Harry closed the book as he thought, planning to read more tomorrow.
At dinner, Harry asked Hermione about the situation behind Ron's back.
Hermione said quietly,
"I suspect Scabbers is very likely an Animagus, perhaps even Peter Pettigrew."
Harry asked in confusion,
"How is that possible? Black already blew Peter up. All that was left was a severed body part."
Hermione shrugged and said,
"So no one knows whether Peter really died.
Actually, I didn't really believe that possibility at first either, but the other day I saw George and Fred asking Professor Lupin about the Human Transfiguration Charm. And when they saw me, they lowered their voices.
So I suspect they must have discovered something. What's Scabbers's most obvious feature..."
Harry's eyes went wide.
"A missing finger?"
Hermione nodded.
"I specifically looked through Advanced Transfiguration for details about Animagi.
I suspect Scabbers showing up as Peter Pettigrew on that map wasn't the professor tampering with it at all. It can see through Animagus Transfiguration."
Harry froze, then asked blankly,
"But wasn't Peter a hero? Why would he turn into a rat..."
Hermione took a deep breath and said irritably,
"How should I know? Don't forget, you're the president of the Detective Club.
And don't tell Ron about this yet..."
Just then, Ron suddenly squeezed his head between theirs.
"What are you two whispering about? What shouldn't you tell me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him. "We shouldn't tell you anything."
With that, she shot Harry a glare as well.
Just as Ron was about to get to the bottom of it,
George and Fred suddenly came over, standing on either side of Ron and putting their arms around his shoulders.
"We've got a good business proposition!"
"Business we can only discuss with our brother!"
Ron said disdainfully,
"So you