Chapter nine

The following morning Harry decided to head up to the hospital wing. He wanted to see if maybe the same bed that Moody had used in the past was the same bed now. If it was then there would be a screen around it. He had to know for sure if Crouch had been taken care of before he destroyed such an old artifact like the goblet of fire.

'Um, Madam Pomfrey.'

'Potter, please don't tell me you're injured?'

'Um, no, not injured. The last few nights I haven't been sleeping well, nightmares. It's all because of the dementors from last year. I can't stop hearing my mother scream. I was wondering if I could get a dreamless sleep potion to use tonight? I can't concentrate on my classes because I'm so tired.'

Poppy sighed, 'Come back after dinner and I will give you enough so you can get a decent amount of sleep.'

'Thanks Madam Pomfrey. I knew I could count on you,' Harry gave her a tired smile then left. But he smiled as he left the hospital. A screen was around the last bed in the ward. In the past Harry knew it was the same bed Moody had been in when he was found in his trunk. He couldn't tell Megan until tonight but if he gave her a nod and a smile, she should understand.

Harry didn't head straight to the great hall, he went to McGonagall's office.

'You wanted something Potter?'

'Um, yeah, I haven't been questioned about Snape. It's not secret we hated each other, so I wasn't sure why.'

'When the staff were told what time…Professor Snape was killed. I was able to give proof that you were with me at the time. Madam Bones said she would not need to question you.'

'Oh, um, thanks Professor. So it happened when I was asking about animagus?'

'Yes, it happened precisely then. Now, did you hear from Sirius?'

'Yeah, he's at Crescent Fields, which I'm happy about. I'm going to spend Christmas with him. My first real Christmas. Anyway, thanks Professor. I best get to breakfast.'

Harry left the deputy head's office then hurried to the great hall. He sat down beside Hermione, and opposite Ron. Hermione was reading the Daily Prophet.

'I missed the owls.'

'Yes, I know you were gone when I got up I figured you'd be here.'

'I went to see Madam Pomfrey. A few nightmares, dementors,' Harry shrugged, 'She's going to give me a potion for tonight.'

'Good, if you told me about the nightmares I would have taken you to see her.'

'I know, but I also had to see McGonagall.'

'What about?' Ron asked.

'Why I haven't been questioned. It seems I was talking to McGonagall in her office at the same time Snape was murdered. She told the aurors so I didn't need to be questioned.'

'That's good. Even though I was innocent, it's still nerve wracking.'

'Yeah, I wasn't looking forward to it. Anyway, anything worth knowing?' Harry gestured to the paper.

'Yes, I was just telling Ron that Percy's boss, Bartemius Crouch, was arrested, along with his son, a son who was supposed to have died in Azkaban. Their trials will be sometime in the next few weeks.'

'Crouch was the one that sent snuffles…there,' Harry shrugged.

'I bet if he's reading this then he'd be happy,' Ron said between bites.

'I'm sure he is, he wants to know what's going on in case he might get a chance to get his name cleared. So has anything been said about potions?'

'No, but there is a strange man sitting at the staff table. He might be here for potions.'

Harry turned to look, 'I read my mother's diary, she described a man that looks like him.'

'Who?'

'Her potions teacher when she was a student, slug…something. I can't remember the name.'

'Then it must be him. Did your mother say if he was any good?'

'Yeah, she liked him. This might surprise Ron, but my mother said he was friendly towards all houses, yet he was head of Slytherin.'

'A Slytherin that likes everyone. That will be a welcome change.' Ron said.

'Anyway, I'm finished and I want to sneak away with my girl.'

'Are you going to Hogsmeade?' Ron asked.

'Yeah, I'll meet up with you around lunch time. But we want a few hours together.'

'I don't see what you won't tell us,' Ron said.

'Soon, have some patience,' Harry grinned then headed out of the hall. He hurried into one of the dark alcoves, put his cloak over himself then left the castle. He knew he was supposed to pass Filch, but he really didn't want to deal with the old grumpy caretaker.

Harry got to the shrieking shack to see Megan had beat him, 'We've dealt with the bat, now it's time to get the rat.'

'It is, but did you see Slughorn?'

'I saw him Harry. Did you see Moody?'

'No, but the screen was around the same bed, just like last time. But as you would have read in the paper, Crouch senior and junior were arrested. Oh and I spoke with McGonagall. I asked why I wasn't questioned.'

'Because we were with teachers when it happened.'

'Spot on love, so our alibies worked. Okay, hopefully with the rat it means Sirius will get cleared. Sirius will be meeting us in two hours, so we need to get moving. We have to deal with those three before we return to Hogwarts.'

'Then let's do it.'

Harry and Megan held hands, Harry apparated them to the town of Little Hangleton, but far enough away from the graveyard so Peter nor Voldemort would hear the sound of apparition.

When they got into position, Harry nodded to Megan who sent a few rocks at the house. Once she did she slipped the cloak on. She had her wand in hand in case Harry needed back up, but she didn't believe he would.

Within seconds of Peter stepping out of the house to investigate the noise, Harry had him stunned and bound, then had him trust up with a heap of rope. Once they both knew Peter was secured Harry slapped a bracelet on Peter's wrist, it would stop him changing into his rat form. They levitated him away from the house and down to the bottom of the graveyard.

'Now we just have to hope the aurors turn up and find him,' Megan said staring down at the unconscious man.

'The letter should have arrived right after the Daily Prophet. Knowing there is a murderer here will get them moving, especially after what happened to Moody.'

'Then make sure he's secure so we can change.'

Harry tied Peter to one of the tombstones. Once he knew there was no way Peter could escape, then he changed into his hawk, while Megan changed into a raven. They both flew up into one of the trees to wait.

Sirius as Padfoot was staring out of the mouth of the cave. He was waiting for his godson who was bringing his girlfriend. At first Sirius was worried the girl might turn him in which would get Harry into trouble. But Harry assured Sirius that Megan knows the truth and wants to help make sure he was free.

The moment Sirius spotted Harry, he ran straight towards his godson. Being a dog meant he was fast and no one would take any notice of him.

'It's good to see you Snuffles. I'll introduce you to my girl as soon as we're hidden.'

Padfoot barked then ran towards the cave. Harry and Megan just walked slowly up the hill. When they entered the cave Sirius was there, Harry hugged him straight away.

'Sirius, this is Megan Jones, my girlfriend. Megan, Sirius Black, my godfather.'

'It's nice to meet you sir,' Megan smiled as she held out her hand.

'It's nice to meet you as well Miss Jones. Are you related to Victoria and Garland Jones?'

'There my parent's, or were, they disappeared.'

'Yes, I'm sorry, we heard they went missing. One of our jobs back then was to try to find them.'

'Your job?'

'For the order of the phoenix. Your parent's weren't members but they were fighting against Voldemort and we used to help anyone thought fought on our side.'

'Harry explained a bit about the order.'

'I see you got the stuff we sent you,' Harry smiled.

'Yes, your little elf explained, I can't thank you enough. At least I have warm clothes and decent food. Until I went to Crescent Fields I was living on rats before.'

'Oh, that's disgusting,' Megan gagged.

'Not when you're a dog, but I would rather eat real food that's cooked. Anyway, I read the papers, read about Crouch.'

'Hermione told me this morning. Something strange is going on. All of a sudden Moody is missing then a strange man is at the staff table. Going on my mother's diary, I think it's that Slug bloke that taught you lot potions.'

'Slughorn, if he looks like a walrus, then it's Slughorn. He was a good teacher, even if he was a Slytherin.'

'It must be him then. The moment I saw him I thought walrus,' Megan said.

'Mum's diary said he was her favourite teacher. Well, we might finally get to learn potions. But you did hear about Snape, right?'

'Yes, I was able to stay in contact with Remus. He told me more than what the papers did.'

'So you know how he died. We've all been trying to guess. Fred and George set up a betting pool. I believe it was poison.'

'You're way off pup. Someone chopped his head off.'

'Oh gross,' Megan gagged again making Sirius and Harry chuckle. Harry and Megan had already worked out how to act and what to say but Harry still found it amusing that his wife could make herself look like she was going to be sick. Harry wished he could tell Sirius about the rat. Hopefully Sirius would hear from Dumbledore that the rat was now in the hands of the aurors.

When Harry and Megan had seen the aurors turn up, they had been surprised that Madam Bones was with them. He had just been able to remove the cuff to stop animagus when the aurors began to hurry towards where Peter was tied up. Now the aurors knew the letter was telling the truth, and they question Peter, they will know that Voldemort was in the house not far from where Peter had been tied up. Since Harry and Megan had taken care of the snake during the holidays, the aurors won't have any trouble with Lord Voldemort. As far as Harry and Megan were concerned, everything was falling into place, which meant Voldemort should be caught before he could be reborn.