Chapter 32
AN: Thank you so much for the support. I really hope you like this chapter.
Almost three weeks have passed since Peter apologised to the other seventh years and while those who read the books, and know what the version of him from Mie's timeline became, are still paranoid about his motivations from everything that has happened it seems like he is sincere. In the weeks that have passed since Albus returned to classes he has completely healed and while he has only visited Gellert a few times in person they have spoken basically every day in their 'mind place', something that means everything to him.
It's a Tuesday Morning and the seventh year Gryffindors, including Remus who is still recovering from the full moon two days earlier, are playing what seems like Quidditch with their breakfast food, to the amusement of everyone sitting around them, it being something Sirius and James started as a way to cheer up Remus.
"Oh, come on!" Sirius says annoyed as James uses a grape to knock his 'broom' which is actually a piece of toast off course which leads it to fly into the oatmeal which splashes it. "Come on Mie, you can get a goal!" Sirius tells her.
"Siri I barely understand what the hell we're doing, I can't score!" Mie exclaims, sounding annoyed, having joined in on the activity as she realised what Sirius and James were doing, and both James and Sirius look like Christmas has come early.
"Don't!" Mie, Lily, Amelia, and Marlene say together, all four of them realising exactly what the two of them are going to use the opening to say.
"Mean," James says pulling a face, as Alice uses the distraction to score a goal.
"And that's a goal for us," Alice says with a grin, feeling proud.
"Nice," Dorcus says, high fiving her friend.
"What is going on?" A voice asks and the students turn to see Minerva watching them, looking less than impressed, something which doesn't surprise the students as they figured she would realise what is going on soon.
"Good morning professor," Sirius says with a grin. "Marlene your turn to start," Sirius tells her, and Marlene grins as she loves this.
"Don't even think about it," Minerva tells the students. "Do I have to remind you that you are the oldest students in this school, the leaders of the student body?" Minerva asks, as she looks between them.
"Nope," Mary says.
"We know," Lily confirms.
"I'm glad to hear that, as the leaders of this school, those who others look up to, l I would expect that you act in a way with more decorum," Minerva says, looking between who are, without question, some of the smartest students in the school, and those who hold the most responsibility.
"We're just having a little fun," Alice says in their defence, though she knows it's not much of one.
"That is not appropriate," Minerva tells the students, her lips thinning. "So inappropriate in fact that I may be forced to consider whether you will be allowed to go to Hogsmeade this weekend," Minerva tells the students, feeling that it may be a fair punishment, even though she knows they can all sneak into Hogsmeade without problems.
"Now, professor, there's no need to go down that road," Amelia says, her voice almost pleading.
"I believe you all have Herbology this morning, I think it might be best if you head there," Minerva says, looking between the students, clearly giving them a warning that she will become less pleasant if they continue.
"Yes Professor," The group say together, and not wanting to push their luck, as none of them want to risk not being able to go to Hogsmeade, the seventh years grab their stuff and head out of the hall, as fast as they can, exchanging amused looks as they go.
A few minutes later the seventh years are making their way across the still frozen grounds and towards the Greenhouse that they use for their lessons, all of them wanting to get away from Minerva as quickly as possible but that is rather hard to do with the ground being so frozen.
"Mie," Peter says as they walk and Mie turns to look him, as she can't help but wonder if this is the lead that will tell her what's really going on with Peter as she has spent the last three weeks trying to figure out what is going on with him.
"Yeah?" Mie asks, as the two of them stop walking, and the rest of their friends continue to walk, allowing the two of the to have some privacy.
"I know a lot has happened, Cabot and everything, so I was thinking that this weekend we could have lunch in Hogsmeade, and clear the air," Peter suggests, sounding nervous and Mie isn't sure if he is nervous because he is going to pull something or because things are so awkward between them, honestly it could be either.
"Sure, that sounds good," Mie says, watching Peter carefully for his reaction as she is sure that this lunch will be the biggest opportunity, she has to had to figure out what is going on with Peter.
"Great," Peter says with a grin, and the two of them continue to walk to Herbology Mie knowing that she is going to find a way to talk to Remus, Sirius, and Regulus later as they need to come up with a plan.
Ever since Peter suggest he and Mie meet in Hogsmeade Mie has been thinking about what she agreed to could mean. For the rest of the day, including Defence Against the Dark Arts with her father, Mie is so distracted that she doesn't take notice of much else.
Having used the excuse that she is going to spend time with her father, something which is a very believable lie, Mie has left her friends and is waiting in the Room of Requirements for the people she needs to talk to. After a few minutes of waiting the door opens and Sirius and Remus walk in.
"Where do the others think you are?" Mie asks seeing her friends, as she knows they would have come up with an excuse.
"Finding a room to make out in," Sirius explains, to Mie's amusement, as she knows that is an extremely believable lie.
"What's going on?" Remus asks curious, knowing that Mie must have a reason for wanting to see them.
"I'll explain when Regulus gets here," Mie explains and while Remus and Sirius both nod as they can't help but feel curious about what is going on as they are pretty sure that it must be pretty big for Mie to want to meet with them three and no one else.
For the next couple of minutes Mie, Sirius, and Remus wait until finally the door opens and Regulus walks into the room.
"What's gong on?" Regulus asks concerned. "Are you okay?" Regulus asks worried, looking at Mie.
"Yeah, I'm okay," Mie responds. "Peter wants to have lunch with me on Saturday, in Hogsmeade, to clear the air," Mie explains to the others as she figures there is no point in beating around the bush.
"Do you think it's a trap?" Sirius asks worried as it certainly seems like that to him.
"I'm not sure yet, I know it's a possibility," Mie explains. "Have you heard anything about Peter?" Mie asks, looking at Regulus.
"No," Regulus admits. "But that doesn't mean nothing is going on, Voldemort wouldn't tell me something like having a spy or secret weapon in a letter because he would be worried about it being intercepted," Regulus explains, honestly this weekend in Hogsmeade could be where he got some information, but he hasn't heard if that is going to happen yet.
"Are you going to meet him?" Remus asks, giving Mie a concerned look.
"Yeah, I am," Mie confirms, and Regulus, Sirius, and Remus look worried.
"Mie…." Sirius starts to say, in a worried tone of voice.
"I know it's a risk, and who knows what it could happen, but I could also get an insight into what is going on with him, find out if he is genuine," Mie explains, looking between Sirius, Remus and Regulus.
"You're just giving us the heads up, aren't you? You're going to do it anyway," Regulus says to Mie, as he is pretty positive about that.
"I am," Mie confirms.
"Then we need a plan in case it is a trap," Remus tells Mie, knowing there is no point trying to talk her out of this even though he may not want to.
"I know," Mie says. "We can figure out that plan now," Mie says, looking at the others, as she knows that the four of them working on the plan is the best way to figure out a plan that has the least amount of loopholes that could be exploited.
"Good, because we're gonna need it," Sirius says, and the four of them start to work out a plan together, as they know that it is better to have one and have it not be needed than not have a plan and have it be needed.
While Mie is meeting with Regulus, Sirius, and Remus Albus is in his quarters once again looking like he is mediating when in fact he is meeting with Gellert in their 'mind palace', however, unlike their other meetings where their palace took the form of a café their current meeting place has taken the from of Albus's childhood bedroom, the place that they have spent so much time in, and the two of them are sitting next to each other on the bed.
"How was your Day?" Gellert asks Albus, the two of them sitting extremely close to each other even though they cannot actually feel each other.
"Good," Albus answers. "The Minster didn't make a surprise visit, so that was a nice change," Albus reveals, as since he was hurt the minster has been visiting Hogwarts on an almost daily basis.
"Do you think he trusts you again?" Gellert asks, looking interested.
"He never trusted me, he's not going to start now," Albus Admits. "I believe he thinks that if he leaves me alone, he can 'catch me out' so to speak," Albus tells Gellert.
"Stupid Man," Gellert comments, rolling his eyes as he knows Albus is too smart for that, to Albus's amusement.
"I am not going to argue with you," Albus tells Gellert and the two of them drift into silence as they sit together in the place of their own creation.
After spending a while in the Room of Requirements figuring out plans with Sirius, Remus and Regulus Mie has returned to the common room. Looking for her friends, and Peter, Mie sees them all sitting by their usual seats by the fire so Mie walks over and sits down with them.
"Hey Mie, how was your Dad?" Alice asks when Mie sits down.
"Good, we had tea and had an interesting academic debate," Mie lies, as it is a pretty easy lie as they have done that very thing a lot.
"Only you would think that was interesting," James comments, looking amused.
"It sounds fascinating to me," Lily comments.
"Same," Amelia, Mary and Dorcus says, all giving James less than impressed looks, and James is glad when he sees Sirius and Remus, who purposely staggard their return after Mie, walks into the common room.
"Padfoot, Moony, please join us and change the subject," James comments, causing Mie, Lily, Amelia, Mary and Dorcus to roll their eyes.
"I've got a change of subject," Marlene comments, as Sirius and Remus take their seats on the ground, leaning against the armchair James is in. "Do you think Minnie was serious about banning us from Hogsmeade if we play breakfast Quidditch again?" Marlene asks her friends.
"Definitely," the others respond, and as soon as they do the group of seventh years break down in laughter, not because it's particularly amusing, but because they can.
A little while after Mie arrived back in the Common Room, she, Lily, Alice, and Amelia are walking into the dorm room. Once they are in the dorm Mie uses her wand and locks the door, she also uses several spells to make it so no one can hear what is going on in the room.
"What's going on, Mie?" Amelia asks concerned.
"On the way to Herbology this morning Peter asked me to have lunch with him in Hogsmeade on Saturday, to clear the air as he put it," Mie explains, and as soon as she does Lily, Alice, and Amelia look concerned.
"Please tell me you didn't say yes," Lily requests, looking worried.
"I did," Mie reveals.
"Mie!" Amelia and Alice exclaim, both looking shocked.
"You do realise that this is most likely at trap, right?" Amelia asks her.
"Of course I do," Mie comments, thinking that they should know that. "It's way too much of a coincidence for Peter to come back after being away from everyone and say that he wants to apology and then not actually do that, and then suddenly he wants to meet with me alone," Mie explains to the others.
"And yet you agreed to meet with him," Alice says with a frown.
"Because it's the best way to figure out what is actually going on," Mie tells her friends. "After dinner I wasn't meeting with Dad," Mie reveals.
"Where were you?" Amelia asks, looking interested.
"With James, Sirius, and Regulus, we were coming up with a plan," Mie tells her friends. "I know that James isn't ready to accept that Peter has turned, and I don't know for sure that he has, but if he has we needed a plan, so that's what we came up with," Mie tells her friends. "A plan I want to share with you," Mie says, looking between her friends.
"Let's here it," Alice requests, wondering if there is any plan that can make Mie clearly walking straight into a trap any better, though she very much doubts it, and Mie starts to explain what she plans to do.
The next morning, Mie has once again told her friends that she is going to use her double break to spend time with her father, but rather than making her way to the headmasters office she has used the One Eyed Witch passageway to travel to Hogsmeade. After managing to get out of the trap door without being seen Mie has made her way to The Hogshead.
Walking into the Pub Mie isn't at all surprised, considering the time, to find it empty, and at first, she doesn't see her uncle, but she assumes he is around because he wouldn't have left the bar open if he was gone.
"Uncle Ab?" Mie calls as she walks towards the back of the pub.
"Mie?" Aberforth asks, walking out from the backroom. "What are you doing here?" Aberforth asks his niece, feeling surprised. "Are you okay?" Aberforth asks concerned as it's rare that Mie comes to see him during the school day.
"I'm fine, I just wanted to talk to you about something," Mie admits.
"Come on," Aberforth says, gesturing to the back room and Mie follows her uncle. "Do you want some tea?" Aberforth asks.
"Sure," Mie says as she takes a seat.
"What's going on, Mie? And how much am I not going to like it?" Aberforth asks his niece as he collects what they need for tea and then takes his seat.
"Just a guess, but I'm going to go with you not liking it much," Mie admits, causing Aberforth to frown as he pours the tea.
"Okay, out with it, what are you planning?" Aberforth asks, as he hands Mie her cup of tea.
"Yesterday Peter asked me to have lunch with him in Hogsmeade during our Hogsmeade trip this weekend, he says he wants to clear the air," Mie explains to her uncle.
"And you don't believe him," Aberforth realises.
"I'm sceptical," Mie admits. "Honestly, it could be the perfect trap for me," Mie explains to her uncle as she takes a drink.
"And you're going to walk straight into it," Aberforth says, with a frown.
"With my own plan," Mie reveals. "Sirius, Remus, Regulus and I came up with it and I told Alice, Amelia, and Lily," Mie explains.
"Not James?" Aberforth asks, noticing the very specific name she left out.
"He believes Peter won't become the version I knew in my timeline, and he refuses to see otherwise, Sirius, Remus and I figured it was best that we don't share out plan for now," Mie explains.
"Make sense," Aberforth admits. "You know no plan is full proof, right? It could still end badly," Aberforth says, looking at his niece in concern.
"I know, that's why I'm here," Mie admits. "For my plan to work, you play a part, if you're okay with that," Mie admits.
"Of course, if you're going to do something stupid, the least I can do to do what I can to make sure you're safe," Aberforth tells Mie.
"What makes you think I'm going to do something stupid?" Mie asks Aberforth.
"You're willingly having lunch, alone, with someone you don't trust, someone who in the timeline you come from is a traitor and a murderer, what would you call it?" Aberforth asks his niece.
"Strategic," Mie responds, taking a drink as Aberforth looks amused.
"You are so much like your father," Aberforth tells Mie.
"Thank you," Mie says, with a grin, feeling that it is a huge compliment.
"Didn't mean it as a compliment Kid," Aberforth says as he takes a drink.
"I know, I choose to take it as one," Mie tells her uncle.
"Of course," Aberforth says, not at all surprised. "Speaking of your father, does he know about this little plan of yours?" Aberforth asks.
"Not yet," Mie admits. "I wanted to put everything in place first," Mie explains.
"So, this is so much worse than I'm thinking," Aberforth realises, with a frown.
"I wouldn't say it like that," Mie tells Aberforth, in a mysterious tone of voice.
"All right, out with it, lets hear whatever you've cooked up," Aberforth requests, and Mie smirks before she explains her plan to her uncle, and with every word she says he looks even less impressed as it seems like an incredibly risky plan to him, one that he really, really doesn't like and that he knows Albus is going to like even less.