Capítulo 39: Ch. 39 Rat Infestation

Wednesday, November 11, 1992

The highlight of this week was watching Harry's reaction to Dobby's reveal, from the Mirror Dimension. The look on his face was utterly priceless!

I've already reached out to Manager Ruknar to commission a Pensieve for me. There's just too many hilarious moments that deserve to be viewed multiple times!

I'm waiting for Harry to approach me again, before I address his Hero Complex. It will be a tricky conversation, and seeking him out will only make it harder.

Other than that, the past few days were rather annoying.

After the Quidditch match, I took some time to put myself in Dumbledore's shoes for a moment. Once I saw things from his point of view, I had a hard time faulting the man for his scheme.

I'm starting to see him in a better light than the image I created of him from the books and movies, but I will not be one of his pawns. A partner would be acceptable, but I will go out of my way to ruin his plans if he thinks he can make me dance to his tune!

Due to the constant begging of the students, my classes were reduced to Question and Answer sessions about the Chamber of Secrets. I understand why they were interested, I just didn't like the idea of playing along with Dumbledore's ploy.

Not seeing a better alternative for the story Dumbledore already gave, I ended up creating an illusion of a fake battle with the basilisk for the student's entertainment. They were awestruck as they watched an image of me weaving in and out of the Chamber pillars while sending dozens of Conjured animals to distract the basilisk.

It wasn't even close to what really occurred. But many of the students refused to even blink during the water-downed little show. Some students excitedly claimed it to be the greatest battle of the decade.

I wondered how they would react if they witnessed the actual fight?

A handful of students appeared skeptical about the Illusion, including Cedric. I can't say for the other students, but Cedric hinted at his skepticism from the 'lack' of power displayed against the basilisk.

Yup, he secured the spot as my favorite student.

After the little performance, the rest of the class was filled with discussions about the Chamber itself. I let the kids know it was mostly speculation until a team was assembled to properly explore the area.

Being the History of Magic Professor, I had the distinct honor of documenting the entire thing.

Oh, goodie. How ever will I be about to restrain my enthusiasm?

Until I was sucked into writing the documentary for the Chamber of Secrets, I used my free time to plan for and learn a bit about the Wizengamot. If I'm being forced to play this game, I might as well play it well.

After a quick search through Hogwarts' Library and my own private collection, I found several books containing details about the wizarding world's governing body.

Very early into my reading, it became clear the Wizengamot is a labyrinth of stupid rules and traditions. Many such rules contradict each other or only apply during certain conditions. I start to get a headache every time I begin to try and make sense of the whole mess.

The chief cause for all the confusion is due to the repeal process. To pass a law in the Wizengamot, it requires a vote of two-thirds in favor of those currently available. To repeal any law requires a vote of three-fourths of all active seats. If any voter is not present when the votes are being cast, their vote is automatically cast against the motion to repeal.

Instead of repealing detrimental laws, the Wizengamot just attempts to create new legislation to counter it!

Hell, after finding out this, it took me half a night to figure out the voting system!

There are currently 193 active seats in the Wizengamot. Each seat is entitled to one vote. Here's where things get tricky. A single person can have multiple seats and votes.

Each Ancient and Noble House is given ten seats. That means there can be ten members of the same family present to any Wizengamot hearing. If only one member of that house is present than that one individual can only use one vote unless they are the current Head of House. If other members of the house are present then they must cast their own vote.

This rule also applies to each Noble House, which receives five seats on the Wizengamot.

An additional seat is given to every living holder of the Order of Merlin, First Class. Each Head of a Ministry Office or Department is also given a vote while they hold that title.

This means that Dumbledore only has two votes on the Wizengamot. One for being Chief Warlock and another for being a holder of an Order of Merlin; First Class.

Here's a fun twist! The Ancient and Noble Families must pay annual dues to retain all of their seats but, single-seat holders have no financial obligations to the Wizengamot.

That means that Arthur Weasley should have six votes. He should have five votes for being the Head of a Noble House, and another vote for being the Head of a Ministry Office. But Arthur only has the single vote for being the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts Office, due to the Weasley's being unable to pay the annual dues for their five Noble seats.

Fortunately, a Noble House doesn't need to pay all passed dues they missed in-order-to regain their five or ten Wizengamot seats. They could pay the due anytime during the year, and regain their seats for the remainder of the current year.

So, while there is potential for dozens of more seats in the Wizengamot, the annual dues are keeping many from being able to vote. Those houses are still allowed to observe, but they are not permitted to speak up or vote.

The best part of this, Lucius Malfoy currently has twenty seats. Ten of the seats are from him being the Head of an Ancient and Noble house. The other ten is from him being the legal proxy to the Ancient and Noble House of Lestrange.

Even though Rodolphus Lestrange, the current Head of House Lestrange, is serving a life sentence in Azkaban, he still has a legal right to be represented on the Wizengamot!

Trying to bring a bill before the Wizengamot is another room of hoops to jump through!

I did learn how to earn the house title of Noble. There are several requirements and contributions one must make to be eligible for the title of Noble House.

The good part, I already meet many of these requirements, but I won't be able to earn the title any time soon. Other than greasing a few palms to be nominated and paying the Wizengamot a 'tribute', I also have to be married and have a trueborn heir.

That's not gonna happen any time soon.

When I felt my sanity slipping from trying to decipher the Wizengamot, I would watch my newly dubbed Hogwarts' Map.

You can always count on a few of the older couples sneaking into broom closets together. Judging by how their names would overlap on the map, it wasn't hard to figure out what they were doing.

I even spotted Lockhart moving about the halls late at night. When I first spotted him, I initially thought he was up to no good, so I watched him until he returned to his own apartment. The following morning, I confirmed it is his week to be conducting nightly patrols of Hogwarts. With all the trust I have for the buffoon, I still watch him from time to time.

Dumbledore is also shown on my map, but he rarely leaves the Headmaster's Office. The few times he does sneak-out, it's always to a single destination for a few minutes before he returns to his office.

While those two were interesting, the real person of interest I found on the map, was Peter Pettigrew. The little rat never seemed to leave the Gryffindor Tower during the day. However, he made a trip to the kitchen every night.

Pettigrew's nightly trip to the kitchen hands me an opportunity to capture him.

After McGonagall was kind enough to deliver the list of all sixth and seventh-year students the other day, I now have a reason to confront Pettigrew.

McGonagall didn't pry into the reason I wanted the list of students though, she seemed offended when I turned down her offer for help with the records. She didn't push to know more, but I could tell she wasn't happy with not being included.

Thoughts of McGonagall aside, tonight was the perfect time to capture Peter Pettigrew. Dumbledore and McGonagall were currently in the castle. Aurora was up in the Astronomy Tower teaching a late-night class, and there was plenty of time for the Wizengamot to conduct an investigation and free Sirius Black before Christmas holidays.

I wasn't going after Pettigrew due to some sense of justice for the Potters' or to free Sirius. I was removing Pettigrew from Hogwarts so he couldn't give Voldemort or his Death Eaters any additional information about me. The students were giving enough as it is.

I thought about just killing Pettigrew and disposing of the body, but turning him in alive serves another purpose. Dumbledore will be tied up in multiple meetings outside of Hogwarts. I'll be able to visit the Room of Requirements without worrying about the old man waiting for me when I left.

Catching the sight of Pettigrew's name moving on the map, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face. He was taking the same path he travels every night.

I began casting several spells to prevent the little rat from detecting me. Once I'm sure Pettigrew won't be able to hear, see, or smell me, I use my Sling Ring to open a portal on the third floor. With Detect Life activated, I step into the third-floor corridor.

I figured I might as well save Dumbledore the long trip down to the kitchens.

Four minutes have passed by the time a small red dot appears at the end of the hall.

Showtime!

The moment the red blur draws near me, I launch a powerful Stunner into its center. Judging by the small shape flying back down the hall, I think it's safe to say the Stunner was a bit too powerful.

Removing the concealment spells, I quickly move down the hall and retrieve the Stunned rat.

With the Animagus levitating in front of me, I hit it with the Animagus Reversal Charm.

Floating before me was a short, chubby, middle-aged man with long bland hair. His clothes were also old and worn, and he carried a foul scent of animal fur on him.

With a twist of my hand, two wands flew out of Pettigrew's worn coat and into my hand. One was light-colored and modest-looking, but the other wand held my attention.

Voldemort's wand was composed of a long, pale, piece of yew that extended out of a bone-shaped end.

I toyed with the idea of checking the wand for the previously cast spells but discarded the idea. The 'echo' from the wand wouldn't teach you the incantation, only show you its effects.

Despite having Pettigrew suspended in the air from my Telekinesis, I still hit him with a Sleep hex, Rope-Bind, and Full Body-Bind Curses. No point in taking chances.

"Hogwarts' house-elves, to me!" I loudly called out in an authoritative tone.

It took only a moment before dozens of light cracks announced the arrival of a small herd of the short little servants.

Before any of the floppy-eared creatures could utter a word, I began billowing. "A Death Eater has infiltrated the castle! Search every room for any more intruders and inform the Headmaster and Deputy Headmistress at once!"

Agitation instantly broke out among the house-elves before they began popping away.

"Dundy will retrieve the Headmaster, Professor Dragon!" An old white-haired house-elf called out before departing.

Alone in the hallway again with the unconscious Pettigrew, I could only helplessly shake my head at the overpowered little beings.

I counted less than a minute before an orange burst of flame erupted further down the hallway!

A pajama-wearing Dumbledore burst through the flames and whirled around in my direction. Despite his nightwear, Dumbledore's eyes were sharp and focused, and the tip of the Elder Wand glowed with an uncast spell.

That is one Hell of an entrance!

To his credit, Dumbledore only flashed the Elder Wand in my direction before fixing it on the back of the floating Pettigrew.

My stomach churned at the sight of that. You can talk all you want about trusting someone, but actions speak volumes. That fraction of a second told me a great deal.

Dumbledore's wand never stopped pointing at Pettigrew's back, and his eyes never wavered, as he swiftly moved in our direction.

As Dumbledore began to pass the levitating Pettigrew, he called out to me. "Professor Dovahkiin, what is go..."

The stern eyes of Dumbledore began to widen as he finally saw the face of the captured Death Eater.

"Peter..." Dumbledore softly said. The rigid face of the Headmaster began to slack, and his wand arm fell away from Pettigrew. Dumbledore's eyes slowly filled with shock and horror as his mouth fell open.

With a look of pure agony, Dumbledore softly asked, "What have I done?"