A Mirror of Truth

Peter eyed the puddle nervously like it was going to transform back into a hand and continue the attack, but he'd lost all of his nerves. "I…I was sent to steal a crown like thing. He called it a diadem," He sputtered. "My…my master said it was very important for him to have it, that he'd left it here many years ago."

Harry glanced at Hermione and gave her a silent 'well done'. Her memory modifications were working perfectly.

Dumbledore was staring at the traitor bound in the chair but his mind was elsewhere. He'd long suspected that Voldemort had used founder's objects to hide his horcruxes. He thought of the memories from Hokey the house-elf that showed the cup of Hufflepuff not to mention the locket that had he'd been handed two weeks ago. He had known instantly what the locket was and what it probably contained in it. He'd yet been able to destroy it though. If Riddle had come across the long lost Diadem of Ravenclaw it would be exactly what he'd use for a Horcrux. "I might be jumping to conclusions. It might not be that Diadem. It might be anything," He thought as he refocused on Pettigrew. "Tell us where this object is supposed to be."

"He'll kill me if I tell you," Peter cried.

"He's already tried to kill you," Dumbledore said as he nodded again toward the silver puddle.

Peter stared at the silvery spot on the floor for a full minute before continuing. "He said that it was a hidden room; one that only he had ever discovered in this castle. I…I had to go the seventh floor and walk in front of a blank wall area while asking for a room to store things in."

"Did he say anything else?"

"He...he said it was a very large room and I was to stay there until I found it."

Harry used those words as an opening. "Sir, that's got to be the Room of Requirements."

"I agree."

"Whatever this diadem thing is, Hermione and I will be glad to go look for it," Harry continued. "I mean if it might take several days, we really don't have anything to do right now until the end of the year."

Dumbledore was about to reject Harry's offer as he turned to look at him, but as he did, he found the emerald eyes that belonged to Lily Potter and the face that was so like James Potter looking back at him. A series of memories flooded through his mind. Memories of the night he found James and Lily dead, memories of a young man only eleven years old desperately fighting to keep the Philosopher's Stone out of Voldemort's hands, of a twelve year old boy stumbling wearily into McGonagall's office with a sword in his hand and a missing young girl beside him having faced a horror fully grown wizards would have ran from, of a young man who risked the perils of time to save his godfather while at the same time driving off Dementors with a Patronus spell that was well above what he should have been able to do, and finally of a young man materializing at the end of the Triwizard tournament clutching the dead body of a friend after having battled Voldemort. A final memory of the confrontation with Harry at dinner this previous evening and what he'd said.

"They are not innocent children. They are old enough to become Death Eaters themselves and unless you do something that's what will eventually happen."

It was at that moment when Dumbledore realized he might have been wrong about Harry. As he studied the young man, he wondered if in that same sentence Harry had proclaimed he was ready to fight as well. "Maybe it is time, at least for a small amount of what he needs to know," He thought before returning his attention back to the two teens. "Very well Harry," Dumbledore said finally. "But I think we need to discuss a few things before you do, but it is late tonight and we need to turn Peter over to the proper authorities. Could I ask that you and Miss Granger come back tomorrow morning?"

Harry looked at Hermione. "Do you think he plans to tell us?"

"We can hope so," Hermione replied before she answered for both of them. "Yes sir. We'll be here sir."

"I think you can also tell Sirius we have Pettigrew, but maybe it'd be for the best if he waits until he's in the Ministry's custody before he attempts to see him," Dumbledore said as he finally admitted to himself that he'd have to offer the Dursleys protection in some other way.

"Yes sir," Harry replied. He pulled out his mirror and as soon as his godfather's face showed, he spoke quickly to make sure Sirius realized the situation. "Sirius, we caught Pettigrew. We're in Dumbledore's office questioning him."

"Wormtail?" Sirius asked as if he didn't already know. "You caught the traitor?"

"Yeah it seems he was sent here for…" Harry looked at Dumbledore who was shaking his head slightly, "for something. Hermione and I caught a glimpse of his silver paw and were able to capture him."

"I'll be right over," Sirius exclaimed. "I would like to speak to my old friend."

"Professor Dumbledore is suggesting you wait until he's at the Ministry."

"But...yeah okay. Just make sure he doesn't escape again," Sirius replied. "Can you turn the mirror toward him?"

"Sure," Harry said as he turned the mirror to face Pettigrew.

"Hello Wormtail."

"Pa…Padfoot," Pettigrew whimpered.

....

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