COMPLIMENTS OF LORD VOLDEMORT
DISCLAIMER: JKR lives in Britain, and I live thousands of miles away.
Author's Note: Thanks to Lady Taliesin, Lily and James Potter and charmedlily for reviewing. And I know it's been… well, a very long time… since I last updated. I'm awfully sorry, but I had some important exams to take. They're done for the moment, so here's chapter five. Enjoy – and review.
CHAPTER 5: MOONY AND WORMTAIL
"Hello, Padfoot."
Remus smiled at his friend. Sirius only scowled.
"Er… Padfoot? Is something wrong?"
Lina came in to take Remus's trunk.
"Not to be worrying, Sir. Mistress has punished Sirius Black for putting a Niffler in her bedroom."
"Oh," Remus said, grinning.
"'Tis a Silencing Charm. Mistress has put one on Master also."
"What did Master do?"
"He helped Sirius Black get the Niffler without Mistress finding out. Mistress says that if dinnertime comes without any nasty smells or explosions or other pranks she will lift the charm. Mistress has forbidden Sir to do it."
Remus laughed.
"Sir would not dare disobey Mistress. Sir knows better than Master and Sirius Black.
"Er… Lily?"
"Oh, you're here, Remus! Good. Has Peter come with you?"
"No. He said he had some work. He'll come by later."
"As long as he doesn't splinch himself," Lily muttered.
"Lily…"
"Yes?"
"Is something wrong with Sirius?"
"Not that I know of. Why?"
"Well, I know you put a Silencing Charm on Sirius, but why did he glare at me as if I was wearing a badge that said, 'I love Severus Snape'?"
Lily smiled.
"Well, Lina always complains that when Sirius is around she doesn't get near Harry, so I told her to take him for a walk – not in the village, Remus! Just around the house and through the greenhouses and things."
"Poor Sirius!"
"He deserved it! I don't know what's wrong with those two this week. It's like being back at Hogwarts! I thought they were finally getting some sense, but… I'm just warning you, Remus. Don't open a door or walk under a chandelier without sending a few good hexes before you."
"I'll keep that in mind," Remus said, grinning.
"So, how'd it go at the Liaison Office?"
"Oh, that." Remus's face fell. "It seems Cornelius Fudge – do you know who he is?"
"That blustering wizard who always wears a bowler hat? Barty Crouch's competitor for the Minister's post?"
"Yes, him. Well, he's trying to push through a decree banning – what was it? – oh, yeah, 'all half-breeds including werewolves from taking any employment that requires prolonged contact with witches or wizards. Said ban shall be lifted only when proper precautions are taken by the prospective employer in consultation with the Wizengamot.'"
"What?" Lily said. "But – but – they can't pass such a –"
"It hasn't been passed yet. But apparently there's some clause in the Statute of Secrecy that states that until the matter is resolved none of the parties involved shall… well, I don't remember the exact phrasing, but the upshot is that I can't even apply for a job until the Wizengamot votes on the decree, and, knowing Fudge, he'll make sure it takes a very long time."
"Don't worry too much," Lily said. "Dumbledore won't let them do it."
"I hope not," Remus said fervently.
"Master," Wormtail murmured as he knelt before Voldemort.
"When do you go to the Potters'?"
"Today, Master. The traitor and the halfbreed are there already."
"They can be dealt with. Who else?"
"None, Master."
"What about Dumbledore? The Muggle-loving fool has probably guessed that I plan to attack now."
"To the best of my knowledge, my lord, he plans to stay at the school. He fears to leave it unprotected."
"He is not so foolish after all. That will leave you, the halfbreed, the two traitors and the mudblood at Godric's Hollow… easy enough. My Death Eaters will keep the others occupied, while you, Wormtail, will be given the chance to serve me as no other has ever done."
"I am most grateful, my lord, I cannot express –"
"That will do. Just remember that this is your last chance. If you fail me this time…"
He left the unspoken words hanging in the air as he swept out of the room. Slowly, Wormtail got to his feet.
"I'm here," Peter announced to the world in general.
Footsteps sounded down the hallway.
"You're just in time for dinner," Lily said as she came into the room. "You're rather late; we were expecting you an hour ago."
"Oh… er… I had to meet someone… in connection with my job…"
"Oh, Ministry business, was it?"
"Yes, yes, it was."
Lily shook her head.
"I don't know how you can stand to work there, with both Crouch and Fudge lobbying for the top spot as soon as the Minister retires…"
"Politics, you know," Peter said vaguely. "You ought to know about that; Muggles have it too."
"Still… you would think they had more important things to worry about now than who gets the Minister's chair. If Voldemort has his way there won't be a Minister's chair left."
"Don't say his name," Peter said with a shudder.
"Oh, come on, if you're that scared of him you're playing right into his hands. Lightning won't strike you where you stand if you say it."
Peter decided to change the subject.
"Have you heard about the decree to the Aurors?"
"Giving them more powers? Yes, I have. It may not be as brilliant an idea as Bartemius Crouch thinks."
"With the present situation…"
"That's the point, isn't it? As things stand any of the Aurors could be on his side, and there won't be any checking them now that the decree's come."
"I spoke to Barty Crouch's son; he thinks it'll work."
"Crouch's son? Where did you meet him? I thought he hated the Ministry and everything to do with it."
"Oh – oh, that – I… er… I had to give Crouch some papers so I went to his house, and he was busy…"
"Tell us about it at dinner. You must be hungry if you've been going around the Floo Network all day – oh, leave your trunk. Lina'll take it."
