OOC: I have procrastination problems. The sooner everyone realizes that, the happier I'll be.

It's short again, but believe it or not this is getting harder and harder to write.

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The knots around Peter's wrists were tight, much tighter then they need be and almost tighter than humanly possible. Remus had thrown all of his anger and fear and grief into the ropes that bound his one-time friend. The tips of the traitor's fingers were blue, his hands white.

I hope they have to be cut off.

The werewolf's rage could barely be contained, and it didn't help that the full moon was but a few days away. It felt like his teeth were lengthening, so he could rip, tear out his throat, tear out his life…

No. Stop it. He's not worth how it would make you feel, you know it. But words weren't enough for how much he just wanted to hurt Peter.

Sirius dashed into the room, heralded only by Remus' keen ears. "Believe me, I doubt he could get loose by your hands, much less his own," Remus said in answer to the unspoken question. With a flick of his wand, the auror raised Peter to the ceiling.

"For… extra security," Sirius grinned, his eyes ablaze. "Weasley- not the younger one, his father- will be here in a minute to watch it." A jabbing wand left no question who it was. "Weasley the younger- Ron, you nitwit," Sirius told the questioning look, "will meet us on the rooftop with brooms. We'll apparate as close as we can, though."

"We don't have much time, do we?" Remus asked softly. It was more of a statement then a question. The mere fact that they were apparating- practically announcing their presence to any wards, and there were sure to be wards…

Sirius laid a calloused palm on his friend's arm. Pain seemed to come off him in waves. "I need this to work, Remus," he whispered. He turned away quickly, but not before Remus could see the glitter of unshed tears.

"It has to work."

xxxx

"Oh, I love getting presents from the Master," Harry's torturer- executioner, now- giggled. "But I've never, never, ever gotten a present this good before!" Her eyes flew wide in mock innocence as she bounced on the spot, clapping her hands.

"I know he said to kill you," Bellatrix whispered conspiratorially, leaning close, "but he didn't say when. And I'm pretty sure I can make my present last for weeks…" A frown marred the plastic smile. "Maybe not weeks. Days, though, for certain… you did break rather easily, didn't you? I bet your father would've lasted weeks, your godfather…" A shudder of pure pleasure. "I think I could make him last months. A year, even."

"Crucio."

Barely a whimper escaped Harry's mouth as a fresh wave of pain crashed on his head.

The woman raised her wand.

"You are going to be boring. Imperio."

"Sit up."

All his training, all his practise, gone. The curse had him utterly in thrall. Broken, shattered bones ground together as his upper body rose. Bella cocked her head.

"Is that all it takes, precious?"

"Scream for Aunty Bella."

Shrieks tore themselves from Harry's bloodied throat, noises he had thought himself unable to make.

"Stop." Harry's mouth obediently closed.

"Do you know where the Headquarters for the Order of the Pheonix is?" A gasp from Harry formed the word 'no'. Bellatrix grimaced, baring her teeth in an animal gesture. Then, a smile.

"Can you tell us?"

Harry, what distant part of him still existed, was horrified to hear himself croak, "Yes."

"MASTER!"

xxxx

"We dare apparate no closer, Sirius. You know that."

Knowing didn't help. He wanted to apparate at Harry's side, not barely in sight of the Riddle House.

Ron's hands reached out of the pre-dawn gloom with a broomstick. "At least we're not walking," the redhead tried to joke. A curt growl cut him off, and Sirius couldn't tell if it had been him or Remus.

All three wizards mounted up, rising quickly into the fog, and hovered. The wet cloud muffled their words, preventing them from carrying to any sentries. "Ron is a good flyer. Sirius, you practically live on a broom when you're not working. And I…" A smile that was pure wolf. "I have my reflexes. The idea is to go in through the big, old-style chimney- blasting any wards out of our way- and fly very fast through the house and find Harry. Ron has an extra broom, or if-" a quick glance at Sirius- "if he can't fly- he can ride with me."

"Sirius, you know my reflexes are the most reliable, not to mention that you two are better at magical combat than I'll ever be. Besides, I have a skinny bum," Remus laughed over Sirius' protests.

"Let's go."