Saturday morning.
Some freshmen strolled around the castle grounds, while others lay sunbathing by the lake. Academic pressure had yet to settle in.
The Gryffindor freshmen gathered in a group, discussing the maze of stair rules. Hermione talked the most, while Neville diligently wrote down nearly every word—and kept a list of lounge passwords.
Loren and his roommates had formed a habit: if Neville wasn't waiting by the lounge before bedtime, they would find him there, waiting patiently outside the door.
Ron carefully slipped Scabbers into his pocket. Lately, the rat had been sleeping more and more—almost all day except during meals. Ron worried the little creature might be unwell.
Harry listened intently to the discussion about the fastest routes to classrooms, remembering Professor McGonagall's harsh words when scolding him and Ron for being late.
"Perhaps if you two were turned into pocket watches, you'd be more punctual."
"If you were turned into maps, you wouldn't get lost."
How could a person with such a warm body temperature speak such cold words? Harry never wanted to experience it again.
Just then, Percy, Fred, and George returned from outside, heading straight toward Ron.
Ron waved cheerfully. "Hey! I thought you all went to Hogsmeade. I wanted you to bring me some candy!"
Percy's face was pale; he said nothing. Fred and George each grabbed one side of Ron and began to walk him away.
They teased him as if he'd suffered some great disaster:
"Oh, poor little Ronnie."
"He doesn't know what happened yet."
Ron was puzzled. The twins carried him a little way before he shouted, "Let me go! Be careful or I'll tell Mom—you'll be in trouble!"
Percy called to Loren and Harry to follow but didn't explain what had happened. Loren exchanged a glance with Harry, his mind already forming guesses, but he remained silent.
The lounge occupants watched the Weasley brothers' antics, smiling at the apparent joke.
Outside the lounge, Professor McGonagall waited, holding a glass jar. The twins set Ron down and announced in unison, "Report: mission accomplished."
McGonagall waved her wand at Ron's pocket. Scabbers floated up and dropped into the jar, which swiftly transformed into a sealed sphere with a single air hole.
Ron stared in disbelief. "Merlin's beard, you just caught a mouse?"
Fred and George patted Ron. "Mom and Dad are waiting for us in the principal's office. Let's go."
Harry and Ron followed the group, their minds full of questions.
Inside the principal's office, Loren noticed all the portraits turned inward, faces hidden. Snape stood in a corner while Dumbledore consoled the Weasleys.
It was Loren and Harry's first time meeting Ron's parents—both bore the signature red hair of the Weasley family.
Arthur Weasley, tall and thin with glasses, kept saying, "I should have noticed something earlier. It's all my fault..."
Molly Weasley, a plump woman, wept uncontrollably. "My poor Ronnie, that damned dark wizard."
Seeing the group enter, Molly hurried to Ron and embraced him tightly. "Thank Merlin you're okay! Thank Dumbledore!"
Ron felt his mother's trembling excitement and silently returned the hug, unsure but wanting to comfort her. Arthur approached as well. Though Dumbledore reassured them all was well, Arthur only relaxed visibly after seeing the children himself.
Arthur noticed Harry and his scar. "You must be Harry. You've grown so much."
Molly reached out, hesitating, then hugged Harry. "Poor child!"
Harry felt an unfamiliar warmth and closeness he quietly welcomed. He wished his own mother had been here.
Dumbledore introduced Loren: "This is Loren. His keen eyes helped uncover a mystery we'd still be blind to otherwise."
Except Ron, the Weasleys smiled gratefully at Loren. Loren returned their smiles.
Snape's face twisted in disgust at the scene and interrupted, "Now, let's reveal the true face of this rat from the gutter."
McGonagall gently poured Scabbers onto the floor. Dumbledore raised an ancient wand, activating a four-pointed star that bathed the rat in yellow light.
Ron thought, Finally, it's yellow.
The rat stretched and expanded. As the light faded, it transformed into a short, pudgy man with a bald head and gray hair.
Harry's scar prickled briefly—a faint, fleeting sensation. For a moment, he wondered if it was just a trick of his mind.
Loren felt a strange familiarity toward the man but dismissed it as a vague memory from a movie.
Ron and Percy's faces drained of color. Ron, disgusted, remembered how much he had loved this pet—kissing it and even sleeping with it. Now, the cherished mouse was a greasy, bald middle-aged man.
McGonagall gasped, "Peter Pettigrew?" She recognized her former student immediately.
Snape's voice was grim: "Unbelievable. Ten years ago, Peter Pettigrew was blown up by his closest friend, leaving only a single finger. Yet he hid in the Weasley family for over a decade."
Loren's mind filled with hazy images: a blown-off roof, a cleared street, a blue skirt fluttering—memories without origin.
"There's more to this story. We'll need a potion to uncover the truth."
"Just a few drops of freshly brewed truth serum."
Dumbledore frowned, then shook his head. "Peter once earned the Order of Merlin, First Class. He is still seen as a hero. We cannot proceed with that."
He instructed McGonagall to notify the Ministry of Magic. Another person was involved in the incident years ago.
Since Loren had informed him about the Animagus hiding in the Weasley family, Dumbledore had planned carefully: star-shaped wards were placed on the rat to prevent escape or desperate acts.
Letters were sent to Arthur and Molly; McGonagall would keep in touch with Percy and the twins to ensure the family's safety.
Today, Dumbledore intended to give Harry a lesson on dark wizards—and Snape's potion was ready. But matters had grown more complex. Secrets still lingered from the past.
Dumbledore told the Weasleys to wait for further news. Arthur and Molly, trusting him fully, said little. The children left dazed.
McGonagall granted the Weasley brothers two days' leave to recover, with orders to return Monday.
Molly invited Harry and Loren to spend the weekend at the Burrow, but they agreed it was best not to disturb the family.
Harry's confusion deepened. He wanted to ask Dumbledore about what Hagrid hadn't finished telling him regarding his parents.
Did Ron's parents know his? What about that dark wizard? Did Loren know long ago?
Harry planned to ask Loren carefully…