Diime, most of the professors were present at the staff table, but Headmaster Dumbledore was notably absent. Scarlet felt a growing sense of nervousness as she finished her meal and made her way over to Professonagall.

  “Excuse me, Professor, I have some questions and I desperately need your advice. It’s about Animagus transformations.”

  Professonagall looked intrigued. “Have you finished your dinner? Very well, follow me.”

  They sooled in Professonagall’s office. The Professor sat down and asked, “What would you like to inquire about? I know being an Animagus souing, but I must strongly advise against a first-year student attempting the ritual.”

  “No, no,” Scarlet quickly crified. “I’m not asking because I want to bee an Animagus. It’s something else.” She hesitated before tinuing. “I suppose you’ve heard from Professor Dumbledore or Professor Sprout that I ied an a form of magid that I’ve been granted a room for physical training?”

  “Yes, I’m aware,” Professonagall replied, nodding. “Mr. Filch has also been informed, so he won’t report you for being out after curfew, provided you’re not out too te.”

  “Well, I don’t think aold you exactly what kind of magic I’ve ied,” Scarlet said cautiously, notig the subtle nod from the professor to tihe magic I acquired is reted to death and souls. For instance, if you’d permit me, I could guide all the ghosts in the school to the nd of the dead - the Shadowy Land, which is guarded by Scáthach, the warrior maiden. I also identify souls. If you jured an animal using Transfiguration, I could tell at a gnce whether it’s a true living being with a soul, or just something created by magic.”

  “Iing magic,” Professonagall said thoughtfully, clearly impressed. She had taken special note of Scarlet ever since sendihe acceptater and apanying her on the school supply trip to Diagon Alley. This student had a clear mind, was well-prepared, and took trol of situations when necessary. Professonagall had initially thought Scarlet would be sorted into Ravencw or perhaps Slytherin, but Hufflepuff had been an ued yet fitting choice. Still, she couldn’t yet see how a soul magic reted to the topic of their versation.

  “And I assume,” Professonagall added, “You have something to ask - something involving Anigami, Transfiguration, and this magic you’ve ied?”

  “Well, yes...” Scarlet began slowly, choosing her words carefully. “I found a human soul inside a rat...I mean, this rat, it’s supposed to be a human, but somehow, he’s living as a rat - and for far lohan an average garden rat, sidering it isn’t a magical creature.”

  Professonagall’s eyes widened, and she straightened up in her chair, “You mean to say...”

  “An adult man disguised as a rat, and he’s been hiding for at least nine years,” Scarlet crified. “And when I checked the Hogwarts yearbook, I realised that the soul looked exactly like Peter Pettigrew. It even has one less finger...”

  Her voice grew quieter as she noticed Professonagall’s expression being increasingly stern and serious.

  “This is a bold accusation,” Professonagall said softly, though her tone was edged with . “Are you prepared to guarahe truth of this cim?”

  “Yes, by the name of Queen Scáthach, I swear I’m telling the truth,” Scarlet responded solemnly. “I take full responsibility for my words.”

  “Good,” Professonagall said, her voice steady. “Now, where is this rat?”

  “In Ron Weasley’s room,” Scarlet replied, notig the fsh of surprise that crossed the professor’s face. “The rat used to belong to Percy Weasley, but now it’s Ron Weasley’s pet. I noticed the oddity whe orain, but I only retly found the time to iigate. I used the excuse of a rare, long-living rat to avoid raising suspi...I just gave him back to Ron a few days ago.”

  “A clever cover,” Professonagall aowledged as she stood. “Stay here. I’ll retrieve the rat, and we’ll take this directly to the headmaster.”

  She left the office briskly before Scarlet could respond, clearly uled by the gravity of the situation.

  Not long after, Professonagall returned with the rat secured in a cage. Together, they made their way to the headmaster’s office.

  This was the sed time Scarlet had been in the headmaster’s office. The st time, she had been too nervous and focused on requesting a training room to notice much about her surroundings. Now, she took in the sight of the many portraits of past Headmasters hanging on the walls, all of them watg curiously as she and Professonagall entered.

  “Albus, this is a serious matter. We’ll have to skip the pleasantries,” Professonagall said firmly, setting the cage down on ay spot on the floor, “Please, take a look at this rat.”

  Professor Dumbledore noticed the tension in Professonagall’s voice, so he kept his words brief and moved closer to examihe rat. “It’s not a particurly well-groomed rat, I must say. I don’t see anything unsual.”

  “He’s an Animagus,” Professonagall expined, “acc to Ms. Hong.”

  “I assure you I’m telling the truth,” Scarlet added, though she was too nervous to notice that both professors seemed ready to respond. Without waiting, she stepped in front of the cage, raising her hand with her fingers f a circle to frame the rat in her view.

  Before either of the adults could intervene, Scarlet ted her intation, “In the name of Scáthach, Reveal!”

  The rat let out a terrified shriek as its body began to shimmer and shift. First, its head transformed, followed by its torso, arms, and legs, like a rapid time-pse of a blooming flower. In the blink of ahe rat had morphed into a man, breaking the cage apart as he colpsed onto the floor, his hands c his eyes.

  Before the man could move, Scarlet cast another entment, binding him in pce. A gleaming circle of gravitational force surrounded him, pinning him to the spot with a heavy weight.

  “Peter Pettigrew, you’re alive,” Professonagall said sternly, pointing her wand at him. Scarlet stepped back, giving the professor full trol. “Since you’ve been hiding all these years, I suspect there’s more to the story of the twelve Muggles’ deaths and you frontation with Sirius Bck?”

  Professor Dumbledore remained silent for a moment, processing the se before turning to Scarlet, “Ms. Hong, I’m sorry you had to be involved in this.”

  “Well, I’m fih it,” Scarlet replied. “Though I imagihe Weasleys might be traumatised...sidering the rat preteo be their pet for nearly nine years.”

  Scarlet noticed a flicker of sho Professor Dumbledore’s eyes before adding, “I think I should leave now. I trust Hogwarts hahis?”

  “Indeed, we will,” Professor Dumbledore firmed with a nod, “Fifty points to Hufflepuff, for your brave as. And by the way, your charms – a magic – are quite impressive.”

  “Thanks.” Scarlet politely left the room and headed toward the Great Hall; dinner hadn’t finished yet, so she figured she could grab something for a midnight snack. While she usually settled for cookies, sometimes she craved something more substantial, like fried chi. To her surprise, her special meals – prepared acc to her own recipes - were a hit with her housemates. As a result, all four House tables occasionally featured Asian cuisine. Rice balls, in particur, were a favourite sihey were easy to carry, much like sandwiches, making them popur with students on the go.

  As soon as she ehe hall, Ron hurried over to her side. “Professonagall borrowed Scabbers. Do you know anything about it?”

  He looked puzzled. “Is she ied in finding out why Scabbers has lived so long, too?”

  “Well...” Scarlet hesitated, searg for a reasonable expnation. “You’ll find out soon enough. Don’t worry - she’ll take good care of Scabbers.”

  “To be ho, I don’t mind,” Ron shrugged. “By the way, do you have any paid tasks you need help with?”

  “Yes, but it’s book research – specifically history,” Scarlet replied, watg Rohusiasm defte. “I don’t mind giving you the task, but it has to follow my format, and I won’t accept a shoddy report. Are you still ied?”

  “Anything but history.” Ron groaned, looking hopeful. “Isn’t there some other type of research you need?”

  “Well...” Scarlet goward the Forbidden Forest, “How about magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest? I’d like a general overview of what’s out there - brief description of the creatures. You seem to be on good terms with the gamekeeper, right? Twenty Galleons for the report. It o be at least fifty pages, with pictures and illustrations allowed, and a reference list. Those don’t t toward the fifty pages. Hand it in by this time week. How does that sound?”

  Ron gritted his teeth. “...Yeah, sounds good.”

  “You don’t have to --”

  “I must,” Ron cut her off. “If I don’t, I’ll never save enough for a broomstick. It’s a better offer than anything else I’ve heard.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Fred and Gee,” Ron expined. “They’ve been trying to save for years, but nothing’s really worked out. I bet I have malleons than them now!” He looked proud of himself, so Scarlet chose not to burst his bubble. Instead, she excused herself politely a back to pag up her midnight snack.

  Now, two problems left, Scarlet thought, I hahem o a time ohe Peter Pettigrew case is resolved and Professor Dumbledore proves reliable. It’s not that I don’t trust him...but politics be messy, especially with this Ministry. Who know what could happen?

  Oh yeah, where’s Harry? She mused. I haven’t seen much of him outside of css...He’s been living in Hermione’s rants, but not showing up around me...He seems happy, though - so maybe that’s a good thing?