I Don't Want to be a Hero - Second Year

Chapter Ten

Hungryyyyyy & A Story

Harry had made his way to the Entrance Hall and to one of the many windows that were diamond paned with random pieces coloured with various colours of the rainbow. The windows gave unto the Entrance Hall the reflection of a soft dance of sun-dappled rainbows on the walls and floors. He chose a window to cool off in front of.

Ron made him so angry. He was so… he just did not care. Five points… that's nothing! That's what Draco deserves because he's a Slytherin and his father's a Death Eater, Harry mocked internally.

With a sigh Harry pressed his forehead to the cool window, and closed his eyes. He was frustrated. He wanted to think he had just overreacted, and he wanted his friend back. Unfortunately, Harry was sure he had not overreacted.

Hunnnngryyyy… fooooood…

Harry lifted his head, and frowned. Had he just heard…

"Are you alright, Harry?" Hermione ran up beside him, and gave him a one-armed hug.

Draco followed. He remained quiet. Harry turned to him. "I'm sorry, Draco."

"Why?" asked Draco genuinely puzzled at the apology.

"I went off on Ron and that was embarrassing for you," sighed Harry.

Draco pursed his lips, then shrugged. "Well, it wasn't really so much embarrassing, Harry, as I just wasn't expecting it. No one outside of Slytherin has ever stood up for one of us like you just did." He then smirked, "And for the record, someone needed to go off on Ron."

Harry smiled, relieved that his friend was not angry with him. Hermione smiled sadly, "Ron's really been running his mouth off lately. I stayed with the Weasleys a week before term began and he just kept talking about 'evil Death Eaters' and Voldy's followers…" she shook her head. "I just wish I could believe he didn't mean what he said during lunch but… but I think he did."

Harry leaned up against the wall next to the window. "I think I just want this day over with so I can go fly. I miss that."

Draco smiled. "Charms is next, then Transfiguration, and we're done. Since lunch is nearly over, let's go to Charms."

Together they went to Charms chatting about the racing in Tasmania, and swimming at Prince Lighthouse Island.

That evening brought homework to fill every students time so Harry did not get to fly. He was seated with Hermione on the floor at the coffee table before the fire in the common room; his notes and textbooks mingling with Hermione's. Ron sat far away in a corner of the common room doing his homework and glancing up every once in awhile to glare sullenly at his two friends who had not spoken a kind word to him since lunch.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Harry waved his wand at the feather on the table. It did not even wiggle. He glowered at the stubborn feather.

"Wingardium Leviosa," Hermione waved her wand with delicacy and Harry watched as her feather floated upwards.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Harry tried again but with a touch of force.

"Harry, are you putting any intent behind your spell?" asked Hermione.

"I don't know how to do that, Hermione," he dropped his wand onto the table. "I mean, I want it to float but how am I supposed to do more than that?"

Hermione's brow wrinkled in thought, "I don't… well, you're just supposed to believe it, Harry."

Harry grimaced at the girl. He'd been trying to levitate the feather for an hour. He was sure he believed, and wanted it to float, but it just would not do so.

"I'm tired of Charms, I'm going to read that chapter in Transfiguration and start my essay. That kind of seems easier." Harry grabbed his textbook, leaned back against the sofa, opened his book and began to read.

An hour later Harry felt himself being shaken. "Wakey, wakey, Little Snape-y!" That was Fred's voice. Harry blinked his eyes open, and smiled.

"McGonagall's not gonna want her textbook treated like that, Harry," tsked George with a grin.

Harry's textbook had fallen off his knees and some of the open pages were bent. He scrambled to pick it up and smooth the bent pages with his hand.

"Allow me," offered Fred. Fred took the book, and with the simplest ironing charm the pages that had been bent were all smooth.

"When do we get to learn that?" marvelled Harry.

"Millicent Mawnton's Spells For the Home," said George.

"Fred added, "Mum taught us that one."

"We get a lot of wrinkles in our clothing for some reason," remarked George.

The twins sat down on either side of Harry lotus-style in their positions. Harry glanced around at the nearly empty common room. "Where's Hermione?"

"Off to Dreamland," said Fred deamily.

George smirked, and punched his brother's shoulder. "You can go in a bit, Little Snape, but me and Gred wanted to talk to you about Ronnikins."

"I don't think I can apologise, guys," began Harry with hesitation. He did not want to cause a fight but he would defend what he had said, and what he thought.

"Oh no, you don't have to, Little Snape," said Fred quickly. "Me and Forge here believe what you said was right."

"Bit hot-headed," agreed George, "but it was right."

Fred continued, "Ronnie is always flapping his gums about evil Death Eaters, Voldy, to use your nickname, and Slytherins."

"Ronnie doesn't pay attention to history," said George flatly. "We know your dad's a good guy, Harry."

"Snarky attitude but that doesn't make someone bad," Fred chuckled. Harry smiled. He knew his dad was good. Professor Snape had made a life for him.

George leaned a little closer, "And, we know he was a spy." He tapped his ear.

"We hear things," explained Fred. "Mum and dad chat late at night, and we listen."

"Bet you didn't know, Little Snape, that you're dad fought with ours, in a duel, and saved his life," revealed George.

"He did?" asked Harry fascinated.

Fred nodded sagely. "Ever hear of Mulciber the Butcher?" Harry shook his head. "Well, even for Death Eaters him and his buddy Avery the Bone-Collector, were freaky scary."

"They were probably Death Eaters just so they could cause bloodshed," said George continuing the tale in a whisper.

"What happened?" asked Harry lowering his voice to a whisper.

Fred related the tale, "Dad and mum were coming home from an Order of the Phoenix meeting…"

George interjected, "They were the rebels fighting Voldy and his followers." Harry nodded in understanding. "Your mum and dad were rebels in the Order. So was Professor Snape."

Fred continued, "Out of nowhere mum was dragged right out of Apparation, and thrown to the ground. Avery was just about to go chop off her fingers like he did to everyone he caught when dad materialised in front of Avery and blasted him away from mum."

"A good scene, eh?" commented George. "Except Mulciber was there and he attacked dad."

"Dad's good, really good," said Fred.

"You wouldn't think so since he's so quiet, and nice, and all but dad is wicked in a duel," George added with obvious pride.

"He's been a champion twice in the Northfield Dueling Championships," concluded Fred.

"Anyway, dad was down but not out, Little Snape. He fought back," stated George.

"Against both," reminded Fred.

"Yeah," breathed George. "Unfair odds but who ever said either of those two bloody blokes were fair."

"Then, Mulciber hit dad with an Entrail-Twisting Curse," broke in Fred.

Harry's jaw dropped with horror, and George finished, "Luckily dad was good with shields. Not great, but good. The curse hit him in the legs… both… knocked him right down."

Fred leaned in closer to Harry, "It looked like the bad guys were going to win anyway when Avery hit dad with another spell."

"Then…" George waved his wand and gold confetti fell along with a little fanfare, "There was Snape!"

"Tripping Hex! Confundus! Spinning Hex, and finally Stupefy!" crowed Fred.

"Avery and Mulciber were down for the count!" triumphed George.

"Snape helped dad and wouldn't you know it? Our Potions Master knows a bit about Healing," smiled Fred.

"Saved dad's legs he did," nodded George.

"Took him to St. Mungos and those two twits never knew it was Snape what got the upper hand," said Fred.

Harry beamed at the heroic story. "So, you see, Little Snape, it's not smart to go throwing another into the dirt…" George spoke softly.

"That could be the one wizard to save your life," finished Fred. "Ronnikins is a good kid but he's just never understood that life isn't black and white."

"Sometimes," said George deeply, "the one in black is the hero."

Fred patted Harry's shoulder and rose to his feet. George did also and both of them drew Harry to his feet. Fred finished, "Me and Gorge, and all my brothers have tried to tell Ron…"

"Our family are Purebloods, Harry," said George seriously. "Not just by a few generations but centuries."

"We're as old as the Goyles, Crabbes, Blacks, Averys, and Mulcibers are," added Fred.

"We'd be a bunch of Death Eaters, too, if it hadn't been for Muggles hiding some of our ancestors during the Witch Hunts in the 10th century," elucidated George.

"The Hugo and Louisa Abelard," nodded Fred. "We remember them."

Harry stopped them all on the steps up to the dorms. He asked, "So you don't believe in all this prejudice between Houses, and that all Slytherins are evil?"

The twins shook their heads. George spoke solemnly, "There's no sense in it, Harry. I mean Sirius Black whose family were solid Slytherins was your dad James' best friend."

Fred muttered under his breath, "Then he killed all those Muggles."

George smacked Fred in the shoulder. "He was never tried, twit. You know McGonagall and the others in the Order are already looking for evidence that shows Sirius was innocent. That's why he's not in Azkaban."

"Who?" asked Harry with wide eyes. "I hadn't heard of this. He was in Azkaban?"

George nudged Harry up to the dorms, "We'll tell you what we know at breakfast, okay, Little Snape. Bedtime, now."

Harry relented, and headed up the stairs. His mind swam with questions over who this Sirius Black was, and why had he killed Muggles?

3 Sept 1992 - Breakfast

Harry met eagerly with Hermione and the twins to learn more about this Sirius Black that had been a friend to James Potter. Once breakfast arrived on the table (porridge for Harry since his father did not allow him to indulge in waffles or huge amounts of bacon) Fred began to speak.

"Sirius Black was the youngest son of Orion and Walburga Black. Orion was a businessman but it was Walburga who carried on the Dark traditions that coloured the Black family," began Fred.

George continued so Fred could eat a little of his breakfast, "The Black family is considered the Darkest Pureblood family in the wizarding world. Not only was their knowledge of the Dark Arts legendary, but so was their cruelty."

Fred took up the story, "Walburga was rumoured to be the cruelest and maddest of all Blacks."

"Who were her parents?" asked Hermione.

George replied, "Pollux Black and Irma Crabbe. Her cousin was her husband, Orion."

Both Harry and Hermione grimaced. Such close relational marriages were frowned upon in the Muggle world.

Fred nodded, "There was lots of intermarrying in the Black family. Sometimes brothers and sisters married."

"And Sirius was born into that?" Harry shook his head in astonishment.

George smiled, "Yep. But, Sirius was the first Black since Merlin knows when to escape the Darkness of his family. His mother's cruelty made him cringe, and his father's lack of affection towards his children hurt him."

"As luck would have it," picked up Fred, "Sirius and James Potter met at a party the Potters held for Pureblood families - well, the upper crust of society which were all Pureblood. From that point Sirius continually defied his mother by remaining fast to his friendship with James."

"When they got to Hogwarts," continued George, "the split from his family became irrevocable; Sirius was Sorted into Gryffindor and became a Marauder."

"A Marauder," Harry repeated thinly. "My dad said they were bullies."

George nodded, and Fred replied, "From what me and George found in the attics in our first year, I think so."

"What did you find?" asked Hermione.

George revealed, "Ledgers that recorded points lost and detentions and why. The Marauders were big time troublemakers that were always pranking Gryffindors, or bullying other students. Sirius was the worst, though."

"One year," said Fred emphasising his point by aiming his fork like a wand, "Sirius received almost 200 detentions. His points loss was so high he actually put Gryffindor into the negative."

"No wonder everyone thought he could kill those Muggles," mused Hermione.

George agreed, "That could be it, Hermione. After the Potters…" he glanced at Harry to make sure he would not offend him, and Harry nodded for the redhead to continue. "After the murder of the Potters emotions were off the charts."

Fred added, "There was grief, fights, but that murder of those Muggles, and of Peter Pettigrew was the worst."

"Sirius was tossed like yesterday's news into Azkaban," sighed George.

"And forgotten," said Fred.

"That's just awful," Hermione said aghast. "And they only figured out now that he was never tried?"

George replied, "We don't know exactly what happened but we did learn that the Order of the Phoenix is looking for proof that he could have done such a thing."

"Not just proof - there's evidence that Peter Pettigrew is alive. Dad knew Sirius and James," said Fred. "He doesn't think Sirius did it."

"Do they know who did?" asked Harry. His porridge was long forgotten, and cold.

George motioned them closer, "Well, here's the thing, Harry, you know that rat that Percy had that he kept worrying over last year?" Both Harry and Hermione nodded. Percy had been rather vocal and incessant about his rat Scabbers that had run away at the beginning of term. "Well… me and Gred here…" he glanced at his twin who nodded assent. "We've got a map the Marauders created…"

Fred continued excitedly, "It shows all of Hogwarts and who's in it! It's amazing!"

George lowered his voice, and shushed his twin, "We thought to look for the stupid rat with the map, instead…"

Fred practically leaned across the table, "We found Peter Pettigrew."

Harry's eyes widened, and Hermione gasped. She spluttered, "But I thought Sirius killed him!"

"So did we," replied George. "And, we tried to catch Pettigrew but every time we thought we were close we never saw him."

Fred slumped back to the bench, "It's like he had an Invisibility Cloak."

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" demanded Harry.

George defended himself and his twin, "We didn't have proof, Harry. We still don't. And… well, we didn't want anyone to know about the map."

"That's dim," said Harry sharply. "You might have proof of Sirius' innocence. Maybe you can't catch Pettigrew but what if someone else can?"

Hermione agreed, "Luna said she overheard the Headmistress talking about Sirius Black dying and he just might die before the Order finds proof to exonerate him. You need to tell someone what you know!"

"But," began both twins in protest.

"No buts," said Harry cutting them off. "We're students. We don't know it all. An adult might know just the right spell to reveal Pettigrew if he is using an Invisibility Cloak. You have to tell someone."

George sighed heavily, "I don't think it would matter if we did, Harry. Gred and I have been looking at the map and we haven't seen any sign of Pettigrew."

"Gorge is right," said Fred. "Pettigrew might have left after the death of Voldy and Quirrell."

"That doesn't matter," said George. He held up his hand, "Harry, don't yell at us. If we see Pettigrew we'll tell someone, I promise. However, we have information you'll want to know."

"What is it?" asked Harry warily.

"Your father… I mean James," began Fred. "He made Sirius Black your godfather."

Harry was not gobsmacked by that information. "Hermione found a history book that actually had a chapter on my parents. It said in the book that James had chosen Sirius Black as my godfather."

"Draco said that couldn't legally be allowed since he was in Azkaban," said Hermione.

"He isn't now," pointed out George. "If they find Pettigrew maybe he could be your godfather again."

Harry shook his head. "I don't know him, guys. I mean, he might be all messed up in the head after Azkaban. Besides, Draco's dad has been kind of a godfather to me and I like him."

Fred sighed, "You don't get to choose your own godfather, Harry."

"It doesn't matter," he said stubbornly. He was very possessive of the people that had shown they cared for him. "I like my friends, and I like the family I have. I don't hate Sirius Black but if he was mean to my dad when he was a student then I don't want him near me."

Fred and George Weasley stood in front a wide, very tall suit of armor. It had replaced the stone Griffin. The griffin had just had wings and claws but this faceless knight held a huge broadsword that would likely take every student in Gryffindor just to lift it.

"Sweets?" asked Fred.

"McGonagall is the Headmistress now, Gred. She wasn't fond of sweets like Dumbledore was."

"Still, I am in the castle and the knight will have no reason not to let me through, boys." Fred and George turned to regard their old Headmaster walking beside his companion with the help of a cane.

"Headmaster!" greeted the twins. "How are you, sir?" asked George for them both.

"I am feeling fine after a walk in the main courtyard with Remus, here. Have either of you seen my dream catchers?"

"No, sir," said Fred. "I don't think either of knows what one of those are."

Albus' pale blue eyes twinkled as he smiled. "Dream catchers are ingenious amulets that I learned about in Arizona on the Hopi Indian Reservation." He leaned forward, and whispered as if imparting a secret, "my family there believe I have some Hopi Indian blood in me. My dream catchers were… particularly effective."

"What do they do, sir?" asked George with obvious curiosity.

"If you hang them on the wall of your busiest room in the house, they catch the evil spirits and send them to the Great Beyond. If you sleep with one over the head of your bed, they catch your nightmares… and eat them!"

Both Fred and George were impressed. Fred then asked, "Do you still make them, sir?"

"Oh yes! They are fascinating. Would you each like to have one?" the older wizard asked hopefully. Both boys nodded emphatically. "Consider it done. Now, let's give old Minnie a visit!" Albus turned to face the suit of armor. "Your majesty, Peppermint Tin Whistles, if you please!"

The suit of armor bowed, then stepped aside with a heavy, clanking step to reveal the spiral staircase behind it. Remus, Albus, and the twins all stepped onto the stairs and were spun to the top of the tower.

Minerva's office door opened and a smartly dressed house elf in the livery, red and gold, of a butler, bowed them in.

"Mistress Headmistress, it is Master Remus, Master Albus, Master Fred, and Master George to see you!" announced the house elf.

Minerva glanced up from her desk of correspondence, "Thank you, Dobby. Would you bring some tea and cakes, please? And, make a cup of lemon honey tea for Albus."

Dobby bowed. "Will do, Mistress Headmistress!" The house elf popped away.

"Is that the free elf we heard of?" asked George.

The Headmistress nodded, and smirked. "That is Dobby from the Malfoy family. He desperately wanted a job here and since none of the Hogwarts house elves seem to approve of him, I've made him my sort of factotum."

"So that's why he's wearing clothes," marvelled Fred.

"Well, he would wear his wardrobe of knitted caps & jumpers from your mother, and Albus' socks, if he had his druthers but I made it clear to him that since I pay him a galleon a month he is to wear a uniform when he works," she took off her glasses. "Now, what may I do for you gentlemen?"

"Me an' Gred here have a solution to a problem we…" George tapped his ear. "The parents talk, ma'am."

"Do they," the older witch's eyebrows rose. "And you just… happened to overhear?"

"Something like that, Headmistress," nodded Fred. "We've been seeing Peter Pettigrew in the castle since the end of last year."

"That's just when Percy's rat Scabbers scarpered off," added George.

"And, since he's dead… well, something's not right," finished Fred.

Well, there went the 'secret' of Peter Pettigrew, she sighed inwardly. Minerva shook her head, and tapped her forehead. "That made about as much sense as the house elves burning breakfast. What are you two blathering on about?" Both twins were prepared to take up re-explaining themselves but Minerva put up a hand to stop them. "One twin only, please. George, explain."

George took a deep breath, "Well, last year, near the end of term, Percy lost his familiar, Scabbers, the rat. Fred and I… we… uh… we have this map that can show you any living creature in the castle." Remus, who was staring at the flames flickering in the fireplace, turned to listen to George.

Fred interjected, "It's a marvelous artifact, ma'am… er… sorry," he ducked his head at his Head of House's stern look. "Professor McGonagall."

"Were you able to find Scabbers for your brother?" asked the Headmistress.

George returned to the narrative. "See, Professor, that's where it all went pear-shaped."

Fred jumped in, "Every time we asked the map to show us where Scabbers was it showed us Peter Pettigrew!"

Remus rose from his chair, "How long has Percy had his rat?"

George replied, "Nearly twelve years, Mr. Lupin."

"Rats don't live that long," muttered Remus.

Fred nodded, "Percy always said it was because Scabber's ate mum's cooking. He never would eat rat food."

Remus lifted his head, "Boys, did Scabbers ever have any deformities?"

Both twins thought a bit, then Fred nodded, "Yeah. Yeah he did, Mr. Lupin. His front paw… there were only four toes instead of five."

"An unregistered animagus," chuckled Albus. Everyones heads swivelled towards him since they all thought the old man had dropped off to sleep in front of the fire. "What a clever boy!"

Remus glared at Albus but the look became one of frustration as Albus had not even opened his eyes. "That means Peter is alive, Albus, just as Sirius said. We need to catch him so that he won't be taken back to Azkaban!"

"And how are we to do that, Remus?" demanded Minerva. "From some silly magical map these two have?"

Remus stared at the twins as a smile grew upon his lips, "You don't have just a silly old map, do you?" They shook their heads. "You found the Marauders Map!"

Both Fred and George glared. George stepped forward, "How do you know about the Marauders Map?"

Remus gave them a smug smile, "Because I'm Monsieur Moony."

"Who are the others?" asked Fred warily with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs," replied Remus.

The twins broke into cheerful smiles, instantly crowded around Remus and shook his hand and patted him.

"Brilliant map!"

"Always wanted to meet you fellas!"

"You guys are our heroes!"

"Wait a minute!" shouted Minerva. "Who are Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs?"

Remus hesitated, then replied softly, "Sirius was Padfoot, James was Prongs, and Peter… Peter was Wormtail."

Minerva's lips thinned. "Peter Pettigrew… Wormtail… because he was a rat. That means that…"

Remus spoke up, "Sirius was a Grim, and James was a stag…"

When he hesitated, George asked, "What were you, Mr. Lupin?"

Albus sat up in his chair, and turned to face the others. His gaze was steely, and upon his nurse. "Remus! Don't say anymore." He then took in the twins with his gaze, and they closed ranks to stand beside each other. Before them was not a doddering, old man, but the wizard who was known as the most powerful wizard alive.

Albus rose to his feet, and advanced on the twins. "Misters Weasley, might we see this map, and discover for ourselves if Pettigrew is still in the castle?" Minerva touched Albus' arm but he glanced at her as if they both already knew the truth of that question.

Fred quickly removed the map from inside of his robes, tapped it, and murmured, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." The map quickly unfolded itself, and having no place to put it Fred dropped it onto the floor.

Everyone watched as ink spread across the parchment revealing the grounds of Hogwarts, the dungeons, the dorms, the Houses, the classrooms; every inch of the castle but for one blank spot towards the middle.

"What is that blank area?" asked Minerva.

Remus looked down at the Map. "I don't recall that ever being on the Map."

Fred explained, "That showed up last year when we were trying various reveal charms on the Map. Forge and I did some exploring and it appears to be beneath the second floor girls bathroom where Moaning Myrtle is."

George turned the map, and the blank changed going very far south of the dungeons on the other side of the Black Lake. "As you can see, if you look at the Map from another angle… the area changes. Gred and I did some more exploration and it appears that it is just beyond the Slytherin House entrance."

Minerva tapped her chin, then walked around the map, and watched as the blank area moved with her vision. "Curiouser and curiouser. George, do show us..."

George knelt down and tapped the map with his wand, "Scabbers." There was nothing. "Peter Pettigrew." Again, there was nothing.

"Are you certain this works, gentlemen?" asked Minerva.

Fred tapped the map. "Ron Weasley." A small banner hovered over a set of feet in the common room of Gryffindor tower. Tiny z's floated above the banner to indicate that he was sleeping. He tapped his wand against the map again, "Harry Snape." Harry's banner read Harry Potter, and showed him in Greenhouse 4 learning Herbology.

George, explained, "The Map doesn't like Professor Snape. It's always calling him names. It might not like that Harry's a Snape, now."

"That's one of the spells Sirius and James put on the Map. I likely would have but my magic is not as clever as theirs was," Remus blamed his friends; one who was dead, and one who was conveniently dying at St. Mungos. Fred and George who had entertained themselves by reading the delinquent records of the two mentioned frowned at the wizard's obvious censure of his friends.

Minerva Summoned the Map. "Thank you for bringing this, gentlemen," she addressed the twins. "I shall be hanging onto this so that we may continue to look for Peter." She folded the Map but found it resisting her efforts. "Misters Weasley…!"

It was Remus that stepped forward, leaned towards the Map and whispered, "Mischief… managed." He then deftly snatched the folding map from Minerva's hands.

"Remus?" she gaped.

Remus smirked, "As I was one of the creators of the Marauders Map I am therefore one of the owners. I… shall hang onto it."

The twins snickered together. Minerva froze them with a hard stare. "Back to your common room, gentlemen, or I will be taking points."

Fred pushed George ahead of him, and they both left the office of the Headmistress without hesitation. Once down in front of the staunch armor of His Majesty King Henry the VIII George griped under his breath, "Brilliant idea, Little Snape!"

Fred finished, "Now we've lost our Map!"