The summer days at Grimmauld Place passed with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy. Izzy had been meticulously preparing for the fateful day when Peter Pettigrew would finally be captured, and her father's name could be cleared. Mad-Eye Moody's visit had solidified the plan, and now, the stage was set.
Izzy had been invited to spend some time at the Burrow, a perfect opportunity to execute the plan without arousing suspicion. The Weasleys, unaware of the full details, had been told only that Izzy would be joining them for a visit. Fred and George, excited about their friend's arrival, had made sure everything was in order.
The day of her departure to the Burrow dawned bright and clear. Kreacher helped Izzy pack her belongings, including a few essential items for the mission ahead.
"Mistress, be careful," Kreacher muttered, his usual gruffness softened by genuine concern.
"I will, Kreacher," Izzy replied, giving the house-elf a reassuring smile. "Thank you for everything."
She disapparated from Grimmauld Place and arrived at the Burrow with a soft pop. The sight of the cozy, ramshackle house brought a wave of warmth and anticipation. The Weasleys were already outside, busy with various chores, and Fred and George spotted her first.
"Izzy! Over here!" Fred called, waving enthusiastically.
Izzy made her way over, her bag slung over her shoulder. "Hi, Fred. Hi, George. Thanks for inviting me."
"Wouldn't miss it for the world," George said with a grin. "Mum's inside, finishing up lunch. Come on in."
As she entered the Burrow, the familiar scents of home-cooked food and the sound of laughter enveloped her. Molly Weasley greeted her warmly, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Izanami, dear, welcome! We're so glad you could join us," Molly said, her smile genuine and motherly.
"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley," Izzy replied, feeling a pang of longing for her own family.
The day unfolded with a mix of activities and camaraderie. Izzy helped in the kitchen, chatted with Ginny about their upcoming school year, and listened to Ron's enthusiastic tales about his recent adventures. All the while, she kept her senses alert, aware that the critical moment could come at any time.
After lunch, as the family gathered in the living room, Izzy's mind wandered to the plan. Moody had arranged for a discreet team of Aurors to be on standby, ready to apprehend Pettigrew once he was identified. Her role was to ensure that the rat was exposed without causing a panic.
As the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, the moment finally came. Moody's magical eye appeared in the fireplace, and his voice came through in a hushed tone.
"Miss Black, it's time. Is everything in place?"
Izzy nodded subtly, knowing that only she could hear him. "Yes, everything is ready."
"Good. We'll move on your signal," Moody replied before disappearing from the fireplace.
Izzy took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. She knew that revealing Pettigrew would be a shock to the Weasleys, but it was a necessary step in clearing her father's name.
"Fred, George," Izzy said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Can we talk for a moment? It's important."
The twins exchanged curious glances but nodded. "Sure, Izzy. What's up?" Fred asked.
"I need to show you something. It's about Scabbers," she said, leading them to a more secluded corner of the room.
As they followed her, the tension in the air grew palpable. Izzy knew that the next few moments would be crucial, not just for her but for everyone involved. She reached into her bag and pulled out a small vial of potion, carefully prepared for this moment.
"Trust me, this will explain everything," she said, her eyes meeting theirs with a mix of determination and urgency.
With a quick incantation and a flick of her wand, she poured the potion over Scabbers, who was dozing in Ron's lap. The effect was immediate. Scabbers began to twitch and convulse, his form shifting and growing until he transformed into Peter Pettigrew, cowering and confused.
The transformation of Scabbers into Peter Pettigrew left the Burrow in stunned silence. The Weasleys, who had gathered around to watch the unusual scene, were frozen in shock. Peter Pettigrew, disheveled and trembling, looked around wildly, his eyes wide with terror.
Molly Weasley was the first to react. "What is this?" she demanded, her voice shaking. "Who is this man?"
"It's Peter Pettigrew," Izzy said calmly, though her heart was racing. "He's the one who betrayed the Potters to Voldemort. He's been hiding as Scabbers all these years."
"No, no, please!" Pettigrew whimpered, scrambling to his knees. "It's all a mistake! I'm just a harmless rat!"
Arthur Weasley stepped forward, his face pale but resolute. "We need answers, Pettigrew. And you're going to give them to us."
Before Pettigrew could respond, Moody and the team of Aurors moved in swiftly. "That's enough, Pettigrew," Moody growled, his magical eye whirring as it focused on the trembling man. "You're coming with us."
"Please, no!" Pettigrew pleaded, looking around desperately for any escape. "I didn't mean to— I was scared! You have to understand!"
The Weasleys watched in a mix of horror and disbelief as the Aurors restrained Pettigrew. Ron, especially, looked as though the ground had been pulled from under him. "Scabbers... he was my pet," he whispered, eyes wide. "All these years..."
Fred and George stood protectively on either side of Ron, their expressions hard. "You filthy coward," Fred spat. "How could you?"
"Please, I had no choice!" Pettigrew wailed. "He would have killed me!"
"Enough!" Moody barked. "You had a choice, Pettigrew, and you chose to betray your friends. You'll face the consequences now."
As the Aurors prepared to take Pettigrew away, he continued to plead. "Please, show mercy! I can help! I know things! Please, just don't take me to Azkaban!"
Arthur placed a reassuring hand on Molly's shoulder as she watched the scene unfold, her face a mask of shock and sorrow. "It's for the best, Molly. He needs to answer for what he's done."
Izzy stood back, watching the scene with a mix of relief and determination. This was the moment she had been working towards. With Pettigrew captured, her father's name could be cleared, and justice could finally be served.
As Pettigrew was led out of the Burrow, his cries for mercy echoing through the house, Moody turned to Izzy with a firm nod. "You did well, Miss Black. We'll take it from here. Your father's name will be cleared soon enough."
The atmosphere at the Burrow that evening was charged with tension and curiosity. The Weasleys had gathered in the cozy living room, their faces a mixture of shock, confusion, and curiosity. Izzy sat on the worn couch, trying to process the whirlwind of events that had unfolded earlier that day. The capture of Peter Pettigrew had been a significant victory, but now she had to face the barrage of questions from the Weasley family.
Molly Weasley, still reeling from the day's events, was the first to speak. "Izzy, dear, can you please explain what happened today? How did you know about... that man?"
Izzy took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "It's a long story, Mrs. Weasley. But I suppose you all deserve to know. Peter Pettigrew was the one who betrayed Harry's parents to Voldemort. He's been hiding as Ron's pet rat, Scabbers, for years."
Ron, who had been unusually quiet, looked up with a mix of anger and confusion. "But how did you know he was Scabbers? How did you know any of this?"
Izzy nodded, understanding his bewilderment. "I found out through some... unconventional means. I've been doing a lot of research and looking into the events of the past. When I realized who Scabbers really was, I knew I had to do something."
Fred and George, always the curious ones, leaned forward. "So you set up this whole thing?" Fred asked. "The Aurors, the trap, everything?"
Izzy smiled faintly. "Not everything. I had help. I contacted Mad-Eye Moody and explained the situation. We planned the capture together. I knew that Pettigrew needed to be brought to justice for what he did."
Arthur Weasley, who had been listening intently, finally spoke up. "This is a lot to take in, Izzy. But why did you involve our family in this? It was dangerous."
"I didn't want to involve you directly," Izzy said earnestly. "But I knew that if Pettigrew was here, it was the safest place to set the trap. The Aurors were ready, and I made sure everything was in place to minimize the risk to all of you."
Ginny, wide-eyed, finally found her voice. "So, is Harry's godfather innocent then? Sirius Black?"
Izzy nodded. "Yes, Ginny. Sirius was framed for the crimes that Pettigrew committed. With Pettigrew captured, Sirius can finally be exonerated."
The room fell silent for a moment as everyone absorbed the gravity of the situation. Molly's eyes softened with understanding. "You did a brave thing, Izzy. But it must have been a heavy burden to carry."
Izzy nodded, feeling the weight of the past weeks lift slightly. "It was, but it was necessary. Justice needed to be served, and Sirius deserves to be free."
Fred grinned, breaking the tension. "Well, Izzy, you're full of surprises, aren't you? First helping us with our pranks, and now this. You're amazing."
George nodded in agreement. "Yeah, we owe you big time."
Izzy smiled, feeling a sense of acceptance and camaraderie from the Weasley family. "Thank you, all of you. I couldn't have done it without your support, even if you didn't know what was happening at the time."
As the evening wore on, the conversation turned to lighter topics, and the Weasleys slowly began to relax. Izzy felt a deep sense of gratitude and relief. She had taken a significant step in clearing her father's name and bringing justice to those who had suffered. And in the process, she had found a family that accepted and supported her.