Unexpected Animagus, Part 10

Reaction of the British Changeling to the Introduction of New Species to His Habitat

Please Read and Review. I'd like to know what I'm doing right (to keep doing it), and what I am doing wrong (to correct it).

Hogwarts
DADA Teacher's Quarters

"It was easier than I would have thought." Sirius mused, looking through the mirror.

"Dumbledore seems to be very keen on keeping you out of Hogwarts, Black. And I can't help to wonder why, as he knows you are actually innocent." Moody scratched his chin stubble. "You should be teaching the kid what he needs to know to assume his duties when he reaches his majority."

"Now that you mention it… He always insists on sending Harry back to the Dursleys. Even though not only Harry, but also Hermione and the Weasley Twins have told him his life there is not, by any definition of the word, good."

"Yeah, they mentioned that. Things are very skeevy, Black. I don't like skeevy, it makes my eye socket itch right where I don't want to scratch it."

"An image I will try very hard to not picture, Moody, thank you very much." Sirius sighed, almost rolling his eyes.

"We are missing something. The key to Albus behaviour towards Harry."

"If you ask me, it's Control. With a capital C. He needs to Control Harry."

"Agreed, but, what for?"

"I don't know." Moody wiped his face with a cloth. "But one thing I know is this. We won't like it when we find out." He growled.

"I'd like to be the voice of reason here, but I happen to agree with you, Moody." Sirius shook his head. "Completely."

Moody exhaled violently, "You are learning, Black. Now, I'd rather go to sleep, Filius and I need to drop by to Diagon Alley tomorrow morning to buy some stuff for the new runic stones. Before classes, of course. Dumbledore wants me to have the Ward ready as soon as possible." He leaned towards the mirror, and a crooked gesture that pretended to be a grin tried to break free of the scar tissue around his mouth, with minimal success. Still, it managed to get the point across, "And we don't want to disappoint him, do we?" He tapped twice at what was left of his nose.

"Oh, no. Of course not. Only the best for Albus." Sirius did grin, and the gesture was no less chilly than Moody's. "Even though he has not contacted me for anything. I feel kinda slighted."

The former Auror leaned back on his seat. "Get over it. I'll make sure Junior sends a message to our buddy with the mangy tail. His Dark Majesty has to be kept informed of this kind of things, after all. And so does our pal in the dungeons, indirectly."

"Indeed they do." Sirius' eyes sparkled with anticipation. "Keeping their communications limited will be a great help. The rat will have to stay with Riddle most of the time. Hmm…" Sirius drummed his fingers on the desk at Puckle's farm. He was really considering staying there, even without the formidable protections at Grimmauld Place, but doing so would put the Grangers at risk, so he would simply enjoy his time. He shook his head, "Riddle must be in really bad shape. Junior hasn't seen him yet, has he?"

"No. Everything has been managed through Pettigrew, including the plan to get me out if the picture. Ah, I see where you are going. He is not only weak in body, but probably also his magic. Otherwise, he would simply use a spell to impress Junior."

"Remind me why don't we just send Junior and Peter to see Riddle carrying a bomb or something else Muggle enough to be delightfully ironic?"

Moody growled. "Two reasons, the Horcruxes first, we need to know how many Riddle made, and where they are; and two, because Riddle loves to boast, he needs to have an audience. He is a scorned diva who gets a second chance at a big opening night!" He stamped his fist on the desk. "Who is he gonna call?"

Sirius looked like he wanted to chorus an old song, but refrained himself. "His minions."

"And when they are all around, ready to sing his praises, we get the best chance to cast a freezing charm in a barrel full of nasty fishes we will ever get! Otherwise, we get the big acromantula, but leave the rest of the brood to hide in their damned web. Lucius has not been idle, twiddling his thumbs while Riddle comes back. No. He has been insinuating himself as the power behind the curtains. I want to catch him in the open, confident, smiling that oily smug smile of his, you know which I mean. And I want to see that smile break in pieces so small no Reparo will even help, I want him to realice, briefly, that all he has worked for in the las decade and half has been for naught. Wanna bet the rest have not been setting up things in their favour?"

Sirius stabbed the table with his finger, "That's a sucker bet, and we both know they have. I agree with you all the way, we must act right when they are so content they will be totally vulnerable."

He sighed, "And for that, we have to let them think their plan is working. Let them drag Potter's name thru the mud. I spoke with Potter and Granger at length. He is praised one minute, despised the next and I think he is entirely too forgiving. Had it been me, I'd have sent those weathervanes packing, and to hell with my social calendar. Granger is the only one who has been consistently at his side. The Weasley kid is clearly in to ride on Potter's coat tails."

Sirius went grim for a moment, and growled dangerously before returning to human shape. "They better grovel profusely once Riddle is neutered."

"Neutralized." Moody corrected.

"I know what I meant. And I meant what I said. I want Riddle and his thugs gone, his ideas discredited, and the tombs deep and full of bugs."

"Bloodthirsty and vindictive." Moody observed, "I like it. Albus got us saddled with his Forgiveness foolishness in the war, where did that got us? Not even back to square one! Second chances my arse! They killed so many people it's a wonder there are students around. Cheeky little buggers…"

"No mercy?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.

"None deserved. Any and all Death Eaters who show their faces to kiss the hem of Riddle's mantle deserves to earn, truly earn, that nickname."

Sirius smiled like a shark. "I take it you have a plan for that day."

"I have the inkling of a plan. Enough to give Albus a fit should he get a single whiff. Greater good my left foot! By the time the Third Task is upon us, I'll have it polished to mirror finish."

He leaned towards the mirror again, "It's gonna be right up your alley, you mangy dog. You like pranks, don't you?"

"Oh, I do. I do."

"You'll love it. I'm gonna show you how Alastor Moody pranks." He took a swig from his flask, and set it down on the desk with a thud. "Anything else? Good, I need my ugly sleep. Mirror you tomorrow night, Black. My regards to the Grangers."

Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
Next Day

"It's done, Albus. The new Ward is up and running. No one can enter or exit Hogwarts grounds without me knowing. If that traitor Black dares to show his face, I'll be there to squash it."

"Good, that's very good, Alastor! But what if he comes while you're sleeping?" Dumbledore asked.

"The spell wakes up the holder, it's one of its most interesting features!" Flitwick piped in.

"And should I be…"Moody examined the length of his wand, "incapacitated, Flitwick here will get the alert too. He acted as grounder for the spell."

"Excelent!"

The meeting ended shortly after that.

Hogwarts
Shrieking Shack/Tunnel

"Psst! Crouch? Are you here?" Peter Pettigrew whispered in the dark.

"Stop right where you are, Pettigrew." Moody's magical eye seemed to float in the darkness of the tunnel.

"Oh, c'mon! It's me! Peter Pettigrew! You don't have to keep the act."

Moody kept himself in the dark. "That's where you are wrong, Peter. But that's not the reason I owled you. I won't be able to exit Hogwarts and comply the Dark Lord's orders outside."

"What?" Peter advanced a step.

"Stop there, you idiot!" Moody growled, pointing his wand threateningly at Peter, "You'll undo my work and everything will be lost!"

Peter stepped back hesitatingly. "What? How?"

"Stay right there and I'll explain everything. There's a chalk line on the floor, can you see it? Good, stay at the other side, don't you dare cross it. Understood?"

"Y-yes." Peter nodded.

"Dumbledore wants to keep Black out of Hogwarts, and that filthy half-breed Flitwick found an old ward in some ancient book. It's a ward that fell out of use centuries ago. Ancient magic. Thing is, Dumbledore got me to cast it. I couldn't refuse or I'd blow my cover. It had to be done. No one can enter or exit the grounds without me or the goblin scum knowing it, plus another whose identity I'm not privy of."

Pettigrew's face went slack in deep thought. "You can't get out!"

"Took your time. Yes, I can't go out. Flitwick or the Other would know. And ask questions. The spell could be dispelled from a small area, but it has a nasty recoil for the dispelled, and then everybody connected to it will know. Convey my words to our Master. I'll strive to do his bidding to the best of my capabilities, but I find myself] a prisoner here." The eye spun wildly, "No," the man chuckled, "I'm the Warden, yes. That's better."

"I understand." Pettigrew said, "How will be stay in contact?"

"Come here whenever our Lord needs something from this humble servant. There a silver bell in the cupboard. Ring it twice, and I'll come here as soon as possible, sticking to my cover. Ring it four times for a truly grave emergency, should I break cover and go."

"Got it. I'll tell the Dark Lord immediately. He is not gonna like it…" he mumbled the last sentence.

"Good. I shall leave things in your hands, then. Serve our Master well, and his return to his due glory will be ensured." The trapdoor closed, and Peter Pettigrew knew he had been dismissed.

In the tunnel, we'll far away from the Shriecking Shack, Alastor Moody leaned his back against the wall of the tunnel, and exhaled a lungful of air he had been holding to.

He took a few minutes to recover. "I'm a better actor than I thought. Hook, line, sinker and the whole boat."

He shook his head, "I'm sorry, Filius. I had to say some truly disgusting things about you. I hope you'd understand why I did it."

Hogwarts
DADA Class

"Granger. Your performance is unacceptable. Detention after classes. All week." Moody growled. His fake eye spun around furiously, looking at each student in turn. He raised his voice. "I don't want any commentary from the circus, is that understood?" No one dared to even breathe.

"Yes, Professor Moody." Hermione answered answered looking down.

Hogwarts Grounds
October the 30th

All Hogwarts students waited, with varying degrees on impatience, the arrival of the two guest schools, invited for the TriWizard Tournament.

Hermione couldn't help but notice the eager look in Harry's eyes when the Beauxbatons contingent appeared in the sky. Of course those gigantic pegasi would be of interest to him!

And when the Durmstrang ship emerged from the Black Lake, it was clear from the glint in his eyes that he had remembered its most famous inhabitant, the Giant Squid.

Both shapes could be very useful.

Outside the Great Hall.
Halloween Feast
October the 31st

"Are you ready?" Hermione whispered to Harry.

"I think so. For once, this crap won't take me by surprise."

"Everybody will… react poorly."

He shrugged, "Yeah, but to be honest, I've been getting used to it. No more. They want to step on me, their privilege, I won't resist." A fierce glint shone in his eye, she could have sworn it looked just like that little starburst he sometimes showed as he changed from an animal to another. "Though I reserve the right to make like a sea urchin." He winked at her.

She squeezed his hand. "Very well. It's showtime."

They took their places at the Gryffindor table, Hermione next to Ron Weasley and Neville Longbottom at the other side of Harry. To minimize the expected explosion.

Both were very wary of the redhead, his fickleness was well known by now, but they had agreed to let things run their course, as a character test, should Ron pass, great; if he didn't… well… adjustments would be in order.