A/N: It's been done before, but this is a take on the thoughts of each Marauder during the day that Lily and James were killed. Review and tell me what you think.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, or any of his family/friends/enemies etc. I'm being clever. Really, I am.
"We attack tonight."
"T-tonight, My Lord? So soon?"
"We cannot afford to wait. We must act, before anyone rats us out..." The cold voice put a silky emphasis on the word. The small man stuttering on the floor in front of him began to shake.
"N-never, My Lord. I-I am loyal only to you."
"Yes...I'm sure that's exactly what you told that fool Dumbledore. And your dear friends, for that matter. Remus Lupin. Sirius Black. James Potter." Lord Voldemort hissed the words triumphantly, watching the sniveling wreck before him flinch after each name. Peter Pettigrew drew himself up with effort.
"I hadn't given them a second thought, My Lord." Voldemort laughed. Pettigrew flinched again.
"Will you inform the Death Eaters?" Pettigrew asked. The question was wrenched from him mouth as though it cost him a great deal to ask it.
"No. The Potters will not escape again. Those incompetent fools have already failed three times. There will not be a fourth. This time, we're playing for...higher stakes."
"Higher stakes?" Pettigrew asked softly, fearfully. Voldemort looked at him sharply.
"It's none of your concern, Wormtail. However, I believe Lord Voldemort is about to take a little trip. I've heard Godrick's Hollow is quite nice this time of year." For the second time that evening, Lord Voldemort laughed. Pettigrew tried to laugh along with him, but his characteristic shrill giggle sounded forced even to his ears, and he stopped almost at once.
"No..." Voldemort whispered, almost to himself, as though he'd forgotten that Pettigrew was still listening in curiously. "Harry Potter must not escape."
"Harry Potter?" Pettigrew burst out incredulously. "Oh no, My Lord. You must have been misinformed. Harry is James's son. He's only a year old, I assure you! In fact, I personally attended his birthday party."
"Happy Birthday, Harry!" the banner on the wall exclaimed in a cheerful voice. A card of a small wizard on a broomstick waved cheekily at him, and Peter knew, even before he opened it and read its familiar scrawl, that it was from Sirius.
"Dear Harry,
Here's hoping that with a little help from your Godfather, you can be loads better than your Dad at Quidditch. Not that he was ever as good as me. Don't you believe him when he tells you about all those daring saves. He nicked them all from my days as the star Gryffindor player.
Happy Birthday, mate. I've left you a present inside the card, as well as the wrapped ones. Don't spend it all in one place, now. Perhaps if you ask nicely, Mum and Dad will put it in their Gringotts vault for safekeeping. Watch out for your Dad though, Harry. He'll pocket it if you're not careful. Keep him on his toes, eh?
Hope your Mum's made some of her famous chocolate cake. I could do with a slice or four.
Love,
Sirius"
Peter chuckled. Sirius, through and through.
"Wormtail! Took your time, didn't you? Remus and Sirius have been here ages. Lily's made some cake, and Padfoot's guzzling up the lot, as usual. If you want to be fed, you'd better hurry." A man with untidy black hair strode up to him, grinning widely.
"James!" Peter exclaimed. "I brought this for Harry; I'll just leave it on the table, shall I? I don't want to miss the cake."
"Don't worry," James whispered. "Lily always makes two of everything when Sirius comes to tea. There's another cake hidden somewhere. Don't tell the glutton." Peter nodded, trying to look trustworthy. James ushered him into the kitchen, where Lily and Remus were exclaiming over the baby, and Sirius was wolfing down what looked suspiciously like an entire cake. He stopped briefly to see who was in the doorway, trying in vain to remove all the chocolate icing from his face.
"Oh, hello Peter. I left a bit of cake for you." Sirius pointed at a paper-thin sliver looking very woebegone on the large plate. Just then, the slice slowly broke in half and toppled over sideways onto the plate, as if it was surrendering.
"Generous of you, Sirius," muttered Remus, trying to suppress a grin.
"I thought so," Sirius said brightly, ignoring the sarcasm. "I'm sure Peter didn't want any more than that, did you Wormtail? He's not greedy." James snorted, and Remus had a sudden coughing fit. Harry, on the other hand, began to giggle wildly.
"Think that's funny, do you?" Sirius growled, pretending to glare at Harry. Harry, far from being at all intimidated, began to laugh louder.
"I reckon he does think it's funny, mate." James observed gravely.
"Shut up, you!" Sirius, muttering under his breath about ungrateful Godchildren and cruel best friends, went back to his cake.
Pettigrew blinked, dispelling the memory from his head. He struggled to recall his conversation with Lord Voldemort. Oh, that's right. Harry Potter--
"But Harry can't possibly present a threat to you now, My Lord. Perhaps there isn't need..." Pettigrew trailed off hopefully.
"Exactly, Wormtail. 'He can't possibly present a threat.' That's why we must catch him now, before he grows any older."
"But he's just a baby!" Pettigrew almost wailed. Voldemort glanced shrewdly at him.
"We attack tonight," he repeated. "And I sincerely hope that no one is warned about our plans. All three Potters will be dead before sunrise, or I'll know who's responsible. In fact, I'll deal with him personally." Pettigrew turned white and collapsed, trembling, to the ground.
"I-I will not fail you, Master."
A/N (again): Yeah, so, how was that? Obviously, it's only the first chapter (as you can see by the fact that there are more chapters...). Please review!