Chapter 46: The Return of Wormtail

Two weeks after I sent off my request to Pettigrew, a letter came in the post alongside my usual copy of the Prophet.

Mr. Potter, it read, it has come to my attention that the hostage you provided, one Peter Pettigrew escaped from his cell in Azkaban last night. Since you have a personal history with him, I thought to inform you of the situation and warn you to be on your guard. We know neither why nor how he escaped, and it is possible that he may seek revenge.

Amelia Bones, Head of the Department of Magical Lew Enforcement

"What's that about?" Seamus asked, indicating my letter.

"Just a letter from the DMLE. I'm thinking about entering the Auror training program," I lied, "maybe it'll give me an edge."

"Maybe." Seamus shrugged.

Dean leaned across the table, the Prophet clutched in one hand. "Did you hear? Peter Pettigrew escaped from Azkaban! He's the second one to have done it without any help. Do you think he's going back to You-Know-Who?"

"Most likely," I replied, buttering my toast and flipping to the Sports section. "It's not like he's got anywhere else to go."

"I wonder how he got out though," Dean wondered, looking around as if the answer would write itself in the air. "Don't you?"

I shrugged. I knew exactly how he'd escaped, but I wasn't going to tell him. "Sure. Hey, Ron – the Cannons actually won a game!"

Ron snatched the paper out of my hands, skimmed the article, and proceeded to do a victory dance around the Great Hall.

"Maybe it's a sign." Neville mused quietly. "Maybe things are changing for the better."

I leaned back in my seat, eyes turned towards the enchanted ceiling. It showed a flock of birds flying across a clear sky. "Maybe."

xxx

It was Halloween by the time I received word from Pettigrew. The note was short and came with a package wrapped in shiny black paper with a acid greed bow perched on top.

"If I didn't know better, I'd say that Voldemort sent you an anniversary present." Neville teased, a hint of a smile on his face. I just shook my head at his antics.

"If he did that's too bad – I certainly didn't get one for him."

Ron nudged me, gesturing with his fork at the note. "Well, get on with it already."

Shrugging, I removed the neon green envelope from the top of the box. Inside it was a black card that read "It's done. Here's proof and a souvenir. Hope you don't mind if I kept the rest, I need the money. Tell MOM not to worry about me – I'm taking off to a remote corner somewhere, and don't plan on returning in this lifetime. I won't miss you." There was no signature, just a glass vial with a silvery substance in it. I tucked the memory away in my robes for safekeeping, and picked up the box.

"Ron, I'll meet you and Luna at the Spot. There's something I need to do first." I said, catching Draco's eye from across the room and indicating the door. As I stood to leave, I sent a look in Snape's direction. Whatever was in this box, I'm sure he'd want to see it.

xxx

When I arrived at the Spot, Ron and Luna were already waiting for me. "What's in the box Harry?" Luna asked, tilting her head sideways as if looking from a different angle would allow her to see through it.

"No idea," I replied. "But I want to open it somewhere away from prying eyes with Snape around just in case whatever it is happens to be dangerous."

"Potter." Draco drawled, sauntering up to us with Snape in tow.

"Malfoy, Professor." I replied, inclining my head in their direction. "I was hoping we could go to that room you showed me the other night."

Draco shrugged elegantly. "This way."

The blonde set a brisk pace, and we arrived in the abandoned corridor in no time at all. "So," he said. "What's in the box?"

"I'm not sure what's in it, but what I am sure of is that it isn't the kind of thing I should open in a room full of students. Pettigrew sent it, and if I had to hazard a guess based on the card that came with it, it likely had a great ruddy snake corpse in it."

"A thrilling as this is, I am not a student," Snape sneered crossing his arms, "and as such do not have the liberty of being able to disappear for extended periods of time without suspicion. So please, do get on with it."

I nodded, opting to simply open the box instead of replying. Inside the box were two things: Naigini's head, sans fangs, and a pensive. I removed the pensive from the box and poured the memory into it. "Shall we?" Ron and Luna exchanged hesitant looks, but nonetheless decided to join Snape, Draco and myself inside the memory.

It was disgusting. Apparently Pettigrew had not had any suitable poisons on hand, and had resorted to a more unconventional yet effective solution.

"I can't believe he fed himself to Naigini." Ron shuddered looking a little green. "It gives new meaning to going 'into the belly of the beast'."

"That wasn't very funny Ronald." Luna said. "Besides, while his actions may have been uncanny, they were also very brave. It's not every day that you see someone willing to go to the lengths that he did to get the job done. It's quite admirable really…"

"Yeah, but it wasn't very smart." Ron countered, "What if he hadn't been able to transform back? What if had gotten stuck in his Animagus form?"

"He didn't," Draco sighed, "and that's all that matters. We'd all better get going before someone notices we're gone and decides to come looking for us. Especially you Professor—I'm sure Dumbledore is wondering where you got off to by now."

After saying our goodbyes, we all headed our separate ways, and despite my curiosity I did not follow Professor Snape to the dungeons to see just what he planned to do with Nagini's head. Instead, I turned down the second corridor, slipped behind a tapestry of a sleeping Hippocampus, and followed the secret passage to it's end on the second floor.

I had a Headmaster to see.