"Crucio!"
Avery fell to his side in screaming agony. Nott cowered behind him. Lucius seemed imperturbed, but had anyone looked closely at his eyes, they would have seen apprehension in their grey depths.
"Explain to me again," the snake-like man said, to Nott this time, "how you lost Wormtail!"
Nott swallowed hard. "We were at the Muggle farmhouse, master. Only the women were home. We had just approached the front door when it opened and there was an explosion. Small pellets were flying everywhere. A couple of them hit Lastrange in the shoulder, causing him to bleed."
Nott glanced at Rabastan, who was currently being ministered to by his sister-in-law.
"Go on," said the thin voice dangerously.
"We ran, my master. I think Wormtail took on his animal form, since he was near the bushes. When we could, we Apparated here."
"And where is Wormtail?"
Nott flinched. "I do not know, my lord."
"Crucio!"
vvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvv
The cat jumped up on the screen, something small and grey in its mouth. "I think it's bringing you a present, Mum," said the younger woman.
The older woman sighed and went to the door. The cat laid its prize down on the stoop and backed away for its praise.
"Good cat," Mum said automatically. She let the cat in, then bent over to examine the prize.
"What is it?" the younger woman asked.
"I'm not sure. It looks like it might be a mouse. Right colour." Mum poked at the thing. "Oh!" she exclaimed, picking it up by several bits of fur. "It's a rat. A huge one. The cat tore it in half."
She tossed the half-carcass into the bushes, not noticing the glint of sun on a silver paw.