Title: Truth behind the name and the lies pt.3
Pairing: DracoxHarry, OliverxPercy, twincest, growing RemusxSeverus,
Fandom : HP
Notes: An abused boy finds out he's a wizard and a hero; his tormented mind rebels. One person sees through the misconceptions to the real Harry and treats him the way he deserves. How does this change them both and those around them?

Chapter 8 - Quidditch and the Marauders' map

At the start of October, however, Harry had something else to distract him from Black or how his father would bully his papa, something so enjoyable it more than made up for his confusion. The Quidditch season was approaching, and O1iver, Captain of the Gryffindor team, called a meeting on Thursday evening to discuss tactics for the new season.

Oliver Wood was a burly six foot seventeen-year-old, now in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts. There was a quiet sort of desperation in his voice as he addressed his six fellow team members in the chilly locker rooms on the edge of the darkening Quidditch field. "This is our last chance, I mean my last chance to win the Quidditch Cup cleanly," he told them, striding up and down in front of them. "I'll be leaving at the end of this year. I'll never get another shot at it. Gryffindor hasn't won squarely for over seven years now. Okay, so we've had the worst luck in the world, injuries and then tying for the cup last year." Wood swallowed, as though the memory still brought a lump to his throat. "But we also know we've got the best ruddy team in the school." he said, punching a fist into his other hand, the old manic glint back in his eye. "We've got three superb Chasers." Oliver pointed at Alicia Spinner, Angelina Johnson, and Katie Bell. "We've got two unbeatable Beaters."

"Stop it, Oliver, you're embarrassing us," Fred said pretended to blush but George really was.

"And we've got a Seeker who has never failed to win us a match!" Oliver rumbled, glaring at Harry with a kind of furious pride. "And me," he added as an afterthought.

"We think you're very good too, Oliver," George said, "We like you enough to want you as a brother…" he teased.

"Spanking good Keeper," Fred said winking, though he was sure Percy was the Keeper in their relationship. Not that he was too keen on finding out...

"The point is," Oliver went on, resuming his pacing, "the Quidditch Cup should have had our name on it these last two years. Ever since Harry joined the team, I could have sworn we'd have it every year easy. But we haven't got it, last years tie doesn't count and this year's the last chance we'll all get to finally see our name on the thing…"

Wood spoke so dejectedly that even Fred and George looked sympathetic, he was practically family.

"Oliver, this year's our year," Fred said.

"We'll do it, Oliver!" Angelina said.

"Definitely," Harry smiled, "You're the reason I didn't switch houses, I wanted you to have the Cup first…"

Oliver hugged him, "I'm the reason you're still a Lion? Harry…you're so sweet. I'd like to win it for Percy...he is our Head Boy and it's be nice to give him something to be proud of." Oliver said quietly.

"Aww..." the twins chorused.

Full of determination, the team started training sessions, three evenings a week. The weather was getting colder and wetter, the nights darker, but no amount of mud, wind, or rain could tarnish Harry's wonderful vision of finally winning the huge, silver Quidditch Cup. Fred and George made sure to walk him back to his rooms, just to be sure. There was a killer after Harry…they didn't want to take any chances or have the wrath of Draco to deal with.

XoooooX

Harry was escorted to his rooms by the twins to find an excited Blaisé and a dour Draco. "What's up?"

Blaise grinned, "First Hogsmeade weekend was announced. End of October. Halloween."

"Excellent," said Fred, who had followed Harry through the portrait hole. "I need to visit Zonko's. I'm nearly out of Stink Pellets."

"I'm out of Dung Bombs…" George said with a smile.

Harry let Draco pull him into his lap, his high spirits ebbing away.

Draco seemed to read his mind. "It's okay, I'm sure you'll be able to go next time," he said. "They're bound to catch him soon. He's been sighted once already."

"Black's not fool enough to try anything in Hogsmeade. If he is…I'll gladly scratch his eyes out. Besides, what's the likely hood he has his wand? Wasn't it locked up at the Ministry…"

Hermione ran in, clutching Crookshanks, "Stupid Ron…"

George sighed, "What did he do now?"

"He's mad because Crookshanks tried to attack his precious Scabbers. Hello everyone know cats eat rats. Poor thing doesn't know any better. Ron said, if he caught Crookshanks anywhere near his rat, he'd kill my cat. He thinks Crookshanks is the reason his rat is doing poorly."

"Pah Ron doesn't care about anyone but Ron. Besides, that stupid rat is old and he hasn't been doing well since Egypt. Crookshanks has nothing to do with it. He just wants a reason to fight with you." Fred said.

George added quietly, "Maybe…we shouldn't have picked on him so much. You don't think…we made him like this do you?"

Fred lifted his chin, "Hush, Ron choose to be right awful git. It's not our fault…besides, we backed off a lot. We even stopped using him as a guinea pig for our products."

Blaise saw the intimacy of Fred's touch and the quiet acceptance of his twin, he blinked, "Oh…don't know how I missed it before…" he snorted, "Takes one…to know one I guess…"

George blushed, "Missed what?"

"That the person Fred is seeing is you. Come on, you still share a bed. You're Fifth Years; the person you're closest too and spend the most time together is Fred. You finish each other's sentences, silently communicate and seem to share a mind. Besides, Fred is protective of you, he's the only one who can convince you of anything. You trust him."

Draco looked from Fred to George, they were lovers? No wonder they didn't want to tell who they were seeing, it wasn't illegal exactly but it was highly frowned upon. He couldn't say he approved but what right did he have to tell them that their love was wrong? They weren't hurting each other, it seemed right for them…

Fred reached for George's hand, "It's alright…they would have figured it out…eventually." he stared at them, "You got a problem with it?"

Draco shook his head, "Though I am glad you weren't too affectionate when Harry shared your bed."

George's blush deepened, "We…never do anything but cuddle when we aren't alone…"

"We find places to be alone when we need to…" Fred squeezed his hand, "…we don't want to make people uncomfortable so we restrain ourselves."

Hermione blinked, "You're…is that even legal?" it wasn't for Muggles, they would be in serious trouble there. Fred would be arrested…the authorities would think Fred forced George.

Fred glared, "It's…not illegal. Don't want Mum to know…she'd throw me out. I can't lose Georgie. It's not like they'd let me legally Bond with him. We've accepted that our relationship has to stay private. Lee knows but he doesn't like it so he just ignores it."

Harry said quietly, "You must not get to spend much time alone together…I think it's sad…"

George nodded slowly, "That's true…we don't get a lot of time alone. We have our secret places…we know an awful lot of the castle's secrets."

Remus choose to walk in, "I see…should have guessed. You wouldn't have learned these things from a certain map would you?"

Fred paled, "What are you talking about?"

"Bet you stole it from Filch. Never knew what he had did he? How long did it take you to make it work?" Remus teased, "We were ever so clever…" pulling a chair over to sit by Severus.

Severus blinked, looking up from his book finally giving up on pretending to ignore them. He was mildly disturbed by Fred and George's relationship. "Your map? George and Fred have your map?"

George grinned, "Oh we reconfiscated it when we were innocent little First Years. If it's yours then you know how it works, so which one were you?"

Severus snorted, "I'll bet. You two were never innocent…"

"Moony. To use the map you tap it with a wand and say, 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good'."

"You're Moony? So…"

"James was Prong, Sirius, Padfoot and Peter was Wormtail. Can I see the map?"

George bit his lip, "You gonna confiscate it?"

Remus shook his head, "As long as you don't use it to smuggle Harry out of the castle no. Just want to refresh my memory a bit."

Fred held it out, "Alright…were thinking about giving it to Harry…but…he didn't seem too keen on Hogsmeade. Well not enough to disobey his papa we mean…we've memorized it after all."

It was a large, square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it, seemingly innocent.

Remus set the map on his lap, tapping it, "I solemnly swear I am up to no good."

And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spider's web from the point that Remus' wand had touched. They joined each other, they criss-crossed, they fanned into every corner of the parchment; then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimed:

Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs

Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present

THE MARAUDER'S MAP

It was a map showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each labeled with a name in minuscule writing. Astounded, Harry bent over it. A labelled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor McGonagall was in her office in the Headmistress' tower; the caretaker's cat, Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor; and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room.

They all crowded around…even Severus took a peek.

"Guess you weren't dunderheads after all. How did you manage that? Thought the castle was unplotable."

"Of course Hogwarts castle is unplotable, the inside well I don't know…unless you find a particular unplotable place and use it maybe. Sirius stumbled upon the place once in our third year I think. It wouldn't plot itself though."

Blaise nodded, "Guess the Chamber of Secrets is unplotable. It isn't on there."

"Well, probably because we didn't know where it was. Where was it by the way?"

"Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. She died there. Well the entrance is…can't access it without a parselmouth."

Remus scanned the map and froze on a name.

In Gryffindor Tower, at the foot of Ron Weasley's bed…was Peter Pettigrew.

"That's…impossible…" he glanced at the twins, "You…ever see a pudgy ghost with watery eyes?"

Fred looked at George, they shook their heads.

Severus was slightly confused, a feeling he detested. "What are you talking about?"

"The map is never wrong…well it hasn't been before…but it says…Peter's in the Third Year Dormitory…" Remus stammered, "That can't be true…he's dead…unless…that's just foolish. That can't be."

"Remus, start talking…"

"Does Ron have a pet rat?"

Hermione stared, "Of course…he's got his nasty Scabbers. Crookshanks doesn't like him and if they're in the same room then Crookshanks tries to attack him…"

"Curiouser and curiouser…Crookshanks wouldn't happened to be part Kneazle would he?"

Hermione nodded, "I think so."

"Very loyal creatures Kneazles. They are like feline Sneakoscopes. They are very intelligent, independent and occasionally aggressive, and have an uncanny ability to detect suspicious and distrustful people. Attacks this Scabbers…" he glanced at Fred, "He isn't missing a toe by any chance is he?"

"Wouldn't know. Don't like it." was his response.

"Why? What does it matter?" Severus glared.

"It's possible…very slightly possible mind you that…Sirius is a wee bit innocent. He may not have killed Peter. Not sure yet. Looks like Peter is sleeping. Ghosts don't sleep…so that means…"

"What have you neglected to tell me?" Severus set down his book and crossed his arms.

"Well…it'll come out sooner or later. Peter was an animagus…a rat…need I tell you what he was used for…" Remus sighed, "I'm only telling you because you asked."

"I never heard about them being animagus."

"Of course not. They were unregistered. They spent two years trying after finding out about my 'furry little problem'. Scared me for a bit…thought they didn't want to be my friends anymore. They figured out that animals were safe then."

"So Peter pushed the knot and opened the tree. Were they crazy?"

Remus shrugged, "Never would have asked them to do that…it calmed me though. Almost like the potion."

"Would someone please explain?" George asked.

"What 'furry little problem'?" Fred finished.

"Oh…do you mind if I,"

"Tell them. Maybe Draco will change his mind."

Remus sighed, "I'm…a werewolf…was turned at age seven. Dumbledore let me come to school…I thought they were my friends because…they accepted me despite my condition."

"Have you ever turned anyone?"

"No, I usually spend the full moon alone. with the exception of the bite from the wolf who turned me and some scratches from Sirius or James, most wounds are from my own claws. In absence of other people, I've hurt myself. I'm not proud of that but I am glad...I don't have a life of my conscience."

"Oh…that's why you said what you did about children." Draco said softly.

"Severus is one of the few people who can brew the Wolfsbane Potion…"

"Of course, it's very complex." Severus muttered.

"I've read about it, it lets you keep your mind during the moon." Draco nodded, he might be able to brew it in a year or two.

"It does…I was lucky that he sent it with house elves before and after school started. It helps. I…never could afford it before. I had an annuity before Sirius was arrested…but his assets were frozen by the Ministry. I tried to see Andromeda but…she never responded. People don't like us…I think most would be happy if we all died off." Remus sadly, "It may taste bad…but it is better then not having it."

"I can't believe you would have put him on the train with us." Hermione said quietly. "Wasn't that dangerous?"

"No." Blaise said sharply, "Only dangerous if the moon is up and visible. It was raining and he was careful. Bet Severus had a house elf standing by to take him away if the situation changed."

Remus traced the name, "Why are you alive and a rat? I don't understand…"

Severus cleared his throat, "So…if you're Moony cause you're a werewolf and Peter was a rat so he was Wormtail, what were James and Sirius?"

"James…was a stag, just like his Patronus. Lily's was a doe…James called them a match made in heaven when he saw it." Remus said quietly, "Sirius…was a large black wolfhound that he called Grim-like…" he glanced at Severus, "I think we should ward the tunnels…just in case he does remember…which I doubt he will but I'd rather be safe then sorry."

Fred said, leaning over and tracing one of them with his finger. "There are seven in all that led right into Hogsmeade, Now, Filch knows about these four so I know they are currently being watched." he pointed them out, "…but we're sure we're the only ones who know about these. Don't bother with the one behind the mirror on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but it's caved in so it's completely blocked. You know about this one I guess, since you mentioned the Whomping Willow which is planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. We've used it loads of times. And as you might've noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crone's hump."

Remus let out a sigh of relief, "He might be staying in the Shrieking Shack…but you can't exit it in Hogsmeade. I ought to know. Spent every moon while I was in school there. So there is only one passage not watched? I don't know if he'd be willing to break into Honeydukes…I don't know him any more if I ever did. I wish I'd known before he did what he did…maybe I could have stopped him. I was stuck playing spy…you see nearly all of them were on Voldemort's side, they though he was they're only chance at revenge for their treatment by other wizards. Foolish though, Voldemort didn't like them. Saw us as animals, yet he didn't deny the man who bit me…honorary status as a Death Eater. Dumbledore wanted a spy and there I was...ready made."

"Another one of Dumbledore's pets. I joined him and his ridiculous Order to try to save Lily's life. Then…he didn't help in time and she died…I spent years under his thumb until I met Harry. I saw what terrible things Dumbledore's choices wrought and I couldn't sit still and let Harry be hurt." Severus blinked, "Wait…the werewolf who bit you…that was Fenris Greyback? I never liked him…he used to look at me with those eyes of his. Lucius and the Dark Lord made it quite clear I was to be considered off-limits. My potioneer abilities were too needed."

"Perhaps, you have more in common then you thought…"

Remus smiled reaching for Severus' hand, "Perhaps…"

"If Peter is alive…what does that mean?" Harry asked quietly.

"Then that means…I want answers. Sirius maybe a creep with a cruel streak but if he didn't kill Peter…it makes me wonder…no…I can't consider all of what he was charged with untrue. It's foolish. I have to treat him as guilty. I want to talk to Peter…he never could lie very well…not to me. Then again, I can smell when he lies…" Remus said thoughtfully, " he looked at Crookshanks, "I wonder what it is that you know." he smirked, "Wonder if the Headmistress can talk to cats…"

Severus snorted, "Never asked. At least she is registered. You think Sirius used his animagus form to escape Azkaban?"

"He probably did but why did he wait so long? I don't understand, if he wanted to attack Harry…he could have left there before. He knew approximately when Harry would start attending. Whatever his reasoning, I want to talk to Peter…"

"We're doing a Shrinking potion in class tomorrow was planning on using Longbottom's toad Trevor. Wonder what would happen if I gave Ron's 'Scabbers' the potion instead.

"If he really is a rat, he'll turn into a hairless blind baby rat. If he's Peter…he'll turn into a baby most likely. Easier to apprehend. We'll have to turn him back eventually. Was planning on using the animagus revealing spell but your idea works."

"I do hope you know I refuse to leave you alone with him." Severus said looking into Remus' eyes.

"I hoped you would, I'd hate to face a former friend by myself…"

Draco looked down to see Harry was asleep, "I'll take him to bed."

"Go ahead and stay Draco. I don't mind."

Fred pulled George to his feet, "It is late. We'll escort Hermione to the tower…"

Blaisé blinked, "Won't you get caught? It's after curfew…"

"No. Sweat. The Gryffindor Fifth year Prefect resigned last week…apparently I became his replacement. Don't go telling everyone. I have an image to retain…" Fred laughed.

"I think it's cute…never would have thought You'd end up a prefect…" George giggled.

"Well, then I guess I'm safe…if I'm being escorted." Hermione tried not to react badly to their recently disclosed relationship.

Remus lifted Severus' hand to his lips, "Good night. Let me know what happens with 'Scabbers'…I'll be waiting…"

What do you think? Outstanding? Exceeds expectations? Acceptable? Poor? Dreadful? Troll?