Important author's note

It has recently come to my attention that chapters 23 and 26 were the same. I have reposted chapter 26 so that it is correct. I am so sorry about that. I wanted to let you all know in case you wanted to go back to read that chapter.

Special Thanks Kazuto Kirigaya4 for bringing that to my attention.

Thank you all for reading and I hope that you have enjoyed the story so far!

-nerdyfangirlmel (this Author's note was previously posted as chapter 31 but I personally do not like AN their own chapter)

Scabbers, The Weasley Rat

"Hey! Did you get the Letter from Mom? About the Holidays?" Jazlyn said as she plopped down next to Harry and across from Ron and Hermione in the Great Hall.

She had just come in from the courtyard where she had been throwing snowballs with the Weasley Twins at the back of Quirrell's turban. It was December and McGonagall had been going around making a list of which students were staying at the castle and which ones were going home. At the beginning of the school year her mother and Remus told them that it was their choice on whether or not they wanted to spend the Holidays at home or at Hogwarts. They had said that Christmas at Hogwarts was beautiful. And though the Holidays hadn't started yet, Harry and Jazlyn could tell that they were right. They had seen Hagrid pulling in large Christmas trees, and Professor Flitwick had charmed Christmas direction all about the great hall. There was golden tinsel, Doves fluttering, and pretty twinkling lights. Jane and Remus had told them that they should experience it at least once but that they would also love to have Harry and Jazlyn home for the Holidays.

That morning, however, Jazlyn's mother sent them both letters requesting that they come home for Christmas. She hadn't told them why.

"Yes," Harry said, surprisingly glum. "Do you think she'd mind if I told her I wanted to stay here? It's just, Ron and his brothers are staying. Remember? I'd hate to leave him."

"Don't worry about it, mate." Ron said. "It's not like I'd be without family. Half of them will be here."

Ron's parents were going to visit one of his older brother's in Romania. Which meant the Weasley children currently at Hogwarts would be staying for the holidays.

"Just ask mom if they can come too." Jazlyn said it like it was the most obvious solution. "We've got plenty of room and you know she'll say yes."

"Really, it's fine. We can just stay here." Ron's ears turned red and he awkwardly shuffled a stack of chocolate frog cards.

"Shut up, Ron." Jazlyn said. "If Harry doesn't ask I will. We literally have too much space. You're coming and so are your brothers."

She turned to Harry, eyebrows raised, as if daring him to say otherwise. He just gave her a shrug in response so she pulled out a piece of parchment and started writing.

"Why do you think she wants us home?" Harry said. "Not that I mind, but she seemed very insistent."

"Probably just misses us." Jazlyn said with a grin and he grinned back.

They received confirmation from Jazlyn's mother only a few days later saying that of course the Weasleys could spend the holidays with them and that she had already cleared it with Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. It was settled, the Weasleys would be going to Camiliard for Christmas.

Which meant the morning they were set to take the Hogwarts Express back to London was complete and utter chaos.

Harry and Ron were tearing their room apart. Harry was bewilderedly holding out cheese in his hand while awkwardly clicking his tongue and ducking through corners. While Ron was throwing everything he touched behind him.

"Oi!" Fred said, crashing into the room with George. "You lot are going—"

"To miss the train." George finished for him.

They paused for a moment as soon as they entered the room.

"What happened here!?" They said together as they took in the mess of sheets pulled back and books tossed everywhere.

"I can't find Scabbers!" Ron exclaimed.

"So what? He's made some rat friends in the castle. Let him be." Fred shrugged. "We're going to make us miss the train over a rat."

"Maybe you'll find him after the Holidays." George tried to reassure him.

"But what if he gets hungry? He could die!" Ron said.

"He's probably asleep somewhere." Fred said exasperated.

"He's a rat I'm sure he'll know how to get food." George said.

"What is going on!?" A new pompous voice came from the door. Percy Weasley shoved his way into the room. "I have been waiting in the common room all morning. We can't miss the train. Mrs. Black was kind enough to allow us into her home, if we cause trouble for her by missing the train and making her wait—"

"I can't find scabbers!" Ron cut his brother off.

"You lost my rat!" Percy yelled.

"He's not even yours anymore!" Ron yelled back.

"No. He's just made new rat friends in the castle and doesn't want to spend Christmas with the Blacks. Now let's go!" Fred said.

"You can find him when we come back, he's a rat he'll be fine," George said again.

He and Fred pushed Ron and Percy out the door with Percy yelling at Ron about his irresponsibility.

Meanwhile, Hermione and Jazlyn were already on the train waiting for them. The two of them were pouring over books together. They were looking for information on a man named Nicolas Flamel. A few weeks ago Hagrid had mentioned him while they were visiting his hut and they had talked about the three-headed dog, whose name happened to be Fluffy. Not that Hagrid meant to tell them anything but he wasn't very good at keeping secrets if asked the right questions.

"Are you sure you can't ask your mother about Flamel?" Hermione asked again.

"Of course not!" Jazlyn exclaimed. "Mother most certainly knows exactly what that dog is guarding. She knows almost everyone in the wizarding world. And She talks to Dumbledore all the time. There's no way she doesn't know. And if I ask her about Flamel she'll know exactly what we're doing."

"But you'll look in your library?" Hermione asked.

"Of course."

"I still can't believe you have a library in your house."

Jazlyn laughed. "You'll have to come by and see it sometime."

With the Holidays coming up and Harry and Jazlyn returning from Hogwarts with the Weasleys in tow, Jane had to put off looking into whatever happened with the Will's until they returned to Hogwarts. Bill Weasley left for Romania with his parents, though he promised to look into the matter as soon as he returned. Jane had owled him immediately after the discovery that Pettigrew had been left with a property and Galleons that he shouldn't have had. Jane still didn't tell him why but Bill insisted he needed no explanation and was happy to help. Especially after hearing that she would be taking in his younger siblings for the Holidays.

"It's the least I could do for you for looking after my brothers," Bill had said.

However, even if she stopped looking into why the Will's were changed for the time being, she wasn't going to completely stop looking into the matter of proving Sirius's innocence. She felt that she had gotten her first real lead in 10 years and was intent on looking into it.

But first, she had several Hogwarts students to pick up. She and Remus drove two separate cars and left Caelum, Caspian, and Avalon with Sara at home.

They arrived on platform nine and three quarters and waited for the train's arrival. Crowds of parents rushed forward as soon as the train arrived. They hung back trusting that Harry and Jazlyn would be able to find them easier.

"Mom! Uncle Remus!" A familiar voice called out.

They turned around to see Jazlyn rushing towards them with 5 boys trailing behind. Harry and Jazlyn hugged them as soon as she reached them then introduced the Weasley boys. Percy Weasley shot out his hand.

"Thank you, so much for having us, Mrs. Black," he said, shaking her hand vigorously before Fred and George pushed him away and started to shake both Jane and Remus's hands in an exaggerated manner.

"Really. We are forever in your debt." Fred said.

"Truly grateful," George said.

Percy glared at them.

"Well, you're welcome, boys," Jane said with a laugh. "And really. Call me Jane."

"We should probably get going. Don't want to get back too late," Remus said.

"Right," Jane cast her eyes over the group of students that would be joining them. "Why don't I take Harry, Ron, and Jazlyn. And you take Fred, George, and Percy?"

Being a mother herself, she had not missed the looks of anger and annoyance Percy shot at his youngest brother behind his fake smiles and politeness (she had been raised in a pureblood aristocratic family, she knew how to spot those fake smiles and politeness meant to impress). Nor did she miss the way Fred and George hovered protectively around Ron and Jazlyn while casting warning looks at Percy or eyeing at other students who passed that so much as looked in Jazlyn's direction. She knew that she could not have Ron and Percy in the same car. And as much as she liked the way Fred and George were just as protective of Jazlyn and Harry as they were Ron, she knew that the two troublemakers would be necessary to dissuade any tension or awkward formalities that Percy might put on Remus. Plus she had a feeling that the twins and Remus would get along quite well. Probably too well.

The three first years piled into her car and they drove away. Jane glanced in her rear view mirror and saw Ron sulkingly staring out the window. Harry and Jazlyn were excitingly telling Jane about their first term at Hogwarts and, while Jane was listening, she noticed that Ron hadn't provided any input.

"Are you alright, Ron?" Jane asked.

"I'm fine, Ma'am," Ron said, his ears turned red.

"Calling me Ma'am really isn't necessary." Jane said. Ron still seemed upset and she knew that sometimes it was best to just ask directly. "I know we've just met but you seem to be awfully quiet. I can't help but wonder if you're usually like that or if it has anything to do with those awful looks that brother, Percy, of yours keeps giving you?"

"Wha-I, No, I-" he started sputtering and his face started to match his hair color.

"He lost Scabbers this morning." Jazlyn decided to cut in with her input.

"Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Was Scabbers your cat?" Jane asked.

"No, my rat." Ron mumbled.

Jane felt her skin itch and she couldn't figure out why.

"He's not dead," Harry helpfully clarified. "We just couldn't find him this morning before we left. And we didn't have the time to keep looking."

"He could be," Ron grumbled.

"I'm sure he'll be alright." Jane tried to reassure him. "Maybe he'll be waiting for you when you get back."

"Maybe," Ron sighed.

"Is that why Percy seemed so mad?" Jane asked.

"How did you even know he was mad?" Harry asked. "He didn't even act it when we spotted you."

"Mother knows everything." Jazlyn said.

"Well not everything," Jane said. But she kept her eyes on Ron through the mirror waiting for him to answer. "So, Ron?"

"Percy's mad because Scabbers was his until he got an owl this year for being Prefect." Ron explained. "He gave it to me at the beginning of the year and I've already lost him."

The itch in her skin burned more and she could practically feel the hairs on the back of her neck begin to stand on end.

"Oh?" She asked. "He was Percy's before?"

"Yeah he had him for 10 years," Ron said miserably.

As far as Jane knew, rats don't live that long. She gripped the wheel and squinted at Ron through the mirror. Suspicious crawling through her.

"Oh? 10 years?" Jane said, trying to keep her voice light. "I didn't know rats lived that long."

"Honestly he looks like he shouldn't be," Jazlyn said with disgust.

"Jazlyn!" Jane scolded.

"What?" Jazlyn threw her arms up in defense. "He's old and patchy and missing a toe!"

Jane slammed on the breaks. Harry, Ron, and Jazlyn all lurched forward in shock.

"Mom/Aunt Jane!" Jazlyn and Harry yelled respectably.

"Sorry," Jane winced. "There was a little pot hole in the road."

There wasn't.

"Everyone alright?" Jane asked. The boys nodded but Jazlyn gave her mother a scandalized look.

"Are you?" She asked accusingly.

And it wasn't without reason. Her mother's face looked like she'd seen a ghost and not the friendly ones at Hogwarts.

"I'm fine, I'm sorry dears," Jane smiled reassuringly. "I'm also sorry about your rat, Ron. I hope you find him."

Jazlyn narrowed her eyes at her, clearly not buying her mother's reassurances. But she didn't say anything. They drove in mostly silence the rest of the way. With one of the three first pipping up to say something about Hogwarts that they remembered. Even Ron who seemed to start relaxing a bit more as the drive went on.

They saw Camiliard Estate long before they reached it. And Ron's jaw had dropped.

"Merlin's Beard, that's a Bloody castle!" He pointed it out.

"That's home," Jazlyn said softly. To be honest, she hadn't really liked all the extra space they had at Cameliard. She always felt like something (or someone) was missing, like it was too empty. But it was still home and she had missed it while she was away.

They pulled in past the gates and the long graveled pathway, Jane parked the car at the front entrance instead of going through the underpass like she usually did. Fred, George, Percy, and Remus were already out of the car. The three first years climbed out and joined them.

"Alright, You can leave your things in the cars," Jane said. "The house elves will bring them to your rooms."

"House elves," Fred and George mouthed to Jazlyn while Ron's jaw dropped. And even Percy was glancing around the exterior of the Estate in poorly concealed shock.

"I'm sure you're all tired from traveling," Jane continued as if she didn't notice the Weasley's reactions (she did, she was just used to them). "So Harry and Jazlyn will show you to your rooms to wash up, they can give the tour after dinner. Jazlyn, Harry, once you've finished washing up, be sure to remember to go back to the guest rooms and bring them down to the kitchen for dinner."

"Is dinner already ready?" Harry asked eagerly.

"It should be, Sara and the elves have been working on it." Jane answered.

"Sara's back!?" Harry and Jazlyn exclaimed.

Just then the large front doors burst open and three kids came rushing out. Followed by a young woman.

"Sorry! I tried to get them to wait!" Sara called out after them.

"Harry! Jazlyn!" Avalon, Caelum, and Caspian all tackled them to the ground.

"Alright! That's enough!" Jane called out. "Let's not keep our guests waiting."

The Potter and Black kids all scrambled apart. Fred and George immediately started helping them all up off the ground and even dusting them off. Once they were up, Jane and Remus headed inside with Harry and Jazlyn following with the others.

"Ron, Fred, George, Percy," Jazlyn began introductions as they walked. "This Avalon, Harry's sister, and Caelum and Caspian, my twin brothers."

She had pointed to Caspian when she said Caelum and Caelum when she said Caspian. She carefully watched Fred and George to see if they would notice.

"Yeah, right," Fred said.

"We know what you're doing," George answered.

"I'm guessing that's Caelum," Fred said, pointing to the one Jazlyn had called Caspian. (Who really was Caelum).

"And that slightly taller midget over there is Caspian," George said, pointing to the one she had called Caelum. (Who really was Caspian)

"Ha! I told you I was taller!" Caspian exclaimed.

"Are not!" Caelum argued and glared at George. "Also how would you know that I'm not Caspian?"

Jazlyn, Fred, and George just grinned at each other in response.

The adults separated from the children and made their way to the kitchen to help Sara and the house elves. Jane told Remus everything she had learned in the car.

"So you're saying that the Weasleys have a pet rat that they got around the same time Peter Pettigrew died, but they lost just before coming here for the Holidays and you think that rat is Wormtail and that he purposely ran away because he knew you would know it was him?" Remus tried to sum up what she had said as the two of them set the table for dinner.

"Yes, How else would you explain it?" Jane asked.

"Jane, it's a rat. There's got to be billions of those in Scotland." Remus said.

"Come on, Remus, what's the life expectancy of a rat?" Jane defended. "I'm pretty sure it's less than 10 years."

"Perhaps yes for a rat with magical properties," he said.

"Like being an animagus," Jane insisted. "And you know what else? Jazlyn said it was missing a toe!"

That got Remus's attention. The only thing they had found of Pettigrew was a finger. But he shook his head.

"You can't go around and assume every rat you come across is Peter," Remus sighed. "You'll go insane."

"I've been doing this for 10 years, Remus," Jane said. "I probably already have."

Dinner was a much louder affair than the past few months now that Jazlyn and Harry were back and even more so with the Weasley boys joining them. Harry, Jazlyn, and Ron were talking animatedly about their first flying lesson.

"And then Jazlyn goes and falls off her broom!" Harry snickered.

"I was trying to save Neville!" Jazlyn defended. "Catching a human is harder than catching a ball. I should've gotten on the team instead of you."

"I can't believe you got on the team in your first year!" Caelum said in awe.

"We thought Aunt Jane was lying and just trying to smuggle you a broom." Avalon admitted.

"You think I could make it to the team first year too?" Caspian said.

"That's likely," Fred and George said together sarcastically.

"McGonagall is usually very strict about it," George said.

"Well she'd do anything for Quidditch," Fred said. "Just don't tell her we told you that."

"Oh! Can we play Quidditch tomorrow?" Caspian asked, bouncing in his chair. "We have almost enough people for two whole teams!"

"Yeah we could play without a seeker each, or we could play with one beater each, or with only two chasers!" Caelum said after glancing around the room and doing a quick count of the number of people.

"I don't see why not," Jane said. "I don't think either Sara or I are working tomorrow and it would be fun."

"Hold on," Fred cut in. "Percy doesn't play."

"Thinks it's too Neanderthal," George scoffed.

Percy blushes and started spluttering.

"That's alright," Remus said, "I don't really play either. I've only ever played to even out the teams. I can referee."

"It would probably be safer if we played without beaters." Jane said.

Both sets of twins and Jazlyn groaned.

"Caelum you play chaser, why are you upset." Jazlyn asked.

"Because what's the fun of quidditch if you aren't flying from an angry ball trying to kill you," Caelum shrugged.

With that settled and dinner eaten, Jane sent Harry and Jazlyn to show the Weasleys around the house. Hours later With a house full of children safely tucked into bed, she made her way to the office. Her mind finally free to ponder about Ron's missing rat, rewritten Wills, and not to mention telling Harry about going through the Potter's Cottage at Godric's. (She had been waiting for him to be back to start that project after all.)

Remus was already waiting for her in the office. Feet prompt up on her couch. A photograph and one of Jane's files open on his lap. She looked and saw that it was one rat, a dog, and a deer chasing each other around the Lake.

"I've been thinking," Remus said as soon as the door was shut. "It could just be a coincidence that Ron's rat disappeared—"

Jane opened her mouth to interrupt but he pushed on.

"But, it is a little odd for the rat to disappear the day it was meant to be coming here. If that rat really is Wormtail I would recognize him immediately."

Jane threw herself down on the couch opposite of him.

"Right," she nodded. "But the rat's missing, so if it is Wormtail, he could be anywhere."

"That's the problem isn't it?" Remus said. "Lucky I have a solution. Well lucky if it works."

"Care to share with the class, Mr. Moony?" Jane said dryly.

"Our map," Remus said. "Harry and Jazlyn haven't found it yet. Which means it might still be where we left it. I'll go to Hogwarts tomorrow, see if the map is there and find him."

"You think he'd still be at Hogwarts?" Jane said, "if he knows we're on to him?"

"It's possible," Remus said. "If he stayed with the Weasleys that means he'd want to stay in the wizard world, keep up to the news. Probably to find out if you're looking for him or trying to free Sirius. To know if anyone suspects him. He'd pick a family who wasn't too involved on either side but still close enough to those that were. Molly Weasley's brothers were in the Order after all. And Arther Weasley works for the ministry but not high enough to really get close to you. It's the perfect place to hide away but be on the lookout. Peter might not have been the brightest but he wasn't a Marauder for nothing and he was the best at getting out of trouble. I think he might stay at Hogwarts, it's a goldmine for wizarding news."

"The kids will be disappointed that you're missing the Quidditch game if you go tomorrow." Jane said.

"I know but we'll have to act quick," Remus said. "He might know we'll figure it out and go looking for him."

"What if he already had the map?" She asked.

"We'll just have to see," he shrugged. "Hopefully he doesn't."

"You can get in without walking through the front doors, right?" She asked. "You still know all the secret passages, don't you?"

"It wounds me for you to even ask," he deadpanned.

"Why not just go now?" Jane said.

He blinked at her and cocked his head to the side as if it surprised him that it could be a possibility.

An: sorry for the delay, this was a difficult chapter for me to write idk why. but i hope you like it!