Let's Try That Again Redux - Ch. 2

The world shifted around him as he was suddenly once again in the Shrieking Shack. Pettigrew had a hand at his throat. Gnarled, dirty nails brushed against his skin. Pettigrew had his wand. Everyone had stopped moving. Harry would have thought that time had frozen If it weren't for the horrid stench of Pettigrew's breath.

He didn't have his wand. Memories of this night were already a jumble before any potions or magical manipulation. Seeing a werewolf for the first time overpowered the details of just about everything else. Sirius and Remus stood across the room. This time, it was clear that Remus was just barely holding on. Sirius looked more dead than alive.

Harry was proficient in a decent amount of wandless magic, but he couldn't suddenly start using it without causing a lot of questions. A flash of inspiration sparked in his mind.

"Dobby!" Harry yelled.

A small pop announced the arrival of the elf. Dobby spun around to look for Harry. He smiled brightly as he saw his favorite wizard.

"Harry Potter…" The words froze in his mouth.

The smile twisted into a snarl when Dobby registered the situation. His thin fingers snapped so loud it rocked the shack. Pettigrew was launched into the far wall. The ratty man crumbled into a limp pile.

"Sweet Fuck!" Ron screamed.

"Language." Hermione said out of reflex.

Dobby turned his glare to Sirius.

"Easy, Dobby." Harry said. "He's a good guy."

"If Harry Potter says so." Dobby pointed two fingers at his eyes then shifted them to Sirius.

Sirius froze under the intense glare. Dobby snapped his fingers again. Pettigrew rose into the air and floated in front of the group. The traitor was stiff as a board now, his arms clenched at his side and legs were straight out.

"I love this elf." Sirius broke the tension with a bark of mad laughter. "Now I can finally kill him."

"No." Harry shook his head. "We need him alive."

Sirius stared at his godson in confusion.

"How do we prove you're innocent if he's dead?" Harry asked. "All that would prove was that he had been hiding. He needs a trial. You need to hide until we've cleared your name."

"Hide?" Sirius muttered. "Hide? I'm innocent."

"And we still have to prove it!" Harry yelled. "Do you think that the Dementors will care if you're innocent? Do you think Fudge will be in a rush to clear your name? He's in Malfoy's pocket. You know, Lucius Malfoy, the guy married to Narcissa Black, who has a son that can argue that he's the next in line to be the Head of the Black Family?"

Everyone in the room stared at him in stunned silence.

"He has a point, Padfoot." Remus broke the silence.

Harry turned his attention to Remus. He wasn't sure how he felt about the man now that he had a clear mind. The werewolf was more interested in wallowing in self-pity than doing anything of actual worth. He hadn't introduced himself to Harry until about halfway through the year. Until then, he didn't treat him any differently than another student. Harry understood that no one would want to give custody to a werewolf, but that didn't stop him from introducing himself. He hadn't even acted on the train until the very last moment. Then, there was the fact that he had tried to run off on Tonks when she was pregnant to 'protect' her.

He wasn't going to put any faith in the werewolf until he proved himself. A stray thought crossed his mind. Dumbledore had woven a lot of magic around Harry, and it was likely that there were others too. A skeleton of a plan began to form in his mind. He had learned quite a lot during his experience as an auror. Breaking enchantments, charms, and as long as it was done with consent, they were perfectly legal. Harry had come up with a special blend of tea that worked for an hour or so, which was enough time to get a longer-lasting counter in place.

"Remus, can you contact Madam Bones?" Harry asked.

The two older wizards flinched at the name.

"Why?" Remus asked slowly.

"She's the head of the DMLE." Harry rolled his eyes. "Everyone knows she's one of the few people in the Ministry that isn't corrupt."

"Harry!" Hermione gasped.

Harry sent a flat glance at her. The young witch jolted under his attention. Her eyes dropped.

"Yes." Remus nodded. "Of course."

Remus stepped out of the shack and sent a Patronus.

"Tell her to meet us here." Harry added. "I don't want to give Pettigrew a chance at escape." He turned to Sirius. "Padfoot, switch over to your better looking self and hide."

Sirius nodded. He paused.

"Hey!" Sirius squawked.

Harry flashed him a roguish smile.

"You realize this means war." Sirius returned the smile then changed into his grim form.

"We should tell Dumbledore." Hermione spoke up.

"No." Harry snapped.

"This is important, Harry." Hermione started to get her usual vigor. "Dumbledore needs to know."

"Not yet." Harry growled. "We wait for Madam Bones. I don't want Pettigrew to get away."

"And that's why we should tell Dumbledore!" Hermione whined. "He's the greatest wizard alive."

"I don't care." Harry glared at her, the stone in his voice sent a shiver through the room. "Pettigrew is the one responsible for my parents' death. I'm not going to let him out of my sight until he is in custody."

It didn't take long for Amelia Bones and four other Aurors to show up. Harry hid a smile when he noticed a purple haired Tonks among the mix. She hadn't swapped over to pink yet.

"Mister Potter." Amelia Bones came to a stop just inside the shack.

Any further words came to a halt as her eyes settled on the floating man. Her eyes widened.

"That's Peter Pettigrew." She took a step toward the man. "He's supposed to be dead."

"Check his arm." Harry ordered.

Without a thought, Amelia obeyed. She tore the sleeve of his tattered shirt and let out a strained growl. The Dark Mark was on clear display.

"Peter Pettigrew was my parent's secret keeper, not Sirius Black." Harry tried to keep his voice even. "He was also a Death Eater. He is responsible for Voldemort finding my parents, not Sirius Black."

"Are you sure?" Amelia Bones arced an eyebrow at the young wizard.

"It's true." Remus chimed in. "He admitted it himself. He's been hiding as a pet rat since."

"I'll take him into custody now." Amelia motioned to her aurors. "Please release him."

They stepped forward and bound him in magic suppressing cuffs. Pettigrew gained consciousness as the spell keeping him aloft vanished. The plump man crashed hard to the floor. Dobby gave Harry a wink. Harry smiled brightly at the elf.

"You need to remove the order on Sirius." Harry spoke up. "He never got a trial."

Amelia froze. She studied him for a long moment before she nodded.

"I'll still need him to show up for questioning." She watched her team drag Pettigrew out of the shack. "We'll get him into protective custody and have him before the 'Mot within the week. It would help if you were there."

Harry nodded.

"Get back to Hogwarts." Amelia gave each a firm stare. "Tell no one about this. No one. Not your friends, your pets, or teachers. We don't want anyone to know until we drag him out for his trial."

"What about Dumbledore?" Hermione whined.

"There is no telling who is listening." Amelia shook her head. "Some of the painting are linked elsewhere and have their own loyalties. Same as house elves that are on loan during the school year and the ghosts. Tell no one."

Hermione didn't look happy, but she nodded anyway. Authority figures were always her weakness.

A quick series of pops let everyone know that the aurors had left. Harry scanned the shack, deep in thought. He didn't know who he could trust yet. Well, aside from Dobby.

"Dobby." Harry turned his full attention to the elf.

"Yes, Great Harry Potter?" The elf stared back with near worship.

"Stop that." Harry chuckled. "You are my friend, just call me Harry."

"Harry Potter says he is Dobby's friend?" Dobby started to tear up.

"Dobby." Harry took a step forward. "You did amazing tonight. You always have. I would humbly like to offer you a job. Would you like to work for me?"

The elf let out a loud squee as he pulled Harry into a tight hug. A swirl of magic surrounded them. When it faded, Dobby stood straighter, his skin had a healthy sheen to it, and his ears had shrunk slightly, but looked more solid.

"Dobby is proud to serve Great Harry Potter." The elf hopped up and down.

"Dobby, as my employee you are to be paid for your time as well as given days off and regular breaks." Harry knelt down to look the elf in the eyes.

"Harry Potter is truly a great wizard." Dobby sprang forward, wrapping Harry in another tight hug.

"Let's discuss your pay." Harry managed to choke out. "One galleon a day."

"Agreed." Dobby shook his head. "Seven galleons a year."

"What?" Harry snapped.

"Seven days in a year. Dobby knows this." Dobby nodded sternly.

"There are more than seven days in a year." Harry countered.

"Mister Harry Potter cannot trick Dobby." The elf crossed his arms. "Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. That's seven. No more days than that in a year."

Harry rubbed a hand over his face. It didn't help the headache that was starting to form. Instead, it smeared the grit and grime across his skin.

"I need a stiff drink." Harry grumbled.

"What?" Hermione gasped.

"A shower." Harry corrected. "I need a shower."

"Dobby can take you to the shower." The elf said.

"No thank you, Dobby." He chuckled. "I do have an assignment for you."

"Dobby is ready for his first assignment." The elf yelled.

"Find Sirius." Harry instructed. "Make sure he is safe and take care of him until I give you more instructions later." He dropped his voice to a whisper. "Do not let Dumbledore, or any of his minions, know where he is. Got it?"

"Of course, Harry Potter sir." Dobby popped out of sight.

"And now for that shower." Harry muttered.