The Author of Revenge
Sirius Black got to the Potter hiding spot second. Hagrid was there. He was searching and crying. So that was bad news. Sirius ran in and upstairs to the baby's nursery. Then he almost cried but a ghost stopped him by phasing in. "Lily," he said, staring at her. "Oh, Merlin, no!" he said, staring at her.
"I'm not dead," she said. "I'm out of my body, Sirius. I need you to get me to somewhere hidden." He opened his mouth. Hagrid came rushing in. "Hagrid." She looked at Sirius. "Whatever I did to try to protect Harry, it backlashed on me. He's a ghoul." She stared at Sirius. "Get me somewhere please. I'll wake up sometime, Siri."
He nodded, biting his lip. "Yeah, I can do that. The pronglet?" She winced and started to cry, including her body. "Hagrid...."
"I'll stay and wait. Go hide 'er. It might be 'portant."
"With that prophecy, yes it is," she agreed quietly.
Sirius picked up her limp body, carrying her off. He considered the main magical hospitals but decided that wasn't safe. If the Death Eaters were still coming, the muggle hospitals would be safer. Plus might have a way to wake her up easier.
He took her to one that was about a half-hour away. It was a huge university's hospital. He carried her into the emergency department, grimacing. "She was attacked at home. She's not conscious." The nursing staff ran over to help him get her onto a bed so they could check her.
One of them started to call for a doctor. He watched her go, sighing in misery. This was bad. It was very bad. This...this was world ending for him. He went back to the Potter House. Dumbledore was there when he stormed in. "Lily's ghost said he's a ghoul," he said.
"She can't be a ghost yet," Dumbledore said. Lily faded into view, staring at him then faded out. "Oh." He blinked a few times. He looked at Sirius. "We must pretend that Harry survived."
"No we must not," he ordered. "Not at all. I won't let you trash their family, Dumbledore. Ever again. This was too far and you knew. You had to know." He walked off, going to tell others. Dumbledore tried to have Hagrid stop him but he could knock the half-giant out. He ran for his grandfather. Who didn't want to see him. But his grandfather finally came down after an hour. "Voldemort came for James' family," he said quietly, staring at the old man while he had a stiff drink.
"Are they safe?" he asked.
"No. Not even the one that lived. There's a prophecy and the little rat was the secret keeper. Dumbledore wanted to pretend Harry was alive."
Arcturus considered that. "To draw Voldemort out?"
"He's a ghoul." He pointed at the basin next to him. "For safety reasons, Grandfather."
He came to view the memories, then winced. He stared at his grandson once he was out. "She'll be safe enough there?"
"I can only hope so. It's a good hospital, one that trains doctors at the college."
"That's probably a good enough place then." He considered the board as it laid. "What do you need me to do?"
"Condemn him! Loudly. All of that. Let the ghoul be found and ended."
"How did he become a ghoul? Whatever Lily did?"
"No. He's got things holding him here we think. Lily researched and said he had to have at least one horcrux." His grandfather covered his mouth, staring at his eyes. Sirius stepped away from the hand. "We're not sure what it is or where it is. Ask my brother?" He finished the drink. "I've got to go bury James and his family."
"Tell others, Grandson."
"Me doing it will look sad. Though of course I have. I called a few while waiting. Dumbledore's already trying to tell that lie though."
"I'll denounce that lie. Go arrange the funerals." He patted him on the cheek. "You did the right thing. You were ordered to go be a distraction and the orders were bad," he said quietly, staring at him. "That's not your fault."
"Doesn't mean I don't hate myself."
"Then you could've died as well."
"Or they might not have gotten it from me so they'd still be safe." He pointed at the paper on the desk. "The prophecy. It's not just Harry. We all sent cards for the other kid that he shared a birthday with and you know his grandmother." He looked and then gasped. But nodded once. "Please, Grandfather. Help us here?"
"Gladly. While I'm...not exactly on the side of Light, and I don't particularly like muggles, this is destroying many families. Many pureblooded families." He swallowed, getting his own drink to start his own calling around. Sirius let him do that while he went to arrange the funerals. Dumbledore was trying to block it so Sirius challenged him in the lobby of the funeral home. Dumbledore backed down at that pulled wand and the craziness starting to show through the grief.
***
The Dowager Longbottom got the note handed to her by a house elf. "In the name of Lily and James Potter?" she demanded. "Who sent this?"
"He waiting," the house elf said, ducking his head at her harsh look. "In entry."
"Show him to the sitting room. I want to know what hippogryff crap that's about." She got up to storm that way, finding the man staring outside. "Mr. Lupin," she said, staring at him. That one may have been sent by James or Lily.
"I have notes from Lily for you," he said quietly, turning to stare at her. "Because it wasn't just their family in danger." He held out the folded letter. "The prophecy Dumbledore gave them."
She took it to read, and gasped at the thing. "Oh." She looked up. "That's why he went after my Frank and his wife." Remus nodded. "I..."
"I have Lily's notes. I'm hoping they can help you guard Neville. We all thought he was a darling child. Lily would want her godson to be safe as well. She tried to get Frank and Alice to leave England completely, to go into hiding, even offered to let them take Harry. Dumbledore put them under fidelous."
"I... I heard." She sat down, taking the small envelope. Inside were handwritten notes and a journal. "Hers?"
"Yes. The notes she compiled on what she knew of the war and things that may be pertinent." He sat across from her. "We'll help guard Neville. Dumbledore refused to let us help Harry but Neville will not fall. Especially as Sirius said that Lily's ghost said he's a ghoul."
The old lady suddenly looked ancient. "So he's not dead?"
"No." He shook his head. "She told him he's a ghoul. The prophecy's not done and he's not dead." He looked at his clasped hands then at her again. "Neville will be guarded."
"Who was their secret keeper?" she asked. "I've heard rumors."
"Peter." He grimaced then made it clear up. "He led them right to their family."
She bowed her head and nodded once, reading over the notes. "What is that word?"
"A foul device that means he's still stuck here." He stared at her. "That's a piece of a soul artifact." She winced. "If you let us, we'll show up to tutor Neville once he's closer to old enough to protect himself. He's a strong boy. He'll be able to handle it if he's attacked. We'd make sure he could handle it if he's attacked once he's in school. I have all our notes to share with him when he's of age." He smiled a bit. "Sirius was insistent he get all our notes from our Marauder days. Just in case he needed them."
"I...I can agree he may want to see them but I'd rather my grandson not be in the middle of this."
"We'd all like that," he agreed. "We all want that madman to have not been born. But he was unfortunately brought into this world."
She nodded. "I'll gladly let you protect him when you can and need to. Plus to teach him the dirty tricks Frank got taught so he'll survive."
He smiled. "As many as we can. Neville's a good kid. Harry used to drive us nuts but Neville was always calmer and happier." She smiled at that, nodding some. "I look forward to seeing him grow into a happy young man."
"So do I." She stood up and he stood after her, shaking her hand before leaving. She went to her room to collapse and read the notes more carefully. Things would have to be done. She wasn't sure who was the one to trust here but Lily had always stood up for her son Frank. So had James. She would trust Lily's words.
***
Sirius got pulled into the Wizengamet by aurors. His grandfather had blocked Fudge from just throwing him in jail without a trial so he knew it was coming. He was prepared. "You are here to testify about how you led Death Eaters to kill your best friend," the judge sneered.
"Then you're here about a lie?" The judge stared at him harshly. "I demand Veritaserum and a legimens at the same time as you ask me questions as some of this is under fidelous. And we'll view my memories during it. The truth serum will make sure that the memories I pull out are correct."
The judge stared at him. "You're very sure of yourself."
"That's because I wasn't the secret keeper." The judge stared then stood up. "Nor was I the one that attacked Pettigrew. I was at the funeral home during that. Remus tried to hunt him down for us, because he was the secret keeper. And a turncoat. It figures that his form is a rat."
"I... You will prove that allegation."
"Of course I will. I demand vertiaserum and a legimens." He stared the other man down. They were brought with a viewer for his memories that would show everyone. "The ones for the meeting about the secret keeper and prophecy," he said, pulling them out to hand over. "The one for that night is under fidelous and I cannot break it." He looked at the judge while it was prepared. "I can prove I wasn't the secret keeper. I can't tell you where it was."
"Where are Lily and James Potter hiding with their son?" he demanded. Sirius had to clam up because he didn't know. The judge blinked. "I..."
"There were seven of us in the house that night when the prophecy was shown and the fidelous was set," Sirius noted patiently. "All of us and Dumbledore. Plus little Harry." He grimaced and sighed, pushing back on the grief. The memory was shown. The aurors let him go once the memory was finished.
The legimens in there nodded. "That's the truth." He looked at Sirius. "Where is Pettigrew now?"
"If I knew I'd make sure he didn't make it another day," he snarled. "In the most painful way I could manage it." The man flinched back but nodded that was the truth.
"The prophecy?" the judge asked.
"There's three copies. One's here in the Ministry." He stared at him. "One went to the other boy it could be about," he finished quietly. "The other one, Dumbledore holds."
The judge considered it. "He said Harry lived."
"No. He didn't. I helped arrange his body in the casket next to his father's body." He swallowed, sucking in a breath then looked up then at the judge again. "Harry didn't live. I wish like hell," he said, his voice breaking. "But he didn't."
"Did anyone survive?" he asked.
"That is under a fidelous. Everything I found that night." He let them have the memory that he had. It stopped suddenly and went gray with the spell then restarted the next day.
"Are you protecting a death eater?" the judge demanded.
"No." He took off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves to show his forearm. "Nor would I ever do such a vile thing. While some of my family are into that deranged arsehole's ideas I'm not one of them. Muggle borns can be incredible. Lily certainly was." He put his arms down, staring at him, regal and slightly crazed with grief still but unbroken. "Ask the one who set all that up. With the same demands for truth."
The judge stared at him. "We cannot do that."
"You can. He's a citizen and it's the right of this chamber to hold all citizens to their honesty for their crimes." He rolled down his shirt and put back on his jacket. "Beyond that, you won't because you're playing politics." He put back on the jacket. "By the way, Voldie's not dead." He walked off. "I'm assuming I'm dismissed?" The judge spluttered but had to let him go. He had proven he wasn't involved.
"Save those and classify them," the head auror said quietly. "Immediately." They did that and it was put into a safe for later use if necessary. He looked at the judge. "We can ask him."
"He's seen as a great man and we need someone who can be a figurehead," he complained. "It's not politically a good idea either."
"Sometimes we have to find the truth and hold people to it. I like his idea about the truth serum and a legimens for later trials. All of them."
"That I could possibly see," he admitted. He sat there and rubbed his forehead. "See if you can find a copy of that prophecy."
"If I can," he agreed. Fudge was still complaining loudly about Dark families from his quieted seat.
"There's a difference between Dark and Evil," the head auror sneered back. The man flinched at that. "While a Black may be Dark, most aren't evil. And plenty that weren't Dark went to his side." The new Minister for Magic piped down at that slap to his ego. He looked at his aurors, who left them to their duties. "We should ask why he's spreading such lies at least."
"I have. He said people need hope for the future getting better." The judge looked at him.
"Charming but not necessary." They agreed on that point and making Dumbledore quit being so loud about the boy living when he hadn't. It'd hurt people later. The truth was always better.
***
Lily didn't want to but she *had* to. It was an intense need to go check on Neville. He was in his bed, cuddling his bear that James had given him for his birth. She smiled, touching his head. That made her pause and then remove the spells on the boy's magic.
That was foulness. To dirty his magic that way by binding him would hurt the poor kid. There was a better way. She soothed him back to his rest and then left him to sleep the sleep of the innocent young boy. She went back to watching her body. She'd check on him again a few times.
She had time to make plans for when she woke up and to handle things.
***
Lily's ghost kept watch over her body. The staff here had done good, gotten her stable, kept her able to wake up. She wasn't surprised when a magical showed up, an auror. She faded into view, staring at them. "Peter was the secret keeper," she told him quietly. "What I tried to protect Harry backlashed on me. Voldemort's a ghoul."
He blinked at her. "So Arcturus Black said, Lady Potter."
She nodded. "I'll wake up someday."
"We'll ignore you doing so," he assured her. "Because it's your safety. I do have to ask, are you pregnant?"
"I have no idea," she admitted dryly. "If so, the medicines might counteract that."
He nodded. "The heir stone is still active. That's why we wanted to know."
"Yeah, James had the bank lock everything down until one of us called them about the accounts and the family." She smirked a bit. "There's a prophecy. Guard the Longbottoms."
"Oh, we are." He nodded. "Can we help?"
"I don't know." She faded out. It was tiring being able to be seen. She couldn't lose too much energy.
He went to report that and talk to a healer he had adored while in school. Most of the students trusted Poppy Pomfrey with every secret. If she could help a student she would. And she had a soft spot for Lily and James.
***
Poppy Pomfrey showed up under a no notice charm, staring at the body. She ran a checking spell and sighed, pulling out a potion. Lily faded into view. "I hope that's to help?"
"It should, yes. At least give the energy to move on."
"No, Poppy. I'm not moving on. I'm still very much alive." The woman ran the checking spell again but a nurse came in and stared at her. "Magical?" she asked.
"Yes, Lady Potter." She stared at her then at the potion. "Can we dose you with something dangerous to bring you back to your body?"
"I can get back in. There's just a blockage." She pointed. "There. It's a clot or something."
The new nurse ran a careful check then moaned. "Oh, no wonder." She stared at her. "I can have that treated." She gave her a potion and checked the other nurse, freeing her from the compulsion. "Potion," she said bluntly.
"Severus," Lily growled. "He was there."
The new nurse stared at her. "I'll ask that when you're awake." Poppy ran a check again then did what she had to do to break up that clot, staring at Lily before leaving. "Thank you."
"Thank you," Lily agreed. She felt it working and sighed, going back to her body. She woke up a few days later, blinking at the bright lights. The same nurse was staring at her. She turned her head slightly. She squeezed the nurse's hand, getting a nod back. She mouthed 'thank you' around her breathing tube, getting a smile back. The nurse went to alert people she had woken up. Then the aurors so she could be hidden. That was one woman who'd never be safe in England.
***
Lily went to the bank under a heavy glamour, and in a normal outfit so it didn't look weird and like she was trying to hide. Sirius had taught her how to blend into the wizarding world so no one noticed her even without the charm in place. She walked into the bank and a guard stopped her.
"No magic inside the bank," he ordered, puling his sword.
"I will drop this glamour in private," she said. "But not in common view as I'm under a death threat. May I do that in a private room?"
"No," he snorted. "That's not allowed."
"I am allowed in the private rooms." She held up her ring hand. It had the Potter wedding ring still on it.
"That's not the real one and that proves you're a threat," he sneered. He grabbed her arm. She summoned the family's chalice, taking a sip from it, while staring at him. "That's not ours."
"It is yours." She held it up so he could see it. "See. Family heirloom. All I ask is for a private meeting in a not-open area. For my own safety." She looked at the higher up coming over. "May I drop this glamour in private?"
He stared at the chalice then nodded once. "We will see who you are, madam." He led them to a room off to the side. Where she did drop the glamour once the door was shut. The guard backed away, eyes wide. "As we had heard rumors," he said with a nod. "What can we help you with, Lady Potter?"
"I'm going into hiding." She pulled out a purse and a letter inside. "I had foresight when I was out of my body and cuddling my son." She held it out. "It also contains the prophecy."
He read it over, grimacing. "That is foul."
"Yes, it is."
The banker folded it again, staring at her. "What help can the bank give you?"
"I need to go into hiding."
"There is a spell ready for you." He stared at her. "So the line does not die out."
"I know. James had me prepare it." She swallowed then shook her head. "Not yet. I'm not ready yet and I won't bring a child into this war. Because he's going to come back to finish it."
"The one born at that time was your son," the banker said.
"And Neville," she said quietly, making him wince but nod. "The boys told his grandmother by now I'm sure." She settled into a chair with a sigh. "I'm going to go to my grandmother's house. I'm going to hide myself completely. I have no idea beyond that and some studying yet. I'm going to keep that spell bottle for a later use."
"Agreed," he said with a nod. "That makes good sense for you. You may not be ready to use that bottle for years and there's only one."
"There's more than one. I hid a few in a few places around the house just in case." She smirked a bit. "I know some people have tried to loot the house?"
"We were trying to pack things into the family's safes. It's missing part of the roof."
She nodded. "I appreciate that." She crossed her legs at the ankle, staring at him. "I'll need my things so I can prepare for him to come back. Because he made a critical mistake coming after my son. I will do James proud."
"Understood, Lady Potter. Though your glamour was a bit... obvious."
"I'm not excellent at them. Sirius was good at them."
"Do they know?"
"Siri got me to the hospital I healed in." She stared at him. "And Dumbledore's been at Neville already because I had to unbind his magic while I was out of my body."
"That was dangerous," he said.
"But necessary. I'm his godmother, it's my job to protect him."
"I can understand that." He considered it then drafted the orders, letting her see them. She put the address down and handed it back after signing it. "I will have your things sent to you tonight, Lady Potter. May you be well for years to come, or at least long enough to get vengeance."
"I hope I can live past that. James would be very upset if I joined him too soon." She stood up and put the glamour back on, nodding as she left the bank.
The banker looked at the guard, who was slumped. "We will not note this transaction anywhere else," he said quietly. "As no one should hear."
"I understand." He bowed and went back to his spot, thinking about the secret he now kept. It was too important to do more than make himself forget it so he could not speak of it. He'd have someone blank it out from him later.
***
Lily smiled, watching Neville play in his preschool's play yard a few years later. He was such a sweet boy. Just like Alice but without her temper. He clearly had Frank's temperament. Unlike her son had been, who had her temper it had seemed. She sighed, watching him play and learn to get along with others. She felt magic coming and disappeared from there before they noticed her.
It drew attention from Remus, who hadn't spotted who she had been, and from Neville himself, who had noticed the pretty lady watching him. Her red hair had shone in the sun. He'd figure that out later though. Right now, he was building a sand castle in the sand box. The fun uncle came over to help him with that and teach him how to build the towers even higher than he usually could.
***
The dreams started on what would've been Harry's fifth birthday. She got up to write down the strange dream, hoping that her poor son would've never went to her sister's house. That was foul; her sister wasn't a bad person but her husband had her by the nose most of the time. She sat at her desk, staring at the story that was starting.
She grabbed a pen to write it for real. That...it might help ease her grief over her lost son. She could concoct a whole life he didn't get to live. Which wasn't healthy psychologically, she understood that, but at least it gave her a sense of closure. Harry wasn't alive but she could at least give him somewhat of an afterlife until she could join the family again.
Yes, she could memorialize her family this way. All of them that were killed or tortured. Even if it did make her sister look like an abusive prig.
***
Lily felt the vow pulling on her, showing her Neville was in trouble. She had taken a traditional vow to be his godmother, one that would make sure she could protect him if she had to. She found the charm Alice had Frank make for her to get through the wards, ending up in Longbottom Hall near the boy.
His eyes went wide. He knew her! "I've seen you. You watch me sometimes," he said, tipping his head to the side.
"I'm your godmother, Neville."
"Like in the stories?"
"Not that sort." She smiled, stroking over his hair. "I swore a vow to protect you in front of your parents."
Now he knew who she was. "Grams said you died, Lady Potter."
She grimaced. "Kinda." She stroked over his cheek and hair again, removing the bindings. "That's the second time I've had to remove that binding." She looked at the 'uncle' who was backing away from her. "How dare you!" she snarled, casting at him. He screamed in pain. "How dare you try to hurt this child!"
"He's a squib!"
"No he's not! He never has been! His magic was *bound* by someone foul," she snorted. "But you nearly killed him!" He backed away so she got him again with something Sirius had come up with from the Black library.
"He thought it'd be better if I died if I didn't have magic," Neville told her.
Lily looked down at him. "Which is wrong and foul, Neville. If he can't accept who you are then he doesn't love you, even as a relative." The boy looked stunned at that idea. She nodded, going back to stroking over his hair. She looked at the grandmother coming in.
"Lily," she gasped.
"You saw me *vow* in front of everyone that I'd protect him. The vow pulled tonight." She stared at her, still stroking over Neville's hair. "The binding is foul, Augusta. It nearly got him killed this time. Which is what called me." The grandmother was wincing. Lily smiled at Neville, ending the last few spells. "There you go, all spell cleaned, Nevs." She kissed him on the cheek.
"What sort of ghost are you?" he asked. "You don't feel like one."
She winked. "I'm a special one." She straightened up, staring at the old lady. "You let him nearly kill Neville? Would you have let him do that to Frank?" She walked over to tip the older woman's face up, making her eyes go wide since Lily was clearly warm, not cold like a ghost. "Nev's always been a great little boy. A loved little boy. He was a lot more calm than my own ever was and a lot more polite."
She tipped her face to the right then smiled. "Neville is every bit his mother but he has Frank's temperament." She smiled at Neville then at the grandmother again. "Don't let Dumbledore near him again," she said quietly. "He's why I lost mine." She used that charm to get to her home.
"Grams, what sort of ghost was she?" he asked.
"A special one," she said weakly, staring at her grandson. Her poor, fated grandson. "We'll go over those sort of things when you're older, Neville. For now, go get a bath to make sure all the spells are off you. Have Mipsy do it. She knows how." He nodded, going to find that house elf to get her help. She glared at her cousin, who shrank away from her.
"You're lucky you survived a ghost attack that way." She walked off regally, hiding the sad and horrified thoughts she had. She pulled out the things Remus had given her to go over again. It was clearly going to be needed and Neville would have to know some day.
***
Lily would've been a mother to a ten-year-old when Sirius got into real trouble thanks to Dumbledore. Lily had a way to stop some of that, draw attention from it, but would that help? Or hurt? And what would the wizarding world do about being so outed? She submitted the story anyway. It had to be known. People needed to be warned.
The wizarding publisher denied it and sent a nasty letter about it. The muggle one thought it had promise. Well, the fate of the world may just lay on the shoulders of a few muggle borns anyway. And one timid little Longbottom who had a bad memory. But she'd be behind him. Sirius and Remus would be behind him. And her if she let them know she was around. She put on a glamour to go to town and get supplies for a few more weeks. She needed some groceries. It was human of her.
***
Arcturus got the first copy of the book from his grandson, blinking at the story's title. "Harry Potter.... that's a long lost name." He looked at Sirius, who stared back. "Why and how?"
"That's a family member. It's got to be Lily," he said quietly. "And she trashes her muggle trash of a sister too. And Severus." He stared at the old man. "I'm not sure why and I haven't found her to ask if she's okay. She's still in hiding." He smirked a bit. "But Dumbledore is *livid* that there's talk about all that again."
"He tried to say the boy lived on and off for years. Will this book prove that?"
"Not if the kids tell their parents. And they will tell their parents. It's looking very popular in the muggle world."
Arcturus blinked. "Oh. Is it anything beyond a memorial piece?"
"Yes. It mentions that night. It talks about Voldemort. It said where he is and that he's a ghoul. I need to see if that teacher's coming in that way." He grinned.
"Don't do something rash, Sirius. I can't save you."
"I know that. I wouldn't expect it." He smirked at the old man then left the book with him. Arcturus sighed but opened it to read, hating a few things from the start. If muggle families would do that to each other, they deserved whatever punishment people like Voldemort gave those sorts. Though, Harry seemed...precious.
The boy had been a little shit most of the time, bedeviled his parents every day to hear the boys speak of it back then, but this one seemed a bit more fragile. A bit more bowed but not broken. What he saw about the ghoul, it triggered a memory.
He went to the Black library to find that topic. Yes, there is was. A horcrux. "Sirius," he summoned, using the pull for an heir to show up to him. He could summon any heir to the family, even one that was removed from it. Sirius showed up that night so he put the book in front of him.
Sirius read it then looked at his grandfather. "Yeah, Lily thought he did before they were attacked." He pushed the book back. "They weren't sure how many. They weren't sure where they were. But Lily was certain he had one. She mentioned something about the Chamber thing back in Riddle's days."
Arcturus stared at him. "Is he going to win this time?"
"No. Longbottom's got some strength behind him, Grandfather. His grandmother wailed when we told her. Then we told her about the prophecy and why they attacked Frank and Alice. She vowed Voldemort's destruction. We've tutored the kid." He grinned. "He's still shy and has a memory issue, but he'll grow into it and won't be alone."
"The other boys?"
'The Weasley son? Yeah, he exists. Molly was showing off her youngest son at Lily's baby shower. While talking about somehow forcing a daughter."
Arcturus blinked slowly. "The muggle girl?"
"That I have no idea about. Remus is looking. Not sure what he's seen."
"If Longbottom can get her help and the Weasley son's help?"
"That'd definitely be help close up to him most of the time. Will it be the same? No. Will it be okay? Probably. We'll manage it."
"Good. Voldemort needs to be taken down and out for good."
"If he's on that teacher, we can do that." He grinned. "There's ghoul vaults for a reason. My only quibble is to include others that might like to see him come back." He stared at him. "Your other heir, Grandfather?"
"Draco," he said with a smirk. "I don't know." He stared at him. "Lucius is a gamesman."
"Yes, he was." He nodded. "And he's one of the most canny slytherins ever. Would he support this? I'm not certain and if I asked, it might blow up in our face. Or he'll get into it with Dumbledore again."
"That man is a needle under one's nail," Arcturus agreed, considering it. "Is that the only book?"
"Um, no. It came out last year." He grinned. "The second year's comes out in a few weeks." The old man winced at that. "And it does go over that very topic. And the Chamber. The chamber's in the title."
"Did you get an advanced copy?"
"Remus did."
He smiled. "She's very intelligent but not absolutely wise."
"She clearly put herself in there as Hermione if she's not real," he said. "So much like Lily."
"Has the boy seen the second book?"
"Yup, sure has. I handed it to him myself and sat there while he read it." He grinned. "He was *so* amused."
"I would be as well." He considered the paths. "Tell Lucius."
"I can tell Narci."
"No, tell Lucius. I'll summon him tonight. With the boy." Sirius bowed and put the second book on the desk then left it to him. Arcturus summoned his youngest heir, which brought his father with him. Draco jumped at the summoning, staring at his parents since they were at the table. Then his father agreed to go with him since Draco had the feeling the Lord wanted to see him.
They showed up within an hour, time to change and get there properly by apparation. Arcturus let them into his study. "Lucius, Draco. Sit, heir of mine." He waved a hand. "It does not concern you overly much at this point in time. I needed your father."
"You could have called," Lucius said. He sat down across from him, his son sitting properly on a chair in the corner with a book that was suitable to read. "What's gone on?" He pushed the first book over. Lucius stared at it then at him. "What?" The second book got pushed over. "I...see. Perhaps."
"Dumbledore was wrong but there was a living victim that night," he said quietly.
"I was not there."
"That's good since I had let Sirius adopt the boy as his own heir until he had one."
"I see." He looked at the first book, taking it to flip through and glance at sections that caught his attention. "This breaks the statue of secrecy."
"It's also got an explanation and a warning." He stared at him. "Draco, what would you do if I told you that Voldemort wasn't dead?" he demanded.
The boy looked over. "I'd note that while I was taught not to like muggles I'm in no manner old enough to have an opinion on the seriousness of his crimes and what happened to him, though I doubt I'd follow the killings he did. It's not in my nature to end things in a bloody manner. I'm a good Slytherin, great-grandfather. I can plan, I can do tactical thoughts at times and am learning better, but I am not a killer."
"Good. Keep that attitude." He looked at Lucius, then tapped the second book. "Draco, is Hermione Granger a real student?"
He snorted. "Do not ask me about that know-it-all girl," he groaned. "She lives for the books, believes them to be true, and is so *damn* uptight! In Gryffindor! She's the worst type of Ravenclaw in the wrong house!"
Lucius looked at him then at his grandfather-in-law. "She's real?"
"Sirius was trying to figure that out." He looked smug and leaned back. "Do start though. And go through them both. Did that teacher show up?"
"The book's a year behind us in facts," he said, coming over to look. "Oh, the second one. Longbottom got a copy that we stole to see what it was about since Dumbledore was heaving that Potters all died."
"No they didn't," Arcturus said quietly, staring at him.
Draco stared back. "Then whichever survived is probably the author and warning us?"
"I have no idea," he admitted. Then he smirked. "That could be but their safety would be impacted by others hearing."
"I don't like muggles, Great-Grandfather. I probably never will. But I'm not a killer." He looked at his father then at his great-grandfather. "If that book's right, is Longbottom going to have to defeat him?"
"There's a prophecy." He let them see it.
Draco bit his lip then nodded. "That sucks for Lonbbottom and I'm glad that I was born three weeks later." Lucius started, staring at him. "I was born the end of the next month, Father." He let him have the prophecy back. "Do you want me to help the Longbottom boy?"
"Yes. I find Voldemort's ways unworthy and beneath a true Black, Draco."
"Understood, sir." He bowed. Lucius groaned. "I will not alert my father if it must be that way."
"I spied before," Lucius admitted. "As did your godfather."
"Yes, but he had his reasons and was there," Arcturus said. Lucius stared at him oddly but got a nod back.
"He idolized Lily," he said quietly.
"But she wasn't his and his desires were corrupt."
Lucius looked at the book, going to the first chapter to start there. "Are those muggles that bad?"
"I have no idea but I'd assume she's know her sister." Draco smiled a bit. "You cannot tell."
"No, we won't tell. Though we have hid it from all the teachers. The books have an underground reading club in the school. Weasley was so chuffed he was put into them."
"Hopefully that boy grows up like his oldest two siblings."
"The twins have their uses and ways," Draco offered with a smirk. "They're not always pleasant, but they do have plans to open a joke shop."
"Yes, I can see why." He nodded. "That Weasley girl?"
Draco grimaced. Then shook his head. "If Potter lived, I could see her whole family trying to cling to him." He sat down. "Am I to help Longbottom if it comes to a battle?"
"Yes. If you can quietly. I don't expect you to be the hero, Draco, but I expect you to not make the world worse."
"I can do that." He looked at his father while he read then at his great-grandfather again. "I know Mother has talked about my future marriage?"
"Yes, and it's traditional you marry someone we'd accept."
"Can she be from somewhere else that we'd accept?" Draco offered. "Two of my housemates had siblings die of being born deformed due to inbreeding. Our family tree looks like a whip vine." Lucius rolled his eyes.
"Yes, it does," Arcturus said with a smirk for the boy. "I would not mind if your spouse was a pureblood from outside our borders as long as she was a fit Black wife and bore us heirs. Some day this will all be given to my heirs." He waved a hand.
"I know it's not mine," Draco said.
"No, I have it set as Sirius because the girls can't take it and Regulus died."
"He betrayed him," Lucius said quietly, staring at him. "Not Narcissa?"
"No. The Black family's rings can't be held by a female. It's built into the title. It takes strong magic and your wife has fairly weaker magic. The second would mean she couldn't hold it even if it allowed female heirs as more than regents for their sons."
"Is Draco on that list?"
"There's only a few children born. Nymphadora, who is half-blooded and her mother self banished for that. Sirius, and Draco." He stared at him. "Sirius can hold it. He'll train Draco to take it when it's his turn."
Lucius nodded. "I can accept that and he'll be taking the Malfoy family as well."
"Good. Though he'll want some extra heirs." He looked at the boy. "When your second is born, have them be a Black, boy. It'll solve some problems."
"I can do that," he promised with a nod. "She made me very nasty, Great-Grandfather."
"She did and you can be," he said dryly. "It's like she was scrying or something."
"Well...." He considered it. "Some of it, perhaps." Lucius stared at him. He grinned. "The things in Potions? My godfather asked us to sabotage the Gryffindors."
"Do not," Lucius ordered. "The explosions could kill you." He went back to his reading. "She was clearly unhappy with Dumbledore."
"Yes, he's the one that set the secret keeper, who was not Sirius."
Lucius looked at him. "I heard."
"Is Pettigrew really a rat?" Draco asked his father. Who stared at him then nodded slowly. "No wonder he's survived multiple Weasley children owning him as a familiar."
Lucius stared at him. "What?" Draco opened the book to that first section and handed it over with a grin. He read it then groaned. "Oh, Dear Merlin!" he complained loudly. Arcturus laughed at that. "No, we can...." He looked at the old man. "I know you do not favor him. I do not favor his ways any longer."
"Good. I appreciate that." He leaned forward. "You can't become her vengeance but do be her instrument of usage at times."
"Yes, I can do that. It would bring better notice to the family."
"That's fine. Leave Sirius alone."
"Agreed," Lucius said, standing up to bow and shake his hand, taking the books with him.
Arcturus smiled at that. Lucius would do good helping that plot be ended. It'd save his family name from ruin. Even Lily would appreciate that.
***
Hermione Granger looked at Neville the start of the next school year, sighing in defeat. "My mother hates that book series." They were on the walkway by the library, alone, to talk. He had counted on her for a lot of help and she had always come through. Ron usually could but sometimes he could not put up with Ron. Though he wasn't attracted to Hermione, no matter what his grandmother thought.
Neville nodded. "You know, it took me three years to figure out that there's no such thing as a warm feeling ghost that can remove magic from you." Hermione slowly stared at him. He nodded. Then smirked a bit. "I really want to know why and we have a Marauder in the school apparently."
She considered it. "I heard that." They shared a look, then looked at the loudly complaining Ron coming up the hall toward them. "What did you do? You're covered in cobwebs, Ron."
"I ran into a closet by accident thanks to the stairs." He dusted himself off. She sighed but did the dusting charm for him since his wand was covered in webbing as well. "Thanks, 'Mione." He grinned at Neville. "So anything good this year?"
"No, probably not more than the usual." Ron pouted about that. "But maybe. Not sure." He walked off. "I'll talk to him, Hermione."
"Let me know," she called after him. She looked at Ron. "At least the book's not going to be totally right this year as we don't have an escaped criminal and dementors around."
"Thankfully someone found out and had a hissy fit. Malfoy's father was sneering hard according to my father."
She nodded. "I can see why." She walked around him. "Have fun in the library for that herbology paper, Ron." He groaned. She went to her room to think about things. What sort of ghost that wasn't a ghost was warm? It took her a moment to realize that what Neville had meant was someone was alive. She slapped herself on the forehead. That made so much sense with the letters she got most summers from that unaddressed envelope.
It gave her hints about things. It gave her encouragement to do her best. It gave her praise for loving to study and be a book nerd. This last summer it had encouraged her to do some off-books studying too, more than what she did to help Neville. The letter had said the world was a wide place and she could easily find a few places in it thanks to her mind and studies. Which she hoped to do if she survived whatever was going to go on this year.
But she wanted to know who wrote the letters. She had shown Neville one of them and he had recognized it because he got his own. They were still encouraging of him. Just like she got but clearly tailored to his needs.
***
Neville walked into the Defense classroom, nodding at Professor Snape, who huffed at him for it. "Sorry, sir, I needed to talk to him about something my grandmother wanted me to study this year."
"I doubt that," he sneered.
Neville stared at him. "You can go ask Grams if you want." He smiled at him like the imbecile he pretended to be. He knew it infuriated the teacher. Which is why he did it. Sirius Black had taught him that. Snape rolled his eyes but left. Neville shut the door again, staring at the man who had helped tutor him a few times. "Is Uncle Sirius all right?"
"He's not happy but he's fine enough. Why, Neville?"
He grimaced. "Did you read this year's book?"
"I haven't seen it's out yet. How did you get it?"
"I get a copy before it hits the shelves, usually about two weeks before."
"Oh. That's interesting. What was this year's problem?"
"Uncle Sirius escaping prison to come haunt here to get Pettigrew."
Remus grimaced. "He's stuck in his animagus form. I checked it years ago when we couldn't capture him to hand him over. Someone else had stuck him." He settled in his desk chair, staring at the boy. "Any other revelations?"
"The dementors apparently tormented Harry."
"They probably would enjoy it. They do that to the prisoners too."
Neville nodded, sitting on the front of a desk to stare at him. "So what if that's not fully changed?"
"I have no idea about the books, Neville."
"I have some." He smirked a bit. "And I need to make sure I'm not bound again this year. I'm feeling weaker for some reason."
Remus ran his wand over the boy, nodding. "Yes you are. I hate that man."
"Well, only a few ways to break that. Since my godmother did once. She showed up to chew on my uncle that had made sure I wasn't a squib by tossing me out a window."
Remus winced. "I know some families are that bad about squibs," he sighed. Neville nodded that was true. Remus sat up. "Hold on, Lily appeared to you as a ghost?"
"Petted me and removed the binding the first time."
"A ghost...so she's not the usual spirit."
"No, she wasn't. She was very solid for a ghost. That occurred to me later though." He shrugged but shifted in his chair. "What are we going to do about all this, Uncle Remus?"
"I don't know yet, Neville. How's Hermione?"
"Good. Bit worried about how it changed."
"So am I. I'll get the book as soon as I can to go over it. Does it do other things?"
"Time turners. I really have to ask Hermione if she does intend to take all the electives at once."
Remus sighed, then grimaced. "Sometimes she's got the bad parts that Lily had and sometimes not."
"Well, she is compared to her a lot." He slid off the front of the table. "Let me know if you hear things?"
"Of course." He stared at him. "Sirius and I are both proud of you."
He grinned. "Good!" He beamed and went back up to his house to settle in for the night with his homework. Ron was complaining about it already so that was great. Hermione was reminding him of a few things that were also due soon, making Ron complain more loudly. "You know, most of us learned how to keep a schedule," he quipped as he walked past the couch they were on.
"Yes, I learned time management that way when I was about six," Hermione agreed, smiling at him.
"Me too. It meant I didn't miss lessons in school." They stared at Ron, who huffed but got the calendar his mother had made for him. It had a few days labeled wrong because she started a month on the wrong day, but it'd do for now. Hermione took it to correct then handed it back after noting the things that were already due and when breaks were. Ron looked at it then went to get a book he hated to do something he hated with it. Neville settled on his bed to read ahead in herbology. He did like plants. Maybe he'd find a way to eat a ghoul that way.
***
Draco Malfoy, who was a smart assed little smart kid, showed up at a house on one of their free weekends. He had snuck away from the town, transferred a few times by portkey, and then had done the moving spell his mother had taught him a few more times to make sure he wasn't tracked.
So he was on a doorstep and knocked. The woman who came to the door looked like she had a cold. Her nose was red, her eyes were red, her red hair didn't match either shade of red skin and was pulled back in a messy bun.
"Are you selling something, kid?" she asked.
"No," he said, walking around her. "But the book's now wrong."
"Slightly. Foresight isn't always certain when things can be changed." She slammed the door. "How did you find me?"
He grinned. "Well, I do have connections. Though I did not tell anyone. Should I tell Granger? Who is like your daughter."
"No, she's not my kid. Though I do like the girl. She's a lot like me." She sat down, staring at him. "What are you playing at, Malfoy? And do I need to blank out your memory?"
"No," he said. "I'm not on his side. I never was." He stared at her. "But I am part of the underground at the school. Mostly to protect myself and my family. Because I'm not a killer."
She raised an eyebrow before grabbing a tissue to blow her nose. "Good to know."
"Great-grandfather charged me with making the world a better place."
"It'd be great if you did. Much unlike your father."
"He worked behind the scenes very often."
"I remember him at your age and he was a little asshole." She blew her nose again then tossed out the tissue. "So why look me up?"
"I wanted to look ahead. I'm feeling frustrated that it's coming in so slowly. What if he moves before the books do?"
"He's not doing a lot of that."
"Yes but he has done some."
"He's still a ghoul until next year. He has to have the right date to perform the rebodying rite."
"Rite, not a spell?" he asked to make sure. She nodded. "How? Where?"
"During the tournament." She smirked a bit. "He thought your daddy was loyal."
"He pretends to be loyal to people who aren't him but most of us realize he's only loyal to protect himself. Not me or my mother, but himself."
"Which sucks," she said. "Especially if you're his son, who he should be protecting."
"He taught me to be the same way. I did learn from the master of self interest." He stared at her. "Can I get something on that rite? Can we stop it?"
"If you're lucky. If the tournament goes on and Neville gets picked, find some way to keep him from being portkeyed from the third task."
"Hmm." He considered it then leaned forward. "When will they know about you?"
"When I show up to back my godson up." She stared at him. "Though I'm pretty sure he figured it out."
"Probably. Neville's not *smart* but he's good enough to figure out puzzles." He considered it then stared at her. "The goblins are saying they're going to have to open up your wills. Dumbledore's pushing."
"He's going to lose too." She smirked a bit. "I don't have a will that's needed and they know that."
"Oh, good," he sighed. "The bank could be a huge roadblock. Can I help with the plotting at least? I need a bit of a challenge and I do have good tactical thought. And your former friend is a good teacher so I'm ahead already." He grinned.
She smirked. "It's good your uncle is teaching."
"Not Uncle Sirius. We have Remus Lupin."
"I know. He's your uncle too. He and Sirius were bonded as brothers with James." She smirked a bit.
"How?" She got up to get her journal, letting him see that page. He read it and moaned. "Oh, that's going to be..." He looked up. "That means Lupin could take the Black title."
"Perhaps. I have no idea if Arcturus knew or not before he died. I know the ring marks all heirs. It can summon all heirs."
"I've had that happen." He frowned at her. "Did you do that?"
"I'm female. I can't hold the Black ring. It takes a penis, Draco."
"Point. And I'm the only one of those if my uncle dies." He grinned.
"He adopted Harry but...." She waved a hand. "Moot point." She sighed.
"The grief must be horrible," he said quietly, handing the journal back. "If you talked to someone like Granger, she'd probably offer a hug. She seems like the sort to hug. She gave Weasley a few last year before they had to send her off for the possessions. My father was such an overblown prat to do that."
"Did Dobby get freed?"
"Yes, he did. I made sure he got freed." He grinned. "The handing over of the sock only worked a tiny bit, it loosened it, it had to come from an heir." He shifted in his seat. "Can we stop the rite?"
"If possible I'd like to. I have no idea how. But Neville has that book coming next week if his grandmother doesn't get it again."
He stared at her. "She has?"
"She delays them by at least a week to read them first."
"Shite," he muttered. "Send me a copy?" She pointed at the shelf behind her. He got up to look and took the books for the rest of the series, smiling at her. "I'll do what I can to help this plot. After all, a half blood with mental issues should not be the ruler of our world. And if I someday become minister for magic, maybe things will be different."
He smirked and left. She laughed at that at least. He went back to the school, finding Granger in the library like usual. No Neville though. He stopped to stare at her, getting glared at. "It's a day in town, Granger. Didn't you want to get out of here?"
"Yes but I got assigned an extra paper thanks to you being a little moron in History."
He sighed, rolling his eyes. "You still could've done it later."
"He gave me an extra four feet. You only got ten inches."
"Four feet?" he demanded. She nodded. He accidentally dropped his bag, which showed off the copy of a book before picking it up like she wouldn't notice.
"That was in no way smooth," she said dryly. She smirked. "So, how...."
"I asked the author nicely." He walked off. "Find me later."
"If I must."
He stared at her, nodding. "You must." He left, going to Lupin's office to talk to him. He had Parvarti in there with Lovegood. He'd come back later. After a snack. He was a growing boy after all. He was hungry most of the time these days as he finished growing into a fine young man. He met up there later that night, finding Neville and Hermione both in there with Ron.
"So...." He closed the door and put up an anti-scrying, listening, and recording spell. Remus added to it and Hermione added one she had found. "That's permeable by the paintings, Granger." She stunned them all, staring at him. "That's nice." He put his bag on the desk, staring at Neville. "I met the author. Because something really bothered me about this year being different."
"We noticed," Neville said.
"Did you get the next book yet?" he asked. "She said she sent it."
"Grams probably has it. Why?"
"Because next year is *important*. Like raising him important." He stared at him. "Which I was seeing evidence of. He was absent in this book for the most part, and it was all emotional." Remus cleared his throat. He looked at him. "If you had eaten my godfather I might not have minded," he said quietly, then looked at Granger. "You should try writing her back."
"Who is she?" she asked.
"Oh, you'd recognize her picture if she wasn't wearing a glamour I'm sure." He looked at Neville, who nodded he knew. "But she's got a cold. Totally red face that didn't match her hair." Hermione gasped, staring at him. He nodded. "Yes. I have no idea how, but I have a good idea. Also, my father was such a moron last year," he told Ron, who rolled his eyes. "I don't know why but my great-grandfather instructed me to help you lot to make sure that the evil doesn't occlude the dark."
"Because Dark and Evil are different," Remus agreed quietly. "Are you saying Lily's alive?"
Draco looked at him. "I was in no way that blunt," he said smugly. He handed over the next book. "But he's being raised next year. He apparently thought my father was loyal. My father's only loyalty is to himself."
"What's in this for you?" Ron asked him.
"Well, first, I don't get sucked into something that'll ruin my family so we all die off. Or so I get killed. Some day I can rebuild our status to grow higher. I might even run for Minister for Magic." He grinned.
"You'd do better than Fudge," Hermione admitted. "He's at least a quarter of the man you're becoming, Draco."
"I know but I can't do that if my father screws it all up. Or my uncle Sirius as I'm the secondary heir there. He's a real wild card in that equation. I can foresee my father's actions usually. Not my uncle. He's...."
"Mentally touched? Yes, he often is," Remus said dryly. "I had no idea that you were his heir, Draco. Does he?"
"The Black family ring can only be held by a male," he said, staring at him. "Even with that brotherhood thing she mentioned...." Remus sat up straighter. Draco nodded. "Great-Grandfather made sure Uncle Sirius knew I'd have to stand it some day and my own family's ring. So I had to have kids with names in both families. Though I am looking outside the country thanks to Pansy's relatives."
He cleared his throat, looking at Neville. "Usual time of the year." He flipped back to the spring, finding the section. "Something during the tournament." He flipped back a few more pages, finding that and going through it, then grimacing as he let Hermione read over his arm.
"I hadn't thought about that rite at all," Remus admitted quietly. "But if Lily lives...." He sighed, slumping as he considered it. "She could've used the spell. Had a new child."
Hermione looked at him over Neville's arm. "Not all women who lose children will ever be able to welcome a new one. The grief would make her not handle the new one. Some mothers can and some won't ever be able to."
Remus rubbed his face, nodding at that wisdom. "Then I need to find her." He looked at Draco.
"Oh, no, I hid the address from myself on the way back. Sorry. I'm not going to endanger her. You can go looking." Remus glared. He shrugged but grinned. "There's too many that can read minds around here."
"True, there are. Including the headmaster."
"Who'd be very invested in that knowledge," Neville agreed. "Though I caught him calling me Harry the other day behind my back."
"No, he complained Harry would've been more docile," Draco told him. "He was mumbling about that as he stomped past me."
"What's this tournament?" Hermione asked.
"Three schools," Draco said. "I glanced that part over earlier." He stared at her. "All three big schools." She winced. "And a death eater teaching us defense!" He beamed at them. They all groaned, including Remus. "So.... How can I help?"
"Not sure yet," Hermione admitted. "Thank you for the head's up though, Draco."
"Welcome. I need to make sure I don't die of this. And my family doesn't die of this." He looked at Remus. Who stared back. "Is my uncle actually sane?"
"I haven't been sure of that since our third year," he admitted dryly.
"Oh, more so than usual then?"
"I haven't seen him. He's doing things in the Wizengamet."
"My grandmother calls him mouthy," Neville admitted. "Your father?"
"I have no idea. I'm not sharing this though." He shrugged. "Who knows what'll happen with that warning. Though, can we get the rat?" he asked Ron, staring at him.
"What rat?" he asked, looking confused. "He's not an animagus. The twins checked."
"Bull, I can check," Remus assured him. "Which I was planning on doing when I heard you had him up here. I can so see Sirius breaking out of jail for that reason. His temper is worse than yours, Weasley." He looked at Hermione. "How is your cat?"
"I had no idea what to name him until I read that. He does appreciate his name and does try to eat Scabbers though."
"Accio Scabbers," Neville said, using his wand to flick and swish.
"That's mean if he's an animal," Ron complained. But he did catch him when he came flying in. He let the defense teacher have him to check.
Remus held him up the tail, smirking at him. "Hello, Peter." The rat squeaked and tried to get free. "No, I don't think so. Though it's sweet someone bound you to stay in that form." He tried to shift back but didn't make it, he was truly stuck. "Hmm. Sweet." He looked at Ron, who shrugged and put his hands up as he backed away. "We'll check you for spells just in case, Ron."
"Thanks!" He grinned and left.
Draco snickered. "I think whoever managed that should get an award. The last I heard that was a theoretical work." He left them to plot.
"Which was done by Lily Potter," Hermione muttered. "I looked her up after I kept getting compared to her." She smiled at Remus, who grinned back. "Was she nice?"
"If your name wasn't James and you weren't picking on people. Most of the time."
"I can admire that." She looked at Neville then kissed him on the cheek. "Your grandmother wrote me the nicest note about how you could not take up with me as I'm a muggle born witch and it's not acceptable. I sent back I had no designs on your boxer shorts and really, none of the boys in the school would be on my radar that way but it was nice of her to warn me about such expectations. Let me have that one when you're done and I'll start on that rite?"
"Yeah, I can do that. And I'm dating Hannah Abbot. I really should tell Grams that." He settled in to read while Remus got a cage for the being that was pretending to be a rat. "Can I help with that?"
"No, we're going to talk to him for a bit first. Then maybe McGonagall would change him back."
"I have...doubts," he admitted, staring at him. "That she's not under a compulsion. She called me Harry once last week and so did Dumbledore beyond that time."
"I can have Poppy check," he decided. "How can you tell?"
"She's gotten more...I don't want to say snotty but snotty like some of the girls are to us boys this year."
"Yes, I can definitely see that. I've seen her complaining about you kids." He nodded. "I'll have someone check."
"Have fun with him. Let me know if I can help? And if there's some way to help my parents?"
"I have no idea but the one to ask that to may be Lily herself if she's alive."
"If I see my watching godmother again I'll gladly do that." He left, taking the books with him to go read them on his bed. They were longer books this time. The last one was massive. So he'd skip tomorrow and possibly his classes on Monday too. Just in case it was that important.
Remus smiled at the caged rat. "Well, now it's just us." The rat tried to change again and didn't manage it. "Hmm. Interesting." He hexed him, making the being scream in pain. "Yeah, you're not a rat." He carried him off to his office and called an old friend, kind of. "Amelia!" he said happily, smiling at her.
"This looks bad." He held up the cage. "You have a pet rat you wanted to introduce?"
"He's an animagus. You knew him in school, Amelia."
"There's no way. Those books aren't real, Lupin."
"They are real. Someone had foresight." She winced. "Would you like Peter before Sirius and I talk with him?"
"I doubt I want to clean up the pieces afterward," she admitted. "Is he stuck?"
"Yes. By magic."
"Oh. How?"
"I don't know. Not my field."
"I'll be there soon."
"Can you bring someone who can test people for compulsion potions and hexes? Some of the teachers are acting a bit odd. Sprout and McGonagall especially. She actually complained a student had a prank that she didn't use the other night."
Amelia Bones blinked a few times. "Why would she complain if it wasn't used? Could it have been used to help something instead?"
"No. It got mailed to her that morning." He stared at her.
She just nodded. "Yes, I can use the training for the aurors." She hung up and went to gather people to do that. She'd get Fudge to agree to it easily enough. He could keep the rat for a few hours. It wasn't the full moon so she didn't have to worry about him ripping him apart with his teeth. Probably.
***
Neville stepped in front of the auror testing everyone, smiling at him. "I've had a few people removing bindings on my magic a few times," he admitted quietly. "It was most weird feeling when the spirit petted me."
"A spirit managed it?" He did the checking spell at a deeper level than he had been doing. "Huh. Someone had tried again but it's blocked."
"Yes, the spirit petted my hair and cheek to fix it last time."
"It's blocked from being tried again. But someone clearly has recently, in the last month."
"Here in the school?" he asked.
"Yes. Probably. Have you gotten any strange mail, Longbottom?"
"No. Hardly any mail at all outside the paper and a few letters from Grams."
"Hmm. I'll look into that." He made a note on a pad of paper that was magic proof so it couldn't be tampered with. "Any others having such strange things?"
"Maybe Ron's temper? It's really bad this week."
"We'll gladly check all of Gryffindor."
"Can you ask McGonagall why she's mad at us for existing again?" he asked quietly, glancing at her then at the auror. "She's been really angry too."
"Yes, I can gladly check her as well. We're doing all the teachers later." Neville grinned, going to wait on them to do a second checking later. With Hermione, who had a few charmed letters she needed checked. Including one of the mysterious ones that she was writing back at. So it went into her bag. She'd protect that one. The paper wiggled so she pulled it out to grin at that name to look up. She sent back a thank you note and put it back into her bag to hide it again.
"Yup, Ron's cursed," Dean, his roommate, said as they watched him going off on the auror that told him he was cursed. "Wonder who did it?" He looked at the twins, who shrugged. It wasn't them apparently.
"Did he lose Scabbers? I haven't seen him all day," Seamus said as he came over. He had been cleared of all taint.
"I haven't either," Neville admitted. "Not in a few days."
"Let's hope it's not off making little rat babies," Hermione said dryly. "I'm not sure if you can neuter them the same way you can cats."
"Frogs get a potion," Neville said. "Mine hates it."
"Mine went to the vet," Hermione said. "It's permanent."
The guys grimaced but that was to be expected. Having your balls removed creeped out teenage boys.
McGonagall came over to help with Ron's clearing and got caught by a checking spell herself. Then had a fit of her own. The healer came over to do them himself and got them both taken to be cleaned at the hospital's center for that. Dumbledore didn't like it, but oh well! Their word was the law. The students watching were highly amused by that show. A few even tried to clap but an older student stopped it before it stopped the show.
***
McGonagall, now spell free, looked at the rat in the cage. "I can't undo that. I don't know how it was done. The magic's twined about things." Someone knocked. "Enter," she called.
Hermione leaned in. "Sorry to interrupt, Professor, I have the books we borrowed for that paper." She brought them in to put on the desk. "Why did we strip Scabbers of his fur?" She frowned at it. "You still have the yellow streaks the twins gave you I see." The rat squeaked angrily at her.
"He's a stuck animagus," McGonagall huffed.
Hermione looked at her. "Like in the seventh year books? Scarapious or something like that?"
She got the book to look at that name, frowning. "I don't remember that one but that won't work. We tried basically the same spell, Miss Granger. But thank you for the help." She closed the book.
"Well, if it's a hex, then wouldn't you have to remove whatever it's attached to? I remember the story about the hex on the young girl that was attached to her neck." She left them alone. The rat was squealing in outrage.
"I suppose we could do that but I hate to maim it before he turns back," McGonagall said dryly. "So we can find out who he is."
"I have a good idea who it is," Bones assured her. "Aren't you, Pettigrew?" McGonagall gasped at that, checking him then growling. "Can we remove it and keep him alive?"
"It's on his bolllox. So yes. But I'm sure he won't miss them too much in jail." She looked at Remus, who nodded she was right about that. "You're certain?"
"Yes. Quite. It's Peter. His wand was hidden on his back leg." He put it on the desk. "I had to enlarge it as he had it implanted as a splinter."
"Hmm." She tested it then nodded and severed the tiny little balls full of spells. It got all the spells cut off and he changed back with a scream of pain at that. The incision self cauterized as he grew so that was fine. Bones arrested him and walked him off that way, naked and all. Remus smiled and waved at his back.
"I'll let Sirius know so he can come visit."
"Don't do that to my jail, Lupin," Bones ordered. "He can get put in the drunk tank or something if he must."
"Oh, I'm sure he could." She shuddered at that. He walked over to the floo, waving at the man who answered. He pointed at their backs. "Guess who was a family pet!"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "He was a family pet?"
"Stuck in animagus form by someone." He stared at him. "We should talk."
"Not likely over this as they can listen in, Remus." He finished that drink. "I'll see him for his trial." Remus smirked at him. "I will. I do sit on that panel." He hung up with a smirk. Then he went to laugh. That figured why he hadn't been able to find that particular rat.
Remus looked at the other teacher, who was sighing. "There's a few on our talking list."
"I figured there were," she admitted. "How did we find this out?"
"Neville did."
"Oh."
"Hermione's cat kept trying to attack it because it was evil." He left, going to sit in his office to make plots about a few things he had to see about. Including not being told Lily was alive. He would've kept the secret. Sirius knew that. He called him back to stare at him. "We should talk.""
"We can do that when you learn to put up shields so no one can read your mind or tamper with it."
Remus looked devastated. "I... I hadn't thought of that."
Sirius nodded. "Definitely a need with what was in the news today, Remus. Are you well?"
"Very. They didn't find any on me."
"That's almost amusing. You out of how many?"
"About half the school." He stared at him. "I heard from your heir. He's got a working mind. Went to visit someone."
"I'm going to paste the little brat if he did."
"He had a good reason." He stared at him. "I would've liked to have heard."
He nodded. "I thought you would've caught it when I hinted, Remus."
"Oh, I didn't realize." He sighed. "So..." Sirius nodded. "Oh. Is everyone all right?"
"I have no idea. I've made sure of that."
"I can see why. Well, maybe next year?"
"I got a copy of that. Maybe." That got a nod and Remus hung up this time to go sulk. It was true, being a werewolf meant he couldn't put up good mental shields against intrusion or legimens. So it had been to protect Lily and himself. But he still would've liked to have heard. He wanted to give her a hug, had for years.
***
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