Connections

Author's Note: I'm finally getting back to this after giving up on it about four years ago, after the 7th HP book came out. I'm only trying to be compliant to the canon as it was before the 7th book came out, and I don't consider anything Rowling's said since the last book was published to be canon.


Petunia and the Cresswells were allowed to retain their memory of the event, being immediate family of a witch and a wizard. But Joe and Jenny were only cousins and with Snape already taken into custody, there was no one to vouch for them. Their memories were Obliviated.


Severus was sick with fear and dread. Few creatures terrified the wizarding-raised quite so much as a Dementor. When the awful creatures came to escort him to the courtroom for sentencing, he had withdrawn completely into Occlumency. But while he felt the chill and uncleanness of their presence, he was surprised to find he didn't feel much more than that. He relaxed a bit, wondering if their reputation had been exaggerated.

The chill became bone deep. Evan's plan isn't going to work, he thought. They're going to send me to Azkaban for years, not just a couple of weeks. Memories drifted through his mind. Standing in front of the whole school, apologizing to Bertha Jorkins. Still in front of the whole school, but now outside and hanging upside down. Squirrels outside. Avery like squirrels. The fifth year boys' dorm, getting ready to cast - .

No! he thought, as his reflexes kicked in. Mind clear, shields up. He was still cold and still felt like he was slogging through polluted air, but the despair was gone. Which, now that it was gone, was what he had been feeling, he realized. The effect of the Dementors. So Occlumency was a defense!

The young half-blood sat down in the witness chair before the Wizengamot in Courtroom Ten, flanked by two Dementors. He shivered as chains slithered over his arms and legs to bind him, but he knew he could do this.


Horace was sitting at his favorite table at The Leaky Cauldron with one of his ministry contacts, Augustus Rookwood, and one of his Slug Club graduates, Ludo Bagman. He was in a very jovial mood. It was usually difficult to maintain his ties with the dour Department of Mysteries official, but Horace had finally found something to interest Rookwood. He'd have gotten Augustus together with Ludo much sooner if he'd known he was such a Quidditch fan. And Ludo had even been taken on by the Winbourne Wasps, Rookwood's favorite team.

Peter was alone when he entered The Leaky Cauldron. He didn't much like to be, but he'd been stood up by James and Sirius again and he was damned if he was going to eat at his desk this time. He scanned the room to see if there was anyone he recognized and his eyes lit on Ludo. They'd been classmates, though from different houses, and Ludo was actually going to be playing professionally. Maybe he could talk himself into a place at their table.

Ludo loved a crowd, the more the merrier, so when he caught sight of Peter making his way over to the table, he waved and said, "Grab a chair," before Slughorn or Rookwood could do anything about it. Peter was ecstatic to be invited to sit down, by Ludo no less, before he'd even said a word.

Slughorn was in too good a mood to mind that the plain little nobody had joined them. Rookwood, however, examined the boy under veiled eyes. Peter Pettigrew. Floo Network Monitor, half-blood (Muggle maternal grandfather), two younger siblings. Augustus made it a point to know at least the basics about everyone who worked at the Ministry of Magic.

Ludo, of course, hadn't the least idea of his former classmate's name, but he managed to remember something as he stood up and offered his hand to the other boy. "You're one of James Potter's friends, aren't you? I must say, I'm glad I won't be facing him on the Quidditch pitch."

Peter got the hint that Ludo didn't really remember his name, but he didn't mind. It was worth it just to be recognized as a friend of James Potter. He took Ludo's hand and answered, "Yes. Peter Pettigrew. I can't believe he passed up his chance with the Montrose Magpies. They could use a Chaser like him."

Rookwood perked up as Pettigrew talked Quidditch with Ludo. It appeared the boy really was a friend of Potter's and not just a name dropper. He was also a friend of Sirius Black's. The Dark Lord hadn't been best pleased to find James Potter and Sirius Black interfering with Rosier and his half-blood. This was the second time now for Potter. And his little mudblood wife. Augustus had been more than happy to inform his Master that the Lily Potter involved in the Muggle rescue was the same person as the Lily Evans who had captured a Death Eater before she'd even graduated from Hogwarts.

"... really don't see how Rosier managed to get off. I actually heard him talking with Snape about where the Muggles were." Peter decided not to mention Lily. She'd clearly been duped by the other two and had come to her senses as soon as she'd realized what was going on and James and Sirius had shown up.

"Really? Why would they talk about such a thing in your presence? Are you friends?" asked Rookwood, suddenly interested.

"Friends! With Snape and Rosier! Snape's had it in for me since we started Hogwarts and Rosier's never given me the time of day." That last wasn't quite true since Rosier was usually polite to everyone, but he had ignored Peter the other day. And now, knowing what the pretentious pureblood git had been on his way to do ...

Rookwood continue to look at Peter, who suddenly realized he hadn't answered the rest of the questions. "Oh, they came through my section of the Floo Network. They met up there before they left to get those Muggles."

"What an observant fellow you are," said Rookwood. "Why ever are you being wasted as a Floo Monitor?"

From that day on, Peter had a new friend at the Ministry of Magic.


Septimus Weasley, Evan's current department head, invited him to the wedding of Frank Longbottom, the grandson of his wife's older sister. Frank had met Alice at the Ministry, where they were both Aurors under Barty Crouch, Sr, the head of Magical Law Enforcement. Weasley was related to Crouch, too. Barty was the son of his wife's younger sister.


Author's notes:

Courtroom Ten was where Harry was tried for the Patronus that saved Dudley (and himself) from the Dementors.

The Montrose Magpies were the most successful team in history and have won the British and Irish League thirty-two times. I just decided they'd offered James a position.

Augustus Rookwood was a friend of Ludo's father, so Rookwood probably already knew Ludo before Slughorn got them together.

I think Septimus, Frank and Barty are related through the three daughters of Arcturus Black (son of Phineas Nigellus Black, the former Hogwarts Headmaster).

Eldest: Callidora. Married Harfang Longbottom and had a son, who I propose married Augusta, and a daughter. Frank was Augusta's son (Neville's father) and Callidora's grandson.

Middle: Cedrella. Married Septimus Weasley, a blood traitor, for which she was blasted off the Black family tapestry. I propose she was the mother of Arthur and Bilius.

Youngest: Charis. Married Caspar Crouch and had one son and two daughters. I propose her son was Barty Sr.