The Charade

A traitor, a lair, a rat. I have two faces, one of good and one of bad. Yet they only see the bad. They see me as though I am all evil; they look at me as though it runs through my veins. But can there not be good among the bad? We are not all perfect. Yet, they despise me for what I did. What would they have done in my position? Would they really have given their own lives in order to save a friend?

"Peter." James Potter said. "Lilly and I need to ask you a favour."

I turned to face my old friend. "Oh?"

"Well, with Sriuis being tracked by the Death Eaters and Remus being unstable at the moment, we need you to be our Secret-Keeper. Would that be okay?

I smiled pleasantly. "Yes, of course. It would be my pleasure."

James smiled back. "I'm so glad I can trust you, Peter. You are my friend, my brother. I would trust you with my life. I am trusting you with my life."

"I will not fail you." I replied. "Never will I fail you…" My words sounded true, maybe because I believed them myself at the time.

I never meant to betray James, Lilly and the Order. I never meant for anything bad to happen. But the Dark Lord is the master of manipulation. His word flow like water and he lulls you into a security whilst dragging you into a feeling of danger. When he spoke to me later that night, I could not seem to say no to his demands, no matter how meaningful my friendship with James was. I had to do as he said, or else.

"Tell me, Wormtail," the Dark Lord demanded, "the Potters made you their Secret-Keeper. Did they not?"

I trembled with nerves. "Yes, my Lord, they did."

The Dark Lord gave a cruel laugh, one that cut through the entire estate. "How foolish!" He chuckled.

I laughed uncomfortably, watching his every move. "Yes, my Lord, foolish."

His thin lips curled into a sly smile. "Here is where you prove your loyalty. Here is where you make your choice."

I froze. How had he known about my doubts? How could he have known…?

"Well?" The Dark Lord questioned. "What is your finale decision?" His dark eyes gazed straight into mine. They were deep and disturbed. "Tell me the address, my boy. Rewards of plenty await you if you chose right. A cold death welcomes you if you choose wrong."

I hesitated for but a second. "They are hidden in… Godric's Hollow, in a cottage on the edge of town.

The Dark Lord's eyes lit up with glee. "And the boy, the boy is with them?"

"Yes, my Lord."

He began to laugh louder than I had ever heard him laugh. "Soon, loyal one, you will feel the true effects of what you have done. You will be rewarded greatly, your place in the new kingdom has been earned. Well done."

I had not known what I had really done until it was too late. The blood of the Potters lies forever on my hands. They died so my life could be spared. Was the charade worth it?