They left the meeting room for about twenty-five minutes later. Sirius' hand was firmly placed on his godson's shoulder, while he followed Narcissa out of the room. They had dinner with the Greengrasses and it had been the stiffest dinner Harry had ever been present for, at least at first Lord Greengrass had made light conversation with the Sirius and Narcissa and Harry had talked quietly to Daphne, but it had been rather plain. Only when Dawn hopped on the table, opening her beak and chirping at him, obviously wanting her own food that the tone had become lighter. Sirius and Narcissa loved taking their turn in feeding the small familiar, Daphne too and even Lord Greengrass cracked up enough to hand feed her a single ember. After that moment Harry and Daphne had animatedly talked about school and their classes. They agreed to revise potions, a subject Daphne thrived in and Harry did not and also DADA, where Harry was the one that had the upper leg. Bowing once to the Greengrasses, who stayed in the room, for the time being, Narcissa closed the door.
Sirius sighed, stretching his back, his hands high in the air, while something in his back popped.
"Ahhh, finally. That was a little less stuck up than I feared it to be." Sirius said before Narcissa swatted him on the shoulder. She hissed at him slightly.
"Sirius, the Greengrasses are still here, you know that." She pointed at the door. Sirius shrugged a little, shaking his head.
"I know that, of course. I don't think they will mind though. So relax Narcissa everything is fine. We are in an alliance, I don't think Lord Greengrass will mind something that small."
Again Narcissa swatted his shoulder.
"Yes, I know that Siri, but would it kill you to be polite?" She asked frowning slightly. Sirius just shrugged, turning to Harry.
"You good Prongslet? Ready to return to your girl?" The older man asked, making Harry swat him over the shoulder.
"Yeah, I am good."
Narcissa smiled and reached out, straightening his robes with a secure grip and patted Dawn's head for a moment. Harry smiled back at her and she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"You remember all the lessons, how to treat a lady?" She asked in a mocking tone and Harry chuckled.
"I do, but I don't think Cho really into all that."
Narcissa's smile got warm and she shook her head slightly.
"Every woman likes to be treated nice, Harry." Her eyes were practically glowing and Harry felt a little warm feeling creeping up his chest. He nodded.
"I will do my very best, Narcissa." He murmured, before stepping closer and hugging her. She wrapped her arms around him in a very motherly way and nodded.
"That is all I ask for love." She said, before taking a step back again. Sirius stepped up and winked at Harry for a moment.
"All right Prongslet, let's get you back to your date. I would love to follow you in disguise and peek in." Harry shot him a dirty look. "but I have an appointment, I need to deal with." His face turned a little sour, making Harry frown while they turned and walked down the hallway.
"Where are you going Padfoot?" Harry asked, when they reached the stairs, making their way down into the noisy guestroom. Sirius shook his head.
"I rather not talk about it at the moment, it's nothing you need to concern yourself with Prongslet. Your obligation is to have fun today, all right?" Sirius winked again, returning to his happy self. Harry studied him for a moment before he sighed and nodded.
"All right fine. Talk to you later?" Harry stepped a little closer, hugging his godfather from the side. Sirius eagerly returned the hug, before placing a kiss on Dawn's small skull.
"Of course, Prongslet. All right, off you go!" He said, pushing Harry in the direction of the table, where Cho Chang sat. Harry turned to her and now he realized he would return to the nervousness. He walked with stiff steps through the room, like his legs were made out of wood and steel. His breathing hitched a little. Cho was still sitting with her friends, talking eagerly, while they all waved and whispered to each other. Harry walked closer and stopped in front of the table. All eyes turned to him, staring up to the black-haired boy. Harry felt his face heat up and he swallowed hard. His neck felt like it was itching and he resisted the urge to scratch there.
"Hey, I'm finished with my Cho, you ready meeting?" He blurted out. Instantly the entire table full of girls was giggling madly, their hands held over their mouth, while Harry wished there would be a hole in the ground that would just swallow him whole and he would never have to see the sunlight again. Cho smiled softly, before waving at her friends. The giggling died down a little bit.
"Oh shush you. Yes, Harry, I'm ready to leave." She said, glaring at her giggling friends. Taking her scarf, she got up from her chair, standing next to Harry with a grin while Harry was still trying to die from blushing, while the noise of the room probably covered his nervous groan.
"Okay, I'm off, see you guys later." Cho said, waving at her friends. She grabbed Harry's hand and pulled him out of the Three Broomsticks. It was still nice weather outside, just a little bit of cold wind was ruffling the grass on the hills. Harry sighed, still fighting down the embarrassment. Cho squeezed his hand once before she let go.
"Sorry, my friends are the biggest idiots sometimes." She said making him turn. The wind ruffled Harry's hair when he shook his head, slamming his hand on his face.
"No need. I was the one acting like an idiot in there." A giggle from Cho made him lower his hand. The Chinese girl was shaking her head, smiling at Harry.
"No, that was rather cute."
Once again Harry felt the blood rise to his face as he tried finding his words, but nothing came. Cho grinned.
"How about we forget about that and make good use of the rest of the day now, what do you say?"
Harry grinned nodding eagerly, taking her up on it.
They spend the rest of the day wandering from store to store talking like they had begun the day together. This time the topics were lighter, talking about pranks Padfoot had told Harry about and some of what Cho did throughout her summer. They met up with Hermione and Susan for a little while, when they met the two girls in the bookshop. Hermione was apparently searching for a book on the wizarding history and Cho was happily helping her pick one since she enjoyed the topic quite a lot herself. Susan made a little lighthearted fun about it since History of Magic was known to be a really dull and boring topic.
Cho took it in the sense of lighthearted humour it was intended. They all laughed for a moment and then Susan and Hermione bid their farewell, giving the date room. Harry was quite thankful for this and just wondered for a short moment where Ron had been the entire day. But then Cho asked him about something related to Quidditch and Harry once again forgot all about Ron.
After two more hours of fun and happiness, they made their way back to the carriages, talking eagerly about some seeker manoeuvre Cho said she wanted to show him later, about diving around the Keeper hoops. But like so often in the life of Harry Potter, it wasn't all just fun.
"Well, Well, Well, who do we have here? Potter without his two lackeys?" A snarling voice behind them made both teenagers turn. His blond hair combed back like it often was, wearing a robe with an obscenely large Malfoy crest on the front, Draco Malfoy walked in front of them, Crabbe and Goyle right behind him. Harry frowned and crossed his arms, while Dawn stirred in her pouch.
"What do you want Malfoy?" Harry spat out, scowling even more. Students passed them, not wanting to engage in the well-known sparring of Malfoy and Potter. The two of them were at each other's throats constantly so it was nothing new to them. Malfoy once again had a wide smug grin on the face, when he strode closer.
"Oh Potter I was just asking myself, normally you always have your little bootlickers with you. Did you finally got rid of Weasel and the Bush?" He chuckled for his great joke about Harry's friends. Then Draco glared over to Cho, who had stepped back just watching. "And this is what you exchanged them for? Your standards lower themselves every day Potter. At least up until now, you didn't surround yourself with immigrants. What comes next? House-elves?" Again Malfoy barked out in laughter and Crabbe and Goyle laughed in their dumb grumbling way, while the nudged each other about the wonderful joke their leader just made. Cho frowned, crossing her arms.
"Hey, you slimy git." She called out, making Draco stop laughing. He turned his nose up on her even though she was older and taller than him.
"Shut it, Chang. Or should I talk to my father? If I remember correctly your own one works for the owl post. The owner, Lord Yaxley is an old friend of my dad. What do you think he will say when he finds out the daughter of one of his employees is disrespecting the noble house of Malfoy huh?" He snarled, glaring at her. Cho turned red in anger but bit her lip. That damn bastard was right about this, but then they both heard Harry snort in laughter. Malfoy eyed his rival.
"What's so funny, Scarhead?" He glared. Harry tried composing himself, then he smirked at Malfoy.
"You. Immigrants...do remind me where is your family originally from? Oh yeah, that's right from France, coming here centuries after the formation of the wizarding council, yet here you are spouting about immigration. It is also rather rich that you are talking about bootlickers when you have literal goons following you around like two lost puppies." Harry pointed at Crabbe and Goyle who despite their follower status didn't look at all like puppies, large bulldogs at best. But it wasn't the point and Harry quickly kept on talking.
"Say Malfoy where is your third follower, shouldn't Pansy be hanging off your arm right now? I know for a fact you didn't want that contract with her, so you should be a little thankful since it was my godfather who annulled it. Still, here you are, puffing your chest like you're already a Lord, looking down at everyone even though your feet are in the mud like everybody else."
Draco turned a very unhealthy shade of purple when he heard Harry's words and he pointed his finger at Harry.
"Listen Scarhead, I will write to my father about this. Especially the snide against house Malfoy. Be prepared to get a challenge for a duel. I will gladly see my father rip you apart, Lord Peverell." He hissed out the last words with a vile smile. Harry blinked then he laughed out loud, shaking his head.
"All right, while you are at it, don't forget to mention that Lord Black will take over all honour duels for me since I am his heir and godson. Maybe your beloved father would like to repeat his humiliation from a few weeks ago again. It was rather surprising in all honesty how easily he got defeated." Harry waved at him. Draco growled deep in his throat.
"How dare you half-blood insult my father? He will hear about this and-"
But Harry interrupted him, cutting Malfoy off.
"My father, my father, my father, get a new line Malfoy because that one has run its course already. I'm not afraid of your father and you know why? Because he can't do anything to me, not now that Sirius is back and strong. So do yourself a favour, stay clear of me and maybe stop reusing the words my father like a broken record, it's getting pathetic. Let's go, Cho." He offered her his arm and turned around walking away.
Immediately he heard gasps behind him, knowing that Malfoy had pulled his wand. Harry tried swirling around but he already knew it was too late, he could already hear Malfoy casting.
"Rictusemp-"
"Stupify!" Cut a female voice Dracos off and Harry just in time turned fully around to see Draco get hit by a red curse. The boy lost consciousness and dropped like a sack of potatoes. Behind him, Daphne Greengrass put away her wand and walked closer. She carefully stepped over Malfoy's body, making Crabbe and Goyle step away with a single glare. Harry smiled at the cold gaze of Daphne, bowing slightly.
"Thank you for your assistance, Heiress Greengrass." He said with a nod when his head came up again. Daphne looked at the fallen form of Malfoy, a sneer that wasn't unlike the one of the boys on her features and she shook her head.
"No problem, Lord Peverell, supporting you would be expected of me, now that we are in an alliance. To try to curse someones back, disgraceful." She said, ignoring the fact that she herself had cast behind Malfoy's back. Crabbe and Goyle still stood there staring at their fallen leader, unsure what had they should do. Yet at that moment one more voice came in.
"Drake!" Pansy Parkinson ran down the path with swaying black hair. She came to a full stop near Draco, dropping to her knees and shaking his shoulders. She glared up at Crabbe.
"What happened to him?" She almost growled out like a wolf.
Daphne stepped closer crossing her arms.
"He is just stunned, Pansy. He will be fine, just his ego is damaged." She pointed out, glaring down at the girl. Pansy jumped up and pointed at Daphne.
"You attacked him? I will tell Professor Snape, you damn bitch. No, maybe we should handle it right now, what do you say, Vince, Greg?" She pulled her wand, making Daphne stiffen. Yet this moment, Harry stepped forward, looking at the black-haired girl himself.
"I would think twice about that Miss Parkinson. I would have to support Heiress Greengrass in this since we are in an alliance and I don't think this would turn out well for you with the first and third place in our DADA scoring. So how about you collect Draco and leave now." His voice was cold, nothing like the normal Harry, making Pansy shiver slightly. The two of them looked really intimidating right now, shoulder to shoulder, her cold unmoving features and dark green eyes next to his scowl and piercing emerald eyes. They radiated power and strength and Pansy quickly reevaluated the situation. Pocketing her wand she tried lifting the limp Draco from the ground. She quickly glared at Crabbe and Goyle.
"Don't just stand there and gape, help me, you idiots!" Her voice almost trembled, when she snapped at them, shooting Daphne and Harry one more glare.
"This isn't over!" She screeched, before following the three boys. Daphne watched them for a while and noticed with satisfaction that Tracey had stayed behind in case a fight would break out. She had readied her wand. She nodded to her friend, before turning to Harry.
"Thank you for your support Lord Peverell, but I've been handling Pansy since our first year. Your help was unnecessary."
Harry bowed quickly, smiling at her. "Of course Heiress Greengrass, I never doubted that, but like you helped me before I felt my honour obliged me to do the same." They looked at each other for a moment, then Daphne nodded and Harry smiled.
"Now if you excuse me, I don't want to neglect my company, that wouldn't do." Harry stated, stepping back towards Cho. Daphne nodded.
"Good day Lord Peverell, Miss Chang." She said, walking away. Cho's dark eyes followed her.
"Is she always this...stiff?" She wanted to say stuck up but thought that wasn't wise. Harry chuckled.
"Most of the time. But it fits her well. Once you get to know her, she can be really sweet you know?" He said with a smile, his eyes following the blond-haired girl who reunited with her friend Tracey Davis. After a moment he remembered where he was, shaking his head and turning to Cho again.
"Shall we?" He offered his arm again, with a smile Cho took it.
"Lead the way, my Lord." She said with a giggle.
Sirius walked into the part of the Ministry containing the DMLE. It was imposing surrounded by strong pillars holding up the roof. It looked antique and royal with a lot of marble and dark wood to complete the look. It had always been this imposing in Sirius mind, probably to remind criminals that this was the DMLE. He walked calmly down the corridor, his robes swaying behind him. In front of him, the door of an office opened and a bubblegum pink-haired girl walked out, her hair clashing with her crimson red Auror robes. She turned her head, noticing the tall man walking down the hall and grinned at him with a wide wave.
"Wotcher cousin, how are you?" She said falling into step next to him. Sirius grinned back at her, nodding.
"I'm good, what about you?"
The young woman groaned slightly, slumping a little forward. Her upbeat demeanour took a little bit of a nosedive, while she ruffled her hair.
"Exhausted. I'm doing a lot of footwork at the moment, it feels like Kingsley keeps giving me new cases by the minute. I swear to you that man is like a niffler just with work." She said but her complaint seemed in good nature. Sirius hummed in agreement and smiled.
"That sucks. How long is your shift today?" Sirius asked while they walked side by side. Tonks shrugged, looking onto her watch.
"About two hours to go. But it's all right, I mean I'm learning a lot so, it's okay. Still, the early hours kill me sometimes. Yesterday I was almost late because Bill's flat isn't connected to the floo yet and-" Tonks' eyes went wide and her mouth slammed shut. In a little bit of panic, she stared over to her cousin. Sirius face lid up like a Christmas tree, while Tonk's own face turned purple. Sirius grin got even wider and he asked.
"Bill?"
Dora groaned and muttered to herself. "Goddamnit. All right fine. Yes, I am seeing someone." She pressed out between her teeth.
"Oh, don't be shy, tell me a little bit about him, who is he?"
He asked, with a small nudge against her shoulder. Tonks stumbled against the wall of the corridor.
"Merlin, stop it. All right I tell you but stop pushing me or you will not like what follows, old man." She said trying to walk straight. Nymphadora Tonks was clever, fit and also quick with a wand, everything you want out of an Auror, but she was also clumsy as hell so she constantly ran into doors, fell over her own feet, stumbled over something lying on the floor, dropped things and was all round about just someone you wouldn't hand your baby to.
Sirius just grinned and waved, signalling her to continue.
"All right, his real name is William, but everyone just calls him Bill. He is a curse breaker for Gringotts. He was in Egypt for two years, but now came back because he wanted to be closer to his family."
Sirius raised an eyebrow. "Where did you two meet and when? Why is it your favourite cousin hasn't heard about this?"
Tonks stopped leaning against a wall, shaking her head.
"Relax old man we've only been seeing each other for two weeks now. He helped us out when we raided a shop in Knockturn Alley because there was something we would rather not deal with. Gringotts has a long history working with the DMLE. Anyways we talked during the op and then he asked if I wanted to get a drink with him. So yeah." Tonks crossed her arms, frowning. Sirius grinned like a wolf.
"And you slept in his flat after just two weeks?" He leaned against the wall next to her, still grinning. Tonks shot him a dirty look.
"Like you are one to talk. I distinctly remember my mom chewing your ear off for always having new girlfriends and that fast."
Sirius winced slightly, remembering the way Andromeda Tonks dressed him down verbally when he had gotten a howler while he had been visiting all those years ago. A girl he had only dated a few weeks had not been happy with the way he had ended it and taken up quill and parchment, sending him a rather strongly worded letter about it. After that Andromeda had almost pulled him out of the house at the ear and forced him to apologize to said girl. Now that he thought back on it, she had been right, he has been a womanizing douche back then and it had been completely wrong for him to do that to the poor girl. But for the life of him, he couldn't remember her name, nor the names of many other girls. Sirius sighed.
"Yeah, you're right. I was kind of a stray dog back then. Still, be careful, I don't want to see you hurt. What does his family say about this?" With that Tonks got a strained look on her face. She looked down.
"They don't know either. Bill said his mother is a woman with clear views to the world and well this." She pointed at her coloured hair, that circled from pink to red and green back to pink. "Is something she doesn't deem proper. But I won't let Mrs Weasley tell me what my hair has to look like." She huffed, crossing her arms. Sirius blinked surprised, sliding a little to the side.
"Mrs Weasley? You mean the Bill you are dating is her son?" He asked in real surprise. Tonks blinked, nodding.
"Uhm yeah, you know her?" She asked, pushing herself off the wall. Sirius nodded.
"Yeah, back in the day her two brothers were in the order. But I mainly know her because her youngest son Ron is Harry's best friend. So yeah, I know her. But don't you worry, if it comes to it, I will set her straight, as it is my duty as your head of the house. So don't worry about her." Tonks eyed him before shaking her head.
"Thanks, cousin, but it is a way too early to be considering that. I'm not nearly ready to meet his family, you know?"
Sirius nodded and the kept on walking, quite for a little bit. Then he stopped in front of the holding cell block. Tonks frowned.
"There is only one person in there right now. Colour me surprised I wouldn't have thought you would visit him at all." Sirius put on a sour face and nodded.
"Normally I wouldn't visit the rat, but he sent a letter and...you know he will most likely be sentenced to the kiss, so I might never get the chance to talk to him again and for all that has happened, I just want to ask you know?"
Tonks could imagine what her cousin was talking about and she nodded. Then to Sirius surprise, she stepped closer, hugging him shortly.
"Good luck in there Sirius." Then she stepped back and waved at him while walking away. Sirius grinned a little waving too.
"Have a nice day and say hello to Bill for me, would ya?" Sirius laughed when the only answer he got was a raised middle finger. Still, with a smile, he turned to the door but then he felt it fall off his face slowly. Straightening his back, he knocked on the door. A male voice from behind the door called him in. He opened seeing the familiar office of the DMLE holding cells. Auror McCallow was sitting behind his desk, folding the papers he probably just had read. He waved Sirius closer.
"Ah yes, Lord Black, we received your letter about this visit. Please follow me." The man rose from his seat and limped to the side. There he made Sirius spread his arms while he waved his wand over him, casting diagnostic spells. Then he asked Sirius to hand him his wand, which was placed in a box on the desk. After that, Auror McCallow once again scanned him for potential threats before leading him the side to the cellblock. Most considered guard duty in the centre of the DMLE a rather relaxed job and that was true. Most times there were only a few prisoners at best and therefore it had long turned into a tradition to set injured Aurors on the post because it consisted mostly of bringing the prisoners food or handling visitors as in this case.
Sirius followed the man, careful not to walk to close because he didn't want the man to hurry with his injury. They walked into a corridor with bars on each side, separating smaller rooms from the corridor. When Sirius had been in the holding cells he had gotten his single cell with a comfortable bed and many other creature comforts, as would be fitting for a Lord. Peter didn't get any of that. His cell was simple, with a bed, a toilet and a small table. The shower was at the end of the corridor and he got only limited time to wash. The man was sitting on the edge of his bed, looking up when he heard the footfalls. Auror McCallow knocked against the wall next to the cell.
"Pettigrew? You got a visitor." The Auror then turned to Sirius.
"Lord Black, I must inform you, don't step too close to the bars, don't pass anything through and don't touch him. I will be a few metres down the corridor, so be warned I'm watching you." With that, the man conjured a chair for Sirius and limped away. Sirius nodded to the man and then sat down, folding his legs over each other. Peter on the other side had gotten up from his bed, looking at Sirius only to look away when the black-haired man turned his gaze at him.
"So, here I am," Sirius said with a low voice, folding his hands. He eyed his former friend. Peter was still chubby, with only light hair. His face was a little red and he had the tendency to hold his hands up like a rodent. Also, his front teeth were rather prominent. He looked out at the taller man, who frowned a little.
"Hello, Sirius. I know you won't believe me, but it is good to see you." He said nervously, looking at his hands again. Sirius snorted.
"I can't really return the sentiment. What do you want Peter?" He asked with a cold voice, trying his best to hold himself in the chair. He still wanted to strangle the man, so he had sat down, preventing himself from doing something rash. Peter flinched a little ducking his head at the cold deadly tone.
"I...I just I wanted I..." Wormtail stuttered, rubbing his hand nervously. Sirius glared at him.
"Spit it out you traitor." His whole body was tense and stiff, his arms deliberately crossed, and he glared viciously at his former friend. Peter ducked his head even more.
"I...I wanted to ask you for a favour."
For a moment, Sirius was surprised. He blinked. Then his scowl returned tenfold. After everything that happened, he had the nerve? He...He?
"What? After everything you did, after everything that happened you really have the utter BALLS to summon me here and now you want to ask a favour? This...I...I'm really speechless. Such audacity! Why would I ever EVER do ANYTHING for you anymore huh? You treacherous scum, you betrayed Lily and James! Your friends! You sold them out to that vile beast of a man! You did all that now and you want to ask me for a favour? Do you think I can get you out of your trial? Fat chance, I will gladly see you receive your punishment you gutless worm." Sirius spat out his words, holding on to the edge of his seat so he won't jump out of it. Peter had sunken down and down for this berating, raising his hands in defence like he would be beaten by the words. He shook his head slowly.
"I...I don't want to ask for me, b-but for my mom." He said quietly, meekly, looking down at the floor. Sirius took a deep breath, before leaning back.
"Go on." He pressed out, his eyes still shooting daggers.
Wormtail looked up at him and shuffled closer, holding on to the bars. His face showed defeat, fear and a little bit of hope.
"Please Sirius, you know my mom isn't the most healthy woman, you know how she will be devastated by this, by...by what I did. So please, I beg you on my knees, help her. I don't ask you as the man before, I ask you as a Marauder."
Sirius had to hold on to the chair with white knuckles, so he doesn't jump out of the seat and kick that traitors weasel in the face. His voice was ice cold.
"You have no right to call yourself a Marauder. You lost that right when you spat on that name, you hear me?"
Peter nodded, looking down, in defeat. He slumped back, whispering.
"I know."
For a moment it got quiet between the two former friends until Sirius spoke again.
"I will grant you that favour if." Wormtail raised his head hopeful and Sirius raised his finger in warning. "IF, you answer me one question." He said pointedly. Peter nodded eagerly.
"Why?" It was all Sirius said because he didn't need to elaborate. He needed to know the answer to this question that had gnawed on his heart and mind for over twelve years. Why did their friend betray them? Why did he give up this small family?
Peter looked down at his fingers like he could find the solution to every question in there. For a moment it was quiet again. Then Peter raised his voice.
"I was scared. So scared. You know I have never been strong, never like you. Never have I been courageous like James. I have never been smart like Remus. I was always the little light between the three of you, always the one in the back. I...I was envious of you all for a long time. You were popular and powerful and just great, I felt so unimportant, just a small rat holding on to your coats." His mind wandered to their time in school where it had been like that. Sad little Peter, the one left behind. They were great friends but in the end, it had always been Sirius and James or Sirius and Remus or Remus and James. He was the quiet one who just tagged along. The man picked at his nails.
"Then came that god damn evening we went to muggle London to get Thai food, you remember that night? When Prongs got drunk and almost got the police on our tail?" Peter grinned when he fondly remembered that. Sirius just glared.
"You don't have the right to call him Prongs." Sirius stated simply. Peter nodded again sadly.
"I know. Anyway, James went back to Harry and Lily and you and Remus went off to your flat. I was alone and stupidly I walked into Knockturn Alley, wanting one last drink before heading home. That was the stupidest thing I ever did." Peter frowned deeply. "I sat down, drinking one more but then someone noticed I was there, I never found out who it was. But he informed the Dark Lord I was there and when I left, walking down the street drunk...he was just there."
The dark alley was cold and a little rain fell. Peter pulled his jacket tighter around his body and shivered. Damn, it was disgusting weather! He glared up at the sky as if he could will the heavens to stop pissing on him. The cobblestones were slippery and he almost fell once, only catching himself on a shopfront. The darkness was dreadful and he picked up his pace when he felt this shiver down his spine. It had been stupid coming here, he realized at that moment. He should have gone home! He looked over his shoulder. No one there.
He was just a man walking alone down a dark road. Still, he felt a little strange. A little anxious of the dark. Fear of the dark. There was this constant fear that someone was nearby.
A sudden loud noise made him turned, panic rising from his core. He pointed out his wand into the darkness, shaking in his hand. He blinked into the dark, staring, his eyes darting around, searching for any danger that might be there. He breathed heavy, swallowing a big lump in his throat. Nervously he licked his lips. Then he saw a movement, pointing his wand in the direction, ready to fire whatever curse he could, but his mind was empty.
To his luck, it wasn't a threat. A black cat with yellow eyes slowly walked across the street. In front of him, the animal stopped for a moment and looked up at him. The yellow eyes unblinking, staring. Peter stared back, trying to calm his anxious nerves, breathing heavily still.
Just a damn cat, he thought to glare at the animal. Peter disliked cats very much, ever since Mrs Norris had hunted him in his rat form when he lost Prongs and Padfoot on the way to the Shack. The black cat in front of him didn't seem to mind, since she just turned her tail up and walked past him, crossing his path. Damn cat, scaring him so damn much, Peter thought before turning back.
"Hello, Peter."
He almost fainted when he heard this cold hissing voice so close in front of him. There standing in front of him was a tall man, his head bald and with no real nose. His skin was pale with veins showing quite prominently. He only wore a simple black robe, no shoes or anything else, with his thin arms in great contrast to the dark fabric. His spider-like fingers held a pale white wand which he twirled absentminded. Blood red eyes looked at him, while the lips held a mean smile.
Peter stumbled back, raising his wand in panic. A light touch of the other man's magic and the wand flew out of his hands.
"Nuh-uh, Peter what are you doing? That isn't really polite you know? I just want to have a friendly conversation with you, about your friends. Come, come." With a wave of his wand, he made Peter follow him with wide eyes and the deep wish he would have never gone to that pub for one last drink.
"He brought me back to Merlin knows where and there he questioned me. With the Crutiatus Curse. I tried to resist, but you know I'm not like you and James. So I caved. Told about James hiding and about Harry. I...I didn't understand why he was so fascinated by them, he didn't ask about you or Dumbledore or anyone else. Just about James, Lily and Harry. He then offered me a simple choice, serve him or be killed painfully." He let his head hang down, looking at his hands. "You know what I choose. I wish I could go back and change it. I wish I hadn't been such a coward. I should never have been in Gryffindor." He mumbled the last sentence.
Sirius has listened all quietly, not saying anything, his arms crossed, watching his former friend intensely. He then raised his voice.
"What did you tell him? Who did you sell out besides Lils and Prongs for your own skin?" Sirius was less angry. Not that he didn't hate Peter for what he did but at least it wasn't for his own gain solely.
Peter looked up, frowning.
"To be honest? Not much. I never had many pieces of information in the Order if you remember and there wasn't much that I could offer him. Mostly I told him about raids that would come or who talked to who. He might have gotten more information out of it than I understood, but mostly I was a low-ranking person in his mind and therefore on the sideline until James and Lily went into hiding." Peter looked up at Sirius and he had tears in his eyes. For a moment he looked like the Peter from school, a lost boy who was being pushed around by others and just wished to belong, to be part of something. It as hard keeping the hate going until Sirius remembered what the man had done. He leaned forward.
"Do you ever regret what you did?" He asked lowly, only to get a slow nod in return without hesitation.
"Every day since it happened, even before I betrayed them I wished I had never met this monster in that alley. What I had to see in his ranks, he is a psychopath. I wish I would have had the strength not to cave to him. I feel so disgusted by what I did in his service and for that betrayal. It has only gotten worse for the last three years, being around Harry, seeing what has become of their boy, it made it really hard. There have been times when I wished for my death, thought about ending it, but once again I was too much of a coward. Now there is no escaping it and you know what?" Peter looked up, blinking at Sirius.
"It isn't all that bad. I don't feel fear of what is to come from that trial. I deserve what happens and it can't be worse than what my life is right now. My best friends despise me, the boy to whom I should be an uncle is disgusted with me, everyone knows I'm a traitor and my own mother won't talk to me and the worst part I can't blame anyone but me. So...yes I regret it with every piece of my soul."
Sirius was quiet for a while before he unfolded his arms and stood up. He glared at Peter once more.
"I will not say that I forgive you, nor that I don't hate you." Peter nodded. "That's fair."
Sirius nodded too but raised his gaze to the ceiling. "But I will do as you asked me to do."
Peter sighed in relief and sagged down against the wall.
"Thank you, Sirius." He whispered. Sirius nodded.
"Goodbye, Peter." He said for a moment. Peter looked up and somewhat of a smile broke his face.
"Goodbye, Sirius."
With firm steps and a swaying robe, Sirius left the gloomy cell behind him.
Dear Mrs Pettigrew,
I hope you will accept this. I do this not for the man he is, but the friend he once was. While I can't find it in my heart to forgive him, maybe you can. As someone who has lost people very close to me, I can only hope you will visit him before it is too late. You might regret not taking the opportunity to talk to him as long as you can.
I hope this note finds you well.
My sincerest apologies,
Sirius Black
-With the note is a pouch filled with 10,000 galleons-
The two silhouettes climbed the mountainside, breathing heavily. It was cold and the wind was throwing sheets of cold rain against the hard and unfriendly stone. Both of them had taken some time to get here, once again, like the times before ever since they had found the place. The man turned, reaching out and helping the woman over a large boulder. Both were shivering and shaking but still, she thanked him with a short kiss. Her hands were bloody from the sharp stones and she groaned feeling ice cold.
The man stared out into the rain for a moment, blinking trying to see what was before them, but then he saw what he searched for, a cave, nothing special. He pointed and his companion saw his discovery. A quick two minutes later both persons stepped into the semi-safety of the cave. It was still cold and both persons had blue lips and were shaking and shivering, clutching on their soaked clothes, trying so hard to keep the warmth in.
There was nothing special about the cave, just a few rocks on the ground, some bones a bear left behind a few years back and dirt on the floor. Yet there was one thing that set this simple cave apart from all the other caves in Romania and that was what the two persons were seeking out.
"Is it done?" The voice was like a faint whisper, like a nail scratching over a sheet of glass. It cut into the ears of the two persons and they dropped to their knees, the cold and their pain forgotten. Both bowed their heads before the source of the voice.
The male raised his voice.
"Y-Yes m-my L-ord. H...He is d-dead." He shivered out, shaking, while a new gust of wind swept into the cave. A burst of laughter, colder than the wind and sharper than the stones outside echoed through the chamber. The two didn't dare to raise their heads.
"Well done my faithful servants. This will happen to all those who betray us. Our plan will continue!" Again the voice laughed and Alecto inched closer to her brother, taking his hand. Their master was happy, that was all that mattered.
Outside the wind howled without noticing what sinister plans were hatched in this small cave in Romania.