Chapter Fifty, Pettigrew and Buckbeak

As the bitter cold that gripped Hogwarts' grounds and the entirety of Scotland melted away to mild weather of Spring, Izzy became more and more proficient at both the Patronus Charm and knitting. Some within Gryffindor Tower may have thought this was a strange things for a teenager to do in her spare time but when she was drawing, knitting and even just flying or time with Luna and the many creatures Hogwarts' ground held, it was time she got to herself away from people where she can just shut off her brain.

Which was why when a nightmare of THAT night stopped her from sleeping she pulled out some teal, white and pale green yarn along with her needles from her trunk, took her blanket from the bottom of her bed, and headed down to the common room to knit a dog blanket for Fang beside the fire. Lost in the repetitive motions she had no idea how much time had passed until people started coming down into the common room in their own clothes with the sun peeping out from through the cloudy sky signalling it was now Saturday of March 8th 1993; a week after Ron's 14th birthday.

"Izzy!" Ron said, alarmed, spotting his best friend beside the fire still in her pyjamas, a blanket over her legs, the finished dog blanket but most startling of all were the large black bags beneath her eyes. "Have you been down here all night?" concerned he sat beside her throwing an arm around her shoulders. The orange and black Chudley Cannons socks she made him for his birthday last week just peeping out from under his jeans.
"Nightmares." Izzy explained, a large yawn stealing whatever she had been about to say, instead she finished the last stitch to tie it off before she slumped tiredly into Ron.
"Can they not give you something to help you sleep?" Neville asked, sharing a concerned glance with Ron as he sat on Izzy's other side.

"Dreamless Sleep is addictive. No matter what strength you're on." Izzy mumbled, drifting off into a pleasant sleep with the warm, comforting aura two of her brothers offered her. As she slept against them, Neville and Ron hissed at everyone who trooped down the staircases to be quiet so Izzy could sleep while Seamus and Dean offered to bring them up some toast and coffee for them. Many of the Gryffindors were rather shocked that Ron, the foodie of Gryffindor, would deny going down to breakfast but instead ask for toast to be brought up for him all because Izzy was asleep on him. While others, who paid attention, would know that Ron, Neville, Celeste, Kellah, the rest of the Weasleys, Lee Jordan and the rest of their Quidditch team would always put her first.

***

As noon approached Izzy started to rouse from her slumber, stretching like a cat as awareness pulled her from her sleep.
"Hello love." The sweet voice of Fred Weasley was the first noise that caught her attention as her brain caught up with what her senses were telling her. A hand carding through her hair soothed her and let her know she had been moved so her head was on Fred's lap and her feet in George's.
"Mmm. Hi Freddie. Hi Georgie." Izzy mumbled sleepily, rubbing her eyes to remove the sleep from her eyes. "Hi guys." She greeted her friends – Neville, Ron, Celeste, Kellah and Hermione – who sat around her waiting for her to wake up so she, Neville, Ron and Hermione could visit Hagrid. "Sorry I fell asleep on you, Ron." Izzy apologised, sitting up to stretch her back and crick her neck.

"You don't need to apologise, Izzy." Ron waved off with a smile.
"Izz, guess what happened while you were sleeping" Kellah gushed, a beaming smile on her face as Ron took her hand.
"What? Really?" Izzy asked excitedly, jumping to her feet as she looked from their clasped hands to their faces, then to those sitting around them.
"Yep!" Ginny exclaimed, a shit-eating grin on her face that she directed at Ron. "Ron finally manned up and asked Kellah out!"

"That's amazing!" Izzy squealed, running over to hug her best friends. "I'm so happy for you both!"
"Thanks Izzy." Both Ron and Kellah smiled, light blushes upon their faces as they hugged her back just as tightly.
"Let me get dressed then we can go to Hagrid's. I can give him the blanket I made for Fang!"
"Izz, next time you have a nightmare wake one of us up. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to, but just so you're not alone." Celeste and Hermione told her.

Hermione knew talking would help but she was trying to prove she was sorry, and she knew that forcing Izzy to talk would be detrimental. Instead of answering Izzy just smiled and nodded at them as she turned to race up stairs to her dormitory for a shower and get dressed. But she was wondering if Hermione would stay true to her word and actually SHOW that she was sorry instead of just empty words. However, she seems to mean it this time, so she decided to give her the benefit of the doubt.

***

"What a beautiful day." Hermione smiled. This would be the first time in ages that she had joined Izzy, Ron and Neville on a trip to Hagrid's. Fred and George were off planning and creating more pranks for the shop they wish to open after school with Lee, Kellah and Celeste joining them. Oliver was planning the next strategy for their next Quidditch match against Slytherin, Angelina, Alicia and Katie were down by the lake enjoying the sunshine, Ginny was with Luna and their other friends, and Percy was on a date with his girlfriend Penelope Clearwater.

"Gorgeous." Ron agreed dreamily. Izzy and Neville had to hold back their laughter at the dreamy look on Ron's face.
"Hi Crookshanks." Izzy greeted, stroking the ginger cat that jumped onto the wall eliciting a loud purr from him; a wide smile taking over Izzy's face washing away the troubled look in her eyes.
"Hey Izzy." A voice from behind them. The four turned to come face to face with Draco Malfoy. Each of them having a different reaction to seeing the Slytherin male. Izzy was ecstatic, whereas Ron and Neville were cordial, but Hermione had a frown on her face with a slight glare. "Hi." Draco greeted them hesitantly.

"Hi Draco."
"Hi."
Izzy, Ron and Neville greeted but Hermione said nothing.
"Do you want to join us?" Izzy asked. "We're heading down to Hagrid's."
"IZZY!" Hermione protested loudly, drawing attention from others who were in the courtyard.
"Hermione, they're friends, remember." Ron reminded her.
"I know but –"
"If you want to earn not only Izzy's forgiveness but ours as well then you need to learn to get along with ALL of Izzy's friends. And most of them are Slytherins." Neville informed her, a note in his voice that told her this wasn't up for discussion.

"There's nothing wrong with Slytherins. People just need to get over the prejudice." Izzy input a frown on her face directed at Hermione. She knew Neville and Ron didn't care about her being friends with them as they got along well with most of them and were cordial with the rest. It was just healing old wounds that would take time.
"I would like that, but Flint wants us on the pitch. I just came to make sure you were alright." Draco explained, gently declining the invitation. "Perhaps another time."

"I'd like that." Izzy agreed happily. "Thank you for checking on me but I promise I'm....getting there. I'll see you later, Draco." She gave him a quick hug before skipping off down the bridge leaving the others to catch up. The three of them forgot how fast Izzy could move when she wants to, by the time they finally caught up with her, Izzy was already inside Hagrid's getting a tight almost bone-crushing hug from Hagrid as he once again marvelled at her kindness when she handed him the blanket she had spent all night making for Fang.

"Thank yer, Izzy." Hagrid muttered gratefully, taking the old blanket out of Fang's bed and replacing it with the new one. The second it was in the bed; Fang was over there like a shot sniffing it as he investigated his new bedding before he laid down wagging his tail so fast it was thumping against the bed.
"Can I go see Buckbeak, Hagrid?" Izzy asked eagerly, almost vibrating where she sat after she had answered all of his questions. Hagrid had always been like another father to her.
"Drink yer tea then we'll go." Hagrid agreed with a soft chuckle. He knew as a professor he wasn't supposed to have favourites, but he had to admit that Izzy was his (which anyone with eyes could see). She was like his daughter; had been since the first time he picked her up from the Dursleys three years ago.

Ten minutes later the five of them were in the clearing where they had their first ever Care of Magical Creatures Class all those months ago. Hagrid, Neville, Ron and Hermione watched anxiously as Izzy approached Buckbeak offering him a deep bow. They were nervous to see if he would remember her and bow back but it seemed their worries were all for nought as he bowed back just as deeply as the first time and even let her climb onto his back without aid from Hagrid this time.

"Izzy!" Hermione exclaimed alarmed, fearing the lack of sleep had affected her. But before she could even think of approaching the Hippogriff, Buckbeak took off into the air soaring high across the grounds and over the Black Lake. In their trail all that could be heard was the raucous sound of Izzy's deep-belly delighted laughter that succeeded in bringing smiles to any who heard it, much like the first time she rode Buckbeak. "Okay she does sound happy and did look like a natural sat astride him." She relented.

***

Once again the nightmares kept Izzy awake leaving her to suffer through her classes this year with a severe lack of sleep. Instead of heading down to the common room as it was a cold night, Izzy sat up in her bed with her dressing gown on browsing through the Marauders Map by wand light as she munched on some Chocolate Frogs. Once Fred and George found out who Moony, Padfoot and Prongs were they had gifted her the Map as it was rightfully hers as an Heirloom much like her Cloak was. However, it felt like her blood had suddenly turned to ice when she saw a name she hated more than anything and one she didn't want to see ever again, least of all in the school where she should be sleeping: Peter Pettigrew.

Knowing what she had to do. Izzy hurriedly got out of bed slipping on her slippers as she went. She needed to find either her Dad or Papa and she knew her Papa was on patrol tonight she just had to find him. Looking over the map she saw that Pettigrew was in the Arithmancy corridor with her Papa just a few corridors away from him. The only problem was to get to where her Papa was she'd have to go through the Arithmancy corridor and likely cross paths with Pettigrew so the safest option would be to wake her Dad up. Her mind made up she hurried towards her parents quarters, forgetting her Cloak in her tizzy, as she didn't want him to get away, and was consequently stopped by Snape.

"Potter!" Snape shouted, causing Izzy to jump out of her skin.
"I don't have time! I have to wake my Dad up, it's urgent!" Izzy snapped at the Potions Professor, making to tear off down the corridor only to be stopped once again.
"What did you say to me!" Snape snarled. "Your so-called parents may let you get away with everything Potter, but I most certainly will not! You've just bought yourself a week of detention. How extraordinary like your real father you are, Potter. He too was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle."

"They are all my Dads for your information, that's what adoption is. And my Dad didn't strut. Now, if you don't mind I would appreciate it if you lowered your wand before you blind me. It's dangerous to shine Lumos in someone's eyes, you know. If you don't believe me check with Madam Pomfrey and Healer Zabini." Izzy replied sassily.
"Turn out your pockets! I said, 'turn out your pockets!'" Snape ordered.
Seeing no alternative Izzy pulled the blank map from her pocket.
"What's this?" Snape asked.
"Nothing. A spare bit of parchment." Izzy shrugged.
"Really? Open it." Snape scoffed. Tapping his wand to the parchment he drawled, "'Reveal your secrets!' Read it."

"'Messers Moony, Padfoot and Prongs... offer their compliments to Professor Snape and..." Izzy trailed off trying not to laugh but was secretly surprised that Pettigrew was no longer on there, but she assumed it was the magic the four of them used and as he betrayed them he could no longer be on the Map, but she would have to check with her Dad and Papa to make sure.
"Go on!" Snape ordered.
"'request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business.'"
"Why you insolent little -"
"Professor!" Remus interrupted his voice hard and firm, stopping whatever Snape had been about to utter to his daughter who already looked upset and terrified.

"Well, well Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?" Snape jibed. Ignoring the dig Remus moved round Snape to face Izzy.
"Izzy, are you all right?" Remus asked her concerned, which only rose when she shook her head 'no.'
"That remains to be seen." Snape scoffed, snatching the map out of her lax hands. "I've just confiscated a rather curious artefact from Miss Potter. Take a look, Lupin, it's clearly filled with Dark Magic."
"I seriously doubt it, Severus. It looks like it's a parchment designed to insult anyone who tries to read it." Remus forced a laugh as he looked down at the Map, noticing that Pettigrew's name was no longer there either.

"Did Fred and George get this for you from Zonko's?" Remus asked, getting a timid nod from Izzy. She felt all exposed out here while Pettigrew was wandering the castle in his Animagus form with no one none the wiser. "Nevertheless," Remus continued, holding the Map out of Snape's reach when he went to take it back. "I shall examine it to find any hidden qualities it may process. Izzy, come with me please. Professor goodnight." Remus bid leading his daughter the rest of the way to his quarters he shared with Sirius in silence.

"Izzy?" Sirius asked, looking up from the book he had been reading as he waited for Remus to return but immediately became concerned at the state she was in and the fact she was out of bed at this time. "What's going on?"
"Pettigrew's in the castle!" Izzy blurted out, shaking like a leaf as the adrenaline left her rapidly leaving her cold with anger and fear. "I had a nightmare and couldn't sleep so I was just in bed looking through the Map when I spotted him in the Arithmancy corridor probably in his Animagus form.

I knew Papa was on patrol, so I was heading here to wake you up Dad and let you know when Snape stopped me. He wouldn't listen to me. Said only Daddy James was my real father so I snapped sassily at him and got detention when he made me pull out the Map. It insulted him, when I noticed Pettigrew's name was no longer on there, shortly after Papa arrived." At that point Izzy was enveloped into a tight group hug from both her parents who reassured her that no matter what Snape said they were her parents.

"You did the right thing, sweetheart, coming here." Sirius reassured her, kissing her forehead as Remus made her a hot chocolate that he laced with a Calming Draught. "We will deal with Snape and the detention but for tonight we want you to stay here with us where we know you're safe."
"Your Dad's right, cub." Remus added as he passed her the hot chocolate. "We are incredibly proud of you; I want you to know that. I want you to stay here tonight with your Dad and drink your hot chocolate. I'm going to see Professor McGonagall and see if we can find this rat once and for all. I love you both."
"Love you too, Papa."
"Love you too, stay safe."

"Always. Just look after our cub."
"You know she's my first priority." Sirius insisted, hugging Izzy close to him.
"I do." Remus agreed, smiling at the pair of them and he honestly wouldn't have it any other way. As he looked down at the Map, making sure Pettigrew was nowhere close to the people he loved, he felt Sirius cast the strongest protection ward he knew and was most likely from the Black Grimoire. Satisfied Izzy would be protected he left his quarters once again; he knew this would be a long night, but he didn't care as he had a rat to hunt.

—————————————————————————

Author's note: DO NOT ask me to update in any way shape or form. There are other ways of telling me what you thought of this. Anyone who does will get one warning before they are blocked.

Before anyone says anything there will be no execution for him as Draco listened to Hagrid as he didn't want to lose his friendship with Izzy that was just building.