The Werewolf and The Monster

Chapter 23 - Bloody Rat

She opened the doors to the Great Hall and silently walked in. Approaching Albus and Severus.

"Searched the halls and outside, I picked up his scent but it vanished shortly after." She sighed and whispered softly.

"I thought you were protecting this school from threats?!" Severus hissed lowly, trying to keep his voice down as not to wake the students.

"I'm not a miracle worker Severus, Though I did find the scent right before I ran into you. So it could've just been your awful smell. You both are pretty similar after all." She growled lowly, pocketing her hands and glaring at him through her hair.

"Don't compare me to a serial killer!" He hissed defensively, earning an amused scoff from Pandora.

"I didn't come here to argue with an overgrown winged vermin." She said scarily calmly, which made Severus falter and walk away with a huff. Albus just smiling with amusement.

"You two are going to be the death of me." he said with a shake of his head, his light blue eyes twinkling over his half-moon crescent glasses. Pandora smiled at him and shook her head. Albus turned around and walked out with a smile.

Pandora's gaze snapped down to Harry and she sighed."Go to sleep Harry." She sighed before turning into a domestic black cat and waltzing over to the seat at front of the Great Hall and perching in it.

The Great Hall lit with sunlight, Pandora found herself awakening in someones lap, Albus was sat there gently running his wrinkled soft fingers down her head and back. She began to purr softly and nuzzled back into his lap which made him chuckle with a smile.

"Good morning Pandora." He cooed softly at the sleepy cat.
She just nuzzled into his hand contently.

"I won't be going to classes today Albus, I have other business to attend to." He simply nodded understandingly.

"I'll let your Professors know." She nodded and reluctantly jumped out his lap and turning back, nodding a thank you and quietly leaving.

She plodded down to Hagrids hut and simply climbed in through the window. Turns out the door was locked. "Hagrid!!"

"Pan'ora! Ever 'eard of knockin'?!" He said, shock laced in his tone. "How may Hagrid help yeh? So early in teh mornin'?"

She simply smiled innocently. "I need the rat I gave you last night, It's important." Hagrid simply rose an eyebrow suspiciously before nodding.

"Okay?" He turned around and grabbed a cage. "Put 'his blanket on 'ere, cause he was a scared fella I tell yeh that." He lifted the blanket up and the rat was gone, the cages door left unlocked. "Ah, He be gone Pan'ora."

She growled in frustration. "Fuck. Okay I'll just find him again." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair. "Thanks anyways Hagrid, I hope he hasn't gone far."

"Be careful, Yeh gave the poor guy a scare last time" He said roughly before unbolting the door, letting her walk out.

"Good." Was all she said before she walked off. She growled out a sentence under her breath as she began to make her way up to the castle. "I'm coming for you Wormtail."

She approached Fred and George. "You two, Weasley twins, you still got that Marauders map?" They both turned to her surprised.

"The map? No we have it to Harry. How did you even know we had it?" George questioned.

"I'm very observant." She turned away and left to find Harry.

She paced through the halls before she found the familiar Raven-haired boy with glasses. She approached him and grabbed his hand and began to pull him away. "Me and you need a word in private Potter." Hermione and Ron simply shared glances.

"She's never called Him Potter before." Ron said, fear filling his eyes.

"It might be serious." Hermione answered as the four rounded the corner.

"Pandora what is going on?!" Harry asked frantically. Pulling his hand away from her grip once the four of them were alone.

"First things first. Ron where is your Rat?" Pandora questioned, turning to him.

"Scabbers? Dead! Hermiones cat ate him last week!" He whined. Hermione glaring at him.

"Crookshanks did not!"

"Did too!"

"Enough!" Pandora growled aloud. "Your rat is not bloody dead, I found him last night and handed him to Hagrid. But he escaped." She turned to Harry. "I need the Marauders Map. Now."

He stuttered out a short response before walking off to the Gryffindor Common room. The new painting looking at them.

"Password?" The portrait said arrogantly. She sighed and looked at Harry who said the password. All of them quickly walking in quickly.

Harry ran to his Dorm to grab the Marauders Map. The other three lingering in the common room.

"What is all this about Pandora?" Hermione asked. "What does Rons rat have anything to do with the Marauders Map?"

"Rons Rat is not who you think he is. He's Peter Pettigrew" She retaliated back with.

"What? No! Scabbers is Scabbers and her vermin ate him! How could he be Pettigrew?! He's dead! Scabbers has been in my family for 12-" He started, being cut off by Pandora approaching him silently.

"12 Years. Awfully long for a common garden Rat isn't it? He 'died' 12 years ago didn't he? All that was found of Peter was his finger wasn't it? And Scabbers has a missing toe. Doesn't he?" Hermione's eyes opened wide with realisation.

"Pandora is telling the truth. Oh my Merlin." She spoke distantly. Before snapping back and looking at her. "When did you figure it out?"

Pandora turned back to her. "Last night when I was talking to Black. He was framed for Pettigrews crimes."

Ron looked forward in disbelief as Pandora looked back at him. "I believe you owe Hermione an apology." She hissed out lowly. He nodded and approached Hermione.

"I'm sorry." And with that. Harry walked down with the map.

"I'll need you to open it Harry. I haven't got a wand." She sighed and he nodded, arming himself with his wand and placing it on the paper.

"I solemnly swear I am up to no good" The map opened up and he handed it to her.

Pandora opened it up and scanned through the names, Repeating Peter Pettigrew until she landed on him. "Here he is... He's in the castle. Don't run after him yet. I want to plan a trap."

Harry looked at the name with eyes wide. "Hes alive?"

"Yes and hiding as an alias called Scabbers" She said and closed the map up, tugging on her cloak.

Her eyes glowed brightly as she entered the minds of the three to plant the same message. 'Sirius is hiding in the shrieking shack, Do not go to him without me.' They both nodded and looked at her.

"What are we going to do til then?" Harry questioned.

"I am going to find him and hand him back to Hagrid. Hagrid will give you Pettigrew Ron. Act like you still think it's Scabbers." She smiled down at him.

"Okay"