Though Wormtail Peter Pettigrew was completely petrified and unable to move, his small eyes were still darting around, searching for an opportunity to escape.
"He... he's really a person?"
Ron found it hard to believe.
Seeing Peter Pettigrew's skin, as dusty and gray as a rat's fur, made him feel like he was about to vomit.
He had a strong affection for Scabbers, but absolutely none for this balding wizard who had transformed into Scabbers. In fact, the thought of sleeping in the same bed with Scabbers every night made Ron's skin crawl.
Harry had been watching from the sidelines as an observer, but he suddenly noticed Wormtail's gaze sweeping over him several times, as if trying to say something to him, which felt a bit strange.
Those eyes held pleading, hope, as if Harry could definitely save him.
"You know Peter Pettigrew?" Hermione asked Percy. "Who exactly is he? Why was he hiding in your house as a rat?"
Harry noticed Percy first looked at him, then averted his gaze and said, "I heard his name when I was little..."
"How come we don't know?" Fred and George asked in unison.
Percy rolled his eyes. "You were only three or four back then, what could you possibly know?"
"Who is he exactly?" Ron asked, looking at Peter Pettigrew with disgust.
"He's..."
Before Percy could finish, Wade interrupted him.
"If you're going to tell a story, please wait a moment."
Wade poured a bottle of pale green potion into Peter Pettigrew's mouth and said, "I need to take this person away for a bit."
"Where are you taking him?" Hermione asked. "What did you give him?"
"A Calming Draught and a Sleeping Draught," Wade said. "It'll make him drowsy and weak-limbed, to prevent him from accidentally escaping again."
Wade knew that their capture of Peter Pettigrew was due to the advantage of knowing their enemy while remaining hidden.
Peter Pettigrew didn't know his identity was exposed. As long as he harbored a sliver of hope of remaining hidden, he would never revert to his true form right under Dumbledore's nose.
He could only operate as a rat, and thus only wield a rat's strength, which was why the few young wizards could capture him.
Just like in the story, when Ron grabbed his tail, he couldn't escape no matter how much he struggled.
But once his identity was exposed, if he got his wand back, none of the Weasleys would be a match for him. Even Wade wasn't sure if he could definitely hold him.
"Wait, Gray." Percy tried to stop him. "We should hand him over to Dumbledore. This man... this man, he's a well-known... sacrificed hero..."
"Hero?" Ron frowned. "What do you mean?"
"I know," Wade said, looking into Percy's eyes. "Mr. Weasley, I know who he is. I will hand him over to Dumbledore, but in an hour."
Percy was stunned. "Why?"
"If you don't know anything, don't offer so many opinions." Fred impatiently pushed his brother aside and said to Wade, "Do whatever you want... I trust you!"
"Me too." George raised a hand. "If it weren't for you, we wouldn't have found him! I'm sure you have a reason for doing this."
Wade smiled and nodded.
Although Percy still seemed to disapprove, Wade had never really cared much for their opinions anyway.
As long as the Weasley twins could assist his plan, that was ideal.
If they could successfully take Peter Pettigrew out of the Gryffindor common room without attracting any attention, that would be the best.
But even causing a commotion and bringing in unexpected people, as long as they weren't professors, it would merely add a little trouble.
If Percy and Ron continued to obstruct him, he wouldn't mind knocking them out.
Wade used the Levitation Charm to bring Peter Pettigrew to the side where they usually practiced spells. With a flick of his wand, a large curtain unfurled, dividing the Umbrella Room in half, blocking sight and sound.
"Zoe."
Wade said softly.
With a "pop," Zoe appeared with the Vanishing Cabinet.
"Mr. Wade Gray, Zoe is ready."
"Thank you for your help."
Wade dragged Peter Pettigrew into the cabinet. He smiled at the house-elf and whispered, "See you in an hour, Zoe."
With a "thud," the surroundings went dark, then lit up again.
Lupin opened the cabinet door.
"Wade, it's not time for class yet, why suddenly..."
Lupin's voice trailed off.
He stared intently at Peter Pettigrew, his face suddenly becoming hollow and pale.
"...Peter?"
He spoke in a very, very soft voice.
—When a friend thought to be sacrificed suddenly appears before you, is it relief or anger?
In those short one or two seconds, Lupin's expression underwent a change too complex to describe in words.
Wade watched his rapidly contracting pupils and twitching nostrils, knowing that Lupin had already figured out what had happened in the past.
For a moment, he bared his teeth like a wolf, as if he wanted to snap Peter Pettigrew's neck.
But then, Lupin saw Wade, and he forced himself to calm down.
"This person... where did you find him? How did you catch him?" Lupin asked with a trembling voice.
"Follow me, I don't want to explain twice." Wade stepped out of the cabinet with Peter Pettigrew and asked, "Has Mr. Marchionne arrived?"
Lupin's eyes were fixed on Peter. After a long moment, he replied, "He's here. He and the people he brought... are in the living room..."
"Excellent," Wade said. "I promised the others I'd send him back in an hour."
He took out a crystal vial from his pocket and said, "Veritaserum, I think you know how to use it."
Lupin looked at the Veritaserum, then at Wade. "When did you know all of this?"
"After I saw Peter Pettigrew's name, I looked up some information," Wade said vaguely.
Yes, he looked up a document called Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
"Name?"
"Do you know the Marauder's Map?"
Lupin nodded, believing he understood Wade's meaning.
As one of the inventors of the Marauder's Map, he naturally knew that the map displayed the names of everyone within Hogwarts' boundaries.
Wade had probably obtained the map and accidentally saw Peter Pettigrew's name, realizing it wasn't one of his classmates. He then researched and deduced the truth of that year.
Just like the thoughts currently surging in his mind.
Lupin poured three drops of Veritaserum into Peter Pettigrew's mouth, then dragged his former friend towards the living room.
"Don't follow, Wade," Lupin said calmly. "This isn't something suitable for you to be seen at."
In the living room, Marchionne's laughing voice faintly carried, and the light spilling from beneath the door looked warm and bright.
Lupin, however, seemed shrouded in shadow. He looked back at Wade and said, "Stay here. Wait for me to come back."
His eyes gleamed with hatred.
This chapter reveals a pivotal moment where Peter Pettigrew's true identity is exposed, thanks to Wade's foresight and the Marauder's Map. The confrontation between Lupin and Pettigrew, fueled by years of presumed betrayal and loss, promises to be intense. Wade's calm and calculated approach to this revelation highlights his strategic thinking.