Rise of the Fourth Marauder

by KoshKing777

Peter had always been told that he didn't amount to much, and after a time, he started to believe it himself. Now, in his fifth year at Hogwarts, the shocking intervention of a higher power teaches him otherwise, inspiring him to alter the tragic path of his own fate. This effort pits him against the insane Lord Voldemort in a war to the death. AU, AntiHeroic!Peter, M for a reason.

7. Out Of Commission

A/N: Thanks again for betaing, NoxedSalvation! Your username is cool, by the way.

Also, I've been getting more reviews recently from people who aren't signed in. You're totally welcome to do so, but I always enjoy messaging my readers back, especially for clarification, and I sadly can't do that if you don't have an account or aren't signed in. I realize I may come off as sort of an extremely weird person, though, so I can see why you might not WANT me to have the ability to message you back. That's cool, too. If that's the case, I'll just sit in the corner and doodle pictures of Peter massacring Death Eaters by the bushel. 3 And I'll change the WORLD by doing so! Except not really.

Here we go! Strap in for another wild session of Rot4thM! :D

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Rise of the Fourth Marauder

Chapter 7 – Out Of Commission

Utterly exhausted, I opened my eyes and gasped; I WAS falling through midair, plowing downwards through the clouds at a rapid pace, with no end in sight.

Grabbing hold of my wand in a panic, I gasped, "Aresto Momentum!"

My magic immediately lurched in exhaustion, but the charm ended up working, shakily, after five seconds, suspending me in midair.

Dammit. I'm basically out of energy…and this charm requires constant magical input.

I gritted my teeth, allowing blood to drip from my nose as I put everything into holding this spell steadily.

I tried to figure out what had happened without using all of my full concentration.

The Prewitts live on a cliff, right? So…since I was just falling…that means…damn. I must have actually used that Pettigrew Blasting Curse in reality, too, which would explain why I feel so bloody drained. I hope I didn't destroy their house with that curse! With any luck, they're alright.

I racked my mind briefly, trying to remember if I knew any magic that could help get me to safety. Nothing came to mind, however, though I remembered Abraxas Malfoy levitating himself during the Festival. I had no knowledge of such a charm, however. Which means…I need to wait till someone comes on a broom or something.

"Well, this sucks," I muttered, my wand shaking as I gripped it with sweaty fingers. Even though it was bright out, now, the chasm seemed to just go on and on below me, forever.

My mind was crunching painfully in sync with my heartbeat. I wasn't going to be able to last much longer. Wait…if I was going to bring about all these deaths…why don't I just let myself fall? Then life can continue on its merry way!

I almost let go, but I realized that all those people still needed my help. And killing myself now WOULD still be a death at my own hands, so I'd basically be fulfilling my part of the prophecy. Me dying now didn't mean that anyone else would be safe.

It seemed like the best solution would be to somehow make everyone safe…though I couldn't think too well how to go about doing that at the moment. And that evil Peter seemed to be saying that…by being so focused on myself, I was pursuing an end where I become a Dark Lord? Is that even possible?

I groaned, in excruciating pain. I could feel the skin on my legs start to peel off; my Suspension Charm was depleting my stores of energies and turning to other sources to keep it going.

All that I saw last night was probably just a dream…a really screwed up dream. But it still made some good points…not all of which I remember right now.

I think, however, that it may be time to pull back on my quest for power acquisition. That evil me was a perfect example of what I didn't want to become, at any cost.

And, in order to still fight Voldemort, and not merely through my power …it stands to reason that I'll need to gain some allies for my cause.

I cried out as the skin on my forehead suddenly started ripping off. I hope to Merlin someone's coming!

"Hey there, Pete. Glad I found ya," I suddenly heard Tessa say in her lazy drawl, her voice accompanied by the swoop of a broomstick. "It seems you've decided to give our home a new arsehole. Or, rather, significantly widen its existing arsehole, to the point that it could take in almost an entire army of broomsticks."

I was so relieved I almost shat myself. "H-help me!" I hissed, a bubble of blood popping from the rip in my face.

"Don't even worry about it, mate! Jus' don' even worry about it! I got this under control!" she yawned. "Now; if you'd do me the honour of taking a seat on my broomstick and holding me roughly from behind," she said as she maneuvered about, scooting forward on her broomstick to, I guess, make room for my bulky self behind her. "…I'd make it worth your while," she finished, with an adorable flutter of her eyelashes. I noticed that she seemed to be wearing only a thin silk nightgown…an outfit which, even on her, was extremely tempting.

"Sorry about this…I'm going to cancel my spell now. Ready?"

"I'm so ready for you, it's kind of depressing, really," she said, hovering backwards so her shaft went between my legs.

"Okay…" I gently wrapped my arms around her skeletal body and cancelled it. Apparently, she was less ready than she thought, however, as we immediately fell like a rock.

"Holy shit!" she screamed as my gentle grip turned into an iron vice across her ribcage (and her lovely breasts, of course, which felt amazing to hold on to).

After taking a moment to recover, she swerved around in a wide curve before pulling her Cleansweep sharply skywards in an effort to ascend. The poor broom seemed to be quite unsupportive of our plight.

I was hanging onto her tiny body with both my arms and thighs as tightly as possible, despite my zombie-like energy level, quite aware that she was the only thing keeping me from death.

"So, uh…are you gonna keep squeezing my tits like that?"

"S-sorry…you know how I get when I'm around a woman who scorns a brassiere," I joked, abruptly lowering my hands to a much less enjoyable position.

She chuckled a bit, wiggling her lovely arse around against my crotch, which didn't help at all with my efforts to not get aroused. "Do you have enough room back there?"

"Surprisingly, yes. I'm really glad you're flying this thing and not me – I've always been absolutely shite on brooms."

She chuckled. "Well, at least that's one thing that hasn't changed about you."

"I suppose," I said, hugging her tighter. "I'm…really glad you're okay…"

"Oh! Er…th-thanks," she said, sounding surprised. "The house isn't too bad, really. You only nuked part of the lower floor."

I winced. "Is everyone alright?"

"Yes, thankfully. Although I'd watch out when we get back, if I were you. My male cousins aren't exactly thrilled to have you here."

"Well, I'm happy to be here, at least for now," I said. "Especially since you're only wearing this thin, silk nightgown!"

"For YOUR information, I'm wearing a pair of polka-dot knickers, as well. I wouldn't go flying wearing just this floppy thing – I'm not a slut."

"It's okay, Tessa," I said, patting her stomach. "Just because you dress like a tramp doesn't mean I don't want to ravish you."

"YOU really know how to make a girl feel good about herself."

I hugged her from behind. "I'm really glad I didn't hurt you, though…" The last time I saw her was with her entrails expelled and her throat split open, after all. "So…are we good, now? Last night you seemed a little…"

"Well, I figured, if you're gonna be here a while, I might as well not get my knickers in a twist about it. But just because I'm tolerating your boner up my bum at the moment doesn't mean I'll want to continue when we get back, you know. I'd appreciate it if you kept your space after this. And, er…please do me a favor and don't mention last night to me, ever again."

"But, to be perfectly honest with you, your bum feels really nice! It's like an old friend, welcoming me in for some cheese and crackers." Truthfully, I hadn't felt so aroused in a VERY long time. The silk added to the effect, I think.

"…you are a weird person."

"Frankly, I don't think you're in ANY position to call me weird, Miss Prewitt."

"…fair enough."

We finally made it back up to what remained of the Prewitt Overlook. It looked like it had seen some seriously better days, but it was still an impressive sight. Tessa was correct – the entire lower deck looked like it had just been ripped off. Smoke was still spilling from the cracks.

Our shared broom puttered in the enormous hole, parking in what looked like a family room or something, complete with a couch and lit Christmas tree.

"Whew! That was…way too unforgettable for this time in the morning!" Tessa said, standing up and stretching, her lovely arse directly in my face.

"Er…" I muttered, struggling against my tiredness and arousal to stand up. I noticed two older, redheaded males approaching me with folded arms and glares to match. "Oh, good to meet you! I'm…" As I outstretched my hand, I looked down and realized, to my horror, that I was still wearing ONLY Molly's pink booty shorts, except now I had a VERY obvious, flopping, raging erection from having Tessa's sexy tush pressed against me. Not the best first impression I've ever made.

Still in a sleepy daze, Tessa murmured, "I'll go get a blanket for us to warm up in," which seemed to light a flame of violent anger in Fabian and Gideon's eyes.

"Get him," Gideon, the larger Prewitt, growled, and Fabian quickly maneuvered behind me, held my shaking arms aloft, and headbutted me to the ground.

"W-what are you doing?!" Tessa cried, her voice trembling.

Gideon completely ignored her, his face a hideous contortion of malice as he strode forward.

I finally found my drained voice. "Guys, I am SO sorry for what I did to your…"

Gideon snarled, "Don't you dare!" before stomping on my crotch with a sickening crunch. Tessa screamed, drawing her wand.

I gaped, feeling nothing at first but shock, but after a second the raw, obscene pain coursed through my body up to my throat. I couldn't stand it – I was going to…

I heaved, the vomit spilling all over my shirtless body.

"That was for destroying our home, Pettigrew," Fabian told me. "You might be a prodigy with a wand, but there's nothing you can do against an old-fashioned beat-down, is there? Do you know how many centuries of history you just destroyed, for no reason? You're DEAD!"

"P-p-please...nng!" I was cut off when Gideon zapped me with a Cruciatus. My body and mind erupted in the familiarly madness-inducing, hellish pain, leaving me to writhe violently out of control. Normally I could withstand quite a few hits of the curse, but with my magic this drained…I was very concerned that I was going to die, go mad, or piss myself. Whoops, there goes that last one.

I'm powerless…I can't even lift a finger, let alone defend myself, I'm so drained…and, Merlin, my balls…

"Stop! Get off him, now!" Tessa said, holding her wand up to Gideon. "Or, family or not, I'll make you suffer!"

"Tessa, do you know who this is?! He's that out-of-control wizard from the papers! And, by being here, he's linked us with the likes of him in the public eye!"

"I know who he is better than you, that's for certain. Back. Off."

"Oh, of course you do," Fabian mocked from behind me, still binding my arms. "You were just giving him some airborne action a few seconds ago, weren't you?"

"Maybe you should leave things alone that you know nothing about!" Tessa cried, switching her aim to Fabian. "Now, unhand him!"

Gideon used the opportunity to knock her roughly to the floor and to take her wand. "You're not seeing this clearly, Tessa. This slobbering worm just paid a grievous insult to the Ancient and Noble House of Prewitt." He grinned, cracking his knuckles. "So he owes us some penance."

"L-leave her alone," I groaned. "Don't hurt her!" Tessa looked at me with shock in her eyes, for some reason.

Gideon hit me with the Cruciatus Curse again, and I once again vomited all over my self from the pain. My entire essence got raked over and over with white-hot pain repeatedly, blood flooding from my eyes and nose. "You've forced us into an alliance with you from that little stunt you pulled yesterday, with Molly. And, fuck, we MIGHT have considered it, but after you did all THIS! Dressed like THAT? And we even find you with a fucking stiffy against our little cousin here."

"You son of a bitch," Tessa growled at Gideon. "You'll pay for this,"

"It was an accident," I croaked with a shudder, blood squirting from my face. "I'll help rebuild…"

"You CAN'T rebuild history, you blighter," Fabian spat as Gideon kicked me in the balls again, to my yelping pain and horror. "Consider your family line defunct." My body shuddered violently, another round of bile bubbling from my lips.

As Gideon wound back another punt, I heard another female voice – Molly's – yell "Duro!" which froze his body entirely into stone, in mid-kick.

I wheezed in relief, though I heaved again, my entire body shuddering from the pain of magical exhaustion and genital torture.

"Molly, stop," Fabian began sternly, but Molly stomped up to him and loudly slapped him in the face. It must've been a heavy one, since he let go of my arms as a result. I tried to move away, but he set his foot down on my throat.

"What is WRONG with you?" Molly screeched at Fabian. "I might have expected this from Gideon, but never from you! Peter is my guest!"

"Are you sure you're not HIS guest? He's manipulating us, Moll-" He was cut off by an abrupt chop to the skull from his sister.

"I invited him here, myself, so he could escape from the press and spend time with Tessa and I. That is ALL. And I had to convince him to come!"

"Then kindly convince him to leave," Fabian instructed her, slowly lifting his foot off me. Tessa hurriedly pulled me away, casting a few cleansing spells on my body.

Molly raised her wand to Fabian's face. "He's injured, exhausted, and suffering. Why don't we deal with the alliance question later?"

"Are you daft? The papers already think our families ARE allies! We have to put this right, and fast. And get HIM out of here before he blows up the rest of the house or murders us like he did Carrow!" He said that last part to Tessa, who was currently holding me close to herself, under a soft blanket.

"Listen to me, Fabian – this is THE Peter…you know…the one from the letters," Molly said in a lowered voice. No idea what she meant, there.

Fabian froze a moment before collecting himself again and striding over towards me. Tessa leaned over me protectively, her succulent breasts dangling tantalizingly (I tried my very best to keep eye contact with Fabian, however, for my continued health).

"Peter…tell me why I should allow you to stay here, when you're this dangerous," he ordered.

"P-politics," I wheezed, shuddering. I was on my last legs.

"Not good enough. Everyone will forget you even exist in a month if I need them to, regardless of how big a statement you managed to pull off last night."

"Fabian, please," Tessa begged.

"Quiet! He can handle himself. So…have you anything else to offer? What value could we possibly gain from allying with a weak, distateful slug like you that constantly draws attention to itself?"

I tried again. "I…I care…I really care…about…nng…Tessa and Molly…want to protect them."

He glared at me through my gasping. "Very well. That will suffice. For now."

"Finally," Molly said, trotting over and kneeling next to me, on the side opposite Tessa. "Okay…Peter, I'm fairly accomplished with healing magic. Allow me to work on you a bit, alright?"

"Th-thanks…" I shuddered. The girls exchanged serious looks. "My magic is completely depleted…please help…"

"Don't worry, Peter," Molly said, peeling back the blanket and beginning to cast several spells all over my body. "Son of a bitch, Fabian!" Molly muttered in annoyance as she began to see the state I was in. "Why couldn't you just stun him like a normal wizard and be done with it?"

He shrugged. "Sorry…I guess we got a little carried away."

No really? That arse. Merlin, I want to slice him to shreds.

"Is he going to be alright?" Tessa whispered, holding my hand and caressing it.

"Yeah…he's got a very strong magical core…he'd be a tough light to snuff out all the way," Molly said, beads of sweat dripping down her beautiful skin. "Although he'll need to rest for a good 48 hours to recover a healthy amount of magic. He must have ripped through it quite rapidly…" She shot her brother another glare, which he completely ignored. "Or had it ripped from him."

After a while, I mustered the courage to ask, "Um…are my…balls okay?"

"Y-y-yes, don't worry," Molly said nervously. "I've healed them up already."

"Oh, thank Merlin!" I gasped in relief. Tessa murmured something in agreement as well.

"Just don't, you know…u-use them for a few days, if you get my meaning, and you should be completely recovered down there," Molly said with a stammer.

I chuckled. "Well, seeing as I've been celibate all my life thus far, I don't think that should be a big problem!" Tessa blushed and looked away.

"You're joking! How are you still a virgin?!" Molly gasped.

Tessa slapped her forehead in annoyance. "Seriously? He's fifteen! Wouldn't it be more abnormal for him to be active by this point?"

"Calm down; all I'm saying is, he's obviously really good looking, so it's hard to think that he could have held off for this long…"

I couldn't suppress a huge grin at that and, feeling comfortable being tended to by two lovely young witches, laid back my head and gave in to my indignant exhaustion.

Once sleep seized my mind, I was immediately greeted by the leering sight of the older me in a flaming hall, the eternally suffering white-haired lady still nude and trying to break free from his grip.

"I've been waiting for you, Pete," he said, jabbing the jeweled knife into her pretty left eye and twisting it, her jelly sopping out.

"NOOO!" I screamed, launching back out of the dream. Both Prewitt girls caught me in a hug from either side.

"Peter? What's…" Molly began.

"Nightmares. I can't stop them…they happen all the time!" I groaned, my body prickling from all the abuse I'd been putting it though. "The only way to halt them is to use the Draught of Dreamless Sleep…"

"So…when you exploded our house," Tessa began, starting to put two and two together, "Were you…having…"

"Yeah. I was defending myself in my dream, and I accidentally cast it in real life, it seems."

"Ohhh! I was wondering what happened!" Molly gasped, embracing my bare, sweaty chest tightly before turning to her brother, who had taken a seat at the dining table. "See? He wasn't actually attacking us."

Fabian shrugged. "Maybe. Maybe not. I'll give you another chance, though, Pettigrew. You say you need some Draught of Dreamless Sleep?"

"Yeah."

He nodded, looking at me curiously. "Fair enough. We have some in storage. Molly, you go get it."

She rolled her eyes. "Fabian…the three of us need to talk more in private."

"Alright. I'll return shortly, then."

Once I was alone with the girls again, Molly began caressing the back of my head, saying, "I am SO sorry about all this, Peter…I was hoping to give you a place to relax and then…"

I put a shaking finger up to her lips. "Don't worry – I brought this on myself. It was my fault for not asking for the potion last night. And I probably deserved a beating for destroying your ancient family home…"

"Pssh, you're more important than some easily replaceable wood!" Tessa murmured. "A-are you still in pain?"

I nodded. "Yeah…it's horrible."

"How long have you been having these nightmares?" Molly asked, her arrestingly pretty face radiant with concern.

"Since I met Tessa, actually," I said, with a crafty smirk.

"Wow! Thanks for that." Tessa said, giving me a playful nudge.

"It's true, though. They started the night before I met her."

"Can you tell us, er…what they're about?" Tessa asked me softly.

"I'd…rather not, presently. I'm sorry."

"Is…there anything I can do for you?" Molly asked.

"M-me, too! I'd also like to, er, help, if I could," Tessa said nervously.

I blushed, thinking of many things I'd like to do with them, but which probably wouldn't be advisable under my current situation. "Well…to be completely honest, there are many things that I'd like." To their admonishing looks I hurriedly continued, trying to think of something appropriate to propose. "Not THOSE kinds of things! Um…what I'd really like, more than anything, is your assistance in helping me get out of this marriage contract with the Carrows."

"Certainly, Peter! We can start researching right away!" Tessa said reassuringly.

"And, er, if it's not too much to ask…I'd really like to be able to sleep on a bed," I grinned. "Any vague comfort I can possibly get a hold of would be fantastic."

Damn…those dangling breasts are so tempting, they should be illegal. Why are these girls still leaning over me like this? Do they enjoying torturing me so? Dear, sweet Merlin…I can't be a bad guest, after all they've done for me! But…those breasts!

"Hmm…" Molly said, tapping her lips in thought. "I'm sure Tessa wouldn't mind letting you stay in her bed!"

Wait a second…I'm really groggy, but…doesn't that seem completely opposite of what she was warning me against earlier? My brain hurts.

"What?! No!" Tessa cried.

"Hey now, it's not like you and I could even do anything, when I'm in this state" I reminded her with a gesture towards my lower self, a little miffed by her outraged reaction nonetheless.

"Oh. Right. I guess there wouldn't be any harm, then, so long as we clean you off first," she said, looking to Molly skeptically. "But, wait; are you sure? There ARE a lot of problems that could come about as a result! With my…you know…and, especially concerning your brothers."

"Don't worry, I'll deal with them. You just enjoy snuggling up to Peter. He needs some comfort, I can tell," Molly said, causing Tessa and I to meet each other's wide eyes and look away in deep embarrassment. "And I meant to talk to them earlier about you, Peter…this really is all my fault!"

"Yeah, and I was completely useless earlier," Tessa groaned. "I'm so sorry for letting them hurt you like that, Peter, when I was RIGHT motherfucking there!"

"Language!" Molly admonished her under her breath.

I smiled weakly. "If it makes you feel any better, I forgive you, both of you. As long as you forgive me for all the trouble I've caused."

"Ah, it's no big deal. It's easily restored," Molly said with another tight, heavenly hug. "My brothers just wanted an excuse to kick your arse."

"…Awesome."

"Okay, I'm back," Fabian said, striding back into the room. The girls both quickly distanced themselves from me (breasts jiggling accordingly). "We've got ten bottles here, but I'm assuming you won't be staying here that long."

"Well," I groaned, trying and failing to push myself up to look at him. "I was planning on helping you repair the damage to the lower level, so I figure I'll be here for at least four days or so…"

"Hm. Taking responsibility for your messes, eh? I like that." Fabian looked to Tessa. "You want to make sure he restores everything back to the way it was?"

Tessa sighed dramatically. "Why me, again?"

"Probably because you're his friend," he smirked. "And because you're the youngest."

"Why don't you go fuck a mermaid? I hear they're rather frisky this time of year."

"…Like, an actual mermaid, or the fairy tale version?"

"I'm fairly certain either one would skewer you with its trident if you tried anything."

"No worries! I like a woman with a little fight in her!" Fabian beamed.

Tessa stuck her tongue out at him before casting a Levitation Charm on me and bringing me upstairs.

---

"Whew! Alright! We're away from the craziness!" Tessa gasped, gently lowering me onto her still-unmade bed.

"I dunno…you look a little bit more nervous now than you did back there." I grinned. "Am I driving you mad with desire?"

"Oh yes. You know how I just love to prey on the injured and immobile," she sang, uncorking a beaker of the Draught and holding it to my lips. "I'm going to tip it back now, okay?"

I nodded, swallowing the familiarly sour blend as she administered it to me.

"Alright, well…I think you should just rest, and, um…"

"Tessa…before I lose consciousness…there's just one thing that I want to tell you…"

"H-huh? What is it?" she asked, shuffling over to me meekly.

I gave a crooked grin. "Your nightgown is transparent. It's been a lovely view this morni-"

She gave me a harsh slap, making me chomp down on my tongue, drawing blood. "Wow! Have fun sleeping by yourself!" she said with an offended huff, obviously humiliated.

Before I could apologize and tell her something actually appreciative, I succumbed to the blackness of gentle, dreamless sleep.

---

When I woke up, my body (particularly my balls) still throbbed with discomfort. I found Tessa sleeping on the floor next to my side of the bed, true to her word.

"Heh…I knew she didn't like me," I murmured with a wry grin. It's a shame…she's really quite adorable, once you look past her nonexistent hygiene. She actually looked extremely pretty when asleep, her washed crimson hair sprawled about in elegant disarray, her peaceful face wearing an expression of satisfaction. I watched the gentle rise and fall of her modest chest until I felt too creepy to continue.

The musty, orange-tinted room was fairly nondescript, with minimal decoration...but it kind of had a strangely depressing aura, which was somehow strengthened by a series of stuffed animals sitting unused in the corner.

Now that I finally was able to think without being in a state of exhausted panic, I nervously recalled the bizarre dream and wondered what my plans should be from here on out. Have I really been helping to fix anything using my methods so far? Granted, I haven't had much a chance to prove or disprove their effectiveness…however, several things psycho-evil-rapist Peter said made a lot of sense: I'm not paying especial attention to stopping the circumstances of those visions from arising, I'm certainly not helping any of my friends out with their magical knowledge and expertise, and I seem to generally be getting colder and getting more focused exclusively on myself.

The Dark Lord route is certainly one that I don't want to go down. But if Dumbledore keeps refusing to send out all his troops to do Voldemort in, then I certainly can't just lay around and wait for the monster to murder us all. No…I must continue gaining power, no matter what. He won't do me in without a fight. As long as I know there is some danger of me becoming a Dark Lord, I'm sure I'll be able to avoid it.

Allies, though. Allies could certainly help.

I suddenly realized I was extremely hungry and thus wondered how long I'd been out.

"Um…Tessa?" I asked at a moderate volume, successfully causing her to groan and roll away in response. "How long have I been asleep?"

"Hmm?" she twisted her head about and blinked at me groggily. "Oh…it's been almost two days. How are you?"

I shrugged. "I dunno. I mean, it's hard to see how well things are working by myself, you know?"

"Peter…please do me a huge favor and shut the fuck up about that kind of stuff!" She said with seemingly random vitriol. Well…at least she's awake now.

"I-I'm sorry, I was just…"

"I know you were joking, but you just keep pissing me off. Sorry. I don't know if I can handle this anymore," she muttered, getting up and shaking her mane about in annoyance. "I'll get you some breakfast or something."

"Um…th-thank you!" I called after her, but she didn't answer. I loved looking at her bum as she went, though, naturally. Mmm…tight, thin sweatpants. Gotta love em. Especially when they're spread tightly across an arse as lovely as Tessa's.

I wonder why she dislikes me, anyway? I'm doing my best to be nice and not act too perverted…I mean, I'm not succeeding at either of those too well, but still. I don't understand girls at all.

---

Deciding to put myself to SOME use, despite being immobile for another six hours, I requested material to write a letter. To my dad, I wrote:

Dear Father,

I'm sure you're alarmed about what I did at Yule. However, know that I did everything I could to avoid a confrontation, and only spoke with the utmost of decency to the Carrows. After I found myself bound by the duel, with the honour of our family name being insulted by my opponent, I did the only thing I could to save face – win, and brutally so. I'm aware that I'm in the news now, and I've been laying low at the Prewitts' for a few days. Do you have any advice as to what my next move should be?

I didn't choose an alliance with the Prewitts lightly, make no mistake; after Molly Prewitt proposed I join them at their home, in front of the reporters, I was forced to make a decision between making enemies of them or securing a powerful allegiance with them. As the Prewitts are a generally well-regarded family of a Dark-Neutral alignment, I felt that there was no reason not to join with them. Not that I could discern, at any rate. I apologize if you don't agree with my reasoning, but what's done is done. Furthermore, I'm continuing to make progress with the two single female members of their family (that bit was somewhat exaggerated), so, with any luck, I'll be able to secure a replacement for Alecto as my intended bride.

I'm going to compose a letter to Aedipos Carrow following this letter's completion, requesting an audience. Wish me luck; as promised, I shall endeavor to do whatever I can do to halt things from proceeding further with the Carrows.

Warm regards,

Peter.

Next, I cracked my knuckles and began another letter.

To Lord Aedipos Carrow,

I humbly request an audience with your Lordship, so we both may better understand the other's position and ideal outcomes regarding the recent marriage agreement forged between our houses. I intend to bring an advisor along to the meeting, should you accept.

I would also like to apologize for your loss; what occurred between your heir and I was most unfortunate. I trust that this matter will not needlessly antagonize our two parties.

To your health,

Peter Pettigrew

Okay…I think that'll do, for now.

---

After fully recovering my magic to a healthy state and dressing myself in a pair of old robes, I staggered downstairs to greet the four Prewitts living in the Overlook. I badly wanted to exact revenge on the brothers for stomping on my crotch like that – I can forgive a Crucio, but genital abuse just adds insult to injury. Insult that dearly needs to be answered for.

However, I owed it to the lovely Prewitt ladies, as their friend, to at least make an effort to get along with them. Moreover, there's no question that an alliance with the family would be the best possible conclusion from this stay at their home.

All conversation stopped when I reached the kitchen, Gideon's glare drawing my gaze. Fabian and Tessa wore a blank expression, while Molly looked at me fretfully.

"A-are you feeling better, Peter?"

I shrugged. "I think so. I don't think my magic's completely recovered, yet, but I at least feel more like myself. Thank you very much for all you've done."

As she gave a warm "You're welcome," Gideon abruptly stood up.

"Maybe you should be directing your thanks at us instead, Pettigrew," Gideon spat my name, "seeing as we haven't yet dropped you out of that hole you made."

"Bloody hell. Would you like a tampon to go with that PMS?" Tessa chirped.

"QUIET!" Gideon yelled, but Tessa didn't react beyond a sly sneer. "The weakling can answer for himself." He looked up at me and crossed his arms. "So. Molly's been doing nothing but singing your praises the entire time you were out. Personally, I can't stand you, and I think that you're a piece of worthless, dark shite that ought to be put on trial. So, I'll ask you again: why are you here? Don't you find it strange that the first place you flee to after murdering Carrow is the home of two aurors?"

I replied evenly, "I have three reasons for coming here. Firstly, Molly offered to bring me here to help me escape the unsettled mob at the Festival. Secondly, I consider Tessa to be one of my very best friends, so I was hoping to spend some time with her, just for fun." Here, Tessa raised her eyebrows and looked away from me with a strange expression. "Finally, I hope to forge a political alliance between our two families.

Gideon gave an ugly smile. "That again? Why would we possibly waste a single thought on forming an alliance with you?"

"There are several benefits both our families could gain. We'd mutually increase our reputation in the public eye – make no mistake, we're both well-known and feared for our power. We'd be able to assist each other in politics by backing our respective proposals, positions, and votes." I could tell that Gideon was looking more suspicious as I kept talking, so I quickly dropped the big one. "Most importantly, we'd fight on the same side in the war."

"Oh? And which side is that?" Gideon asked in a cold voice.

"The side opposing the Dark Lord."

The five of us all seemed to release our held breaths as one, seemingly realizing that we were all, in fact, on the same side.

"Fair enough," Gideon said slowly. "If what you say is true, then you truly would be a formidable ally in the battle against the Dark Lord."

I nodded. "Not only would we lend a wand to each other's causes, we could also strategize together and mutually use our resources to further our aims."

"Okay, seriously – how are you NOT a Slytherin?" Fabian asked me.

I shrugged. "This side of me hadn't really developed yet when I was getting sorted. I also wanted to be in the same House as my best mate, Remus Lupin."

"Lupin, huh? Is he also a formidable duelist?" Gideon said, sitting back down at the table and motioning for me to follow suit.

"Absolutely – he's the second-best in my year."

"So we'll be gaining him as an ally as well, no doubt," Fabian remarked. "Very well. I know his parents – they're good people."

"They certainly are," I said. "Also, please don't my killing of Carrow against me – he was a Death Eater."

"And you are you absolutely certain of this?" Gideon asked, leaning forward.

"Indeed. I saw the Dark Mark on his forearm, clear as day. And, yes, I'd be willing to give you the memory as proof."

"Fantastic. Glad we don't have to arrest you," Fabian chuckled.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on!" Tessa suddenly said, turning to me. "That's it? You're all just going to be friends now? Pete – these guys crushed your cajones and tortured you when you were already under severe magical exhaustion. It's a fucking miracle that you even survived!"

"What can I say? I'm a tough nut to crack," I winked.

"I'm serious; what the hell are you thinking?"

"My dear cousin," Fabian said, wiping his mouth daintily on his napkin. "We are men of logic and strategy. To continue a battle of petty grudges would ultimately be pointless."

"Furthermore, we're both semi-dark families that oppose the Dark Lord while we aren't particularly loyal to Dumbledore, either," Gideon beamed. "There's hardly reason not to make nice with one another, just because he's a pervert who destroyed centuries of history because he had a scary dream."

"Um…"

"Tessa, they're correct. Don't worry about it overmuch. Personally, I'm nothing short of ecstatic that we can work together now. I'm sure a very bright future awaits our two families," I coaxed, succeeding in earning a small blush from her.

"I propose a toast to the mutual furthering of our two families in the Wizarding World!" a very relieved Molly said, raising a glass of orange juice.

We all cheered (though Tessa did so hesitantly), and clinked our glasses.

"Don't think this changes the repair work you promised us, though," Gideon ordered.

"I never renege on a promise," I vowed. "I'll fix your house, however long it takes."

"Great!" Molly grinned, looking at Tessa. "And I think you'll need someone there with you to make sure you restore everything to its proper design."

"Go with Tessa? Sweet, I can roll with…" I began, looking forward to hopefully clearing the air with Tessa and whatever was bothering her.

However, Tessa interrupted with, "What is wrong with the world?! I hate everyone!" and planted her face in her plate of eggs.

…the hell?

"Don't worry, Peter," Molly mock-whispered to me, "she'll grow out of it!" When Tessa fixed her with a vengeful glare, Molly quickly continued with "And if HE ever slacks off, you can punish him!"

"Oh, don't worry…I was counting on it," she vowed, looking up at me with cheese and eggs running from her leering face. I felt a slight chill…

"You know, brother, methinks our young friend is in danger of being involved with our cousin in a naughty manner," Fabian observed.

"No, Peter wouldn't do that," Molly said. "He doesn't see Tessa that way." Strangely, Tessa glared at her. Molly answered her look with, "How could he? Look at your face!"

Gideon stroked his short red beard. "I agree, though; Peter, you had best watch yourself, or you may find yourself quite violated."

"I assure you that, if something did occur in such a manner, it would be both accidental and completely fantastic," I said with a grin. "And I promise to take responsibility for any resulting offspring."

"Let's hope it's a stillbirth," Tessa muttered. "Now, how's about everyone shut the hell up about this?" However, her cousins continued to mock her, so she abruptly destroyed all the guys' clothes with an Expellimellius and stalked out.

"Wow, that was a nice Expellimellius," I said, looking down at my bare crotch. "Not a single singe on the equipment."

"See? Told you she's good at punishing in slightly inappropriate ways," Gideon chuckled.

Making sure not to look at my body at all, Molly fetched and handed me another old Prewitt family robe. "Try not to lose this one, as well, if you don't mind."

I took it from her with a blush and a grateful stammer, clumsily clothing myself while trying to hide whatever I could.

---

After Molly deemed it safe for me to work again after recovering from the various Cruciatus Curses I'd experienced, I quickly got to work fixing the damage I'd done to their home, with Tessa reluctantly overseeing my work. Molly and the others stopped in from time to time, as well, usually to merely check on my progress (and Molly on my health and whether I was enjoying my time with Tessa, to which an eavesdropping Tessa would invariably throw a piece of the room at her face).

Gideon and Fabian seemed to warm up considerably once I revealed that I was anti-Voldemort, and that I'd only killed Carrow because I saw the Dark Mark on his forearm. Apparently, murder was considered far less barbaric when the slayed wizard or witch was a Death Eater. Gideon remained slightly distrustful of me, however, but I think that was born more out of a brotherly protective instinct, at this point.

Fortunately for me, much of the destroyed section of the house had been caught in a weak barrier shield surrounding the building. It was normally intended to keep things out rather than to contain things. However, the force of my Pettigrew Blasting Curse was such that I actually ripped a gash through the barrier, which resulted in quite a few pieces lost to the abyss. I was able to recover some of those fragments using a taxing multi-summoning spell, but we decided that a few trips to a wizarding lumber yard would be necessary.

Much of it could be reconstructed using a variety of repairing, constructing, and sticking charms, but most of the magical artifacts and portraits kept in the room were now hopelessly destroyed. I vowed to buy replacements, but Gideon said not to bother, as what gave those objects their meaning wasn't their presence but their history.

As I toiled, giving and taking from the ever present flow of magic to keep being able to cast after so long, Tessa decided that, "Today, I'm going to read you the news!"

I winced. "Um…I'd rather you didn't…"

She waved me off. "I know you don't want to get your feelings hurt or whatever, but it's important for you to hear what people are saying about you, mate! I mean, sure, the news is always a little biased, but…"

"I don't normally mind the news, but it's when they pull all this sensationalizing crap that I get furious," I muttered. "Bloody yellow journalists."

"Still, don't worry; it's pretty big stuff they're saying about you this time, really. And it'll be good for all your strategy," she said the word mockingly, "or whatever you and Fabian are always on about! A strategy for what?"

"For making the most of our family alliance," I grunted, concentrating on forming yet another board from its splinters. "There are a lot of goals we could tackle together, in order to benefit both of our families, and, with any luck, all the wizarding world one day."

"Wow. You sound JUST like him. Kind of sad, really." She gasped. "You should totally go out with him! You're both really cute! The two of you would be such a sweet couple!"

"Yeah, all except for the part where we're not gay."

"Hmm…I'm pretty sure you'd be the sub and Fabian the dom…Fabian's older, bossier, and more experienced, after all, and you whine all the time and get the shit kicked out of you more than any normal person does. You ARE the more muscular and athletic one, though. And Fabian likes to pole dance. So it IS a little confusing. What are your thoughts on the matter, Pete?"

"…I think you should just read the bloody news, Tessa."

"Oh! Right! Let's see…the Daily Prophet wrote a big article on you, along with several Op-Ed pieces on the side, discussing what you are and what you represent and all that rubbish. Aren't YOU special?! So can I just read the main article? That's the one most people will read, anyway."

"You can do whatever you want," I said, laying the newly-repaired board down in the gap and securing it with a variety of sticking, anti-gravity, shielding, and stabilization spells.

"WhatEVER I want?" she asked seductively. "That's a dangerous thing to say to a girl who's not wearing any knickers."

"Tessa…"

"Fine! Mr Grumpypants…" She proceeded to read me the articles on me from the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and the Quibbler, mocking nearly every other sentence as she went. Listening to her androgynous, amusing voice made the work go by painlessly, though, so I just let her keep on going.

The Daily Prophet

New Dark Rising

by Willow Warbley

Following a shockingly violent display of magic in a short but historical duel last night, Peter Pettigrew has suddenly become a key figure in the rapidly-escalating civil war. The most memorable Yule Festival in decades saw the diminutive young wizard answer the now-deceased Amycus Carrow's challenge to a Wizard's Duel on the spot, an event immediately turning the spirit of the festival on its head, from jovial leisure to bloodthirsty combat.

Interestingly, interviews with guests at the party reveal that the majority of spectators cast their bet for Carrow over Pettigrew in a roughly 5 to 2 ratio. Our analysts believe that this massive miscalculation found its genesis in the fact that almost no observers had ever seen Pettigrew in combat before, whereas Carrow was an established battler who had reigned victorious several times in the dueling ring before. In fact, some witnesses claimed that dueling was Carrow's one strong point, as he was generally boorish and prone to offensive behavior in most social situations. Suffice to say that Carrow will not be missed…though, if Pettigrew had lost, as expected, he would likely not have been missed, either, if only for a complete lack of exposure up to this point.

There is no question now, however, that Pettigrew was the superior wizard, both in and out of the dueling ring, despite being three years Carrow's junior. This reporter had the pleasure of interviewing Pettigrew immediately after the duel, and the fifth year Gryffindor displayed the eager intelligence and bashful charisma and charm typical of a less cultured Pureblood, who, though stumbling over his words at times, showed himself to be a much more pleasant conversationalist than anyone in the Carrow family.

With festival host Abraxas Malfoy officiating, the brief duel proceeded as follows: Carrow unleashed a flood of various spells commonly employed by those of dark alignment, including the controversial Blood-Boiling Curse and Soul-Shriveling Curse. Pettigrew blocked every spell with a luminescent Dark Shield – he may be the youngest wizard to ever successfully employ one in an official duel – which notably made Carrow hesitate. For a moment, neither wizard casted, though Pettigrew soon employed an extraordinarily destructive spell, which impaled Carrow's body with an artillery of towering, shimmering, gemstone spears. The spell made quick work of the victim, liquidating him within seconds. Pettigrew has been noted by several observers as looking deranged and shrouded in darkness in the immediate aftermath of the spell, and, indeed, this reporter's skin crawled as the fifteen-year-old laughed and showered in Carrow's bloody, spewing remains.

This duel is notable for a great many reasons, mostly due to the various questions it raises. Is this child, having never before battled outside of school grounds, a product of Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's outlandish teaching methods? What exactly was that spell? Our researchers and spell historians have never observed its use before, nor can they definitively trace it to any documented spell in the past. Sources from the Department of Mysteries identify it as a form of Earth Magic, but do not recognize its particular makeup. Could Pettigrew or Dumbledore have created the spell? What exactly is going on in Hogwarts to allow a child access to this kind of potent destruction? Is the spell Dark, and, for that matter, is Pettigrew? Is he an insane Gryffindor crusader, or a secretive Slytherin sorted into the wrong house?

Pettigrew has suspiciously removed himself completely from the public eye following the events on Yule. It is notable, however, that one Molly Prewitt approached him and announced that Pettigrew and her had formed some sort of "agreement" beforehand where he would join her at the Prewitt family house should anything unexpected occur.

From this statement, one could argue that Pettigrew, in fact, intended to showcase his abilities during the Festival in some manner. More importantly, it suggests a previously unknown allegiance between their respective families. As both have had a complex history of being grey-dark, an alliance between the two seems reasonable and likely, but an important question about them is as follows: Does his family support the Dark Lord's side, or that of the Ministry?

Pettigrew tellingly refused to answer. The only reasonable way to interpret such a response is that he is siding with or in support of the Dark Lord – why else would he avoid answering? The duel with Carrow must have surfaced from a simple rivalry, not from an issue of blood politics. This is a great shame and a significant cause for alarm, since a child of such great potential could grow to be a great force for good if he so wished. We can only hope that it is not too late for him.

"Well, that could've been worse," Tessa said, pleasantly.

"…In what way?!"

"Er…" she clearly was at a loss. "Um, she acknowledged your glory and awesomeness! She wouldn't have been shitting her knickers about you if you were just some punk kid! You're like…THE punk kid!"

"Yes…look how much of a rebel I am; I'm fixing your damn floors," I growled.

"You really hate this, don't ya?"

"I do. But I'll see it through to the end, don't you worry."

"You better! I like a man who doesn't give up before the job's done."

I smirked. "Are you naturally this much of a perv, or do you provide this as a special service for me?"

"Wh-what are you even talking about? I'm a perv? Get your head out of the gutter, mate."

I shook my head, reconstructing another board of the floor. "So…you said you had more articles?"

"I sure do! There's The Quibbler and Witch Weekly remaining."

I sighed. "Since I'm ESPECIALLY not in the mood for whatever Witch Weekly has to say about me, let's just get that out of the way first."

"I don't understand your logic at all, but, if that's what you want, your wish is my command."

She cleared her throat and began, her reading voice sounding far more irritable this time for some reason.

Witch Weekly

'Tis the season to be drop-dead sexy

by Aquamarine Lockhart

A new Yuletide gift has been packaged (and how), giftwrapped (in the finest suit of Monsieur Madresacre's Dress Silk robes this reporter has ever lain her eyes upon), and delivered (through yours truly) to single witches everywhere this year – Peter Pettigrew!

Shrouded in mystery, danger, and power, Peter's easily the new heartthrob of the season for all witches that can't get enough of sexy, dark wizards. His youthful, mind-blowingly chiseled body was in fine form last night as he dueled for his life, being covered only with sweat and those electrifying, hyper-tight, thin red robes. Don't worry, ladies – we've got over thirty minutes of footage of him, available for only 7 Galleons at our headquarters!

Peter is a fine, forbidden male specimen with the immaculate, rugged body of a Beater. It is a ridiculous body, I'm sure all our readers will agree. One might almost say that Monsieur Madresacre had his body-constricting, nearly-transparent robes designed for Peter in particular. It's difficult to look at moving pictures of him, his rippling muscles threatening to burst out, without getting lightheaded. Also…younger readers and paedophiles, avert your eyes, but…that kid is ENDOWED! Those robes are nearly pornographic, and I, for one am so glad that they are!

His fearless, bright blue eyes look fueled with magic itself, and his soft blonde hair completes the image – Peter is truly a far more sexy wizard than anyone that young ought to be. What I would give to be in Hogwarts again! Girls – don't waste this opportunity!

Although he's seemingly come out of nowhere, this dueling champion has been quietly attending Hogwarts for nearly five years, though several female classmates I interviewed claim that they never realized just how ripped and sexy he was.

Though Peter has slain a wizard tonight that many suspected to be a Death Eater, he did so using a powerful, seemingly dark spell the likes of which the world has never seen! Although I'm no expert, I'd say Peter would have more than a fighting chance when faced against several aurors. Therefore, although Peter is single, witches strictly on the light side of the Wizarding world ought to approach him with caution, as signs point to dark affiliation of some sort.

But, wait! Though he claims he is single, and has never even been kissed, one Molly Prewitt may have designs on him, as she swooped by in a ridiculously skanky dress and apparated him away to her home – in the middle of the interview! Hopefully he can escape before he is ensnared in her sticky web!

Some suspect that Peter may one day rise to claim the title of Dark Lord, given the current power and bloodlust he displays. If so, keep in mind that he'll be looking for a Dark Lady! If you're interested, (who wouldn't be?) you should try to be the one to land his legendary first kiss! That way, you'll always be important to him, no matter what.

Peter simply has a mystique about him that attracts ordinary witches to his persona. Flip to page A-4 to get a sheet of strategic Peter seduction tips and a collectible photograph of him panting and ready to spring into action! Rawr! Also, see page A-5 for our special article, Why We Love Peter Pettigrew!

"Holy…I don't even think there's an explicative appropriate for the kind of horrible, turgid shit that article was," I said with several shivers of horror.

"Horrible, turgid shit, I think that basically covers it," Tessa grinded out, looking wholly displeased.

"I really feel like I need a shower after hearing that. Do you think she was actually masturbating while writing that?"

Tessa threw the papers to the floor and whirled away from me, her sunset-colored hair spraying about her back as she did. "Are you kidding me?! Don't you dare get a big ego over this, Mister Pettigrew! You're just the next big thing, so everyone's freaking out over you! Got it?"

"Oh, don't worry, I'm not getting a big head. I'm well aware that anyone who has…THOSE kinds of feelings for me isn't real about them at all."

She exhaled a little. "Oh. That's…that's good."

"What the hell's got YOU so upset?" I asked her suspiciously. "You didn't react like this when the Prophet accused me of being Voldemort's bitch!"

"I-I'm sorry, I…don't know what came over me," she sighed. "I think…reading the news was a mistake. You were right."

"Hey, I don't mind…"

"You arsehole! You DO just like getting your dick sucked by the press!"

I met her glare with a bored expression. "If you hadn't cut me off, I was going to say that I don't mind hearing you read it, simply because it helps me get my mind off the repetitive work I'm doing here. Relax, Tessa…do…you want me to get you a drink or anything?"

"No…I'm fine…I think," she sighed, holding herself tightly across the chest. "Is it just me, or is it burning up in here?"

"Well…being that it's winter and there's a giant hole in the house…"

"Oh, shut up. Maybe I'm coming down with something." She sounded strangely hopeful at the idea.

I narrowed my eyes but didn't want to push her anymore; she and I seemed to be on very peculiar terms these days. Ever since I called her cute that one time, she's been snapping off-and-on like a crazy person. I mean, more like a crazy person that usual. Molly said that she didn't have any sort of multiple personality disorders or anything like that…so what's her deal?!

Oh well.

"So," I said, "Does Witch Weekly print similar articles for other up-and-coming male celebrities?"

"OH yeah," she said with a grimace. "You should see the one they wrote for the Young Lord Malfoy. I actually vomited upon finishing it."

"I can totally sympathize with you, there."

"Well, let's not mention that trashy rag anymore, shall we?" she grinned, wadding it up and throwing it out the large makeshift window. "Do I have your permission to see what The Quibbler has to say about your exploits that evening?"

"I daresay you do, my lady. Now be a dear and read it for me while I conduct these repairs on your fucking basement, there's a good lass," I said in a mockery of Gilderoy's pompous swagger.

"Oh no, you've got it wrong, Sir Pettigrew – the Fucking Basement is down the hall and the first door on the right. This, my good manservant, is the Ornithology Studychamber."

"Do tell? I often get the two mixed up, I'm afraid. Is the Fucking Basement still put to use these days?"

"Well, I HARDLY think this is appropriate floor-fixing conversation, my good fellow. You can't expect a lady to reveal all that she keeps betwixt her knickers right away, you know – it could besmirch an honest gentleman's opinion of her, you understand."

"Is it just me, or…is this old fashioned discourse sort of…"

"Erotic?" she beamed with delight.

"I…was going to…NOT say that, but we'll go with erotic, sure," I beamed right back, feeling a small win at the fact that I'd again made her blush adorably. At least she seemed to be enjoying herself after our small banter. "Ready?"

"F-f-for…?" she asked worriedly.

"Um…the next article?"

"Oh, fuck! I thought you meant…er, never mind, let's move on, shall we?"

"…Okay…?"

The Quibbler

A New Champion

by Heliodelphia Lovegood

No one could have expected a duel to break out between the heirs of the Carrow and Pettigrew family last night, but it took an even more incredible turn soon after – Carrow was decimated without a trace by an unidentified but quite powerful Earth Magic Spell. Wizardfolk over five kilometers away reported feeling its tremors.

Due to the shocking conclusion, Pettigrew will surely become an overnight celebrity, a change helped tremendously by his near-complete anonymity before this fateful night. It's important, however, not to get ahead of ourselves and draw too many conclusions from what is essentially an honour duel. The extreme power of the Earth Magic Pettigrew used is already earning him outright suspicion and malice in the community, many evidently interpreting the spell as dark magic.

However, when asked, Peter declined to comment on his alignment, and other reports indicate that he and his two female Prewitt family allies took down Bellatrix Black and the nefarious Lestrange brothers earlier in the evening. To make befuddle things even more, Peter had a very public argument with longtime companions James Potter and Sirius Black that same night, who are his fellow so-called Marauders and strictly light side wizards. So, what on earth IS his alignment?

Several witnesses at the Festival, which was held on the Malfoy grounds this year, had strong reactions to Pettigrew's demonstration.

"He should be thrown in Azkaban immediately, or at least put under House Arrest!" Ernthistle Brown said.

Gladys Diggory denounced him, saying, "Bloodlust? More like an unquenchable thirst for evil! There's no way I'm letting my child return to Hogwarts with a creature like him there!"

When asked for his opinion, Albus Dumbledore remarked, "In my humble opinion, I do believe Mr. Pettigrew was the victor of this duel," before apparating from the premises. Perhaps he misunderstood the question.

It is important for us to keep a level head about this; although murder in the dueling circle is a bit of a moral grey area, Pettigrew has famously remained quiet and inactive for much of his young life, despite his evident virtuosity in battle. We ought to wait and see if this demonstration of power was an exception or a new standard of behavior for him before making any snap decisions on what to do about this potential threat to our security.

"Hm," I said, setting the last of the boards in for this room and letting out a massive sigh of relief. "At least it seemed to be giving me a fair shake."

"Well, The Quibbler's known for bringing forth the real facts, you know, not that subjective, government-bought tripe the Prophet calls news," Tessa said knowledgeably.

"Well put," I grinned. "So…I'm exhausted, and I probably smell horrible now…"

"Several degrees worse than horrible, I'm afraid," Tessa said brightly, covering her nose with her paper.

I blushed. "I'm sorry…I'll go shower right away."

"Pssh, don't worry!" Tessa beamed. "If I hated foul-smelling people, I'd have already killed myself by now!"

I chuckled a bit at that, but noticed when I'd stopped that Tessa looked strangely distant, all of a sudden. Like she was actually deep in thought, for a change. "Er…Tessa? Are you alright?"

She looked up at me, her chocolate eyes oddly unsettling somehow…I think it was due to the fact that they were unblinking and wider than usual. "Peter…may I ask you a question?" she asked very slowly.

I looked around worriedly. "Yes, but…do you want me to cast a Muffliato first to give us some privacy, just in case?"

"Be my guest."

I quickly did so and then nodded to her, folding my arms and waiting.

She licked her lips, finally blinking a couple of times before looking straight at me, chilling my blood a bit with her hollow gaze. "Would you miss me, Peter? If I disappeared…and you didn't notice at first? If it turned out I'd…let's say, moved to somewhere very far away and I didn't say goodbye…would you…feel sad?"

"Well…I don't think that's a realistic question, Tessa."

"…How do you mean?"

I walked up to her and put a hand gently on her tiny, skeletal shoulder. "Of course I would notice…talking to you is one of my favorite things to do each day. I'd notice immediately if you'd left."

Her face flashed through several different colors before settling on a pale, deathly white. "Why couldn't you just make this easy for me, Pete?"

"If you just let me know what I can do to help you out…I'll do it. No matter what it is, I promise I'll do it."

She grinned, her eyes suddenly looking as deranged and predatory as they had in the bathroom the other night. Both then and now, there were plenty of tear drops clinging to her eyelids. "You can't."

"I just want to…"

"Stop talking," she breathed in a sort of sultry voice, the air from her lungs washing over my lips. "You're…just so…god damned annoying."

I nodded, standing and waiting for her to make her next move. I hadn't forgotten Molly's warnings about the danger associated with Tessa, but I also felt that, in order to make any kind of progress with the unhinged girl, I had to put myself out of my comfort zone a little.

"If I fell…" she said, mouthing a few extra words in thought, before speaking up again, "If I fell through the hole sometime over break…you'd save me, wouldn't you? You'd be there to catch me, wouldn't you? Even if I told you not to be?"

"Tessa…I want to always be there to catch you. You're, like, the ONLY person, other than Remus, who's stuck by me through my hardest months. It's all I can do to return the favor."

"So…you hanging out with me this break is a sort of like…you holding up your part of a bargain?"

"No, of course not! You are my best friend right now." I didn't REALLY consider her that, but it felt like the right thing to say. "And part of being a best friend is always being there for the other person to rely on. Alright? You don't have anything to fear while I'm around, Tessa." I said with a shy smile, which she returned.

"O-okay."

"Feel like getting the hell away from this hole?"

"Yeah. Too much sentimentality's going on unchecked here for my tastes," she said, making a grossed-out grimace. We walked out the door and strolled lazily towards the living area.

"I wonder whose fault THAT is? Guys aren't programmed to talk about this kind of stuff, you know," I pointed out to her.

"Hey now, don't be telling those kinds of lies. People might get the wrong idea about me. Besides, YOU were the one who wasn't able to think of any way to express himself but through horrible lines like 'OH! You don't have anything to fear while I'm around!'"

"Shut up, you liked it."

"If I did, it's only because of how lovably moronic it made you look."

"Thanks for that."

"No problem. That's what I'm here for."

"Oh, so I support you and you pick on me for laughs?"

"That's basically our friendship in a nutshell. I'm glad you've caught on."

"Just because I've caught on doesn't mean I approve of it," I muttered.

I overheard Molly whispering to one of her brothers through a cracked-open door as we passed by, "See? I told you! They're head-over-heels for each other!"

I wasn't about to let a comment like THAT slide, so I grabbed the doorknob and swung it open, smacking Molly and Fabian away. "Oh, I'm sorry! I had no idea anyone was here! My bad! Carry on with your eavesdropping," I invited them with a grin (Fabian looked pissed, as usual), returning to a chuckling Tessa. "Damn am I excited for my shower!"

"Trust me, I am FAR more excited for it than you are," she said with a wink.

---

A couple days later, I announced to the Prewitts that I'd completed the repairs.

"I think you mean we completed the repairs," Tessa corrected.

I sighed. "Fine…Tessa helped."

"You're god damn right I did, bitch!" she said with an innocent grin that didn't match her words. She'd basically gone back to being herself after my cheesy "I'll always be there for you" speech. Odd, since she seemed not to take my words seriously at all, going as far as to mock them. I can't pretend to understand women, though; especially women named Tessa.

"Very well," Gideon said, standing up and dusting himself off. "I'll go evaluate your work. Make sure you take a look at some of your mail, would you? It's getting a bit unmanageable."

I nodded and went into the next room over, jumping in alarm. There was an enormous pile of mail addressed to me, which had more or less taken over the brothers' desk.

I shrugged and cast, "Accio mail from classmates," receiving, strangely, only a handful of letters. Who the hell sent all the others? I pilfered through them and recognized the names of many ministry officials, politicians, businessmen, and family lords. I grimaced, having no desire to see people sucking up to me in print (or cursing me in print, as I'm sure was the case for some of them). I pocketed the mail from my classmates and searched through the pile to find the responses from my father and from Carrow, Sr.

I then sat on a loveseat in the room and opened up the first letter.

Tessa peeked her head in through the door. "Heya Pete! If you'd like, I could sit on your lap and read your letters out loud to you while you rest your eyes!"

"Hmm…" I pretended to consider it. "Are you wearing any knickers today?"

She looked up at the ceiling. "I can't remember exactly…hmmm…let's see…oh! Right, I'm going commando at the moment."

"Then I'm afraid not this time, sorry."

"Dammit! I thought I had you this time!" she cursed in mock regret. "You will rue this day, Mr. Pettigrew! Maybe not today…maybe not tomorrow…but one day, you'll fall prey to some serious, hardcore ruing!"

After she slammed the door, I shook my head exasperatedly and slid the letter out the sleeve.

Heya Wormtail,

How the hell are you, mate? Listen, what you did at the Festival really gave the Wizarding World a severe herniated disc. That was badass, in all sorts of ways.

Most importantly, though…have you gotten any action from your exploits? I couldn't help but notice that the exceedingly buxom Molly Prewitt whisked you away from the Festival. You better have nailed her, mate, or I really will begin a campaign to get you to come out of your comfortable poofing wonderland! I mean, that is one woman whose breasts really should be venerated by wizardkind till the end of days. There's no excuse not to cop a feel, at the very least. I expect a report on your exploits, stat!

Also, please disregard what Prongs said at the party – I don't share his thoughts on the matter at all. You'll always be a Marauder to me, even if you turn out to be into dicks more than chicks. See what I did there? That's right. I rhymed. Deal with it, Pettigrew!

Like I said at that sorry excuse for a festival, James has been moping around and lashing out at everyone for a while from plain old, sheer unresolved sexual tension. I keep telling him to just roll around with one of his five thousand or so fangirls, but he won't have it, the ponce! And now he's taking it out on the rest of us. While I'm campaigning for you to become more comfortable with your peter-puffing inner self this year, I'll also be campaigning for him to start lowering his standards, and, thus, drawers, just for a tiny bit.

Anyway, as soon as you stop reading, I order you to wander over to Molly, tell her that even angels pale in comparison to her fantastic beauty, that you don't know what you would've done without her, and then give her a warm, gentlemanly hug; with no erection, as impossible as that sounds. That method always works for me. She'll at least get wet, guaranteed – don't worry, she's thought about it. No, really - she's certainly thought about it! There's NO way she'd save your neck from the paparazzi like that if she hadn't.

Let's go witch hunting in Hogsmeade next semester, alright? With your fame and my looks, we're going to have more anal sex than we know what to do with! With, you know…witches. Not…each other. Right. Well.

HAPPY BOINKING!

Your ally in conquering the female species,

Padfoot

I don't really know what to say to that…I'm glad he still feels that we're on good terms, though. Actually, since he is acquainted with the vast majority of women in the school, I've been meaning to ask him if he knows the identity of the white-haired girl from my dreams. I'll do just that, actually.

After I wrote him a brief response, agreeing to go witch hunting with him sometime soon and describing in detail the girl from my dreams, I opened Remus's letter.

Dear Peter,

I've heard tell of your performance at the Yule Festival this year – that spell you used was one of the ones I helped you obtain, correct? I hope you're pleased with the results, though I'm concerned that the wizarding world is starting to get too paranoid about you. As a werewolf, I can tell you that a paranoid population is a dangerous thing to find yourself up against. Anyway, I hope that you're well, and that you can stay safe till you return to Hogwarts.

You may recall that you owe me a favor; I'd like to call it in now, if you're available Thursday night. I have some grave news about a new threat that I'd like you to help me sabotage. Telling you more through Owl Mail would be too dangerous – indeed, I may have said too much already – but I'd like to meet you at 8 PM tomorrow at the Leaky Cauldron.

Thanks in advance, and please be as discreet as possible,

Remus

A new threat? My curiosity is certainly peaked. I'll definitely be there. With any luck, it'll have something to do with bringing down the Dark Lord.

On to Lily!

Dearest Peter,

I hope you're doing well this break! I just wanted to wish you a Merry Christmas, and let you know that I'm very disappointed in how rarely I got to spend time with you this past term. That is going to change from now on, Mister Pettigrew! You need to make it up to me, okay? Good, glad we got that settled. I know you're shy and self-conscious, but, to tell you a secret, I am, too. That's why I think we get on so well.

I want to be there for you, Peter; you're one of my best male friends, you know.

Remember to do your potions homework for the break, my fellow Honorary Potions Master! I expect to be impressed when I see you next!

Love,

Lily

Wow…I feel a little guilty for just how turned on that letter made me. But she said "Love, Lily!" And told me I NEED to make it up to her! I mean, damn…could it be…POSSIBLE…that she likes me? I'd love it if she did, but James would force-feed me my own crotch if that turned out to be the case, so…on to, er…Rita?

Dear Peter,

I hope you're alright with me writing you; I'm sure you're getting a deluge of mail, after all, owing to your heartstopping duel last night! I was freaking out when it first started, since I thought you were surely going to die. Thanks for surviving, and for doing it so gloriously! It was an amazing sight.

Okay, with regard to our last conversation, I thought about it a great deal while lying awake in bed last night (no, not like that!) and came to the conclusion that, when viewed objectively, you only told me you loved me and wanted to marry me in order to shut me up so you could go and duel Carrow. After all, you had already attempted to dismiss me several times before you abruptly said all that stuff. I feel very embarrassed that I didn't detect your obvious sarcasm at the time, and I hope you don't think too little of my intelligence because of that.

At any rate, pathetic though it may be, I'd like to believe you have at least a slight interest in us getting to know each other. I know we've only rarely interacted in the past, and it must seem quite suspicious for me to only say so now that you're exceedingly famous, but I really would like to get to know you better. You have my word that I would refrain from reporting on anything concerning you unless you gave me your explicit permission to do so; I'd be willing to swear it on an Unbreakable Vow, if you wanted. I'm sure this must sound like a ridiculously odd request, and I apologize. I really hope you don't see me as a psychotic fangirl or a fame vampire. The only reason I bring it up is due to the warm feeling I got when you claimed that you loved me. I won't fool myself into thinking that anything along those romantic lines would be remotely possible, but I'd dearly love to simply be your friend. Believe it or not, I have very few of those.

I perfectly understand if you're not interested. I realize that this is a very odd way to propose a friendship, after all, and you don't seem to regard me in much of a positive light, anyway. I figured it wouldn't hurt to try, though, because I badly want you in my life.

Please respond, no matter your answer! My heart's already pounding, and the waiting hasn't even begun!

With sisterly love,

Rita

P.S. I'll never, ever write a defaming article about you again – I apologize profusely for everything I've ever written about you in print. If there's anything at all I can do to make it up to you, I'll do it. Just let me know.

Wow…How very surprising. Well…I suppose it couldn't hurt to give friendship with her a try, ESPECIALLY if she makes an Unbreakable Vow not to use me as fodder for her newspaper. I am aware of her lack of actual friends, after all, so I feel sympathetic about her.

Also, I was ashamed to realize that reading "If there's anything at all I can do to make it up to you, I'll do it" made my mind leap immediately to having anal sex with her. There's got to be something wrong with me…I must've been around Sirius for too long.

None of the other letters from classmates interested me…notably, James had not sent anything, which made me feel bitter and depressed. I hadn't really expected anything to the contrary, of course, but it was a grave reminder about how badly I'd butchered my friendships this term. I was lucky that the others were so forgiving.

Thus, I moved on to the letter from dear old dad.

Peter,

I see that you've taken all my advice about moving slowly, carefully, and subtly behind the scenes in society, and taken an enormous, clumsy Gryffindor-sized shit on it. You are a complete idiot, period.

However, as you pointed out over supper, enormous might can be wielded thoughtfully, and to impressive ends. You seem to have lucked out – I didn't believe your mother when she said you'd harnessed the magics of our family. After all, you are the first Pettigrew in ten generations to do so, which is why no one recognizes the spell (spell analysts were rare in those days). You have certainly done the Gryffindor side of your ancestors proud.

Now that you've displayed your potential, though, I would advise you to back off from showmanship, at least for the time being. You need to take advantage of your advantageous social position to strike fear into the hearts of all and make a name for yourself. A name people fear for its intelligence, wit, strategy, AND power.

You've already made one smart move – landing an alliance with the Prewitts was a combination of sheer, bumbling luck and apt analysis. There is no question that they will raise our family stature infinitely more than the Carrows ever could have. Be sure to make at least one more major public appearance with a female Prewitt on your arm before the end of your winter holiday, to solidify our union with the family in the public eye.

It is a good idea to try and impregnate one of the female Prewitts, as well. I don't entertain any great hope for you being able to accomplish this particular task, given your lack of sly subtlety, but if you see an opportunity, by all means, knock one of the girls up. You are staying with two, correct? I can advise you more on this when you return home (which you should do at least once before returning to Hogwarts). Tread carefully for now, and take great care not to push them away or offend them.

We must do whatever is necessary to end the marriage contract with the Carrows – do what you can, but I fear we may have to turn to more unseemly methods to separate ourselves from them. Now that your star has risen significantly, they will do whatever it takes to hold on to this contract.

Best of luck,

Victor Pettigrew

Alright then. I'd already been planning on returning home. And I certainly didn't think knocking up one of the Prewitts was likely at this point, so, as much as I'd like to do just that, I was going to have to ignore that command for now.

But making a public appearance, hm? I wonder if I could get Tessa to hit up Diagon Alley with me this week? After forcing her to clean herself up, though, of course. Actually…she'd probably take offense at being made to look her best, since, well…that's just how she is. I wonder what I can do on that front, then.

Deciding to read over his letter again later, I turned to my last important one.

Mr. Pettigrew,

Please don't be so formal – we're future in-laws, after all! By all means, come on over anytime tomorrow afternoon. I'll clear my schedule for you, and my dutiful daughter will naturally be present, as well. We have very much to plan, after all.

Do not worry about Amycus's passing, either, it was wholly his fault, since he was moronic enough to challenge you to a duel. I view it as a blessing, in fact – Amycus was in no way deserving of carrying on the Carrow family name. Since I need a new heir, this gives me an excuse to actually fornicate with my prudish wife, for once!

To your good health,
Aedipos Carrow

Ugh…he makes me sick. How can he shrug off his son's death like that, and force his daughter to marry her brother's killer? Dammit...my father was right, this was going to be tough. I'd better let him know to prepare an unseemly method or two.

I also remember asking Molly and Tessa for their assistance in uncovering a method to deal with the marriage situation. I wonder if they've come up with any legal loopholes or ideas I can work with…

I stretched, my back popping painfully back into place. Time to start fixing this mess.

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A/N: And that's a wrap for this update. I realize that not much terribly fascinating happened this time...well, I mean, it probably depends on what you find interesting. Rest assured, however, that this story is one that has LOTS of plot to cover, so even the comparative "down time" is still leading somewhere.

Be sure and let me know what you think of anything and everything!

I apologize on behalf of the Prewitt twins for their rude welcoming of Peter - keep in mind, though, that they just lost a major part of their family history, and to a bratty, upstart (likely) Dark acolyte kid with a massive erection and pink booty shorts. I mean, there's only a handful of reactions they could possibly have at that point, and most of them involve PAIN. XD

Please don't run away! I have so much more story to tell! :) Next update, we get a standoff with the Carrows, Peter going on a date (!), and a hefty helping of Remus and Peter in action! And don't worry, I'll slowly reveal more about Tessa and her condition.

See you next time, all you ridiculously awesome people!