Chapter 14
Director's Office
Regulus sat opposite Dumbledore, while the twins, taking advantage of the fact that the headmaster was not against it, looked with interest at every detail of the room. Especially paying attention to the artifacts.
- So, what do you want to tell me? - Dumbledore asked after which the twins, who were looking at the mirror, in which we personally saw only a bunch of faceless shadows, finally focused their attention on the future conversation.
- Peter Pettigrew is not only alive, but is now in Hogwarts. - We didn't beat around the bush.
Dumbledore's face became stern, and he seemed to grow slightly taller.
"Are you sure, my boy?" he asked, looking at her so expressively that it quickly became clear that this was not the best topic for jokes.
- Yes, - Regulus nodded, and then added, - His animagus form is a rat and I am sure that he is pretending to be Ron Weasley's rat, and also, most likely, our uncle is innocent, otherwise Pettigrew would not have had any reason to hide in such a humiliating way.
"I see," the director muttered after he glanced briefly at the twins' eyes, and then took a pen and began to write something on the parchment.
- Fawkes , - he called to his phoenix, who immediately responded and flew up to the table. He was the size of a swan, and his feathers went from red to gold.
" Give this directly to Amelia Bones ," he handed the bird a rolled up parchment, and after the Phoenix disappeared in a burst of flame, he rose from his throne and cast his Patronus .
It's funny how even in the books we read in this life it is said that the Patronus cannot take the form of magical creatures. But now we have a striking exception to the rule, once again confirming how unusual Dumbledore is a wizard. His Patronus exactly repeated the form of Fawkes , obviously it was a Phoenix. If you think about it, then such wizards as Dumbledore, Voldemort, Grindelwald in their school days probably resembled those very Mary Sue main characters who learned everything quickly and were far ahead of their peers and even many adult wizards.
"Minerva, please come to the library, it's urgent," he said the message, moving towards the door before the Patronus went to our Dean.
- Please, - opening the door, he invitingly pointed his hand at us to the exit.
Seeing the director's actions, we somehow involuntarily felt the desire to hurry, so without thinking twice we accepted his invitation.
But unlike expected, when we walked along the corridors of the castle to the library, we did not walk in a hurry, but at a normal measured pace, which, given the situation and the director's hasty actions in sending messages, seemed a little inappropriate.
- Tell me, Vega, where is your sister? It's rather unusual that you came without her. - Dumbledore suddenly became interested, which confused us a little. Still, we were more prepared for him to ask how we knew about Peter's animagus form, and not why we didn't come in two bodies.
"She's resting now," Regulus answered. It's one thing to tell a close friend that you're on your period, that's completely normal, but telling others about it is somehow awkward.
- Is that so? Interesting. - Dumbledore nodded as if confirming something for himself before switching to another topic.
- You did very well on the Quidditch pitch yesterday, Mr. Wood has been hounding me all evening asking for an exception once more and letting you join the team. What do you think about that? - He asked me as if we weren't going to catch a Death Eater, but just taking a stroll, and what was most surprising to us personally was how quiet the twins tried to be, only whispering furtively to each other.
"I don't think the potential problems with other houses are worth it," we replied, trying to understand why he was even asking, but remembering Potter's love of ending up in the hospital wing, we added, "But if someone on the team is unable to play, I wouldn't mind being a temporary replacement."
- Just temporary?
- True. I'm not interested in Quidditch enough to devote too much time to it and distract myself from my studies.
- Commendable zeal, - nodded Dumbledore. - Perhaps I will make a small announcement at breakfast tomorrow.
- An announcement? - I looked at the old man doubtfully.
- Yes. I think I'll allow first-year students to replace them.
- Hee-hee-hee... - the Weasleys walking behind us suddenly giggled, which made us stop and look at them.
- It seems like something funny has come to your mind, would you like to share it with us? - the Director asked, smiling good-naturedly.
"We uh…" George began, confused, before elbowing his brother in the side, making it clear that he was running out of time to come up with something.
"We were discussing how happy our captain would be with such a change," Fred decided to tell a half-truth.
- Yes, that's right. - George actively supported the twin. They wouldn't tell the headmaster to his face, how they joked about Wood personally breaking someone's something to replace it with Regulus .
- Perhaps you are right and it is worth having a talk with Mr. Wood. - Dumbledore nodded before turning around and heading towards the library again, for some reason accelerating. And it was quite funny to see how the twins, as soon as the headmaster turned away, folded their palms and seemed to offer a short prayer for the repose of Oliver Wood.
Corridor on the 4th floor, next to the library.
Near the entrance to the library, one could see a group of first-year Gryffindors, which was divided into two parts. Seamus and Dean, who did not know where to go, who stood behind the indignant Ron Weasley and had time to regret a hundred times that they followed him, and opposite, Harry, embarrassed by the behavior of his friend, and Hermione, who was starting to boil.
"I can't believe you traded us for that nerd! We were supposed to play Gobstones today !" Ron pointed accusingly at the chosen one.
"But it's only…" Harry tried to justify himself.
- You don't need to justify yourself to him, Harry. You haven't done anything wrong. It's important for you to become stronger, and you can always find time to play games. - The girl interrupted the chosen one and judging by her tone, she was barely holding back from resorting to insults.
- He can speak himself without any beavers, - Weasley answered, grimacing childishly, and the rat, sticking out of his pocket, watched the performance, because his words were clearly the last straw for the patience of the girl who was going to say everything she thought about him, but at that moment our company approached.
- It is good to see that the first years have come to their senses so early and come to the library, - Dumbledore spoke calmly, pretending that he had not heard or seen the escalating conflict, and then looked at Harry. - It is especially gratifying to see you, Harry, in the company of such a diligent student as Miss Granger . You have a lot of catching up to do, and I am sure that she and her friends will not mind helping you. Is that right? - He looked at Hermione.
While he was saying this, Regulus, casting a hostile glance at Weasley, approached his friend, and the twins approached their brother, placing a hand on each of his shoulders on both sides. And judging by their faces, their youngest would be in for a conversation.
- Yes Sir. - Hermione confirmed, slightly embarrassed, looking away, having received praise from her idol. But, apparently, she looked away too late, otherwise we don't know how to explain that he looked at Regulus so strangely . Although he shouldn't have seen our secrets because of the ritual.
"Mr. Weasley, take your time," Dumbledore said calmly, but in a rather stern tone, before turning to Ron, who was about to leave, but the twins had not let him go.
- Did I, w-do something wrong? - the boy turned pale, and the rat, which had been sticking out of his pocket, hid deeper and did not move.
"knock" "knock" "knock"
Instead of an answer, there was a hurried sound of heels hitting the stone floor.
- Professor Dumbledore , what have they done? - Minerva McGonagall asked with a slight breathlessness, having drawn her own conclusions after seeing the group of Gryffindors around the headmaster.
- Fortunately, nothing, Minerva, but I will need your help and testimony when Amelia arrives.
- Amelia? Amelia Bones ? - our dean asked again and, having received a confirming nod, asked even more worriedly. - What happened Albus ?
- It would be better to show, - said Dumbledore and looked at Ron. - My boy, please show us your pet.
- Karosta ? Why do you need it?! - as if protecting himself, he covered the pocket with the rat with his hand.
- Ouch! - Pettigrew, realizing where this was going, did not appreciate such protection and bit the boy's hand, after which he jumped out of the pocket and tried to escape. Which, frankly, was extremely stupid.
Even in flight, after just one small movement of Dumbledore's hand, in which was the wand, he began to turn into a man, who painfully hit the stone floor and immediately began to howl with fear.
- Albus . Who is this? - Minerva McGonagall gasped in amazement, taking out her wand.
- This is Peter Pettigrew and if Mr. Black's suspicions are correct, he is one of the main culprits in the death of James and Lily Potter.
- But Sirius... oh god. - When the realization of what it all meant came to her, she covered her mouth in shock.
- I-I, it's not my fault! It's all Sirius! It's all him! - Peter squealed, while pulling his hands closer to his face like a rat. It was obvious that this man was definitely inadequate.
- H-he was in the same room with us all this time? - Ron asked, stuttering, looking like he was close to fainting.
- Unfortunately, that's true. - The headmaster didn't deny it, and then a dull thud was heard. Ron Weasley found himself unconscious on the floor at the twins' feet, who only shrugged their shoulders at the looks directed at them.
Meanwhile, taking advantage of the distraction, Pettigrew surprisingly briskly jumped up from the floor and tried to run away, but before he could even take a couple of steps, as if an invisible hand grabbed him by the clothes and pulled him back, because of something he fell to the floor again.
- Impressive level of mastery of the levitation charm, - Dumbledore praised us. - 5 points to Gryffindor .
- Thank you, sir, - we smiled.
"Peter, did you really betray James and Lily?" Minerva asked quietly, remembering him as a sweet and quiet boy who followed the marauders like a little tail.
- I didn't want to, HE made me! I couldn't do anything. No one could resist his will! - Pitter screamed hysterically .
While we were watching this performance, we suddenly remembered that there was another person here who was probably more concerned about what was happening than anyone else. We turned to Harry and saw a boy shaking with anger, with tears streaming from his eyes, while Hermione tried to calm him down by hugging him. When did they even manage to get so close? Although Hermione could have simply felt too sorry for him, and he was simply not against support.
- Peter, for your own good, when the Aurors come, you will tell how everything happened that day without concealment. -
"I-I didn't want to ," Pettigrew roared.
- Albus , how soon will they arrive? - McGonagall asked quietly, coming closer . And the schoolchildren, full of curiosity, began to slowly leave the library.
- They are already at Hogwarts. Argus will bring them now. - Albus answered calmly .
After a minute of waiting , during which Pettigrew tried to gain the pity of those around him, thereby achieving the opposite effect, a squad of 6 wizards finally appeared from around the corner at the end of the corridor, five of whom were dressed in red robes, and at the head was a gray-haired woman of about 40 years old.
- Hello Amelia, thank you for responding so quickly. - Dumbledore greeted the woman warmly.
"Hello, Professor." The woman greeted back before looking at Peter's miserable appearance and the black mark on his arm, which was clearly visible on his arm. She then sighed and looked around the crowd a little longer, first at the shaking Potter, and then at the first year from Hufflepuff . "Did you gather this crowd on purpose?"
"And I would prefer that the initial interrogation be carried out on the spot," Dumbledore did not deny.
- Savage , the serum, - Amelia ordered.
" Fudge will be furious," the Auror said, stepping forward and taking a vial of potion out of his pocket.
- Stop! Stop! I'll tell you everything! Don't... - Peter screamed in panic when a heavyset man started to approach him, but they weren't going to listen to him and, clenching his jaw so that he couldn't close his mouth, they dripped exactly three drops inside.
The effect was almost immediate. Peter calmed down completely and his eyes became slightly unfocused .
- Are you Peter Pettigrew, born in 1960? - asked Amelia.
"Yes," Peter answered slowly.
- Do you belong to the radical organization Death Eaters?
- Yes.
- Amelia, if you don't mind, I'll continue from this point on, - Dumbledore intervened.
- Okay. - The head of the Department of Magical Order did not resist. While Peter, under the influence of the serum, tried to say "no" because he was clearly against it.
- Who was the keeper of the Potters' secret.
- …I… – it was clear that he was trying to fight the effects of the potion, but he still answered.
- You personally brought Voldemort to the Potters' house?
- Yes.
- Did you see how Voldemort fell?
- Yes.
- Sirius Black was a Death Eater?
- I...don't know.
- Amelia, we need to add one more drop. - Dumbledore addressed the woman standing next to him, seeing that Peter had begun to successfully resist the potion.
" Savage ," she said calmly, and the same Auror opened Pettigrew's mouth again and dripped more potion.
- I repeat the question. Sirius Black was a Death Eater?
- No.
- Was it Sirius Black who killed 12 Muggles while hunting you?
- No.
- Did you kill them?
- Yes.
- How did you do it?
- The owner rewarded, blew everyone up, cut off a finger, and ran away.
- How did he who must not be named die? - one of the Aurors suddenly asked .
- The spell was reflected. The body disintegrated. The spirit sb ... - before he could finish speaking, a stunning blast from Amelia Bones flew at him , but anyone who could think obviously understood what he wanted to say.
- That's enough. Let's take him. - She ordered the Aurors, and then looked at the Headmaster. - I hope I won't regret following your lead.
- I apologize, but I'm sure times will be hard for you, but there is a man in Azkaban who has been there for too long. I hope you can help him get justice.
- I will ensure that Sirius Black is transferred to St. Mungo's as soon as possible , until further circumstances are clarified.
- Thank you.