Chapter Three: Peter Pettigrew
He lay his ratty head on the thin pillow, wishing for sleep. He hadn't been able to sleep properly since 1980. He dreaded sleep, the nightmare of what he'd done haunted him. The short, fat, balding man wished against hope his master would offer him a dreamless sleep potion, but it was a moot point. His master had no care at all for his servent, and never woke when the small man screamed in terror. He finally drifted off into a fitful sleep.
Peter Pettigrew was sleeping when he was attacked by an unfamiliar post owl. He fought off the bird and wrestled the parchment from the bird's left leg, but not before he was bitten several times.
Surprised to find it addressed to himself, he opened and read the letter. His hands shook has he read the letter, terrified of the ramifications.
Peter Ignatius Pettigrew,
I, Harry James Potter do note and acknowledge that you owe me, my house and my heirs both multiple blood debt and a life debt.
By the power of Magic and before witnesses I do demand repayment of this multiple debt even unto the extinguishing of your life and the discontinuance of your house.
It has been assessed that partial payment of your debt may be redeemed only by the successful removal of your current Master, Tom Marvolo Riddle, styling himself Lord Voldemort.
Proof of his death may be presented in the form of his wand and his un-living head to the proprietor of The Hog's Head in Hogsmead no later than 31 July of the current year.
Witness my hand this day of 30 June 1995,
Harry James Potter
Witnessed by
Sirius Orion Black; Hermione Jane Granger; Remus John Lupin
.
He never drifted off again, not knowing that this was his last night to live.
The next morning, at their daily meeting, Wortail fulfilled the life debt owed to Harry. None was more surprised than Wormtail when his shaking hand pointed his wand at the back of Lord Voldemort's neck – when his silent lips shaped the syllables of a severing curse – and when his still living eyes beheld the Head of Voldemort spring from his body. A second curse severed the right hand, still holding the yew wand. He cried as the remaining bits of his master lay, bleeding, before him.
The head, hand and wand were quickly wrapped and shrunk, and sent via owl to H.P. care of the Hogs Head pub.
It was then that the last of the Death Eaters realised that the magic of his silver hand was unravelling.
The hand turned on Pettigrew, stretching for his neck. He tried to fight it, but with the maker of the hand dead in front of him, the hand turned on its owner. As the hand reached his neck, the didn't fight anymore. He realized his life debt was repayed. Everything was better. He welcomed Death, the enigma he'd been avoiding since that fateful Halloween. Little did he know, Death had something else planned for him...
.
"I redeemed the debt … I did it!" Wormtail shrieked happily as he ran up to his oldest friends, and the ones he had betrayed in the worst way.
"No Peter, Harry made it quite clear in his letter that Voldemort's death was only a partial redemption …"
"Lily? James? My old friends … surely you …"
James shook his head.
Lily looked at the recently dead mage.
"Peter, you made your decisions back then. Our son set the terms, knowing that you could never repay the debt that you owe him … and us. Your actions have condemned you … the seventh circle of Hell is reserved for blasphemers, money-lenders and traitors. We only came to see your sentence carried out. Farewell, Peter Pettigrew …"
With that, Peter was thrown from the blissful afterlife Lily and James resided in. He found himself in a dark, scary place. He thought he was alone until he heard: "WORMTAIL!"
"Y...yes...my...my Lord?"
"You DARE kill me?" Voldemort raged. "After all I did for you?"
"My...Lord...I had...to," Peter grovelled. "I...had a...life debt...to Po...Potter."
"Wormtail, you are lucky we are already DEAD! I'd kill you in an instant for this!"
I loved this chapter! I can't wait for the next (and 2nd to last) chapter! Here's your hint: A.P.W.B.D. ;) Please R&R! ~DrarryDramioneGirl