Harry rushed through the corridors of Hogwarts; he still remembered them like the back of his hand. He hated having to leave Ginny so soon after telling her he loved her, but this was important, he had to find Ron. Though he was not even sure that Ron would want to see him.
“Get out of the way!” Harry shouted at some second year students, who had tried to stop him and talk to him. He was used to that, everybody wanted to talk to him since he defeated Voldemort, usually he would indulge them, but this couldn’t wait.
Where is he? Harry thought to himself as he rounded another corner, colliding with a massively fat man with a huge moustache.
Harry picked himself up and shook the grogginess from his head as he looked at his old Potions teacher, Horace Slughorn.
“Harry, m’boy!” boomed Slughorn. “How wonderful to see you again - an outstanding N.E.W.T. Very impressive indeed. Lily would be proud.”
Harry smiled at the mention of his mother. “Sorry about that, Professor. I’m in a bit of a hurry.”
Slughorn seemed to ignore the last part of what Harry had said. “No need to call me ‘Professor’ anymore, Harry! You may call me Horace, m’boy!” Slughorn beamed down at Harry. “How about we go to my office for a glass of the finest mead? I’ve got a couple of things I want to talk to you about anyway.”
“I’m sorry, Professor, I mean, Horace, I don’t have the time at the moment. I need to find Ron, have you seen him? It’s urgent.”
Slughorn’s smile vanished from his face; his moustache drooped and the disappointment was evident in his voice. “That’s too bad, Harry. Too bad indeed.”
Harry pressed the matter further. “Have you seen Ron? I’ve got to find him!”
Slughorn finally seemed to hear Harry, however his expression remained blank. “Ron? Who is Ron?”
“Ron Weasley. You know, my best friend when I was at school. Tall, red hair, he got poisoned in sixth year?”
Slughorn shrugged. “Sorry, Harry, m’boy. I don’t think I know who you’re talking about.”
Harry sighed. “He’ll probably have been with Hermione Granger?”
Slughorn’s wide face broke into a smile that seemed to make his moustache dance. “Ah, yes, of course, Miss Granger, another of my favourite pupils! Very talented young witch, indeed.” Slughorn paused to catch his breath, and then began again, “A tall redhead, you say? Yes, yes, I do believe I saw them in the Great Hall. I think they were talking to dear Minerva.”
“Thanks, Professor,” Harry said quickly, “I’d stay and chat, but I’ve got to get going. I’ll see you around, sir.”
Harry moved past Slughorn before he could say anything else and rushed towards the Great Hall.
As Harry entered the Great Hall the smell of a hundred different delicious meals hit him; it was obviously dinner time. Harry ran towards the staff table, where he saw Ron and Hermione deep in with the Headmistress.
As Harry ran the length of the Great Hall the students sat at the various house tables turned to stare at him; some started whispering excitedly, others pointed, some just watched him in silence. The Gryffindor table however, gave a large cheer as he passed them.
“Harry, what on earth is the problem?” Hermione asked, as Harry pulled up next to the table.
Harry did not answer her; instead he turned to face Ron. “Ron…”
“I don’t want to hear it, Harry. Whatever you’ve got to say to me - I don’t care.”
“Ron!” Hermione said angrily.
“Oh that’s right! Take Harry’s side. You always do!” Ron yelled at her.
That was enough for Harry; he leapt over the table and crashed into Ron, knocking him to the floor. As they rolled on the floor, exchanging punches and obscenities Hermione and McGonagall had leapt to their feet to avoid the two men wrestling on the floor. The students in the Great Hall had all stopped what they were doing and most were standing up to get a better view of what was happening.
Harry managed to break Ron’s grip on his robes and leapt to his feet, his wand outstretched, pointing at Ron’s chest. Ron lay on the floor, his eyes wide at the sight of Harry’s wand trained upon him.
“…Harry,” said a small voice, and Harry turned to see Hermione with her wand pointing at his chest, “I can’t let you do that.”
“Go on, Harry!” shouted one of the students at the Slytherin table.
“Mr Lucas, you be quiet!” yelled McGonagall.
Harry lowered his wand, looking at Hermione as he did so. Slowly she nodded and lowered her own wand.
Harry waited until Hermione had put her wand away before he moved again, he bent down and grabbed Ron by the neck of his robes and pulled him to his feet.
“Listen to me, Ron! There are bigger things happening here than you and me. I’ve just got a message from Remus, he’s found Pettigrew! I came up here to get you, seeing as we’ve been working together on this,” Harry hissed, releasing Ron’s robes and pushing him away. “But if all you’re going to do is be an idiot, then you should stay here.”
Ron’s eyes went wide when he heard the news of Pettigrew’s sighting. “Harry, mate…” he started, before cutting off and turning to Hermione. “Hermione, I’ve got to go.”
“I know you have, Ron, and I’m coming with you two,” Hermione said, and she got to her feet.
“No, you’re not,” Harry and Ron said in unison, each one glaring at his other as they spoke.
“What? Why not?” Hermione looked crestfallen.
“Hermione, look, this is our job. This is what we do. Pettigrew is a dangerous wizard, and we don’t know if he’s even alone or not,” Ron replied.
“Ron’s right, Hermione. You’re not prepared for this. We know you’re a great witch, but you haven’t duelled properly in over a year.”
Hermione looked for a moment as though she might cry, but when she spoke her voice was steady. “I understand. Both of you be careful. I don’t want you going through any more walls, Ron.”
Ron gave her a small smile, and pulled her into a hug, without saying another word he kissed her and headed out of the Great Hall, shoving his way past Harry as he did so.
Harry glared at Ron as he watched him leave, once he was safely out of sigh Harry turned back to Hermione. “Can you do me a favour, Hermione?”
Hermione smiled. “Don’t worry, Harry. I’ll keep an eye on Ginny for you.”
Harry smiled back at her. “Thanks, Hermione.”
The two friends hugged and Harry turned to leave the Great Hall when Hermione called out, “…Be careful, Harry. Make sure Ron is safe.”
Harry nodded and walked out of the Great Hall, leaving to loud cheers from the Gryffindor table.
Hermione watched him leave and then sat back down, Professor McGonagall returned to her seat, and order was restored to the Great Hall.
“Don’t worry about them, Hermione. They’ll be fine,” said McGonagall, forcing her lips into a thin smile.
“I know, Minerva. Like Ron said, it is their job.”
“Precisely. Now, as I was saying about the Transfiguration position…”
Remus Lupin reached into his shabby robes and withdrew a pocket watch, the dial illuminated by the light of the Crescent Moon in the black night sky. Harry should be here by now; Lupin had sent the message almost ten minutes ago and Harry had not replied, which was unlike him.
Lupin decided to leave it another five minutes before he sent another Patronus to Harry. He could not be sure that his presence had remained undetected, nor was he sure that Peter Pettigrew was alone in the dilapidated house that stood opposite the wood Lupin was currently standing in.
A huge clap of thunder split the silence and the skies, as rain began to fall. Another loud crack made Lupin spin around, wand in hand. He let out a sigh of relief as he turned to see Harry and Ron standing in front of him.
Lupin quickly lowered his wand and shook Harry’s, and then Ron’s hand. “I wasn’t sure or not if you had got the message. Not replying, Harry? That’s not like you at all.”
Harry withdrew his wand, just to be on the safe side. “Sorry, Remus. There was a bit of a hold-up,” he said, looking at Ron, who looked back at Harry with venom.
Lupin laughed nervously, he had never known Harry and Ron to be anything other than the best of friends; he did not like being caught in the middle of an argument. Thinking better of it than to try and act the peacemaker, Lupin simply stood in silence until Ron broke the silence.
“So where is he, Remus?”
Lupin pointed at the run-down house the stood behind him. As they laid their eyes upon it Harry let out an audible gasp, Ron however, was less subtle. “Bloody hell! Harry, that’s the Malfoy mansion!”
Harry rolled his eyes. “I can see that, Ron,” he said sarcastically.
Ron opened his mouth to retort but Lupin got there first. “You two listen to me. I don’t know what the problem is, but I am sure it’s got nothing to do with this. So drop it until we’ve got him okay? I’m going to need your help, so just leave it alone okay.”
Ron closed his mouth and nodded in agreement, Harry slowly nodded as well.
“Why didn’t the Ministry search this place?” Harry wondered out loud.
“The Minister didn’t consider it a priority after they searched it for Lucius and Draco,” Ron replied.
“Scrimgeour. That idiot. I told him to keep some eyes on this place. Honestly, that bloke is worse than Fudge,” Harry sighed.
“Careful, Harry, he’s still the Minister,” Ron said gently, not wanting to provoke Harry again.
Harry sighed even louder than before. “I know, but he’s still useless. Anyway, back to the matter at hand. Remus?” Lupin turned back from the Malfoy house where he had been keeping a careful eye out for anything or anyone suspicious.
“Yes?”
“How do you know he is here?”
Lupin took a deep breath and smiled. “Well, as I’m sure you remember, I chased him into the forbidden forest that night at Hogwarts. By the way, I trust that Ginny is fine now?”
Lupin immediately noticed the look on Harry and Ron’s faces at the mention of Ginny; he had suspected that she was at the heart of the argument, but had not wanted to say anything. He hastily continued before either Harry or Ron could say anything.
“Ahhh…I’ll just assume that she is. Anyway, I trailed Peter with ease for three days and three nights, though it became much harder to pursue him when I had reverted to my usual form. Fortunately for us though, I was able to achieve it.” Lupin paused to catch his breath, “Peter knew I was following him, so he continued to run, he flitted from one place to another. Then the full moon came again, luckily I was able to secure a dose of the Wolfsbane potion, a very kind witch named Agnes Merryweather was able to brew me a large quantity; enough to last me at least six months. I used magic to fill a flask with the dose.”
Lupin stopped when Ron cleared his throat, Ron looked mortified at the interruption and shook his head. “I didn’t have anything to say, I was just clearing my throat.”
Lupin nodded and continued his tale, “Well, during my stay at the Merryweather’s, Peter was able to escape me. Once I had transformed though I was able to pick up his scent, I remember it well from our days at school together, and I was able to pursue him again. Peter was able to give me the slip about a month ago, when I ran into some very hostile werewolf hunters.”
Ron cleared his throat again, and this time he spoke, “So how do you know he is in there?”
“By sheer luck, Ron. After I had escaped from the hunters I decided to visit some hotspots, places where gossip is rife, the HogsHead and the Leaky Cauldron to name just two of them. Aberforth was extremely eager to help, but unfortunately had no information I could use; he did enlighten me however, on which charms I should never use on a goat. So I continued my search; about a week ago I decided to stay at the Leaky Cauldron, when I ventured downstairs on the Wednesday morning I caught the scent of Peter, I asked Tom who had been in the bar the previous night, he told me the usual names, none of which I suspected, and then he mentioned Narcissa Malfoy.”
“What was she doing in the Leaky Cauldron?” Harry asked.
“I have no idea, Harry. Probably just doing some shopping. Anyway I decided to come here, to check it out. Surely enough, when I arrived, I got the full scent of Peter; he is in that house. I am sure of it.”
Harry nodded. “That’s good enough for me. Let’s go and pay Narcissa a visit shall we?”
Lupin and Ron both nodded, and together with Harry they exited the woods and strode towards the once-magnificent Malfoy house, wands at the ready.
They stood outside the door of the house, Lupin looked at Harry, the son of his best friend. “We’ll get him tonight, Harry. He has had this coming for seventeen years.”
Harry said nothing, he merely looked intensely at Lupin, Ron was looking very pale, but very determined.
Reaching out his left arm Harry knocked on the door, and was thrown backwards as the door was blasted off of its hinges, Lupin dashed down to help Harry from under the heavy oak door, Ron however ran inside to confront the caster of the spell.
“Are you okay, Harry?” said Lupin anxiously, as he helped heave the door off of Harry.
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. Hang on. Where’s Ron?”
Lupin looked around. “I think he went inside.”
Harry jumped to his feet. “Let’s go!”
He ran into the house, Lupin at his heels, and saw Ron engaged in a fierce duel with Narcissa Malfoy, whose long blonde hair was snapping at her face as she threw spell after jinx after hex at Ron, who was ducking and dodging her spells, but not offering up much in the way of offence.
Harry raised his wand ready to help Ron, but at the last moment had to alter the angle of his wand to deflect a stunning spell, fired from a previously unseen caster, who had quickly disappeared behind a door. Harry ran towards the door.
“It’s him, it’s Pettigrew! He’s through here!” shouted Harry, as he threw himself against the door.
Lupin began to follow Harry. “I’m coming with you!” he shouted over the loud bangs coming from Ron and Narcissa’s wands.
“No, you stay and help Ron.”
“Both of you go, I can handle this,” shouted Ron, “I’ve been waiting ages to jinx a Malfoy!”
Harry smiled at Ron and turned his wand on the door before him, Lupin was standing behind him, his wand ready for anything that might come at them.
“Reducto!” bellowed Harry, and the door that stood in his way was blasted off of its hinges and thrown across the small room that Lupin and he now stood in. Standing in the corner of what used to be the Malfoy’s study, was Peter Pettigrew; looking as small and rat-like as ever. When he saw Harry and Lupin standing with their wands pointing at him, he merely smiled.
“Remus, my old friend, Harry, managed to find me at last. James would be proud of you…”
Anger boiled in Harry faster than he had ever known. “Don’t let me hear you ever talk about my dad again!” he yelled, raising his wand level with Pettigrew’s black heart. To Harry’s amazement, Lupin stepped in front of his wand, his back to Harry.
“Move, Remus!”
Lupin did not budge. “No, Harry. I want this. He betrayed James and Sirius; he cost me my two dearest friends. I mourned his death for thirteen years, all the while convincing myself that Sirius was guilty. If anyone has reason to want to kill this man, it is you, he cost you your parents and your godfather, but Harry I ask you, please, leave this to me,” Lupin said, turning his head to look over his shoulder at Harry.
Harry stared into the face of Lupin; into the face of the man who remained the closest thing to a father that Harry had left. It was then that Harry understood what this meant to Lupin. He understood that Lupin had lost everyone that he cared about that night in October, he had lost James and Lily forever, he had lost Sirius, convinced that he was a murderer, and not the man that Lupin though he was. He had also lost Pettigrew that night, for thirteen years he had mourned Peter Pettigrew, and he had wandered through his life, alone, for the first time since he had arrived at Hogwarts, the three boys who became men that had been cornerstones of his life were gone.
Harry nodded his head, and opened his mouth to speak, when a yell came from the room behind them.
“Go and help Ron, Harry! I’ll be fine. I’ve been waiting for this!” Lupin said to Harry.
Harry dashed backwards through the door, leaving Lupin and Pettigrew alone, both facing the other, wands in their hands.
“Alone at last, Remus,” said Pettigrew, his rat-like face contorting into a twisted smile.
“Are you ready, Peter?” said Lupin quietly; he had waited for this moment for so long.
Pettigrew’s smile grew more pronounced. “You may have outmatched me at school, Remus, but today, I shall prove that I was and will always be the best of the Marauders, the last one is about to be destroyed.”
Lupin laughed. “Oh, Peter, you really have no idea what it takes to be a great wizard, it’s not all spell casting. You need feeling, and you need heart. James and Sirius had those in bucket loads; you have no feeling, and a black heart. When your heart turned black, you lost the right to call yourself a Marauder.”
Pettigrew laughed in turn. “Enough talk.” And he quickly raised his alarmingly short wand to Lupin and green light rushed from the end of it; and the battle was on.
Harry entered the room where Ron and Narcissa were still throwing spells at each other; Ron was sporting a nasty-looking burn on the side on his face. Narcissa was looking furious and crazed as she continued to rain spells down upon Ron. When she saw Harry though, she screamed and turned her wand onto him. Harry was forced to dive to one side to avoid the killing curse that flew at him, he landed with a loud thud next to Ron, who was sheltering behind a battered sofa, which, judging by the look of it, and the smoke coming from it, had seen a fair share of spells.
“I thought I told you I didn’t need any help?” snapped Ron irritably, as he fired a stunning spell at Narcissa, which she reflected back at him, Ron made an odd little yelping sound as he ducked the spell.
“No, you’re right. You’re doing just fine!” Harry laughed, firing his own spell at Narcissa, who was still screaming madly and firing spells wildly in their general direction.
The briefest of smiles flashed onto Ron’s face. “You know, Harry, this isn’t the time or the place, but I’m sorry.”
Harry was so taken aback he totally forgot to cast a spell when he poked his head over the sofa, and he had to duck again very quickly when Narcissa fired one at him.
“What?”
“I’m sorry, Harry. I just don’t want to see Ginny continuously getting hurt.”
Guilt welled up inside Harry, “Ron…You know I would never do anything to hurt Ginny.”
“Yeah I know, but…”
“Me and Ginny are together, Ron.”
Spells continued to fly from Narcissa’s wand; the wands in the hands of Harry and Ron were still, although Harry kept his wand ready, just in case Ron made an attempt to jinx him.
“You’re what?”
“We’re seeing each other, or rather, we’re going to be. We kissed just before I called you up to the school.”
Ron looked blankly at Harry, spells continued to fly over their heads, making Harry’s messy hair stand on end.
“You kissed?”
“Yeah, I’m sorry we didn’t tell you.”
“Who else knows?”
“Hermione, your mum, Fred and George.”
Ron opened his mouth to reply but a particular loud explosion of spells from Narcissa Malfoy drowned any sound he made out. Harry and Ron found themselves exposed at the sofa they were hiding behind was blasted to smithereens.
“Oh, for the love of God!” Ron exclaimed, “Would you give us a break!” And he flicked his wand at Narcissa, the invisible spell he sent her way connected and Narcissa was sent flying backwards into the wall behind her.
“Good shot, Ron!” said Harry, grinning at Ron.
“Thanks…not bad considering I didn’t even mean that,” said Ron, grinning back. The grin promptly disappeared from his face as he and Harry strode over the unconscious Narcissa. “Harry…You and Ginny.”
“I know, I know. You’re not happy,” Harry mumbled, staring at Narcissa’s prone form slumped against the wall.
When Harry looked up though he saw that Ron was smiling. “Ron?”
“Of course I’m happy, Harry. Why wouldn’t I be? I just need to know that you’re always going to be there for Ginny.”
“Of course I will be,” said Harry, smiling at Ron
Harry move towards Ron, the man he knew better than anyone else, and extended his hand, Ron shook it, and the two friends stood together, united once more.
“Keep and eye on her, just in case,” Harry said to Ron as he conjured ropes to tie up the prone body of Narcissa Malfoy, “I’m going to help, Remus.”
Ron nodded as Harry dashed back through the door into the study where Lupin and Pettigrew remained locked in magical combat.
Harry raised his wand and ventured into the study, but given the confined space there was very little room to manoeuvre, and Harry found himself having to Apparate a number of times to escape stray spells. Deciding that he was better off supporting Remus from a safe distance Harry Apparated back outside the study, watching from the doorway as Lupin and Pettigrew traded spells.
Lupin sent a spell at Pettigrew, who had to conjure a mirror to shield himself. The spell disappeared harmlessly into the mirror, which Pettigrew then threw down to one side; the mirror shattered, releasing an unholy screeching sound through the house.
Pettigrew managed to catch Lupin with a banishing spell as was knocked off balance, Remus sailed through the air and landed with a crunch into a bookcase, he fell to a heap at the bottom of it.
Harry raised his wand again, preparing to engage Pettigrew, but he saw Lupin looking up at him, he saw Lupin shake his head, and lowered his wand.
Peter Pettigrew advanced upon the fallen Lupin, ready to finish it. He would be the last Marauder. He raised his wand, ready to land the killing curse, when he was suddenly blasted from his grip, it flew towards Harry, who caught it and snapped it in half.
Pettigrew let out a scream of anguish as he saw he wand lying broken on the floor, before he could flee however, he found himself hoisted into the air, suspended by the ankle, held up by invisible hands.
Lupin was back on his feet at once, his wand pointing into the heart of Pettigrew. Anger blazed in Lupin’s eyes, “It’s over, Peter. You’ve been running for seventeen years. No more. No more running.” Lupin snatched his wand upwards and Pettigrew fell to the floor in a heap, whimpering in pain.
As Pettigrew got to his knees he found himself looking at the end of Lupin’s wand. “This is James, for Lily, for Sirius. For everyone your actions have ever hurt. And Peter?”
Pettigrew nodded feebly.
“This is for me.”
Lupin flourished his wand, “AVADA…
“Remus, No!” yelled Harry and he ran into the room, and knocked Lupin’s arm to one side, “I’m not going to let you do this. I wouldn’t let you kill him five years ago, and I won’t let you now. Would my dad, and Sirius, want you to stoop to his level?”
Lupin shook his head, and lowered his wand. “I suppose you are right, Harry, you are so like James. He wouldn’t want Peter dead.”
Lupin raised his wand again, and Harry went to protest. “I’m just going to stun him, Harry, that’s all.”
Harry nodded and stepped aside, Lupin raised his wand at Pettigrew, who by now was pleading with him. “Remus, Remus, please! Not Azkaban, kill me! I’d rather die!”
His pleas fell on deaf ears.
“Stupefy!” said Lupin, as a jet of red light crashed into Pettigrew’s chest; he slumped over onto his face, his nose cracking as it hit the floor.
“It’s over,” Lupin said quietly to himself.
“Over,” said Harry, and it was over. The man he had been hunting was finally caught; he would finally see Azkaban for his crimes.
“Where is Ron?” asked Lupin.
“I’m through here!” shouted Ron.
“We better call the Ministry, and tell them we’ve got two more for Azkaban,” Lupin suggested.
“Agreed. But I’m going to the Ministry with them, I don’t trust Scrimgeour to get it right,” said Harry.
Long after the Ministry wizards had come to take Pettigrew and Narcissa away, and long after Harry had argued with Rufus Scrimgeour about his dedication the Auror Office, Harry, Ron and Lupin were sitting in three comfortable chairs, in the employee’s lounge of the Ministry of Magic.
“Well,” said Ron, stretching his arms over his head and yawning, “You got him, Harry.”
“Actually, Lupin got him.” Harry smiled, pointing at Lupin.
“WE got him,” Lupin corrected, and he shook Harry and Ron’s hands once again. “You two would have made wonderful Marauders.” He smiled at them.
“I think this calls for a celebration. How about we go to the Three Broomsticks for a little party tomorrow night. Get the rest of the family to come too?” suggested Ron.
“Excellent idea,” agreed Lupin.
“I agree,” said Harry. “I better let Ginny know.” And he got up and headed to the Owlery, a smile on his face, punctuated by thoughts of a darker nature.
Pettigrew’s gone. That leaves one left: Malfoy.
Harry shrugged the thoughts of Draco Malfoy off. He was determined to enjoy himself from now on.
A/N - Well, thats all for Chapter 16, Chapter 17 is beta'ed and ready to go asap!