The group entered the headmaster's office.
Dumbledore was originally sitting at his desk, writing a letter. When everyone came in, he immediately noticed the unconscious Peter Pettigrew.
The white-bearded headmaster strode over. He carefully examined the dusty Peter, then looked at Lupin and the others.
"If I'm not mistaken… Is this Mr. Pettigrew?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, sir," Lupin said.
They looked at each other.
Wade felt that in that instant, Dumbledore must have understood what had happened.
The headmaster didn't say it directly. He conjured enough chairs and said, "Have a seat. Let me hear your story."
Everyone looked at each other.
The Weasley twins were winking at Wade—they didn't want to reveal the secret of the Marauder's Map. They had been trying to figure out how to weave a plausible story while keeping that a secret.
But Lupin spoke first.
"When I was in school, James and I drew a map together that could show everyone's names in the school…"
The Weasley twins stared at him with wide, surprised eyes.
"You… you made the map?"
"Yes." Lupin smiled at them. "I'm Moony. It's a nickname my friends gave me in school. By the way…"
He looked at Harry and said, "James was Prongs, and Sirius was Padfoot. And Peter…"
Lupin's gaze shifted to Peter Pettigrew, and he said with disgust, "He was Wormtail, because his Animagus form is a rat."
Harry looked at Peter, then at Lupin. He was very interested in the stories from his father's school days but also knew this wasn't the time to ask questions.
He sat beside Lupin, quiet and well-behaved, like a child leaning on his father.
Dumbledore's gaze lingered on Harry for a moment, but he said nothing.
Then, Lupin continued to narrate. Before coming here, he had already learned the general outline of events from Wade. As he recounted the story now, every word carried a persuasive power.
Wade didn't want to be the one to speak up, so Lupin took most of the responsibility upon himself.
In his version of the story, Wade saw the name [Peter Pettigrew] frequently appearing in Harry and Ron's dormitory on the map. Knowing that there was no such student in Gryffindor in their year, he mentioned it to Lupin in a message through the Marauder's Notebook.
Fred and George exchanged glances.
The way Lupin told it, it sounded as if he had given the Marauder's Map to Wade. This also conveniently covered up the fact that the two of them had stolen the map from Filch's office and often used it to sneak out of school.
He's a good person! Fred's eyes seemed to say.
George nodded vigorously. Although they hadn't said much yet, their favorability toward Lupin had already skyrocketed.
They had never met an adult they liked this much before.
Lupin naturally wouldn't forget the names of his former friends. He immediately realized there was something wrong.
Since he couldn't enter the school, Lupin asked Wade to capture Peter Pettigrew, and Wade in turn sought help from the Weasley twins…
"Why didn't you ask me?" Harry asked in confusion. "Ron and I are in the same dormitory, so it would have been easier!"
"Because you're with him all the time, and he's very familiar with you," Wade gave a random excuse. "If you accidentally exposed your intentions, he might have been able to get the jump on you instead."
Harry blinked, "But Fred and George ended up getting exposed too!"
George coughed, "Maybe Wade thought… even if we were bullying Ron's rat, he would just think he was unlucky and not that he had been exposed?"
Everyone found this surprisingly reasonable!
The two brothers were used to being mischievous, but they hadn't expected it to be convenient in this situation.
Percy wanted to say something several times but held back because the professors were present, his ears turning red.
Professor McGonagall was furious.
"Remus!"
She glared at Lupin, saying sternly, "I thought you would have become a little more steady after growing up, but you're even more reckless than James was! Tell me, what were you thinking, sending a few children to capture Peter!"
"If… if Peter was… they could have been hurt, or even died!"
Wade and the Weasley twins all involuntarily cringed.
"I'm sorry." Lupin bowed his head in apology, unhesitatingly taking the blame. "I was overwhelmed and didn't think things through…"
Professor McGonagall's expression softened a little, and she sighed.
"I can understand how you feel, James and Lily… Sigh… But, no matter what… you shouldn't have let the children take such a risk. Even if nothing bad happened, I have to say, what you did was absolutely wrong…"
"Yes," Lupin said sincerely. "I should have contacted you or Dumbledore… but I was afraid that if I waited even a second, he would disappear for good…"
Professor McGonagall's expression was filled with compassion. She shook her head and said no more.
The "children" who had escaped a scolding were as quiet as quails.
Lupin continued his narration.
After capturing Peter Pettigrew as he had instructed, Wade brought Peter through the secret passage to Hogsmeade—
Professor McGonagall was so angry she was panting again. If Lupin hadn't already graduated, she would probably have taken two hundred points from her own house.
—Lupin had interrogated Peter and confirmed that he was the betrayer from back then. And Sirius had been completely framed by Peter.
A betrayer?
A bad feeling surged in Harry's heart. He stared at Lupin, his heart pounding violently.
—Who did Peter betray?
But Lupin had no intention of explaining in detail. He then continued with the story of how he, Wade, and Peter Pettigrew returned to the school to have Dumbledore handle the rest.
"So… the Secret-Keeper from back then, was…" Professor McGonagall asked in disbelief.
"It was Peter," Lupin said with a pained expression. "Sirius switched the Secret-Keeper at the last minute… He thought it would be safer that way…"
Professor McGonagall wanted to say something, but seeing the confused Harry beside her, she held back.
A child shouldn't have to bear hatred too early.
"Are you sure Peter is telling the truth?" Dumbledore asked. "You know, he's been lying for over a decade… How can you prove that he's not making up a story now?"
"I'm sorry, sir," Lupin said shamefacedly. "I used Veritaserum…"
Using Veritaserum without authorization was illegal, but everyone present could sympathize with Lupin's feelings and did not question it.
"I think we need to notify the Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore stood up and said. "Ronald Weasley and Wade Gray, stay here. Professor McGonagall, please take the other children back to the common room, and then please ask Arthur and Molly to come to the school."
"Alright," Professor McGonagall said.
Harry quickly asked, "Can… can't we stay?"
"I'm sorry, but you won't be of much help in the interrogation of Peter Pettigrew," Dumbledore said bluntly.
"Uh…"
Harry had nothing to say. He just looked at the two people who were staying behind with envy and left with Professor McGonagall.
Ron mouthed to him, "I'll tell you everything later."
Harry nodded slightly, and his mood improved.
"Pro-Professor!" Percy quickly raised his hand and said, "Scabbers used to be my pet, so maybe I can also provide some information."
"Us too!" The Weasley twins said eagerly. "We also took part in the capture!"
"…I think one person is enough," Dumbledore said.
Fred and George were still unwilling, but Professor McGonagall said sternly, "Don't be difficult, Mr. Weasleys! The headmaster has already made his decision."
Fred had no choice but to follow them out. As he was leaving the door, he was still mouthing words to Wade—
After this is over, you have to tell us every single detail!
They desperately wanted to be a part of it. It was much more interesting than all their pranks.
Unfortunately, the cruel adults had excluded them.
Wade nodded slightly, agreeing to their request.