A/N: Third verse, same as the first! Please review and breath some life into my work. And, as always, thanks go out to my beta, Nalaniekiela, for inspiring this work.

Preparing for the Role

In the end, that bearded bastard convinced me to play the role he had burdened me with, but that didn't mean I had to like it.

Loathe it was more likely.

Once Albus left, I sat back down in my rickety chair, and blocked the Floo. I needed time to think without further interruptions… or messages that Albus now needed me to play Father Christmas.

Bastard.

I glanced down at the floor of my hearth and sighed. That had been my last good tumbler. Now I'll have to buy more; a Reparo only works so many times. I stood and Reparo'd the old glass and, as expected, there some cracks remained. Pity that.

I went back to the kitchen and began putting up the ingredients I pulled out earlier. I'd have to replace the Calming Drought eventually, but not now. I could always nick one from Pomfrey. I smirked at the thought; after all, I was the one who supplied the Hospital Wing.

As I cleaned, I thought about what I would have to do in this new role of mine. On the bright side, I would no longer have to chaperone the Hogsmeade weekends, but I'd still have to spend time with those little brats! A horrific thought crossed my mind - what if they recognised me? More importantly, what if the Dark Lord recognised me? One thing was for certain, I'd no longer have to worry about students…as I'd be dead.

There was a loud bang as I slammed the cauldron a little too hard on the shelf I stored it on. My last thought had been quite unnerving. I needed to think less about what might happen, and more on what I could do to prevent my untimely demise. That meant I'd actually have to leave here and return to Hogwarts to see Albus.

Again I say, bastard.

oOoOoOo

"Headmaster, did you have a disguise in mind, or do I have to come up with one myself?" I was standing in Albus' office, and had resigned myself to completing this ridiculous farce of a mission.

Dumbledore reached into a drawer on his desk. "Glad to see that you have come around, my boy." He pulled out a disgustingly pink piece of cloth. "As a matter of fact, I do have a disguise planned for you."

He tossed me the pink cloth. "Here's your apron. Your uniform will consist of this, along with a pink shirt and the trousers of your choice, or red robes, if you prefer."

I sneered at my options. A disgustingly pink shirt or Gryffindor red robes? Albus was surely having a laugh over this. I glared at him as I caught the bundle of cloth and unfolded what I now knew to be the apron. Well, at least it was lace-free; thank Merlin for small miracles. "Anything else?" I testily asked.

Reaching into the same desk drawer, Albus retrieved a small velvet pouch that contained a man's ring. He tapped the ring and murmured over it before handing it to me. "This will complete your disguise," he said.

I took the ring and examined it. The ring was plain, solid gold, and felt warm from the magic that had been cast upon it. I glanced up at him with an eyebrow raised in question.

"It's a glamour charm," he explained. "One that will require no effort for you to maintain, so it will be safe for long periods of use."

Great. "What does this disguise look like, Headmaster?"

I should have known better than to expect an answer. "You'll see when you try it out. I suggest donning the ring with several minutes to spare, as it takes a few minutes to work." He then handed me an envelope stuffed with sheets and sheets of parchment. "Here are your instructions from Madam Puddifoot; I suggest you read them thoroughly."

I grumbled as I took the envelope. Normally I would love nothing more than a good read, but I was sure that this would prove itself to be a terrible bore. "Anything else?" I asked, yet again.

Albus smiled and closed the drawer. "That will be all. Your first day will be this Saturday. Enjoy."

oOoOoOo

I made my way down to the Dungeons and snarled at a student that had been foolish enough to not move out of my way. Not willing to face the certain laughter in Albus's eyes, I decided to have supper in my rooms. I was in a terribly foul mood, and couldn't even have a proper drunken sulk; not with it being a Sunday night and classes tomorrow.

Instead, I ate the sandwich that I had ordered from the kitchens and decided to get the reading out of the way. As imagined, it was a dull and tedious process, mainly the repetition of my instruction to be kind and helpful to everyone who came in, and to serve with a—ugh—cheery disposition. Then there were my instructions on how to open the shop, what kettle to use with what, how to prepare—

"Great…son of a…Good gods, that's disgusting!" I spit out the bite of sandwich that I had just taken, mustard spraying all over the page I was reading. "That's how she makes her tea?" I shuddered and put down my plate; I was no longer hungry.

I was a Potions Master, and could therefore stomach a great number of things, but that…that was beyond the pale.

No longer interested in reading, I picked up the ring that Albus had given me and looked it over. Now that the heat was gone there was nothing to distinguish it at all from a plain, common ring.

I was unsure as to what changes would be made to my appearance, so I stripped down to my trousers and kicked off my boots. I then took my place in front of a mirror, before donning the ring onto the little finger of my right hand.

The change was rather subtle when it began. My skin took on a less anaemic tone and my body began to fill out. I was still thin, but could no longer be labelled bony. My hair, thankfully, lightened to dark brown instead of becoming the Lockheartish blond that I feared. However, it did become much shorter, making me look much like Caesar would have, had he been dark haired.

That wasn't the only thing that changed. My nose straightened out, but still remained just as long. I stepped closer to the mirror; my face was changing, and I wanted to get a better look. I watched as ink black eyes lightened and took on a greyish blue hue, my jaw became squarer, and my eyebrows thickened enough to be noticeably different. Over all, it was just enough of a change that only I could recognise myself. I inspected my face and cursed at the mirror. Damn Albus for being so thorough; now I could no longer claim I'd be recognised.

Bastard.

oOoOoOo

"Wormtail!" Voldemort called out from his mouldering throne. "I have told you repeatedly to stop using these accursed excuses for tea leaves!"

Pettigrew carefully approached his master. "I…I apologise, my lord, but this was the only tin we had—"

"So…GET A NEW ONE!" Voldemort spat, throwing his cup with its still scalding contents onto Pettigrew's back. Pettigrew whimpered but stayed still. He new better than to move when the Dark Lord was angry with him, or a scalding would be the least of his worries.

"Why does it seem that I am surrounded by idiots?" Voldemort asked as he leaned back into his throne. Pettigrew wanted to look around and see who the other people in the room were.

Voldemort saw Pettigrew's eyes dart around the room. "Fool! You're the only other person in this room."

Finally, Voldemort got up and flung Pettigrew out of his way with a flick of his wand. "That's it; I'm leaving. If the Dark Lord can't have the best, then no one can."

Pettigrew stood up and made a move to leave the room. Voldemort turned around and eyed the distasteful rodent. "And where are you going?" he hissed. "Stay here, I'll be back in a few hours." With one last look around, he added with a smirk, "Keep Nagini company."

Pettigrew whimpered when he heard hissing coming up behind him.

oOoOoOo

DING…DING…DING…

I woke up the morning of the fourteenth, and nearly cursed my alarm clock into oblivion.

Hold on…fourteenth…February fourteenth?!!

"DAMN YOU TO HELL, ALBUS!!!"