The missing boys ✔

Part 16: Hogwarts

Bill should not have been there. It didn't occur to Arthur until he was surrounded by Hit Wizards, armed to the teeth with protective amulets and weapons. The scene was scary. Molly would be horrified when she found out he'd brought their son to a place like this, that he was hiding in the dark with Bill, a young wizard who hadn't even graduated Hogwarts, silently waiting for the raid to begin.

No time to think of that now, Arthur thought.

The squad leader gave the signal and the group surrounding the bar burst in. Arthur saw flashes of light as they immobilized the bystanders within the bar. He heard the squad leader yell commands but that was it. The flashes of light came so rapidly that the patrons within the bar didn't even have time to scream. Arthur could see them through the window of the pub from where he was standing. Many of them were in the middle of laying down cards in a game of poker or were bringing a glass to their lips.

Arthur watched as the flashes of light moved upwards and soon the attic was ablaze with light. Arthur stared, wondering if his son was up there and praying that they weren't too late.

.  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .

Sirius was part of the second group to move into the bar. He followed Moody, who looked around the bar sharply before his eye swiveled up to look through the ceiling. He took off, moving swiftly up the stairs, and Sirius and Dumbledore followed him.

The second that they entered the attic Sirius's gaze locked on a body lying on the floor. It felt like the breath had been knocked from his chest.

"He's a rat animagus; we found him in a cage on the window," one of the Hit Wizards told Moody. "He tried to escape, so we stunned him."

"Peter," Sirius growled and so much hate bubbled up inside him that he could have killed him right there.

Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder.

"We need to take him back to the ministry and interrogate him. After that, he can go to the dementors."

Sirius growled, but nodded reluctantly.

Moody was pacing down the room, his magical eye taking in everything about the place.

He stopped and picked up a jar of marbles. He glanced at it and looked down at a set of gobstones lying on the floor. "Games," he grunted. "Looks like they wanted to keep the boys happy, quiet. Makes sense. It's easier to keep kids in line if you give them something to do." He glanced at the beds, then walked up to one swiftly and bent to examine a stain on the sheets. He muttered a spell and the liquid soaking the sheets lifted into the air and glowed slightly.

"Blood," said Moody grimly. "Human blood."

Sirius felt cold.

Moody turned to the Hit Wizards.

"Take this man into custody. Maximum security, we'll take it from here."

The group shuffled out of the attic, levitating Peter with them and Moody shut the door before pulling two socks out of his pocket.

"Can you compare scents?" asked Moody, looking at Sirius.

Sirius nodded before transforming. His nose twitched as the smell of sweat, blood, and fear hit him.