https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-147-Catching-the-Bug-tailed-Monster-Part-4/12572463/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-The-Journalist-and-the-Traitor/12572465/
Chapter 148: Werewolf and Wormtail
Chapter 148: Werewolf and Wormtail
Although Wormtail, Peter Pettigrew, was completely petrified and immobile, his beady little eyes continued to dart around, searching for an opportunity to escape.
"He... he's really human?" Ron asked in disbelief.
The sight of Peter Pettigrew's skin, as gray and furry as a mouse's, made him feel nauseous.
He had grown fond of Scabbers, but he felt nothing for this balding wizard who had transformed into his pet rat. The thought of sharing a bed with him every night sent shivers down Ron's spine.
Harry, who had been observing from the sidelines, noticed that Wormtail's gaze kept drifting towards him, as if he wanted to say something. He felt a strange unease creep over him.
There was a plea in those eyes, a glimmer of hope, as if Harry was his only salvation.
"Do you know Peter Pettigrew?" Hermione asked Percy. "Who is he, and why was he hiding in your house as a rat?"
Harry noticed that Percy glanced at him before averting his gaze and replied, "I heard his name when I was little..."
"How come we never knew about this?" Fred and George chimed in together.
Percy rolled his eyes. "You were only three or four years old at the time. What could you have possibly known?"
"Who is he, then?" Ron asked, his voice filled with disgust as he looked at Peter Pettigrew.
"He's..." Percy began, but was interrupted by Ved.
"If you're going to tell a story, wait a moment," Ved said. He poured a pale green potion down Peter Pettigrew's throat and explained, "I need to take this man away for a while. This is a sedative that will make him drowsy and weak, ensuring he doesn't escape again by mistake."
Ved was aware that they had caught Peter Pettigrew due to the advantage of knowing his true identity while their enemy was unaware.
As long as Peter Pettigrew believed he could still conceal himself, he wouldn't dare to return to his human form under Dumbledore's watchful eye.
He had to operate in his rat form, and with the strength of a rat, it was possible for a few young wizards to capture him. It was similar to the plot where Ron caught him by the tail, and no matter how much he struggled, he couldn't escape.
However, now that his identity was exposed, if he regained his wand, none of the Weasleys would stand a chance against him. Even Ved wasn't sure if he could overpower him.
"Wait, Gray," Percy interjected. "We should hand him over to Dumbledore. This man... he's a well-known... sacrificial hero..."
"Hero?" Ron frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I know," Ved said, looking directly into Percy's eyes. "Mr. Weasley, I am aware of who he is. I will deliver him to Dumbledore, but not for another hour."
Percy was taken aback. "Why?"
"If you don't understand the situation, don't offer so many opinions," Fred snapped, pushing his brother aside. He turned to Ved and said, "Go ahead and do what you need to do... I trust you!"
"Me too," George added, raising his hand. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have discovered him! I'm sure you have your reasons for doing this."
Ved smiled and nodded.
Although Percy still seemed disapproving, Ved wasn't too concerned about their opinions.
As long as the Weasley twins cooperated with his plan, that was all that mattered.
The ideal scenario would be for them to escort Peter Pettigrew out of the Gryffindor common room without attracting any attention.
However, causing a commotion and bringing in unexpected individuals, as long as it wasn't the professor, would only add a little trouble.
If Percy and Ron continued to obstruct him, Ved wouldn't mind knocking them out.
Using a Floating Charm, Ved brought Peter Pettigrew to the side of the room where they usually practiced spells. With a wave of his wand, a large curtain unfolded, dividing the room in two and blocking both sight and sound.
"Zoe."
Ved called out softly.
There was a soft pop, and Zoe appeared with the Vanishing Cabinet.
"Mr. Ved Gray, Zoe is ready."
"Thank you for your help."
Ved dragged Peter Pettigrew into the cabinet. He smiled at the house-elf and whispered, "See you in an hour, Zoe."
There was a loud clunk, followed by darkness, and then the cabinet lit up.
Lupin opened the cabinet door.
"Ved, it's not time for class yet. Why are you here so suddenly..."
Lupin's voice trailed off as he stared at Peter Pettigrew, his face suddenly hollow and pale.
"...Peter?" he asked in a very soft voice.
—When a friend thought to be dead suddenly appears, do you feel relief or anger? In that short one or two seconds, Lupin's expression changed in a way that was too complex to describe with words.
Ved saw the rapid contraction of his pupils and the flaring of his nostrils, knowing that Lupin had figured out what had happened in the past.
For a moment, he bared his teeth like a wolf, as if he wanted to bite off Peter Pettigrew's neck.
But then, when Lupin saw Ved, he forced himself to calm down.
"Where did you find this man... How did you capture him?" Lupin asked in a trembling voice.
"Come with me, I don't want to explain this again." Ved brought Peter Pettigrew out of the cabinet and asked, "Is Mr. Marchioni here?"
Lupin's eyes were glued to Peter, and it took him a while to answer, "Yes. He and the people he brought with him... they're all in the living room..."
"Good." Ved said, "I promised the others that I'd bring him back in an hour."
He took out a crystal vial from his pocket and said, "Veritaserum, I think you know how to use it."
Lupin looked at the Veritaserum and then at Ved, "When did you find out about all this?"
"After I saw the name Peter Pettigrew, I looked up some information." Ved replied vaguely.
Yes, he had read a book called 'Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban'.
"His name?"
"Do you know about the Marauder's Map?"
Lupin nodded, feeling that he now understood Ved's implication.
As the creator of the Marauder's Map, he was aware that the map showed the names of everyone within the Hogwarts grounds.
Ved must have obtained that map and accidentally seen the name Peter Pettigrew, realizing that he was not one of his classmates. He then researched further and deduced the truth of what had happened in the past.
Just as Lupin's mind was now flooded with realizations.
Lupin poured three drops of Veritaserum into Peter Pettigrew's mouth and then led his once-friend towards the living room.
"You stay here, Ved." Lupin said calmly, "This isn't something you should be involved in."
In the living room, Marchioni's laughter and conversation could be faintly heard, and the light shining through the door crack looked warm and bright.
But Lupin was like a man shrouded in shadows. He turned back to look at Ved and said, "Wait here for me."
In his eyes, there was a glint of hatred.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
