SWNOVELXO Chapter 150: Understanding and Innocence
## 150. Understanding and Innocence
The Veritaserum's effects gradually wore off, and the reporters had all gotten the news that made them tremble with excitement.
Seeing Peter Pettigrew slowly regain consciousness, Lupin didn't hesitate to cast a Stunning Spell, putting Peter back to sleep.
When he dragged Wormtail out of the room, several reporters seemed to see nothing, still excitedly discussing the articles they held.
As they were all from different countries and their respective newspapers weren't in competition, the atmosphere among the reporters was quite harmonious and friendly.
Before leaving with Peter Pettigrew, Wade said, "One more thing, Mr. Marchioni."
"Please, go on," Marchioni said eagerly.
"I hope they don't publish this report just yet—not until the British government denies its past mistakes," Wade said.
Marchioni initially thought Wade had mistakenly said "denies" instead of "admits," but after a moment's thought, he understood.
A slight smirk played on his lips as he said, "As you wish, Wade."
…
"Are you coming with me?"
Returning to the attic, standing in front of the Vanishing Cabinet, Wade asked Lupin.
Lupin was somewhat tempted, yet also conflicted.
He shouldn't enter the school without permission.
And he also knew that Wade didn't want everyone to know the secret of the Vanishing Cabinet—
If this secret were to be exposed, for the safety of the students and staff, the professors would likely make Wade hand the Vanishing Cabinet over to the school.
But Lupin really wanted to witness the betrayer being brought to justice with his own eyes.
"Come on," Wade decided for him. "But please say you got to the school through some Secret Passage."
Wade knew that the secret of the Vanishing Cabinet might not be hidden from Dumbledore—he suspected the Headmaster already knew, but simply wasn't saying anything.
Dumbledore always gave students too much freedom, such as arranging for first-year Harry to face Voldemort, or condoning Malfoy's various murder attempts in his sixth year.
When this freedom worked to his advantage, Wade quite liked this about him.
However, Wade also knew that the convenience provided by this unspoken understanding could only be acted upon, not spoken about. Once publicized, the Vanishing Cabinet would no longer be his.
After all, only one cabinet was bought by him; the other belonged to the school.
…
In the Umbrella Room, everyone had heard Percy finish recounting the part he remembered.
Percy, who was only five or six at the time, didn't remember much, but his reminder made Hermione recall similar content she had read in a book.
She quickly found Major Magical Events of the Twentieth Century—a book she had finished before starting her first year—and found Peter Pettigrew's name in it.
"…mercilessly murdered by a desperate Sirius Black… bodies strewn everywhere… the Ministry of Magic awarded the sacrificed Peter Pettigrew the Order of Merlin, First Class…"
Looking at these words, and then recalling that slimy, cowardly face from earlier, Harry found it all very surreal.
"If he's a hero… why would he turn into a rat and hide?" Harry asked, puzzled. "Hiding at Ron's house… being a kid's pet?"
"That's the scariest part, Harry," Fred said meaningfully.
"Remember?" George asked him. "When we heard about it last year…"
"Professor Quirrell was He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named's puppet… little Ronny's pet was a 'hero' blown up…" Fred scoffed. "It's like we've never truly known this world."
He looked at his other brothers—Scabbers' former and current owners both had terrible expressions, unable to say a word.
They looked like they wanted to throw up.
The book didn't record the past of the Fidelius Charm and the Secret-Keeper, so Harry's state of mind was relatively calm, mostly filled with questions.
"I just remembered, I've actually seen a picture of that person," Harry told his friends. "Remus has a picture on the wall; Peter Pettigrew, Remus, and my dad were all friends when they were at school."
"Many stories must have happened between them…" Hermione said. "There's a reason Peter Pettigrew had a hero's name but faked his death."
"Yeah… but he didn't hurt me, did he? We've always shared a dorm, and Scabbers never did anything bad, except being greedy and sleepy."
Harry looked into everyone's eyes, seeking validation. "I think he might not be a bad person, just worried about retaliation from Death Eaters, which is why he kept hiding… Uh, am I wrong?"
Everyone looked at him as if he were some naive idiot.
"If he were just a coward…" Fred shook his head. "He could have sought help from Dumbledore… but he's always been in rat form at school, which means he's not afraid of others…"
"…but Dumbledore, right?" Ron said in a low voice.
Fred nodded.
Harry's mouth opened, not knowing what to say.
Just then, the curtain parted, and Wade appeared with Peter Pettigrew, accompanied by another person.
"Remus!" Harry immediately rushed over. "How did you get to school?"
Lupin forced a smile and ruffled his hair.
Awakened memories constantly tore at his heart. Seeing Harry's face reminded him of his dear friend, who had been killed because he trusted a friend.
Lupin took a deep breath, suppressing the burning in his eyes, and said, "Wade knows I was also involved, so he came to find me through the Secret Passage... Let's take Peter and go see Dumbledore."
As soon as the seemingly calm and reliable adult Wizard appeared, he naturally took control of the conversation. This time, Percy didn't say anything either. Everyone left the Umbrella Room together and walked towards the Headmaster's Tower.
"You lot!"
They ran into Professor McGonagall halfway, and she strode over, annoyed. "I heard you made a mud pit outside the Gryffindor common room door, and the Fat Lady told me..."
Before she could finish, she saw Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, and immediately gasped, completely stunned.
"Merlin's beard..." Professor McGonagall said, shocked. "What in Merlin's name is going on?"
"As you can see, Professor," Lupin said as calmly as possible, "Peter Pettigrew isn't dead. Everything from back then was a lie... We need to see Dumbledore now."
"Of course... of course..." It took Professor McGonagall a while to get her mind working again. She said stiffly, "Follow me..."
As she spoke, she kept eyeing Lupin and Peter Pettigrew, even rubbing her eyes, as if she thought she was seeing an illusion.
Students they encountered along the way stared at them in surprise. Some secretly asked the Weasley brothers what was happening, but they didn't answer.
Soon, they arrived at the Headmaster's Office.
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