Chapter 6: Of Eating Competitions And Rats
Harry walked through the forest of death, under the protection of his trusty invisibility cloak. He had to do this, if he saved himself he would have doomed countless others. He spotted Voldemort in a clearing up ahead, surrounded by his trusty death eaters. He was yelling in frustration about how the 'Potter Boy' hadn't shown up. Harry smirked and threw off the cloak.
Voldemort turned to face him. They exchanged a few lines. Harry dropped his wand as he watched Voldemort take aim at his body, utter the curse, and pierce him with green light. Harry Potter lie dead on the ground, but this time, he wasn't going to wake up...
Harry shot up awake and looked around, alert. It had been a while since he had that dream. To date, Harry didn't know how he had gotten his wits together to march straight up to Dumbledore. 'I've got to make a note to retrieve the Resurrection Stone, I wouldn't mind seeing my parents again, even if it was very briefly...' It seemed as if not much time had passed since the dementor was in the room, as Hermione was just getting up to come over and slap him awake. She sat back down, but she still had worry evident on her face.
"What was that!" came Ron's voice gasping for air.
"I- I- I don't know..." came Hermione's shaken voice as she made her way over to Ginny. Neville was scrambling to get back into a seat.
"It was a dementor," answered Harry, "It makes you relive your worst memories. They guard Azkaban. They were most likely looking for Sirius Black."
Hermione stared at him, seemingly puzzled, while Ron looked deep in thought. Ginny had just gotten up and was drying her eyes while she got herself back under control.
"I felt strange... Almost as if I'd never be cheerful again..." said Ron shuddering.
"How did you know what that was Harry?" asked Hermione, either very suspicious, or simply curious. Harry hated the question all the same. He reached over to his book and opened it up on the page that was book marked and turned it to show Hermione. It read: The Patronus Charm and How To Repel A Dementor In Combat.
"You really do have a knack for Defense Against The Dark Arts..." Hermione muttered under her breathe. Harry simply shrugged. Then Remus Lupin re-entered the scene. He pulled out a chocolate bar and offered it to everybody. Harry broke off a piece and stuck it in mouth. He remembered the time he had pushed for adding a bar of milk chocolate to every Auror kit. It had saved lives, it made you less likely to throw yourself off a moving train after a run in with a dementor. Good stuff.
"We'll be at Hogwarts shortly," said Professor Lupin, "Are you alright Harry?" Harry gave a brief nod. Then he looked at everybody, as if sizing them up, and inspecting them to check if they were okay. Then he turned and made his way back out, undoubtedly to make sure everyone else was okay.
Soon enough, the small group found themselves at Hogwarts again. It wasn't long till they could see the gates of Hogwarts themselves... Only that they found McGonagall waiting for them. She called Harry and Hermione over, just like last time, and he was dragged all the way up to Madam Pomfrey. He briefly wondered why nobody else who had a bad reaction to a dementor was here. Then excused the thought to circumstance. After a long talk with Poppy, McGonagall excused him, saying she needed to speak to Hermione about the time-turner, erm... her 'schedule.' So Harry had to wait outside till she was done, then the three walked down to the great hall.
Once he got there, Harry walked in and put on a pleasant smile. He did it. He was back at Hogwarts, and this time he was going to do it right. No matter what.
Harry saw Dumbledore staring at him, with a grin on his face. Harry threw up his Occlumacy barriers. He had enough training now, enough to hide a portion of memories enough so that someone wouldn't notice he was hiding something. Harry nodded at Dumbledore and headed towards Ron.
Ron greeted them and saved them seats. Harry grinned and thanked him.
"Ron, what did we miss?" asked Harry.
"Not much at all actually."
"Oh? You haven't started your food?" asked Hermione, genuinely surprised.
"Well... I thought I'd wait for you guys, but now that you're here..." Ron began to pick up his fork. Harry sighed. Coming back to the past was hard work. He had any fun at all since the little bus incident. An idea, a childish one that appeared for nor reason at all, sparked in his mind, and Harry quickly stopped Ron from starting his much awaited dinner.
"Wait up Ron!"
"What is it! Can't it wait till after? I'm dying here!"
"Ron, I challenge you to an eating competition!" Harry said smugly.
"Hahaha, you? C'mon Harry. You're a twig!" Said Ron with a grin. Hermione just sighed and muttered something along the lines of 'boys' before carefully starting her plate.
"What are you Ron, chicken? Afraid you'll loose to me?"
"You're on!" he turned over to Seamus, "Judge the competition!"
And thus the two began. Harry didn't remember eating so much in his life, besides his twenty first birthday... Mrs Weasley cooked a lot of food and Harry felt guilty to throw it away...
After his fifth leg of turkey was lying in his plate, Harry decided he had had enough. Ron looked still strong, just finishing his seventh plate of ribs and was reaching for pie. Harry sighed, atleast he tried. Ron laughed at him a little, but was happy for the fun none the less.
When Ron finally finished, Harry asked to speak to him for a bit. They told Hermione to go on ahead, Harry believing that she would not be helpful for his cause due to Crookshanks, and Harry pulled Ron over to the side.
"Erm Ron, have you noticed anything strange about Scabbers?" Harry asked, trying to sound as innocent as possible.
"Well, he seemed terrified for some reason or another, but I can bet you that its because of that bloody cat!" came Ron's answer.
"Mate, I think your rat might have something wrong with it, I mean I just get this feeling something is up. Do you mind if we took him to Dumbledore? You know, just to make sure..." Harry let his sentence hang in the air.
"Erm, sure mate, if it'll make you feel better. But why Dumbledore? Isn't it like overkill?"
"There's something I just want to see... By the way, don't tell Scabbers where you're taking him"
Ron looked strangely at Harry, but was full from dinner and relatively tired, so he didn't complain or make an excuse. Harry watched as Ron trudged over and up the tower to retrieve his pet rat. Harry waited for a bit, then noticed Dumbledore get up to walk back to his office. Harry approached cautiously, aware that he had to have all his defenses properly placed. Harry noticed that this bolstered his respect for Snape, the poor man had to do this for long years.
"Professor? I was wondering if I could come talk to you about a something that has been bothering me." asked Harry tentatively, trying to maintain the somewhat shy outer appearance he was supposed to have. Harry made a note to change that over the course of the year. It would make some other ridiculous explanations he would have to pull more believable.
"Of course Harry, just drop by. Just make sure you don't miss your curfew" said Dumbledore with a twinkle in his eye, "The password is Snickerdoodle."
Harry chuckled and waved good-bye to Dumbledore. Then he waited for Ron, before, soon enough, he came running down the stairs with the rat in a cage.
"Sorry it took a bit, he bit my finger and almost ran off. Don't know whats wrong with him at the moment. Maybe you're right, we should take him to someone..."
Ron was silenced when the two reached the Gargoyle. Harry spoke the password and the statue spun around to reveal a staircase. Ron gulped, seemingly slightly put off by the prospect of stepping into the headmaster's domain. Harry urged him forward as the two slowly climbed up the stairs till they reached Dumbledore's office. The man himself was currently seated at his desk reading a rather large piece of literature. Harry mentally snorted 'Light Reading'.
"Professor?" Harry spoke softly, testing the waters.
"Ahh, yes. Harry, how can I be of service?"
"Well, you see, Ron's rat has been acting rather strange, and everybody else says he's fine, but I can't shake this feeling you see. Could you look over it?" said Harry, trying to sound slightly nervous and embarrassed.
"Of course Harry, if you will Mr. Weasley?" said Dumbledore, taking Harry's premonition seriously. Harry thought his track record might have helped him out. Scabber's scurried around his cage, as if to try and knock it over. Harry could tell Petigrew wanted to get away from the mind reader. Harry had to wipe a feral grin off his face. He sort of enjoyed watching the rat squirm around. Dumbledore looked into its eyes, the man probably sense something off. Then he suddenly deadpanned. Before speaking up suddenly to Ron.
"Mr Weasley, where did you find this rat?"
"erm... Well- uh- Percy found it, in the yard. A couple years back. He's been alive for a long time."
"Well, Mr Pottter, Mr Weasley, I believe we might have a small situation on our hands. Let me just call over Remus, before I try something." Dumbledore nodded over to Fawkes, who disappeared in flash of flame.
Ron looked confused, so Harry voiced his question for him, "Erm, Professor, whats wrong with Scabbers?"
Dumbledore turned slowly, and spoke in a flat tone, "Well, Harry, I have reason to believe that this rat is in fact, an animagus," Scabbers began to thrash around in his cage, Dumbledore pointed his wand at it and it froze in place, "but it is not the fact that it is an animagus. I believe that this man may have been believed to have died quite some time ago. If it is, then we may have some... complications on our hands..." just as Dumbledore finished, another flash of fire signaled the return of Fawkes, along with Remus Lupin.
"Is somthing the matter?" asked Remus, but when he saw the rat on the table, he froze in place. It looked oddly familiar, almost as if...
"Yes, Remus. I have reason to believe that this rat here may not have been murdered that fateful night." said Dumbledore calmly, yet voicing what Remus was afraid to. Dumbledore opened the cage and set the paralyzed rat on the floor, before stepping back and turning to Remus.
"Would only be fitting for you to do the honors" said Dumbledore. Remus drew a shuddering breathe before pointing his wand at the rat, and undoing the animagus transformation. Then there stood, in all his glory, Peter Pettigrew. Harry clenched his fist to refrain from destroying the man, while Ron just looked all the more confused and befuddled.
"Peter?" whispered Remus, "You're alive?" Dumbledore allowed Peter to speak, but not move.
"Remus, please I didn't mean it. Sirus cornered me- and threatened me- so I- I-" Dumbledore stared into Peter's eyes, who flinched away. Then Dumbledore spoke assertively.
"Is there something you wish to confess Peter?" Dumbledore's voice was commanding and accusing. Remus's head was swimming. "We have other ways of abstracting the truth"
"I- I- I was there Secret Keeper! It was me! Please keep Black away from me!"cried out Peter in an anguished voice. Remus's eyes hardened.
"Did you kill those muggles on that street?" yelled Remus.
"I- I- I-"
"ANSWER NOW!" shouted Remus, his patience worn down.
"Yes" squeaked Peter, wanting to cower away in a small hole.
Dumbledore was now stroking his beard with a frown on his face. He also had a hand on Remus's shoulder so he wouldn't rip out Peter's throat. He turned to Harry and Ron.
"Excuse me Harry. I'm afraid Mr. Weasley won't have a rat any longer. This as been a rather... interesting turn of events. I will bring this up with the ministry, as it seems an innocent man is being hunted down." said Dumbledore.
"Erm, Professor. You can't be referring to Sirius Black?" asked Harry feigning ignorance. He ignored Ron's jump at the mention of the supposed killer.
"Let me sort things out Harry, then I believe you will be given a proper explanation. For now, you are excused" said Dumbledore turning to Remus. The two began to speak of complicated matters relating to the 'Sirius' incident. Harry and Ron turned and left.
The walk back to their room was quite, circumstance suppressing their voice. Once they made it back to the third year dorms, Ron spoke up, "Did you know?"
"No" lied Harry smoothly.
"I've been with a 'dead man' for years now. What the heck happened?"
"I don't know. But I'm sure we'll learn somethings tomorrow. Dumbledore mentioned Sirius Black. Hermione should be able to shed some light."
"Yeah" muttered Ron, suddenly tired from his exhausting day.
"Goodnight Ron"
"Night Harry" mumbled Ron as he hit his mattress like a sack of potatoes.
Harry laid awake a little while, trying to get a grip on things. So far, everything had progressed well. Sirius would have to be given a fair trial now, because the supposed 'unfortunate individual who was obliterated to the point of where only a finger was left' suddenly appeared.
Harry crawled into his bed and shut his eyes. Soon everything would be straightened out and he would be able to take back the time he had missed in Hogwarts. He could finally have some fun.
Harry fell asleep chuckling at the novelty of the idea, fun, what a concept!