" Remus, you know I'm not that kind of person," Peter knelt down and looked at Lupin, " Black is lying. He tried to kill me, and now he wants to persecute Potter's son."
"How dare you—mention his name again!" Sirius's eyes widened in fury, a red glint appearing in them. He seemed to be transported back to the sleepless nights in Azkaban, filled only with hatred. He was about to raise his wand when Lupin and Lorne stopped him in time.
"If you don't admit it, I'll call Dumbledore and the Ministry of Magic," Lorne said, brandishing his Magic Mobile Phone. "Having been around Ron for so long, you know that if I wanted to notify them, it would only take me less than three seconds."
"What will they use? Veritaserum? The Pensieve?" Lorne counted on his fingers. "If you tell them everything now, maybe they'll spare you."
Yeah, right.
Lorne crossed his arms and smiled, but inwardly he thought, "Even if they spare you, I won't."
Peter glared at Lorne with a menacing look. Whether it was the Magic Mobile Phone or the pet control, everything he did was never in his own interest.
Without his wand and knowing he couldn't escape, Peter stopped begging. He slowly stood up. "If James knew I did this, he would forgive me."
"Unless he tells me himself now to spare you." Sirius closed in step by step.
" Remus!" Peter shouted anxiously, "Stop him! He's going to kill me! I know you're the kindest person; you're the one who introduced me to the Marauders. You should be held responsible for this!"
"Indeed, James and I didn't even notice you at first," Sirius continued sarcastically. "You're short and small, and your grades aren't outstanding. We valued Lupin's kindness and talent. If it weren't for his pity on you, you would never have been friends with us."
"But you are not worthy to be my friends!" Peter almost roared. "I've been like a stalker, idolizing you, but you've never stopped for me!"
" James is a legendary Chaser in Gryffindor, Sirius is a star, Lupin became Prefect, and I've accomplished nothing. I envy your talents and am willing to be your follower, but you've never taken care of my inferiority complex, not even by waiting for me for a moment—"
"I also come from Gryffindor. I have never been a coward. I spent three years learning Animagus for Remus, and I overcame my fear to cross the Maniacal Whomping Willow. I also fought alongside you against Slytherin, but you have never acknowledged me."
Lorne, however, did not think so.
Perhaps without Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew would have lived a peaceful life following the three of them, or perhaps he would have obediently smiled and complimented others after being teased at Harry's birthday party. But given the right opportunity, this kind of person, whose inferiority complex has driven him to the extreme, would stop at nothing to frantically frame his superiors.
A pure Hogwarts version of An Lingrong.
Sirius, however, tugged at his ear in frustration. He looked at Lorne, asking when he could make his move.
Lorne didn't want to hear Peter's excuses. He waved his hand and said, "Use the spells freely, just don't kill him. I still have a use for him."
Sirius didn't hesitate. " Conjunctivitis Curse!"
" Relashio!"
" Rictusempra!"
" Locomotor Mortis!"
"..."
After a series of negative buffs were applied, Sirius finally put away his wand with satisfaction—even Peter, the weakest of the Marauders, could defeat a seasoned Auror, and Sirius, whose talent and abilities surpassed Peter's, was very confident in his spells.
"He won't have a good year," Sirius blew on the tip of his wand. "Before he's sent to Azkaban or executed, I'm going to give him another one."
Lupin put away his wand and looked at Lorne and Sirius: "Was this part of your plan? To capture Peter Pettigrew and then send him to the Ministry of Magic to uncover the truth?"
Lorne shook his head. "We won't send him to the Ministry of Magic for now. The Ministry of Magic was reluctant to exonerate Sirius Hagrid. Sending an innocent person to Azkaban while the real culprit goes free will only lead them to suppress the matter."
"We need to let things escalate first, and only make it public when public attention is focused on one thing. That way, the Ministry of Magic will be pressured to give Sirius justice."
In fact, Lorne's purpose was not limited to this. Ron firmly believed that his Scabbers was just an ordinary mouse, and even frequently quarreled with Hermione, who had bought a cat as a pet. There were also many self-centered students in Hogwarts.
It's not their fault; that's just how the education system is now. Even Peter's at Hogwarts one minute, is willing to betray his friends for his own benefit the next. He's cowardly and hesitant, yet remarkably brave when it comes to betraying his friends for his own advantage.
Lorne thought this could serve as a case study.
Sirius was still catching up with Lupin, leaning against a dusty Wood cabinet. Lorne thought that if they had a cigarette, they would definitely smoke it right now.
Looking at Lupin and Sirius, Lorne couldn't help but sigh.
How was that poem read again? I've been here for so long I've forgotten.
I went out to buy wine, brought back osmanthus flowers, and learned to swim freestyle.
"It was Peter who volunteered to be the Secret Keeper," Sirius said sadly. " James agreed too, so all I had to do was keep running away, and everyone would be safe. Little did I know he had already sided with Voldemort."
Lupin glanced disdainfully at Peter was convulsing on the ground. "You've reminded me, to prevent him from turning into a rat and escaping, I could put him in St. Mungo's's straitjacket— Director Lorne, you're going to use it on him, aren't you?"
Lorne nodded. "You're absolutely right."
Looking at Peter, who was wrapped up tightly with only his head and feet showing, his mouth crooked, his eyes unfocused, and his body twitching, Lorne didn't know how to return him to Ron.
then.
"It's too old," Lorne said. "I had a professional pet groomer give your Scabbers a full checkup, and the specialist said its condition is very bad."
"Osteoporosis, risking fractures at any time; cataracts, unable to see anything; a fungal infection on the tongue, currently only able to eat liquids..." Lorne listed them one by one, each time Ron's expression darkening further.
When Lorne finally placed Scabbers, who was wrapped up with only his head and tail remaining, in his hands, Ron was on the verge of collapse. He carefully took Scabbers with both hands, repeatedly muttering " Merlin, Ron protect me."
"Poor Scabbers," this time it was Lorne who said it, "But you'd better not get too close to it. Experts say it carries a lot of germs that could infect wizards."
Lorne had already done everything he could to prevent Ron from breaking down after learning the truth. He had advised Ron to stay away from Scabbers, but whether he listened or not was up to him.