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Caged.	By : Arioc Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 2349 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Ron was wandering around the common room searching for something to
occupy himself with when the first Gryffindors returned from classes.

�Ron?� Seamus asked. �Why weren�t you in class today?�

�What did McGonagall want from you?� Lavender threw in.

Ron was completely lost. What do I tell them? Nobody�s even talking
about us bringing Black into the castle, I can�t relate it to that. Perhaps
they obliviated the spectators.

�Ron?�

�Yeah, she sent me to Dumbledore,� he explained hastily.

�And what did Dumbledore want from you?�

Oh, shit. What do I do now? I�m no good at
lying!

�He gave me special homework. It�s secret, though, you�ll find out next
year, I think.�

They looked at him strangely, but Ron offered nothing more. He kept his
fingers crossed Pettigrew would be in prison and Sirius exonorated until then.

�What kind of special homework, Ron?�

�I told you, it�s � oh, Hermione. Let�s go upstairs, okay?�

In the dorm, Ron explained what he�d been doing.

�They�re not making progress with � my rat. Dumbledore asked me to talk
to it.�

�And you
did?� Hermione very nearly shrieked. Harry gestured her to be quiet.

�Did, you,
Ron? Why you?�

�If only I knew! He said Pettigrew already trusts me, somehow. That he
might tell me more than them.�

�And what
should he tell you?�

�Dunno.
About You-know-who�s methods, mostly. How he recruits people and so on. I�m
really not sure. And I�m supposed to try to get him to turn himself over to the
aurors, so Sirius gets a pardon.�

�That�d be
great. And did you?�

�Well, I
talked to him, yes. And he told me a lot, but nothing relevant, really.�

�Like
what?�

�Like how
your dad became friends with Sirius and Remus and, well, him. And how lonely
little Peter was when James only had time for his wife and son.�

�That
stupid jerk! Should have made kids of his own instead of murdering the ones
others made.�

�That�s
about what I said.�

Ron didn�t
tell them what Pettigrew answered. It felt private, somehow, and he really had
a lot to think about.

�That�s not
very wise, though, is it? I mean, it�s a good thing he confides in you, is it?�

�I didn�t
phrase it like that, Hermione. I�m not that stupid. Though he did call
me a moron.�

�Now that�s
just rude. Mate, why you, why can�t they just give him over to the ministry to
imprison?�

�Dumbledore
explained that, Harry,� Hermione sighed.

�Yes, but
it�s unfair, isn�t it.�

�I think we
agree on that. However, Dumbledore said it was great he opened up like that and
I should try again tomorrow.�

�Tomorrow!
But he can�t have you miss the leaving feast, can he?�

�Nah. I�ll
do it sooner. I have permission to leave if he gets cheeky. Though I really
want him gone, and if getting all he knows out of him helps that, I�ll do it.�

�Where is
he, anyway? Didn�t you bring him with you?�

�Well, no.
It�s not that I miss him, though.�

�You�ve go
my sympathy,� Harry said.

�Mine too �
though I really appreciate you taking over some responsibility, Ron. I like you
growing up.�

�But I
don�t like it. Will you stop making a lesson out of anything that happens,
Hermione?�

As angry as
Ron got, it didn�t escape him that she had been trying to pay him a compliment.

They were
about to leave for the common room again when there was a sound resembling the
opening of a bottle of butterbeer, followed by some shuffling and scratching.

�What was
that? Oh, look, Scabbers is back!�

There was a
squealing of Harry�s name, and the next second, a house-elf has wrapped itself
around Harry�s legs, hugging him tightly.

�Dobby? Is
that you?�

�It is,
Harry Potter, sir, and it�s a great honour to be meeting you again! Dobby has
offered to be the one to bring back the rat to Harry Potter�s friend, Ronald
Weasley, sir, so Dobby might see Harry Potter again!�

Dobby let
go and stepped back a few paces, beaming up at Harry, his enormous, green,
tennis-ball-shaped eyes brimming with tears of happiness. He looked exactly
like the house-elves Ron remembered from the few occassions friends of his
family had brought theirs along; the pencil-shaped nose, the bat-like ears, the
long fingers and feet � all except the clothes, which were very different. The
house-elves he�d seen so far all had some improvised garments that weren�t
technically clothes, but fitted the same purpose. Dobby, however, had gathered
the strangest assortment of clothes Ron had ever seen, whether worn by elf or
man. He was wearing a tea-cosy for a hat, on which he had pinned a number of
bright badges; a tie patterned with horseshoes over a bare chest, a pair of
what looked like children�s football shorts, and odd socks. One of these Ron
remembered as Harry�s old socks and therefore must be the one he had used to
set Dobby free. The other was covered in pink and orange stripes.

�Dobby,
what�re you doing here?� Harry said in amazement.

�Dobby has
come bringing Ronald Weasley�s rat back. The other elves said Dobby should stay
out of view, as we house-elves should not be seen working. Good elves stay
hidden, they say, but Dobby so wanted to see Harry Potter, sir, and his
friends, too!�

�I
understand, Dobby. I�m glad you�re here. But what are you doing in Hogwarts?�

�Dobby has
come to work here, sir!� Dobby squealed excitedly. �Professor Dumbledore gave
Dobby a job, sir! You see, it is very difficult for a house-elf who has been
dismissed to get a new position, sir, very difficult indeed. Dobby has travelled
the country for six whole months, sir, trying to find work, but Dobby hasn�t
found work until January, sir, because Dobby wants paying now!�

�Good for
you, Dobby.� Hermione said symphathetically.

�Thank you,
miss!� said Dobby, grinning toothily at her. �But most wizards doesn�t want a
house-elf who wants paying, miss. �That�s not the point of a house-elf,� they
says, and they slammed the door in Dobby�s face! Dobby likes work, but he wants
to wear clothes and he wants to be paid, Harry Potter � Dobby likes being free!
And then Dobby thought about Hogwarts, and came to see Professor Dumbledore,
sir, and Professor Dumbledore took Dobby on!�

Dobby
beamed very brightly, and happy tears welled in his eyes again.

�And
Professor Dumbledore says he will pay Dobby, sir, if Dobby wants paying! And so
Dobby is a free elf, sir, and Dobby gets a Galleon a week and one day off a
month!�

�That�s not
very much!� Hermione shouted indignantly.

�Professor
Dumbledore offered Dobby ten Galleons a week, and weekends off,� said Dobby,
suddenly giving a little shiver, as though the prospect of so much leisure and
riches was frightening, �but Dobby beat him down, miss � Dobby likes freedom,
miss, but he isn�t wanting too much, miss, he likes work better.�

Ron and
Harry had to smile at that, and Hermione, too, seemed to accept this was what
Dobby wanted.

�And you
are free to do and say whatever you wish, now, Dobby?� she asked for extra
reassurance.

�Yes, miss,
though house-elves must keep our master�s secrets, never speak ill of them,
uphold the family�s honour, miss, Professor Dumbledore told Dobby he does not
insist upon this. Professor Dumbledore said we is free to � to ��

Dobby
looked suddenly nervous, and beckoned them closer.

Dobby
whispered, �He said we is free to call him a � a barmy old codger if we likes,
sir!�

Dobby gave
a frightened sort of giggle.

�But Dobby
is not wanting to, Harry Potter,� he said, talking normally again, and shaking
his head so that his ears flapped.

�Dobby
likes Professor Dumbledore very much, sir, and is proud to keep his secrets for
him.�

�But you
can say what you like about the Malfoys now?� Harry asked him, grinning.

A slightly
fearful look came into Dobby�s immense eyes.

�Dobby �
Dobby could,� he said doubtfully. He squared his small shoulders. �Dobby could
tell Harry Potter that his old masters were � were � bad dark wizards!�

Dobby stood
for a moment, quivering all over, horror-struck by his own daring � then he
rushed over to the nearest table, which happened to be Ron�s night table, and
began banging his head on it, very hard, squealing, �Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!�

Harry
seized Dobby by the back of his tie and pulled him away from the table.

�Thank you,
Harry Potter, thank you,� said Dobby breathlessly, rubbing his head.

�You just
need a bit of practice,� Harry said.

Dobby
nodded, still nervous, but eagerly nonetheless.

�Dobby
will! Because Dobby is free now, Dobby gets paid, sir, and Dobby has clothes.
Dobby is going to buy a jumper next, Harry Potter!� he said happily, pointing
at his bare chest.

Ron found
himself strangely touched by this elf�s behavior � he obviously needed a
master, and he loved his work, but past experiences had given him a great
dislike of being dominated. A bit like Pettigrew, actually. He wants to just
do what he�s told, with no responsibilities, but he�d finally understood he can
be easily exploited that way and needs to make decisions for his own, even if
this decision is his choice of master. Dobby has chosen Harry, and Dumbledore.
Pettigrew has chosen me. I wonder what that means.

�Tell you
what, Dobby,� said Ron, �I�ll give you the one my mum knits me this christmas,
I always get one from her. You don�t mind maroon, do you?�

Dobby was
delighted, even as Ron noted Christmas was still far away and they would need
to shrink the jumper so it would fit.

�Dobby is
sure Dobby will like it, Ronald Weasley, sir.�

�And it
will go well with your tea-cosy,� Hermione assured him.

There was a
noise from the common room, likely people arriving from classes and talking
over each other�s heads, but it seemed to remind Dobby where they were.

�Dobby has
work to do, and Dobby doesn�t want to disappoint Professor Dumbledore. But
Dobby will have free time, one day a month. Harry Potter � can Dobby come and
see you sometimes, sir?� Dobby asked tentiavely.

��Course
you can,� Harry said, and Dobby beamed, then bade them formally goodbye.

�How about
a visit to Hagrid�s? It�s our last evening before the holidays, after all,�
Harry suggested after they left the dorm for the common room.

�Alright. I
suppose it wouldn�t hurt that much to have some holiday homework left
for the holidays �� Hermione agreed.

�You
coming, mate?� Harry asked when Ron didn�t join them out of the portrait hole.
But Ron was lost in thought.

�No, you
can just go, I have something I need to do first. No, Hermione, not
homework. Though you could call it research of some kind.�

Ron decided
it was high time he learned more about animagi. He had a lot of theoretical
knowledge about how to become one and what kind of transfiguration it is stored
from what he�d learned in class, but none of it was any use when actually
dealing with an animagus. And there just happened to be a person in the castle
who would know exactly how it felt to transform, and what changes in feelings,
thoughts and memories were to be expected from someone who had been a rat for a
very long time. Also, the nagging suspicion that he had to be careful what to
say in Scabbers� presence needed foundation.

He arrived
at the transfiguration classroom and knocked.

�Come in.
Good morning, Mr. Weasley, what can I do for you?�

�Er � I had
a question, well, several of them, about animagi.�

�I see.
Would these questions have anything to do with a certain pet of yours?�

�Yes. You
see, Professor Dumbledore sent me to talk to him today, and I was wondering
what he�d remember from that in his rat form. And the other way round.�

�What he
remembers? Why, everything of course. The animagus transfiguration affects the
body, not the mind. You knew that, of course, because you listened to me at the
beginning of the year, right?�

�Y-Yeah, I
thought so, too, but Pettigrew didn�t seem to have any idea what was said in
the shrieking shack. He also didn�t mention anything that happened while he was
in rat form to me, and said he felt differently as an animal.�

Professor
McGonagall inclined her head to the side in thought.

�I see.
That might just be possible. Have a seat, Mr. Weasley.�

Ron
nervously sat down, hoping not to spent too much time here as Harry and
Hermione were probably having the greatest fun with Hagrid right now and he
always felt a bit like in detention when he was the focus of McGonagalls
attention.

�That he
doesn�t know what had been talked about would be because rat�s ears are not
made to distinguish human words. I suppose he would get a lot distracting
untrasound noises; as a cat, I certainly do. I would advise you to look up rats
in muggle biology books. Of course, it might be easier and just as effective to
ask Ms. Granger. The magic in the transformation doesn�t affect the mind. However,
the body does, and the more different from human the animal form is, the more
difficulties could arise. Insects, for example, have completely different eyes
and might not recognise shapes the same way as humans � but there has never
been an insect animagus, or at least, no registered insect animagus, so
we can�t know if they remember visual impressions differently or at all. I can
only talk for myself. After I managed the transformation, I had to learn to
adjust to the unfamiliar body. By now, being a cat is my second nature and
comes easily. I would expect Mr. Pettigrew to have difficulties. He was never
that good at transfigurations at school � he didn�t lack the talent, but he was
much too lazy to reach a higher understanding of the subject and he was not
very gifted on the practical side. I�m surprised he managed to transform at
all.�

�At age 15
and without professional guidance.�

Professor
McGonagall looked at him strangely, and Ron looked strangely back upon
realizing he was praising Pettigrew�s achievements.

�Yes. What
I�m saying is this: his memory itself is not affected by the change, but the
input he gets from his sense organs is quite different. If he�s not used to
switch between both forms then translating what he hears and sees into human
form will be difficult. In fact, I think he has more problems adapting to his
human body than to rat form. Keep that in mind when dealing with him.�

�But his
behavior should not be different from what it would be like, were he human?�

�I don�t
think so, no. On the other hand, I�ve never heard of anybody spending so much
time as an animal. The body forms the mind, and the other way round, Mr.
Weasley. He would get the instincts of a rat, and his social behaviour might
change, too the effect that he might enjoy things he wouldn�t normally enjoy,
because it�s part of being a rat to enjoy them. As a cat, I would find chasing
rats thoroughly enjoyable � it�s a cat�s nature � but I feel no such needs now.
Does that answer your questions?�

Ron tried
hard to get a hunting McGonagall out of his head and caughed to hide his grin.

�Well, I
guess it does. Thank you very much.�

�You�re
welcome. You�re the one Pettigrew trusts, and I�m glad you take your
responsibilities there serious enough to ask for help. If you have any
problems, feel free to knock any time. (Except at night, of course.) But if
need arises, you can send an owl over the holidays.�

�Yeah,
thanks. I�ll � be going then, yes?�

�Good
night, Mister Weasley. And have a nice evening.�

�Good
night.�

Ron left
the transfigurations classroom and made his way to Hagrid�s hut to meet
Hermione and Harry there.

Hagrid was
giving out rock cakes (a dubious pleasure), and they spent the time left until
dinner trying not to eat one without Hagrid noticing. The conversation was
strained by all the secrets they had to keep now, and they ran out of topics
that didn�t make any of them uncomfortable pretty soon. When it was time for
dinner, they left in a strange mood.

�What is
Dumbledore playing at? Why can�t I tell him, I trust him! It�s not as if he
would blab about it.�

�Well, I
don�t know, Harry, but Hagrid might let something slip accidentally. And
Dumbledore doesn�t spread secrets more than necessary � the fewer people know
about Sirius� innocense, the better.�

�Er � why?�

�Oh,
because ��

�Right, so
they can�t back Dumbledore up when he tries to convince the ministry it was
Pettigrew. Seriously, I understand we can�t tell Hagrid yet, but still, I feel
bad about it. And he said we should visit again tomorrow � I don�t even have
time tomorrow, I have to interview Pettigrew again.�

�That�s
okay, Ron, we�ll excuse you.�

�Thanks. I
wonder what�s for dinner?�

Stuffed
with [insert dinner here], Ron retreated to the dorm. It had been a stressful
day and he had no intention to join/of joining the rest of Gryffindor making
holiday plans. A lot of them were planning to visit the Quidditch world cup
that was hosted by Great Britain this year, but of course, he wouldn�t be able
to go � tickets were expensive. He also was in a foul mood because he couldn�t
talk freely up here anymore. He very much wanted to blame Dumbledore for it, as
he had planted the spy and traitor here, but he knew it was no use.
Pettigrew�s mere existence made his temper flare up. But there would be no
calming masturbation tonight � not with those little sharp ears listening from
beneath the bed. Which was a pity, really, as he felt quite � needy all
alone up here, now that he thought about it. His anger did nothing to squash
his erection � he wanted to fuck that perverted little bastard into pieces.

Ron
realized what he�d just thought and shuddered.

No.
Scratch that, I didn�t mean it. Man, this is sick.

He gave up
and went for a nice, relaxing, calming and very cold shower.

That seemed
to help. As he finally turned off the water and watched the droplets of water
setting out down his with/in gooseflesh covered body, everything was okay again
� as long as he was warm again, at least, which he was not. A drying spell and
quick dressing in his pyjamas later he left the shower for the warmth of his
bed.

Ah,
that�s better. Much better. Who needs self gratification anyway, as long as
there�s a nice, warm, soft and rat-free bed?

He snuggled
into his pillow and was asleep moments later.

Ron woke up
early the next morning. His dormmates were still asleep, and they wouldn�t
receive their exam results until nine. He found himself not nervous at all, at
least about the exams. He didn�t excel at anything, but his marks were okay,
really, and having studied with Hermione did have its merits. What he worried
about was what came after that. He would need to talk to/with Pettigrew again,
and he had no idea what to say to him. He didn�t even know how to adress the
man, how was he supposed to interview him about war strategies? On the other hand,
he did offer information readily, all Ron had to do was listen. Still,
he would be glad when it was over. That gave him an idea � why wait until after
the exam results were issued? His clock told him it was quarter past six.
Perhaps Snape was already awake, and if not � what did he care? That way, he
could spend the last afternoon at school with his friends, and him being able
to go back to sleep was unlikely; he had been falling asleep early and had been
sleeping for nearly ten hours. More was just not possible. He got up quietly
and dressed. In the common room, much to his surprise, he stumbled across Fred
and George. Both were sitting hunched over in the corner, seemingly talking
excitedly, but Ron could not catch a word. In fact, he heard nothing at all
apart from the crackling fire, not even a murmor.

They seemed
to have discovered him, for they both winced before recognising him, and a
second later, accompanied by funny looking silent lip movements and
gesticulation, the silencing spell was lifted.

�Hey,
little brother. We didn�t expect anybody to be up yet,� Fred greeted him.

�Yet or
still, however,� George added.

�Morning.
How did you do that?� Ron asked.

�Do what?�

�The
silencing spell � doesn�t it require walls or at least curtains to separate the
soundproof area from the rest? I should have entered your silenced area long
before you lifted the spell. And you can�t have silenced each other, �cause you
wouldn�t have been able to lift the spell again, right?�

�Oh, we
would have, eventually,� George assured him.

�You know,�
Fred interrupted, �a lot of spells can be done silently.�

�But we did
use an area-based silencing charm. A variation of it, I�m sure you�ll learn
about it sooner or later.�

�In forth
year ��

�� or in
fifth ��

�� or sixth
��

�Isn�t
varying spells NEWT-level?� Ron threw in.

�Guess
what, Ronnikins? O think it is.� Fred grinned at him

�We like to
be ahead of our time,� George added with a wink.

�So � what
have you been doing?�

�None of
your business,� exclaimed George happily. �Just a few � experiments.�

Ron doubted
those experiments were within the school rules. Close to nothing the twins did
was.

�I see.
Well, have fun then,� he said and went to retrieve Scabbers. Fred and George
would not tell anybody of his trip around the castle, he was sure of that, as
they would have to admit they�ve been here themselves at this time. Levitating
Scabber�s cage carefully in front of him, he went for the portrait hole.

�Hey,
watcha doing there? It�s curfew,� Fred called over, looking up from what looked
suspisiously like a pile of filibuster fireworks.

�Tell on
you,� Ron exclaimed proudly, as if that should have been clear. He enjoyed the
flicker of alarm on his brother�s face, but it vanished quickly into clear
doubt.

�With
Scabbers?�

�Don�t you
need a rat to rat on you?�

Ron�s
innocent face didn�t fool those who�d grown up with it, though.

�Funny. But
you�re not really telling on us, are you?�

�These are
just harmless toys, you know that. C�mon, Ron, don�t be a spoilsport.�

�Yeah, sure
I know,� Ron said sarcastically, thinking back to all the times the twin�s
exploding �toys� wreaked havoc at the burrow and nearly injured him (or the
rest of the family).

�Mum thinks
differently, though. As well as Filch. Perhaps Snape does, too.�

�Snape?�
George looked positively shocked, though Fred still eyed Scabbers with
confusion written on his face.

�That�s
where I�m going, you know. I was just about to take Scabbers for a walk, and
he�ll make a good witness of your mischief, don�t you think?�

�Ron.� Fred
seemed genuinely worried. �Come off it, you�re seriously walking the rat? In
the cage? At this time?�

�Why not?
He�s used to accompany me all the time, but I don�t want him to get lost again.
And it might be a bit early, but I�ll be back for breakfast. Where�s the
problem? You don�t tell me where you�re going and when, so stop asking
already.�

�Guess he�s
right,� George said.

�Like a pot
calling the kettle black,� Fred agreed. �I strongly advise you not to come back
before breakfast time, though. There might be more evil lurking up here than
us.�

�More evil,
Fred? Aren�t we bad enough?�

�Oh, shut
up, you two,� Ron said exasperated and climbed out. When he closed the portrait
hole, the fat lady woke up with a start and gave him a glare worth of Snape
himself. Only then did Ron realize what he was about to do. Maybe Snape did
sleep at night.

Too late
now. Those troublemakers might well go ahead with whatever they�re planning.
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