Something Wicked This Way Comes

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

 The warm crackle of the fire provided just enough ambiance along with a few of the patrons about Madam Rosmerta's lovely tavern to help me settle into my seat and get a read on information about Sirius Black. So far I had found out as much about his house, some of the things he did, how many detentions he got (which were quite a few), his position on the Quidditch team, and his yearbook picture with his basic information (minus his address and personal things of course).

This was going to be harder than I thought. I sighed as I put down the Hogwarts Yearbook Transcripts and Other Oddities 1970- 1980, picked up the Hogwarts Deaths, and began flipping through. The table of contents went from 1022 all the way to its most recent at the very back with its own special chapter; The Wizarding War (1970-1981). Perfect. That's exactly what I needed.

I flipped to the very back, and the first page of the chapter that read:

This chapter is dedicated to all those who died in the war. Regulus Black, Amelia Bones's father, Amelia Bones's mother, Edgar Bones and family, Benjy Fenwick, Robert McGonagall Junior, Dougal McGregor and family, Angus McKinnon, Elspeth McKinnon, Marlene McKinnon, Dorcas Meadowes, Fabian Prewett, Gideon Prewet, Evan Rosier, Mr., Wilkes, Mr. and Mrs. Winger, Mr. and Missus Longbottom.

And a special declaration for James and Lily Potter and Peter Pettigrew. Your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

It was a marvelous dedication, and I silently wished for every one of them to be at peace. I wondered though, about Peter Pettigrew. Who was he? I turned the page and went down by sections. When finally I reached the page specifically for James and Lily Potter. It recounted what had happened. How He-who-must-not-be-named broke into their home in Godric's Hollow, killing both Lily and James with an unforgivable curse. That Harry Potter was the youngest, and only one to ever survive You-know-who's spell. He feld into the night and never returned.

"Seriously?" I muttered sipping my butterbeer, as I took a second to break I gazed up seeing Professor McGonagall, the Minister, and Madam Rosmerta trample through the tavern in a rush. I squinted my eyes and watched as the door stuttered for a moment before shutting completely. He fled... did that mean... No, it couldn't. I shook my head of those dreadful thoughts and pressed on. I read on to find that Harry Potter was taken to a muggle's home and that Hagrid himself was the deliverer, but nothing about Sirius Black still, then my eyes drifted over to the next page and I saw it, Sirius Black told You-know-who, that I knew, but there was a special little section with a picture of a plump man with a rat-like face, was Peter Pettigrew.

Underneath said this; "After Sirius Black had killed 12 muggles by blowing up a street, directly following Lily and James Potter's deaths, Sirius Black was stopped in the street by Peter Pettigrew, who was known to be friends with Sirius Black and James Potter. After Peter Pettigrew confronted him, Sirius Black killed him cold-heartedly and brutishly, leaving only a finger behind of the poor boy."

That was all the section said. Nothing more. It felt like there were still things missing, although I couldn't put my finger on it. I took another sip of my butterbeer and watched the front door open and slam shut again. This time no one came in or out through that door. I squinted, that was odd. I decided maybe that was my cue to leave the research there for now, and I got up, picked up my items, and walked briskly out of the tavern.

I stepped out into the cold snowy village, there across the way were Hermione and Ron sitting on a rock. I almost waved to them when Hermione pointed to the ground. Footprints in the snow, and they were tracking as if someone were walking. They traveled up the hill, and at the top where a group of elves sang carols were completely stopped by an unseen force pushing them over.

I glanced back to see Hermione and Ron were already running up the hill, quickly following the footprints, apologizing to the elves as they passed by. I took that to follow suit, whatever was going on it was interesting enough to figure out. They reached the outskirts of the village and stopped, the tracks lead up to a rock, where soft sobs could be heard barely through the wind.

Hermione approached the rock and kneeled, reaching her hand out into the air, and pulled down an invisible cloth, it was Harry. Puffy-eyed and sniffing he gazed down at his lap in distraught, "He was their friend.... And he betrayed them..." His voice quivered and broke. He balled up his fists and shouted, "He was their friend!!"

He figured it out... didn't he... there could not have been any other reason for Harry's upset.

"I hope he finds me," He glared up at the sky, "Because when he does I'm going to be ready! When he does I'm going to kill him!"