The shores of Azkaban were unusually frigid for this time of year, but that didn't deter the wizard who had managed to sneak away on a magical boat transport that ferried essentials from the Ministry to the prison twice a month. Ever since the fall of the Dark Lord, Peter Pettigrew had remained in hiding especially since it had been revealed that he had been the one to betray the Potter's when Sirius name had been cleared after that debacle at the Ministry in June.

So he'd done what he'd always done best...ran away and hid in plain site. No one ever gave him any notice in this form, and as such—he could come and go as he pleased with no one with wiser.

He'd read the Prophet the day after the Dark Lord had fallen, and had been shocked that Harry Potter had vanquished his former Master. Then the article about the Prewett girl had made the rounds, and Peter knew whom it was who'd really vanquished the Dark Lord.

To say he was surprised that Fabian Prewett and Marlene McKinnon had a child together and they'd secretly married was another stunning development. He'd been the one to out the McKinnon family's location to Dolohov, who had vowed to end both Marlene and Fabian's life due to some sick twisted obsession he'd harbored for Marlene since she had been fifteen.

Antonin liked his witches young, and he was always one of the first to go out on Muggle raids...his reputation and perversions well known amongst the inner circle of Death Eaters. Peter had no idea what had really transpired that night at the Ministry, but he knew enough to know that Hermione Prewett was a Sorceress, and he also knew there was someone who would be very interested in that information.

It had taken him months of watching and waiting to get to this moment. As he scampered into the cold, dank prison—he could feel the dementors from here but he kept moving deeper and further into the darkness until he finally found the cell he was looking for.

Moving through the bars, Pettigrew scuttled quietly into the small confines of Dolohov's prison and then he stopped when he heard the wizard wheeze out a delighted snort.

"Well, well, well..." the Russian wizard's voice drawled out with its thick accent. "I never thought I'd see you again, Pettigrew."

Peter morphed back into his human body and stared beady-eyed at the cold black eyes of the Dark Lord's most valued servant.

Bellatrix Lestrange might've been a powerful witch, but her placement within the inner circle had been initially due to her her husband's proximity to Voldemort. She had been nearly as unhinged as the elder Lestrange and just as bloodthirsty...but the woman had no mind for strategy nor planning...only for her cruelty.

Dolohov however, had been a brilliant curse breaker before he'd killed the Prewett brother's and had been sent to Azkaban for it. He'd plotted, planned and created curses for the Dark Lord. He'd often led the revels and was widely known as a sadist.

He enjoyed inflicting pain, and had made it an art form only second to the Dark Lord himself.

The man was truly evil.

Rumor had it that when he'd found the McKinnon family, he'd killed them all save for Marlene. There had been talk that he'd raped the witch before killing her, but Peter doubted that. Marlene McKinnon had been a powerful witch and would've never allowed any wizard to take her against her will. It was more likely that Dolohov killed her in a jealous rage.

"Why are you here?" Dolohov inquired, his voice grating bit his eyes were blazing as he considered the small, rotund wizard.

"You know the Dark Lord is dead?"

Dolohov's eyes narrowed, but he didn't refute the comment as he continued to stare with that fathomless gaze of his.

"Everyone is speculating that Potter did the deed." Peter went on, and wasn't surprised when Dolohov sneered at the mention of the Boy Who Lived.

"And?"

"So you don't know?"

"Know what?"

"That Marlene and Fabian had a child?"

Dolohov's eyes widened as he leant forward and licked his lips.

"What are you talking about?" Dolohov growled. "There was no child, no sign of a child when I dispatched the McKinnon family."

"I'm unsure how she survived, but I do know that she did. She was hidden under a powerful glamour charm."

"Who?"

"The mudblood best friend of Potter."

The loud hiss caused Peter to turn his head towards the entrance as he heard footsteps approaching from down the corridor. Quickly changing back into his animagus form, he swiftly scurried over behind the basin and waited.

A moment later he heard a scathing voice calling out.

"What's the matter Death Eater?" The harshness of the prison guard's words rang through the dank space of the small cell. "Not enjoying your time here?"

Dolohov chuckled, and Peter could just imagine the expression on Antonin's face. "On the contrary blood traitor, I'm enjoying my sabbatical just fine."

"Sabbatical?" The voice barked out a laugh. "News flash scum, you'll be here for the rest of your miserable life."

"We'll see."

Peter heard the snort of disgust and then footsteps retreating as he waited for a few moments before coming out from his hiding spot and changing back into his human form.

Dolohov's eyes blazed at him. "I need to get out of here."

Peter just nodded. "I'm working on it. I'll see if I can steal one of the guards wands but it might take me a bit to make it happen."

Antonin sneered. "Two weeks, rat."

The rotund wizard sighed and nodded again.

He was about to leave when the Russian's voice stopped him cold.

"The mudblood? She's a Prewett?"

"Yes."

"Marlene married that blood traitor?"

"Yes." Peter's voice shook slightly as he saw the feral gleam on the older wizard's face. "And if rumor is to be believed, their daughter is a Sorceress."

Antonin's face blanched before his lips quirked up into a pleased smirk. "She killed the Dark Lord!" He cackled to himself. "I knew the Potter brat couldn't have been the one to dispatch our Lord."

Peter didn't reply, as he had wondered the same thing but had no proof of it one way or the other.

"Two weeks, Pettigrew," Dolohov demanded, "I have a witch to find."

The beady-eyed wizard bobbed his head and morphed back into his rat form, before squeezing back through the bars and biding his time. He'd need to find a wand and a portkey if possible. He had to wonder just what Dolohov's plans were for the Prewett witch. Something told him that je probably should be very concerned for the young Gryffindor witch, but he owed Dolohov a debt and this would make them even.

Back in his cell, Dolohov smiled to himself. He hadn't thought about Marlene McKinnon in a very long time. Not since right after he'd killed her and her family. He thought back upon that night with chuckle...her parents and brother had been dispatched easily enough, but she had been a tougher challenge. He'd taken Rookwood and Yaxley with him after Pettigrew had outed their hideout. Rookwood had killed the youngest McKinnon while Yaxley had taken care of the parents easily enough. He'd found Marlene upstairs, barricaded behind several wards...and it had taken him a bit to get through them. When he had, she'd fired the first volley...a modified confringo to his face that left him with the scar he still carried down his left cheek. She had been vicious and it was only when Rookwood had joined the fun, they'd gotten the upper hand on the vixen—her body broken and bleeding.

But before he could claim her as he'd desperately wanted...she'd pulled out a vial of something and ingested it quickly. It was only after—in his rage, he'd realized she'd poisoned herself to prevent herself from being taken hostage. She knew him well enough, that he would've taken her as his own and it angered him that she'd rather die than to submit.

He'd gone after the Prewett brother's soon after in his thirst for revenge...killing them both and landing himself in Azkaban for it.

He didn't regret it for a second.

But to find out they'd married and had a child together? It made Antonin feel many things at once.

He remembered the mudblood witch he'd dueled in the Department of Mysteries, but he didn't remember much beyond that.

Had she obliviated him or had it been someone else?

Shaking his head, the thought came to him that it had likely been Dumbledore. That fucking menace! Someone should've ended that wizard a long time ago!

However, it didn't matter at this point. In a few weeks he'd be free and if he wasn't allowed to claim the mother; well—the daughter would have to suffice. The fact that she was a Sorceress was problematic, but not insurmountable for someone of his talents.

She'd be his soon enough.