https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-149-The-Reporter-and-the-Traitor/13684893/
Chapter 148: Werewolf and Wormtail
Wormtail—Peter Pettigrew—was completely petrified, unable to move a muscle, yet his small eyes still darted frantically, searching for a chance to escape.
“He… he’s really a person?” Ron muttered, disbelief etched across his face.
Seeing the man’s skin, gray and matted like a rat’s fur, made Ron feel nauseous. He had a deep affection for Scabbers, his own familiar, but he felt nothing but revulsion toward this balding wizard who’d transformed into his rat. The thought of sharing a bed with him every night sent shivers down his spine.
Harry had been observing silently, but suddenly he noticed Wormtail’s eyes flickering toward him several times—almost as if the man wanted to say something. A strange unease prickled at the back of his mind. There was pleading in those eyes, a flicker of desperate hope, as though Peter believed Harry could somehow save him.
“You know who Peter Pettigrew is?” Hermione asked Percy. “Who is he? Why did he turn into a rat and hide in your house?”
Harry noticed Percy glance at him first, then quickly look away. “I heard of him when I was young…” he began.
“We wouldn’t know?” Fred and George chimed in unison.
Percy rolled his eyes. “You were barely three or four. What could you possibly know?”
“Who is he?” Ron asked, scowling at the petrified figure.
“He is…” Percy started, but was cut off by Wade.
“If you want a story, wait a moment,” Wade said, pouring a pale green potion into Peter Pettigrew’s mouth. “I’m taking this man away for a little while.”
“Where are you taking him?” Hermione asked. “What did you give him?”
“A sedative sleep agent,” Wade replied. “It’ll keep him drowsy and weak—no chance of another escape.”
Wade knew they’d caught Peter Pettigrew only because they had the advantage of surprise. The man had no idea his identity was exposed. As long as he still clung to the hope of hiding, he’d never dare perform a reversal charm under Dumbledore’s watchful eye. He could only move as a rat, and only use the powers of a rat. That’s why the young wizards had managed to catch him—just like in the story, when Ron had caught him by the tail, no matter how hard he struggled, he couldn’t get away.
But once his identity was revealed, and if he regained his wand, none of the Weasleys would stand a chance against him. Even Wade wasn’t certain he could hold him if things went wrong.
“Wait, Gray,” Percy said, stepping forward. “We should hand him over to Dumbledore. This man… he’s a known hero. A sacrifice.”
“Hero?” Ron frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I know,” Wade said, locking eyes with Percy. “Mr. Weasley, I know who he is. I’ll deliver him to Dumbledore—just not now. In an hour.”
Percy froze. “Why?”
“If you don’t know the full picture, don’t offer opinions,” Fred snapped, shoving his brother aside. “Go ahead, Wade. I trust you.”
“I do too,” George added, raising his hand. “If it weren’t for you, we never would’ve found him. I trust you’ve got a good reason.”
Wade smiled and nodded.
Though Percy still looked unconvinced, Wade didn’t care much. He only needed the Weasley twins to support his plan.
If they could quietly and unnoticed take Peter Pettigrew out of the Gryffindor common room, that would be ideal. But if they caused a commotion, drawing in extra people—well, as long as it wasn’t a professor, it was just an added complication.
If Percy and Ron kept blocking him, Wade wasn’t above knocking them both out.
With a flick of his wand, Wade used a Hovering Charm to lift Peter Pettigrew and carried him to their usual spell-practice corner. He waved his wand, and the giant curtain unfurled, splitting the Umbrella Room in two, cutting off sight and sound.
“Zoe,” Wade whispered.
Snap.
Zoe appeared with the Vanishing Cabinet in tow.
“Mr. Wade Gray, Zoe is ready,” she said.
“Thank you for your help,” Wade said, dragging Peter Pettigrew into the cabinet. He gave the little sprite a warm smile. “See you in an hour, Zoe.”
Clang.
Darkness swallowed them whole—then light returned.
Remus Lupin opened the cabinet door.
“Wade… it’s not time for class yet. Why are you—” His voice cut off abruptly.
His eyes locked onto Peter Pettigrew. His face went pale, hollow.
“…Peter Pettigrew?”
He spoke so softly it was almost a whisper.
—A friend long believed dead, standing before him. Was it relief? Anger? In those fleeting seconds, Remus Lupin’s expression shifted through a storm of emotions too complex to name.
Wade watched his pupils contract violently, his nostrils flaring. He knew Remus was already piecing together what had happened.
In an instant, Remus’s face twisted—his lips pulled back in a snarl, his teeth bared like a wolf’s, as if he wanted to rip Peter’s neck apart.
Then he saw Wade.
He forced himself to calm down.
“This man… where did you find him? How did you catch him?” Remus asked, his voice trembling.
“Come with me. I don’t want to explain twice,” Wade said, stepping out of the cabinet with Peter Pettigrew in tow. “Has Mr. Machionni arrived?”
Remus didn’t take his eyes off the rat-faced man. After a long pause, he said, “Yes. He and his companions are in the sitting room…”
“Perfect,” Wade said. “I promised the others I’d return him in an hour.”
He pulled out a crystal vial. “Veritaserum. I assume you know how to use it.”
Remus stared at the potion, then at Wade. “When did you figure all this out?”
“After I saw Peter Pettigrew’s name,” Wade said vaguely. “I looked into some information.”
Well, yes. He’d read a book titled Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
“Name?” Remus asked.
“You know the Marauder’s Map, right?” Remus nodded.
Of course he did. As its creator, he knew the map revealed every person’s name within Hogwarts. Wade must’ve acquired it, seen Peter Pettigrew’s name, realized it wasn’t one of his classmates—and then dug deeper, uncovering the truth.
Just as Remus was now realizing.
Remus poured three drops of Veritaserum into Peter Pettigrew’s mouth, then hoisted the former friend by the scruff and walked toward the sitting room.
“You stay here, Wade,” Remus said calmly. “This isn’t something you should be involved in.”
Inside the sitting room, the muffled sound of Machionni laughing with someone floated through the crack under the door. Warm light seeped out into the corridor.
But Remus looked as if he were wrapped in shadow. He turned back to Wade.
“Wait here. I’ll be back.”
His eyes burned with hatred.
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(End of Chapter)
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