Harry Potter And Common Sense

"Have you guys seen Hannah? We're supposed to meet for a picnic, but I was helping Professor Sprout put dragon dung on the plants in greenhouse three and lost track of time. Then I had to clean myself up . So I'm even later, and now I can't find her-"

"Relax, Nev." After glancing around Harry pulled out his map. He whispered, "I solemnly swear I'm up to no good," and touched it with his wand. "Show me Hannah Abbott." The map swiftly moved its focus to a place on the shore of the lake.

Neville gave a relieved, "Thanks," and scurried towards the Great Hall doors.

"What's that?" Ron asked Harry looking at the map.

"Something my dad and his friends made. A map of the whole school, it also shows where everyone is. They used to to get around for pranks. I used it a lot my first year just to get around, but now not so much."

"Can I see?"

"Sure, just don't let the twins know about it. I shudder to think of the uses they would put it to."

"Whoa." Ron looked at the map and the way it showed the corridors and even secret passages. Then he found himself and Harry in the Great Hall and snickered. "It's not very accurate is it?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, it's listing another bloke. His name is right here with us and there's no one here but you and I."

Harry's eyebrows came together. He looked at the map. There he and Ron were in the Great Hall but a third name was listed, Peter Pettigrew. Harry gasped.

"Ron? I don't suppose you have a pet rat on you?" He asked pulling his wand.

"Scabbers? Did Neville tell you about him? I keep him on me all the time now. Granger's cat would kill him otherwise. He's old and has been pretty frail." Ron reached into his pocket and pulled out his pet. He almost fainted when his rat suddenly transformed in to a rheumy-eyed, short, pudgy wizard with yellow teeth and greasy thinning hair who grabbed him and held him at wand point. Using Ron's own body as a shield between himself and Harry.

"Pettigrew." Harry hissed, black hatred coloring every syllable.

"Hello, Harry."

"Let Ron go." Harry growled with a terrifying menace.

"Can't he's my ticket out of here, I'm afraid. You raise the alarm and poor Ron here will die. What a shame that would be. But if you give me your wizard's oath that you'll sit here quiet like for an hour. I'll swear to release him once I'm out of the Hogwarts boundaries, who knows maybe I'll even allow him to bring that map back to you."

"You helped kill my parents and I'm supposed to just sit here."

"Unless you want the death of your friend here on your conscience, yes."

Ron was terrified. He and Potter weren't exactly friends and Potter had been known to be aggressive when provoked. Ron remembered him beating up Lockheart in Flourish and Blott's before the start of second year. That was just for putting him in the spotlight; helping to kill his parents? He was dead, maybe both of them were.

"I'm supposed to trust the word of a slimy, back-stabbing, Death Eater?"

"Here now, don't take that tone with me. I changed your nappies."

"And sold out my parents and me to Voldemort. Thank you so much by the way for the disturbing image of you seeing me naked as a baby . Why my parents ever trusted someone like you… Tell you what, we both walk out of here to the Hogwarts gates. I keep my map and once we reach the gates, you let Ron go. On account of he's taken such good care of you over the years. If you're fast enough you get away, if not… well, I would imagine Padfoot will celebrate."

"What's the incentive for me to do that?"

"Because otherwise we take our chances here and now, and Ron gets whatever he gets. Because I bet if a commotion starts in here, help will get here before you can get away. Actually that sounds rather appealing, The debt you owe me for what you did, is substantial, I look forward to you paying it."

"You drive a hard bargain, Harry. Alright let's go." Pettigrew nervously pulled a shaking Ron to his feet. He carefully kept his left arm wrapped around Ron's throat, forcing him to act as a shield. There was something about Harry that reminded Peter of Lily on the warpath. Getting out of here was a very good idea, if Harry was half as able as his parents he could possibly beat Peter despite being only half trained. When they reached the gates of the school, Pettigrew carefully backed up to the gates keeping Ron, who was crying, struggling to breathe, and trying hard not to panic, between himself and Harry.

"Far enough, Wormtail, let Ron go."

"No, I think not. Who knows when a hostage might be useful."

Harry had half anticipated this possibility. Peter had broken a heavy sweat half hauling Ron with him the tenth of a Mile from the Great Hall to the gates. An inert Ron would be impossible for the other wizard to manage. "Stupetfy!" Harry aimed at Ron. The other boy dropped just shy of the Hogwarts apparition ward. Harry aimed a second stunner at Pettigrew.

Peter, realizing he had lost his shield, scrambled back and sent a bone shattering hex at Harry, even as he nimbly dodged the stunner Harry sent in his direction. He apparated away while Harry dodged the vicious spell.

Harry managed to avoid most of the hex but his left foot got caught by the bottom edge. He fell over. "Bloody, buggering, fuck!" Harry found himself fighting nausea as the pain from his foot had him almost blacking out. He lay on the ground and breathed slowly in and out through his mouth until the worst of it subsided. He thought about calling Hedwig but didn't want to out her as a phoenix to everyone; then looked over at Ron.

"Enervate."

Ronald Weasley was astonished when he woke up to see a blue sky lightly dotted with clouds. He swiftly sat up and looked around. He was still at school, when Pettigrew had said what he did about hostages. Ron's life flashed before his eyes and he had visions of his life ending in some Death Eater's dungeon. But somehow Potter had stopped the Death Eater that used to be his rat from taking him. Potter lay on the ground a short distance from him, and was almost chalk white. "Potter?"

"Thank God that worked." Harry said through clenched teeth.

"You're hurt aren't you?"

"You could say that."

"How can I help you?"

"My left foot is hurt. If you come to my left side, then help me get vertical. I'll use you like a crutch and we should be able to get to the infirmary. Pomfrey should be able to fix me up."

Fifteen minutes later they entered the infirmary. Harry's left arm lay across Ron's shoulder, and Ron's arm was around his waist.

Harry was sheet white as he placed himself on the closest bed.

Madame Pomfrey bustled in. "Have you boys been fighting?" She asked after taking in their disheveled appearance. "Who's hurt and where?"

"My left foot." Harry gritted out.

"And you, dear?" She asked Ron.

"My neck and throat hurt a little, and I've got a couple scrapes. But you should look after Potter first. He's hurt more."

"I'll be the judge of that. Throats are much more important than feet." With that Madame Pomfrey waved her wand towards Ron's neck.

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