Harry Potter: The Rise Chapter 33: Making More Enemies and A Rat's Escape, a harry potter fanfic

Chapter 33:

I do not own Harry Potter

Author's Notes:

1) 4k followers! As I've said so many times before - thank you so much, all of you truly make it worth it. We're also approaching a milestone of 1 million reads, which is just mental. I hope I can provide you with some sort of joy, in this story and the next (no, I'm not quite done yet when this one eventually finishes).

2)Wow, I did not plan that lengthy discussion into rituals. But once I started, I thought might as well do it since I always thought I didn't expand enough on them. Hopefully this makes my perspective clear for you.

3) To anyone that hasn't read the older chapters - you'll be quite confused with what Bill's deal is.

4) My reasoning as to why Hermione would tell Dumbledore - she did so during Book 3 too, when she went to McGonagall. Her concern for her friend's well-being outweighs her obligation to not go behind his back.

4)Yes, I have a different estimate of Galleons to Pounds. Tbh, the generally accepted one never really made sense to me. There's some pretty interesting estimates out there, if anyone is interested in reading. My personal valuation is this - 1 Galleon ~ 17 GBP

5)Officially my longest chapter yet. Really enjoyed writing this one, progressed multiple angles I've been working on. Super thrilled for the next one.

Enjoy!

"Lord Warrington, we were sorry to hear you wanted a complete decoupling of your family's long-standing partnership with House Black" expressed Harry, with Andi seated on a sofa to his right. Marius Warrington sat opposite him.

Warrington's face contorted with disdain as he addressed Harry, "You must be deluded if you think I'd ever work with a son of a mudblood, Potter."

Harry's jaw clenched, but he was determined not to let Warrington's insults get to him. Andromeda too looked infuriated by the pettiness, but maintained her composure.

Ignoring the insults, Andi began, "Lord Warrington, we understand your desire for a complete decoupling from House Black. We're here to discuss a fair resolution that benefits both parties."

"Fair resolution? You want to talk fair after you stole this inheritance from its rightful heir?" Warrington sneered, directing his vile remarks at both Harry and Tonks.

Harry took a deep breath, emotions firmly in check. "It's not Malfoy, it's me, and nobody can change that" he said at once "You don't wanna work with us? That's just fine by me... Death Eater"

"How dare you!" bellowed Warrington "That is slander, Potter!" he spat

"No it's not" the Gryffindor answered firmly "It's only defamation if made to another person rather than the one being slandered. The only people here are you any my proxy, who's essentially the same person as me."

"In my current capacity, we're the same juristic person" added Andi "You can try, but there's no way that's holding up in a court" she challenged the acquitted Death Eater

Warrington bit back a retort. "So the abhorrence is mutual. Neither wants to associate with the other any longer. The question is, how're we doing it?"

"House Black recently hired an independent company to carry out a valuation of all shared ventures between our houses-" Andi began, only to be interrupted by Marius

"Duff & Phelps puts the entire thing to be worth around two million eight hundred thousand Galleons, or about forty-seven million pounds at the current exchange rate. My share is valued at one million six hundred and fifty thousand" announced the Slytherin alumnus "You commissioned it nineteen days before that Wizengamot session." he finished, a small, smug smile plastered across his face.

Harry was surprised by how much information Warrington had, after all, even HE didn't know when Andi had had that valuation commissioned.

"I'm sorry, were we supposed to be shocked?" the proxy answered coolly, appearing unimpressed.

"No, I just wanted you to know you're dealing with someone who knows exactly what they're worth" retorted Warrington, eyes fixated on Harry. "You've clearly been thinking about it, so go ahead, make me an offer" he invited.

As both Heads of House stared back at the other with emotionless facades, Harry finally broke the silence "We want to buy out your share"

...

Warrington burst into mocking laughter, his eyes gleaming with arrogance and anger. "You want to buy me out? Is that supposed to be a joke? I hold a majority share in this partnership, and you want to buy ME out?! Who do you think you are?!" challenged Warrington

"The guy that killed your boss"

The former Death Eater's expression changed in an instant, his condescending laughter transforming into a sneer. "Alright, pay me double of what they're worth, and I'll walk out right now." Warrington was about to declare that any possibility of him being bought-out for less than that was non-negotiable, but Andromeda placed a folder on the table and slid it towards him. "Before you make your final offer, Lord Warrington, I suggest you take a look at this."

Curiosity piqued, Warrington opened the folder and began reading the contents. As he read, his face turned from arrogance to anger. "What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, slamming the folder shut.

Andromeda leaned forward, her voice steady, "That, Mr. Warrington, is a report concluding the need of a comprehensive investigation on your various ventures. It was initiated based on confidential information and highlights possible connections to a narcotics cartel supplying muggles, a clear breach of our Comprehensive Secrecy Partnership with the muggle government. As you can see, it has been signed by the Chairman of the Oversight Committee."

Warrington's face turned crimson with rage, "You manipulated Cavendish into signing on this, didn't you? You threatened him!"

"Piers Cavendish happens to have a great amount of respect for House Potter" Harry continued calmly "On my special request, he has agreed not to forward it to Amelia Bones' desk yet, you know, the woman of the brother whose dead body you were arrested near?"

"Now we've all tried to explain to Amelia how you were imperioused, but the woman just doesn't buy it" sighed Andi "I can only presume what she might do if given a free reign to go after you, cause being credible or not" Andi left the thinly veiled fear hanging in the air

"I won't let Cavendish live this down, you don't know well connected I am, I'll make sure he's thrown out of his seat!" seethed Marius

"No, we know exactly how well connected you are" corrected Andi "But you let Cavendish worry about his post, you've got your own problems to deal with."

"How much?" he asked, knowing he was beaten

"One million three hundred thousand" offered Andi

"You mudblood-loving, blood traitor bit-"

"The original offer was one million four hundred, but I took it down because of what a massive prick you are" Andi stated gruffly

"You don't address the proxy if the head is present" Harry repeated Andi's words from the other day "And for someone who prides himself on being a Pureblood, you sure seem to forget basic etiquette" the boy couldn't help but jibe, receiving a silent 'Attaboy' from Andi when he looked toward her.

THE DAILY PROPHET

Ancient Families Finalize Decoupling, Boy-Who-Lived & Blacks Buy Out Warrington At Below Market Value

(by Rita Skeeter, Senior Correspondent)

The Ancient and Most Noble Houses of Black and Warrington finalized a 'decoupling' of any direct commercial involvement between the two powerhouses, ending a centuries old partnership following an unexpectedly short period negotiation wherein House Black, helmed by Acting Lord Harry Potter-Black, the Boy-Who-Lived, bought out House Warrington, currently headed by Lord Marius, incumbent three-time Wizengamot member.

Leading financial firms valued the partnership in the region of 2.68-2.9 Million Galleons, with all unanimously concluding House Warrington held a bigger share. It was surprising to hear then, that the minority share-holder had bought out the senior partner, in a deal worth 1.3 Million Galleons!

Going by even the most conservative estimate, Lord Warrington seems to have gotten the short of the stick, choosing to cash out at below the market value. Late last night, the office of Lord Warrington issued a press release proclaiming how Lord Marius had been exploring a buy-out several weeks before the new headship was made public towards the end of the December 20th Wizengamot Council. The release also stated that the agreement was made using "the best estimates available to [them] following an independent valuation exploration". No comments were made as to whether the valuation could poten...

"Looks like your friend is having a busy winter" remarked Stephen Granger, as he passed the Daily Prophet across the breakfast table to his daughter

"He's in the papers again?" exasperated Hermione, nearly tearing the newspaper out of her father's grasp. "Easy, dear" Viola chided her daughter "And yes, front page, in fact... again" she observed. "1.3 Million, at 17 pounds that's-"

"22.1 million Pound sterling" calculated the bushy-haired girl, as Stephen let out a whistle. "Honey, let me know if he's looking to hire a dentist... asking for a friend" he joked, as the other two rolled their eyes.

Crackle!

With a sudden sputter, the previously unlit fireplace in the living room roared to life. A startled Viola dropped dropped her butter knife, mumbled something like "never getting used to that" before making her way to the source of the noise - the newly installed Granger floo network had just been activated.

After taking a relatively short call, she returned to her seat. "Mrs. Weasley?" questioned Hermione as soon as she felt was appropriate. "Yes, that was Molly. Apparently Professor Dumbledore was visiting them today and wanted to talk to everyone about something - including you"

"The Headmaster?!" squealed the Gryffindor "Wha - now?! I haven't brushed my hai-"

"She said you can take your time, he wasn't there yet" appeased the dentist with her arms raised. "Apparently it has something to do with a certain classmate of yours" she mentioned with a not so subtle glance towards the day's paper.

Hermione joined the Weasley brood at their roundtable. Arthur and Molly were back from Egypt, accompanied by Bill who had decided to come home for the New Year. While Charlie was still in Romania, Percy had decided to stay back since he was interning with the Ministry, but the rest of the Weasley children too had come to the Burrow for the remaining holidays. Wishing them a belated Christmas, she started walking towards where everyone was beginning to collect. "Ronald" the brown-haired girl acknowledged somewhat stiffly as she walked past the empty seat next to the youngest Weasley boy and sat down at the empty seat between Bill and Ginny, who was talking to one of the twins about something related to Quidditch. On her other side, next to William was Ron, who sat next to Arthur. There was empty seat next to him, presumably for Dumbledore, next to which was Molly. The twins rounded out the rest of the table.

Before she could talk to any of her companions however, the fireplace roared to life with a burst of emerald flames, heralding the arrival of Albus Dumbledore at the Burrow. The warm, cozy living room seemed to brighten even more as the revered headmaster stepped out of the fireplace, his eyes twinkling with wisdom.

"Professor Dumbledore!" Molly Weasley exclaimed with a mixture of surprise and delight, hurrying over to greet the esteemed wizard. "Good morning, Molly," Dumbledore greeted with a gentle smile. "I hope you and your family are doing well."

"Yes, yes, we're all doing just fine," Molly replied "Please, have a seat. Can I get you anything to drink?". "No, thank you, Molly," Dumbledore declined politely, taking the empty seat left for him as he ushered Molly to sit back down.

The room fell into contemplative silence as everyone waited for Dumbledore to speak. The old wizard's eyes swept across the faces of those gathered, filled with both concern and determination. "Thank you all for being here, and a special thanks to Miss Granger who arrived from her home at such short notice" Dumbledore began, while Hermione flustered slightly by the explicit mention. "Since we are quite occupied, I shall cut to the chase, as they say. I believe all of you are aware of today's headline?" He paused, his gaze sweeping across the table, pausing on the youngest present.

"Yes, Headmaster" responded Ginny "Something about Harry buying out the Warrington's?"

"Indeed Miss Weasley" nodded Dumbledore "and you are aware of what is odd about this particular deal?" Hermione raised her hand on habit, to which Dumbledore let out a small laugh "This isn't a classroom, Miss Granger, please feel free to speak" he told his student kindly. "Thank you, Professor... about the deal, yes, Marius Warrington sold his share a lot cheaper than he should have"

"Quite right, Miss Granger" praised the headmaster "If we were in school, that would earn Gryffindor two points... But yes, if my own intel is correct, while I assure everyone here, it is, Lord Warrington not only decided to be bought out despite being the bigger partner, he did without even selling at normal value, let alone profiting. I believe he has undervalued his share by around 350,000 Galleons."

"But why would he do that?" blurted Ginny involuntarily, immediately going pink.

"You ask the correct question, Miss Weasley. No need to be embarrassed, it's what all of us are thinking" he said to the second-year "But here's the more releavtn question - if I was able to find out what the deal should really be worth, why couldn't Lord Warrington?"

"You're suggesting he negotiated in bad faith" spoke up Bill for the first time, sweeping his hair back as he lent onto the table

"Indeed, Mr. Weasley" affirmed Dumbledore "And I am acutely aware of what kind of person Marius Warrington is, he is not easily strong-armed. I believe Harry, or at least those acting on his behalf, have indulged in some quite unethical behavior." concluded the Transfiguration master, peering over his half-mooned spectacles.

'Prof-" began Bill again, but Dumbledore cut him "This is all but a symptom of a larger series of concerning behavior from Harry. On multiple instances over the past year, I have sensed him indulging in ritual magic"

"Rituals?!" yelled a shocked Molly "Surely this is a misunder-"

"I have confronted him about it, and he himself confirmed it" Dumbledore informed a startled gathering.

"So that's why he's being different?" spoke up Ron "Because he maybe a mistake with a ritual?"

"A definite possibility in usual circumstances, Mr. Weasley, but i assure Harry's rituals have gone extremely well. When he found himself in the hospital wing recently, I had Madam Pomfrey carry out extensive testing to make sure. He has done a perfect set."

"A set, headmaster?" questioned a curious Hermione

"Yes Miss Granger, had Harry done a singular ritual, he would no doubt have had some side-effect"

"But why?"

"It's because ritual magic is really complex" answered Bill "You just can't stop at one, things won't add up. You'll expose yourself a lot of danger. Your only possible stops are 3,7, a multiple of 3 and 7, or an exponent of 7."

"So 3,7,21,49" counted one of the twins

"So Harry's done either 3 or 7?" guessed Hermione "I mean if he was doing 21 or 49, Madam Pomfrey would have caught something, right?"

"I don't believe he's doing 49, Miss Granger" assured Dumbledore "Harry would've become severely deformed by now had he been engaging in such a rampant and reckless practice"

"But rituals headmaster?!" asked an appalled Molly "What on earth was he thinking?!"

"But he's stopped right? I suppose that's more important now" reckoned Arthur "What's done is done. Besides, he's from an old family, it's not too unforeseeable he had access to that kind of knowledge"

"And that is not my concern, either" clarified Dumbledore "Indeed, it is a highly arbitrary field, but some families, especially the old ones, do dabble in it to this day"

"So if he was doing 21, would he still have been detected by Madam Pomfrey back in October?"

"I believe so, Mr. Weasley"

"So 7, then?" asked Hermione

"If he hasn't started any new ones, then yes" affirmed Bill

"And if he did?" followed-up Gryffindor's resident bookworm. "Then, it depends" shrugged the curse-breaker in response. Noticing everyone eyeing him eagerly, including Dumbledore, he elaborated "It's not really my expertise, but I've worked with some who've studied a lot about it. They think the capacity to tolerate a ritual depends on the person's ability to adapt to the changes to their body, or specifically, how their magic reacts to a foreign influence. If their "core" accepts the anomaly, it is incorporated into them, if not, we side reactions we call "side-effects". If Harry waits long enough and his magic has integrated well with the recent disturbances, he should be able to do more" concluded Bill

"Fascinating" commented Dumbledore "I must say that's an approach I haven't explored much, William, but thank you for sharing that" he praised. "So how many could he do?" asked an inquisitive Arthur

"Like I said before, 49 is just too much." answered Dumbledore "Anyone doing that would be deformed from their human self in one way or another, you just can't balance out that many variables. No one can withstand that much change"

"Like you-know-who, Professor?" suggested Bill. He'd gone beyond calling Voldemort by that name, but for the sake of keeping his little adventure over the summer quiet, he decided to act as he always did.

"Exactly, Mr. Weasley" replied a solemn Dumbledore "Transformed beyond recognition, that is what awaits any one foolish enough to take such a path. Except without the most concrete knowledge, it is wise to stay clear of such magics." he warned the table, with a hard look to the students at the table.

"There's a lot of difference between 49 and 21 though, headmaster, almost double" spoke up Bill "From what I've heard, Harry's supposed to be strong, so I think over time, if not immediately, his body should be able to accommodate another a set of 21" theorized Bill

"What could change?" asked a concerned Hermione. Knowing Harry, he was very likely to push himself to the brink on this... If he hadn't already, that is.

"Again, this is just my reasoning, nothing confirmed, but" Bill took in a breath "Let's say he's done 7. He waits for himself to stabilize. Now considering Professor thinks he did everything flawlessly, he knows 49 is too much period, let alone after a set of 7. Once he's waited long enough to that old set to not affect this new one, he could push himself to 21 maximum... As for what might change, perhaps his young body isn't able to handle everything immediately, so he may be volatile in more ways than one. But again, I think in the long term this will balance out too as he grows up, but only because he's a special case. Your average wizard would damager themselves, perhaps permanently... As for the permanent changes of the ritual, on the outside, or indeed to his personality, it's possible nothing happens"

"Nothing happens? But isn't the whole point of a ritual to change something?"

"It is, but one may negate the inherent downsides of a ritual" reasoned Bill "Every ritual gives you a gift, but demands something in sacrifice. In some cases this is items, in the other, it could definitely be something in your body"

"Like, a skill?" inquired Ginny, as Hermione nodded. She had the same question.

"Maybe. Maybe it's your gift for Charms, or your skin color. But it's still possible to just take the benefits without losing anything substantial" Bill feel into thought, thinking odf a good example.

"I believe I can explain" spoke up Dumbledore, instantly drawing everyone's rapt attention "Suppose I do a ritual where I sacrifice the growth of my nails. If, in one of the succeeding rituals, say, I arrive at such a combination - now remember, rituals can have several variables - which boosts my nail growth extraordinarily, but my hair hair-growth is sacrificed, I do that. Now in my next ritual, all I need is to figure out a way to sacrifice my nail growth to boost my hair growth, balancing out any changes in aggregate"

"But - that's almost impossible to do!" objected Hermione "Rituals are so complicated, if you're doing so many, that just gives you dozens of variables!"

"Exactly the point, Hermione" observed Bill "Rituals give you a lot of leeway, but it's a menace to figure out how to use it. Given how limited the material is, you'll have to start speculating at some point. And even if you figure some arrangement out, there's a LOT of complicated Arithmancy, not to mention the convoluted execution. Botch that and it doesn't matter how solid your theory is... that's why its best just to stay clear off them" finished the curse-breaker.

"A conclusion I shall not dispute" acknowledged Dumbledore "But we must come back to the matter at hand, as engaging as the discussion was... Harry Potter. I have asked you all here today for information. Anything you feel I need to know. Now I want to make it clear, I believe that Harry's intentions are noble, but he may not fully understand the consequences of his path, most importantly for himself. Recent events such as ritual magic, and a continued correspondence with Borgin & Burke's are eye-catching. Yes, Miss Granger, the store in Knockturn Alley" he added noticing Hermione's reaction "I believe Harry has been spooked by something... something that has made him increasingly paranoid as the year ahs progressed. Unfortunately, he longer trusts me enough to tell me what it is"

Both Hermione and Ron shared knowing glances, having observed Harry's changing perception of Dumbledore recently.

"For multiple reasons, this is something not ideal. For starters, if it is something or such consequence, I need to know. I need to prepare myself, and more importantly, our system for the imminent threat. Secondly, there's the question of Harry's own safety. Warrington is not a man to be a trifled with. He is as vindictive as he is vile, and Harry has just made an enemy out of him. I can only wonder what else he has been up to that isn't so obnoxiously public. I can't possibly protect hom from a threat I do not know exists. And lastly, there is the threat from Harry to himself. We are all aware of events of the recent Quidditch match, Harry was as much of a danger to himself as were the dementors... A single spell capable of annihilating a dementor is nothing short of terrifying."

Before Albus could continue or anyone else could respond, Bill interjected, protesting against the insinuation. "Professor, with all due respect, I know Tonks, and she's a solid character. She would never lead Harry astray."

Dumbledore smiled kindly at Bill's loyalty to his friend. "I do not doubt Miss Tonks' character, both her parents were devoted members of the Order of the Phoenix, and have raised an equally righteous daughter. However, we must remember that even the best of intentions can lead us down dangerous paths when we are not cautious."

"Professor, you're saying Harry will become a dark wizard?!" exclaimed Ron

Dumbledore shifted his gaze to the redhead, his eyes conveying an expression none of his students had ever seen - anxiety. "Will, Mr. Weasley? No. Might? Now that is a concern I do have" he emphasized, making everyone shift uncomfortably. The thought of the kind, honorable boy they knew turning into something like that was distressing.

"But Professor, surely Harry of all people... I mean he's nothing like... well, them" objected Hermione

"Miss Granger, Harry Potter is a symbol of kindness and benevolence... but he is not free from his demons. So far, he has simply remembered to live above them... In fact, there was always a chance he be resentful and bitter - such was his upbringing, one which I forced him to live. I believed he understood why I did what I did, but it turned out not to be the case, as I discovered last summer. I implore all present here to remember one lesson - it is a quite thing to fall. We never realize when we go down this path until its too late, a path which young Harry, in his continued antagonization, paranoia, and desperation has started towards. With each step, he obscures his perceptions of right and wrong... an immersion into the world of gray that may one day make him unable to spot the difference between the two."

"Professor... I know Harry Potter" defended Hermione "We-"

"That's not the point, Hermione!" interjected Ron

"Ron, don't be rude" chided Molly

"Miss Granger, everyone" called Dumbledore "Allow me to share a story with you. One that relates to my own life" he declared, making the gathering's ears perk up. It wasn't every day that Albus Dumbledore, arguably the greatest wizard alive shared tales from his famously private life. "I too, knew Gellert Grindelwald... years before he became the notorious warmonger he turned out to be. And I thought of him as one of the greatest wizards of our time, one whose mind would greatly contribute to the promotion of our society" he declared with an uncharacteristically lost look in eyes that told so much. "I prided myself on seeing through people... into people yet never could I have imagined he would go on to do the things he did... Perhaps my fears are unfounded now, and believe me I truly hope they are. I can still be wrong, after all I have been wrong, and greatly at that. However, I consider that my experiences have enriched me enough to help me make as reasonable an inference as only few in this world."

He took a pause to let the effects of his speech settle in, the shock of his revelation evident on his audience's expressions.

Hermione pondered heavily over what she'd just heard. If the great Albus Dumbledore could be wrong so catastrophically, then who was she? A part of her mind still stubbornly refused to give any weight to Dumbledore's insinuation, but that was warring with her logical side that argued it was worth sharing some information regardless of what her own conclusion was.

"Contrary to what Professor Snape might have us believe, young Harry isn't just self-important, he's actually important. Now a future Lord of not one, but two Ancient families. Just by birth he is a political powerhouse, capable of influencing many just by the crests on his robes. He also has access to vast tomes of knowledge, some so arcane and rare that they have become recognizable by these families' usage, or what we popularly call today as 'family magic'. And giving meaning to all of these is his own self. A strong-willed wizard who has already achieved a great many things, even if we disregard the miracle he is most famously known for... A force of change, for better or worse. So again I repeat, with special reference to Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger, is there anything I should know?" he turned to the boy's two most well-known confidantes, eyeing them critically.

All of a sudden Bill was thankful that nobody had any idea about his own acquaintance of the Boy-Who-Lived, if whose suspicion was correct, the source of what "spooked" Harry was already known to the Headmaster.

After neither spoke, Arthur pressed them "Your loyalty to your friend is commendable. However, if you say nothing despite knowing something, there might not be a friend left to be loyal to"

"Ron, Hermione" started Molly "Professor Dumbledore knows what's best. Anything concerning that you know, he should too. There is no good reason to keep-"

"Sirius Black" relented Hermione

"Hermione!"

"What, Ronald?! I think Headmaster's got a point!" argued Hermione "I also don't think there's any good reason Professor Dumbledore shouldn't know! Harry's being too obtuse here!"

"I actually agree with Hermione" announced Fred. And for the first time in the memories of a lot of people in that room, the twins seemed to not be in perfect harmony. Such was the ethical question at hand. "I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with it, but Harry's gotten pretty chummy with a couple of Slytherins from your year. Allies or not, they could be obscuring his perception of the Headmaster, we don't know what they talk about."

"Come on Fred" objected his twin "you just saw the sneaky one Harry pulled on Malfoy, and then Warrington now. You really think he'll let himself be manipulated by a couple of Slytherins?"

"George, you talked to him during that party after we won the Quidditch Cup. Tell me some sort of anger towards the Headmaster wasn't plain as day then?"

"That's my point. Ron" Hermione called out her classmate "deny that. You yourself told me the other day"

"Told you what?" asked Molly "Ronald?"

"It's nothing new" groaned Ron "So basically it was Harry's dad's birthday, and this just a couple days after he literally walked out in the middle of the class... and well Snape was being... Snape, and Harry got really upset that the Headmaster didn't do anything about this... I reckon he was even crying for a little bit before... here's where he told me - "there's no point in telling Dumbledore because he never does anything about it. He feels entitled to have all the information without telling me anything, when he does do something, he messes things up badly and doesn't even apologize for his mistake" - or something like that. I think he was talking about the Headmaster putting him with his muggle relatives. What Professor Dumbledore is "holding from him", I don't know, honest."

"The Dursleys were a necessity, if a painful one. I can only hope Harry sees the wisdom of my actions 12 years prior. As for information, there are certain things, yes, and I will tell him those, in time... and Professor Snape" the old wizard sighed, having to address the same old problem again "his distasteful behavior will cease. I promise you that. I have nothing but Harry's best interests at heart, a statement to which I hope we are in unanimous agreement to. I have the utmost admiration for your loyalty to your friend, but if you truly want to help him..." he left the words hanging, awaiting for either of the two Gryffindors to take over.

"Sirius Black - he's innocent" stated Hermione

Molly Weasley gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. "Innocent? But... but he was convicted of betraying Lily and James Potter! How can that be possible?"

Arthur Weasley's eyes widened in disbelief. "Are you certain, Hermione? Sirius Black, innocent?"

Dumbledore's expression shifted from contemplative to profound surprise. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes piercing through the air as if searching for hidden truths. "Are you absolutely certain of this information, Miss Granger?" he asked, his voice holding a rare note of urgency.

George signaled Ginny to stay quiet, mouthing her a 'later'. Bill on his part pretended to be surprised. He had appearances to keep up.

"A-Absolutely P-Professor" answered Hermione, her voice beginning to tremble

"Miss Granger, not that I doubt you in the slightest, but how?" Dumbledore asked her gently

"P-Peter Pettigrew" the bushy-haired girl continued "W-We had him, a-and he got away because of me!" with that proclamation, the girl began to cry, weeks of self-guilt letting themselves out. Molly quickly rushed over to comfort the weeping girl, her motherly instincts activating.

"B-But Pettigrew's dead!" exclaimed Arthur, looking over to Ron for a continued explanation

"He was a rat, dad - OUR rat! Scabbers was Pettigrew!"

"What?!" shouted more than one voice, as Dumbledore persuaded Ron to continue. "He was an animagus living right under our noses! He cut his own finger off to frame Sirius Black!"

"Arthur, how long was - Scabbers, was it? How long was he with you?" implored Dumbledore urgently, the realization of a terrible injustice becoming apparent to him as a years-long belief of one of his most trusted associates being a traitor was shattered.

"12 years, Headmaster-"

"A suspiciously long life for a garden rat" took over Bill "Who happened to have a finger missing...coincidentally precisely all they ever found of Pettigrew"

"Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger... are you aware of how a pensieve works?" inquired Dumbledore. Then, as it communicated by telepathy, Fawkes flame-warped into the Burrow, Dumbledore's trusted old pensieve in tow.

Flashback,

The sun was setting over the vast expanse of the Great Lake, casting a beautiful golden glow on the water's surface. Harry and Hermione were sitting on the grassy shore, the soft breeze rustling through their hair. Hermione had a disapproving look on her face as she scolded Harry.

"You know I hate it when you decide to break rules for no reason. You said you had to do something important!" she hissed, crossing her arms.

Harry grinned cheekily. "I did, this sunset was just too pretty!". Before Hermione could retort, Ron appeared, calling out to them, "Hey, guys! Look what I found lurking nearby! Scabbers!"

He held up his long-missing and presumed dead pet rat, who looked unusually dirty. Ron frowned at the sight.

"Scabbers, you've been getting into some mess, haven't you?" Ron muttered, looking concerned.

"Well, I'm going to clean him up by the lake. You two coming?" Ron invited.

Harry glanced at Hermione, who shook her head slightly. "I think we'll stay and scout a way back on the map, Ron. You go ahead" Ron shrugged. "Alright, suit yourselves. I won't be long."

As Ron made his way to the water's edge with Scabbers in his hands, Harry quickly took out the Marauder's Map from his pocket, whispering the activation phrase. The map unfolded before him, and he scanned the names moving across the parchment, searching for any sign of trouble near the castle.

His heart skipped a beat as he looked at the map and then at Scabbers. The rat he had known for years was not just an ordinary pet; it was the missing Peter Pettigrew, an animagus in disguise.

Harry motioned for Hermione to come closer, and he pointed to the map and then to Scabbers, mimicking a rat. Hermione's eyes widened as she understood his revelation.

"You think that's Peter Pettigrew?" she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Harry nodded, his expression tense, and he gestured for her to be careful and not alert the rat.

As the seconds ticked by, Harry and Hermione continued to watch Ron and "Scabbers" closely, whispering to each other as they discussed possible strategies.

"We can't risk Pettigrew escaping again," Hermione said softly. "If we wait for too long, he might slip away again. We need to act before it's too late."

"I know," Harry replied, his mind racing to find the best approach. "But we have to be careful. We can't let Ron, and by extension, Scabbers see us casting spells, or he'll get suspicious."

"So traps are out of the question" ruled out Hermione "You could just try asking for Ron to give him to you?"

Harry pondered over it briefly, before dismissing it "...No, damnnit he definitely just heard me say 'map'. If I show an interest in Scabbers' existence for no reason after years of ignoring him he'll definitely run off... I try and snatch it from Ron and he'll definitely run... If he sees me with a wand he'll try and run then too..."

Hermione conceded to the reasoning. Pettigrew was probably paranoid already. "You're right... Harry, I think your best chance is just taking a clear shot at Pettigrew without raising any alarms."

The Gryffindor nodded in agreement and discreetly drew his wand, his eyes never leaving Ron and the rat that was so much more than it appeared to be. He watched them closely, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Make sure Ron doesn't get hurt in the process." whispered the muggleborn

"I'll use a stunner so it's harmless" Harry said quietly to Hermione. "I'll aim carefully and make sure it hits Pettigrew directly."

Hermione nodded, her expression serious. "And I'll be ready to act in case anything goes wrong... We can't let Pettigrew escape, Harry."

Harry's heart raced with anticipation and determination. The weight of the moment was heavy, but he knew that capturing Pettigrew was crucial to uncovering more about the past and protecting the future.

As they continued to watch, Ron absentmindedly petted the rat in his hands, seemingly unaware of the danger that lurked so close. Harry took a deep breath, steadying his hand and focusing his mind. "Wait for it..." Hermione whispered, her eyes fixed on the scene before them.

Harry felt the moment draw near, and he tightened his grip on his wand. He could sense the pulse of magic within him, ready to be unleashed. But he knew he had to time it perfectly.

And then, the moment came. Ron shifted his position slightly, giving Harry a clear shot at Pettigrew, who was momentarily exposed. It was now or never.

With a swift and precise movement, Harry cast the stunning spell, sending the bright blue light soaring towards Pettigrew.

As the stunning spell shot towards Pettigrew, the rat's tiny eyes widened with a mix of fear and recognition. He had seen Harry before, and now, with the Marauder's Map, he put the pieces together. Pettigrew knew he was in danger, and his instincts kicked in.

In a split second, he managed to twist and turn in Ron's grip, sinking his sharp teeth into Ron's hand. Ron let out a surprised yelp, and the rat slipped away, scampering off towards the forbidden forest.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing over to her injured friend. "Are you alright?"

But Ron could barely respond. The stunning spell had hit him directly, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

"Ron!" Hermione cried out, fear and concern evident in her voice. She quickly reached for her wand and performed a quick reviving charm, hoping to bring Ron back to consciousness.

Meanwhile, Harry kept a close eye on Pettigrew, who was now disappearing into the shadows of the forbidden forest. Harry's heart pounded in his chest as he followed the elusive rat, his heart racing at the chance that was falling out of his grasp.

Hermione's spell began to take effect, and Ron slowly opened his eyes, groggy and disoriented. "What... what happened?"

"Scabbers isn't a rat, he's an animagus - Peter Pettigrew, we saw it on the map! You got hit by a stunning spell Harry had fired towards him" Hermione explained quickly, helping Ron sit up.

"Wha-"

'"I'll explain later, Ron. We have to go now!"

"Yeah, I can wait," Ron said, shaking off the daze. Hermione nodded, her expression determined. "Yes, we can't let him get away. Let's find Harry and help him."

Together, Hermione and Ron rushed after Harry, who was now deep in the forbidden forest, pursuing the traitor. Their chase led them to the edge of the Forbidden Forest.

"Only one way they could've gone" mumbled Ron as he looked to Hermione, who nodded in concurrence. The Dark Forest was a place of mystery and danger, but their concern for their friend and the urgency of the situation pushed them forward. They caught up to him not too far from the entrance, wand drawn out.

As Harry scanned the area carefully, his friends caught up to him, their concern evident on their faces. Ron was the first to speak up, "Harry, why did you stop?"

He replied without facing them, eyes firmly peeled up front . "Pettigrew can't go too far in the forest. It's too dangerous for him. There are all sorts of creatures in here that could attack or even eat him. Plus, he's still within the Anti-Apparition ward of Hogwarts, so he'll have to double back at some point. He needs to stay close to the path because he can't risk going too deep into the forest. Even small predators might hunt rats, especially at dusk... It's feeding time in the animal kingdom."

As the three friends stood there, vigilant and ready for any sign of Pettigrew's presence, Harry pointed to the muddy path. "As for why I stopped here, look there," he said in a hushed voice, "the wet tracks end abruptly."

Hermione and Ron peered closely at the path and noticed that indeed, the wet marks left by "Scabbers" stopped suddenly near the bushes. It was clear that he had purposely veered off the path to avoid leaving any obvious trail.

"He must be hiding in those bushes," Hermione whispered. "He's waiting for the right moment to make his move."

Harry nodded, his eyes never leaving the area. "That's what I think too. We need to stay alert. Pettigrew is cunning, and he won't hesitate to attack if he feels cornered."

They settled into their positions, Harry in the center, with Hermione and Ron flanking him. Time seemed to stretch as they waited, the tension in the air almost palpable. Every rustle of leaves or snap of a twig set their nerves on edge.

As the last rays of sunlight vanished from the horizon, the forest became shrouded in turned into what felt like an eternity, but they remained resolute. The forest was quiet, except for the occasional sound of nocturnal creatures. Harry's enhanced eyes scanned the surroundings, offering him slightly more visibility than normal. He knew that patience was crucial, and they couldn't afford to make any rash moves.

"Ron, we should switch sides" murmured Hermione

"What? Why?" asked a puzzled Ronald

"W-Well you're left-handed and I'm right-handed, if we switch sides we'll have a better angle" explained the girl, eyes firmly on the side she was covering.

"Really, Hermione? Don't you think we have bigger concerns than geometry right now?"

"Enough bickering, you two!" Harry interjected, his voice laced with frustration. "We need to focus on finding Pettigrew and stopping him."

"We've only got this chance, Ronald!" said an agitated Hermione "We've got-"

"Well then you better not distract me then, Pythus!" dismissed Ron giving Hermione an angry look

"That's Pythagoras, genius. If you could just move-"

"Stop being so goddamn naggy, Hermione. Merlin you're irrit-"

But before the argument could go any further, a sudden rustling in the bushes interrupted them. Pettigrew took advantage of a distracted Ron and transformed from a rat into his human form mid-air. Grabbing the redhead from behind, he snatched his wand in one swift motion, aiming it directly at the Gryffindor's head.

"Back off, Potter, or I'll make sure the kid pays for your interference! Wands down!" squealed Pettigrew. Harry's anger flared, but he knew that acting impulsively could endanger his friend even more. "Don't test me, Harry!" yelled the rat "I-I blew up that street to f-frame S-Sirius, I-I'll do the same to your friend if you don't listen to me!"

Reluctantly, Harry and Hermione lowered their wands, knowing they had no choice but to comply for Ron's safety.

Pettigrew's grip tightened on Ron as he moved backward, putting distance between them and his friends. He kept a wary eye on Harry and Hermione, clearly relishing the control he held over them.

"Please, Pettigrew, let him go," Harry pleaded, his voice tinged with vulnerability. As much as he hated having to "plead" someone like him, he know he couldn't risk Hermione's life, especially since she the only reason for her involvement in the first place was him "We won't follow you. Just release Ron, and you can escape."

"I'll let him go once I'm far enough from you both," Pettigrew taunted, a sinister grin on his face. "Then I'll take my leave, and you won't follow."

Hermione exchanged a worried glance with Harry, both of them aware of the dire situation they were in. They had to find a way to save Ron without endangering him further.

As Pettigrew reached what he considered a safe distance, he fired a knockback jinx at Ron, causing him to stumble backward. Taking advantage of the temporary disposition, Pettigrew swiftly dropped his wand and transformed back into a rat, scurrying away into the wilderness.

"Ron!" Hermione rushed to his side, helping him up. "Are you okay?"

Ron groaned, rubbing his head where the jinx had hit him. "I'm fine, just a bit dazed."

Harry clenched his fists, his regret evident on his face. He felt like he had let his parents, and Sirius down, failing to capitalize on a golden chance.

"I'm sorry, Harry," Hermione said apologetically, feeling responsible for the situation. "We should have been more careful."

"...It's alright. It was getting too dark, so he would've away anyways" Harry expressed with a soft expression, though both she and Ron could tell it was half-hearted. A vengeful expression etched across his face, fueled by the memories of loss and betrayal. "I won't let him get away with this," Harry said, his voice low but resolute. "He's caused enough pain, and I won't stand by and let him escape again."

Hermione and Ron looked at Harry, seeing the determination in his eyes. They knew that he wouldn't rest until he found a way to bring Pettigrew to justice, even if it meant putting himself in danger.

"Let's go, guys... and thanks, I never had too much of a chance by myself"

"S-shouldn't we report this, Harry" suggested Hermione softly

Harry turned back to face them, head turning so quickly he nearly cricked his neck. "NO! We absolutely can't let the Ministry get wind of this!" he exclaimed with a tone of urgency, eyes wide and paranoid.

"Harry-"

"NO" he repeated "Guys, listen, seriously. Fudge was part of the Office of Justice at the DMLE. There's a chain of command in every conviction. He signed off on Sirius' file, the one Malfoy had planted some time later... it's full of false admissions and Sirius confirming he brutally murdered Pettigrew. I've confirmed that. I also know how Fudge is, any hint of him being tied into this fraud, he'll do anything, and I mean ANYTHING to keep this quiet. We can't have the DMLE be on alert, Fudge will conspire to have him killed off even if they find him." Harry emphasized the need to keep everything quiet. "We absolutely can't let the Ministry have any advance warning on this."

"And Professor Dumbledore?" he pried gently again

"...No." dismissed the green-eyed boy.

"Mate, I get you guys aren't getting along-" Ron began, but an irritable Harry cut him off. "Until Dumbledore admits to me he was wrong in putting me with the Dursleys I'm telling him nothing" he stated firmly

"Harry, this is important!" stressed Hermione "you're letting your personal feelings get in the way. Dumbledore might be able to help out!"

"When has Dumbledore ever "helped" recently, Hermione" challenged an infuriated Harry "Ever since we came to Hogwarts, it's been all talk and no action! The Stone, The Chamber, he can't even keep his own staff in line, he lets that git Snape run all over him! So I'm not sure what in the name of Merlin he could oh-so-kindly "help" us with, but I don't want to find out! Let him know how it feels to have things kept from him without an explanation! Let him know how much he takes for granted! If he thinks he's still entitled to that level of control in my life after everything he's done, he's got another thing coming!" ranted Harry

"Oh, Harry" sighed Hermione, pained to see the bitterness in her friend

"Sirius is my family. This concerns ME, and you guys are not saying a word." he reiterated

Present time

Across the table, people crashed back into their seats, having witnessed Hermione's memory of the event. Dumbledore shrunk the pensieve back to its original size, before thanking Fawkes for his help, who stood perched on the Headmaster's shoulder

"H-Headmaster... That-"

"Yes, Arthur" affirmed the leader of the Order "Peter Pettigrew betrayed his friends, and then framed another for his terrible crimes. Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, I cannot thank you enough for what you have shared with me today" he walked over and placed a hand on both their shoulders.

He gave a long sigh as he sat back down, the truth about one of his fellow Order members becoming known to him at last. Dumbledore's eyes looked pained as he was hit with a guilt of failing to remember that Sirius Black could never have done the act of betrayal he was accused of. He should have investigated the matter further, another painful regret about another misfortune he failed to prevent.

Brushing aside his emotions for the time-being, he addressed Harry's friends again "Allow me to acknowledge your bravery, both of you. Your loyalty to your friend is exemplary, as was your rush into the Forbidden Forest... I have no hesitation in awarding Gryffindor a well deserved 100 points for the combined nerve, bravery and character of three students I am blessed to have gotten the opportunity to know." praised the legendary wizard, making the two blush. "Be proud, both of you. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Not you, Mr. Weasley, and not you Miss. Granger. You were only trying to help, and I hope this is the last time I ever hear you blame yourself for letting Peter Pettigrew get away. And I promise to the both of you, and to Harry, that I shall not rest until I see to the undoing of this great injustice!" roared an impassioned Dumbledore, giving shivers to each and every person in the room.

"Oh, Headmaster" smiled Mrs. Weasley, before her turning a stern face towards Ron "And you, I can't believe you thought-"

"Please, Molly" interrupted Dumbledore "We can't in all good faith blame them" he declared "... However, I must emphasize, from now on, whenever you feel necessary, feel free to share any such instances with me... I may not be god, but Sirius Black is better off with me in his corner rather than in his enemy's.

"I believe this day has been emotionally exhausting, especially for two people who just had to sit through a harrowing experience they have doubtless put themselves through before... I shall take my leave now, but once again, thank you for inviting me Molly, and thank you, children, for sharing."

As Dumbledore exited while in some conversation with the Weasley parents the rest couldn't hear, Ron had a small smile to himself as his siblings looked upon him with a sense of admiration, a rare occurrence for the third-year. Hermione meanwhile had a scrunched up expression on her face, not sure what to think of this encounter.

Miles away, Lucius Malfoy was joined by a seething Marius Warrington, who agreed to help finance any revenge the former could exact against their common enemy.

Thanks for reading, see you all next time!