Mice and Men
Far off in a thick forest, a rat scurried through piles of leaves, almost s if it were being drawn by some invisible force. The creature nearly collided with a fallen bird's nest. The chicks trapped inside squeaked and chirped as the rat darted over. In the distance a large dilapidated house loomed over the trees. When the rodent was a few hundred yards away, it stopped running and began to transform. Pettigrew heaved a huge sigh, bent double trying to catch his breath. He had been running for weeks and was getting tired and scared. He knew the Ministry was still out looking for him and no doubt Sirius and Remus were hunting him down. But he had a feeling he would find refuge in the house ahead of him. It was like something was drawing him there and had been since he'd left the grounds of Hogwarts. The pudgy man moved a s quickly as he could to the old house and snuck inside.
"H-Hello?" He got no answer.
Pettigrew stood in the doorway for a while, his entire body quivering in fear. He could tell something was in the house but couldn't identify it. Swallowing the rather large lump in his throat, he climbed the rickety staircase to the second floor. His feet moved of their own volition into the room at the top of the stairs. At first the room appeared to be vacant. But as he listened closely, he could hear something breathing. It was ragged and shallow. Peter pulled his wand from his cloak and moved slowly towards a large armchair that sat in the center of the room. He held his breath as he rounded the piece of furniture. There lying bundled up in the chair was a very small, infant looking creature. Pettigrew jumped back partially in fear and partially in disgust.
"Wormtail." It came out as a rasping noise. Peter recognized the voice immediately. It had haunted him for the past thirteen years. He had heard his master's voice calling to him. It had been much stronger since Ron Weasley started at Hogwarts.
"Master? But…how?"
"I was not destroyed that night, Wormtail. But I am merely a shell of my former self. I require a body." Wormtail let out a gulp.
"Not yours, you fool!"
"What…what can I do, Master?"
"It is a complicated potion but I suspect you may be of some use to me."
"The boy…where is he?"
"Harry Potter?" The creature nodded its small head.
"At Hogwarts. But he's untouchable there…Dumbledore is protecting him…and…Sirius Black…"
"He has been dealt with."
"No My Lord…he's been cleared…the Ministry is hunting me down…I…I need protection."
"How did you allow such a thing to happen?"
"I'm sorry…please…I'll do anything."
"You must take me away from this place. I must return to where my father is buried. As much as it displease me to even be near his filthy Muggle remains, I require him as well."
"OF course Master." The room fell silent as Wormtail contemplated his wand and Voldemort in his diminished state stared at a spot on the wall. He knew what the potion required and he was certain two of the ingredients would come easily. Wormtail was gullible and leeched on to whomever he could for attention. He would willingly give what was required.
"We must go now." Wormtail stowed his wand up his sleeve and gently picked up the creature from the chair. He left the house and ducked beneath some tall brush, trying not to be seen.
"Master, where are we going?"
"It is not far from here. We will need to make the preparations quickly. I must regain my body if I am to return to my quest." Wormtail gave a murmur that could have been a noise of understanding or a mumble of fear.
They moved back through the forest at a slow pace. Not being in his Animagus form slowed Peter down considerably. He stumbled over loose tree branches and roots. He tried to pick up his pace but nearly fell flat on his face, sending his cargo flying.
'Wormtail!" Voldemort howled. Pettigrew reached out and grabbed the falling creature before it hit the ground.
"So sorry Master."
The sky soon turned dark as the sun faded from view. Peter took refuge in a small cave off the path of the forest. Voldemort did not object to holing up for the night. Pettigrew tried to curl up beneath his cloak but found he couldn't get into a comfortable position. The next morning, Pettigrew sat up to see the sky thick with rain clouds. He turned to the bundle that was Voldemort and nudged him.
"Master."
"We will continue." The pair moved through the rest of the forest and reached the grounds keeper's shack at the cemetery just as the skies opened up and began to pour in buckets. Pettigrew leaned against the wall and tried to catch his breath. He'd had to sprint from the gate to the shack. He looked around the shabby surroundings and let out another gasp for air.
"We must prepare immediately, Wormtail."
"Can't we rest first, Master. We've been travelling a long time and I'm hungry." Pettigrew hadn't noticed that his wand had fallen from his sleeve until the creature that was his Master pointed it at him and hissed a spell out.
"Crucio!" Peter screamed in pain ripped through his body. The pain and agony seemed to last forever until finally, Voldemort stopped the spell.
"You will help me prepare now."
"Y-Yes Master." Peter hobbled towards the creature and bent down to his eye level.
"What is it you need me to do?"
"You will find a cauldron and then you will bring me what I need for my resurrection." Pettigrew swallowed.
"What is it you need?"
"Harry Potter."
"Master…I…I can't get to him without risking getting caught."
"Do you want to serve me, Wormtail?"
"Yes, Master….you know I do."
'Then you will find Potter and bring him to me. I don't care how you do it. But I want him alive." Pettigrew nodded in understanding and stood up.
"I'll…I'll go now…"
"Good. And remember Wormtail…I want him alive." Peter nodded again and transformed back into a rat.
He scurried out of the shack and back into the rain. He moved as quickly as he could past the gate and sniffed around, trying to find the best way to get back to Hogwarts. He ran in large circles for a while before he realized it would make sense to Apparate to the edge of the school grounds and sneak on that way. Reluctantly, he transformed back into his human form and disappeared from view. He reappeared at the edge of Hogsmeade Village. He could see the Dementors circling high in the sky above the school and it sent chills down his spine. He ducked out of view as Madam Rosemerta stuck her head out of our shop. Luckily she hadn't seen Pettigrew. Steeling his nerves, Pettigrew transformed back into a rat and raced along the streets toward the grounds of the school.
On the grounds, Harry sat in the Gryffindor Common Room, staring out at the dismal weather. He had started to get a bad feeling in his gut. He was pretty sure that it wasn't because Irlynn was feeling it too. He couldn't place what the feeling was…it felt like dread and fear. He finally got up and went in search of Lupin. He found the Professor in his office, grading papers.
"Professor?" Lupin looked up.
"What can I do for you, Harry?"
"I was hoping if you weren't too busy I could ask you for your help."
'Please, sit down."
"Well…I've been having this really bad feeling the last few days and I can't explain it. It's like…I know something bad is going to happen…but I don't know what it is…or how to stop it."
"Have you been feeling anxious?" Harry nodded.
"Perhaps it's the weather. I know it affects the way I feel too."
"I don't think it's the weather, Sir. Irlynn has had the same feeling."
"Maybe you should talk to Dumbledore then."
"I think I might. Thanks, Professor."
As Harry walked out of Lupin's office in search of Dumbledore, Pettigrew had made it onto the grounds of the school. He ran as quickly as his legs could carry him up to the tall stone structure. It wasn't going to be easy to find Harry. He would be well guarded by the staff, Dumbledore in particular. But he couldn't disappoint his Master. He had no desire to be tortured again. Just as he reached the steps to the Entrance Hall, a door was pushed open and a couple of students dashed out into the rain. Peter used this as his chance to sneak back inside. In the Ravenclaw Common Room, Irlynn felt her stomach do a flip flop. Her uneasy feeling had just gotten worse. She stood up and left the Common Room. She looked around and suddenly was pulled into a vision. She saw Harry making his way towards to Dumbledore's office. Unlike all the other times she had seen one of his thoughts or memories, she got the sense that something was following him.