Peter stared in shock at Snape. Why did he want to find the locket with him? Peter could only think of one reason, and it filled him with dread. Snape, the only death eater who knew why he had joined, must suspect him of not being truly loyal. Well, he would have to prove him wrong then. He couldn't go back to the order or even back to normal society without getting arrested. If he wasn't part of the death eaters then he had nothing. This situation seemed depressing from whatever way he looked at it. He almost wished he could just go back to the order, when he had known what he was fighting for. Almost. But then he remembered why he had joined Voldemort in the first place and anger flared up inside him again. His thoughts were interrupted by an insult from Snape.
"This would be easier, of course, if you had stayed a little longer to find out if they knew where the locket was."
"They said they needed to find the locket! And what was I supposed to do, wait for you to turn up? That's a slight indication that they're being watched, isn't it?" Peter retorted sourly. Snape gave him an impatient look.
"What we need to do is come up with a list of places the locket could be-"
"If it hasn't been destroyed already"
"-and check them all. And you'd better hope it hasn't been destroyed. It's worth considerably more to the Dark Lord than your life is, Wormtail."
"And more than yours, I'll bet." Snape just smiled, and Peter had the disconcerting impression that he Snape was confident Voldemort had a reason to keep him alive, meaning most of the blame for a failed mission would be passed onto Peter. Deciding it would benefit him to get down to the task at hand, began a list of where the locket would be.
"Well, I think it was one of Voldemort's enemies who took it."
"So that narrows it down to nearly every wizard. Assuming that it wasn't a jealous death eater who wanted to overthrow their master and gain a bit more power."
"Oh… right."
"However, I feel that it would be more sensible to think first about Voldemorts more powerful enemies. I am almost certain they would be in the order. My immediate guess would be Dumbledore. Now, where would he have hidden it?" Snape mused.
Peter thought for a second before venturing "Hogwarts? That's where he hid the Philosophers stone after all…"
"Yes, we could try there after some other place. I think it more likely that he hid it somewhere that wouldn't endanger his students, or where inquisitive students wouldn't look. The only motive I could imagine him having for not destroying it immediately would be to gain some sort of bargaining power over Voldemort."
"Grimauld Place then"
"We'd better hurry then. It will not remain unguarded long after Dumbledore's death, if indeed there is not already a new secret keeper." Snape said grimly.
"When do you plan we go then?"
"What do you mean? We're going now, Peter!" He replied impatiently, apparating with a pop to London before he had barely finished speaker. Slightly surprised, Peter followed and arrived by Snape's side in the dark square. Disappointed, he saw that there was no house appearing, even when he tried thinking, and in desperation repeating out loud, twelve Grimauld Place… twelve Grimauld Place…
He stared dispiritedly at the spot the house should have emerged.
"No, no luck." said Snape. "Well, we'd better try Hogwarts then."
"Really?" Peter was surprised at Snape taking his suggestion.
"Yes, I can't think of another place Dumbledore would hide it. He mistrusted the ministry, he knew Gringotts wasn't safe. Of course, he knew of other hiding places but he wouldn't have trusted something this valuable into the care of another… I think Hogwarts will be our best bet, for now at least."
Astonished that he had taken his suggestion, and hoping that they were apparating for the last time, Peter followed his companion to the just outside of Hogsmeade, ready to find the locket that would ensure Voldemort's immortality.