A New Life

Chapter 2: Pettigrew Recaptured

Harry waited one whole week until Hedwig came back. Before he could read the reply, though, Ron had shown up to take Harry to the Burrow. Ron had always picked Harry up three weeks before school every year since their second year at Hogwarts.

"Good to see ya Harry! Hey, what are those?" Ron said, pointing to the letter.

"It's a reply from Sirius. I haven't read it yet, though."

"Well? What are you waiting for? Open it!"

Harry opened the letter and began to read. A few moments later, Ron began to tap his foot loudly.

"Sorry Ron, Ahem. He says that he's going to come back but he has to meet me somewhere secret. Somewhere where no one ever goes. It's to be only your dad, you, Hermione, and me. He says he wants to see no ministry of magic. He'll leave if he does."

"Wow, he seems pretty determined to make sure this isn't a setup. I hope this works. Did you bring Scab- I mean Pettigrew?"

"Yep, right here." Harry pulled a small wooden box out of his trunk and held it up. Inside sat a small, sick-looking, yellowish, rat.

"Do you remember the spell to return him to normal?" asked Ron with great anticipation.

"We can't do that right now, he may get away. We have to wait until he's in a room where he can't go anywhere. Does your dad have a room like that?"

"Um, yeah! He has this room in the shed. No cracks, or holes. It's supposed to keep out rats. I'm sure it can keep them in too." Ron and Harry laughed together.

Harry and Ron finally arrived at Ron's house. Mr. Weasley was waiting for them excitedly. As the car pulled up, Harry tightly held the cage under one arm, while hauling his trunk with the other. Mr. Weasley helped them put Harry's things away, and led them to the garage.

Mr. Weasley opened the door and ushered them in. Harry pulled Pettigrew out of the cage and held him at arms length, by the tail.

"Mr. Weasley? Please have your wand ready. He's really sneaky and I don't want him to get away again."

Mr. Weasley prepared his wand and nodded at Harry to continue on. Harry held the rat out at arm's length, pointed his wand and began.

"Anamagus Reversaro!"

Suddenly, a grayish-green light came out of Harry's wand; he dropped the rat and slowly watched, as it became a person. As he took his final form, Mr. Weasley's mouth dropped wide open and he just stared.

"You---you're---a-alive?"

"Yeah Dad! Didn't you believe me?"

"Of course, I just wasn't really ready for it I guess. Oh! Harry, what did Sirius have to say?"

"Oh, we meet him tomorrow at the Shrieking Shack in Hogsmeade at noon. It can only be you, Ron, Hermione, and me. He'll leave if anyone else comes."

"Oh, I see, well. I'll tell you all the details tomorrow. Go on to bed. I'll change Peter to a rat again. Good night! Don't stay up!"

With that, Harry and Ron went up to bed. As Harry lay there, he couldn't sleep. He was really excited about having Sirius back, that he wasn't even tired. Eventually he fell asleep after what seem like three hours.