RioRaRyu
patreon
Chapter 142: The Unreliable Ministry of Magic
🕑 Added 2025-05-07 15:30:02 +0000 UTC"So, you caught this mouse?"
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore."
Inside the headmaster's office on the seventh floor, Professor Dumbledore regarded Professor Lupin with a strange expression, holding a squirming rat in his hand.
To be honest, he was quite baffled by the situation. He had originally intended to enjoy some afternoon tea.
After speaking with Noah, Professor Lupin had picked up the Marauder’s Map again and rushed off to find Peter Pettigrew.
Noah, after giving it some thought, decided to follow. After all, if everything was as he suspected, the rat would likely be with Ron.
Ron wasn’t someone who could be pushed around easily anymore. If Professor Lupin got overexcited and forcibly took the rat, a confrontation was inevitable.
Sure enough, just as Noah predicted, Ron refused to hand over his pet.
They found Ron in the Great Hall. When Professor Lupin explained the situation, tensions quickly escalated.
Ron, furious, even drew his wand to defend his pet—understandably so. Scabbers had been his companion and friend for years. How could he give him up just like that?
In the end, Noah stepped in and managed to mediate the situation. Though Professor Lupin got the rat, the many young witches and wizards in Noah’s faction gave him looks of disapproval.
Sensing the tension, Noah asked all of them to accompany him and follow Lupin to Dumbledore’s office.
To be honest, Noah hadn’t expected Lupin to be so straightforward about handing Pettigrew over to Dumbledore.
Just how much trust did he place in the headmaster?
It completely disrupted Noah’s plan—he had been considering having them execute Peter right then and there to end the matter once and for all!
Clearly, Noah had underestimated Dumbledore’s influence. It made things more complicated.
In hindsight, he should have approached Lupin in secret—perhaps late at night—or waited until they caught the big black dog.
Now, with no other option, Noah had to think of alternatives. Perhaps they could manipulate Dumbledore into executing Peter quietly? Or use a truth serum or spell to make Peter confess to knowing how to resurrect Voldemort?
While lost in thought, Noah followed everyone to Dumbledore’s office. The large crowd startled even Dumbledore.
Once he understood the situation, Dumbledore promptly summoned the Heads of the four Houses.
He also didn’t send the students away. Some matters needed many witnesses—especially since many of the students came from pure-blood families, some of whom worked at the Ministry of Magic.
Once all four Heads arrived, Lupin retold his discovery.
The Heads immediately frowned, especially Professor Snape, who eyed the rat suspiciously, as if piecing together a puzzle.
"Noah, was this your discovery?" Snape asked after a long silence.
"Yes, didn’t Professor Lupin already explain that?" Noah replied, nodding calmly.
"Just making sure. I don’t think his brain is sharp enough to put that together," Snape said with his usual sarcasm.
"Severus!" Lupin growled. "Yes, I suspected my friend. Like a fool. But you’re not much better. Weren’t you also fooled, despite your so-called intelligence?"
Snape ignored him completely and turned back to Noah. "Can you explain your reasoning? I’d like to hear it from someone with a working mind."
"Alright, but let me clarify—I don’t know everything. Much of what I’ve figured out is based on research and deduction."
"That’s fine," Dumbledore said gently. "Please continue."
"I found some old records and personal files in the Room of Requirement about James Potter, Sirius Black, and Professor Lupin. From what I learned, Sirius, despite being from the noble House of Black, opposed pure-blood supremacy."
"Correct," McGonagall nodded. "He left home because of those beliefs and was taken in by the Potters. They treated him like a second son."
Sirius Black—a rare anomaly in a proud pure-blood family. A brave, principled young wizard, talented in all areas, but tragically unlucky.
Harry sat in silence, his thoughts spinning. All his life, he had believed Sirius Black betrayed his parents and was now after him. But this… this changed everything.
"I assume Professors Lupin and Snape know Sirius well?" Noah asked.
"Yes. He’s honorable, kind, and fiercely loyal," Lupin said.
"A devious, reckless coward," Snape shot back.
They spoke simultaneously, but their answers couldn't be more different. Lupin glared. Snape looked away.
Noah continued, ignoring the tension. "Twelve years ago, the newspapers claimed Sirius went mad and blew up a street, killing Muggles and Pettigrew. But isn’t it strange? He didn’t harm any Aurors during the arrest. Quite a contrast."
"That’s true," Dumbledore acknowledged. "The arrest was dangerous, but no injuries occurred."
"And as for the so-called hero, Peter Pettigrew—was his body ever found?"
"No," McGonagall replied. "Just a severed finger."
"According to Professor Lupin, Peter is also an Animagus. He transforms into a rat. So here’s my theory: Sirius, James, and Lily secretly changed the Secret-Keeper for the Fidelius Charm, choosing Peter instead. After all, no one would suspect a cowardly man like him."
"Changing the Secret-Keeper?" Flitwick asked in surprise.
"Exactly. Who would suspect Peter? Just like Professor Quirrell in first year. He was hiding something dark right under everyone’s noses."
The room fell silent. It was a chilling thought, but a plausible one.
"But Peter was weak. Just like his Animagus. He panicked. He betrayed them. And then he cut off his finger and transformed to escape—leaving the Ministry to assume he was dead."
"..."
"Did no one ever question it? Just because Sirius was a convenient scapegoat, did that mean the case was closed?"
"..."
"And it was a rat. A rat! Cut off a finger, dive into a sewer, and poof—he’s gone."
"..."
Dumbledore looked truly shaken. So did the students. The truth, or at least the possibility of it, was unsettling.
For a long moment, no one spoke.
Dumbledore finally sighed. He had always disliked the Ministry’s incompetence, but this… this was egregious.
He took out his wand and, with a flick, the rat in Lupin’s hand rapidly transformed.
Under Ron’s shocked gaze, Scabbers ballooned into a short, balding man—filthy, trembling, and clearly terrified.
"Peter!" Lupin growled, seizing him by the collar and pressing his wand to his forehead. Silver light began to build on the tip.
Peter whimpered and begged for his life.
"Remus, wait," Dumbledore said calmly. "I understand your rage, but we must let the Ministry see justice done. Also… the students."
Lupin’s wand trembled. The light flickered, then faded. He sighed heavily and lowered his wand.
He couldn’t do it. Not in front of the students. And this wasn’t just about him—Sirius deserved justice.
"Professors," Noah spoke up with a calm smile that sent shivers down Peter’s spine, "I believe we should begin questioning him."
Peter looked like he wished he were still a rat.
---
