Chapter 151 Ron's Resistance

"The young are always foolish, Evan!" Peter gazed keenly at Evan and said in a bewitched voice, "You do not grasp the power of the Dark Lord. But I still keep my word. You are a clever lad, if we join forces..."

"I would rather die than betray my friends, nor would I frame innocent people for my own gain."

"Then we have nothing to discuss!" Peter said with disappointment. "I have not seen a wizard as talented as you in a long time. I intended to help you, to assist you in gaining unimaginable power and honor."

"The things you value are truly inconsequential!" Evan turned his head and refused to look at him.

"I do not think the same! Well, since you do not care, I will have to give this honor to those in need of it!"

His small watery eyes looked at Evan trying to guess what he was thinking, and then shifted to Ron. He said, "Come on, dear young master! Those honors are yours. Just catch Black and you will become a hero with a great reputation."

Upon hearing Pettigrew's call, Ron picked up the Marauder's Map from the floor.

"Wake up, Ron!" Seeing Ron's figure, Evan clenched his fist and exclaimed angrily. "Come on, do not listen to this guy. He killed Harry's parents. Now he wants to frame Black and Professor Lupin. You cannot help him. Do you want Harry to hate you for the rest of your life?"

At the mention of Harry's name, Ron hesitated.

He stood there, with pain reflected on his face, resisting the Imperius Curse.

"Come on, Ron!" Evan shouted. "Think of Harry, think of Hermione, think of all of us. We are all waiting for you. You do not need to prove anything. You are already the best!"

"Evan, Harry, Hermione, and all..." Ron murmured.

He looked even more distressed, but his eyes were clearer.

It was evident that the spell's effect on him was weakening. In that moment, Evan even believed he had succeeded.

But Peter's strident voice echoed again. "My dear young master, do you still remember what you told me that night? Those you considered friends always treated you as a follower, as a joke. They do not care about you at all!"

Evan saw a strange ethereal glow flashing at the tip of the wand in Peter's hand.

"Remember?!" Peter, with a strange smile on his lips, squeaked, "You want those who belittled you to regret and pay the price."

"Yes, I want them to regret! I want them to pay!"

Ron turned to Peter, and his pained expression eased.

His eyes, which were clearing, became dull and sad again.

"Stop, Pettigrew!" Seeing Ron's face, Evan's chest was filled with anger. He gritted his teeth and shouted, "Do not use my wand to cast these dirty spells. Do not use your evil and despicable magic to control Ron."

He wanted to charge at him, but Peter quickly turned his wand and pointed it at him.

"You do not understand, Evan!" Peter said softly. "Like James, Sirius, and Remus, talented wizards like you will never understand what we think. You will not know the pressure and pain caused by your unconsciously presumptuous behavior towards your mediocre peers."

In the quiet office, only Pettigrew's strident voice could be heard.

"Ron has had enough of you, Harry, and Hermione. Just like me in that year, I had had enough of James, Sirius, and Remus." Peter continued, "To earn their approval, like a fool, I was willing to pay them compliments and even risked my life to protect Lupin by learning Animagus. But what did I get in return? They never treated me as an equal friend. I was just their cowardly companion! Ron is just like me..."

"Ron is nothing like you!" Evan glared fiercely at Pettigrew. "He would never betray us! He is only being controlled by your Imperius Charm!"

"Do you really believe that? Do you know what Ron thinks of you, Harry, and Hermione?" Peter said slowly, "Here's a fact, I am not a Dark Lord, I am not as skilled with this spell, and I do not possess as much magical power. But Ron would never be able to rid himself of my Imperius Curse. Do you know why?

Pettigrew looked at Evan with disdain, and his cowardly expression intensified.

"Because what I made him do is exactly what he had always wanted to do. I'm not controlling him; I'm helping him achieve his desires!"

Peter gazed intently at Evan, hoping to see despair in his eyes.

For a moment, he even saw James, Sirius, and Remus in that boy. Those three used to be his best friends. He had always wanted to tell them how he truly felt and see their reaction, but he never had the courage.

Now, none of that matters. This boy is so much like James and Sirius. As long as Pettigrew can see his pain, he can feel healed inside.

However, Peter was immediately disappointed as Evan wasn't even looking at him.

Evan was gazing at Ron. He said calmly, "Ron, I know you've been under pressure for a long time! I know you may not be considered the 'best.' But we have always seen you as our best friend. For Harry, Hermione, for me, and for all, that's how it is.

Believe me, you are nothing like Pettigrew. When you were under Voldemort's Imperius Curse last year, you managed to break it to protect Ginny! Do you remember what Dumbledore said about it? Many excellent adult wizards could never do such a thing! We are all proud of you, Ron! You are unique. Please, awaken for yourself, for your family, and for your friends. I believe you can free yourself from Pettigrew's control. You can..."

"Enough!" Evan's actions disappointed Peter, who felt an unprecedented emptiness in his soul.

His eyes were clouded, and suddenly he felt the urge to weep. James, Sirius, and Remus would likely have been like this boy. He will always be a failure, achieving nothing! Even with betrayal, he fails to impress. He has been a vile loser all along.

"Ron won't wake up. This is a waste of time," Peter wiped his eyes and shouted, "I can see through you. You sanctimonious people should pay for your disdain. Ron, let's stick to our plan. Just get Black captured, and it will all be over."

Peter drew his wand, and Ron emerged with the Marauder's Map, ignoring Evan's cries.

"Just by telling Snape Black's location, I'll ensure I get Snape's help. Tomorrow, I'll rise again like a guardian angel, like a success, like a hero! And those shining friends will all be dead!" Peter pointed Evan's wand at him, his eyes gleaming with an eerie light. "As for you, Evan, do you want to know how I'm going to deal with you?"

"Obliviate, I suppose?" Evan moved his tense body gently.

He could try using the trick he used against Black yesterday.

"No, I'm not that Lockhart idiot! The Memory Charm is reversible." Pettigrew licked his lips and said cruelly, "Dumbledore is close; I must be careful! I think Avada Kedavra should be my best bet. No dead man has ever revealed a secret! Farewell, Evan."

He said that, waving his wand gently, and a deep green flash shone.