Harry closed the book, deciding he'd look at it again tomorrow.
At dinner, he quietly pulled Hermione aside—out of Ron's earshot—to ask about the situation.
Hermione lowered her voice. "I suspect Scabbers might actually be an Animagus. Maybe even Peter Pettigrew himself."
Harry stared at her, baffled. "How's that possible? Wasn't Peter blown up by Black? They only ever found a finger."
Hermione shrugged. "So, no one really knows if Peter's dead or not. Honestly, I didn't believe it at first either. But the other day, I saw George and Fred asking Professor Lupin about the Human Restoration Charm. When they noticed me, they started whispering. So I think they must've found something. What's Scabbers' most obvious feature...?"
Harry's eyes widened. "He's missing a finger?"
Hermione nodded. "I went through Advanced Transfiguration for details on Animagi. I don't think the map showing 'Peter Pettigrew' as Scabbers is some trick by the Professor. I think it can actually see through Animagus transformations."
Harry was stunned, blurting out, "But wasn't Peter a hero? Why would he turn into a rat...?"
Hermione took a deep breath, sounding exasperated. "How should I know? Aren't you the president of the Detective Society? And don't let Ron find out about this yet—"
Just then, Ron wedged his head between theirs. "What are you two whispering about? What am I not supposed to know?"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Nothing you need to know." She shot Harry a warning glare for good measure.
Before Ron could press further, George and Fred appeared, one on each side, slinging their arms around his shoulders.
"We've got a brilliant business deal!" "A deal just for our little brother!"
Ron scoffed. "Oh, so now you remember I'm your brother? You two stash away all your money, buy loads of cool stuff, and never share a thing with me."
When Harry heard Ron bring up the twins' money, he glanced awkwardly at the ceiling.
Hermione eyed Harry suspiciously. "That map—don't tell me the Professor didn't really give it to you. Did you buy it?"
Harry coughed, embarrassed. "Good things come at a price… Why can't Ron know?"
Hermione gave him a look. "If I told you Hedwig was actually an old man in disguise, how would you feel?"
Hedwig had been Harry's very first gift in the wizarding world, his closest companion. The thought of her secretly being an old man made his skin crawl.
"Hedwig's a girl!" Harry insisted, clinging to the last shred of hope.
Hermione snorted. "What, you secretly wish Hedwig would turn into a beautiful fairy like in those Professor-written novels and fall in love with you? Filthy thoughts, honestly!"
With that, she spun on her heel and left.
From behind, Harry retorted, "Like you don't daydream about Crookshanks being some dashing bloke!"
A voice drifted over his shoulder, sly and teasing. "So, Harry, do you really want Hedwig to be an owl fairy?"
Harry whirled around. "Ginny!"
Later that evening, after a weary return from detention, Harry found Hermione and Ron sitting on opposite sides of the common room—one east, one west.
He hurried over to Ron, confused. "Weren't you going to copy Hermione's homework? Why are you sitting so far apart?"
Ron shot a gloomy glance at Hermione. "Who knows what's up with her. I told her George and Fred borrowed Scabbers and his cage for a few days—with some joke shop stuff and snacks..."
Harry looked up, startled, and cut him off. "What! You gave Scabbers to George—"
Ron was just as shocked by Harry's reaction, jumping to his feet, ready to explain.
But then they saw Hermione stride over to George and Fred, who had just entered the common room, and drag them into a corner.
Ron grumbled, "She's not trying to get Scabbers back, is she?"
Harry quickly followed.
Hermione fixed the twins with a stare and said bluntly, "Scabbers. Peter Pettigrew. Animagus."
George and Fred exchanged a look, then grinned in admiration. "Knew we couldn't pull one over on you!"
Harry leaned in. "So you've mastered the Human Restoration Charm?"
George shrugged. "Not yet."
"We've been way too busy!"
Ron finally caught up, confused. "What Human Restoration Charm?"
Fred snickered. "Our daft brother doesn't have a clue."
George put on a mock-tragic voice. "You're meant to be best friends—how come he knows nothing?"
"President, we found this first, you know."
Hearing this, Ron turned on Hermione and Harry, fuming. "What are you two hiding from me?"
George and Fred winked at the trio, then made a swift exit.
Hermione sighed, glanced at Harry, and said, "Go on, tell him."
...
Once Hermione and Harry finished explaining, Ron sat there, dumbfounded.
Then he snapped out of it. "You're telling me, just because of the name on the map, Scabbers missing a toe, and his freakish lifespan, you think he might be Peter Pettigrew?"
Hermione nodded. "If you follow that logic, a lot of things start to make sense. Why did the Professor suddenly send you pet food and a cage? And the food keeps Scabbers asleep all the time—it shows the Professor must've noticed something strange about him ages ago."
Harry chimed in, "I reckon Black's target was never me. Sure, he's one of Voldemort's cronies, but we've got no real beef. But Peter Pettigrew—he's the one who got Black thrown in Azkaban. Didn't my cousin say that pet food would make Scabbers stronger without him noticing? And he was worried Black might catch Scabbers, so he sent a magic cage to keep Peter safe."
Hermione frowned slightly. Something about Harry's logic just felt… off.
Ron looked queasy, shaking his head. "So by your theory, I've been cuddling an old man for years?"
The thought made him shudder. He still didn't quite believe it, but their certainty was starting to get to him.
Hermione offered a small consolation. "Actually, Percy cuddled him for years too. That should make you feel a bit better."
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