A/N

Hello good people of FF! :D I am so so so so soooo sorry for this being so terribly late. My computer stopped working about two weeks ago and I had to get a new one, but before that I went on a weeks vacation. I just recently got my new computer so I am now able to upload! :D hurrah! The next one should come in sooner, but I will be leaving for another vacation on Monday so I haven't the slightest idea whether or not I shall be able to get on the internet. BTW, google chrome is awesome. Juuust sayin. Okay, so on with the show.

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Disclaimer: I do not own HP

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"What?"

"The Potter's Secret Keeper revealed the location of the house," Dumbledore repeated, somewhat angrily. "Whoever it was told Voldemort."

"But... Who is it? Do you know?"

"No." The answer made me begin to panic. My thoughts suddenly became murderous. Whoever had betrayed Lily would have to face my wrath.

"B-but it had to have been a friend, right? A friend of the Potters? They would not have given the secret to anybody else…right?" I began to stumble on my words, trying to get them out as quickly as I could.

"Well, they had asked me to be their Secret Keeper, but I refused, knowing that it would be better if it was not someone who was wanted dead around the world, especially by Voldemort. I do not know who they chose." Albus Dumbledore was hard in thought as he said this and began to scratch ferociously on his left hand—a nervous habit I am sure.

No. No, no, no. This could not be happening! Who on bloody earth would betray the Potters? Especially if they were a friend! I wracked my brain of anyone the Potters could be close to.

Lupin, Black, Pettigrew, Longbottom, Moody… I could think of no more, but none of these would betray the Potters!

I immediately ruled out Lupin and Black. If they had betrayed the Potters, they would have no reason to help me as they did to protect them. The Longbottoms were too far gone to do anything since they were tortured. Moody wouldn't help Voldemort even if Voldemort gave him everything he ever wanted in life; he was far too against anything of the Dark to even consider being the culprit.

Pettigrew. It had to be him! That mousy little coward would do anything to save himself. None other would make more sense to have betrayed the Potters than him.

"Dumbledore, it's got to be Pettigrew," I yelled. "Where is he? I can tell whether or not he's had any interaction with the Dark Lord!"

"Peter?" Dumbledore questioned, looking shocked. "Peter Pettigrew betrayed the Potters? How can you be sure, Severus? For all we know, it could have been anyone in the Order."

"Do you really believe that Lupin or Black could have done such a thing? They are practically family to Lily and Potter! And the Longbottoms... they're way past help, and almost dead in St. Mungo's. They wouldn't betray them; they care for the Potters far too much to sell them over to Voldemort! And Moody, he's absolutely repulsed by the mere thought of Dark magic! There is absolutely no way he could have done this!" Dumbledore mulled over my reasoning.

"So Pettigrew it is," he said firmly, turning his back on me and walking towards his Phoenix, Fawkes, who was perched upon a rail floating a few feet above Dumbledore's desk. He pulled out a small piece of parchment from his robes and quickly scrawled something on it and tucked it in a little pouch on Fawkes leg, then sent him off.

"Go, Severus. You can find Peter in Hogsmeade, he'll be in The Three Broomsticks, I'm sure. Go now." He instructed and I gave one short nod, determined.

I willed my feet to pull me forward and out of his office, then out of the castle. When I was off the grounds of Hogwarts, I apparated straight to The Three Broomsticks to find the man that I longed with all my heart to murder painfully.

It was easy enough to find the little traitor. He sat, nervous as ever, at the bar, twitching- his huge, terrified eyes scanning the room every few moments. I crept towards him, catching him by surprise when I caught him by the neck.

"Pettigrew," I hissed venomously. "We need to... have a little discussion." A whimper escaped the pitiful, mousy man.

"S-Severus? What are you d-doing?" he yelped. I pulled him off of his stool and out of the restaurant with my hand around his neck—itching with the urge and need to strangle him—and my wand pressed against his side. Once out of the Three Broomsticks, I Stupefied the traitor, not bothering to catch him when he fell to the ground.

"Mobilicorpus," I muttered softly, and his body lifted itself off the ground and floated beside me as I made my way back to Hogwarts.

The walk back was pleasurable for his whimpers were terrified. Sick as it may be, his fear fed fire to my flame. He would pay greatly for what he was to cost me in the future, and if I had my way, his head would be stuffed on my wall.

When we arrived back at the castle, and back in Dumbledore's office, I lifted the floating spell and he dropped to the ground making an enjoyable thud when he hit the stones.

"Severus, I know he's a dog, but careful please. He must have his bones intact for the time being." Dumbledore said, turning around at the noise.

I gave one curt nod and nudged Pettigrew with my foot so that he would flip over onto his back. His eyes were still as wide as galleons—if not wider—and his lip still trembled worriedly.

"What do we do now, Albus?" Dumbledore stared down at the traitorous rat laying at my feet.

"Firstly, we have to make sure that the Potter's are removed safely from that house," he replied. "Then we will see what we do with Mr. Pettigrew." Pettigrew whimpered feebly at that.

"If we take them from the house now, Voldemort will know that something is wrong," I muttered. "He has to stay under the impression that they are clueless to his attack."

"What are you saying, Severus?" Dumbledore asked, shocked. "Are you saying that we leave them up for attack?" I shifted away from the Headmaster.

"Well, no," I said, frowning. "We have to put up more wards, and tell them, obviously, but we have to leave them there until the very last moment; then we'll sweep in and take Voldemort by surprise."

"Surprising Tom is going to be much harder than you are making it seem, Severus," Dumbledore responded, his wise, old face looking gaunt and tired. "Though he is a murderous Dark Lord, he is a brilliant wizard, nonetheless."

"But we have to try." Dumbledore stared at me, his clear cerulean eyes twinkling in that strange way of his.

"Yes. I believe we must," he replied, before pointing his wand at Pettigrew. "But now, let me take care of this... issue." Pettigrew shrieked through closed lips as a bright light engulfed him.

He surely would be unable to wake from this sleep, or at least not until Azkaban.

Okay, so hope you enjoyed that even the slightest...

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Happy writings

Caroline (and Vanessa!)