6 June 1994
Luna quickly abandoned the Gryffindors after they left the headmasters office, not wanting to argue over Eloise's conspiracy theories. Hermione and Harry argued about telling Ron about Scabbers maybe being Pettrigew. Eloise settled it by pointing out, even though she believed it to be true, they shouldn't tell him unless they had proof or found him. How would they feel if they found out their familiar that slept in their bed for the past three years was a middle aged man? So, Hermione and Eloise filled Harry in on all the strange things they learned about Sirius Black. Harry was sad that Remus neglected to tell him anything about Sirius. He vaguely mentioned him, never by name, but he was always there in his stories, referring to him as Paddy.
Hermione and Eloise put a lot of work into Hagrid's trial and when the day finally came, they could only hope that they did enough to save not only Buckbeak's life but Hagrid's job. Hagrid was never clear on what he did to be expelled but he was very nervous about going into the ministry, afraid his old record would come back and haunt him. Of course he would have the headmaster there to help him win over the committee and he was the Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot. When Harry, Ron, and Neville realized they forgot all about Buckbeak's trial, they felt incredibly guilty but the girls just shrugged them off.
"It's too late." Eloise sniffled as she handed the letter back to Hermione.
"I'm going down there to be with him, I saw earlier they already had the executioner here!" Hermione exclaimed, her face contorted in disgust.
"I thought he had the final appeal today?" Harry asked in alarm.
"Yeah, well. Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Beasts, they don't let a lot of creatures live. Dads said Macnair is a right bastard." Ron grumbled as he sat back.
"So, the appeal is just a farce?" Eloise snapped.
"What have you seen of magical creatures that makes you think the system would be fair?" Neville snorted sarcastically.
"Well, why doesn't anyone change it?" Eloise demanded. Neville shifted uncomfortably as Harry dashed up the stairs to grab his cloak.
"Eli...maybe this summer we can sit down and talk about all the injustices of the wizarding world but right now, I need to go." Hermione sighed impatiently.
"What about the curfew?" Neville asked concerned.
"That's why I'm going with her." Harry grinned smugly as he hopped down the last couple steps. Hermione beamed as Harry stepped beside her. Ron looked between them suspiciously before jumping up.
"I'll come too. I should apologize to Hagrid." Ron blurted. Neville shifted uncomfortably as he looked at his friends.
"Why don't you explain the ins and outs of how the ministry is run, Neville? Your Gran is on the Wizengamot, right?" Hermione smiled slyly.
-0-
Harry, Hermione, and Ron squeezed under the invisibility cloak, the boys were almost too tall to cover them both already. Hermione grinned as they had to hunch down while she walked comfortably between them. Ron had an arm casually around Hermione shoulders as Harry blushed, awkwardly shoving his hands in his pockets. As they were exiting the castle they found Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle looking at Buckbeak from the hill top. Malfoy had a camera around his neck and they were laughing victoriously.
"Yeah, we'll get the best photos here." Crane chuckled darkly as he stood over Malfoy's shoulder.
"Yeah, maybe I could get a shot of the big oaf crying over the bird's body." Malfoy smiled maliciously as he practically vibrated with excitement. Before either boy could stop her she pulled off the cloak and rushed the arrogant blonde.
"You manky fucking tosser!" Hermione shrieked, "stupefy! Stupefy!" Hermione quickly stunned the idiotic duo and glared angrily at the shocked blonde. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
"What the hell, Weaslette?" Malfoy demanded and reached for his wand.
"Traglodyta!" Hermione shrieked before he could pull it from his pocket, his skin began to bubble and turn green, his teeth elongated and soon became too big for his head. Malfoy coughed, the smell of his own skin disgusting him.
"Wa da ell?" Malfoy demanded, not able to properly annunciate with his large teeth.
"Now, your outside matches the troll beneath." Hermione sneered as she stormed away from him, Harry and Ron were frozen to the spot watching her in awe.
"Enedera! Enidara!" Malfoy was standing over Crabbe, waving his wand furiously trying to revive him.
"Come on!" Hermione shouted back to the boys. Harry and Ron snickered as they jogged to catch up with the fuming red head.
"That was bloody brilliant, 'Mione!" Ron exclaimed with a proud smile.
"Thanks, it was the first time I ever got to try it." Hermione blushed, a shy smile on her face.
"It looked complicated, where did you learn it?" Harry asked curiously.
"One of the books Nanet gave me. There are some Egyptian spells I really want to try but...I worry about the pronunciation." Hermione shrugged and grabbed the boys hands as they reached Hagrid's hut. Harry gripped Hermione's hand tightly as he rapped his knuckles on the large oak door.
"What are you doing out here?" Hagrid thundered as he found the three Gryffindors.
"We came to make sure you were okay, Hagrid." Ron said sadly.
"Thank you but I would rather you be safe. Harry should be back in the castle. I buggered the whole thing up, Hermione made all those notes and cards but I got nervous and the committee actually laughed at me." Hagrid groaned. "There was actually something I wanted to talk to you about but...I see you've made up now."
"We're really sorry about not helping with the case Hagrid." Harry said sincerely as he sat at the table.
"It's fine. Like I said, Hermione found lots of good stuff, but Ron I have something to show you." Hagrid grinned as he laid out a plate of rock cakes. Ron immediately grabbed one but Harry kicked him and subtly shook his head.
"What's that, Hagrid?" Hermione asked curiously as Hagrid pulled a clay pot with a lid out of his cupboard. With a smile the half giant placed it front of Ron.
"Scabbers!" Ron shouted excitedly as he scooped up his rat and held him close to his chest, Hermione and Harry both paled beside him.
"We need to get him to Uncle Albus!" Hermione shrieked as she jumped up. Harry pulled Ron up and dragged him towards the door hastily.
"We'll explain later, Hagrid!" Harry rushed out before they guided a confused Ron away from the hut.
"What the bloody hell was that?" Ron exclaimed as soon as he found his voice, they were walking briskly up the path. Hermione and Harry rushing him along, much to his frustration.
"It's hard to explain..." Harry hesitated, tripping over a tree root.
"Stupefy!" Hermione flicked wand, stunning the squirming rat in Ron's hands.
"'Mione!" Ron shouted, his ears turning red as he looked at his sister in betrayal.
"If I'm right, you- Uncle Albus!" Hermione shrieked, waving down the headmaster as he walked down the path with the minister and a man wearing a black cloak, carrying a large axe.
"What are you doing out here?" The headmaster walked up to them, wearing a pleasant smile.
"We found Scabbers!" Harry exclaimed pointing to the rat in Ron's hands.
"Harry, Hermione...we talked about this." Albus sighed sadly.
"Albus what is the meaning of this? Oh, hello Harry." The minister walked up to the group blustering angrily but after seeing Harry he smiled serenely.
"Uncle Albus, there must be some way to test if he is an animagus." Hermione spoke up, pleading him with her large doe eyes.
"Very well, Mr. Weasley if you would place your rat down." The headmaster said patiently.
"What are you going to do to Scabbers?" Ron asked with trepidation.
"I promise no harm will come to your pet if he is in fact a rat." The headmaster said solemnly before turning to the minister. "We will be on our way in just a moment, Cornelius." Ron placed Scabbers on the ground, the man in the cloak stomped over, huffing impatiently.
"What is this?" Macnair snapped.
"Animalis revelare." Albus waved his wand, a blue light enveloped the rat. They watched, astonished as the rat grew into a squat, balding man who appeared unconscious.
"Who is that, Albus?" The minister asked with trepidation.
"I'm afraid that is Peter Pettrigew" Albus said gravely as he waved his wand over him, casting a diagnostic spell.
"Really? We must get him up to the hospital wing at once! Revive him!" the minister blustered.
"Wait, minister...I fear for your safety. Some things do not add up about this man going into hiding. I think he should be questioned under veritaserum." Hermione blurted out quickly.
"And who are you, my dear?" The minister looked down at the red head curiously.
"Hermione Weasley. My friend and I have been looking over everything we could find on Sirius Black. Eloise thinks that that man somehow faked his death and framed Sirius Black, we don't know why though. It appears that former Minister Bagnold left us with a bit of a mystery." Hermione said nervously.
"Delightful." The minister beamed, his political mind at work. A pureblood witch unearthing a major scandal, left by his predecessor for him to clean up. Her father was a head of a department, it would look good for the upcoming election. He failed to notice Macnair shifting nervously behind him. "Well, shall we Albus? I'm sure your potions master has some veritaserum in stock?"
"Yes, I believe so." The headmaster nodded his head slowly, looking at his students in amazement. He had dismissed his students theories as ridiculous and they bring him evidence of a grave miscarriage of justice. Albus flicked his wand, the stunned Peter levitated off the ground and followed behind him as he lead the way to the castle.
"I'm sorry, Walden. The appeal will have to wait for another day." Cornelius Fudge shook his head sadly then turned to the students trying to shake the tall redhead out of his stupor.
"Ron!" Hermione shook him roughly, he finally looked to his sister, his blue eyes wide with despair.
"He slept in my bed." Ron croaked.
-0-
Albus dismissed the students, advising them to bring Ron to the hospital wing for a calming draught. The headmaster called his potions master for the truth serum and lamented that Remus would not be able to join them. Macnair was quick to dismiss himself when they arrived at the office, he was one of the few who knew of Pettrigew's alliance to the dark lord. He did not want to be there when the questioning began. Professor Snape was scarily efficient, once they bound the blonde man and revived him he quickly administered the serum.
"What is your name?" Albus asked. Professor Snape made himself comfortable beside the minister. Curious as to how the man survived, he may not have seen the devastation of the blast all those years ago but he heard all about wreckage.
"Peter Anthony Pettigrew." Peter's muted reply came out strangled from not using his voice in so many years.
"You were born 16 May 1960?"
"Yes"
"Did Sirius Black try to kill you on 2 November 1981?"
"Yes"
"Why did Sirius Black try to kill you?"
"I betrayed Lily and James to my master."
"Is Voldemort your master?"
"Yessss"
"You were the secret keeper?"
"Yes"
"How?"
"Lily altered the charm, it took her a couple months. After Dorcas was killed, Sirius wanted to be the decoy. He suggested they switch secret keepers and to protect me Lily made adjustments to the original charm making me the secret keeper."
"How did you survive?"
"I transformed during the blast, scurried into the sewer."
"Why did you hide?"
"I know my master will come back so I waited in the Weasley home so I could keep track of the news."
"Why was there a finger left behind?"
"I cut it off before the blast."
"Who cast the blasting curse into the street?"
"I did"
"I'll contact the prophet right away, I'll have Mr. Pettigrew in Azkaban until trial...I'll need to speak to Miss. Weasley about her research. What a delightful little witch, discovering Bagnold's failures. She will be an asset to the ministry someday." Fudge beamed. Completely oblivious to the other people in the room, quickly spinning a story that would make the ministry look good.
"And Black?" Professor Snape sneered, standing tense before the minister.
"Oh, I'll rescind the kiss on sight order and alert the Prophet that Black has been proven innocent but is needed for questioning. Oh, and the dementors will be leaving tonight." Fudge nodded quickly, the faster he could get Black on his side the better. Lucius had become too demanding lately, with a contributor like Black, he wouldn't even need Lucius anymore.