Time After Time

Chapter Two: I'm Walking Too Far Ahead

Hermione didn't know what Minerva had come up with, but went as directed to her office at eight o'clock that evening. She and Severus hid in their places, both Disillusioned, while Minerva sat at her desk, waiting. Soon after, Percy entered, with a cowed Ron behind him, and Hermione's breath caught in her throat—had they all truly looked that young? Ron, whose hands were holding tightly to Scabbers, and Percy, his eyes glued to his youngest brother, didn't notice that Severus warded the doors to ensure that Pettigrew wouldn't be able to escape.

Minerva waited until they'd both reached her desk at the back of the room, and nodded for them both to sit down. "You can place your rat upon my desk, Mr. Weasley," she said, and Ron, not wanting to get caught out, did just that, with Scabbers being none the wiser.

"I'm so sorry, professor," said Percy, sitting up a bit straighter in his own chair, "but I don't know why you've called us here..."

"Immobulus," Severus whispered, aiming his wand directly at Scabbers, who froze in place atop Minerva's desk.

Minerva sighed, sensing the wave of Severus's magic, and turned to look directly at Ron. "You are not in trouble, Mr. Weasley," she assured him, and Hermione smiled from her hiding place as Ron sagged with relief. She turned to look at Percy then, and said, "Thank you for bringing him here, Mr. Weasley. Please return to the Gryffindor common room."

Percy appeared torn, but his penchant for playing by the rules won out. He said goodnight to his Head of House and left Ron behind, obviously trusting that Ron was not in trouble.

Minerva watched Percy leave, the wards temporarily falling upon the door, and, once he'd gone and they were back in place, she turned back to Ron. "How would you describe your relationship with Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley?"

Ron straightened up. "Harry? He's my best friend," he said quickly.

"And you know that his home life is, shall we say, not as happy as yours?"

Ron nodded, his eyes filled with sadness. "Yeah. His relatives aren't very nice. He told me that they made him sleep in the cupboard under the stairs, made him do all the chores, and didn't feed him very much..."

Minerva's body language shifted slightly; Hermione was pleased to see that her former Head of House was not pleased by these facts. "What if I told you that there was a way for you to help Mr. Potter?" she asked him quietly.

Ron blinked. "Help Harry, professor? How?"

Minerva nodded. "Has Mr. Potter informed you of his parents?"

"He said they died when he was a baby," Ron reported diligently. "He said that You-Know-Who killed them and tried to kill him, too..."

"I'm afraid that's true," Minerva replied. "Do you know how their location was revealed? I'm sure you know by now that their location was to be kept secret..."

Ron looked uncomfortable. "My mum and dad have talked about it," he said softly. "Ever since we were little, Fred, George, and I listened in. I knew it wasn't right, but they wouldn't tell us anything at all, because they said we were too young..."

"And you still are," Minerva said quietly, "however, you hold the key."

"I do, professor?" Ron asked. "How?"

"I'm sure your parents have mentioned the name Sirius Black..."

Ron's face darkened. "Yeah. They said he was the one who told You-Know-Who about where Harry's parents were hiding."

"I'm afraid the Wizarding World was gravely mistaken about that," Minerva replied, and Ron looked shocked at the declaration. "You see, Sirius Black was best friends with James Potter, who is the father to Mr. Potter. They believed it would be seen as too obvious for Sirius Black to be the secret-keeper, and so, unbeknownst to many, Sirius Black exchanged the role with someone who they thought they could trust."