Chapitre 48: Unveiling Truths: The Marauder's Legacy

With his mind set on uncovering the truth about Sirius Black, Raja knew he needed every advantage he could get. His first step was to approach Fred and George Weasley, the infamous pranksters of Gryffindor House. He found them in the common room one evening, huddled over a piece of parchment and snickering.

"Evening, gentlemen," Raja said with a grin, taking a seat beside them. "I've got a bit of a proposition for you two."

Fred's eyes gleamed. "Ooh, I like the sound of that. What's on your mind, mate?"

Raja leaned in, lowering his voice. "I've heard about this… rather interesting map you two have. The Marauder's Map, I believe it's called?"

George's eyebrows shot up, and he exchanged a wary glance with Fred. "Now, how did you hear about that?"

Raja smirked. "Let's just say I have a knack for uncovering secrets. I think it could be useful for my own… adventures around Hogwarts. And of course, I'd be willing to make it worth your while."

Fred and George huddled together, whispering furiously, then turned back to Raja with matching grins. "Alright, for a price, we're willing to lend it to you," Fred said. "How about a few Galleons and an agreement to let us in on any interesting secrets you uncover?"

Raja nodded. "Deal." He handed over a small pouch of Galleons, and they passed him the folded map.

"Just tap it and say, 'I solemnly swear that I am up to no good,'" George whispered, clearly pleased with their little transaction.

Raja thanked them and slipped away, unfolding the parchment once he was alone. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he muttered, and watched as ink lines appeared, revealing the layout of Hogwarts and tiny footsteps with names labeling them. But what caught his eye were the creators of the map themselves: Moony, Prongs, Wormtail, and Padfoot.

Raja stared at the names, a realization sparking in his mind. "Padfoot… that must be Sirius," he murmured to himself. Could the others have something to do with him, too? He knew he'd need answers from someone who knew the Marauders personally. And there was only one person who fit that bill.

Later that evening, Raja made his way to Professor Lupin's office, knocking gently on the door.

"Come in," Lupin called, sounding surprised to have a visitor at this hour.

Raja entered, holding up the map. "Professor, I'd like to talk to you about Sirius Black."

Lupin froze for a moment, his gaze shifting to the map in Raja's hands, a look of recognition crossing his face. "Ah… so you have the Marauder's Map."

"Borrowed it from Fred and George," Raja replied. "I noticed the names on it—Moony, Prongs, Wormtail, and Padfoot. I'm guessing you're Moony, aren't you, Professor?"

Lupin's lips pressed together, and he nodded slowly, his expression guarded. "Yes, that was my nickname. And Padfoot was Sirius. He and James—Harry's father—were very close."

"Then why would he want to kill Harry?" Raja asked bluntly, his eyes searching Lupin's face.

Lupin's expression softened as he sat down, gesturing for Raja to take a seat as well. "There's a long history there. Sirius was thought to have betrayed James and Lily to Voldemort. After that night, he went after Peter Pettigrew in a fit of revenge, killing him and a dozen Muggles in a single spell."

Raja listened intently, his gaze unwavering. "So, that's the official story. But… I have my doubts."

Lupin tilted his head, clearly intrigued. "Doubts? What kind of doubts?"

Raja took a breath. "Before I get into that, I think you need to know a bit more about me, Professor. I wasn't raised like most wizards. From an early age, I studied things that others might consider strange for someone my age—law, economics, politics. I've used these skills to analyze situations and make informed decisions, even when others would see only confusion or fear. My perspective comes from analyzing facts, reasoning logically, and drawing conclusions based on evidence. My approach to most situations comes down to what the information suggests—not what assumptions might dictate."

Lupin looked intrigued, still processing what Raja had said. "That's… quite the background," he said, a touch of awe in his voice. "But… why are you telling me all this?"

Raja leaned forward. "Because, Professor, I need you to understand how my mind works. I operate on logic and evidence, not assumptions. And right now, the evidence surrounding Sirius Black's case doesn't add up."

Lupin's brow furrowed, clearly torn between disbelief and intrigue. "What do you mean?"

Raja began listing his suspicions. "First, Sirius Black never had a trial. Nobody saw him actually kill those people; they simply assumed it was him. That's sloppy judgment, especially in the wizarding world where we have tools to investigate such things."

Lupin's eyes widened slightly, and Raja continued. "Second, they only found Pettigrew's finger. Why was the rest of him missing? That doesn't make sense if Black was truly powerful enough to blow up the street."

He paused, letting his words sink in. "If Sirius really wanted to kill Harry, why wait until now? Why not go after him when he was a baby or before he got to Hogwarts? Coming here, of all places, is like charging into a fortress. Something isn't adding up."

Lupin looked at him, clearly shaken by the logical gaps Raja had highlighted. "And… and you think Sirius might be innocent?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Raja nodded. "There's more. I did some research on Animagi, and I believe Sirius is one. Specifically, I think he's a black dog. The map showed me a name I believe is his—Padfoot. And you, Professor, were his friend. You, James, Pettigrew, and Sirius. The Marauders."

Lupin's face turned ashen, a mixture of shock and horror dawning on him. "Yes… Prongs was James, and Wormtail… Wormtail was Peter Pettigrew."

Raja leaned back, crossing his arms. "Exactly. And if Sirius is here, risking his life, I think it's not to hurt Harry but to go after someone else. Someone who betrayed him and James."

A realization flickered in Lupin's eyes, and his voice dropped. "You… you're suggesting that Peter Pettigrew is still alive? That he's the real traitor?"

"Think about it, Professor. Why else would Sirius risk coming to Hogwarts, of all places, where Dumbledore and the other professors are? He's not here to hurt Harry; he's here to find Pettigrew and finish what he started."

Lupin's hands trembled as he covered his face, his mind racing through the possibilities. He looked up at Raja, his eyes filled with both anguish and fury. "If… if what you're saying is true, then everything we believed was a lie. Sirius has been suffering in Azkaban for nothing. And I… I trusted Peter. I trusted him."

The shame and regret were evident on Lupin's face, and Raja placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "We can still set things right, Professor. We just need to find Sirius and make sure he gets a chance to tell his side."

Lupin took a shaky breath, nodding slowly. "You're right, Raja. But this will be difficult. We need proof, and we need to act carefully. If the Ministry finds out, they'll try to take him down before he even gets a chance to explain."

Raja's eyes hardened with resolve. "I'll find a way to get him safely. I have a few ideas, but I'll need your help. We'll do this quietly, for Harry's sake and for Sirius's freedom."

Lupin's expression softened, and he looked at Raja with gratitude. "Thank you, Raja. You've done more for us than you realize. And you've given me hope… hope that maybe Sirius can be free."

As they planned quietly in Lupin's office, Raja felt a sense of purpose settle over him. He would find Sirius and make sure the truth was revealed. Sirius Black was innocent, and Raja would see to it that he got the justice he deserved, no matter what it took.