very sleepy Harry. I put the pot of oatmeal on the table so I could stop at the bathroom before waking up Harry. I felt sick, normal since I had learned I was pregnant, but becoming less frequent. I smiled as I saw the first signs of a bump on my stomach. My son or daughter was in there.

I rushed upstairs and grabbed Harry out of his crib. He looked very grumpy from my perspective. "Are you ready for breakfast baby?" I asked.

Harry's eyes lit up. "Food!" he shouted.

I laughed and took him downstairs. Once he was in his highchair I got him a bowl of oatmeal and tried to help him eat no. "No!" Harry shouted. "No!"

"Fine," I said. "But let me put your bib on!"

Harry reluctantly let me put his bib on and began to eat him oatmeal, surprisingly getting a good amount of it in his mouth instead of the floor. Then there was a knock on the door. "Who could that be?" I asked. "Our closest neighbor is nearly three miles away!"

I shut my eyes and opened the door, fearing that it was Albus about to tell me that Sirius wasn't coming home. "I know you tried Albus," I said before he could say a word. "I can handle this without Sirius,"

"Do I look anything like Albus to you Rosie girl? I heard the man say.

My head shot up and I opened my eyes. There, in the flesh, was my husband. Sirius looked slightly paler then the last I had saw him and his eyes were a little less bright, but Azkaban tends to do that to people. "Sirius!" I shouted and leapt at him. He laughed and spun me around with circles. "I thought that they weren't going to let you come to America,"

"They can't stop me from being with my wife," Sirius said. "Is Harry living with you?"

I froze. "Harry!" I shouted and rushed back inside the house, Sirius close on my heels.

I gasped as I saw my godson. He was covered head to toe in oatmeal, along with his highchair and the floor. "Harry," I sighed as I picked him up. I looked at Sirius. "Go hide. I want to surprise him,"

He smiled and ran off before Harry could see him. "Let's go change into some clean clothes," I said. "Then we'll use the big boys toilet and after that I'll let you see your surprise,"

Harry looked up at me with big, green eyes. "Prize?" he asked.

"Yup," I said.

I took him upstairs and cleaned him up before putting him into his favorite dinosaur tee-shirt and a pair of blue jeans. Then I helped him go to the potty and took him into the living room. "Wait right here baby," I said. "Or no surprise,"

He nodded and I left to find my husband. "Sirius!" I called. "Where are you?"

He came out of a closet and grabbed my hand. "What have I missed?" he asked.

"Harry almost had to live with Petunia," I said. "I also caught Pettigrew, talked to a furious Remus, and I told Lily a big secret the day before she was… you know,"

"Big secret?" Sirius asked.

"I'll explain in a minute," I said. "First, I think you godson is dying to know what his 'surprise' is,"

Sirius smiled and followed me into the living room, sneaking behind Harry. "Prize?" Harry asked.

Sirius swooped Harry off the floor and Harry screamed. He looked at his captor and smiled his goofy, toothy grin. "Uncie Pa'oot!" he shouted.

"How's my mini-marauder?" Sirius asked. "Giving Aunt Rose a hard time?"

"He managed to cover himself and the kitchen in oatmeal," I said.

Sirius laughed. "So, what's the big secret?" he asked, raising his eyebrow.

"Put Harry down and I'll tell you," I said, giggling.

"Why?" Sirius asked as he threw Harry into the air and caught him.

"Because I don't want you to drop him in shock," I said.

He put Harry onto the floor to play with his blocks and gave me the look. "Sirius," I said and paused. What if he didn't want a baby? But then I remembered how he looked at Harry and the fact that he loved Harry like his own. He would want this baby. "I'm pregnant,"

"Pregnant?" Sirius asked. I nodded and he smiled. "That's great honey," Then he fainted.

"Uncie Pa'oot!" Harry screamed.

"He's going to be alright," I said as I levitated a bucket of water into the living room. "Wanna help me wake Uncle Padfoot up?" I asked.

Harry nodded and ran to join me. "One…," I began. "Two… Three!"

I dumped the water and Sirius sat up and sputtered. Harry began to laugh and I tried to contain my giggles. "I'm going to be a daddy?" Sirius asked.

"Yes you mutt," I said. "Now, can you help me with the stables? Harry is going to give the horses carrots while you and me clean their stales. Then, if we're lucky, we can go for a ride,"

Sirius smiled and picked Harry off the floor. "Lead the way dear Rose," he said and we left for the stables and our three horse and one pony, for Harry to learn to ride when he's a little older.