Pettigrew immediately clutched his arm and cried out as the pain returned several times worse than its previous intensity. It was only after a few seconds that he opened his eyes and found where he was. The memory of his trial and his request returned to him. He swallowed as the pain intensified again. Still clutching his arm, he scrambled to his feet and looked at the veil before turning back to the onlookers. Though tears were steaming down the Pettigrew's face, he only nodded at Sirius before he turned and stared at the stone archway. Another wave of pain staggered him. Pettigrew looked at his arm once again. "NO!" He shouted to it. "You have no more control over me." With a final grimace of pain, Peter stumbled into the veil and disappeared.
Sirius stared at the archway for several seconds before muttering, "Damn, I didn't think the rat had it in him."
"Mr. Weasley, please record that Peter Pettigrew died at this time," Dumbledore said quietly. "May he find the peace that escaped him in this life, in the next."
"Ye...yes sir," Percy said. The young man was still staring at the veil as if expecting something else to happen.
"Peace? Though Death was actually impressed by Pettigrew's last words," The voice of Miranda came into the soul-bonded's minds. "It was not enough to escape his playtime with the mousetraps."
"How will his soul be judged?" Hermione asked.
"I cannot say," Miranda replied. "But I doubt it will be anytime soon. Now I think I will sneak a peek into the mousetrap room."
"Now Mister Potter," Rita said as she moved closer to him and Hermione. "What is your opinion of Pettigrew?"
"He...he's where he belongs," Harry said finally to Rita as he imagined Pettigrew, in his rat form getting caught in mousetrap after mousetrap. "Though he took responsibility for his crimes, he still committed them. Now..." Harry thought of Pettigrew's soul and how it will be judged; "Now it's up to someone far greater than myself to judge his life."
"Excellent Harry. You're getting good at these quotes," Rita exclaimed as her quill scribbled notes. "Now how about a comment on the earlier trial? I mean you were the person behind Umbridge's downfall."
"Is it true you're doing a story on me?" Hermione asked before Harry could answer.
Rita looked surprise but quickly recovered. "Of course. Such a talented young witch at our hero's side. Witch Weekly was most interested in getting the story of the real you."
"And willing to pay a large amount?"
"Well, I do need to make a living don't I?"
"At my expense?" Hermione asked. "You're supposed to be doing a story on the real me, and yet I don't remember being asked a single question."
"Well," Rita replied hesitantly.
"You know there are secrets that can still be revealed, don't you?" Hermione reminded Skeeter. "Look Rita, I think you've seen that working with Harry and me is a bit more lucrative than opposing us," Hermione sighed. "I know a story will be written about me, either by you or someone else will make something up. So how about we make a deal?"
"What do you want Miss Granger?" Skeeter asked. "How about thirty percent? I won't go any higher."
"I'm not interested in Galleons, I just want some input to what is written," Hermione replied honestly. "My friends and family will see that article and we do not want a repeat of that love potion thing you wrote about me now do we?" Hermione's eyebrow rose in question. "I do still have that jar."
"Eh..." Rita replied as a bit of color drained from her face.
"I think you should include an apology in your article about Hermione as well," Harry added.
"Just show me the article," Hermione continued. "I'll even answer some questions and allow you to take a tastefully done picture."
"Really?" Rita asked as she started thinking about how to renegotiate the amount to be paid for the story from Witch Weekly. "And what's in it for you?"
"That apology would be nice," Hermione replied with a shrug, "But really isn't it more about what is in it for you? You slander me in that article and do you really think you'll get another word from Harry or me?"
"I'm on a tight deadline..."
"We have to speak to Madam Bones before we leave the Ministry," Hermione said. "How about we get together in about an hour?"
"Where...oh wait, I know. We'll use the Minister's office," Rita said. "I can see the picture of you sitting at his desk with the caption of 'Aspirations of Greatness' under it. Yes...in an hour you say?" Without waiting for an answer she turned to Fudge, "Oh Minister..."
"But..." Hermione started but Rita had already moved away. She turned to Harry and sighed. "The Minister's office?"
Harry shrugged. "I can see you there some day."
"A muggleborn?" Hermione asked. "Not likely," But Harry couldn't help but smirk since he could see she was already thinking about the laws she could get changed.
....
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