Harry raced down to the Gryffindor Common Room carrying the bestiary Wonderous Winged World by Sally Soar and the Marauder's Map.
Harry saw that Hermione and Ginny were both sitting in armchairs by the fire.
Both Hermione and Ginny were reading,
Hermione had her nose in The Standard Book of Spells Grade 3 while Ginny was doing some leisurely reading of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.
"Hermione, Ginny," said Harry urgently, "Look I'm sorry to pester you, but would you both follow me up to my dorm?"
"Of course!" chorused Hermione and Ginny and they both followed Harry up the boys staircase.
The nanosecond Hermione and Ginny had sat down on Ron's bed while Harry sat down on his own, Harry showed Hermione and Ginny the paragraph in Wonderous Winged World that explained how magical artifacts that showed where people were in confined areas could be used to discover unregistered animagi. He then showed them the still activated Marauder's Map.
"This means," explained Harry, "That we at least know that Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black are both unregistered animagi and that Pettigrew is still alive."
"OHH!" squeaked Hermione as her eyes went very round, "Harry this BIG! Harry, Sirius Black is innocent!"
"Really?" said Harry doubtfully.
"Harry," said Hermione in a serious voice, "We've always believed that Black betrayed James and Lily and that Pettigrew went after him. But Pettigrew being alive and having a rat form shows us that it was the other way around. Pettigrew betrayed James and Lily and Black tracked him down. With Black on his tail, Pettigrew framed Black by murdering the twelve muggles and using his rat form to escape."
As Hermione's words sunk in on Harry, he realized that Hermione was right. After months of hating Black and believing in his guilt, it was hard for Harry to take this truth in. But Harry maintained his calm and asked Hermione "What do we do?"
"At this nanosecond, the most urgent thing we need to do is make sure Pettigrew stays confined in Hagrid's Hut," answered Hermione clearly, "If Pettigrew escapes then the truth escapes with him. Therefore, we will go visit Hagrid this morning and explain this situation, bringing along the bestiary and the map to prove to Hagrid we are telling the truth."
"What about Dumbledore?" inquired Harry.
"I've got a sinking feeling that Dumbledore has been manipulating us all for a long time. For the time being, we should avoid Dumbledore," replied Hermione, "Though higher authorities must be informed."
"By higher authorities, do you mean the Ministry of Magic?" asked Harry.
"Yes," confirmed Hermione.
"I suspected the possibility that we may need to get the ministry involved and that's why I asked Ginny to come with," explained Harry, "Ginny, your father works at the Ministry. I want you to owl your father and explain to him that there is a situation at Hogwarts that requires the Ministry's attention. Ask him to come to Hogwarts and meet us in Hagrid's Hut. We will show him the bestiary and the map at the same time we show Hagrid."
"I'm willing to help," said Ginny loyally, "But dad's not exactly the highest figure at the Ministry."
"But he's the one we know and once he knows there is an issue that needs the attention of the Ministry, he will know which higher figures at the Ministry should be informed and/or contacted., which admittedly, we wouldn't know." responded Harry reasonably.
"Okay then," agreed Ginny, "But I don't have an owl."
"You can borrow Hedwig," Harry told her, "Go up to the owlery and said a message to your dad, then meet us outside Hagrid's Hut. We will wait outside Hagrid's Hut until your dad arrives."
"Okay," said Ginny, and she went off to the owlery while Harry and Hermione made their way to Hagrid's Hut.