Chapter 138 The Plan Begins
"Do not make excuses for that boy, Hermione," shouted Harry. He felt a burst of anger burning in his chest. "I have seen it a long time ago. Just like Sirius Black, he used to be my father's best friend, still my godfather, but who would have thought that he would ultimately betray my parents to Voldemort! Ron and Black are the same, I always thought Ron was my best friend, but he betrayed me last night and betrayed Professor Lupin!"
Due to his agitation, Harry's body was trembling completely.
In his eyes, what Ron did last night was not much different from what Black did to his parents twelve years ago.
He sold him and Professor Lupin to Snape and Lucius Malfoy!
Such an act is utterly unforgivable!
"Harry, Black did not betray your parents, he..."
Hermione had not finished her words and was abruptly interrupted by Harry. He said vehemently, "You know nothing, Hermione! Yesterday morning, Professor Lupin told me everything. Twelve years ago, it was Black who betrayed my parents to Voldemort. He also killed..."
"Peter Pettigrew," Evan whispered.
"Yes, him!" groaned Harry, turned to Evan, and continued, "Peter was a good friend of my father before his death. He went to seek out Black to avenge my parents, but he was no match for that despicable villain."
"He is not as noble as you think," Evan said slowly. "He did not avenge your parents. In fact, Peter is not dead."
"What?!" Harry looked up confused.
He did not understand what Evan meant. It couldn't be possible that Peter Pettigrew was alive!
"You heard me right, Harry!" Evan raised his head and looked around. Madam Pomfrey returned to her office. Only the three of them were in the room. He said in a whisper. "Yesterday afternoon, Hermione and I encountered Sirius Black in Hogsmeade..."
Evan told Harry the whole truth about the incident involving Black and Peter.
Now that Dumbledore was aware of this matter, there was no need to hide the truth from Harry.
He just had to be cautious so that Ron did not find out. Now that Dumbledore not only wanted them to catch Peter but also wanted them to help Ron resist the Imperius Curse, he felt it was an impossible mission without Harry's help.
"Peter is still alive; he is actually Ron's rat!" Harry could not believe it when he heard Evan's words.
It was absolutely unthinkable and completely different from what he heard from Professor Lupin.
"Yes," Evan lowered his voice again. "And he is still controlling Ron. That is why Ron acted so abnormally last night and also why he accused Professor Lupin."
"What?" Harry immediately stood up and said anxiously. "No wonder I always felt something was wrong with Ron. I remember last year he was under Tom Riddle's control. He must have been under Peter's control all this time. That's why he betrayed Professor Lupin. We must save him."
Harry had doubts about what he was told, but that was only until he heard that Ron was being controlled.
Deep down, Harry could never believe that Ron would betray him.
It all became clear, Peter is the main culprit. He was the one who killed his parents and framed Sirius Black in Azkaban for the last 12 years. Now, he has once again framed Professor Lupin by controlling his best friend.
It was simply unforgivable. All old and new resentments merge, and Harry felt an unprecedented hatred coursing through his entire body.
He must catch Peter Pettigrew. He wants to avenge his parents. He wants to clear Black's name and save Ron.
"Wait!" Evan hurriedly stopped Harry. "We cannot rush this way. It is very easy to have an accident and give Peter the chance to escape. I spoke with Professor Dumbledore last night. We will catch Peter. But at the same time, we must help Ron resist the Imperius curse. If he does not wake up on his own, this dark magic will affect his soul!"
"What must we do to save Ron?" said Harry anxiously.
"If you simply wish to lift the curse, there are numerous ways," said Evan thoughtfully. He then continued, "But if you desire the cursed man to awaken, there is but one way. It all depends on his own willpower. His willpower must be sufficiently robust."
"Sufficiently robust?" Harry repeated, looking bewildered. "What must I do?"
"I do not precisely know how to proceed," Evan sighed, "Perhaps, before apprehending Peter, we can try to communicate something to Ron. Then Ron will have to choose between us and Peter Pettigrew! I believe he can awaken on his own. When the giant snake was about to strike Ginny last year, Ron managed to break free from Tom Riddle's control."
"Evan, will Dumbledore assist us?" Hermione asked anxiously.
"Perhaps he will," Evan muttered.
In truth, he had no knowledge of the headmaster's plan, nor was he certain about what he meant when he said last night, "Leave the rest in my hands!"
"Did you mean to say that you would secretly protect them? This seems reminiscent of Dumbledore. In Harry's first year, to strengthen him, he turned a blind eye to all of Quirrell's abnormal behaviors but silently watched over Harry and his two friends without their knowledge.
Dumbledore is not currently at Hogwarts, perhaps intentionally to give Pettigrew a false sense of security.
"Dumbledore will come to help us at the critical moment. Before that, Black and I have already devised a plan," Evan said, looking at Harry and Hermione. "Now, we just need to ensure that both Ron and Peter will be in the Common Room."
"When I left this morning, Ron was still in bed," Harry said. "Remember, today marks the first day of the Christmas holidays. Everyone else is going home for the break. It will only be the four of us in the Gryffindor Tower."
The three nervously waited during the following time. They meticulously reviewed the plan details over and over.
Madam Pomfrey examined Evan and Hermione and waited until lunchtime before allowing them to leave.