Author's Note: Sorry this chapter took so long for me to write. I apologize. I would also like to thank those of you who keep reading it. The response to the story has been overwhelming.
An overweight man sat alone in his sitting room. The room was lit with only a single candle. It flickered, illuminating his nervous dull eyes. He leaned back in his chair, his large stomach heaving up and down as he took deep breaths. He was drifting off to sleep when a knock came to his front door.
"Go away," he mumbled, trying his hardest to pretend he wasn't home so that whoever was on the other side of the door would go away. Whoever was coming to call on this late Friday night was persistent however. Their knocks continued. Peter had no choice but to get up and make his way to the front door.
"Who is it?" he asked, opening the door and grabbing his wand from inside his robe. He pulled the door open and was unnerved by the guest on the other side. Not waiting for a welcome, Sirius pushed himself passed Peter and entered the apartment.
"S-Sirius?" Peter asked nervously, closing the door. "What are you doing here this time of night?"
"Peter, something happened a few days ago," said Sirius, trying his best to sound urgent. "I stopped hearing from Lily and James and when I went to their place, it was abandoned. The front door was unlocked and no one was home."
"H-how did that happen?" asked Peter. His hand was inside his robes, but clutching his wand tightly.
"I was hoping you could tell me," said Sirius, turning to face Peter. Sirius' gray eyes stared into the cold and empty ones of Peter. "I haven't spoken to Remus, but I know you're the secret keeper. Did they tell you anything?"
"N-no, they didn't," said Peter. "When I spoke to James last, everything was f-fine," he stammered.
"Have you told anyone about them, Peter?" asked Sirius in a dangerous tone.
"No," said Peter, his eyes darting around nervously. He watched Sirius' hand slowly enter his own robes. "Why would I do that?"
"Yes Peter," said Sirius, "why would you do that?"
"Crucio!" cried Peter. The jet of light barely missed Sirius, who darted behind an armchair.
"Sorry Peter," he yelled, trying to hear the man's movements. "I placed Anti-Apparation, and Anti- Transfiguration charms on the place before I came in. The only way you're getting out of here is if I drag you!"
Sirius stood and looked around, not seeing Peter anywhere. He checked to make sure the front was secure before turning and heading to the bedroom. He pushed the door open cautiously, not seeing anything in the darkness. He turned to leave when the closet door burst open.
"Stupefy!" cried Peter.
"Protego," Sirius countered. An invisible wall erupted in front of him. Peter's spell rebounded back at him, narrowly missing him. Sirius took his chance and ran up to the man, punching him hard in the jaw and knocking him unconscious. Sirius looked down at the man, his former friend and kicked him onto his back. He levitated him outside and with a small pop and swish of a cloak; the pair vanished into the night.
00000000000
Harry had settled into a normal routine at Number Twelve Grimmuald Place. He, along with his parents and Sirius would try to stay out of each others hair. With the five of them living in such close quarters, they thought it best that they each have their own space. Harry had taken advantage of the time by learning many new spells. He thought Hermione would be proud of him. Professor Dumbledore had given Harry many new spells books and whenever he was bored, he would study. This was becoming increasingly hard to do, as several times a day; one of the other three adults in the house would come into his room to ask him a question about the future. He did his best to answer them, but when Sirius began asking about World Cup results, he had to draw a line.
Harry was lying in his bed, still fully dressed. A breeze was blowing, though from where, he did not know. His wand was on the nightstand. He rolled over, his thoughts drifting to his friends. He hoped that they were alright and desperately wanted to know what they were doing. He hoped that Snape had shown them some leniency, but he remembered how cold the former Professor had been to Professor Dumbledore when he had murdered him atop the highest tower.
His thoughts were interrupted with a loud bang on his door. He grabbed his wand and saw the door push open, his mother standing on the other side.
"What happened?" he asked urgently.
"It's Sirius," she said breathlessly, "He's captured Peter and has him downstairs." She ran and Harry heard her footsteps heading downstairs. He followed after her. They made their way into the kitchen where James was already waiting. Harry saw Peter tied to a chair. Several bruises were swelling on his face.
"What happened to him?" asked Lily.
"It's no less than he deserves," said Sirius coldly.
"Where's Dumbledore?" asked Harry.
"He's on his way," said James. "He should be here in a few minutes."
"Have you cast the proper spells?" Lily asked, taking out her own wand and muttering as she made her way around the room.
"Did he put up a fight?" asked Harry. He looked at the man's swelling face and strangely felt a twinge of pity. It vanished quickly however.
"He tried to hex me a few times," said Sirius, "but my fist managed to persuade him into coming."
"How many times did you hit him?" asked Lily.
"Once in the beginning, but then I was feeling a bit giddy on the trip over here and couldn't resist," he smiled darkly, rubbing his knuckles.
"It's no less than he deserves," spat James vehemently.
Professor Dumbledore came into the room swiftly, startling all those already inside. Though it was close to midnight, he appeared to be still very much awake. He greeted all those present and surveyed the swelling face of Pettigrew for a moment.
"I suppose he fell," Dumbledore smiled kindly at Sirius.
"A lot," Sirius returned.
"Rennervate," muttered Dumbledore, pointing his wand at Peter. Peter stirred in his chair, coughing as he regained consciousness. He looked around wildly, his dark eyes darting from face to face as he struggled to get himself free from the ropes constricting himself to the chair.
"There is no reason for you to struggle, as escape is futile," said Dumbledore, and Harry noted the new harshness in his voice.
"P-Professor D-Dumbledore…what's g-going on h-here?" asked Peter, doing a very unconvincing impression of a man who didn't know what was going on.
"I believe you know very well what has happened, Peter," said Dumbledore. "Please, do not try to play on our intelligence. You are a Death Eater. You betrayed your friends to Lord Voldemort."
"I w-would never betray them," said Peter. "My allegiance lies with the Order."
"Scum!" hissed James, pulling up Pettigrew's sleeve to reveal the Dark Mark. "How dare you lie to us?"
"Calm down James," Lily whispered, pulling her husband back to her and grabbing his hand.
"Peter, you will be turned over to the Ministry of Magic," said Dumbledore. "Sadly however, we must do our own interrogation first, as we are not sure who can be trusted in the Ministry."
"I have done nothing wrong!" yelled Peter. "W-what is there to be g-gained from denying him? H-he is taking over everywhere."
"Innocent lives, Peter," said Lily.
"You don't understand," whined Peter, "he would have killed me!"
"THEN YOU SHOULD HAVE DIED," Roared Sirius. "Rather than betray your friends, as we would have done for you!"
"Sirius, enough," said Dumbledore quietly. Sirius looked to Pettigrew as though he had never seen him before. He mumbled something under his breath before leaving the room and heading down a hall.
Dumbledore reached into his robes and pulled out a small vial. Harry remembered the little potion from his fourth year. It was Veritaserum, a very powerful truth potion. He watched as Dumbledore tipped the portion into Pettigrew's mouth. The man gagged a few times but with a hand clasped over his mouth, they watched as he swallowed the potion. His eyes became glazed over.
"What is your name?" asked Dumbledore.
"Peter Pettigrew," said the balding man in the chair.
"When did Lord Voldemort come to you for information concerning Lily and James?"
"He approached me shortly after graduation from Hogwarts. He heard the prophecy and wanted information about them."
"Did you resist him?" Lily interjected. She couldn't help but know.
"I tried," said Pettigrew. "But he promised to protect me."
Lily muttered something.
"Where does Lord Voldemort take up residence?"
"I do not know," said Peter. "He calls us to different places whenever he needs us.
"Does Lord Voldemort know the full contents of the prophecy?" asked Dumbledore.
"No," said Peter. "He seeks to soon venture into the Hall of Prophecy to learn its full premise."
"The Hall of Prophecy?" Lily looked perplexed.
Dumbledore motioned for the other three to follow him into the hall. Once safely out of ear shot of Peter, he began to fill them in.
"The Hall of Prophecy is a room inside the Department of Mysteries," explained Dumbledore. "Inside, there is a record of every prophecy ever given."
"We have to get to it," said James urgently.
"It is not that simple for either of us," said Dumbledore. "No one is supposed to know about the Hall of Prophecy. Even if we were able to reach it, the only person who can retrieve a prophecy from there is the persons about whom the prophecy was made."
Harry nodded, remembering that room all too well from his experience there in his fifth year.
"Voldemort will be unable to walk into the Ministry and gain access to it. The Aurors are constantly guarding the Ministry."
"I think we should put up our own security," said James. "I trust the Ministry, but I trust us more."
"I agree," said Dumbledore. "Let us continue questioning Mr. Pettigrew."
00000000000
It had been two weeks since Potter traveled into the past, Severus remembered as he waved his wand over the glowing white substance. He was hoping that Potter had suffered some horrible fate that had stopped him from changing anything in the past, but knowing Potter's luck, he had survived.
"It is done," said Severus.
"When do we leave?" asked Hermione.
"We?" asked Severus, surveying the girl.
"We're going with you!" she said defiantly. "You can't just leave us here. We want to find Harry even more than you do."
"No doubt that you two believe that you will help me, however, I do not need help," said Severus.
"We need to help Harry," yelled Ron from his chair.
"What are you going to do with us?" asked Hermione. "You can't very well let us go without our wands. We'll be captured or killed in the matter of days."
Though his face conveyed no emotion, his mind was moving rapidly. He knew there was truth in their words. "Fine," he said after a momentary silence. "I will hold onto your wands, however. If a situation arises where I feel you need them, they will be given back to you. I must warn you though, if you attempt to any sort of funny business, I will be forced to hex you and leave you where you drop."
Severus conjured several vials and filled each of them with the potion. The basin was half way empty now. "Ms. Granger, untie Mr. Weasley."
Hermione kneeled behind Ron and began to untie him. Her eyes were focused on Snape. She leaned into Ron and whispered. "Ron, after we go through what ever this is, we have to overpower Snape. We have to get our wands back and then find Harry. Don't say or do anything."
She finished untying him. They watched as Snape burned a circle on the ground. He then poured the contents of the cauldron onto the ground. The potion, glowing white, filled in the circle. He put his foot in as though testing the water. Instead of hitting solid ground, his foot went through.
"Together," he said to Hermione and Ron. They walked over to join him.
"On the count of three," said Hermione.
"One, two, three," Snape said slowly.
At the count of three, the trio jumped into the larger puddle, falling through the floor and through time.