Chapter 10 is out! Gotta say that I really enjoyed writting this chapter; might be my favourite one along the seventh so far!
Scala ad Caelum
Chapter 10: The Mirror and the Rat
Ronald Weasley POV
Monday 25th December 1991 (Slytherin's bedrooms, Hogwarts) – Early Morning
Just as every morning, the alarm charm woke Ron up after a few seconds of shaking, but this wasn't an ordinary morning. After all, Christmas had finally come. Ron yawned and rubbed his eyes, but as soon as he realised what day was, he almost jumped out of the bed. Bloody hell! I almost forgot it! Today is presents time! It was true that thanks to the very little money the Weasleys had, they didn't use to have lots of presents; neither were they very expensive. But none of the seven sons really care about that. They learnt long ago that what really mattered was the intention behind the act, not the prize of it.
But what Ron wasn't expecting was to see that many presents right at the foot of his bed. "What the hell?" He asked to the air since there wasn't anyone to answer him in the room. The redhead grabbed the most familiar looking one, and even though he already knew what the present was, he couldn't help being a bit excited about it. He sighed with anticipation, as if he was preparing for something important, and then, he unwrapped the present.
Right there, in his hands, there was the same Weasley sweater as always. Only that it wasn't as the other ones he had received the years before. Unlike those, which were of a deep maroon, this one was of a dark green, with silver details on the neck and on the big R carved in the front. Wow..., thank you, Mum. Ron, smiling like an idiot, put on the sweater and started to look over the rest of the presents.
Why are there so many? Who has sent me... oh wait. Those idiots wouldn't have dared to... He grabbed the next present, and right there, looking at him, were carved Daphne's initials. Ron took a moment to process everything, and then, he opened the present. It was a very beautiful and polished chess table; probably made of refined materials like marble and another expensive and black mineral. Holy crap..., this probably cost more than my entire bedroom...
With very delicate movements, he placed the board on his bed, and then, he went onto the other presents. Tracey had sent him an absurd amount of many types of sweets, enough to knock him out a dozen times. Much to his surprise, Gerard, the man who got him a wand, had sent him a book about duelling, with a note that said that it was one of his uncles' passions.
But the best one, without any doubts, was Ginny's. Even though they had some kind of non spoken rule of not buying any kind of present among them, his sister had decided to give a whole new look to his old set of chess pieces. After many, many years of use, his set was clearly very worn out; nevertheless, he wouldn't have changed them for any other, no matter how new or incredible they were. After all, that set was the last present his grandfather gave him before starting to lose his sanity.
Now, the pieces were almost unrecognizable. The last time Ron saw them, their colour was starting to fade to a point in which there were some of them that you couldn't tell whether they were black or whites. What he had in his hand was practically a brand new knight, which hadn't only been repainted, but also added some very beautiful hand-made details; just like all the other pieces.
Wow, I wasn't expecting any of this... "What's with that face of yours?" Gerd asked, looking at him curiously. "I get that you got many presents, but... I thought you were expecting them. Isn't it a tradition of yours."
"Yes, it is," Ron answered. "It's just that... I wasn't expecting that many of them."
"You are weird," the Essentia told him. "You have two presents from your family; and then, another two from your friends. I mean, you've helped them enough to get something in return, even if that wasn't what you were expecting."
"Well, yeah," Ron said, his face starting to redden. "But now, I'll have to think about something to give them in return. Agh, another headache to add to the collection."
"And I was supposed to be the dramatic one here," Gerd sighed. "Come on you dummy, I'm sure everyone in the castle must have heard your stomach rumbling right now. Besides, we have tons of things to do these weeks; what are you feeling for today? Some good training or that interesting research?"
"What about sleeping?" Ron said while storing all his presents inside his bault. "Oh, come on, I was joking; let's go..."
"I swear this is the last time I listen to you," Ron groaned. "Two bloody hours! That's the time I've lost today thanks to your great idea of starting this stupid research on the first day!"
"Come on, don't be that mean," Gerd complained. She was currently walking through the air, with her arms behind her back, and sending him some not very friendly look. "It is not my fault that you don't know where to start! Besides, wasn't your friend supposed to help you?"
"He was," the redhead answered. "But I haven't seen him since launch; and neither have the twins." Which is pretty weird, not gonna lie... What can Harry be doing for a whole afternoon that is more important than Nicolas Flamel? The two of them kept walking in silence, and Ron couldn't stop thinking where Harry could be right now.
"Hello there," someone said right into his ear; making him almost jump from surprise. Ron turned as fast as he could, but there wasn't anybody in the corridor. What the hell? Then, the same voice started to laugh uncontrollably. Wait..., isn't that voice...
"Harry?" Ron asked, to the air. "Is... that you?"
"Yep," Harry answered, appearing in front of him out of nowhere.
"What the bloody hell!" Ron exclaimed, very startled. "How did you do that?"
"Thanks to this," Harry smiled; showing him some kind of cape. "It was a present from some anonymous person I found this morning right at the foot of my bed. I've been experimenting with it for the whole afternoon. It's plainly amazing!"
"Wait...," the redhead started. "Is that what I think it is? Because there is no way it is. Those things are very expensive! Who would be crazy enough to give you one without even telling you his name?"
"I don't really know, but...," Harry tried to explain. "I got some note with it; it said that it was from my father, and that he gave it to this person before he died. He also told me that it was time for it to return to its rightful owner."
Wow..., all the things I could do with something like that... Ron couldn't help but to feel a pawn of envy, but he shook it as quick as it came. Merlin, what the hell are you thinking Ronald Weasley. "Wow," he ended up saying. "You do realize all the things we could do with that thing, don't you."
"I might have given it a thought," Harry smirked. "I saw you coming out of the library. I guess that there wasn't any luck with our friend Nicolas Flamel, right?"
"Nope."
"I also got nothing from Hagrid," Harry admitted. "But I got an idea; since we've already checked out most of the books from the library, I'm going to try getting into the forbidden section tonight."
"What?" Ron asked. "Well, that's some madman's idea, but that could work... If we don't find something in the forbidden section, I won't know what to do..."
"That's why I have to try it," Harry kept going. "I'm going to practise a bit more with the invisibility cape for now. Tomorrow, after breakfast, I will tell you what I found."
With that being said, Harry just threw the cape over his head, and the next second, he was gone. It is a bit risky, but that might be our best option to find who Nicolas Flamel is once and for all. Is either that or praying for some miracle in the form of Hermione or Daphne finding anything.
"Well, that was unexpected for sure," Gerd commented once Harry was gone. "We will let him work on the research for now; what means that we can do other things! I think it is about time for you to teach me how to play chess, or is it that you are scared of me beating you in the future?"
"Whatever," Ron huffed. "Come on, let's go to my room. I just want to sit and do nothing for one day, but I can spare some time to wipe the floor with you."
Master Shana POV
25th December 1991 (Tower of Merlin, Greece) – Afternoon
"I would just like to know one thing, Isaac," Master Lawrence questioned. "We all know that you've been working on something big for a few years, and we won't want to meddle in, of course. But, it is of my interest, and of the whole order, to know from where are those founds of yours coming. I'm just worrying about our dear order, my old friend."
"Do not worry about my project, my old friend," Isaac replied with that solemn voice of his. "It is very well funded. I just had to claim a few favours from some pureblood families; both Great and Noble houses."
Here we go once again... Just like every year, the main topic of the meeting was the funds. Since the Order of Merlin had no official association with any country's government, they had no income from their public money.
If that would have been the case, it wasn't like the people knew where their money was being inverted. After all, the Order lost its notoriety to the public knowledge some centuries ago. Many people had heard of them at least once or twice, of course; but they weren't on the people's mind as an everyday thing. In the present, only the ministries' officials of the higher rank, and the pureblood families, thought of them as something they should keep an eye on.
Where did all their money come from? Well, that was a pretty easy question to answer; just as Shana had learnt in her first years as a Master. Each one of the five Masters had total liberty, unless it would compromise the Order somehow, of affiliating with the ministries from countries from all over the world, and with the many pureblood families; whether they were Great or Noble Houses.
"If that is the case, then, I don't have any more inquiries," Lawrence finished with a soothing smile, trying to keep the peace.
Shana looked around, to each one of the masters. They were currently at the meeting's room in the Central Tower. Made of pure marble, the big stance had a huge pentagon, which was made of different volcanic rocks, carved in the middle of it. At the central point, Isaac the First was seated; his throne-like seat being the highest of the five, which allowed him to look at everyone from a position of superiority.
The rest of the Masters sat in their seats at the other points, around five metres from the ground; which allowed them to look at an enchanted and gigantic map of the entire world. Legends said that said map was set by Merlin himself, when he bestowed the Order to his most trusted followers, and that the entire Central Tower was built around it.
To her right sat Lawrence the Third; and to her left, her objective for today; Aura the Fourth.
"Then, it is settled," Xaladir announced, in a tone that left no room for other opinion. "For one more year, our great order has prospered under the actions of us; the Five Masters. May Merlin be our guiding light!"
"May Merlin be our guiding light!" The other four voices chanted.
Isaac was the first one to leave the room, maybe a bit angry because Xaladir had decided to be the one closing the meeting. He stood up from his throne, and put his white hood on. Well, this bureaucratic nonsense is finally over; now, its turn for the real talk. Shana sighed and also got up from her seat, which was standing in the air thanks to a levitating platform. Then, she made her way behind it, towards a large footbridge; which led to the side of the Central Tower that communicated with her own tower.
I'll ask her for a meeting in her chambers, that way she'll feel as the one calling the shots in the conversation. "Master Shana!" A voice exclaimed from her back. Henry, her senior butler, came at her almost running. "Everything is ready; I've already set the meeting with Master Aura. I've been told that she will be waiting for you in her chambers."
Great, I always forget how god of a butler he is. "Thank you, Henry," Shana smiled at him. "You can rest for today."
The older man bowed in response. Shana sighed and made her way towards the Four Master's chambers with decisive strides. She couldn't deny, nor hide, her nervousness; this was going to be the first time she had ever talked with Master Aura alone, much less to talk about some secret and dangerous complot.
"You have to focus; you are the good one with words. If you fail, then I'll have way more work in the future," Valkyrie commented on her mind. Shana rolled her eyes, but her counterpart was right; she couldn't fail without trying it at least. The future of her alliance depended on her.
She finally reached her destination, so she knocked on the big wooden door. "You can come in," a voice answered from the inside. Shana got into the room, and there, sitting on her luxurious and exotic couch, was Aura the First. "I will be honest with you, Shana; I wasn't expecting by any means for you to request a private audience with me."
The door behind Shana's back closed with a loud thud, and when she looked back, she saw two tall figures. The first one was covering his face with a mask of a tiger, and was taller than the other by a head.
The second one was an Asian, probably Japanese, woman with short and very black hair. She was as tall as Shana herself, but her most menacing feature was her eyes; that were of a very cold grey, almost resembling the tough steel. She didn't look like she was much older than her, so Shana deduced that the female Inquisitor had to be around thirty years old. What a warming welcome..., you even brought your two High Inquisitors... With the corner of her eye, Shana appreciated how Aura took off her own mask.
She was a beautiful woman; with the kind of beauty that only very few mature women possessed. The first wrinkles were starting to appear under her green eyes, just like the gray streaks on her beautiful blond hair, which was styled on a high, and very polished, bum. Shana didn't know what her age was with exactitude, but her guest was that the Fourth Master must have lived around fifty or sixty springs.
Aura took a sip from her cup of wine, and looked at her eye to eye. "What is it, then?" She asked. "What can be so important for you to come here? Do you seek answers of any type? Or maybe you want to discuss other Master's ambitions?"
So she already imagined what the reason behind my request was... Good, I'll skip the whole introduction crap I had prepared. Shana took another look at the two figures at her back, and then, she faced Aura as relaxed as she could. "I think you already know the answer to that question, Aura. I could appreciate that you were quite silent when Isaac's project was first brought up."
"Yes, you are right in both of your statements," the older Master sighed tiredly. "But, as the Fourth Master, it is not my place to question Isaac. That is how things have been for centuries; and I won't be the one breaking the cycle."
"But-"
"This is how things work here, Shana," Aura interrupted her. "The Fourth Master has always been the Order's recruiter, and that role has always been under the direct command of the First Master. Even in darker generations, where other Masters tried to break the harmony, all my predecessors stood right behind the leader of the Order. I won't be the first one to betray that ideal of us."
"What Isaac is doing could mean the end of the Order if things get out of control," Shana argued back. "Especially considering that this time, Xaladir could be the one directly opposing him if his own agenda gets affected by Isaac's project."
Aura closed her eyes with resignation, as if she had been expecting that fact to be brought out since the beginning. "Yeah, I know that," she said. "Xaladir has been very busy these past years; in fact, just like you."
It seems that the other Masters are starting to see through my plans..., they already know that I'm onto them. Shana gulped nervously. She wasn't expecting to be discovered this soon, especially not by Aura; who spent the whole year far from the Tower and the other Masters.
"Don't worry," Aura tried to reassure her. "I'm also worried about what Xaladir could be planning. But, unlike with the First Master, I do not have any loyalty towards him. By requesting a meeting, I can guess that your intentions were to know if I would help you; or even cooperate with the other Masters against you. And my answer is yes, to both of them."
Shana could feel how Valkyrie urged her to be wary; but she couldn't feel any kind of animosity from the older Master. "Why is that so?" Shana asked. "Why are you so loyal to the First Master?"
"Because Isaac, as every other First Master, is the last descendant alive from Merlin," Aura confessed, much to Shana's astonishment. "Every other of the four spots can vary; they aren't subject to many laws. There are some, of course; as I've told you before, the Fourth Master has always been the recruiters; but for the others, there are not. It is true that the Second Master has always used to be a very powerful and capable wizard; just like Xaladir is. And in regards to the Fight Master, it is always preferred to be someone with special and rare talents; just like you."
She must have seen Shana's astonished face, because the older Master went on. "It's funny how we kept our secrets, isn't it? You have already been in the Order for almost five years, and yet, you know almost nothing about our ancient premises and laws. It is not your fault, though; along the years, there have been many masters who have died without knowing any of these things I am telling you right now."
"But...," Shana tried to speak. "How can Isaac be a descendant from Merlin? There was no evidence in whether he had descendants or not. Not even in the Great Library..."
"Those books which recorded that information were burned many centuries ago," Aura confessed. "But that belief of Merlin not having descendants might become true in the future."
"What?" Shana asked, very confused. "Why is that so? I..., I don't understand."
"As I'm sure you already know," Aura started to explain. "Isaac's greatest ambition is to be remembered by the entire Wizarding World, no matter how many years pass; his name must be on the history books. For that, he needs to accomplish something very big; and just when he makes it, he will announce to the world who his ancestors were. But that isn't his whole plan. When everything is said and done, he plans to live as the First Master until he dies, with no descendants; that way, his lineage would die with him, and he will be remembered as the last wizard from Merlin's lineage."
"But..., I don't understand something," Shana muttered. "If you are obligated to protect the Merlin's descendants; why are you fine with their bloodline getting extinguished?"
"I have, no matter what, to protect the heir holding the First Master title," Aura answered. "My only obligation towards the Order is to protect him in the present; only time will tell how the future fares. If Isaac wants to go down like that, drowning in glory and recognition, I will help him; and then, when the sacred lineage is over, I will finally be free to do as I judge as correct."
Among all the answers I could have received, that definitely wasn't the one I was expecting. Many of her doubts from many years ago had been answered today, which meant that she had many more new questions. "I see," she started. "But..., why are you telling me this?"
Aura smiled at her softly. "Because I don't wish you to die early, girl," the older Master told her."I like you a lot; you've been a breeze of fresh air to this old Order, in many ways you may not imagine. I just want you to stay out of things that are way beyond you. Please, do not meddle with Isaac and Xaladir. If you go after the first one, I might have to kill you in the near future; and if you go after the second..., well, only Magic itself might know what is inside that man's head."
So this is it? Is she really telling me to give up and look the other way? Shana let out a humourless laugh. "Well, at least you have probably been the first Master to tell me some truths," she said. "Thank you for your sincerity, I guess. But, I have another question for you; maybe the one I want to know the answer to the most."
Aura sighed, but she signalled her to take a seat. "You want to know about your selection, right?" She guessed while pouring Shana a cup of fresh wine. "Like I've told you before, even though there isn't any law, the Fifth Master usually is someone with special talents or skills. In the case there is no one apt for that premise, a wizard of remarkable talent is chosen to take the spot; just like Rhoblas was before you; and just like Elend Shawn was also supposed to be."
"So you are basically telling me that you used Rhoblas as a 'reserve' until someone who met the requirements, who happened to be me, appeared." Shana deducted.
"Yes," Aura answered. "As soon as I tracked you, Isaac decided to… get rid of Rhoblas. You were one of the best candidates for the Fifth Master spot in a very long time; not only because of your allomancy, but for that talent of yours to control magic and to shape it into illusions."
"You actually were more interested in my illusions than in my allomancy?" Shana asked, a bit surprised.
"Yeah; allomancy, despite being a very rare skill, isn't that unheard of," Aura told her. "The real reason why it is that rare, is because almost all the wizarding population has forgotten it exists. I can assure you that there are many more allomancers out there than what you imagine. It is just that they don't know about it either."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Aura nodded. "In fact, allomancers have always been the perfect candidates to take the role if there weren't any better candidates; mainly because, even though an allomantic core can be generated randomly when a new wizard is born, it has a very important genetic component. That way, it is very easy for me to track them down."
Wow, I didn't know that... That feeling of resignation Shana was feeling after hearing Aura's confession was almost gone, especially now that she was learning many new things. "Is there any kind of relationship among those families?" She asked.
"Yes, there are some very important factors," Aura answered. "Those families are the descendants from the Ancient Wizards, especially the lineages which come from the Alazthi bloodlines; who were the main users of the metals to conduct magic. The great majority of those bloodlines are extinguished thanks to many wars in the past, but there are some which are still alive; like House Shawn, Larsson, Sakai, Lessard, and some others."
"Wow," Shana whistled. "That was a lot to take in. But thank you so much, Master Aura, you have helped me with many doubts I have been carrying for so long."
"It was nothing," she smiled in response. "To be honest, I've been waiting to have some idle chat with anyone for so long. Fulfilling your duty for the whole year without rest can be very overwhelming sometimes. But, I want something in exchange for all that information I just shared with you."
"What would that be?" Shana asked, even though she had a pretty good idea of what her requirement was going to be.
"I want you to stop meddling with Isaac and Xaladir projects," Aura said, way more serious now. "Enjoy your life, girl. Travel around the world; study about anything you would like to; meet someone and make a family..., whatever you want. But please, don't make me have to kill you; because when the moment comes, if everything is on the line, I won't hesitate."
"I..., I'll think about it," Shana managed to spurt. "Thank you once again for sparing some of your precious time with you, Master Aura."
"It was nothing," she smiled once again. "Let me accompany you to your chambers."
"It is not necessary, Aura," the Japanese woman piped in. "We can do that for you. Just use the little time we have left here to rest."
"Do not worry, Hikari," Aura told her. "I am very well rested. Besides, the real reason for this is that I want to send Isaac a message. I want to show him that I'm taking care of our dear Shana here; and for that, I need everyone to see me walking with her."
Those words had been said with a very soft and kind voice, but Shana was clever enough to appreciate the last warning on them. "Thank you once again." She played along.
The masked figure opened the door for them, and led the way towards Shana's chambers. Meanwhile, the Japanese woman walked just at Aura's side, the both of them closing the company. "It has come to my eye that I've never seen you using your High Inquisitors, Shana," Aura started. "I can't help myself but to ask you about it."
"I just don't trust them," Shana plainly answered. "It is not that there is something wrong about them. I just don't like to trust in others."
"I think you are committing a grave mistake," she kept going. "The High Inquisitors are both your sworn swords and shields. They are members of Great, or Noble Houses that had been tied to our great Order for many centuries. I happen to be just like you; I hate trusting others. But both Hikari and Tiger here, have always been by my side no matter what; just like Hikari's mother was before her."
I know..., but I don't really like them, they are so creepy and serious with that mask of theirs... But then, the whole conversation with Aura came to her mind. All the not very subtle threats in the older Master's soft voice; her multiple warnings; and the way she talked about Shana and her plans, as if there was no way she could ever accomplish any of it. Something ignited inside of her, that familiar fire she had been missing for a few months, that feeling of being able to change the world. "It was about time for you to snap," Valkyrie smirked on her mind. "Welcome back, Shana."
Shana found herself smiling with confidence, not being aware of the subtle looks Aura was throwing at her from her back. And just like that, they were at her chamber's entrance. "Well, here we are," Aura started. "Please, think about everything I have told you today, Shana. I have to go once again; to fulfill my duty towards the Order. I hope we can meet once again in not very… violent situations, girl."
"Likewise, Master Aura," Shana answered with a little bow of her head. "Good luck on your search. I hope you can find very promising candidates."
Aura smiled at her for the last time, and then, she made her way towards her own chambers, escorted by her two Inquisitors at both of her sides. Shana stretched her arms a bit before coming into her room. There, her ever loyal butler, Henry, was waiting for her with some food on the table near the big and circular window, which was right in the middle of the south wall, allowing her to have an incredible view to the crystalline sea.
"Henry," Shana called him while sitting. "Call for the Snake and the Fox; I think it is about time for me to get familiar with my two High Inquisitors."
Ronald Weasley POV
Tuesday 26th December 1991 (Hogwarts) – Near midnight
"It has to be somewhere around here," Harry whispered, for the fourth time. "I know it; this was the route I took yesterday when running away from Filch."
Ron might have wanted to believe in him if it wasn't because he was almost freezing. How he had ended if this position was something he still didn't know.
Everything had started the moment Harry came at him with a serious and weird expression; then, his friend told him about the little adventure he had the previous night. It must have been an experience for sure. From sneaking into the library's forbidden section to search about Nicolas Flamel; to being pursued by Filch and Snape; and to finally ending up in some abandoned classroom, which happened to contain a mirror in which Harry claimed to have seen his parents.
Well, we better find it quick, because I'm bloody freezing here. Even though he would rather be in the warmness of his bed right now, Ron had to admit that walking through the empty corridors of the castle under the security of an invisibility cloak was a very exciting experience.
The redhead turned his head to look behind them, where Gerd was following them in her usual walking through the air mood. Even a being like her couldn't see them under the Cloak; but as the Essentia told him, she still could feel Ron's presence despite being invisible.
"It's here!" Harry announced when they reached some door.
The two of them pushed the door open. As soon as he stepped into the classroom, Harry ran towards the big mirror that was on the other end. "They are here!" He exclaimed. "Look at them all!"
"I..., I don't see anyone," Ron told him. "I only see you."
"Look at it properly. Go on, stand where I am."
Ron did as he said. But he didn't see anything but his reflection. I knew it..., this was just a waste of time- Then, an image started to form around him. After a few seconds, he wasn't alone anymore. His entire family, no, not only them, but also his friends were all there. They were all smiling at him, and his friends, even Harry, Daphne, and Blaise were looking at his reflection with some kind of admiration in their eyes. Lastly, another image started to form above them all. It was Gerd, but not the little spirit whom Ron was familiar with; she was the real Gerd, the one who showed him all those visions. The tall woman was also smiling at him, in a kindlier way than the others. "We did it, Ronald Weasley," she said. "We saved them all."
Ron was left totally speechless, and he didn't react in any way until Harry shook his shoulder for the third time. "Hey, are you okay?" He asked with a bit of concern in his voice. "You've done and said nothing for at least thirty seconds. Did you..., see my parents? Or did you see another thing?"
"I-I..., don't know what I saw," Ron tried to answer. "I was just there, all alone; and then, my whole family started to appear in the mirror..., I wasn't expecting that at all."
"Could it be that the mirror shows you the people you want to see the most?" Harry tried to guess.
"Maybe..., who knows?"
"I´m going to give it another look," Harry said. He stepped right in front of the mirror, but after some seconds he spoke once again. "Hey! What is happening? I can't see them!"
Ron got out of his absorption to look at his friend. What the hell is she doing? The reason why Harry couldn't see a thing was because Gerd was standing right in front of the mirror. But the mirror isn't supposed to see her..., right? But for whatever reason, Ron knew that Gerd was seeing herself in the mirror. After some seconds, her whole face changed; her usual relaxed expression was gone, and a shocked one was replacing it. Then, some ghostly tears started to fall from her eyes, dissolving the moment they left her face.
"This shouldn't be possible...," the Essentia muttered, completely shocked. "What is this thing?" While saying those words, she started to step back; her gaze not leaving the mirror for any second.
"They are back...," Harry almost whispered. "I can see them once again!"
What the hell is this thing..., I don't have a good feeling about it. A sudden noise out of the corridor got him out of his thoughts. It resembled a lot of some kind of paws scratching the wood. "Harry!" Ron exclaimed as quietly as he could. "We gotta move now!"
Ron grabbed the Cloak, and ran towards a distracted Harry, whose attention was split between the mirror and Ron. Seconds after that, they both were under the security of the Cloak. Suddenly, the door was opened by none other than Filch, who was accompanied by his loyal cat; Mrs Norris. "There is no one here," the janitor said. "But they must be near, my dear. Go get them."
"We have to get out of here," Harry said. "I'll drop you near the dungeons, and then, I'll make my way towards Gryffindor's tower, okay?"
"Sure, let's go before that oaf comes back."
The next day came; and Ron was still rattled by the events of the previous one. Not only by the nature of the mirror, or because of what he saw; but mostly because of Gerd's reaction. In fact, the Essentia was still missing. Ron had figured that she must have run in another direction when they all left that abandoned classroom, but he still was worried about her.
He wasn't feeling any studying or training for today; not when he had that many thoughts to process. Why did the mirror show me that? They were all here..., even my friends. And what Gerd said..., what is that mirror supposed to do?
A few hours later, at launch in the Great Hall, he was able to catch a glimpse of Harry's black hair from the Slytherin table. His friend also looked..., distracted to say the least. He was moving his fork without paying any attention to it. He sure is thinking about going back tonight. There is no way I'm stepping in front of that mirror once again.
Ron mentally groaned. He wasn't even going to bother to warn Harry against that idea; he knew that once something got into his friend's mind, he wouldn't stop until said thing was accomplished. Whatever, if he wants to do it, I'll let him be;it is his parents what we are talking about. Besides, I need to find Gerd this afternoon.
When he finished eating, Ron left in a rush. But after a few hours of wandering around the castle, Gerd was still nowhere to be seen. Come on, where the hell are you, Gerd. I've looked everywhere but..., oh come on, there is no way you've been there for the whole time. With a tired sigh, Ron made his way towards his favourite spot; which happened to also be Gerd's.
Due to her very small size, he needed to get very close to the tree; but there she was, looking to the Black Lake, just like they used to do after some session of training if they had time for it. "It took you more time than what I thought," she said without looking at him. "Most of the time, if you don't want to be found, you just need to be at the most evident place. People always forget that the easiest answer can also work for difficult questions."
"What did you see in the mirror?" Ron asked, taking a seat by her side and looking at the beautiful sunset. "It must have been quite the sight to scare you like that."
"It didn't scare me," she answered. "I just wasn't expecting for the mirror to be able to see me. That is a very powerful magical item, Ron. It doesn't recognise people, but their magical cores. That is my guess at least, otherwise, I don't see any other way for it to feel me."
"You still haven't answered my question."
"I saw myself, the real me, with my people from the past; and even with you and some others from the present. We were all..., alive, everyone but him."
"I also saw something very similar to that."
"I think that mirror is able to recreate your greatest desires," Gerd explained. "What would have happened if I hadn't failed many centuries ago; that friend of yours with his deceased parents; and what you probably saw was the future, with your whole family alive and well; am I wrong?"
"No, you got everything right," Ron sighed. "But then..., why did you run away like that? It's been almost an entire day. I just don't get it."
"Because that was a reality check for me," Gerd answered. "I needed time for myself to think about everything; and I have realised that I was not doing enough. You were the one putting all the effort day after day; not only in the training, but you even started to take your studies seriously, something I wouldn't have believed when I met you. In just four months, you have changed for the better, Ron, even if you haven't realised yet. While I just stood there; by just side, doing nothing."
"That's not true!" Ron interrupted her. "You've helped me a lot to understand how I could get better. Without you, I wouldn't even have survived the troll; Hermione and the rest would be dead!"
"But that is only the beginning of my duty towards you," she said. "I failed in the past, and for that, you were bestowed this heavy burden. I can do way more than what I am doing now, and I will start from now on," she stopped for a moment to look at him with sheer determination in her eyes. "I will keep helping you with the training, of course. But our best weapon against what is coming is our knowledge about the future. We managed to save your friends from the troll because we knew it was happening. The next step for us is to decipher the next vision."
"But..., the other vision was nothing but voices arguing between them; I didn't even recognise one of them. The only thing I caught was Harry's name."
"You remember it, right?"
"Of course," Ron answered. "I won't ever forget something like that. Besides, I followed your advice and I wrote everything down in some notebook."
"I advised you to do that?"
"Yes. Just after..., that thing; but you really weren't yourself for some hours."
"Good," Gerd approved. "Tomorrow, we will start a new game of chess; and we already know one of the enemy's first moves. It's just a matter of how we adapt to it..."
The next day...
"WAKE UP!" A woman's voice resounded in his ears. "We have loads of things to do today!"
Thankfully for her, Gerd was able to avoid the pillow that was coming at her at an incredible speed. "Merlin, woman," Ron cursed at her. "I know that you found your spirit yesterday; but I'm on holiday, and the alarm charm didn't even sound yet!"
"Like your brother Percy says; the early bird catches the worm," she nagged, with too much satisfaction in her voice for Ron's liking. "Come on! We need to think about what happened in that vision of yours!"
Suddenly, Ron felt something scratching his feet. He turned his head to look at the end of the bed, where Scabbers was screeching at him. "Oh shit," Ron cursed. "I completely forgot to feed you once again." With a loud yawn and a very exaggerated stretching, Ron finally got out of the bed; then, he walked towards his trunk and looked for his pet's food. "There you have," the redhead said to the old rat after filling its bowl. "Try not to eat my socks next time, will you?"
"Come on, get dressed," Gerd almost ordered. "I need you to have your breakfast so you can think like a proper human being."
"Merlin, woman, you are going to give me a headache."
After a very nutritious breakfast; which included bacon, eggs and more wonderful things, Ron found himself back in his bedroom, ready to get serious. I doubt we can get anything from the vision; there was nothing but voices rambling... But he wasn't going to be the one to say that aloud, especially since Gerd's mood was at an all time high. "Well, let's start," the Essentia clapped his hands to catch his attention. "Do you remember how many voices were there?"
"Mmh..., if I remember correctly, there were only two," Ron told her. "The first one sounded completely terrified from the other, and it was the one to mention Harry's name, along with that other Remus guy; whom I don't have any idea of who he is. Then, the second sounded way more..., enraged, probably because the first voice was blaming him for the death of Harry's parents. He also said something about being imprisoned in Azkaban for thirteen years; and it seemed like it had something to do with some Peter guy."
"This is going to be harder than what I expected," Gerd sighed. "I didn't remember all the details, but..., I was hoping for some more clues."
"I kinda have an idea," the redhead started. "I've been thinking about it since yesterday. We can suppose that this event is going to take place sometime in the future, so we may don't know the exact date, but we know that Harry's parents died ten years ago. That night was the one in which Harry defeated You-Know-Who, so there-"
"That means that we can find information about those people in modern history's books!" The Essentia cut him. "And if that guy's imprisonment had something to do with that event, it must also be something about it! We just need some real clue to connect all the dots! That is a great idea, Ron!"
"Wow, you just needed some seconds to guess everything," Ron muttered. "And it bloody took me two entire hours to come to that conclusion..."
The Essentia looked at him with a sour look, and then, much to Ron's surprise, smacked him on the back of his neck. "I've told you many times," she nagged. "You really have a problem with your self-esteem. This was your plan; it doesn't matter that I understood it very quickly. If you hadn't told me about it, we would still be trying to figure something out. So you better start giving yourself some credit; because if you don't, I'll make sure to smack some of it into you."
"Ouch," Ron complained, even though he was a bit embarrassed for the woman's words. "You didn't have to smack me like that! I always forget that you can touch things. But..., thanks..., I guess."
"Don't thank me. Just listen to my wise words for once, trust me, it will do you a lot of good."
A few hours later...
"Do you have anything?" Gerd asked for the tenth time.
"Nothing yet; but you know what? You could try to read a bit faster."
"What are you talking about? I read fast enough; faster than you in fact. It is just that those pages are too heavy for me."
Ron groaned in exasperation and boredom. They both were very enthusiastic at the first part of their research; but now, after almost three hours later, they were starting to get a bit exasperated. Thanks to the holidays, there wasn't anybody but them in the library, so Ron could get some books for Gerd to read; the only problem was that the Essentia had lots of trouble passing the pages. Come on, there has to be something here...
But just when Ron was starting to lose his patience, he found some newspaper's clipping that caught his eye. 'Sirius Black: The man who betrayed his best friend; by Rita Skeeter; the extract said.' "Wait, Gerd," Ron called her. "I might have found something interesting." The Essentia was quick to perch on his shoulder like she always did, both of them looking at the book with avid eyes.
It was no secret that a group of infamous troublemakers known as 'The Marauders' sowed chaos during their years in Hogwarts. What we would have never expected was for one of them to betray his best friend; but maybe it was our fault for letting our guard down; after all, what could we have expected for the heir of a House as vile as the Blacks are?
I couldn't believe it when I first heard about it; but deep inside me, there was a voice telling me that it was obvious. Soon enough, I found myself with the need of providing the people more information about this criminal by the name of Sirius Black.
"He's always been a cruel bully and a womanizer," an anonymous, but good samaritan, confessed.
"I always knew that he was rotten inside," some fellow classmate of his told us.
"The biggest surprise was how long it took for him to get in prison," some distant cousin of his told us.
All these and many more anonymous confessions allow us to see how vile of a man Sirius Black was. But not everything is about him; after all, when the true villains show up, is also when the heroes confront them.
Today, we are talking about the brave and fair Peter Pettigrew; one of the other members of 'The Marauders' who met a tragic end.
"Gerd...," Ron muttered. "Did you read that? I-it says Peter, just as the voice in the vision did."
"Keep reading."
Peter was a very kind and friendly student, who had the bad fortune of being sorted in the same House as Sirius Black. Multiple witnesses from their school's years have told us how poor Peter was often humiliated by the one who was supposed to be his friend, even to a point in which our brave hero grew up afraid of him.
Despite everything we have told, that didn't stop Peter from confronting the cruel murderer at some alley in a muggle's village. Sadly, he never stood a chance against a renowned Death Eater like Sirius Black was.
The confrontation ended with Sirius Black blowing up the entire alley, resulting in the death of twelve muggles and our brave hero, being one of his fingers, his sole remains.
"Wow," Ron said after reading the whole extract. "Do you think that Harry knows about this?"
"Don't think so," Gerd answered. "But right now, that is not of my concern. This is pure gold, Ron; we might have found this Peter the voice was talking to."
"But..., that can't be possible..., right?" Ron asked; he was starting to feel dizzy. What is this whole thing? This can't be possible..., those people are supposed to be dead or imprisoned. "G-Gerd, what is going on?"
"Breathe," the Essentia told him with a serious voice. "I don't know what this whole thing means; but no matter what the common belief about the incident we just read is, we need to trust the Great Sight and the vision it bestowed to us," she left her spot on his shoulders to walk through the air just in front of Ron. "There is something going on here. These two persons, Peter Pettigrew and Sirius Black, are very important for our mission."
"Grab that newspaper's extract," she kept going. "We are going back to your room. I need to think about all the possibilities; and you need some time to clear your mind."
Even though the walk back to the Slytherin common room was not short, Ron didn't even notice the moment he stepped into the familiar place. His mind still felt heavy because of everything he had found not even twenty minutes ago. Why is this happening? Who are those people and why are they that important? Fortunately for him, Gerd had just assumed command of the situation without any words. She was the one who suggested coming back to Ron's bedroom; and the Essentia, who was walking in front of him, also seemed to be lost in her thoughts. The difference between them was that she didn't seem to be scared. Gerd just looked like a predator looking for his prey.
Gerdnyaram POV
What could have really happened that day... Seeing that alternative reality of what her life could have been if she hadn't failed on her mission had definitely woke her up. Since the day in which her real self showed the boy everything, Gerd had limited herself to train him as best as they both could; but since the boy was still so young, there was nothing she could do to accelerate things.
But that had to change, and it would start with her deciphering the next blessing bestowed by the True Sight. We know that whoever this Peter is, he has managed to trick the whole society with his false death. But who he was, and what his role in the future will be, is what really concerns me.
Ron's light snores distracted her for a second, but she couldn't help but to smile at the sleeping boy. Since she no longer had the need of sleeping or eating, Gerd often forgot that the boy had many limits. Despite that, and of his young age, the Essentia couldn't be prouder of him. Rest now, my boy. Let me handle this. But no matter how many times she analysed all the different possibilities, she still got nothing useful. I just need one more important clue..., there are still too many blank spaces in this whole thing.
The newspaper clipping lied on the bedroom's floor, just where Ron had dropped it by accident before falling asleep. I've read it a hundred times at least..., but…, I should give it another read; maybe there is something about this Peter man that I have overlooked. Gerd descended until she was right above the extract, and she started her hundredth and one read. Yeah, I already know this, and also that; maybe there is something at the end..., eh, what are you doing you stupid rat? Don't you see that I'm reading! Get out of my way!
Gerd's luck was so bad, that Ron's stupid and useless pet had decided to literally step on the extract, obscuring her way from it. She wanted to kill the rat right now, but the most reasonable part of her knew that animals like this one were simple and stupid; and they couldn't help but to be attracted to unusual and noteworthy things. Wait..., is he? Eh, don't do that! Don't bite the extract you stupid ball of uselessness!
Gerd descended quickly towards the rat with the intention of kicking him away as best as she could, but just when she was in front of the rat, the Essentia saw something that froze her. The animal was on a frenzy of biting and scratching the piece of paper, tearing it apart. But what really shocked her, was the rat's eyes. Wait..., is he actually..., looking terrified? But that would mean.. .that he can understand what the paper says... As soon as the trembling animal finished, he tried to disperse the many different pieces of torn up paper; and then, with a heavy breathing, he lay on the floor, completely exhausted.
What the hell has just happened? This rat is..., wait..., is he missing..., a finger? With a cold calm, Gerd walked towards the exhausted animal, just to stand there, looking at his missing finger from his left paw. She started to laugh maniacally at the situation she had just found; but she was quick to shut it down after some moments. This could be a coincidence, or you are overreacting; don't commit the same mistakes once again, Gerdnyaram. This time, you will do things as they should be done, there's no room for mistakes now.
Gerdnyaram sent one final look to the now asleep rat, a shady smile starting to form in her face. Oh, you wait there sleeping. If you are who I think you are, I'm going to get you. You better enjoy your last moments of sleep..., Peter Pettigrew.
Ronald Weasley POV
Mmh..., why can't I feel my arm?Ron thought as he opened his eyes. Oh, I must have fallen asleep on my arm, bloody hell, I can't move it. The redhead started to move it with his other arm, trying to wake it up as best as he could. "It was about time," Gerd's voice came from above. She was standing in the middle of the room, looking at him with a raised brow. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to wake up my arm;you wouldn't understand it."
"Right," she said as she got closer to him. "By the way, I know where Peter Pettigrew is hiding right now."
"Oh, you know?" Ron asked her, without giving it much importance thanks to his still sleepy brain. "That's great. Where is he?"
"In this room."
Ron's head snapped almost instantly to look at her, now way more awake. "You are kidding me, right?" He asked with an incredulous voice. "You've been at it for many hours and you are starting to lose your head, yeah, that must be it."
"You are taking it way better than I expected," she commented. "But no, I'm not losing my head. In fact, it's been ages since it was this well. I have already planned something to see if my theory is correct, but I'm going to need your help; and that includes a bit of acting."
"W-What are you talking about?" Ron asked. "You ain't making any sense, Gerd. I still don't know what you are talking about. How can Peter be in this room? What is he supposed to be, furniture?"
"My theory is that Peter Pettigrew is an animagus. To be more exact, he is your rat."
"What the fuck are y-"
"Shhh," she shushed him. "Don't shout. I know this is a bit shocking, but I have given it many thoughts; and all the clues and information we have point to that."
"Nah, you've definitely gone mad."
"Are you sure about that?" The Essentia questioned. "For how many years has this pet lived with your family?"
"Well..., I don't exactly know, but maybe around..., ten years?"
"Oh, the first coincidence, isn't it funny? I'm not an expert of rodent's biology, but there are many years to live this well. On top of that, since the first time I saw him, almost three years ago, he hasn't changed a bit."
"As if that was enough evidence," Ron shrugged it off, even though his heart was starting to beat faster. "All he does is eat and sleep, it's normal that he is still healthy enough."
"Oh, maybe you are right. If all he does is eat and sleep, then, how did he hurt his left paw? You know..., the one with a missing finger," she kept going. "Oh, maybe he never hurt it to start with; maybe when you adopted him, he already had that. Second coincidence, aren't we a lucky pair?"
"That's not enough evidenc-"
"Why don't you look at your feet, Ron?" She said, pointing with his finger at the room's floor. "Maybe, you will find something funny."
Ron did as she told him, and what he found was the newspaper's clipping completely torn apart, at least a hundred pieces of paper all over the floor. And on top of them, Scabbers lied peacefully. "Poor animal," Gerd commented in a mocking tone. "He was left so exhausted after playing with our piece of paper. I wonder what could have been so noteworthy of it to call his attention that much."
Ron cleaned his cold sweat from his forehead with the sleeve of his robes. This is pure madness... Gerd has definitely lost her head. "Listen to me, Ron," the Essentia almost begged. "I know that it is hard to believe; hell, I could even be wrong about this, but I've spent an entire hour thinking about all the possible outcomes. It could be that I'm getting too paranoid; but I think my theory is right. Like I have already told you, I have a plan. If it turns out that your rat isn't an animagus, then nothing will happen; but if it turns out that I was right, then, we will be one step closer to achieve what the True Sight wants us to do."
Their eyes met for an eternal instant, and then, Ron felt how something stirred inside of him, like a weak fire inciting him to act. If Scabbers had been an animagus for the entire time, then he had to pay. Okay, Gerd. We'll do things your way this time. I trust you with this whole mess... "Okay," Ron told her. "I trust you. What do you have in mind?"
"Oh, that is what I wanted to hear," she smiled with a dark look on her face. "We are going to use that magic mirror you showed me..."
"Oh, come on Scabbers," Ron groaned as casually as he could, just as he grabbed the animal with his left hand. "Why did you bite my clipping off like that? I needed it for my History of Magic class!" Even though he was cold sweating, and as tense as he has ever been, Ron could appreciate how something shifted in the rat's eyes. For a moment..., he looked terrified... bloody hell..., t-this can't be possible...
"I guess this is my bad thanks for forgetting to feed you once again," the redhead sighed as he fed the rat with some treats. "I have good news; Percy told me that he wanted to see you! He sure acts so uptight with his new owl all the time, but I knew he was going to miss you a bit. That prick wants everything for himself!" Ron couldn't do anything but to hope for the rat to buy his acting, but much to his relief, Scabbers just looked at him with a tilted head, as if he was questioning the sanity of his owner for talking to an animal. Could it be that my mind is playing with me? Maybe that shifting in his eyes was nothing but my imagination...
With heavy steps, and a rat in his robe's pockets, Ron got out of the Slytherin common room and marched towards the abandoned classroom in which the magic mirror was located. Due to almost all the students being out of the castle, he found no one in his way, which only made his mind to ponder more and more about Gerd's plan.
"The mirror?" Ron asked with confusion. "I don't understand..., how are we going to use it?"
"Remember when I told you about how I thought the mirror worked?" Gerd asked. "My theory is that the mirror doesn't recognise people as they are; because if it worked like that, it wouldn't have been able to see me. I think it reacts to magic cores, something that most animals' races don't have; especially those as simple as rodents. So if it turns out Scabbers really is an animagus..."
Ron shook his mind and focused on his task. There was no room to be distracted right now. Step after step he got closer to his destination, just as the sweating and the heartbeat increased. "Percy! I'm here!" He exclaimed as he pushed the door open. "I brought Scabbers with me!" Ron acted as if he was really expecting for his brother to be there. "Percy? Bloody hell, I'm sure he will come later, apologising due to his prefect's duty... He'll never change."
Ron yawned and walked casually towards the mirror. Scabbers on his right hand, and on his left, some bag of treats. "Oh, shit!" He exclaimed as the bag of sweets hit the floor. Just as Gerd had predicted, the rat jumped from his hand to his unexpected feast. "Wait, Scabbers! Don't eat them all!" He said as he stepped back, his eyes never leaving the unsuspecting animal.
If it wasn't for the eating sounds, the room would have been in complete silence. But then, all the sounds suddenly stopped. Scabbers was looking at the mirror. "I knew it...," Gerd said with a dark voice from atop of his head. "The True Sight is always right." She glided until she positioned right at the rat's face, looking at him with a murderous look.
Then, Scabbers started to screech loudly, moving away from the mirror in a frantic way, just to crawl back some instant after that. He leaned on his back paws and tried to touch the mirror as best as he could. A cold fear started to envelop Ron. "No..., it can't be...," the words left his mouth. "This can't be happening..."
Scabbers then turned to look at him, maybe realizing in what position he was. Both animal and wizard stood there, their gazes meeting. But Ron was the first one to break the contact. "Y-You just saw your reflection, right Scabbers?" Ron asked as best as he could.
The only answer he got was more silence, which was broken after some seconds with a loud screech from the rat, who started to run towards the open door. "Ron!" Gerd shouted, flying after the escaping rodent. "Don't let fear control you! He must not escape!"
The redhead tried to move, but his legs weren't answering anymore. He kneeled on the floor, completely paralyzed, but then, out of a sudden, that familiar fire was ignited inside him, just as it was not long ago, back in his room. He can't get away... Not after using us for all these years. With a loud grunt Ron started to run after the rat, who was almost at the end of the corridor. Shit..., he's too fast. I can't catch him.
"You won't escape from me!" Gerd roared. The next second, she transformed into an ethereal blue eagle, and with a furious wingbeat she moved forward incredibly fast, leaving a blue trail of light particles with each flapping. Just before Scabbers could turn the corridor's corner, Gerd dived in front of him from above, now transforming back into a woman. The Essentia opened her arms, and with a loud shout, she clapped her hands, summoning a weak streak of winds which were powerful enough to send Scabbers tumbling back.
"Now is your turn, Ron!" She shouted. "Incapacitate him!"
The redhead drew his wand from his robes, and with a last look to his former pet, he sent a knockback jinx to the rat. As soon as the blue light made contact, it sent Scabbers flying into the wall. "We..., we did it," Ron said between ragged breaths. "What the hell was that, Gerd? I've never seen you doing something like that."
"Because I never felt the need," she plainly answered. "Even if what is left of me is nothing but what little remains from my magical core, it doesn't mean I'm completely useless. It just pains me to see how much I've fallen..., this simple action has left me completely exhausted. On top of that, I become completely visible to everyone the second I perform any kind of magic when it is not related to you. That is both the inconvenience and the advantage of our link."
"Speak for yourself," Ron complained. "That was bloody amazing. Much better than whatever I can do," the redhead then looked at the unconscious rat. "What..., what do we do now with him?"
The Essentia flew back to her spot on Ron's shoulder, just to look at him eye to eye. "Now, we carry out the second part of my plan. You already know what to say and do. I'll keep watch on him."
Ron knocked once again at the door which led to the Headmaster's office. "What is the password?" The stone gargoyle asked for the sixth time with a bored voice. Bloody statue..., I don't have time for you, each second I lose here could mean everything. Even though I think Scabbers can't escape from Gerd, not after what she just did.
"Mr Weasley!" Someone exclaimed. "What do you think you are doing? Five points from Slytherin for disruption of the order."
Come on..., not now. Wait..., maybe this is not that bad. Ron turned to look at a scowling Professor McGonagall, who was walking towards him with a stern look in her eyes. "The Headmaster doesn't need any kind of disruption on the little free time he has. Please, go back to your common room right now."
"Professor McGonagall! I need to see the Headmaster now," Ron begged. "It's urgent!"
Just when she was about to answer, the big door was opened, revealing the circular staircase. "He must have heard us," the Professor sighed. "Come on, Mr Weasley, come inside with me. That reason of yours better be important; otherwise, I will take another ten points from Slytherin."
Merlin..., Professor Snape is going to kill me when he finds out. The both of them stepped into the staircase, which started to move upwards. Once it stopped, the door in front of the was also opened, revealing a smiling Professor Dumbledore, who was sitting behind his desk with some kind of sweets on it. "Minerva, Ronald, come on, get inside," he welcomed. "What a wonderful surprise! I couldn't help myself but to hear your conversation, and soon enough, I felt the need to know what those urgent reasons of yours were, Mr Weasley.
Come on, Ron. Just do it. It's time to drop the bomb. He took a long gulp of air, and with his most serious voice, he said: "M-My rat is a w-wizard," the redhead ended up announcing with a shaky voice. "Y-You have t-to believe me..., please."
None of the adults made a move nor talked, but the Headmaster was no longer smiling. "What makes you say that?" The Great Sorcerer asked very seriously.
"B-Because I saw him transforming..."
The Headmaster just looked at Ron for a moment, and then, he stood up. "Minerva, accompany us," he said. "Mr Weasley, I will need you to tell me everything right now. You can start."
"W-Well, I was in my bedroom reading some book about transfiguration," Ron began his lie. "The thing is that..., Scabbers suddenly started to scratch at the door..., like he was in pain or something. I got scared, so I opened the door for a moment. He started to run very fast..., I didn't know what to do, so I ran after him. After some minutes, he managed to lose me, but then..., I-I heard some strange noises coming from a classroom. I didn't know if I wanted to come in or not, but in the end, I drew my wand and got it..., that's when I found some very shady man, acting as if he was a rat. I got so scared that..., well, I acted without thinking and cursed him..., I think I knocked him out..., and I also trapped him in the classroom before coming here."
Professor McGonagall gasped loudly, but the Headmaster kept the composure. "You didn't actually see him transforming, didn't you?"
"N-No..., but it has to be him, right? I mean, why would a man like that be at Hogwarts?"
"I was just discarding options," the Headmaster almost muttered. "Minerva, Ronald, grab my arms."
Ron didn't know why the Headmaster wanted them to do that, but after seeing how fast Professor McGonagall had obeyed him, the redhead imitated her. As soon as the world started to spin, he understood it. Despite knowing what was going to happen, that didn't prevent him from landing with his arse in the cold floor of the mirror's classroom. Come on, Gerd, I've done my part, this plan of yours better work...
With the corner of his eye, Ron saw some kind of subtle blue flash of light from the end of the classroom, just as the same moment as the Headmaster waved his wand towards it. One second and a loud screech after that, Scabbers was on Dumbledore's hand, trying to bite his way frantically.
"Minerva, I need you to bring Severus here," the Headmaster said, not averting his gaze from the rat for an instant. "Tell him to bring some Veritaserum with him."
She did as she was told with no questions, and suddenly Ron found himself alone with Albus Dumbledore and Scabbers in the same room. "For ten entire years, there was some matter that was always at the back of my head," the Headmaster started. "Today, I might finally be able to lift a heavy burden from my mind. I must say that I didn't expect you to be an animagus; I knew that both Sirius and James were, of course; after all, I saw them in battle. Underestimating you has always been a mistake of ours; a grave one I must say. Leaving only a finger behind you was a clever idea, Peter; shame that life always comes back at you, no matter what you do. "
After that, Scabbers started to levitate, completely frozen midair. The Headmaster pointed his wand at the rat, and after some weak flash that came from the animal's body, it started to change. With a loud thud, the body of a small man fell to the floor, and soon enough, he was crawling back with sheer terror written on his face. "Hello, Peter," Albus Dumbledore greeted with a dark voice. "It's been ten long years, isn't it?"
"H-Headmaster...," the man tried to say. "I-I can e-explain it. Please, y-you have to listen."
Behind them, the door was opened in a very violent way. The two Professors came into the classroom, and as soon as they saw the man, they turned as white as marble. "Albus...," the head of the lions' house muttered. "What is happening? This man can't be..."
"I'm afraid it is," Dumbledore answered. "Minerva, do me a favour and take young Ronald with you. There is no need for him to witness this."
Just as Gerd predicted... Ron felt McGonagall's hand on his shoulder, her voice telling him to leave the room with her. He obeyed her, but before coming out of the room, he sent a look to Gerd, who was observing everything from atop of the mirror. I've done my part, Gerd. Now is your turn...
2 Hours later...
Ron tapped his foot against the floor in a frenzy as the nerves consumed him. What the hell are they doing..., they should have finished by now; whatever is it they are doing. The redhead turned his head as soon as he heard the door opening; the Headmaster came into the room with his habitual kind smile back on his face. "Quite an eventful day today, isn't it?" He started. "I was just hoping for a relaxing day with a hot mug of tea on my hands, but it seemed that life didn't want me to enjoy the day."
"H-Headmaster," Ron muttered. "What has happened? Who..., was that man?"
Albus Dumbledore took a seat in front of him, at Professor McGonagall's desk. "That is the reason why I'm here, Ronald. We need to talk about this matter. I know that you will have many doubts; and I will try to answer as many as I can, but if you want to protect yourself and your family, there are going to be many things we'll have to discuss."
"Protection?" Ron asked. "I don't understand..., why does my family need protection?"
"Let me tell you a story, Ronald," the old sorcerer said. "That man you saw is known as Peter Pettigrew, and he was believed to be dead for many years. What you really need to know is that Peter was associated with Voldemort's followers before his false death; as you might be thinking right now, this is a very delicate matter which we should treat with utmost care. The whole society will be shaken after this news comes out."
"B-But..., I still don't understand what it has to do with my family needing protection..."
"Firstly, I would like to protect your family from the press and the people's inquiries," the Headmaster explained. "And second, but not least important; I need to protect your family from those who still long for those dark times to come back once again."
Merlin.. This is way more serious than I expected. Does my family reallyneed protection? What have I done... "I see...," Ron said with a trembling voice. "Tell me what I must do, please."
"Don't worry, Ronald; there isn't much you need to do," he smiled. "I will tell Arthur and Molly the whole situation; whether they decide to tell it to the rest of your brothers is their decision. Now, to the world and the press; we will tell them some parts of the truth. The official version will be that Peter was an unregistered animagus, and we discovered him after Professor McGonagall used him to prepare one of her classes about human transfiguration. The world will know that he was hiding at Hogwarts, but the Weasley family won't have any type of association with it."
"This event will bring many consequences," the Headmaster went on. "Justice will finally be done after many years; but this will also shake our society. Nevertheless, you don't have to worry about any of it; you will just have to live as if nothing had happened. I've sent Severus to Diagon Alley; he will buy you another rat just like Scabbers was; we don't need any of your brothers suspecting anything."
"What about..., that man? The one who was Scabbers..."
"The only thing you need to know right now is that his name is Peter Pettigrew," the old wizard answered. "He has already been put into Auror's custody. And soon enough, he will be judged under the Wizengamot's jurisdiction," the Headmaster paused for a moment to smile at him. "You might not know about it yet, but today, you have helped to make justice; a man who was wrongly imprisoned will finally be free."
Ron nodded at that, but he couldn't really care about it right now. This whole mess had turned out to be way more dangerous that both he and Gerd suspected, and after everything the Headmaster told him, he didn't know if it was a good idea to act against this Peter Pettigrew guy. The man who was wrongly imprisoned must be that other man..., Sirius Black was his name if I remember correctly. Merlin..., what a bloody mess.
Just when he got to the dungeons, he saw Gerd's little figure coming at him. "There you are," she greeted. "What took you that long?"
"I don't know; you tell me," Ron answered, tiredly. "I was at McGonagall's office for two entire hours. Not knowing what was happening outside."
"Really?" Gerd asked, raising a brow. "The interrogation was rather short; it didn't take longer than fifteen minutes. The only thing I learnt was that Peter Pettigrew was a traitor in the war. His acts condemned one of his best friends to death; and another one to be wrongly imprisoned. The later one has a name, and it is Sirius Black, the other name mentioned in the vision."
"What? That is all? There is no way we've made this huge mess just to know those two things!"
"Relax," the Essentia chastised. "I do not know what we have done; neither what could have been provoked in the future. But the True Sight wanted us to deploy those two pieces on the table, and that is exactly what we needed to do. Maybe, the liberation of Sirius Black was an important event which needed to happen; or maybe, we stopped Peter Pettigrew from hurting us before he could act. Whatever it is, I don't know. But don't ponder too much about it; it is the worst you can do, trust me. Only time will tell; and our duty is to be there if we want to know the answers."
Ron, very frustrated, punched the wall in front of him. He regretted it as soon as the pain came, even though it helped him to distract his mind from all the chaos he was experiencing. "We acted recklessly today, Gerd," he almost whispered. "We got that bastard who was fucking impersonating a bloody rat; but that was all we were worrying about. We were lucky that the Headmaster was quick enough to think of a plan to fix the mess we caused. My family..., they could have been in danger; and all because we acted without thinking about the consequences of our acts..."
"We played our cards right, Ron," Gerd corrected him. "My plan was not only meant to catch that man; it is true that I took far too many risks with it, but I knew that there were two possible outcomes from this. Firstly; if this imposter wasn't much of a threat, then we would not have to worry much about him. And secondly; if this man was a danger to us and the people, like he turned out to be, then Albus Dumbledore would have been obligated to act. I have known people like him; they like to have everything under their control, especially situations as grave as this one. I bet everything on him, on your hero; and I must say that he exceeded my expectations."
She is acting so different to her usual self, could it be that..., she usually puts up an act? Ron looked at her eye to eye, the Essentia raised a brow, but she didn't break the contact. "I'm so tired...," Ron sighed, breaking the contract. "This was quite an eventful day, wasn't it? I feel like I could sleep for two straight days."
"You were incredible today, Ron," she told him with a soft smile on her face, similar to the one she used to have every day. "I know it was difficult for you, but you can count on me for these types of situations. Even if I will always think that we must follow what the True Sight shows us..., I want you to know that I will never act if that means you or your family getting hurt. I promise."
"I know, Gerd. It is just that today..., has been a long and scary day. I feel so overwhelmed right now," Ron confessed. "I don't really want to think about anything at all right now."
Gerd smiled reassuringly at him, and with a spectacular acrobatic, she positioned herself right in front of his face. "What's with that long face? Come on! Smile! Your bed is waiting for you!"
Yeah, it's true..., I have a wonderful bed waiting for me, and no one to disturb me... I think both training and Nicolas Flamel can wait for a few days...
Albus Dumbledore POV
27th December 1991 (Headmaster's Office, Hogwarts) – Past midnight
"Thank you for sparing some of your time for this, Amelia," Albus greeted. "I know this day turned out to be quite eventful, but I wanted to inform you about everything in person; someone of your importance hearing everything from Cornelius's would be a disrespect."
"You dare talk about disrespect after basically doing everything on your own," Amelia said with a sour voice. "I get the situation asked you to act instantly; I can certainly tolerate you ordering my Aurors around, but I need to know what this plan of yours is all about, Dumbledore."
Ah, how I wished for Cornelius to have at least a tenth of your character... Not long after finishing her daily duties at the Ministry, Amelia Bones had practically stormed through the floo into his office; not that Albus was expecting less from her, of course. After all, the events of the present day would require complete cooperation between them. "I apologise for that once again," he smiled. "But I regret nothing; I would act the same if the situation was to be repeated."
"I see. What really happened, Albus?" She asked. "I already know the version you are planning to tell the press, but I want to know the truth."
"Peter has been hiding among a pureblood family all this time," Albus confessed. "He was an unregistered animagus; thanks to that, after his stunt at Godric's Hollow, he went into hiding. Months after that, the Weasleys adopted him as a pet for one of his sons. As you must surely know, it doesn't matter how skilled the wizard is; every animagus can only be in their second form for a limited time. From what the young Weasley has told me, and from my own conjectures, I would say that thanks to the holidays, the boy was spending more time in his bedroom than what he used to; which didn't allow Peter to fully regain his energy."
"The thing is that when he saw himself at the limit, he tried to break out," Albus went on. "The boy, more scared and worried than anything, followed his pet. Having the fortune of finding him in some classroom, with his human form fully regained. Thankfully, he was very quick witted and managed to hex him before Peter could do anything."
"Which one of the six Weasley boys was the one?" Amelia asked.
"I'm sorry, but I can't answer that. I want to shield his identity as much as I can. The only thing that matters right now is we have Peter under custody; feel free to have your Aurors ask him whatever they want. My interrogation was only meant for the most important matters."
"So that's what happened, eh?" Amelia sighed. "We have discovered one of the Dark Lord's most important followers just like that. I guess you want me to organise the Wizengamot, don't you?"
"Yes," Albus answered. "That is what I want; as soon as possible. But feel free to take as much time as you need with the interrogations and the bureaucracy. The most important thing right now is for Peter to be kept at Azkaban; and for Sirius Black to be freed immediately; we owe him rest from that hell while we organise the trial. It is the least we can do..."
"Don't worry, I wasn't planning on doing otherwise," she said while rubbing her eyes. "I'm afraid I have to go now, Albus; this whole thing is going to cause an uproar, and I want the Ministry to be ready for it. I'll put a grade two Auror in charge of our little imposter." With that, the woman stood up and left the office using the floo network.
"I expected her to question us more," Severus commented from the corner of the office. "We should be thankful that she is the one running things from the shadows; because if it was for Fudge, this country would be lost."
"You didn't look happy even though we caught Peter today," Albus pointed out.
"Why do you have to ask me if you already know the answer?"
"I'm sure that deep inside, there is some part of you that is relieved for Sirius to be freed," the old man smiled. "But let's not talk about that. I wanted to ask you about the young Ronald Weasley; he is quite promising from what I've heard."
"He isn't a complete doofus," the young professor said. "But he still lacks discipline; and I'm not even talking about that hot temperament of his."
"Those words can be considered quite the praise when coming from you, my friend," Albus said. "We've had some quite interesting events this year so far; I think it is about time for us to be more watchful, Severus. Things are happening right under our nose, and with this whole Peter incident, I'm afraid we will have to be more cautious of the future."