He wasn't the only wizard Voldemort had ever feared for no reason, after all... He knew, as the seconds slipped away, that he had to prepare carefully, lest he worsen the outcome.

So many choices were to be made and quickly, for lives depended upon it; so he ignored the pain in his bones and began to move.

First things first, he thought as he silently accioed the Elder Wand and some robes. Now, he was ready; or as ready as his medical condition permitted.

Wasting no time, he immediately dispelled the bandages that covered his whole body and sent his Patronus to Hagrid, telling him to go to Godric's Hollow, find and restrain Sirius Black and wait for him there.

When he had spoken the last word of the message needing to be relied, his familiar appeared beside him in a burst of flames. He hadn't yet figured out how Fawkes seemed to sense his needs and come to his aid uncalled; even so, right now, he was grateful for that ability: he needed all the help he could get.
Fawkes stared at him for a full minute, singing a beautiful melody that lifted his spirit and lessened the keen sting of his wounds, then perched on his shoulder. A wild whirlpool of fire after, the two of them disappeared into the night.

When he reappeared he was in Godric's Hollow, precisely in the small town square, not far from the Potter's, a sudden bout of dizziness swept through his head, forcing him to lean heavily on the monument that dominated the square.

After a few moments, he willed his body to start moving, he couldn't afford to be late; he would NOT witness the same tragedy twice.
Walking briskly toward the house he couldn't fight the cold ice that has settled inside is chest.

When he reached his destination he couldn't help the small tear that escaped his eyes from rolling down to his silvery beard. The house was in ruins, where once was located Harry's nursery now there was a gaping hole. The wall was missing multiple pieces of furniture and parts of the ceiling where the Avada Kedavra had rebounded, wounding the house and scarring its youngest inhabitant for life.

However, not everything would be lost, unlike the last time. He had arrived soon enough to witness Peter trying to get away from the house without attracting attention to himself.

Albus followed him silently into the dark alleys near the main street, until they found themselves in a large, deserted, residential area.

"Peter! Here you are! I've been looking for you... Could you know what happened to the Potters ?"

The young man squeaked in terror, he had been sure not to give his presence away, that much he knew.

How the heck had Dumbledore found him? Did he know he was the spy? No, he didn't, otherwise he would have already been blasted to pieces, not stopped to chat...

He turned slowly, his face carefully blank, the only sign of his nervousness was his wringing his hands repeatedly.
The game was on.

"Professor, thank Merlin you're here!" He squeaked.

"Yes, regretfully, I know what happened to the Potters... I had a feeling that something would happen tonight so I came to check but I was too late...Sirius had already sold them to the Dark Lord to gain His favour."

"Sirius? Are you sure?"

"Yes! He was their Secret Keeper! Only he could have revealed their address to You-know-Who!"

"When I spoke to him earlier, he seemed maddened with grief by the loss of Lily and James..." that was a lie, but Peter couldn't know.

A false frown creased Dumbledore's forehead and he inclined his head a little to the left, as if contemplating the possibility of Sirius' betrayal.

At this, Peter tensed for a moment. He knew he was threading on thin ice: his next words were crucial.

He desperately needed Dumbledore to believe him, to make Sirius take the fall in his stead.

"Of course he was upset! His Lord has just been vanquished! The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and he was born a Black!"

A perfect blend of pain, regret and rage was painted on his face. He had always been very good at acting. He had to act demure, act stupid and act gullible to make people feel better about themselves. Had to pretend to be loyal to be trusted and yet overlooked, unreprehensible and unremarkable all together.

"I trusted him for all these years, and he has betrayed all of us!"

"Mmmm I wonder if that is the case. I've known there was a spy in the Order for a while, but I would never have suspected a close friend of James" Dumbledore answered him.

"Exactly! Nobody would have! James and Sirius were brothers in all but blood; I guess in the end for Sirius blood tradition won over James' affection..."

Peter smiled triumphally.
He had made it! Now he needed to get away as far as possible, maybe abroad. He didn't much fancy the chance of encountering one of his fellow Death Eaters: they knew it was him who had told the Dark Lord where to find the baby who had been his downfall and by now he had undoubtedly been pegged as a spy of the Light. In other words he was a dead man walking.

"I fear retribution, professor. I was one of their closest friends, see. I'm afraid they will hunt me down to ask why the Dark Lord has fallen."

Pettigrew's voice was filled with panic, his eyes where darting around, taking in their surroundings with a maniacal gleam.

"I don't doubt they will, alas! I know, however, that you aren't afraid for the reasons you gave me..."

"Headmaster, what?... what do you mean?" Fear shone trough Peter's eyes and he wondered if there was a chance of escaping unscathed. He found none.

"Ah Peter, I'm so disappointed with you... You should have never been privy to the Order's business but James, Sirius and Remus pleaded me to let you in and I acquiesced to their desires..."

"He would have killed me! I was defenceless! What could I do?"

The young man was whimpering and cowering before him.

Albus' magic had flared up, a mist near his body sparking every now and then with unbidden power.

"Alas, Peter you could have fought and died with honor, like others before you: Dorcas Meadows, Mary McDonald. Do you remember her, Peter? Voldemort killed her and yet you allied with him to save your life... You'll live to regret your actions. Diffindo! "

Peter's robes where slashed at both of his forearms exposing the skin marred with the fading Mark on one side and unblemished flesh on the other.

"Accio" his wand flew in Dumbledore's outstretched hand.

"Incarcerous!" Tight ropes coiled around him like snakes restraining him.

After the quick succession of spells he felt his forces waning. Merlin, not now, he just needed a few more seconds...
"Fawkes, bring Peter to my office, then call for help..."
Darkness closed on him and he knew no more.