Chapter 378: As Long as I Can Get to That Place (Edited)

"Mr. Weasley, can you show me the pet rat you have?" Dumbledore's voice softened, but Ron couldn't help but shiver.

"Uh... of course, but..." He stammered and said nonsensical words.

"I know you have many questions, Mr. Weasley, and I will answer them one by one, but for now, please..."

The front of Ron's robe began to tremble. A few minutes ago, Scabbers, or rather, Peter Pettigrew, had overheard the conversation between Dumbledore and Ron. Hopefully, he thought, maybe Dumbledore really came to talk to Ron. Now he realized that Dumbledore's true target was him. Peter Pettigrew sank into despair. He didn't believe he could deceive Dumbledore, and he feared that his two old friends would recognize him with a single glance.

"Of course, of course." Ron had complete trust in Dumbledore. He reached into his robe and struggled to take out Scabbers. Scabbers writhed desperately, and Ron finally pulled him out by the tail.

After getting Scabbers out, Lupin and Sirius stepped forward, unaware. Their eyes were fixed on Scabbers, and they seemed to have forgotten to breathe.

"A rat, a rat that has lived a long time," Ron looked at the two of them, with some fear, hugging his pet rat, curled up in a corner, looking very defenseless, "There's nothing special about it, right?"

Lupin and Sirius confirmed Scabbers' identity. Dumbledore's eyes sharpened even as he glanced at Scabbers' injured leg.

Sirius spoke, his voice becoming hoarse, and it was clear he was struggling to stay still.

"It's not a mouse or a rat."

Ron: ?

Ron was a bit confused. Could it be that Scabbers was a special kind of hamster or field mouse?

"It's not just a rat; it's an Animagus named Peter Pettigrew." Lupin spoke calmly beside him.

"They're crazy... Professor Dumbledore..." Ron sought help from Dumbledore, hoping that he would deliver justice.

"Today here, no one or nothing will be unjustly accused, Mr. Weasley, hand it over to me." Dumbledore reached into Ron's chest.

Ron's initial reaction was to hold his rat even tighter, but he soon stopped resisting. He would let Professor Dumbledore prove it.

At that moment, the office door suddenly swung open. Percy appeared in the doorway, panting. "Professor Dumbledore, I beg you to give my brothers another chance. I..."

Before he finished speaking, a dark figure collided with him and knocked him to the floor. It turned out to be Scabbers, who took advantage of Ron's distraction to free himself from Ron's control and escape.

If it had only been Lupin, Sirius, and the others, Peter might have succeeded. But unfortunately, they were in Dumbledore's office.

Peter took a few steps forward and heard a tumultuous noise behind him, but no one pursued him. A wave of joy flooded over him; it seemed like he could smell freedom. Now he wanted nothing more than to escape from the tower where Dumbledore's office was and then have the freedom to "swim in the sea and fly high like a bird." He could hide in the Forbidden Forest for a while and then look for an opportunity to escape from Hogwarts.

Peter had already planned his life after leaving Hogwarts. During these years, he had been hiding in the Weasley's house, waiting for the best moment for his master's return. Now, he felt it was the best opportunity.

After escaping from Hogwarts, he would go to Albania, where it was said to be his master's stronghold, where Lord Voldemort would wait for the opportunity to return, and he, Peter, was the last piece of the puzzle.

After helping Voldemort return, his position would also undergo a drastic change, and no one could ever underestimate him again. Peter felt extremely relieved to think of this, but he also knew that all of this was just a castle in the air. To make it a reality, he first had to escape from the tower where Dumbledore was.

He ran to the end of the stairs, where there was a door, a door to freedom.

Bang!

He crashed into the wall, hitting his head against it, but the stone wall did not move, as if it were just a wall after all.

The door that should have been there did not appear.

At that moment, Peter fully understood the feelings of Harry and Ron at King's Cross Station last year.

He fell into despair: this staircase had no way out, or rather, the way out was an unrelenting and cold stone wall.

He heard footsteps behind him and suddenly felt himself being lifted by the tail.

"You ran quite fast!" Sirius, with red eyes, lifted Peter, transformed into a rat.

"Calm down," Lupin ran towards them and held Sirius back, preventing him from acting too impulsively. He was really worried that Sirius would lose control and kill Peter, which would be troublesome.

Initially, when Lupin learned the truth, he also wished to tear Peter into pieces. But after calming down, he realized that although it would be satisfying to kill Peter, that would have one consequence: the injustice against Sirius would never be resolved. Allowing the traitor to die with honor while Sirius, innocent, bore the blame, was it really worth it? Lupin plunged into his thoughts.

The result of his reflection was: it wasn't worth it. So he needed to restrain his good friend and prevent him from acting impulsively.

"Peter will face the consequences he deserves," Lupin looked into Sirius's eyes and said sincerely, "You still have a bright future ahead of you; it's a shame to throw it away for a person like this."

Sirius's expression turned somewhat fierce. "A bright future? I don't see any; I..."

"At least, think about Harry. You're his godfather; how can a godfather be a criminal?" Lupin extended his hands and put them on Sirius's shoulders.

Finally, the mention of Harry made Sirius regain his sanity. Feeling the strength in his shoulders, his mouth twisted.

"Peter is getting off lightly; he can still live a life with food and shelter in Azkaban."

Upon hearing these words, Scabbers struggled desperately.

"In fact, he won't suffer much," Lupin sighed with relief as he saw Sirius regain his sanity and let out a laugh.

"Hmm?"

"Because this guy will receive the Dementor's Kiss." Lupin smiled as he said it.

Scabbers' struggle intensified even more.