Thanks for the comments, both to new readers (Tituba, Guess Who, and Me) and old ones-even the ones that were never written but only thought about. Because I know you all really wanted to say something, so I say gracias!

Tiny, tiny update. Enjoy!

654321

"Pettigrew, where exactly is my present?" The ever-present red glare of eyes never left the quivering mass lying prostrate upon the floor. "You know, the one you promised would be here within the hour if I let you borrow a bit of mind-speak?"

"Lost, my lord, somewhere in Knockturn Alley," he barely managed to get out through bloodless lips.

"Lost. In Knockturn Alley," he repeated skeptically. "Harry Potter, the most famous boy wizard in the world and his mother. His dead mother, may I remind you of that little detail? And they simply wandered into one of the darkest spots of our world and, what, faded into nothing?"

"Yes," he answered miserably in that same quivering tone.

"I see," he drawled. His wand swung loosely in his hands as he studied the pathetic thing on the ground. Shame that he had his uses, he felt the need to Avada Kedavra him for this trick. "Oh, get going while I feel generous but remain available, I may loose my good humor."

"You are beyond generous to me, my lord." Pettigrew groveled and crawled out the door, speaking praises all the way. "Most forgiving of you, most wonderful of you."

"Malfoy, tell me that you have some news for me. Like how Mrs. Potter managed to survive the killing curse," he drawled.

The blonde bowed before him, kissing the robe. "I was able to ascertain nothing from Snape, though it wasn't from lack of trying. Either he truly knows nothing-or is protected by more than his own occlemens ability."

"Did you at least see her?" he hissed.

Though he quaked, he remained firm of voice and posture. "Well, if it is Lily Evans Potter, she has come back in a younger and more powerful body. She was quite...pleasing to the eye."

"No signs of decay then?"

"None that I could see in the brief moment that I saw her before she and Potter fled."

Lord Voldemort silently contemplated this information, "so, she isn't back from the grave." He fell silent again, thinking about the situation. No one moved even as the hours passed by in a slow and agonizing manner. "Keep an eye on things through that boy of yours, Malfoy. You must bring him to me one day."

"Yes, my lord." He slowly rose to his feet and started towards the door, never turning his back on the Dark Lord.

"And Lucius," his follower tensed as the name hissed sibilantly through the room, "no more delays. I granted you that boy, you owe me."

"I will think of a reason for him to return home in a fortnight, my lord." And may Narcissa forgive me for breaking this promise to her, he thought desperately. Arranged marriage it may have been but certainly not loveless.

"Do so," he watched him leave. "Crabbe, Goyle, bring Pettigrew to me. I...feel the need to expend some energy."

654321

(To those who've read my "Dance With Death", no, Lily is not Willow like in that story. Willow is Willow, while Lily is definitely dead. But ol' Voldierocks doesn't know that. But he has to have a reason to want her and that works, doesn't it?)