Chapter Four: Wormtail's Mistake

"Wormtail, have you found they key yet?" A tall hooded man hissed.

"N-N-No M-M-Master. I-I-I t-t-ried-d-d b-but..." Wormtail stuttered, trying to explain his failure. He was obviously terrified of the tall hooded man with red eyes and bony hands. His eyes widened in even more fear as the man raised his wand, pointing calmly at his chest.

"I need not hear of your excuses. I want to know what that boy's power is. I MUST have the key. If you cannot get it or find out how, then your will be of no further use to me." The man said mercilessly. Wormtail cringed at this. Just before Wormtail was to meet his end, a longhaired blond man with a rather pointed face entered the room, looking slightly harassed. "Ah, Lucius. My faithful servant. Did Azkaban treat you well since your recent failure at the Department of Mysteries?"

"Hardly a prison sentence when the dementors are kissing your captors instead of you." Lucius said in a wry voice, dripping of false disdain. "Thank you for asking, my Lord, and I thank you for your generous help in t. I am here at your service once again."

"Good. I happen to have a job for you my friend. It seems Wormtail here cannot manage the simple task of retrieving the key to the only locked room in the Department of Mysteries. In this room contains Potter's powers. I must know more about these powers and of ways to defeat it. I have seen the image of the door in the boy's mind, and have seen in his mind that this room hold a power of the same type he himself holds, however, the prophecy does not come to me even when I delve into his thoughts. Find the key, Lucius. You may go now." The tall man ordered his snakelike red eyes angering.

"Yes my Lord. Thank you for giving me such a noble task. Thank you for making me worthy of servitude. I shall do exactly as you ask." And with that Mr. Malfoy left the building with a swish of his robes, closing the door behind him. The tall man turned back to the cowering Wormtail.

"I feel generous today Wormtail. You may continue serving me, but you shan't go on missions. They are far above your failing status. You shall stay as a personal assistant to me. But make no mistake. If you fail once more, I will not be so kind."

"Y-y-yes M-Master. T-t-thank you. I k-k-kneel to your g-g-greatness. I-I k- kiss y-your f-feet in g-g-gratit-t-tude for l-let-t-tting me s-serve you." Wormtail started kissing the man's feet with grand and pathetic gestures. The man kicked him away.

"You are not fit to touch me, Wormtail. Do it again and you WILL die. Now fix me a lair out of my father's old home. Kill any who try to enter." The man laughed a high mirthless laugh.

"Before you go though, Wormtail. I feel it is necessary to teach you a little lesson concerning failure. Maybe a little pain will do the trick? What do you think?" the man asked evilly.

"N-No M-master. I-I unders-stand y-you. I-I w-will d-do b-better this t- time. I p-promise." Wormtail pleaded to no avail.

"Crucio" the tall man said bored, keeping his wand up and yawning in boredom at Wormtail's high-pitched pained screams.