The hall was silent, the portraits asleep, faces etched with calmness. A sharp breeze flew through the hall, the coldness visible in the stillness of the air. A cat, large and ginger, sat on a step it`s tail curled around its`s paws, offering small attempts of warmth. It`s nose twitched, whiskers vibrating as a noise was created, the cat peeled open its`s eyes, vivid pupils dilating as it noticed who interrupted it`s sleep. A rat was huddled in a corner, rotten teeth nibbling at mattered fur, blood leaking from a small cut on it`s paw, nails jagged and it`s tail thin with fur ripped from the roots. It`s small head snapped up, noticing he was not alone, the rat drew back, grey eyes skittering from each end of the hall, until finally settling on the large predator before him. The cat uncurled itself, arching it`s back up, tail extended to the roof. Mouth opening to reveal sharp, needle like teeth, saliva already coating it`s furry mouth, dripping onto the floor. It extended it`s claws, digging them into the stone, eyes trained on it`s meal. The rat, having finally snapped out of it`s fear induced coma, whipped around and high tailed it through the hall, weaving left and right to avoid the vicious sweeps of the feline`s claws, it`s little heart was pounding, thudding in time with it`s hurried steps. Finally the hall came to a dead end, no corridors connecting, nor doors to escape, the rat huddled inwards, its`s matter tail wrapping around it`s paws, it buried it`s head and awaited the sickly sound of teeth ripping through flesh. None came, rather a patter of feet, inches from the rat`s head.

"Crookshanks! There you are!" Small delicate hands picked up the beast, and carried it down the hall, leaving the rat alone, it`s heart slowly calming down. It turned it`s head to the left, and then to the right, seeing no one around it scuttled through a small unnoticeable crack, squeezing through with its tense body. It emerged outside, the wind picking up speed, and the night turning pitch blank, it ran through the forest, feet crunching the leaves beneath, until finally it came into a clearing, the tree opening up to reveal an enclosure, a small fire pit laying in the center.

The rat looked up and placed it`s paws flat on the ground, and emitted a long line of grunts as a swirl of magic appeared before it, the rat shifted, it`s body morphing and twisting into a human, still bearing the scars that his previous form held. His feature also remained rat like, his nose permanently scrunched up, teeth so yellow that no traces of the originally color was left. And an air of filth circled around him, becoming apart of his scent.

"Wormtail!" A deep voice came from withing the shadows, a bust of green magic whipped through the tree, slamming into the already nervous wreck, that was Wormtail. Voldemort stepped out, his dark cloak sweeping across his feet, his thin fingers wrapped delicately around his wand, the end pointed directly towards his least preferred follower. "What is it? What is so important that you felt the need, the desire to call me from my rest?" He let out a growl, slowly advancing on Wormtail, his eyes piercing into his soul.

"Master...master!" Wormtail yelled, whimpers escaping his lips, his hands uncurling from around his head, coming to press against the floor, his appearance mirror a dog begging for food, eyes gazing up towards his master. "I fled to school, like, like you wanted and I have very important..news." He trailed off gulping as he noticed the anger filled gaze of his master. "Wait!" He yelled just as the spell was about to be uttered, "It`s about Snape!"

Voldemort stopped short, his hand slowly bringing the wand down, his interest peaked. "What of Severus?" He pulled the bubbling idiot to his feet, gripping his shoulders between his thin hands, "What did you find that Lucius could not?" Wormtail beamed, finally being offered a chance to best Lucius.

"He is alive and safe within the grounds of Hogwarts, however I`m glad to announce that Snape is not mentally well." Wormtail grinned, smugness oozing through his body, beads of sweat escaping his pores as he grew anxious for his master`s approval.

"How so?"

"He believes himself to be the age of a child, perhaps 14, he has no memory of his life past that point, meaning he has no idea of the actions he made under your rule. He`s weak, and as I hate to tell you what to do my Lord, but this is very beneficial to our...I mean your cause." Wormtail shivered, his clammy hands reaching up to rub against his chin, nails scratching the skin.

"If what you say is true, than my most loyal servant will be just that again. Loyal." He gave no further acknowledgment towards Wormtail,just flicked up his wand and fled the forest, leaving an angered and annoyed servant behind.