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This can't be happening! The thought keeps repeating in my head as I pace furiously in front of the cage holding Ron bloody Weasley! This situation is so out of the blue I can't even… How? HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN!?
“What did you find?” Sebastian asked, a playful little smirk on his face as he crossed his arms, leaning against the border of his portrait, “I've never seen you so frazzled, did the mean man's memories upset your Hufflepuffness?” He mocks.
I snarl wordlessly at the portrait, pulling at my hair in sheer frustration and admittedly, some fear. Because this situation is rapidly devolving into something I can't control. Peter Pettigrew is the best friend of the boy-who-lived!
What even is this bullshit?
Sebastian just chuckles, looking infinitely amused at my woes. Ominis on the other hand looks worried, voice sharp and commanding as he asks, “What did you encounter? Legilimency is not an exact art and you are a beginner…”
I take a deep breath, my eyes shut tightly, nope, the panic is still there, just under the surface. What am I going to do!? I can't even look at the rat… At Ron, without feeling sick to my stomach. Ominis asks me something again, voice cutting through sharply, but I ignore it, my thoughts rapidly moving from scenario to scenario - trying to fix this!
“Lucas!” Ominis shouts angrily, “Answer me, right now!” Followed by actual hissing. The man seemingly incensed inside the boundary of his canvas, seemingly cursing up a storm.
I turn sharply to fully face him and stare at the portrait, somewhat incredulously, “Are you cursing me out, in parseltongue!?”
Can snakes curse? What would they even say?
“Ominis, losing your cool like that, good show, mate!” Sebastian teases irreverently, clapping his hands, seemingly taking great amusement not only from Ominis heightened emotions, but from my own ruffled state.
“Shut up, Sebastian!” Ominis and I snap at the same time. The portrait of Sebastian Sallow chuckles at our ire and mimes zipping his lips, a grand smirk on his face.
Fucking Slytherins…
“That rat… Isn't the Death Eater I thought he was…” I share with Ominis quietly, another perspective couldn't hurt at this point. I lack any ideas on how to resolve this situation on my own, “It's a student, transformed against his will, likely by that same Death Eater…” I pinch my nose, feeling a stress migraine oncoming, “Fuck, forget student, for all that he's eleven, he's actually just a small kid…”
“... You used Legilimency on a child!” Ominis says with a horrified tone. “That's… Do you have any idea how dangerous that is to a young mind!? You could have damaged it irreparably, twisted his mind, any number of mental maladies! You're a beginner at Legilimency, only a master could pull that off without doing injury!”
I drag a hand across my face, not able to believe this, “That's what you're focusing on right now!?” I shout, shaking a fist at the portrait, just angry at the stupid portraits priorities, “Not the fact a kid is stuck as a rat for Morgana knows how long! That a Death Eater is masquerading as a student, or the fact said Death Eater lent me the password into the common room on the day his pet rat disappeared!”
I stop, horrified, a sinking feeling in my stomach, “Oh, Merlin, he'll know…” The already tenuous situation just amped up into the stratosphere. Peter Pettigrew would know I'm behind the sudden disappearance of his rat. Which by itself could be maybe explained away as me doing some sort of prank, however uncharacteristically of me… I close my eyes in dismay, feeling off kilter, I have to grab onto the desk to stay upright, I had stunned him! Something eleven year old Ron Weasley would have never noticed when he woke up. But an adult wizard? Peter Pettigrew would likely know he'd been stunned at some point during the night when he awoke, I couldn't count on him being unaware, I've made too many faulty assumptions as it was. Pettigrew, stunned, at the same time as his rat mysteriously vanishes. The same night he gave me the password to the Gryffindor common room…
I am so utterly deeply fucked!
“Get a professor, this is beyond you!” Ominis snapped, face somewhat paler than normal, “Not only for your safety… Think of the student!” He gestured to the cage holding Ron. “This is not the kind of thing a first year can deal with!” He grimaces, “He'll need help as soon as possible, so someone can fix whatever extra damage you have done!”
I can't even get out an answer before Sebastian jumps in, “Are you mad, Ominis? How is he going to explain to a professor how he knew any of this? Admit to kidnapping and Legilimency? The fact he has a hideout under the fidelius charm? The knowledge he somehow has, of a Death Eater hiding? Whether as a rat or a student doesn't matter.” Sebastian gave me a critical look, “You can't even explain that to us,” He said with a condescending sneer, “Good luck facing the authorities.”
Ominis and Sebastian fell into bickering as I stumbled away, torn between conflicting feelings. I needed to help Ron and stop Pettigrew. Not for any reason could I allow Ron to continue to suffer this life. Merlin… He's not even anywhere near Hogwarts age mentally… Yet… I can't do this alone, but calling in a professor is tantamount to suicide.
Maybe not quite that dramatic. But it feels like it. If I have to reveal how I knew about Pettigrew, that was opening a Pandora's box I could never close again. Even if the Ministry didn't get involved and dosed me to the gills… Which… Death Eater at Hogwarts - they definitely would. Dumbledore, if he kept it in house, somehow, would equally request everything I know anyway. There isn't really a reasonable excuse that I can give - that will pass muster for how I know about Pettigrew. And trying to bullshit my way through it in front of a master Legilimens is not a plan I want to rely on… If I reveal all this, I'll face the consequences of using restricted mind magic on a child, and whatever damage I've done… A pureblood child as well.
Can anyone say muggleborn be fucked?
Everytime I do something to get ahead another door opens to smack me in the face…
I open up the Marauders map, heart sinking as I realize Harry and his handy invisibility cloak is long gone. Back to his dorm again. Well, going back and capturing Pettigrew on my lonesome would have been a bad plan anyway, a knee jerk reactive and hasty one. He might still be stunned, and if not, still be sleeping. If I snuck in under the invisibility cloak again I might get him… But still, I'd have no way of explaining anything.
What good would it do to expose Pettigrew if it ruined me in the process? I might be rooting for Harry, and yes, low key helping him get better as a wizard and as a person… But I don't like anyone that much - that I'll put myself under Veritaserum from the Ministry or Dumbledore.
My life would be ruined.
Then there was the matter of my Legilimency practice. I need it. It's the only way to unlock my memories, before the obliviation sinks in so deeply I can no longer retrieve them. It's also the only way to fix the damage I've done to myself with my mishap with Occlumency. Ron needs to be freed, my mind recoils from even the stray thought of using him to practice. I don't want anything to do with that kind of idea, I'm not evil. I might have some stretchable ethics, but mindraping a kid is so far over the line I can't even imagine it.
I moan, covering my face, more than the one count of mindraping a kid I already managed now…
I need Pettigrew. So… Do I necessarily have to reveal him to save Ron? Saving Ron is the important part, right? Letting him and his family get back to regular life…
My mind latches onto that thought - like a man stranded in a desert, dying of thirst and then finding an oasis. Do I really need to reveal him, right this moment? If I capture Pettigrew and keep him captive for my practice… I can still let Ron go, there would be an investigation as to why he's suddenly mentally much younger, but that's only for the better isn't it? An investigation into the Weasley's should find and fix whatever other horror Pettigrew has done.
It would give the Weasley's some support. Hell, it might even have Dumbledore get off his ass and help them out. Like he should have after letting their daughter be mind controlled by a dark artifact all year in the second book while he failed to lift a finger... If Ron's situation was heavily publicized, maybe Dumbledore would feel the need to show off his benevolence by actually helping for once.
The more I think about it, the more the idea settles as my way forward. I can not reveal to Dumbledore or the Ministry about my flawed future knowledge, I just can't. By the end of the semester, surely I'll have enough practice in Legilimency. I can have someone ‘find’ Pettigrew at that point. It would give me the chance to practice the Obliviation spell as well … Not like I particularly care if I mess up with Pettigrew as the practice dummy. Even as a drooling simpleton - if I do mess him up, finding him at the end of the year, with a dark mark on his arm to boot, might be enough to get Sirius Black a trial at the end of first year instead of… Well, never.
Yeah, still looking at you, Chief Warlock… Fudge wasn't super fascist barbie yet at that point. A politician like Dumbledore could surely suck up enough and manipulate the bowler hat dunce to blame it on the previous administration.
Freeing Sirius Black in the process.
Surely he had enough influence for arranging just a quick session with Veritaserum…
Maybe my newfound fame could be used to leverage an interview or two to comment on the oddity of no trial and how Pettigrew not being dead surely meant the case needed to be reopened…
Surely that would make things up to Harry… For keeping Pettigrew a secret for the rest of the year. For not letting him know what happened to Ron. Not the full truth anyway.
Yeah… Not really… I know I'm being selfish right now…
But it's the only card I can play. Realistically. Ron gets help, the Weasley's get help. Harry gets his godfather back… Hopefully. It's not all together entirely a bad idea.
Just… How by Merlin's saggy ballsack am I going to pull it off in the first place?
I check the time, a frown pulling at my lips, and how do I get it done before Pettigrew either does a runner or does something worse… Like kills the boy-who-lived. If he believes he's been discovered, who knows what he'll do. I certainly don't feel up to predicting it, not with how incredibly useless my future knowledge has proven to be in most cases. Divination can't account for all variables, and the more I ask the less it will work…
I lick my dry lips, still feeling completely thrown out of my equilibrium, finger finding someone on the Marauders map. Someone by themselves and out after curfew. Someone I can probably trust.
Nymphadora Tonks.
She's kind of technically an adult.
If you squint.
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As I enter the training room not too far off from the defense against the dark arts stairwell, I'm met with the sound of explosions. Tonks, bright red hair (Uh-oh, bad sign) plastered to her face with sweat, her robes discarded on the floor by the entrance, only wearing a sports bra and a pair of shorts - is furiously firing explosive spells at the far wall.
She lets out a wordless roar as she slashes her wand down sharply, an absolutely screeching flare of magic sending a fireball the size of Hagrid forward to impact the wall. Whatever magic regenerates the training room area from its abuse is not able to keep up any longer - as the debris and scorch marks remain instead of immediately beginning regeneration. Also, holy fuck Tonks, where was that when you were dueling Death Eaters in canon?
She collapses onto the floor, letting out a sob, her wand rolling away from her limp hand, and I hesitate at the door.
I haven't been paying much attention to Tonks lately. I've obviously missed something, making me feel even worse about myself, I've been a bad friend and this all just makes it worse. Because I'm here to use her, aren't I? Sure, I'll be asking for help from a friend, but it's a pretty hefty favor for someone who's known me less than a year.
How exactly do you ask someone to take down a Death Eater for you - to keep captive illegally? Someone who wants to go into law enforcement.
I walk forward softly, putting Pettigrew out of my mind for the first time since I discovered Ronrat. Tonks is in pain. I need to be a friend first right now, even with the bad timing. Live up to my Hufflepuff sorting, also, because I'm not actually a total asshole. That too.
“...Tonks…” I say hesitantly, as I get within a few feet of her sobbing form, not sure if she's noticed my arrival at all.
She jerks up, hand scrambling for her wand, her face morphing almost undetectably. As she pretends she wasn't just sobbing desperately. “Lucas? Come to peep, huh? Stalking older girls at night, I'm kinda proud of you to be honest, you little go-getter!” She jokes, no sign of tears or any kind of emotional upheaval on her face as she turns my way.
Did she just… Morph away her tear ducts and wet eyes? I think, feeling disturbed. Biting my lip as I slowly sit down next to her, eyeing her carefully. Something just seems… Brittle, about her smile.
“I figured you might need a friend… And well I need you as well, Tonks, so can't say I'm being completely altruistic about it either, but I'm here, if you need me.” I say, trying to show my sincerity, meeting her eyes seriously.
Tonks scoffs, pulling some of her sweaty hair in front of her, growing it longer as she does, covering up her sweaty, sports bra clad chest, “I'm fine, no need to check up on me, little baby claw.” She states flippantly, but her eyes won't meet mine. Her knuckles are white as she holds her wand in an iron grip.
My hand clenches hard around my knee as I sit, silently appraising her, she's covered herself up, which is unusual for the normally flirty and outrageous girl. Her avoiding my eyes is also setting off warning klaxons in my head. I've been so busy… Yet… How have I not noticed this? “Tonks… It's okay. I won't judge you for anything… I've been an idiot, for not noticing, for not getting involved in your life when you obviously needed a friend.” She stiffens as I talk, a shudder running through her as she makes an aborted motion, stopping as I continue on, “I'm sorry, Tonks… I should have realized…” I grimace, in hindsight, that weird interaction in the hallway outside the common room… I shouldn't have just dismissed it as Tonks being weird and with myself having little time for drama. A good friend doesn't just do that.
Tonks punches my shoulder suddenly, “Stop being a sap! What is this? You suddenly grow a twat, Lucas? Come on!” She flexes her arm, a crooked smirk on her face, “This is me, ain't nothing that's gonna put me down for the count.” She jumps to her feet, waving her wand, the sweat sluicing off her in one motion, a small ball of it being sent unceremoniously against the wall, her hair turning pink and spiky again, “I don't need any apologies, what are you even giving one for? Firsties, always so sensitive.” She clicks her tongue, a mocking expression on her face.
I can't shed my worries, or the uncomfortable feeling in my gut. Now that I'm looking. Really looking. I can see the tightness around her eyes, the unnatural wideness of her smile. The whole… Brittle feeling to her everything, like she's made of clay and one strike away from shattering. “Tonks… If you need anything from me, anything. I'm here.” I say, sighing as I stand up. I can't force it on her. I've not been as good of a friend as I should have been. Why would she confide in me?
I've juggled so many things, at least… I can do better from now on. I'll have several classes less now, I'll have more time. I'll do better with all my friends!
Her wand taps my nose, as she raises an unimpressed eyebrow, “What I need is for the little baby claw to stop acting like he's my big brother or something, I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself.” There's a little bite to the end of the sentence as she stares me down.
I eye the wall that's finally starting to regenerate. Usually on days where Tonks have deigned to practice with me, she's been absolutely vicious - but with finesse and precision. Seeing that wall and the damage… That was not her usual style. “Well if I were your big brother, I'd say you don't have to do it all alone.” I say finally. Leaving it at that.
Better if I was really. I hate being eleven…
“Whatever,” Tonks says, rolling her eyes, before giving me a shooing motion with her hands, “Turn around so I can get dressed properly, I need to change out of this.” She indicates her training clothes.
I turn around immediately, taking a few steps away to give her some privacy, now even more sure something is wrong. I've been in here with Tonks several times, both for training, ( living target practice to let her shoot at moving targets.) And for simply watching her go at it - firing spells until her stamina ran out. Each time she's tried to tease me, almost flashing me before laughing at me, making fun of me. Never has she shown any body shyness or attempted to cover up - like today. I mean I should be facing away at this moment, that's normal for being a guy, even a young one, while a teenage girl changes. It's just not normal for Tonks' behavior around me.
A rapid change in behavior is rarely because of something good happening.
“So, what's up? Tonks asks after a few minutes, fully dressed again in her school robes.
I turn to her, reluctant to involve her at this point. It feels too much like taking advantage of her being in a bad place. Maybe I can still take down Pettigrew alone. It would certainly be better for operational security so to speak…
“Lucas…” Tonks says warningly, fingering her wand, “I am not some frail flower, if you're going to start doubting me, I'll have to re educate you!”
The way she's staring at me I have no doubt I'll be in for another session of dodging everything, if I try and change my mind right now. And I do need her. She's essential for the ad hoc plan I came up with. I literally can't do this without her within the time constraints, as much as I want to leave her out of it.
I sigh, running a hand through my hair, “So… Hypothetically, if I needed to catch a Death Eater masquerading as a student and couldn't involve a professor without myself getting a date with a Dementor or something… Would you be willing to lend a hand?” Dementor might be an exaggeration, but an easy way to explain it… I think, watching Tonks with trepidation.
Tonks eyes me weirdly, “Bloody Hell! what have you gotten into, Lucas?” She cracks her neck with a weird twist to her lips after a moments thought, her eyes flashing with something I can't identify, “Sounds like fun, let's do it!”
“I know, it's a lot to ask, but I wouldn't ask if I had any other cho- … What?” I start out rambling, before stopping mid sentence as I realize she's accepted, no questions asked. “Tonks… This is dangerous!” I stress, feeling more alarmed than thankful.
No one sane just accepts something like this without any questions! I wouldn't accept it if someone asked me!
Tonks shrugs carelessly, “Yeah, yeah, potential death and torture and what not. Why not? My dance card is free right now, innit?”
What. The. Fuck?
“Don't you want to be an Auror? Don't you have any questions?” I ask, feeling off kilter, rapidly feeling the scale of; is something wrong with Tonks - tipping heavily into the wrong direction.
Tonks crosses her arms, a stubborn look on her face, “Aurors catch Death Eaters.” She says insistently, an intense look growing in her eyes, as she begins to get jittery, moving her feet, her hand tapping against her arm without her even seemingly aware. “And I trust you, Lucas, you're my onl- you're a friend.”
I don't miss that slip. Ophelia… What have you done? I think, a miserable expression on my face as I take in Tonks' stubborn look. She's going to follow me against a Death Eater. Which, yes, I want her help. But not… Not like this. She's not even wanting to know why!? She's just… Looking for any excuse… It's not until now, when I'm seriously studying her, that I catch the glint of silver on the chest of her robes. A prefects badge. Ophelia has… Lost or given up her position? And Tonks got it instead. What have I missed? I've not been away from Hogwarts that long!?
“So how are we doing this?” Tonks says sharply, the look on her face intimidating that she won't take no for an answer now.
She already knows this much. It's not like I can afford to go without her anyway now.
I need to spend more time with her after this though.
I'm… Actually worried…
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We only had two hours until breakfast, So not a lot of time to plan. And this entire thing would mean I would have to trust Tonks a helluva lot. But I have already been trying to go at things alone so far, and honestly. It's been a pretty mixed bag as far as successes go.
I need allies. Friends. Not just… Stumbling through the dark by myself. I obviously haven't had great success so far.
Still… As she stalks off to begin phase one, breakfast is almost ready to start. I carefully take my mooncalf dice and roll them around in the palm of my hand. It feels disingenuous to do this for all that I talk of friendship and allies. But surely I should at least check. I have already rolled on the likelihood of my plan working to capture Pettigrew and received a not entirely helpful answer of - Yes, no and yes again. Which… Thank you divination for that amazingly helpful answer… I think sarcastically.
For a world of magic - which should make so many things easier - it certainly seems like everything is constitutionally set up to make things harder for me at every step of the way.
With a guilty look at the door from which Tonks had left the room, I roll the dice. Asking my question, hoping the two important divinations in a row wouldn't dilute the magic too much for my answer, “Will Tonks betray my trust in the near future?”
And Merlin, do I feel like an ass, for even asking.
I pick up the dice letting out the breath I have been holding in, the answer is a clear no.
Comforting, in a way.
Although I wonder what in Merlin's name possesses the girl into trusting me so deeply.
I certainly haven't been a good enough friend to earn it. And I've known her less than a year - and then there's the age difference, well the physical age difference anyway.
I glance at the map, keeping track of Tonks movements against the first target, as well as ‘Ron Weasley’ still snoring away in the Gryffindor dorms. Pettigrew must have altered the map, or perhaps it doesn't work properly on a Marauder.
Tonks is on her way. The dice has been thrown. I have my own preparations to do.
I'm not an expert on runes, but I've had access to quite a few advanced books in the Undercroft - When Ominis let me anyway… And I've known about Pettigrews presence since before I started Hogwarts, so it wasn't hard to study up on the wards needed to hold an Animagus.
Without his wand, and his transformation… Pettigrew would be no real threat against two wands.
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Percy Weasley is a complete swot. Tonks thinks in exasperation as she enters the library. It wasn't even breakfast time yet, and he was already in the library plugging away at his studies. How did he cheat his way past the hat to avoid Ravenclaw?
He also happens to be an absolute bore - which also fits most Ravens she's ever talked to. Tonks can't begin to understand how he's even a Weasley, he is nothing like the rest of them. Although apparently Ron is like a Death Eater or something... Maybe she should have let Lucas explain it properly. But.. She had barely been holding it together. And the little shit is way too perceptive for a stupid firstie.
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Like he's stupidly smart. Tonk is kind of flattered that he even lets her hang around, the kid is going to be, like super famous or something. Not someone that should hang with a perennial fuck up like her.
A duel to the death definitely would be better than crying her eyes out like some pathetic girl though. Not that Lucas' plan covered much dueling. Merlin, he's such a Hufflepuff.
Better one than her… She fingers her prefect badge, feeling sick. Don't think of it. She chastises herself for the hundredth time. She fails at that too, because she's shit like that.
Taking on a Death Eater is just the kind of stupid plan she could get behind right now anyway, even if Lucas removed like all the fun parts, due to danger and stuff. And it would give her an acceptable target to work out some frustration on. Besides, in the worst case scenario, she gets Avada’d, and well, no loss, right?
Lucas would handle it anyway.
She pauses in the aisle behind where Percy is studying. Taking a deep breath as she looks around her, craning her neck around the corner to see if anyone else was around. Finding no one, she morphs. She conjures a hand mirror and looks herself over critically, adjusting some minor details.
“Mister Weasley. Hard at work already I see.” She says as she steps out of the aisle, walking up to the desk he is studying at.
“Professor McGonagall! Is there something I can do for you?” Percy says, looking eager to brownnose, Tonks keeps her composure, looking down sternly at him. Having to stop herself from reacting when the brownnoser immediately makes an assumption for her presence, cringing, “What has Fred and George done now, professor?”
“I am not here for your brother's Mister Weasley.” She says primly, “This time.” She adds, peering at him through her glasses. “I need you to bring Mister Potter to the caretakers office, it's a delicate matter, so I came to you to ensure it would be handled appropriately and most importantly, silently.” She stresses, as she glares imperiously at him.
Percy nods rapidly, gathering up his notes efficiently, “Certainly Professor, I'll do that right away.” He seems proud to have been given the honor of escorting a firstie. What a ponce. She thinks, letting nothing show on her face.
Percy rushes off and she goes into another aisle, transforming into Filch. One of her favorites actually.
Not because of how she looks during, because bleh. But because when she goes around the castle as Argus Filch, students and professors alike take shortcuts to avoid her. And if they do meet in a corridor, no one stops to chat. She's practically invisible. And he has like full access to everywhere. Favorite morph, hands down.
She waits in an adjacent corridor near the Gryffs tower until she spots Percy marching by with a very confused looking Harry Potter. She feels kind of bad about his part in the plan. Percy being the brownnoser he is, will not mention to McGonagall or anyone else about this after today, and Harry, once he arrives at Filch's door, will be serving a detention regardless of why he's there or who sent him, and he doesn't complain apparently, even when Snape rips him one, so they're all brill there too. Both Percy and Filch are likely to naturally assume the only reason that Harry is there is for detention no matter what, so it should work.
Sometimes the way Lucas' mind works is a little bit scary.
She walks up to the portrait, now transformed into Harry Potter, confidently giving the confused fat lady the password. Wonder how Lucas has it? I probably don't want to know. She thinks, peering around the Gryffindor common room, it's been awhile since she's gotten an invite here.
Charlie Weasley… He'd been a good bloke. Until suddenly he wasn't. Bad memories, everywhere I go. She thinks with a shake of her head.
She quickly makes her way up to Harry Potter's dorm. She needed to be quick about this in case the real Harry got sent back for some reason, however unlikely. Filch wasn't likely to be merciful this early in the morning on a weekend. She didn't think he knew the words to begin with. And yes, she means both merciful and weekend, she thinks somewhat snidely.
She makes it into the dorm room, finding the open canopy of Harry Potter's bed, which means next to it…
She runs over to Ron's bed, waking him by roughly shaking his shoulder.
“Whazzit?” The boy groans, staring up at her blearily, before he suddenly gets a furrow between his brows and his eyes snap up to her sharply.
“Ron, I found this amazing room, you have to come with me! Hurry!” Tonks says, barely hiding excitement as she shakes the boy. All of her actions and words fed to her by Lucas, although he gave her plenty of leave to improvise if needed.
Ron eyes her, a frown on his face, he grasps his wand off the nightstand, “Alright, I suppose.” He says begrudgingly. “This will be another thing you owe me though.” He mutters with a hint of annoyance.
Tonks has no idea about any of that, so she just nods, hurrying the boy through getting dressed. Inwardly wrinkling her nose at the fact the boy shows no interest in taking care of his hygiene before running out with her.
Alright, so it's good for the plan to leave quickly. But really, not even brushing his teeth. Why were boys always so gross?
Although it's a Death Eater, so she supposed it's really; why are men so gross?
Whatever. Can she hex him yet?
Hurting someone would be great right about now. And well, she'll never have a better acceptable target.
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My eyes are glued to the map as I see them coming towards the room, having already seen Harry get the unfortunate pleasure of having both Argus Filch and Percy Weasley riding herd on him for an impromptu detention.
But it would ensure he was well out of the way for this. With the Undercroft so close by - we should be able to pull this off with no one the wiser.
Eyes on the map I lift my wand, I've already prepared some things around the room, just in case, but ideally we will surprise the man completely.
“Expelliarmus,” I cry out the second, ‘Ron’ steps into the room, his wand already drawn the moment he passes the threshold. Tonks crying out “Incarcerous!” From behind him at the same time, jabbing her wand in his back.
His wand goes flying even as he's tossed aside, ropes swarming him and tying his arms and legs tightly together. He just barely manages to remain standing, giggling as he rights himself up, completely locked down. I get a chill down my spine at the placid easy smile on ‘Ron’s’ face despite being so easily captured.
“Don't even try to transform, my runic ward might be self taught, but I have several NEWTs in different subjects, so you know I didn't make a mistake with it, and it will fuck you up if you turn into a rat in this room!” I say sharply, stepping forward, aiming my wand at his face.
Tonks circles around so she's standing at his other side, her wand also aiming at his face, although she's much closer, a red glow already on the tip of her wand, she's bouncing on the balls of her feet, looking for an excuse to start firing.
Apparently she didn't need one, as I send her a warning look after she sends a stinging hex right into Pettigrews face.
Pettigrew stops giggling, letting out a loose sigh, a placid genuine smile on his face. “A rat? How quaint. For someone able to figure me out, and I will be finding out how you managed that, by the way, I'm very interested in that answer… You've jumped to an erroneous conclusion about me.”
“Hurt him a bit now? With an answer like that, you know he's the real deal now!” Tonks says eagerly, stepping into ‘Ron’ placing her wand against his chin. “You're pretty cocky for a bloke that's failed to hide from a firstie!” She taunts.
I had been worried there would have been some kind of double bluff in play and Ron would be some other poor kid imperio’d or something, I didn't want to accidentally mind rape another kid, in case Pettigrew had a double bluff going on and was actually hiding as Fred or something. But no, this seemed like the confirmation I needed. I open my mouth to agree with Tonks, and then the ropes explode away from Pettigrew.
Pettigrew, who's body changes into an unremarkable plain man, the kind your eyes would just skip over in a crowd with a slight potbelly, brown hair and plain face. The morph disrupts the Incarcerous spell as his body expands to that of an adult. Pettigrew already moving, my stupefy missing him as the grinning man grasp Tonks wand hand and breaks it in one smooth motion, drawing a scream out of her, as he snatches up her wand, firing a non verbal banishing charm at her, sending her flying into the nearby wall, where she hits with a sickening crunch, her scream cut off as she slides down insensinate to the floor.
My second and third stupefy miss as well as Pettigrew changes size as he casually strolls my way, smaller, thinner, at first - then back to an adult size, making his legs three times as long to simply let my next shot aimed at his torso - pass through between his now elongated legs. The control of his transformation is exquisite. The man isn't an Animagus! He's a Metamorphmagus!
“Incarcerous.” Pettigrew intones lazily, not needing to with his obvious mastery of non verbal spells. The man grins widely as the ropes snap my arms together, my wand falling uselessly to the floor. My own whispered last spell seemingly failing to do anything, flashing into the floor.
My eyes flicker to Tonks, as I bite my lip, the blood on the floor… If I keep him talking. It could work. There's still a chance. Please let her still be alive!
Pettigrew taps Tonks' wand against his cheek, humming, “Not a perfect match, but it's cute.” He says, casually summoning his own wand back, before snapping Tonks wand, giggling at my horrified look as I watch the pieces fall onto the floor, time seemingly slowing down as I stare at the slowly falling pieces, flinching as they scatter across the floor. What have I done!? I should have just stunned him first, not double checked if he was really him! Keep it simple stupid!
“How… How dare you!?” I hiss, staring in disbelief at the broken wand pieces.
Pettigrew snorts, putting a foot down on one of the pieces and grinding down, “Oh, this little thing? If that upsets you, oh silly, you're going to have an awful time, going ahead.” He laughs, sending a silent spell at me that tears a drawn out scream out of my throat, I twist and strain in the ropes holding me, screaming for what feels like forever.
He licks his lips hungrily, staring at me with a mad glint in his eyes, “Look on the bright side little mudblood, now you know what it feels like to be on fire, good practice for the real thing.” He makes a tsking noise before wagging a finger teasingly in my face, “Oops. ~Spoilers!”
I pant, feeling dread pooling in my stomach, this has gone so very wrong. “You're… How can you even do this, do what you did to the Weasley's, to a child!?” I spit out. Trying to get him talking. To delay.
Pettigrew chuckles, a rabid glint in his eyes, his grin elongating, a sharp canine poking out. “The Weasley's… Oh the things I've done to them… Hahahaha!” He stops suddenly and tilts his head, “Well, except the older twins, they remind me of other times, they got to continue on, unmolested.” He smacks his lips together loudly, “And little Ginny I suppose, although I was going to show her a good time in a year or two… Maybe I'll move it up in your honor? Maybe…” He mimes Imperio while wagging his eyebrows, “I'll make you do it, huh?”
Pettigrew casually levitates my bound form, spinning me casually, giggling at me as he makes me bob in the air, before he brings me down right in front of him. He seems supremely confident and at ease, like he's in complete control. This is a Death Eater. I should have made a dozen traps, contingencies on contingencies.
I squirm in my bindings, I just need to keep him talking, the trap I'd set up would work even without my magic or wand, but the magical blood spilt is not a quick way to get it going, even though it should still charge the runes on its own, it should set the runes off eventually… Should. “What did you do? It can't be worse than taking over Ron's life!” I spit out, my face twisted in disgust. Unmolested is a word that draws connotations. The threat of raping Ginny is even worse. Thank Merlin he hasn't yet.
Why couldn't he be pathetic and weak? Someone in this life has to be a worse version of themselves for Merlin's sake! At this rate I'll have to be freaking Dumbledore by year Five to do anything…. If I live through this…
“Oh, you have no imagination, mudblood!” Pettigrew cackles, throwing his head back, he can hardly hold in giggles as he continues, “I was little Percy's first. Do you really think I'd spend that entire time as a rat, although it was a useful way to hide… Did you know that any non-blood related spell to track down a human - doesn't work if you're in a form too small to count as one? Worked really well for me the first few years I must say. Gosh, I spent so much time messing with his head, removing and adding memories… Randomly transforming in his room just to terrify him…” Peter smiles, his eyes far away in reminiscence, “His parents thought he was a bedwetter until he was eleven, but it was just me scaring him all the time, hah! I also particularly enjoyed turning into his daddy, sometimes just giving him a beating just cuz I could.” His grin grows darker as he trails his wand across my face, “Percy Weasley isn't really a person, you see. Not anymore.” He says to my growing horror, “All he is now is a bundle of authority following, brown nosing, swot tendencies, without any real personality or will left behind. Ever wonder why the boy isn't like his siblings? He really, really isn't!” He snorts loudly and giggles, it coming out almost girlishly, “He'll follow whatever he sees as the largest authority by habit and nothing else will matter, because he can't really think for himself, all his magic is simple repetition, it's all he has left, if it's not in a textbook for him to obsess over compulsively, he'd never even be able to perform magic anymore.” He taps his wand against my mouth, tracing my lips for a moment, staring at me creepily, “I'm honestly looking forward to seeing what happens when he leaves Hogwarts, if he shuts down or finds someone else to control his automation.”
“You… You erased him!?” I manage to get out, absolute horror filling my entire being, that is my worst fear, manifested ever since realizing I live in a world of obliviation. I fear it more than even Dementors. Having my mind erased, my personality, parts of me, just gone, never knowing what I'm missing. Being lesser.
Percy… Oh Merlin, Percy… No one deserves that! I, by some miracle, manage to keep my bile down. Just barely.
“Yup!” Pettigrew cackles, popping the p, “Of course it isn't even the beginning of what I've done, I had years and nothing really fun to occupy myself with. Well except constantly muddling Arthur's mind, scaring the kids and such.” He twirls his wand with a jovial expression on his face, “I'm really quite proud of Fabian and Gideon, though…”
“What?” I ask, utterly confused. Molly Weasley's dead brothers? This conversation was taking a very odd turn. I eye the floor surreptitiously, seeing it starting to shine a little. Fucking come on!
Pettigrew snorts, “Ah, I suppose you aren't really that close to the Weasley's. You see, a man has needs…” He croons slimily, “Which I can see a lad like you understands, what with your little toy,” He tilts his head in Tonks direction, making me feel sick all over again, she's not moving… And the idea I’d use her like that… I want to hurt this man. More than anything, right now. “And well, I'd obliviated Arthur so many times the man had become a bit odd. He wasn't really doing it for old Mollywobbles in the bedroom anymore if you get what I mean.”He winked at me exaggeratedly, “I had to step up. Only right thing to do I reckon. You'd be amazed at the things a woman will do under the Imperius, Mollywobbles is a freak!” Pettigrew laughs so hard he has to hold his stomach as he practically bends over in half.
What the fuck am I even listening to! I struggle to keep the bile down as I find out just how disgusting Pettigrew is, the things he's done. If I could close off my hearing I would. I don't want to hear this. It's too cruel. They don't deserve this! Why didn't anyone notice Arthur going odd? Percy losing his personality!? Surely they had some friends, someone must have noticed! Why didn't the twins notice!
But… From canon it always seemed that although liked enough as decent folk, the Weasley's didn't really have many close friends… The Lovegoods may have counted, but well…
“Fabian and Gideon are the twins I made with Molly…The only two non-ginger Weasley's.” Pettigrew says slowly, savoring the reveal, his eyes alight with cruelty. “Oh, she didn't want to name them after her brothers in the end… Just their names give her pain after all, but I can be mighty persuasive.” He taps his wand against my temple teasingly, making me flinch in fear. ”It's especially funny since I was the one that gave away the information that got them ambushed and killed in the war.” Pettigrew sighs heavily, looking pleased, a far off look in his eyes, “Funny how things come full circle like that, isn't it?”
“You're a monster, did you even hesitate for a second, selling out your friends, your allies?” Come on! Why isn't it working yet? It should be working, come on you stupid spell! I scream internally. I need to get this man down, so I can check on Tonks. Forget about the Legilimency or anything else, just get to Tonks. Please… Please be okay…
Pettigrew snorts, shaking his head, looking very amused, “You just don't get it, muddie. I have always been a spy. I arrived at Hogwarts already used to making myself as unremarkable as possible because information meant gold.” He shrugs, eyes almost misty in reminiscence, “While James and the others were prodigies in some ways, I was the biggest of them all, having mastered Metamorphmagic by eleven, further than any before me has ever gone. I was the youngest Death Eater ever recruited at 15.” Pettigrew has a look of almost orgasmic delight on his face as he recounts his experience, “The Dark Lord himself came to see me that summer, complimenting me on my obvious mastery and offering me a position in his inner circle, if I'd spy on my professors and eventually the order of the Phoenix for him.”
Of course… Of course in this world Pettigrew is a motherfucking genius or something. What else? Am I in a death world? Also, fuck him, who comes into Hogwarts at eleven already planning to spy and deceive people.
I don't count, I'm not technically eleven.
The spell isn't taking effect… Either I messed it up, or it's a bit more delayed than I meant it to be. I need to do something! A stray memory from the beginning of the year hits and in desperation I call out, “I'm in danger and need a Hogwarts house elf!”
Pettigrew chuckles, looking amused, a house elf popping into the room immediately as per the safety system in place at Hogwarts - immediately facing Pettigrew's wand, “Imperio.” my shoulders slump in defeat as the house elf's eyes go blank.
Pettigrew gives me a crooked grin, “How cruel of you, not very Hufflepuff to sacrifice the help like this…”
“I forced you into using an unforgivable, Dumbledore will come!” I spit out, hatefully.
It might end things for me, hell, Pettigrew might kill me before he gets here, but at least they'll get this fucker. And can help Tonks. The wards surely won't miss an unforgivable. I know just from reading Hogwarts a History how extensive they are.
Pettigrew looks almost pitying as he looks at me, patting my cheek patronizingly, “Silly, I'm already an exception in the wards. How do you think I've hidden at Hogwarts for years now. I have a dark mark, you know.”
I bite the inside of my cheek, tasting blood. Of course. The Marauders map must be attached to the Hogwarts wards. Of course the bastard used that kind of access to exclude himself. They made the map, of course they found a way to access the wards.
If I get out of this… note to self. Get that done for myself too!
Not that I plan on tossing around unforgivables. Except… I glare hatefully at Pettigrew. I'd make room for one exception…
Pettigrew eyes the house elf staring blankly ahead. “Hmm, be a dear, pop into the kitchen, tell all the other house elves that Lucas Greenwood is a naughty boy faking distress calls, and that no elf should listen to another call from him from now on.” Pettigrew says, a disturbing grin growing on his face, his fingernails raking against the skin on my face as the man wets his lips excitedly, “Then go to the forbidden forest and fuck an Acromantula, you're not allowed to return until you've-” Pettigrew breaks out in girlish giggles, “- succeeed!” He breaks out in guffaws as he finishes. “Oh, Sirius would have loved that one…” He says fondly.
The house elf pops away and I close my eyes in dismay. I've killed someone… I called the house elf. Plans on how to make Pettigrew get some tender loving from an Acromantula gets added to my mental bank of ideas on how to make the man suffer.
“Now… Let's have a quick chat, with that distraction gone, hmm?” Pettigrew says lips twitching in amusement still, with a wave of his wand Tonks body ragdolls over, Pettigrew waving his wand like he's conducting an orchestra as he contorts her body, her head lolling around, one of her legs bent the wrong way, before sitting down on her, using her like a chair! With the way she ragdolled over, the blood, the cracking of bone without a sound or a movement from her… I vomit, the sight disgusting and horrific. Covering myself in bile as Pettigrew giggles at the sight.
Oh, Merlin, I've gotten her killed! I can't stop the tears as my head dips down, what was I thinking even trying to deal with a Death Eater. Hubris. Getting some NEWTs means nothing in the real world. Overconfidence. I had a good plan and somehow thought that would be enough… And Tonks paid the price. The anger and hatred is so strong in me right now, I feel confident I could cast a perfect Avada Kedavra if I had my wand right now. First year or not.
“Aww, are you sad the little slut is gone? Can't wet your tiny little prick any longer?” Pettigrew taunts, getting a sly look on his face, a face that is slowly transforming. “Don't worry, she's still warm, I'm sure we could still have ~fun!”
“You bastard!” I spit out, grimacing, squirming in my bindings trying to find any give. I really just want to punch him in the face.
Pettigrew chuckles, transformed into the form of Tonks, his now heartshaped face fluttering his eyelashes at me. “Torturing you will be better like this, won't it?” He purrs, Tonks voice making the situation even more disturbing.
He plays with his new breasts over the robe, letting out a throaty moan, “Oh yeah, this bird has the good stuff!” He cackles, a twisted expression crossing his face. I brace for whatever torture is coming, glaring defiantly at him. I won't give him anything. Not this monster.
Suddenly there's a bright flash, Pettigrew yelping, falling off his ‘chair’ as it explodes into action.
I can only stare through squinted teary eyes, as the spell I'd set up, fails, but malfunctions into a bright flash, Tonks taking advantage of it to toss Pettigrew off her, growling madly as she slithers on top of him and wrestles his wand away, “Stupefy!” She shouts immediately, a red flash managing to get Pettigrew mid transformation as he tries to make himself smaller and harder to hit, not very effective when Tonks is practically sitting on him.
“What… What!? Tonks!?” I manage to get out weakly, holding back tears with some effort, “Tonks! You're okay!?” You're alive! I want to shout, how!? But… Who cares! You're alive! I didn't kill you! My emotions are all over the place in shock and elation.
Tonks grimaces, shaking her head, flinching as she raises her uninjured hand to it gingerly, “I reinforced my skull when he threw me at the wall, managed to play dead pretty good I suppose, figured I couldn't outduel the bastard anyway, and that was before… My wand... I was just waiting for an opportunity.” She stood up, cursing quietly as she removes Pettigrew's wand from where she's holding it in her broken hand, fingers twitching madly. “I've never leaned on my metamorph abilities so hard as when he summoned me over to sit on.” She spits on the unconscious Pettigrew, “Fucking monster, should kill you right now…”
I shudder, remembering the sick sight of her body ragdolling before then being folded over to sit on with no regard. I am beyond thankful she's okay.
She stumbles over to me, using her off hand to wave the Death Eaters wand at me, vanishing the mess I made, and the ropes holding me.
I immediately step into her, hugging her, making her fall back slightly with an oof. “You saved us, Tonks.” I hold her tightly, trying to impart my gratefulness, squeezing her tight, “Thank you, thank you so much!”
Tonks lets me hug her for a minute before she gently pushes me away, gingerly stepping over to where the pieces of her wand lay, sinking to her knees, trembling fingers on her good hand touching the broken pieces. She doesn't cry. But the look on her face is almost enough for me to. I did this.
My constant need to interfere. To get ahead. To get stronger, better, push the boundaries. It's why I wanted Pettigrew at first, to push my mental magic ahead. I had no other reason at the beginning.
I stand next to her, a comforting hand on her shoulder, “This is all my fault, I'll find a way to make it up to you, I owe you, I caused this.” For the rest of my life… I can't even afford to buy her a new one… I'll find a way.
Tonks takes a deep breath, looking at her broken hand, nose scrunching up as she seemingly concentrates on the hand. I watch curiously, before almost vomiting again at seeing all the little bones in the hand moving under the skin. Tonks barely wincing, even though it must be excruciating. She's using her powers to set all the bones to right again, I didn't even know that was possible… Then again… I look at Pettigrew. There's a lot I didn't know was possible. Like Pettigrew being such a bad ass metamorph that he could fool the Marauders he was an Animagus, managing to transform into the small animal form. That's such a cheat. How the fuck did he fool Lupin? Werewolves senses?
It's not important right now… Besides, I can now find out…
“Tonks, we have to move him before we risk people being out and about.” I say softly. I try to not think about the other consequences of today. The poor house elf. That will be in my nightmares no doubt. I can't afford to be stuck on it right now.
Tonks nods, moving her hand slowly, rotating the wrist, her eyes hard as they stare at Pettigrew. “Lucas. I want my own piece of him. You owe me that.” She says. Turning to look up at me, meeting my eyes.
At this moment I probably couldn't turn her down if she asked me to jump off the astronomy tower. I give her a nod, “I have a secret place that can hold him… I can give you access.”
Giving her the secret to the Undercroft, sharing it with her. It isn't too bad of an idea. She'll be done at Hogwarts after this year anyway. Plus she just saved my life and fought a Death Eater with no questions asked - which I still have to figure out what's up with that? But if I can trust her to fight Pettigrew, then I can trust her with the Fidelius.
According to Ominis, before I left the room to start this ill conceived plan, his parseltongue control of the room will allow me a cell for Pettigrew, and with him not knowing the secret, plus doped up as he will be on the draught of living death by then - he can't escape, or even talk.
And I'll get my Legilimency test dummy.
And Tonks will get a safe place, one for only us two. And she can take out any frustration on Pettigrew at any time. Hopefully that will be a start on helping her with whatever is hurting her right now.
Honestly I owe her more than that.
“Let me tell you about a place called the Undercroft.” I begin quietly, my hand still on her shoulder as she sits, playing with the pieces of her broken wand.
Merlin, do I owe her.
✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ
Tonks took the existence of the Undercroft as a chance to use a number of spells that I'm pretty sure she learnt from her mom.
Note to self, stay away from Black women, they're fucking terrifying. Tonks won't count, right? She's half muggle, I'm sure it will be fine.
If I ever allowed Pettigrew to wake, he'd be missing one part very much. Can't say I disagree with the act as much as it made me green at the gills. I could go the rest of my life without seeing the act of cutting it off in action though. Or the absolutely vicious happiness Tonks displayed in doing the deed.
Tonks left soon after, she had to hit up the medical wing sooner rather than later after all. Both to make sure her morphing attempt to fix her breaks could be properly treated - as she wasn't an expert healer and morphing away injuries wouldn't necessarily fix all the fiddly bits unless she learned all that first. She also needed to go to make up the excuse of destroying her wand in the same training ‘accident’ that got her injured.
Two days later she had a new wand, and despite her waving off my fervent promises I'd pay her back. I will find a way to make money and pay her back. With interest.
I sent Ronrat to McGonagall shortly after capturing Pettigrew. It lost me my Animagus proof cage, but I wasn't going to trust owls to not eat Ron if I sent him without the sturdy cage holding him in - that was not a chance I could take, I've already done enough damage. I was pretty confident that she'd cotton on that it was a transfigurated student with any time to examine him up close, and with him in the cage she'd at least take a cursory look, wondering why she'd been sent it. I didn't dare send a note explaining things, I didn't want to do anything more that could tie me to any of this at all.
Sure enough, the Weasley's were all soon missing from the castle. McGonagall had found out the truth. Both Tonks and myself were in a dark mood for a while afterwards. We both knew what an absolutely horrible time the family was in for.
If I deal with the Basilisk in my second year… Maybe I can send them the money somehow. Anonymously. They'll need help, I just don't trust in Dumbledore to provide enough of it, or any at all. Other than empty platitudes maybe.
The Ministry I trusted even less.
A despondent Harry and an uncomfortable Hermione spent a lot of time with our study group after that over the coming days. Harry confiding in us what Dumbledore had shared with him.
Which, blatant favoritism, just saying. Students should not be given private medical information like that, but it's Dumbledore so, guess it's legal?
The tampering with the Weasley's had been discovered when Ron's mental state was revealed. The entire family was put under the lens, the Aurors were crawling all over the Burrow. Arthur was on paid leave.
Somehow it wasn't yet in the Daily Prophet. But it was only a matter of time. This would leak.
Malfoy might actually be killed if he tried to taunt Harry with the Weasley's right now. Harry is hypersensitive on the subject. Blaming himself for not noticing, despite the fact he couldn't possibly have known, having just met Ron last semester. But never let it be said that logic was the chosen one's number one skill.
Either way, according to Dumbledore, no Weasley's were returning this year. And to Harry's despair, Ron would not be going to Hogwarts for years. He was nowhere near Hogwarts age. And… someone had done additional damage to his mind.
So yeah… Rooster meet Basilisk. I owe the Weasley's all the millions of galleons.
Merlin… I'm not going to get over this for a while. If ever. I owe restitution, that's just the least I can do. Yeah I revealed it all, but I also mindraped a kid for it…
Hermione quietly confided in me her own mixed emotions about the whole affair a few days after the news broke, feeling bad over being glad Ron was gone, because she'd never liked him - the ‘golden trio’ never quite meshing. Yet feeling horrible for thinking such a thing about someone that was a victim in all this. She had no idea he was a Death Eater, and hopefully never would. She still had some innocence left in her. I'd like her to keep it at least until the end of the year disaster that likely would still happen.
Hermione and Harry if anything grew even tighter without Ron in the middle to try and set them apart.
Within a week some Brian kid was hanging around with them, Harry and him apparently working through Harry's anger and guilt in the dorm room, Brian apparently having access to therapy books of all things sent from his dad.
So. Kid might have one of the only sane wizarding parents in the world, so good for Harry and Hermione to have that kind of sanity around.
Whatever works, I certainly didn't feel confident in being the therapist in this situation.
Not with my involvement.
I'm done messing with any adults.
I'm gonna study, be a good friend, find out what's wrong with Tonks, and search through Hogwarts for its secret rooms.
No more Death Eaters or politics or any of that.
I'm done.
Understood?