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Chapter 422: Scabbers Flies In!
Chapter 422: Scabbers Flies In!
"This is the Shrieking Shack, quite a famous place in Hogsmeade", Ivan explained, but before he could continue, Ron interrupted him.
"I've heard of it! Upperclassmen say it was haunted, and it would emit terrifying howls at night, which is why it's called the Shrieking Shack."
Harry shivered at Ron's words, wondering why Ivan would bring them to such a place.
"That's just a rumor. There are no ghosts in the Shrieking Shack. The howls are due to other reasons", Ivan explained casually, then turned to look around, searching for Harry's figure, and said solemnly,
"I brought you here to resolve Harry's situation!"
"Me?" Harry pulled off his Invisibility Cloak, pointing at himself in confusion. Ron and Hermione were also puzzled by Ivan's words.
"Yes, to clear up a misunderstanding, or rather, a betrayal", Ivan began to explain, but then he noticed a grayish-Black object tumbling out of Ron's pocket.
Ron immediately sensed something was wrong and looked down to see his beloved rat crawling frantically towards the exit.
"Scabbers, where are you going, Scabbers!" Ron shouted, lunging to catch the fleeing Scabbers, but he missed.
The grayish-Black rat, having dodged Ron, ran even faster, its paws leaving a trail of blurs.
Peter was terrified. After being knocked out by Ivan, he had only just woken up due to the jostling and noise. He hadn't fully understood what was happening when he heard Ivan's voice.
Harry and the others didn't understand what Ivan meant, but Peter knew all too well. Despite not knowing how Ivan had learned about this or if he had met Sirius, he knew he had to run!
Seeing the exit just ahead, with the bright sunlight streaming in, Peter's face broke into a long-lost smile, and the heavy weight in his heart began to lift.
"Scabbers, come here!"
But a voice shattered Peter's hopes. Ivan calmly waved his wand.
Just one step away from escaping the Shrieking Shack, Peter felt a force pulling him back. He clawed at the decayed wooden floor, leaving deep scratches, and let out a piercing scream.
Unfortunately, magic was not something a mere rat could resist. No matter how much Peter struggled, it was futile, and he was soon flying back along the same path.
Ivan skillfully grabbed it by the tail, holding Scabbers in mid-air. He couldn't help but marvel at the considerable magic required to summon an Animagus in animal form.
This was likely due to the abundant magical energy within Scabbers.
Fortunately, Peter's small size made the spell effective. Otherwise, Ivan doubted his magic would have worked.
Of course, even without the spell, Peter wouldn't have escaped. To prevent any unforeseen incidents, Ivan had already arranged for Dobby to follow them discreetly, providing an additional layer of security.
Scabbers, now held by the tail, struggled violently, trying to scratch and bite Ivan's hand to get free.
But Ivan didn't give him the chance. He flicked his wrist, swinging the rat in the air. No matter how much Scabbers wriggled, he couldn't reach Ivan's wrist.
After several futile attempts, Peter fell into deep despair.
Without a wand, Peter had no intention of transforming back into a Wizard. An unprepared attack would have almost zero chance of success, so it was better to stay in rat form and survive.
Peter still harbored a faint, unrealistic hope that they might not know his true identity.
"Ivan, thank you so much. Scabbers has been acting up lately, always so irritable!" Ron approached, complaining as he reached out to grab Scabbers.
Ivan stepped back, avoiding Ron's hand, and warned, "For your safety, it's best if I keep this rat for now."
"Safety? What do you mean? Scabbers won't bite me", Ron's face darkened.
"You should listen to him. Peter has been hiding near you for years. You're only alive now because of luck!"
A raspy, deep voice echoed through the Shrieking Shack, making Harry and the others shiver. They turned to see a large Black dog jump down from a high platform.
A dog? A talking Black dog?
Ron's mind was in a daze, stepping back uncertainly.
Harry, however, thought more deeply. He had seen this dog many times, often lingering around him. According to Professor Trelawney's predictions, it was a harbinger of death and misfortune.
"You shouldn't have come out now. At least wait until I explain everything!" Ivan said helplessly to the Black dog.
"Didn't you tell them already? I've waited long enough", the Black dog shook its head in a human-like manner, its gaze lingering on Harry before shifting to the grayish-Black rat in Ivan's hand.
Peter knew he was finished the moment he saw the Black dog. He hung limply in the air, feeling defeated.
And in front of everyone, Sirius Black began to transform, his body distorting as he changed from a dog back into a Wizard.
With Ivan's help, Sirius no longer looked like the disheveled, gaunt figure from the past. He wore a well-fitted Robe, his Black hair neatly groomed, though years of prison life had left him somewhat gaunt and sunken-eyed, his handsome face still intact.
"Sirius Black!" Harry's eyes widened in shock, stammering, a chill running up his spine.
"Harry, we finally meet officially!" Sirius said with a sigh.
After a brief moment of shock, a surge of anger clouded Harry's mind. He raised his wand, pointing it at Sirius, and shouted,
"Yes, we finally meet! You betrayed my father, and now you're here to kill me? I'm not afraid of you!"
Turning to Ivan, Harry's eyes filled with disappointment and confusion, trembling slightly. He never imagined he would suffer the same fate as his father, betrayed by his best friend.
(End of Chapter)
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