"Harry." Who was calling him? A shadow emerged to his right. The voice sounded familiar, but Harry still couldn't place it. As the unknown figure continued closer, Harry felt no fear or apprehension. What's going on?
"Harry." His name echoed once again throughout the silvery realm. The shadow figure had moved to the other side of Harry.
"Who are you? Where are we?" Harry asked as he turned to face the silhouette. With a sudden gust of wind, the figure was directly in front of him. Harry gasped at who he saw!
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The first thing Snape noticed was the throbbing that engulfed his entire head. The second was that he was still in Pettigrew's shack. Only now his mobility was restricted and Peter's ugly mug was his only view.
"I've finally got you, Snivellus." Pettigrew spat at him. "I suspected you were being disloyal to our Master. Now I've finally caught you in the act."
"What are you talking about?" Severus managed. His ears ringing, making concentration on the present situation very difficult. How had Pettigrew managed to sneak up on and stun him? The filthy rat had never before possessed any sense of stealth. Not even as a sneaky rat. Perhaps Voldemort had cast some sort of spell on him. Severus didn't think Peter had the skill to perform a charm like that himself. And whatever binding charm Pettigrew had cast on him was probably weak and would most likely wear off before too long, Severus guessed. But then Dumbledore's words rang in his head.
'The worst mistake you can make is to underestimate your enemy, Severus." Perhaps that conversation with the Headmaster had been useful. It was possible that Voldemort had helped Pettigrew expand his powers. Severus had certainly learned a lot from Voldemort. Nevertheless, he still saw Peter Pettigrew as a bumbling, cowardly idiot. But perhaps some caution would be wise. He wouldn't be of any use to Harry if he was dead.
Pettigrew's silver fist clobbering the side of his head wrenched Severus out of his thoughts.
"Are you gonna pay attention now?! You always thought you were so much better than me, Snivellus. But you're not. James Potter knew it, and now Lord Voldemort does. That's why he trusts me with his work. He's been suspicious of you for a long time, and now I've got proof. And I know he'll give me the honor of killing you after he's made you pay for your betrayal."
"Again.....what are you talking about?" Severus really needed to know what Pettigrew thought he knew, but it would be too suspicious if he used Occlumency on the rat. Only a very select few knew how advanced his abilities were, and Voldemort was definitely not one of them.
"Don't act stupid with me! And don't patronize me!! You ALWAYS look down on me! But I knew you'd be looking for that Potter brat after Lucius took him. That's why I left the map on the table. It was also my idea to use a rat portkey. I knew you wouldn't return to Dumbledore empty-handed. You'd keep searching."
Oh shit. I underestimated him. Thought Severus. But aloud he said, " What are you talk about, me reporting to Dumbledore. I just heard that the little bastard had gone missing. I wanted in on the fun. I knew Lucius would do it right."
"You're lying! You're a spy! I know you're a spy/"
"I have been nothing but loyal to our Dark Lord. I have been giving him information about Dumbledore. Anything I learn about Dumbledore's plans, I relay to Lord Voldemort. You know that. You're usually there."
A look of uncertainty passed on Pettigrew's face. But it soon passed.
"No. I'm not going to let you trick me. And I'm going to show you the punishment for betrayal."
Before Severus could object to the accusations, Pettigrew's silver hand lifted its wand and a bright red flame erupted from the wand's tip as Pettigrew shouted his curse. Severus ducked his head, but the spell still hit his square enough to cut into his forehead and cheeks along with the thousands of lacerations now ripping up the rest of his body. Some were as small as paper cuts, but others were deep enough that, had he been a Muggle, they'd have needed stitched. Wizards had alternatives to stitches, but Snape doubted that Pettigrew was interested in healing him. The cuts hurt like hell, but Severus had been through worse. It wasn't the pain, but the bleeding that worried him now.
"You know, I've got some friends that would love to make your acquaintance." Pettigrew said in a strange, almost distant voice. "Ah. They're on their way. Your blood has called to them." At that, Severus could hear the pitter-patter of little feet. It sounded like there were maybe hundreds of them approaching through the tunnels Severus saw in the bedroom. Suddenly, a flood of rats crashed into the room.
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"Is it really you, Sirius?" Harry asked, bewildered.
"It is very much me." Sirius replied with a huge grin lighting his face.
"Then I'm dead. They've finally killed me. Voldemort's won."
"No Harry. You're still alive and kickin'."
"But how can I be talking to you?" Harry was getting more and more confused.
"Because I'm not dead either..."
"But I saw you fall into the veil." Interrupted Harry. "Everyone said you were dead."
"I don't know how I'm not dead, Harry. But I know I'm not. I'm in some sort of bizarre limbo. I think. And it's apparently close enough to your mental plane that I can reach you when you're in a very deep sleep."
"How do I get you out?"
"I haven't figured that out yet. But don't worry about me, Harry. You need to hang in there. Help is on the way. Do your best to stall those buffoons. But do not do anything rash or stupid. If they're pushed too hard, they'll kill you themselves. Once you wake up, it's going to be very hard. But don't give up. Help is coming. Once you're safe and well, then you can talk to Dumbledore about me. But remember, I'm in no danger. You are." With that, Sirius and the silver light began fading.
"Hang in there, Harry." That last thought echoed through Harry's head as he was suddenly jerked awake.
"That's enough. Time to wake up and prepare to meet Lord Voldemort for the final time." Crabbe and Goyle were yanking Harry up off the ground as Lucius spoke. Harry lifted his head and a wave of nausea rolled over his stomach as he looked at the house again. He leaned forward and threw up the water and bile that occupied his stomach. He finally recognized that house. It was the house Voldemort had murdered his parents in.