Chapter 248
Chapter 248
Under everyone’s gaze, the rat Scabbers — or rather, Pettigrew — lay quietly upon the carpet.
The animal instincts of his rat form warned him that his situation was extremely dangerous. He did not know what had happened or why he had suddenly been taken somewhere new, but playing dead was plainly his best choice.
Black looked furious. The rising flames in his eyes suggested that he might draw his wand at any moment.
“Ahem.” Dumbledore cleared his throat and silenced Black with a look before he could cast Avada Kedavra in front of him. Then he turned to Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall still had doubts, but judging by Dumbledore’s and Black’s behaviour, there was clearly something unusual about the rat.
Perhaps…
Dumbledore’s purpose was obvious. She was to try that particular charm. If the rat was not an Animagus, the spell would have no effect.
Professor McGonagall nodded in understanding, drew her wand and aimed it at the motionless rat.
She quietly cast the Homorphus Charm.
A beam of white light struck Scabbers precisely.
Like a silent film, the transformation unfolded without a sound. Under the spell, short, thick human arms and legs sprang from the rat’s tiny body and replaced its limbs. His torso expanded, his pointed snout withdrew, and long front teeth pressed against his lower lip. His short tail disappeared as well.
The change took only seconds. Peter Pettigrew resumed his original human form, though he still held his arms bent before his chest like a rodent.
Suer did not believe Pettigrew could be unaware that his Animagus form had been cancelled. Yet even as his eyes darted beneath his lids, he remained sprawled silently upon the floor, pretending to be unconscious.
Dumbledore’s voice broke the silence.
“Do you not intend to speak with us, my dear Mr Pettigrew?”
Pettigrew’s body trembled almost imperceptibly. From the side, everyone could see his eyes flick rapidly about. His thin eyelids concealed nothing.
“I… what is…” Pettigrew slowly raised his balding head, his voice timid and cautious.
One had to admit that his acting was superb. He perfectly portrayed a cowardly victim hunted by a murderer.
When Pettigrew saw Black staring at him with wide eyes, he assumed an expression of abject terror and screamed, “Black! He’s here! He’s here! Oh, no!”
“Don’t kill me! Don’t kill me!”
Pettigrew scrambled away on all fours from Black’s murderous glare and whipped his head from side to side.
His gaze naturally found Dumbledore seated nearby.
“Headmaster! Headmaster Dumbledore, save me! Black wants to kill me. Please save me…”
Pettigrew saw Professor Lupin and naturally recognised another of his former best friends.
“Remus, we’re friends. You have to help me. Stop him! He wants to kill me!”
Lupin did restrain Black, but not because Pettigrew had asked.
Black’s bloodshot eyes and gritted teeth promised disaster. They did not yet know the whole truth, and Lupin could not allow him to act now.
“Professor McGonagall! Ah, Professor McGonagall. You have always been so fair. You believe me, don’t you? I would never dare do such a thing. You know that.”
“Don’t let Black deceive you. He has deceived all of you, Professor McGonagall, Professor Dumbledore.”
Pettigrew collapsed upon the floor far from Black. His ugly head darted about, terror plain on his face, searching for any possible source of support.
Weak and helpless… Such effortless acting deserved admiration. The stage had found its master.
Yet Pettigrew’s voice sounded strangely high and effeminate, rather like a eunuch in an old palace drama.
“Calm yourself, Mr Pettigrew,” Dumbledore said evenly. “This is the Headmaster’s office. You are safe. No one can harm you in my presence.”
Pettigrew gasped for breath, behaving as though Dumbledore’s assurance had truly calmed him.
“I am curious to hear what you wish to tell us. As far as I know, the last time anyone saw you was twelve years ago.”
Dumbledore’s tone was mild, but its meaning stopped Pettigrew’s breath.
Fear returned to his face. Trembling, he pointed one arm towards Black, whom Lupin held firmly, while clutching his own chest with the other hand.
“It was him. Black. I had to hide because of him. Otherwise, he would have killed me long ago.”
“Yes, I’d like nothing better than to tear the flesh from your bones and drink your blood, my dear Wormtail,” Black said in a sinister voice.
No one could doubt how sincerely he meant it.
“Professor, you heard him!” Pettigrew shrieked.
“I told you to remain calm. No one will harm you in my presence, Mr Pettigrew!” Dumbledore had to raise his voice.
Pettigrew fell silent as though someone had seized his throat, though his eyes continued darting restlessly.
“Look at me, Mr Pettigrew.” Dumbledore’s voice softened, carrying a magic that invited instinctive trust.
Pettigrew turned and met Dumbledore’s gaze.
“Please tell us why Black wishes to kill you.”
Suer saw a glimmer pass through Dumbledore’s eyes.
Ah. It had begun: Legilimency.
“Yes, that’s right. Black wants to kill me, sir.” Pettigrew gave a flawless performance of anger mingled with terror. “It is a long story, sir.”
“We were very close in those days. You know that, sir. James Potter, Remus, me and Sirius…”
“Shut your mouth!” Black struggled and roared. “You have no right to say that name. No right!”
Pettigrew assumed an innocent, frightened expression and shuffled his short, plump body several steps farther away.
“Silence, Mr Black!” Dumbledore thundered, anger in his voice. “Do not force me to take measures against you.”
Watching from the side beside Hermione, Suer’s eyes brightened.
Oh, Dumbledore’s acting was rather good as well. Of course it was. That was only to be expected.
Black appeared cowed by Dumbledore’s authority and fell silent, though his eyes continued glaring murderously at Pettigrew.
“Continue, Mr Pettigrew,” Dumbledore said, his voice gentle once more.
Pettigrew seemed to sense that the room was leaning towards him. He released a tiny, almost imperceptible breath and continued.
“Twelve years ago, the Dark Lord was searching everywhere for James Potter and Lily Potter. You know how powerful he was then.” Pettigrew swallowed, fear entering his eyes.
“James, Lily and Sirius used the Fidelius Charm. Black was their Secret Keeper. Everyone knew it.”
“He betrayed James and Lily. I happened to overhear Black reporting to… to the Dark Lord…”
“I wanted to save them. To save James and Lily…” A sob entered Pettigrew’s voice. “But I couldn’t, sir. Who could resist that man except you — except mighty Dumbledore?”
“Black betrayed them. Voldemort went to their home and killed Lily and James. Black discovered me and tried to kill me… In the explosion, he murdered twelve Muggles. I survived only because I became a rat and escaped into the sewers…”
Suer looked up at Black.
As expected, Black’s eyes were bloodshot again.