Death Eater

When Sirius awoke he found the cat stretched out next to him, its head resting on his paw. Sirius smiled. That cat truly was remarkable.

To the left of Sirius was the mound under which he had reburied Evan Rosier. Weeks had passed. Sirius hadn't uncorked the bottle since his first encounter with Rosier. He didn't want to talk to him. All his waking hours were filled with thoughts of Pettigrew. It seemed he was gone. He had not been in Gryffindor Tower, the cat had been unable to find him, and Sirius was restless. Something had to be done. There had to be a way to get to Pettigrew… If only he had been in Gryffindor tower… but that was weeks and weeks ago. Where was he? He would send the cat out for another scout around.

He nudged the cat with his nose. The ginger feline stretched and lazy got to its feet looking at Sirius inquisitively.

Go look for the rat. Sirius thought, hoping the cat would get the message. The cat yawned in reply and slowly stalked off. Something told Sirius that the cat thought he was being a bit obsessive. Maybe he was but it was not without reason. Everything rested on finding Pettigrew. It didn't matter about Regulus – that would come later- after he had finally committed the crime he was imprisoned for.

The cat stalked off. Pettigrew, Pettigrew, Pettigrew… Sirius' mind raced. What would that rat have done? Hidden. He was always afraid. He couldn't have gone far. He had to still be at Hogwarts. If only Sirius was free to roam the ground…. He had to find him!

Pettigrew, Pettigrew, Pettigrew- stupid rat! Pettigrew, Pettigrew…

But his thoughts of Pettigrew were disturbed by someone running through the forest. He could hear the twigs and branches as they were snapped and thrown aside. He then heard shouting.

"Leo! Leo!"

Pettigrew, Pettigrew…

He then saw the figure of Caster as he leapt from the forest and hurtled towards another boy who was sat reading by a tree.

"Leo!"

The boy stood up at the sound of his name.

"What is it?"

"I need your help- come on!" Caster dragged his brother by the arms and pulled him into the forbidden forest. Leo was forced to follow. Sirius finally got up and, for entertainment and curiosity followed them.

If only this would solve the mystery of Pettigrew…

He knew where they would be heading and so he made his own way through the forest to the spot where he had uncovered the ghost of Evan Rosier entombed in a glass.

The boys were already there. Caster was digging frantically at the earth with his hands while Leo looked on, a look of horror on his face.

"What are you doing?"

"I left him right here… But he's gone! You have to help me look for him…" as he spoke Caster began digging in another spot, sending earth flying in all directions.

Leo grabbed onto Caster's arm and stopped him for a moment. "Caster, calm down, Who did you leave here?"

"Uncle Evan"

"What do you mean?"

"I trapped him using Geist-Glas-"Caster said, he was almost in tears.

"Interesting experiment," Leo said with a grin.

"No this is serious- no experiment. I buried him somewhere around here"

"I hope you gave him a proper funeral, too."

"Leo! He's gone- I can't find him anymore."

Leo faltered for a moment then replied, "But where could he have gone?

"I don't know. Maybe I've just been looking in the wrong place."

The two boys then both started digging all over the place, neither of them caring how the dirt covered their robes. Leo's book lay forgotten on the ground.

"And you didn't mark the grave?"

"I did but the marker's gone too."

The boys continued searching a while longer when Leo finally stood upright, picked up his book and said, "I don't think we're going to find him, Caster"

Caster continued to dig, wildly and without method, he was almost hysterical, "But we have to! What will mum say? I didn't mean him to get lost…."

Sirius almost felt like telling them what happened except, if he did that, he would be on the first boat back to Azkaban.

Caster dug just a while longer and then he collapsed down onto the ground, sobbing. Leo went over to him and wrapped his arm around him, dropping the book down on the ground.

"It's alright, Caster, we don't have to tell mum. I'll tell her I did- one of my investigations into the afterlife…"

"But I shouldn't have done it… I just… I… I just could stand it any more…"

"It's all right. We all know Uncle Evan is an insufferable git. He's always giving you a hard time. Was it about being in Gryffindor again?"

Caster shook his head and buried his face in Leo's shoulder as he mumbled a reply.

"What was that?" Leo asked gently.

Caster lifted his face, "He said that Dad was a Death Eater."

Just like that rat.

Leo didn't reply and for a while the brother just sat in silence, "We had better be going back. It will be getting dark soon."

Caster pulled away from his brother, "You think it's true, then?"

"I don't know what I think- we don't know. Uncle Evan could have just been saying it to wind you up."

Leo stood then, picked up his book and began walking from the forest clearing.

"What are we going to do" Caster asked in a small voice.

"I'll write to Mum then we'll take it from there. Don't worry; it'll be all right, Caster-Sugar. I'll make sure of it. Besides, Uncle Evan isn't too much of a loss."

Caster finally rose, wiped the tears from his eyes and followed Leo out of the forest.

Sirius returned to his original position and waited the return of the cat. Only thoughts of Pettigrew plagued his mind. There was simply no room for the Rosiers.