QL, Pride, Beater 2. Adventure: [thriller] A tense narrative that is full of suspense. It is often based around a crime or deception.
Prompts: [Creature] Cat; [Word] Effort.
WC: 2988
Beta'ed by: CupCakeyyy; Dina; secretfanficlover; MournfulSeverity; LucyEvans11.
Warnings: Betrayal. Death. Torture. Animal killing. Anxiety.
Note: A few events have been changed in this story (AKA, the Longbottoms torture was purposefully brought forward by a week or so) for the storyline.
Peter Pettigrew rubbed his eyes with one hand as he walked down the cold street. October was so dismal - despite living in the UK his whole life, Peter had never liked its weather.
He was on his way to visit the Potters. James and Lily were in hiding from the all-powerful Dark Lord but Peter knew it wouldn't be for long - the Dark Lord would win.
He wondered whether Remus and Sirius would be at the house too; they were usually doing a lot of Order business which he was generally excluded from. Peter was always left out. Everybody loved his friends. Peter, however, was just there - their friend, not important or interesting in his own right.
Then the time came for him to fulfill a bigger purpose. When he was chosen instead of his Pureblood friends to join the Dark Lord, he knew he had to take the opportunity.
Even though he had chosen the opposite side in the war, he still enjoyed his friends' company. He was still part of the Marauders. All he had to do was keep his alliance a secret. Peter didn't do anything to hurt them, just told the other side a thing or two. He didn't know as much as his friends did, anyway, so he couldn't tell his Dark Lord much.
A shiver went up his spine as he got to Godric's Hollow and looked around. It was a lot of effort to ensure he wasn't followed by either side. The potential consequences made his heart beat faster in fear.
Peter stepped forward towards the house and jumped back with a shaky gasp as a cat meowed and scurried away. He placed a hand over his heart as he took deep breaths. Just a cat. Steadying his breath, he continued forward and through the protected gate of Potter Cottage. Hesitantly, he knocked on the door - he had been having a lot of bad feelings lately. Perhaps, it was because the Dark Lord was getting more and more agitated about the lack of information about the location of the Potters and their baby. Though, Harry was barely a baby anymore, already flying around on a toy broom.
The door was answered by a tense James who instantly relaxed at the sight of him and opened the door wide with a smile. "Peter! I was starting to get worried you'd forgotten!"
Peter smiled at his friend's excited expression at seeing him. "Hi, James."
His messy-haired friend slung an arm around his shoulders while closing the door and led him down the corridor. "Harry's been asking for his Uncle Wormy. He's going to be so excited!"
The absolute joy from his friend radiated into Peter's soul and he felt the tension leave his body and a genuine smile made its way to his face. "Really?"
"Of course!"
Peter was released as he entered the living room to see Sirius in his dog form carrying around little Harry. Lily wasn't in the room but he knew she'd be around somewhere - though, he couldn't imagine she'd have been happy with Harry on Sirius' back without a human figure around to catch him if he fell.
The boy looked up and grinned. "Unnle Wormy!"
With a sheepish grin, Peter waved at the boy, not caring at the mispronunciation of 'Uncle'. Panic filled his face as Harry jumped towards him. Peter barely had enough time to react but managed to catch him, with James also grabbing the toddler at the same time. It had been a lot of effort to not let his 'nephew' fall to the ground - he had gotten heavier and was growing to be a strong individual.
The young boy looked unfazed at the tension in the room at his actions and clung onto Peter for a total of seven seconds before deciding he wanted 'down'.
"He's got so much energy." He had no idea how James and Lily managed him all day.
Sirius transformed back into his human form and whispered to him; "Remus snuck him some chocolate before he left."
"What was that?" Lily asked, appearing in the doorway.
Peter jumped at her sudden appearance and quickly changed the subject to Remus. "Where'd he go?" he asked Sirius.
Sirius gave a nonchalant shrug. "Order business."
"Ah," was all he managed as a reply for a few moments. "Do you think I could do anything to help?"
"Let's not talk around the child, Pete," Sirius replied with a wink.
Sirius was the most flirty of the Marauders though he never settled down with anybody.
Had he been too hasty to think he'd always be excluded by his friends? They were so supportive. Perhaps he should come clean about his involvement with the Death Eaters and offer all the information he had. After all, these were his friends here. But the Dark Lord was really powerful and might still destroy everybody against him… so if Peter turned on him, he'd be killed too. Or worse, tortured into insanity like the Lestranges had done to the Longbottoms.
Peter couldn't stop Frank and Alice's screams penetrating his eardrums as he stood to the side and watched the black-haired crazy witch Crucio'ing them again and again and again. He had tried to focus on the petrified white cat that he presumed was theirs, but couldn't stop his eyes from drifting back to the horror that had been in front of him.
When the two young parents had stopped screaming, Peter had hoped that would be the end of it. But even though they couldn't speak anymore, Bellatrix didn't falter in her effort.
It had been his fault. Peter had told the Death Eaters that the Longbottoms attended every Order meeting and had a son the same age as Harry. He inferred that they would be the perfect age for playdates.
He could still hear them pleading for him to help them. Pete, we're friends. Peter, help us. Pettigrew, call the Order! Peter! Peter! Wormy? Wormtail? Peter? Can you hear us?
Peter shook his head and looked at the worried expressions of his friends. Sirius and James were kneeling beside him as he leant against the wall, curled up. It was a lot of effort to take calming breaths and focus on the words of his friends.
"It's okay, Pete, we're here," Sirius whispered.
James rubbed his shoulder. "We've got you. You're safe here."
Slowly, he began to nod. Their soothing voices calmed him down.
"What were you thinking?" James asked after a few minutes.
"The Longbottoms had a cat, right? What happened to it?" he asked, looking between his friends' worried expressions.
Sirius looked at James before answering. "It was killed, remember? When they were… when they were tortured."
Peter looked down and felt tears run down his already wet face. Blood on white fur. "What was its name?"
"Why do you want to know?" James inquired.
With a shuddering breath, he answered; "We might remember all of the witches and wizards who suffered from this war, but what about the animals? Who would remember them?"
"Clive."
Peter nodded. He wouldn't forget that name. Clive. What reason did anybody have to kill an innocent animal? Even though he didn't care for cats that much, it was still a living being. One that was killed because of his cowardice.
He felt his friend's hands around his arms as he pulled him up and onto the couch. "We'll eat dinner in here, Pete," James informed him before walking out and leaving him with just Sirius.
"Do you usually get panic attacks?" Sirius asked.
Looking up at him, Peter gave a small nod and watched him sit down next to him. "We're all going to die. I'm terrified. I don't want to die."
A mixture of emotions ran over Sirius's face before he slung an arm around Peter's shoulders and pulled him into a half-hug. "As long as we stick together, Pete, we won't die. I just know it."
Peter wished he could believe that.
After dinner, a delicious spaghetti bolognese, the three Marauders found themselves talking about the following week's Halloween plans. They wanted to do something fun for Harry, something that he would never forget.
Peter had agreed to come over on Halloween in a funny costume, but wasn't sure how that would work with the Death Eater meeting. The other side had planned to terrorise the Muggle world as they searched for hiding Mudbloods. It was the perfect opportunity. But Peter was sure he could multitask. It would be a lot of effort for him to make both things happen. He could sneak away from his group to come here; people generally didn't realise when he left anyway.
Peter realised that James and Sirius were sending each other a lot of weird looks.
"What's going on?"
Sirius sighed and shook his head. He seemed tense and reluctant. "Order stuff."
James nodded and seemed to hold a more morbid expression.
"Can I help?"
"I'm going on a mission and could be gone over Halloween," Sirius stated. Peter began to understand why they had spoken a lot about Peter making things special for Harry. If Sirius was on a mission, and Remus was transforming into a Werewolf due to the full moon, then Peter was the only 'uncle' left. "It could be dangerous."
James straightened up on the couch. "He could be captured."
"I shouldn't be the Secret Keeper while I'm away. Besides, I'm the obvious choice - I lived with James and his parents for a while."
Peter couldn't help but let the confusion cross his face. "What does that have to do with me?"
"We want you to be the Secret Keeper," James stated.
"No," was his immediate reply. "No! Absolutely not! That is a terrible idea! You two are nuts! I cannot be your Secret Keeper! No! No!"
His reaction did not surprise either of the two, that much was evident.
"Don't look at me like that! I won't do it! That's too… too… stupid! Insane! No way! I'm not strong enough to have your lives in my hands! No way!"
James moved forward. "That is exactly why you should be my Secret Keeper. No one would suspect you! And you're my friend, I trust you with my life."
The sincerity in his friend's voice and expression scared him. If the Dark Lord knew that Peter was the Secret Keeper, he didn't know what he'd do. He'd be tortured. "I don't want to."
"Please, Pete."
The scared blond looked between his two friends. Sirius looked slightly hesitant, too, and that somehow made him feel comforted. He was sharing the same feelings that he couldn't do this. But when his sight fell on James, it was impossible to resist. What if they hated him if he said no? What if they didn't want to be his friends anymore if he refused? "Just while Sirius is on the mission?"
James grinned and clasped his shoulder. "I knew I could count on you, Wormy."
Peter sighed. This wasn't going to end well. He could just tell. "Are you sure you want me?"
James' confident "Yes!" killed the last of Peter's objections. He just hoped he didn't live to regret this decision.
Halloween came too soon. Peter had successfully avoided his friends, fellow Death Eaters, and everybody else on the planet. Being the Secret Keeper was taking a toll on him and he hated every second of it. Anxiety and fear crept into his bones every time he thought about it, about the consequences.
Suddenly, he jumped up and stared down at his arm. He was being called. With deep breaths in an attempt to keep himself calm, Peter threw a cloak on and Apparated to the required location.
Confusion and fear instantly filled him as he looked around the new surroundings.
Where was he?
It was a small, filthy house. Peter jumped backward, almost falling over the broken wall as a grey and black cat ran behind the house. It looked familiar. Tempted to follow the creature, Peter took a few steps in that direction before hearing a pop behind him: Malfoy. Quickly composing himself, he stepped through the destroyed door first, bile instantly came up his throat at the dismembered bodies in the first room. Wanting to run but knowing he couldn't, he stepped forward and led the way for the superior Slytherin.
He walked into the kitchen and found Voldemort standing at the head of the table. Peter froze. Malfoy shoved past him and greeted their Lord before taking a seat at the head. With deep breaths, Peter took a seat nearest to the door.
Within minutes, each seat had been filled.
"None of you idiots have brought me information about the Potters! Do I need to dispose of you all?"
"No, my Lord."
"Then tell me where to find them!"
Silence.
Peter felt his heartbeat intensify.
"Pettigrew," Voldemort snarled, forcing him to look up at him. He looked pristine as usual. "Where are your old friends?"
"I-I-I don't kn-know, m-my Lord."
His eyes narrowed as his wand pointed against his neck. "Are you lying to me?"
Panic filled him and he felt his eyes water. "I-I-"
Gulping down the bile that threatened to rise further, he looked around for help. But there was none. Bellatrix grinned at him with a crazed look in her eyes and angled her wand towards him with glee. He could see the curse on her lips and instantly blurted out the truth. "I know where they are!"
A sly grin formed on his Lord's lips. "And you will take me to them, tonight."
Peter had told James to not make him the Secret Keeper. It was his fault. What else was Peter to do?
A few tense hours, which felt like days, passed. Peter felt faint. He hadn't eaten today and had emptied the non-existent contents of his stomach out several times.
Lord Voldemort seemed pleased with him and told him that he'd made the right decision.
But Peter wasn't so sure about that.
He was terrified.
The ex-Gryffindor had considered sending a warning message to his friends but didn't know how to. He had considered using a Patronus. But he was never left alone. Besides, there wasn't anything happy in his life. That was a spell his friends had mastered years ago… and he hadn't. Another thing that proved they were better than him.
A shriek left him as he was pulled up onto his feet by Lestrange and Goyle. His eyes darted for an escape but only met black, dark skies. It was time.
They Apparated.
Peter felt the cold wind flow around him, almost making him feel like he could breathe again. His legs felt like jelly with each step down the street. The place appeared deserted except from a single grey and black striped cat. Was it following him? Was it actually an Animagus?
A violent jolt of pain knocked him out of his thoughts. "Quit dawdling!"
Without thinking, he quickened his pace, looking around hastily for an escape, for a reason to not take them to his friends' door. A distraction. Anything. But nothing came to mind as a wand dug into his spine.
He paused at the sight of the cottage. Was this the right thing to do? Should he just let himself get tortured and killed for his friends? They would do that for him, wouldn't they? Or would they push him into the firing line to save themselves? They'd done that before. James had left Peter behind once to get out of detention. Peter had been punished for something he hadn't done. What was to say his so-called friend wouldn't do that again?
With a deep breath, Peter pointed towards the cottage.
"Show me, my faithful follower," Voldemort whispered.
And Peter did.
He almost felt like he was in a trance. A fear-induced one. He walked up, passed the gate, and allowed Voldemort entry, before attempting to open the front door.
Having already passed the barrier, Peter felt himself being shoved into the wall as Voldemort cast Alohomora and gained entry.
Peter followed him in. He had to. He paused at the front room as he heard Harry's cries from upstairs. He couldn't watch.
Leaning against the wall, Peter felt his whole life end. His breaths were so loud he almost missed the fight upstairs. Of course, his friends would fight back.
Should he go and help? But who would he help? His Dark Lord? His friends? Peter couldn't decide. He didn't want to choose the wrong side. The cat from earlier wandered into the corridor by the door - was it following him?
A crash upstairs made him jump and focus on what he could hear. Voices. Many voices casting spells. Who was here?
Instinctively, Peter jumped as a spell hit above the stairs.
Then silence.
Hesitantly, he stepped forward and peered up the stairs.
"Hello, Peter," James' voice appeared.
Peter instantly spun to face his friend who was standing in the kitchen. "James! You're okay?" How was that possible? "Did you kill… uhh… You-Know-Who?"
"Not what you expected?"
The blond realised the dark look in his friend's eyes. "I tried to stop him."
"Liar."
"Traitor," Sirius' voice echoed before he appeared at the top of the stairs. "You led him here! The rumours were true!"
Peter backed away towards the front door. "No… you heard wrong… I didn't..."
James took a step forward. "Meeting up with the madman for months! We've known for weeks!"
"How could you do that, Pete? I thought we were friends?" Sirius had grief in his eyes, whereas James just had fury
As Peter turned to run, the cat slowly morphed into Professor McGonagall. Now he realised where he knew that cat from. "Professor…"
Before Peter had managed to turn back to his old friends, darkness came over him.
The next thing Peter remembered was waking up in a cell.
The End