"They pranked teachers and students alike on an almost daily basis, but it doesn't explain how Peter became an Animagus. It's a very difficult ability to achieve, I assure you. It took me several long years to master, even with another Animagus helping me through it. Maybe he found a ritual of some kind?" She looked at the Headmaster for answers.
...
Harry snorted, getting everyone's attention. "My father was an Animagus too. He taught Peter during his time at Hogwarts. My dad mastered it in just a couple of years, but Peter didn't achieve his transformation until his final year. My father was a stag Animagus by the time he returned to the school in his sixth year," he told the room, since it wasn't like his dad could be fined for it.
Plus, if the knowledge helped catch his parents' betrayer, it'd be worth telling the secret. Besides, it didn't reveal that Sirius was an Animagus—something that never popped up in the court hearing. After all, Sirius was under the effects of truth serum and couldn't lie about it; none of them had stopped to question how Peter learnt it in the first place. All they had cared about was the political fallout and their own jobs.
"Impossible," the Deputy Headmistress protested, shaking her head firmly. "I would have known," clearly rattled by the fact that she didn't know one of her prize students had managed to become an Animagus and even taught another.
"Well, if you don't believe me, that's fine." He shrugged, not really caring, since it meant she would never expect his own transformation. "My father was in the middle of writing a textbook on how to become an Animagus. He believed that traditional texts overplayed the difficulty of it."
"Then why didn't he tell us, or register?" the Head of House demanded, the recording quill continuing to do its job.
At first, he was going to say, *'You would have to ask him,'* however he bit off that childish response. But seeing the Headmaster about to speak, he answered, "Simple. His stag Animagus form gave him an additional means to escape if he was ever attacked by Death Eaters." His answer caused certain elements in the room to flinch.
"There were other reasons, such as one of his friends, and fellow Gryffindor, was a werewolf," he added, looking to the Headmaster and his Deputy, while the rest of the staff and Aurors looked questioningly at the Headmaster. "Plus, an Animagus form is considered a personal thing by some people because it reflects you at your core at your soul."
"As interesting as this is, we're getting sidetracked," Madam Bones stated, looking at the Deputy Headmistress and Headmaster. "I believe Peter is a rather good suspect. Mr. Potter made a rather good argument supporting it with the available facts."
"Maybe, Madam," Harry supplied, knowing his argument wasn't a hundred percent. "It's just a theory a speculation of known facts," he said seriously, not wanting to mislead the Aurors.
"Let's work backwards and use the principles of Occam's Razor. Lord Malfoy, the man I did the most damage to with releasing Sirius surely that man would have the contacts necessary if he'd desired to kill me off? Surely he would have hired a capable man, a man he knew would not mess up or risk revealing him a professional, who would be discreet." He saw Madam Bones nod, agreeing with his assessment.
"By this logic, it eliminates Lord Malfoy's involvement. The same could be said for a lot of Lords who have had questionable past dealings. Besides, trying to kill me off so publicly so soon would be too dangerous."
"I agree with Mr. Potter," the Headmaster stated with certainty, capturing the whole audience. "Lord Malfoy and the other Lords Harry's actions hurt this summer may wish him harm, but they would not act so boldly, or so soon. Plus, as much as they hate to admit it, they have their own code of conduct; they would prefer to destroy him more personally, more hands-on, after making an example of him," the aged wizard said with a sad smile.
He went on to add, "This fits what I remember about Peter smart enough to pull something off, but lacks the finer planning or refinement," he said with clear disapproval, whether from the action or the lack of planning like a teacher marking down a poorly planned project no one knew. "Whilst Lord Malfoy is cunning, and his actions are always planned out, this is too soon for him to act. He does not have enough allies in the Ministry or the Wizengamot to protect himself. If it was ever traced back to him, he would not risk it so soon." He shook his head.
"If he could kill Mr. Potter with 100% certainty he could get away with the crime, he would. But everyone would expect him in this case. The Wizengamot would not stand for an underage dual Heir being killed so violently. They would demand that he be questioned. And from my own sources, Lucius believes I engineered his recent troubles this summer, with Madam Bones' assistance and we just used Mr. Potter as an unwitting tool," the Headmaster explained with some humour.
"So can I go now?" Harry asked, having already made similar arguments himself. Plus, he knew it was Peter it just fit too well. His gut was just telling him it was right, and his gut hadn't led him wrong so far. If he stopped trusting himself, who could he trust in the end? He would end up questioning everyone and everything. No, he would trust his gut he would trust his magic.
"You can go, but a protection detail will be arranged for you. I won't allow a child to be murdered in my school! Not for doing the right thing," the Headmaster said angrily to the room. Harry didn't know whether it was an act or not, but it seemed like the man took his assassination attempt as more of a personal insult.
It made sense, he supposed. The Headmaster was already under attack from last year's events; an attempted assassination of an Heir of Harry's rank would be devastating beyond repair and could very well seal the Headmaster's fate. Combined with the fact there were other Heirs within the school walls like Neville Longbottom the Headmaster would have to reassure other Family Heads he was capable of guarding their Heirs.
Not to mention that, historically, Hogwarts was neutral ground. Killing Heirs outside school was fine, but inside was a no-no, because that just opened the door for your own Heirs to be murdered in retaliation in the school halls.
"I'll escort you, Mr. Potter. I'm your guard for this evening," the Auror said.
"Very well. What's your name, by the way? Because I can't exactly call you 'Auror' for the rest of the night, can I?"
"Alexander Hide. Second-grade Auror at your service. So where to? Ravenclaw Common Rooms?"
"No, I've got a cousin to calm first," Harry replied, wondering what he was about to walk into, as he opened the door.
"I'll join you also; I'd like some words with my daughter," Andy said seriously. "Words she can't ignore."
...
As soon as Harry left the room, Dumbledore turned to Madam Bones. "I believe a protection detail is in order, as well as several Aurors stationed around the school. We can't allow any students to be harmed due to one rogue killer."
"Do not tell me how to do my job," she said dangerously. "I have my niece here, you know. I don't want her being caught up in crossfire any more than you do. You know as well as I do Hufflepuff have most of their lessons with Ravenclaw," she shot back with a matter-of-fact tone.
"Good, we're in agreement then," he said, ignoring her comment. "I would like Mad-Eye to be on the security detail. His magical eye will see Peter a mile off even in his Animagus form. And it would give Mad-Eye something to hunt.
You know he's looking for one final good assignment before retirement. Let it be protecting his old partner's son. He could always help cover DADA lessons as part of his cover. My recent teacher choice is turning out to be a mistake and disappointment," he admitted to Madam Bones as the Aurors started to leave the office to follow out their orders, the staff joining them.
"I'll see if he can be transferred from his current case," she said vaguely before leaving the office as well.
All too soon, only the Headmaster and his Deputy were left. "You really think it's Peter then?" Minerva inquired, clearly disappointed one of her lions had fallen even further in her eyes.
Smiling sadly as he answered, "Yes. It was revealed during Sirius' trial this summer. Everything Harry said is true; Peter is the logical choice with our current evidence. And Lucius has other schemes in motion at the moment and they don't involve Harry. Severus is certain that Lucius does not mean to harm Harry directly at the moment. Lucius has convinced himself I'm responsible for his recent misfortune even if it cost me a little."
"Are you sure Mad-Eye is the best choice?" she asked, causing him to mentally sigh; at least it wasn't Severus this time she was questioning.
"He's the best Auror of the last century. I hope just having him in the same building will cause Peter to go to ground. Plus, he was James's mentor. It's fitting, is it not? That he can help shape the next generation of Potters? He can keep one eye on the boy, and with the other eye on the lookout for any trouble," he explained.
He didn't mention that Mad-Eye's magical eye would be useful for undermining Lucius' current plot and hunting for the Chamber of Secrets as well as spying on Mr. Potter. Peter's actions had given him a chance to reinforce the school, and he was going to take it.
...
AN :
My friend has graciously volunteered to begin the noble task of correcting the grammar and typos in the earlier chapters a true hero among us. That said, we've decided against the overly ambitious idea of going in chronological order. Instead, we'd much prefer to jump straight into the worst of the worst and tackle the truly unreadable chapters first.
So, if there are chapters that made you stop and wonder what exactly you were reading, now's the time to speak up. Which sections are the roughest to get through? Point us toward the worst offenders, and we'll start there.