Lord Voldemort gazed at the small fat, hunched, balding man in front of him. He detested him, he was a coward, pure and simple. But he was a useful one.
"You haven't explained why you, like many others, failed to seek me out ..." Voldemort said softly.
"I thought you were dead," the man squeaked.
"Then that shows your lack of loyalty," Voldemort said. "You should know that I can never die."
"No Master, no ... I ... I know that now. But, please ... all this time, I have been with the Weasley family ..."
"Blood traitors," Voldemort spat.
"Yes, my lord. But ... please, the youngest son, Ron's best friend is Dudley Dursley. I have information on him, my lord... his friends, his enemies, his girlfriend ..."
Voldemort was listening intently now. Peter Pettigrew had came crawling to his side, begging for his forgiveness. He had considered killing him, but he needed followers—no matter how pathetic. And even the lowest, most pathetic Death Eater had uses.
He listened as Pettigrew told him all he knew about Dudley.
"You say the Weasleys have joined the Order of the Phoenix," Voldemort said.
"Yes, my Lord."
"Who else is there?"
Pettigrew brightened. "I have attended many Order meetings, in my rat form," he said quickly. "Their numbers are small—Minerva McGonagall ..."
"Powerful witch ... she could cause a problem," Voldemort conceded.
"The Weasleys—Arthur, Molly, Bill and Charlie. The ex-Auror Mad-Eye Moody ..."
Voldemort suppressed a smile at that. Barty Crouch Jr played his role well. Nobody at all suspected that Alastor Moody was actually Voldemort's most loyal Death Eater. Crocuh Jr, of course had relayed all of the information on the Order of the Phoenix to Voldemort, but there was no harm in collaborating his claims.
Plus, now he would have three spies in the Order. Crouch Jr, Severus Snape and Peter Pettigrew. Three souces of information, none of which knew about the other. If one were to betray him ... then the other spy would find out. The Order's downfall was inevitable.
"Elphias Doge," Wormtail continued. "Mundungus Fletcher, Rubeus Hagrid, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones,Emmeline Vance, Fleur Delacour, oh, and Dedalas Diggle."
Voldemort gave a small nod. That information tallied with what Crouch Jr had given him. It was pathetic, he thought. The Order of the Phoenix would pose little threat, but they would still have to be taken out.
"You have done well," Voldemort said. "But never let your loyalties waver."
"Of course not, my lord, thank you," Pettigrew bowed low.
"You know the location of the Order's headquarters?"
"Yes, my lord ... but I can't ..."
"I know how the Fidelius Charm works," Voldemort said. "But you know the Secret Keeper?"
"Yes, my lord, Dumbledore."
Dumbledore would have to die. Or would he ... the Fidelius Charm was an extremely difficult branch of magic. Not every member of the Order would have it on his or her own dwelling. He felt certain just the headquarters would be protected.
"You are to return to the Weasleys," Voldemort said. "Your orders are to find the home of every single member of the Order of the Phoenix. When we strike, we will strike hard. We will strike everywhere. The Order of the Phoenix will fall simultaneously."
"Yes my lord," Pettigrew bowed again.
"You are not to reveal yourself to anybody. Not even my Death Eaters can know you still live," Voldemort added.
"Yes, my lord."
Now that Pettigrew was gone, Voldemort send for his third spy. Severus Snape.
The long-haired Death Eater entered his chamber and bowed. Voldemort eyed him with distaste. Snape was tainted. He was a Werewolf—a filthy halfbreed and yet, he was loyal, he was close to Dumbledore. Like Pettigrew, he had his uses.
"Dumbledore is gathering his Order," Voldemort said.
"Yes, my lord, it is like I told you. He acted quickly. Hagrid has been dispatched to the giants ..."
"They won't listen. I have their loyalty," said Voldemort.
"It is a foolish gamble. It is likely the half-giant oaf will die,"
"What else is Dumbledore planning?"
"The ex-Auror, Moody, has been assigned to protect Dursley,"
Voldemort knew this and was pleased. That might be Dumbledore's biggest mistake, assigning Voldemort's most loyal follower to protect the mudblood boy. He would pay, but not yet, not yet ... the mudblood's death would come at the right moment.
"I have been sent to spy on you," Snape said.
Voldemort smiled wickedly. "And you will tell Dumbledore everything I wish you too. It is vital he believes you loyal."
Snape bowed again.
"What of the Order of the Phoenix members?" Voldemort said. "Names—all of them."
Snape listed the same names that Pettigrew had said, which of course tied in with the names that Crouch Jr had given him.
That was good. It seemed neither of his three spies were withholding information ... yet.
"There is one more," Snape said.
Voldemort leant forward. Another Order member?
"Percy Weasley,"
"I was informed he was a Ministry loyalist and wanted nothing to do with the Order," Voldemort said.
"You were misinformed. Percy Weasley is Dumbledore's spy in the Ministry. He trusted only myself with that information. Weasley is to ingrain himself with the next Minister for Magic and monitor him or her."
"Dumbledore suspects that one of our own is running?"
"No," Snape said. "Yaxley remains uncompromised. No, Dumbledore fears the Ministry being infiltrated."
Voldemort smiled evilly again. Dumbledore was a good foe. A secret spy—it was clever. It was a move out Voldemort's own playbook.
"Is this information that Dumbledore wished you supply?" Voldemort asked, shrewdly.
"No, my lord," said Snape. "I was sworn to secrecy."
So killing Percy would raise suspicions, Voldemort decided. If Percy was to suddenly die, Dumbledore's suspicions would fall directly on Snape.
Not to worry—let Dumbledore spy on the Minister. The Order of the Phoenix would fall soon. Then, the Ministry, too, would fall.
Authors Note
This is the end of Goblet of Fire. The next book is going to be Dudley Dursley and the Wizarding War. I have a few chapters already written and will perhaps start posting it next week.
Thanks for reading and commenting. Appreciated.