"Ron, we are telling you—"
"We didn't do anything—"
"To your dear rat—"
"And if we do need to do experiments—"
"That rat wouldn't be our choice!"
Fred and George spoke, finishing each other's lines. The twins were annoyed by Ron, who blamed them for the disappearance of the rat.
Ron cornered them in the hallway where the twins were about to head out towards Hagrid's place to get some ingredients for their pranks.
Harry and Hermione looked at each other. They knew the twins never crossed a line like taking Ron's rat or anything. They never did anything like this, but listening to Ron talk about how much the twins pranked him, they couldn't blame him.
It also had solved a mystery for Hermione—why Ron didn't have table manners. It was because of the twins, who messed with his food, like adding one of their prank potions.
"If you don't have my rat, then who does?! If you two don't tell me, I'll write a letter to Mum!" Ron threatened them.
The twins frowned.
"Go ahead—"
"We aren't afraid—"
"Of something—"
"We didn't do it!"
With that said, Fred or George pushed Ron aside. They walked away angrily and annoyed. Hermione stopped Ron from going after them and scolded him. "For Merlin's sake, Ron! If they say they didn't do anything to your Scabbers, then they didn't!"
"I can tell, they aren't lying," Harry added. "Ron, they don't have your rat. I understand your suspicions, but think about it... your rat's been missing for days now. Also, you told me yourself... the rat was getting old."
"Yeah!" Hermione nodded. "Maybe it's dead? You can buy another one."
"Or you can wait," Harry smiled. "Sirius planned to get you a gift. That'd be better than a rat."
Ron's lips twitched. Sirius did get Ron a new wand and even got him better clothes. "Okay... but where would he go?"
"Maybe... I don't wanna sound rude, but dead? Eaten?" Harry offered. "No offense."
Ron shook his head. "None taken... the rat was old... oh well." Then he got excited. "You think Sirius'll get me an owl?"
"Maybe."
"Aww, come on, I already have our family's owl with us."
"I never asked... how is that owl... still alive?"
"No idea. He's blessed by Lady Luck, from what Charlie used to say, because that owl's been hit in places and still stands up like a brave Gryffindor—Charlie's words, not mine."
As they walked away from there, a shadow in the corner near an empty classroom was watching them.
————————
Headmaster's Office
"Albus, you better not be meddling in this case," Alastor scowled at his friend. "Bones would chew you out!"
Albus, sitting behind the desk, shook his head. "I promise you, my hands are clean."
Snape didn't know why he was summoned here. He warily kept his eye on Alastor. That man never liked him—and the feeling was mutual.
"If you're right," Alastor pulled out a file and slammed it on the desk. "What was THIS doing there?"
Confused, Albus picked up the file and looked through it. "Ah..." Now that explains why Alastor was suspicious of him. "It's not me." He put the file back. "You can ask the staff here. I never left—only went to New York because of the leads that Grindelwald was there."
Alastor took the file, his fake eye moving over to where Snape was standing. "Who says you didn't tell someone else? I'm sure anyone is eager to start the rebellion."
Snape scowled. "Are you suggesting that I want to kill that brat?" He hated James Potter with a passion. Yes, he did hate his son. But Harry was also Lily's son. No—the boy's father was a Muggle, while Potter did a blood adoption.
Besides that, Snape reflected on his past behaviour and felt ashamed. He believed Albus's words that the brat was safe—but he wasn't! He was living with Petunia! She hated magic!
For Merlin's beard, she hated Lily so much and even cut ties. When Mr. and Mrs. Evans died in a car accident, that bitch didn't tell Lily, who was still at Hogwarts, about the tragedy.
"Alastor, I promise you, I have no hand in this. I didn't even know a dark wizard escaped until you mentioned it now." That worried Albus. Voldemort's followers would do anything to get rid of the person who killed their master. Harry was safe here in Hogwarts. With Remus, Sirius, him, and others, no one could harm him.
No student would get harmed as long as he was here.
Alastor hid his surprise. Huh, Albus didn't know about the escaped dark wizard? Then again, Sirius and Remus didn't trust Dumbledore, plus the Ministry of Magic kept their mouths shut about it. "Well, now you know. Don't say anything to anyone." He regretted coming here and questioning, but one thing cleared up—Albus didn't have a hand in the case.
Even stay out of Potter's business.
There was a knock on the door, and it opened. "Professor..." It was a fifth-year student from Slytherin. "I was told you wanted to speak with me..."
"Do come in," Dumbledore gestured for the child to come inside and looked at Alastor. "Do you need anything else to talk about?"
"For now, nothing..."
"Good. Good day, Alastor."
Alastor didn't say anything and walked over to the fireplace. "By the way, Stark is coming." He grabbed a handful of powder and threw it into the fireplace, then spoke the address and stepped in. Green flames surrounded him and disappeared.
Dumbledore stared at the fireplace where Alastor was a moment ago. He looked at Snape. "Can you bring Sirius and Remus? I need to speak with them."
"I believe I should be here," he said. "You summoned one of my students from my house. I'd like to hear what this is about."
The student gulped. He knew his Head of House was gonna skin him alive once the Headmaster told him what he did.
It wasn't his fault that the Mudblood from Gryffindor beat him in a duel and he got caught by the professor. He had already lost 150 points.
This wasn't his day at all.