Chapter has been edited, so thanks goes to my beta reader!
What if Pettigrew had decided not to tell Voldemort where the whereabouts of the Potters? This is a story where Pettigrew actually comes off noble and good for once. I've hated the rat since the third book but I think there had to be some remorse there, even though he was cowardly enough just to save his own skin. So this is going to put him in a good light for once . . . Check out profile for details, it is important so you'll understand why some things aren't mentioned in this story like they were in the real Harry Potter story.
The worst day of his life was when James and Lily Potter had approached him to be their Secret Keeper. The Potters had known about a Prophecy for sometime concerning their son, and had finally decided to go into hiding after being attacked by Death Eaters at a small get together with close friends. No one had understood how the Death Eaters could have found out where they had been since magical enchantments had been put up to keep them protected. The wizarding world was going through very dark times. Sirius Black and James Potter had decided that they would all go insane if they couldn't have some fun in the world, even if they all had to hide. Peter felt guilty when his friends brought up Remus Lupin as a spy . . .
Peter Pettigrew had been sitting at his home that was hidden by magical enchantments, thinking over the past year. He felt guilty for passing information to Lord Voldemort, who he and the rest of the Death Eaters referred to as the Dark Lord, about his friends and the organization he was part of. Peter was part of two organizations of the war: The Order of the Phoenix, in which his old Headmaster, Dumbledore, had founded to fight the Death Eaters and Voldemort. Peter had never meant to be a double crosser. He had never meant to betray his friends or anyone.
Lucius Malfoy had approached Peter shortly after the Potters had found out about the Prophecy, urging him to join the Death Eaters. Peter hadn't known what to do at first and, in the end, decided he could use it to his advantage. He could easily pass information about the Death Eaters to the Order of the Phoenix. That had been his true intention. In the end, fear for his own life took over and he had become a traitor to his friends. He had been passing information about James and Lily Potter's whereabouts to Voldemort a few months after he had joined and Harry Potter had been born. No one suspected Peter would betray them, all fingers pointed at poor Remus, just because he was a werewolf.
James had summoned Peter to their home, which was going to be going under the Fidelius Charm very soon, to ask him to be their Secret Keeper, Before this, they had just revealed to everyone in the Order that they were going in hiding and Sirius was their Secret Keeper. They had mentioned they couldn't tell anyone but their closest friends about their whereabouts until danger passed.
"You want me to be your Secret Keeper?" Peter asked after James had asked him. "But I-I can't."
They were all sitting at the table, baby Harry, James, and Lily Potter and Sirius Black. Sirius frowned at Peter when he had said this.
"You're going to let your fear of Lord Voldemort-" Peter flinched at the name. Most wizards referred to him as You-Know-Who or, in the Death Eaters' case, the Dark Lord. No one dared speak his name except a lot of Order members. "Stop you from protecting your friends?" Sirius had asked, rolling his eyes. "Peter, you'll be safe. Everyone thinks I am Secret Keeper. No one will suspect you. We made sure to announce to everyone that it's me, especially in front ofcertain people."
When Sirius had said 'certain people' Peter knew it meant Remus. Peter looked away guiltily, trying to think of away to get out of this. He couldn't be the Secret Keeper. It was one thing to give the Dark Lord hints about the Order and James and Lily, but it was another to lead them to their deaths. Lily Potter made the decision for him.
"Please Wormy," she said, touching his hand and looking at him with pleading eyes. "Please do this for us. Do this for Harry. He's only a baby."
Peter had looked at Lily, who had tears in her eyes. Before he could stop himself, he nodded and told them he would be their Secret Keeper.
-
Now Peter sat in a room full of Death Eaters during a meeting. It had almost been a week since the Fidelius Charm had been used. He was sure no one suspected him as the Secret Keeper. How could they? He believed everyone thought that Sirius was the Secret Keeper.
"Now, our main problem is finding out where the Potters are." The Dark Lord was saying. "It seems they are now under the Fidelius Charm. As you all know, only the Secret Keeper can give out that information. But I have learned that it may not be as hard I thought when they first went into hiding."
"My Lord," Bellatrix Lestrange said, "my cousin-."
"Is not their Secret Keeper," the Dark Lord interrupted. "It seems we have been following a loose trail from one of our numbers-" No Peter thought. He can't know it's me. Maybe he believes its Remus. He has to. "And it seems the very person I want to talk to is in this very room."
Peter flinched as he felt the Dark Lord's eyes on him. He glanced at him before looking away quickly. How could he have known? Everyone thought it was Sirius Black, so how could the Dark Lord have found out it was him?
"You seem to forget, Pettigrew," the Dark Lord said as every eye went on him, "that you can't keep secrets from me. You of all people should know that by now. Now why don't you meet me in the next room so we can talk? This meeting has come to an end," he said now addressing the rest of the Death Eaters. "Once Harry Potter is gone, we will go after the next person who has been defying me for years."
Peter knew that was Dumbledore. Peter rose shakily to his feet feeling every eye on him as the rest of the Death Eaters stood up. He had to make a decision quick. Part of him wanted to give out the details to the Dark Lord so he would leave him alone. Once James, Lily and Harry are gone, I can tell Sirius and Remus that the Dark Lord had tortured the information out of me, that he was going to kill me.They won't accept that explanation. Sirius and Remus would die before betraying their friendPeter mentally told himself. But they all know what I'm like. They'll understand the pressure I was under I'll them the Death Eaters had captured me and the Dark Lord had tortured the information from me. They know I am not good under pressure, they'll understand why I didn't die for my friends.
He only had moments to decide. After these thoughts went through his mind though, he had another thought. That very day he had been at the Potter's with Sirius and Remus. Peter had always adored little Harry Potter. The baby could bring a smile to anyone's face. Since Peter had become a Death Eater and Harry was born, the child had been a source of comfort to Peter. Peter had been holding Harry on his lap while the five friends discussed whether or not it would be safe to have a small Halloween party.
"No," Peter had said. "I know you want to try and find some fun in this situation, and it's hard being locked up, but I just think we should lay low on the parties for a while." That's all he needed, was the Death Eaters to find out about all his friends being together and someone getting killed.
"Wormy!" Harry shouted, lifting up a tiny hand and grasping Peter's nose. "Shh!"
Harry had been telling everyone to 'Shh' lately. No one knew if it was because the baby sensed the danger they were in or because Lily was always telling Harry to 'Shh' when he was upset. The memory made Peter's decision for him. Knowing he wouldn't get another chance, Peter quickly sent a patronus message to James and Lily Potter before the Dark Lord entered the room.
He didn't have to wait long. Lord Voldemort entered the room looking angrier then Peter had ever seen him. At times he had seen the Dark Lord angry but it had never been directed at him, for Peter had always tried to be a loyal servant to protect himself.
"So, you have the very information I want and you kept it from me?" the Dark Lord asked and without a moment's hesitation the Dark Lord directed his wand at Peter and shouted, "Crucio!"
Peter felt horrible pain that had been used on him when he had first joined the Death Eaters. Felt the very pain that had helped him pass on information about Lily and James. Peter screamed in agony. It felt as though thousands of knives were stabbing him. The pain lifted after what felt like hours of pain, when it was only seconds. Sobbing, Peter got to his feet knowing the Dark Lord could strike again.
"Now, tell me where the Potters are." The Dark Lord asked. "If you refuse, I will kill you Pettigrew. You have disappointed me greatly."
Peter, remembering Harry, made his life changing decision. "You'll have to kill me then," Peter said feeling his wand in his hand, something he had never dared to do before.
"The Secret will pass onto everyone who knows the whereabouts of the Potters," the Dark Lord said in a cold voice. "And I will torture every man, woman and child who knows where the Potters are. You are not protecting anyone."
That's what you thinkPeter thought gripping his wand. When Peter refused to talk, Lord Voldemort raised his wand and said the incantation quickly, but Peter also raised his wand.
"Avada Kedavra!"
"Protego!" Peter shouted. He knew that the shield charm would not protect him but had thought of the first spell that came to his mind and mentally yelled at himself for using it.
The green killing curse hit the shield charm and did something strange that Peter had never thought it would do before. It split into two. One of the curses rebounded on its owner while the other one broke the shield charm and hit Peter Pettigrew. Peter fell to the ground feeling no pain whatsoever, not knowing what had happened. Meanwhile, the Dark Lord seemed to feel the pain of the curse. There was a scream of agony that no one heard before the Dark Lord disappeared.
James and Lily Potter sat together laughing as they watched their baby try and catch small puffs of smoke that James was issuing out of his wand. Harry squealed in delight, causing James to grin at Lily in a lovingly way.
"I think it's almost time to put Harry to bed," he told Lily. "And then why don't we-."
James didn't finish that sentence though. A silver light entered the room, taking the shape of a small rat. James froze, knowing that the Patronus Rat belonged to Peter. Was Peter in danger? Perhaps he was just letting them know that he was stopping by soon.
"The Dark Lord knows I am Secret Keeper," the rat began. "Get out of there before he comes after you because he might get the information from me. Warn Sirius and Remus as well, or he might go after them. If I die tonight, I want you know that it was me. I am the spy. I have been passing the information to the Death Eaters. Please believe me when I say I never meant for any of this to happen."
James and Lily stared at the Patronus before it disappeared. James didn't want to believe it, not Peter. Peter had been the spy?
"Do you think it's a trick?" Lily asked James as she hugged Harry close.
"I don't know," James said. "But to be safe, I think we should go. We'll go to your sisters. They won't suspect us being there."
"James, Petunia told me never to go to her place again. Isn't there some where else?" Lily asked.
"No one knows much about Petunia," James said. "You've always been careful about shielding her. None of our friends know where she lives."
"I know, but Severus Snape is a Death Eater. I don't care if Dumbledore says he is on our side," Lily said. "What if he tells them about her? He has never liked her."
James didn't know what to say to that. He knew they were running out of time. Severus Snape didn't know where Petunia Dursley lived. Lily really hadn't talked to him in years. They could stay for the moment before deciding where else to go. It would take some time to find out where the Dursleys lived; and by then, Dumbledore could have them all hidden. He quickly explained this to Lily who finally gave a reluctant nod. After sending messages to Dumbledore, Remus and Sirius both apparated to Lily's sister's place.
A day had passed since they had fled from their home. Lily knew her sister hadn't been too happy about having them visiting her in the middle of the night but had nonetheless let them come in even after she had told Lily that she wanted no more contact with them. Something in Lily's scared eyes must have convinced Petunia to let them come in and stay the night when they had arrived at Number Four Privet Drive. Now the two women watched as their boys played together in the sitting room.
Lily had never met Petunia's small son named Dudley but had always wanted to meet him. Dudley was only a month older then Harry but the boy looked to be about two instead of a year and four months. He was a very fat baby with blond hair and larger than Harry. Lily suspected that Dudley was very spoiled and had felt angry when Petunia turned a blind eye when Dudley pinched and poked Harry.
"How long do you plan on staying?" Petunia asked. "If you are in danger from this Lord Voldemort character then I don't want my family in danger."
"You won't be in danger Tuney. James has gone to see Professor Dumbledore- You remember him don't you?- well he will protect all of us. You-Know-Who won't know where we are yet and we'll be hidden before he finds out," Lily explained.
Petunia glared at Lily before looking away. "Vernon isn't too happy about you being here," Petunia said, meaning her husband. "He thinks I shouldn't have let you in."
"Well I'm glad you did." Lily said sincerely.
"Thatboy-," Petunia began, meaning Severus Snape. "Won't tell where we are?"
Lily was about to answer but was stopped as James suddenly appeared in the living room with a crack. Harry let out a scream of delight at seeing his father appear, while Dudley let out a terrified wail. He ran to his mother as fast as his tiny, chubby legs would take them. James picked up Harry from the ground as Petunia glared at him and hugged her son close.
"Well," James began, sitting down. "It seems we won't have to hide for much longer. Voldemort is gone. I was just meeting with Dumbledore who confirmed it. Peter was found dead at the Death Eater hide out. It was an old abandoned place in London that they were using to have meetings in."
"But how do they know that You-Know-Who is gone then?" Lily asked.
James smiled weakly as Harry demanded to be put down so he continue his play with Dudley's toys. "Snape found him-," Petunia let out a funny noise at the mention of Snape, "-and alerted Dumbledore right away. Dumbledore went to their hiding place and retrieved Peter before the Death Eaters could find out what had happened. He examined his wand and found out that Peter had tried to use a shield charm against the Avada Kedavra. As you know, the shield charm generally doesn't work on the Killing Curse.
"Dumbledore discovered that the curse broke into two. It killed Peter, but it also rebounded on Voldemort and he disappeared shortly after."
Lily let out a tiny sob, Petunia was watching them, listening in what it seemed to be interest. She got up as her son began demanding juice. James moved over to Lily and pulled her close as she began sobbing harder. Peter was dead. He had sacrificed himself for them. James just stroked her shoulder as he stared at the two babies playing together on the floor. Petunia returned a few moments later with two sippy cups that she handed one each to Harry and Dudley that were full of red juice.
"But how did he get Peter?" Lily finally asked. "He was supposed to be hiding out so they couldn't find him."
"Death Eaters meeting," James said with a scowl. "Peter really was the spy. And we trusted him with our lives. I can't believe we would suspect Remus. He would never betray us and yet we were quick to point our fingers at him. We didn't think of Peter who has been withdrawn and secretive ever since Harry came."
"Peter never seemed the type James," Lily said. "And he stood up for us. He died for us. He could have told You-Know-Who where we were but he didn't. But it was Snape that found him?"
"Seems Snivellus really is on our side. I never really believed he was but Dumbledore said that he had stuck around because Voldemort wanted to talk to Peter in secret after the meeting. He heard what sounded like an explosion and hurried to see what happened and found Peter dead and Voldemort gone but his wand was still there. Dumbledore also examined that one," James answered. "Dumbledore says the Death Eaters are angry. They are trying to find out what happened to their master so he wants us to lie low for a while. He has already put protective enchantments on this place."
Lily nodded and looked at Petunia hoping it was okay for them to stay there for a bit until everything calmed down in their world. The two sisters stared at each other for a few moments before Petunia gave a quick nod.
"No magic though. You know how Vernon feels about it," Petunia said. "So do not do that disappearing and reappearing stuff in here. And I don't want your son teaching Dudley any tricks either."
Lily laughed. "He is a baby Tuney. He can't teach him tricks." She turned to James. "I think we should warn the Longbottoms to go into hiding as well."
The Prophecy that had been made about Harry being the one to defeat the Dark Lord could have also referred to the Longbottoms son as well. They were Aurors and would surely be in danger as well. She knew Frank and Alice adored their son as much as she and James adored Harry. Lily thought about the Prophecy that she had heard in the Headmasters office over a year ago:
"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches . . . Born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies . . . and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal, but he will have power the Dark Lord knows not . . . and either must die at the hand of the other for neither can live while the other survives . . . "
The Potters and Longbottoms had both defied Lord Voldemort three times . . . and they both had babies that were born at the end of July. Lily looked at Harry and thought of Peter. Despite the fact that he had betrayed them for over a year, she could forgive him. He had, after all, let himself die for them. Because of Peter Pettigrew, her son would have a chance at life and she would never forget that.