Harry went to bed early that night and laid in his bed thinking about every person in the castle, and trying to figure out how Pettigrew could be hiding in Hogwarts. His mind kept coming back to Polyjuice Potion, but who could Pettigrew be impersonating? Harry felt pretty confident ruling out Ron, Hermione and most of the Gryffindor's, he would have noticed a change in their personality. It also couldn't be Lupin because Sirius and Malfoy seemed to know where Pettigrew was hiding and they hadn't known that Lupin would be here. It probably wasn't Snape either. When Sirius spoke of Snape he just sounded annoyed, it was nothing like the hate in his voice when he mentioned Pettigrew.

Harry rolled over and buried his head in his pillow. The man who was responsible for his parent's deaths was somewhere in the castle and he had no idea where. He could have walked past him twenty times today and had no idea.

Harry had just decided that he needed to talk to Sirius and Malfoy when the dormitory door opened and Ron and Hermione walked in with serious looks on their faces. Hermione was carrying Crookshanks in her arms.

Harry rolled over and lifted his head up onto his arms.

'Hey.'

Ron and Hermione sat down on Harry's bed, Hermione still clinging to her cat. Ron gave Crookshanks a filthy look but didn't say anything.

Harry looked between then. 'What's wrong?' he said reading their expressions.

Ron looked pointedly at the roof.

Hermione rolled her eyes. 'Look Harry, we're worried about you. You keep disappearing and you've been acting really weird. Did something happen in the holidays? Something other than that thing with your aunt?'

Harry's heart was thumping against his chest. 'Nope, nothing happened,' he avoided their eyes.

'Harry, you're a terrible liar,' Hermione said.

'She's right mate,' Ron said.

Harry sat up. He considered lying but he knew they would see through him. 'Fine.' Harry pushed a hand through his head and sighed. 'Something did happen, but I can't tell you about it.'

Hermione opened her mouth to argue.

'Not yet anyway,' Harry cut her off. 'You don't need to worry about me though, I'm fine.'

Ron and Hermione looked at each other doubtfully.

'Please trust me, just for a little while,' Harry pleaded.

'You're sure you're OK?' Ron said.

'I'm sure.'

'OK, but we're here if you need … Hey! Don't let that thing go in here!'

Hermione had let go of Crookshanks. 'Don't be silly Ron, he won't hurt Scabbers.'

The words were barely out of Hermione's mouth when Crookshanks leapt out of bed and ran to Ron's side of the room. Crookshanks was hissing and swiping wildly at Ron's wooden drawers.

'Scabbers!'

Ron picked up Crookshanks and threw him towards Hermione.

'Ron! Be careful!' Hermione cried.

'Careful? Your bloody beast just tried to eat Scabbers!'

'He was not!'

'Just get that thing out of here!'

Hermione gave Ron a filthy glare before she picked up Crookshanks and left.

Harry collapsed back against his pillows. Nothing in his life was ever simple.


Ron and Hermione were avoiding each other the next morning. Harry took advantage of their individual sulking to sneak away after breakfast again. This time he packed his invisibility cloak and was able to smuggle some food out of the great hall.

Harry cautiously made his way toward the Whomping Willow. 'Sirius?' he called.

Harry spotted a black dog's head appear in the tunnel entrance and the tree suddenly froze. He smiled and ran down the stairs into the tunnel.

'Hi Sirius!'

'You're back!' Sirius was back to his usual form.

'I brought you something this time,' Harry said. He held out the two pieces of toast and the sausages, wrapped in serviettes, that he had managed to smuggle out.

A huge smile lit up Sirius's face. 'Oh Harry, you're the best!' He eagerly took the food.

Harry looked around the tunnel while Sirius sat down on the steps and started eating. 'Is it safe for you to be here?' Harry asked. 'You said Lupin knew about the tunnel.'

Sirius nodded and swallowed his mouthful of food. 'He does. He has a lot of bad memories here so he might avoid it but yeah, I was thinking I should move into the forest, just in case.'

'The forest? But that's dangerous.'

'Not as dangerous as Azkaban.' Sirius pointed out.

'True, but I have something else for you.' Harry dropped his school bag and pulled out the invisibility cloak.

Sirius's breath caught. 'That's…'

'It was my dad's, yeah. I thought you could use it. Maybe you could even stay in the tunnel and use the cloak if you hear someone coming?'

Sirius reached out and gently touched the fabric. 'I … I never thought I would see this again. I spent so much time under here with your dad,' Sirius told Harry. 'One night we stood under the cloak in Professor Slughorn's office for hours. We kept moving his things around. We didn't move them far, each time we just moved things far enough away that he thought he was going crazy.'

Harry laughed. 'That would have been funny.' He was silent for a moment. 'Sirius? I was wondering … can you please tell me where Pettigrew is hiding? I want to help!'

Sirius's faced closed off. 'No!'

'But…'

'No Harry! Pettigrew's dangerous! The night … that night, he killed twelve muggles when he escaped. I won't have you going after him, if he knows you're on to him …'

'But Malfoy knows!'

'Draco is … he has better self-preservation instincts than you. He's not going to go picking a fight with Pettigrew.'

'But…'

'I said no, Harry!'

Harry knew he wasn't going to win this argument. 'Fine,' he said. 'I should go.'

'Harry …'

'I'll bring more food later.' He said climbing the stairs. 'Bye.'

'Bye Harry,' Sirius said to Harry's retreating back.


Harry didn't go back to the castle after leaving the tunnel, instead he made his way to Hagrid's hut and knocked on the door.

'Harry,' Hagrid said, 'didn't 'spect to see you.' He held the door open and let Harry in.

Harry glanced around at the mess on the floor and the dirty dishes in the sink. Hagrid hadn't been doing too well. Harry felt terrible, he should have visited much sooner.

'I haven't seen you in the great hall,' Harry said.

'I've been takin' my food 'ere.' Hagrid said. "Didn't think you'd want to see me.'

Harry's stomach dropped. 'You think I'm mad at you? It wasn't your fault! It was Malfoys!'

'I started too big. Shoulda done Flubberworms or something … I jus' thought it'd make a good firs' lesson … and you were hurt! … 's all my fault.'

'Hagrid! I'm fine!' Harry pulled up the sleave of his robes, showing Hagrid that his arm was almost fully healed. 'I'm sorry, I should have visited earlier, I knew you'd be upset, I … I just got so busy!'

Hagrid gave Harry a watery smile. 'You're too good Harry.' His smile dropped. 'You shouldn't 'ave came down here alone Harry, not with Sirius Black on the loose!'

'It's okay Hagrid, we have Care of Magical Creatures first anyway, I'm only a little bit early. I'm sure someone was right behind me.'

Hagrid looked at Harry carefully. 'Next time come with Ron and Hermione yeah? It'll make me feel better.'

Harry sighed. 'Okay Hagrid.'


Hagrid led Harry outside and showed him the Flubberworms that they were about to study. Harry was inspecting one of the slimy creatures when he spotted a head of white hair heading towards the cabin with his usual sidekicks.

'Hagrid? Do you mind if I go back inside and get a drink?'

'What, oh yeah, sure.'

Harry hurried inside, he waited until Malfoy was just about to pass before he opened the door slightly.

'Malfoy!' Harry hissed.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle all turned. Malfoy frowned, 'give me a second,' he told Crabbe and Goyle. Malfoy looked over his shoulder to see no one else could see him before he slid in the door.

'You have to stop doing that! Crabbe and Goyle are idiots but even they're going to figure out something's going on if you keep trying to get me alone.'

'I want to know about Pettigrew,' Harry said.

'Then ask Sirius,' Malfoy turned to leave.

'He won't tell me anything!' Harry cried.

Malfoy spun back towards Harry. 'Then take it up with him, not me!'

'You're the one who told him not to tell me! That first day in Grimmauld place.'

'Eavesdrop much, Potter?'

'You said I wouldn't let him kill Pettigrew, but I will!' Harry said.

Malfoy looked genuinely surprised by that. 'Look …' Malfoy glanced around the hut and took a seat at Hagrid's table. Harry followed his lead. 'I don't want Sirius to kill Pettigrew.' Malfoy's voice was much softer.

'You don't? Why?' Harry asked.

'It wouldn't do Sirius any good. Sure, he'd be cleared of murdering those muggles but he'd still have to go back to Azkaban for killing Pettigrew, for real this time.'

Harry bit his lip. He hadn't considered what would happen to Sirius after Pettigrew was dead. 'Why did you stop him telling me then?'

'I knew he'd listen to that. I didn't want you to know because I thought you'd go running to Dumbledore.'

'I haven't yet,' Harry pointed out.

'I know, I'm very surprised,' Malfoy's tone was teasing but it wasn't as mean spirited as normal. 'I'm not going to tell you okay? If you really want to know talk to Sirius.'

'I have,' Harry admitted. 'He thinks it's too dangerous, he thinks Pettigrew might try and hurt me.'

Malfoy snorted. 'He broke out of Azkaban when he found out Pettigrew was close to you. Good luck trying to convince him to let you deliberately endanger yourself.'

Malfoy stood and headed towards the door. When he reached the entrance, he stopped and turned around. 'Potter,' he said, 'thanks for saving me.'