A/N: Long chapter today so I suggest listening to it with the audiobook option on the Fanfiction app.
Book II: Age of the Phoenix
Chapter XXVIII: Riddles
Music Theme: Breakfast in America - Supertramp
Pettigrew Mansion - 1967...
Hector Pettigrew was in his element as he directed movers and decorators around his new Belgravia townhome that had taken his entire life to acquire. The taste of the decor was a bit gaudy, even for London's highest society members. Everything was trimmed in goblin gold or cast in pewter or marble. Even the portraits dropped their jaws at the grand foyer as their frames were carried into the home.
He'd made it. Finally, a home to match the lifestyle he'd always dreamed of and soon it would be filled with the most well known members of wizarding Pureblood society.
"Careful with that alchemy set, please. It's a replica Morgana Le Faye's original collection. Yes that goes in my study, through those doors." He waived his hands about as if conducting a play, then shouted up the steps, "When you're done setting up the train set, then move on to the master suite. Mrs. Pettigrew wants to rest when she get's home-"
He heard the door slam shut behind him and gave a startled jump as he greeting his wife, "Which apparently is now..."
Twilagh Pettigrew was practically being dragged by her eight-year-old son, finally relinquishing his hand to allow him to run off. Hector smiled and attempted to embrace the boy, but young Peter just raced up the steps to his room. The young man presented his wife with a mildly hurt expression and she said, "There was an incident at the park."
"Oh," he sighed and wrapped a gentle hand around her waist, pulling her into a quick kiss. "For a moment, I thought he was bored of me already."
"Peter thinks the world of you, Hector. Never forget that."
"Then what happened?" He ushered her to a quiet corner of the foyer, free of manic decorators, and listened intently.
"Peter wanted to go back to the park at our old neighborhood. He said he liked that playground better. Well, some old friends, if you can even call them that, were there. They started gossiping about us and one of their boys, a few years older than Peter, called him a name."
"I don't want you returning to that part of town again, Twilagh. I moved us here for a better life. We've been in slums too long, I won't allow Peter to grow up the way we did around class-less muggles."
"I know. I'm sorry. I won't take him there again."
"Good. I'll go talk to the lad. I leave you to the turf war against the decorators in our room." He gave her a wink then bounded up the steps and down the corridor, admiring every inch of elegance as he went, then found Peter watching his new replica of the Hogwarts express ride in circles around him as he sat on the floor of his playroom.
Hector climbed over the train as it passed and took a seat next to his step-son. They watched it in silence until he said, "You know it's enchanted. You just tell it what you want it to do. It blows real smoke and the whistle sounds. It even has a candy trolly inside that never runs out so you can eat all the miniature chocolate frogs you want."
Peter just sat and sniffled.
"Your Mum told me about the park."
"They called me a name," Peter said. "I don't know what it means, but I know it's a bad word because Mummy looked sad."
"Do you... remember the word?"
Peter nodded.
"Can you tell me?"
Peter scrambled onto his knees and shuffled on them to Hector who leaned in for Peter to whisper the word.
"Oh... that..."
"What's it mean, Daddy?"
"It means... someone born without a father."
Peter sunk back to a seat on the floor, looking broken. "Like me?"
Hector faced Peter and rest his hand son the boy's shoulder. "What's my name, Peter?"
"Daddy..."
"Exactly. I don't care about your first father. He's... not here. So I'm your father now. You are my son. Nothing changes that. The word that boy said was just name-calling. That's all. As long as I'm alive, you will never be abandoned. I'll be here for you and your mother, no matter what. Do you understand?"
Peter nodded, seeming to have cheered up slightly from it. "I still don't like the bad words..." Peter lay down on his belly and rest his head in his hands as he watched the train pass him, examining the lifelike miniatures of Hogwarts students through the windows.
"Well, what did you do when the boy said it?"
"I ran to tell Mummy."
"No, Peter, no!" Hector sighed. "You have to fight back."
"I don't know how to, Daddy."
"Well, my father did manage to give me one bit of advice that's served me well in life. He said in order to save yourself a beating, throw the first punch... or befriend the bully."
"Befriend the bully?"
Hector pointed at the train, "One day you'll be on the real Hogwarts Express, Peter. You'll meet friends like I did. You'll meet bullies too. If you want to be successful then you have to find the strongest person in the room and be their mate. That way they can protect you from harm if you're not willing to throw around a few punches yourself."
"Were you bullied at school, Daddy?"
Something about that seemed to resonate with Hector, his childhood flooding back to his memory. "Your mother and I have been... taken advantage of many times in life. We just want a better life for you, so we give you advice like this to help you."
"I just want to stay here with you, Daddy. Can't I do school here."
"You'll like school, Peter. I made a good friend there. You met Mr. Crabbe that comes to help Daddy with paperwork sometimes?" Peter nodded at this. "Well he and I were in Slytherin house and even roomed together. We sort of kept to ourselves, but I want you to be better than that. I want you to make lots of friends. Make a good impression. Look around this house. There's a lot for you to be proud of so you can go to school with confidence."
"What's that word?"
"Confidence? Oh, it's having complete trust in yourself. You can do anything you set your mind to."
"Like... making my train whistle?" As the little boy said it, the Hogwarts replica blew its chime and Peter gasped with glee.
"See? You have power, Peter. Never let anyone take that power and control away from you, especially bullies like that boy at the park. But if you ever meet a bully again, you know what to do?"
"Be his friend or punch him?"
Hector laughed, "That's it. That way, you'll never be pushed down." He assumed the same position of Peter, laying on his belly like a child and watching the train go by.
"I have power," Peter whispered to himself and a gleefull smile crossed his lips.
Lestrange Estate - May 15, 1980...
Luncheon was concluding at Lestrange Estate as the screams of the prisoners below drowned out the album playing. The elves kept their heads down as they cleared their table, taking special care near Bellatrix who gazed out the window as if in a trance but would instantly hex any of them if they so much as breathed too close to her. The Malfoys had attended the meal and remained quiet most of it, glancing occasionally at Rudolphus' still full plate that had not been touched and his empty chair.
The screams finally ceased and the steps to follow were of Rudolphus as he climbed up the steps towards the dining room. He snatched a towel from a waiting elf and wiped blood off his hands before tossing it back to the small creature. He strut over to the table and took his seat, glancing at the album as it spun it's tune. "What the hell is this racket?"
"An album Lucy insisted we listen to," his brother Rabastian replied as he picked at his teeth with his steak knife.
"Thought it would lighten the mood," Lucious grumbled.
As if on cue, Rudolphus smacked his food away, "Cold as ice! You fools! I can't eat this."
"You've been downstairs an hour," Narcissa hissed at him, annoyed by his outburst.
"These idiot creatures should know to charm my food to keep it warm. They work on my time, I don't conform to theirs!" Rudolphus just leaned back in his chair as the whiskey decanter levitated across the table and poured him a glass. As it did, he gazed at his wife and said, "Darling, what is it?"
"I saw Madeye Moody scouting the property near our house again," she replied.
"So? Let him keep trying to break through the wards. He's no match for the Dark Lord's magic," he boasted.
"He wasn't trying to breath through. He was scouting the building as if building a plan of attack."
"You think they've found a way to get through?" Lucious asked.
"I know they have... they'll burst in here and clean us out. It's why I suggested we start... cleaning up... downstairs."
"Then let them come," Rabastian said and everyone turned to stare at him. "Snape said he's set the traps everywhere the Order could possibly use for a meeting place or hiding place, but missed one key element... we know about those places which mean's that Order won't return there. He spent weeks setting traps after the mice have already feasted, but there is one place they haven't been. One place we know all of them will journey to... right here. The key isn't how they get in, but letting them in and making sure they have one way out."
"Not all of them will come," Narcissa replied. "Only the Aurors. Potter isn't one."
"No, they may recruit Potter to help," Bellatrix pondered and tapped her fingers on the table, "Of course if they are that desperate they may let that insufferable cousin of ours tag along and you know he will be side by side with Potter."
"Leave Sirius to me," Lucious said. "I can think of a way to get him out of the picture."
"And Pettigrew?" Narcissa asked. "Where will we lure him?"
"Who cares about him?" Bellatrix snapped.
"The Dark Lord might. Max Forrestor also took particular interest in the boy. I wonder what he knows about him."
"Then have him do what he wants with him. It's Potter and Longbottom we are after." Rudolphus said and picked up his whiskey and sniffed it before adding, "Everyone else... is dispensable."
The Safe House - May 20, 1980...
The month of May was coming to a close and everything felt still. Remus continued his work spying amongst the werewolves while Edgar Bones worked with Madeye to concoct a charm strong enough to penetrate the barrier around Lestrange Estate. Anxieties grew as days went by with no attempt to overtake the home. The plan had to be perfect with no loose ends for everyone to get in and out safely without being caught by the Lestranges, but with each day that passed the Order felt more and more restless.
The most unease fell on the Potter faction who felt disconnected from one another and utterly helpless as all they could do was sit and wait until the Guardian Prophecy was decoded and the Lestrange Estate mission complete.
Peter had kept to himself during most Order meetings and even at the house. He made his way down from his room where he spent most of his time and into the kitchen where Kip had whipped up a pot of tea.
"Masters Pettigrews is sad?" The elf called over his shoulder when he spotted the boy's expression.
"I guess I am, Kip. I feel ashamed for hiding the prophecy as long as I did. I was afraid of it for some time, but now... it must have been talking about someone else, right? It must have?"
Kip was quiet as he couldn't tell if the look on Peter's face is remorse or disappointment.
"Dumbledore won't even look at me these days," Peter said as he sat at the table.
"Sometimes the eyes tells more than we wants peoples to knows. Misters Dumbledores of all peoples wears his feelings on his eyes."
"You... You've met him?" Peter glanced up and focused on the elf.
"Oh. Yes yes. Masters Dumbledores came to the parties all the times. Always talking about the same things with Master Fleamonts."
"Like what?" Peter leaned in.
"Kips can't say!" He squeaked but then looked over his shoulder and leaned in to whisper. "But it was a riddle."
"A riddle?"
"That's just whats I said. Always talking about a riddle? Must have been a tricky one. Theys talked about it often in Master Potter's study. Oh," his face saddened. "Poor lovely house. All torn to bits as it is..."
"At least you weren't there when it happened," Peter said. "It's dreadful watching a home you love get ripped apart right in front of you. All your belongings removed. All your memories squashed. Then you're left with emptiness..."
"Tis just a pile of bricks,' is what Masters Fleamonts would say if he's was here." Kip said then gently pat Peter on the hand.
"Sometimes I wonder if I shouldn't just go back to my own pile of bricks... I feel so in the way here."
"Does Masters want to go back? Might nots be safes," Kip said as he snapped his fingers and levitated the teacup to Peter.
"Let's be honest, Kip. Nobody's after me. No prophecy has determined me to be a chosen one, no Death Eater is hunting me down... I could camp out in front of You-Know-Who himself and he'd probably pay me no mind. Nobody does," he added in a whisper as he stared into his tea.
"Ok there, Wormtail?" Marlene asked as she bounced into the room, seeing his expression, and smiled at Kip who couldn't beat her to the stove as she poured herself some tea.
"Since when do you call me that?" Peter asked a bit bluntly.
"Do you not like it?" She asked sincerely, surprised at his reaction.
Peter blinked, "Um... I guess not? Nobody's ever really asked if I-"
He stopped upon Sirius' entry who looked a bit distracted, seeming caught off guard at the others in the room. "Where the hell have you been all day?" Marlene asked him as she sipped her tea.
"Is a bloke not allowed to nap, damn. What's wrong with you?" He snapped.
"Moody much?" Marlene grumbled.
"Nosey much?" He clapped back.
"He ran out of cigarettes the other day," Peter mumbled casually into his teacup as he took a sip.
"Warned you about those," Marlene said.
"Masters Sirius?" Kip said but moved backward when Sirius' tired eye met his. "Coffee sir? Just black isn't it?"
"No. I'm fine. Tea will be fine," Sirius grunted.
"You're going to need the caffeine the way I see it," Marlene said, a bit offended by his attitude. "Still have some teaching to do."
"Still working on your lessons?" Peter asked. "Last time you tried you almost burned the place down. It took two of us using Scourigify maxima to get the burn off the carpet."
"We found that anger is her best fuel for fire, so I've basically just started finding new ways to piss her off," Sirius said with his usual smirk finally gracing his face.
"Probably why Dumbledore thought you'd be a better teacher than Lily. He knows you're insufferable," she snapped. "But I hate to admit I'm getting rather good." She waived her hand over the tea kettle and it quickly boiled and started to whistle. Kip clapped his hands like a proud parent.
"Still not sure where you got those gifts, Marlene?" Peter asked.
"Just special, I guess," she shrugged with a smile.
"Oh... she's special, alright," Sirius rolled his eyes.
"Takes one to know one." Marlene did her best to hide her smirk as she poured her tea and left the room. "See you outside."
"Be there in a jiffy." He said bluntly as Kip handed him a cup of tea then scurried back to his levitating dishes and began to sort then.
"So?" Peter nudge Sirius. "Closed quarters with McKinnon again. Had a chance to talk yet? About... things?"
Sirius smirk fell as did Peter's when he realized he'd brought up a sore subject. "No."
"I thought Angus admitted what he did to come between you."
"Yea, and apparently it doesn't matter. She seems more bitter about it now more than ever. I wish we could go back to pretending it never happened. Things were simpler then. We seemed... ok. But now I've got a Bitter Betty as a pupil and," he lowered his voice, "...I'm about to stand her up again."
"You are?" Peter blinked.
"Got a mission. I didn't tell her about it because I knew she'd want to come."
"A Mission?" Peter perked up. "Let me come! Please."
"It's a bit personal, Wormtail."
"And I've not taken you on personal errands?" he grunted as Sirius recalled the encounter with Twilagh Pettigrew.
Sirius just sighed and pulled a paper from his pocket, slipping it into Peter's hand. "Found this in my bike in Hogsmede when I left the meeting last night."
"I warned you that bike was too conspicuous to take to meetings," Peter said.
"Says the bloke who rides sidecar because he refuses to apparat," Sirius defended. "I thought I'd concealed it enough, but it was storming. Branches probably flew off it."
Peter unfolded the scrap of paper where someone had scribbled, "Alive. In Trouble. Get to Kreecher. - R." He contemplated the meaning. "Kreecher? Isn't that your... It... It can't be," Peter shook his head and looked up at Sirius who pulled a signant ring from his pocket, the crest of the House of Black upon it which Peter gazed upon it. "Regulus? Alive?"
"It was rolled up and shoved through this," Sirius said staring down at the small ring. "Regulus would be the only person who had this after Father's death."
"But Delaney said-"
"Delaney was wrong!" He snapped. "She also had a dream about me stabbing Remus in the back, did you know that? Well I've not done that have I?"
"No... not literally," He mumbled the last bit. "But Sirius, remember the Department of Mysteries. Regulus has tricked you before."
"Which is why I haven't shown anyone this. If it's a trap, I won't pull anyone else into it. I've got to go alone." He quickly set the teacup down.
"I thought we agreed not to do things alone anymore. If James finds out-"
"Then I'll remind him he's being bloody hunted by Death Eaters and a busy city street isn't the place for him. Now if you're coming then come, but him and Lily will be back from their walk soon. It's now or never."
"Fine... Let's just go," he huffed and followed Sirius towards the entry hall where he smacked into Sirius' back as the latter halted. Standing in the hall blocking the door was Marlene with her teacup.
"Surely it's not already lost on you that this house is the size of a bread box," she said.
"You were supposed to be outside," Sirius said nervously.
"I was. I knocked my tea over and needed to come get more. What's this I hear about keeping secrets from Potter?"
"None of your business," Sirius said and snatched his bike key from the foyer table beside her.
"You know I can just block the door until the Potters return and then you can explain to him."
"We think Regulus is in trouble..." Peter offered but coward down when Sirius shot him a look.
"Regulus? Alive?"
Sirius just snatched the note from Peter and passed it to Marlene who read it a couple times over to be sure. "And you think James would stop you?" She asked.
"Worse. He'd come with me."
"What could possibly make that worse?"
"You've got brothers, McKinnon, yea? If you knew your actions would put them in harms way would you wish that on them?" When she didn't reply he said, "Exactly."
Sirius and Peter then walked past her and opened the door but paused as Marlene said, "I'm coming too."
"This has turned into a bloody class field trip..." Sirius said as his grip tightened on the doorknob.
"That's exactly what it is," she insisted as he turned to face her. "You're supposed to be teaching me right now, are you not?" When Sirius didn't reply she added, "You remember, Sirius, I always get my way. You always caved. Now are you going to waste time or just face the inevitable?"
Something about that aroused Sirius more than he cared to admit, to the point where he could feel his cheeks flushing. "Just get on the damn bike," he forced through gritted teeth as Peter and Marlene followed him outside.
Meanwhile at Emmeline Vance's Flat...
The Guardian must be the most trusted of the untrustworthy. Alone in this world, cast out at first breath, always seeking a master, preying on the pity of those he shall betray.Only he will Renew the son, Revive thy Master, and Resurrect the foe. All three will become one and from the shadows, a new life will begin."
Mary had scribbled the words repeatedly across the page after Dumbledore entrusted them to her. She'd refused to stay at McKinnon Castle with Fabian as she feared one wrong command from Mulciber, should she cross paths with him again, could result in her exposing their whereabouts. Now she sat in Emmeline Vance's Piccadility apartment, only a mile from where Mulciber had held her captive for a year each night. Emmeline's place was completely lacking in personality, much like Emmeline herself, but was filled with every book Mary could need as she evaluated the words. Seer Trelawney had already attempted to decipher them, but was not as familiar with the players of the Order as Mary. Still... she saw no pattern. A few contenders came to mind, yet none seemed to fit the mold.
"Still scribbling away I see?" Emmeline asked upon entry to her flat. "It's been weeks. Guardian isn't here yet or they would have struck by now."
"Unless they don't know they're the Guardian. Maybe it's me," she shrugged, "Or you?"
"Or your new boyfriend," she smirked. "He seems interested in guarding you." Mary shot a look at her. "What? You think I don't notice a giant Eurumpent patronus in my sitting room each day?"
Mary's scowl turned a smile until she looked back at the page. "I feel like Dumbledore has already deciphered this..."
"Then why would he give it to you?" Emmeline asked as she kicked off her shoes and plopped down on the sofa next to Mary.
"Because he has to be sure. Or maybe he's hoping someone else will find another possibility and pick some other option for the Guardian. Who knows. Maybe there are multiple options... the Guardian is just who we decide they are."
"The guardian will decide who they are when they betray us, unless we get to them first."
"Which I can't do if I'm separated from my files and records."
"Amy offered to get some things from the Ministry for you. Then there's Arthur. I'm sure he'd fetch you some paperwork."
"Arthur doesn't trust me," she muttered, quickly shoving off the feeling as she turned back to her notes. "Ok, let's see..." She scanned the words over and over, "Trusted of the untrustworthy... a traitor. We already know that bit. Alone and cast out. Cast out from their family I suppose. An Orphan?"
"Or just someone who is estranged from their family. Like Black? Or Delaney?"
"Maybe," she said and looked back to her page, "Seeking a Master... so a follower. Not really take leadership person. Preying on the pity of those he shall... now there's something. So if this speaks of a traitor amongst the good guys he'll betray then it's someone who always seeks approval or reassurance."
"Sirius..."
Mary looked up shocked. "Where did you get that idea? Sirius doesn't strike me as someone needing approval."
"Please... arrogance is just a cover for insecurity."
"And I guess he did betray Marlene," She sighed. "Can't think of any other times of betrayal like that though."
"I'm not the one to ask. I was older than him. Maybe ask Potter - speaking of insecure," she added and flicked her wand towards the book shelf to levitate her adult fiction novel towards her.
"Well James is a natural born leader and certainly wasn't an outcast from his family or alone in this world. This prophecy speaks of someone quite the opposite of James, Lily, Frank, Alice any of the McKinnons. They're true leaders, not followers."
"Pettigrew isn't. But he wasn't cast out as a kid. His parents died I think, or at least I know his father did, but I remember him talking highly of him. Besides, Peter turned this prophecy in and we don't know how it applies to him yet. For all we know he could be right about his connection to the prophecy being the demise of the Guardian."
"Maybe. But do you buy that?"
"Not really," she sighed opening her book, "But the prophecy doesn't describe him and between what he's done for the Order lately, helping rescue Delaney, using that stone to remember the prophecy, keeping the secret about Lily's pregnancy... he's not showing any signs of treachery. Lupin and Black on the other hand..."
"Lupin wasn't cast out either," Mary said.
"Not by his parents maybe. Society has pretty specific rules about werewolves though."
Mary grimaced at that, still feeling sorry that Remus had to share his secret with the remainder of the Order. She looked down at the page and knew she couldn't proceed until she knew the history of each member. She had to get access to the files in the Ministry records room. She'd go once Emmeline was asleep and return before she knew she was gone. She tossed her notepad on the side table and tilted her head to read the title, Captive Bride, then said, "I thought you were reading Judy Blume's book?"
"Finished it. Also wrapped up The Shining last night.
"So you've moved onto smutty books?"
"I'd never stoop so low to that trash. Of course... what the imagination does with a good romance novel is its own business." She peered over the top of the book and said. "Shall I read aloud and replace the main character's name with 'Fabian' the mighty adventurer?"
Mary just picked up her wand and flicked it towards the book which then attempted to levitate and smack Emmeline on the head but she snatched it back. "If I didn't know any better, Vance, I'd say you're starting to grow a personality underneath those books."
"Don't be ridiculous."
"Admit it, you like having me here."
"You distract my from reading," she shrugged.
"And you like it?" Mary smiled.
Emmeline looked over at the girl who had grown into a friend over the last couple of weeks. "Maybe a little."
"I like it here too, Emmeline," she said softly. "I know I can't stay forever. Eventually this vow will pull me right back to... him. But for now, I'm happy. Thank you. No matter what happens, you've brought some peace back to my life."
"Well... I can't take all the credit. I think the messages via Erumpent Patronus have something to do with it as well."
Mary turned bright red and curled up in her seat, hugging her knees. "Maybe." She thought about Fabian tenderly then said, "Go on... read aloud about adventurer Fabian."
Meanwhile at Benjy Fenwick's...
Frank and Benjy quickly finished their dinner as Alice sat between them in silence, her eyes shifting between each one and her arms crossed. Then men just glared at their bowls without so much as a glance towards her when Frank finally stood and said, "Well, I think I'll turn in."
"Sit down, Franklin," Alice huffed and Frank gave a look to Benjy before doing as he was asked. His wife continued, "You two have been avoiding me all day. What's going on?"
"Nothing's going on," Frank replied.
"Not now. But later. You both scarfed down that dinner as if it was your first meal in weeks."
"Well," Benjy said, "Frank's cooking is delightful. That's all."
Alice then leaned in and met Benjy's eyes, causing him to stare at her. "F-Frank... she's doing the eye contact think."
"Stay strong, Fenwick," Frank whispered.
"I can't look away! Why can't I look away?" He said anxiously as Alice's knowing glare put the pressure on him to belt out, "We're going to Lestrange Estate tonight."
"I knew it!" Alice said.
"Benjy!" Frank smacked the table.
"Sorry mate. Rather face Death Eaters tenfold than your wife's stare. Your kid isn't going to get away with bloody anything."
"I'll get my wand," Alice said as she pushed herself from the table and stood, groaning a bit as she held her stomach.
"You're not going," Frank said as he hurried to her side to stop her.
"I'm an Auror too, am I not?"
"Of course you are, but you're pregnant."
"I fail to see how growing a human with my body makes me less qualified."
"Alice, do you forget why we can't return to work? Did you not hear what Marvin said about his memory. He said Narcissa forced out information about Chosen One prophecy. You and Lily have to be kept safe and hidden until these kids come out."
"Only until then? Or will you lock us in a tower until the little ones are grown. Shall they even get to go to school or is that out of the question until Voldemort is dead?"
"Alice May Longbottom," he snapped grabbing her shoulders. In that moment though, Frank didn't seem strict. He didn't even raise his voice. He rest gentle hands on her shoulder and gave her a pleading look before finally saying, "My whole world is right here." He ran his hands down her arms before clutching her fingers gently. "If something happens to you or to our child I will never forgive myself. I don't think I'd even be able to live. Please. Please just stay put this one time. You've had plenty of raids before and there will be more to come. I fully expect our child to become an auror themselves and fight alongside Mum and Dad. We have to last long enough for that to even be a possibility, though." He squeezed her hands gently.
"Fine," she said with a tear in her eye as she grew overwhelmed by the love her husband had for her. "You're so bloody stubborn sometimes, you know that?"
"Got that from Mum," he smirked then gave her a quick kiss. Everything will be alright. "Lock up behind us and seal the place. Don't let anyone in."
"Are you really about to give me the 'stranger danger' talk?" She shrugged.
"Wouldn't dream of being so patronizing," he smirked.
"Yes you would," she chuckled and kiss him one more time, feeling her child move as if it knew both mother and father were close.
Back at the Safe House...
"You've been quiet," Lily muttered to James as they walked along the coast.
"Not much to say. Just thinking about tonight."
"You're still going to go?" She asked.
"If I say yes will you elbow your way in?" He muttered.
"James-"
"Lily, you can't go," he cut her off.
"Why do you get to go? There's a target on you too."
"Frank's going with a target on him."
"He's an auror. You're a-"
"A what? Nothing."
"Woah," Lily stopped at that. "You don't think you're nothing, truly. Do you?"
"We're five months into this year and so far I've lost my home, my friends, my parents and now I risk losing my kid. I learned I'm only in charge of a faction after Longbottom's insistence and now I'm being put in time-out by my old headmaster for my own safety as if I'm Travolta in Bubble Boy"
"Well you've got me and soon you'll be a father," She suggested. When James didn't reply again, merely looked over the cliffs, she leaned in to meet his eyeline. "Or am I boring you already."
"Did I ever tell you how your dad reacted when I asked him if I could marry you?" He asked and Lily shook her head. " He said... 'why'." Lily tilted her head waiting for elaboration as James said, "He kept repeating it. 'Why? Why? Why do you want to marry my daughter, Potter?' He didn't seem cross about it, just adamant. He'd been reading The Prophet. He wanted to make sure I could provide for you I guess and protect you."
"Well. What did you tell him?"
"I said in a world of uncertainty... you were the only thing that I was sure about. That hasn't changed, Lily. Sometimes I wish I could see myself the way you do. Everything is changing. Everything. But you've remained constant. How do you do that?"
"I just see what's there, James. I see beyond people's external shells and in their souls. It's always been a gift of mine," she fiddled with her cameo necklace and went on, "In terms of things changing, I just look for the things that don't change. I still love you. The boys still support the Order even if they're struggling with personal relationships. They'll love our child and protect it no matter what."
"Yea," he softly smiled as that managed to cheer him slightly but then said, "What life am I providing you though? Our kid's going to be born in a safe house during a war? Will it even have a home to go back to? My flat is only a one bedroom as you recall, where are we even going to put it?"
"James," Lily whispered. "This isn't about our child. This is about you not being able to see what's coming, isn't it? You've always been a planner. You've always gotten everything you aimed towards. This isn't about change. It's about not being able to see the path but knowing you have to keep moving forward."
"Well then, Mrs. Insightful," he said with a grin at her wisdom, "What do I do when I can't see the path?"
She stepped in front of him and took his hands. "Look down." He did. Lily pulled him gently towards her and he took a single step forward. "See that?"
"See what?" He just stared at his feet.
"When we can't see the path in front of us, we have to look down at our feet and measure progress by just taking one step forward at a time. As long as we do that, we're ok."
James smiled and gave her hands a squeeze. His eyes fell on the watch he'd gifted her and he reflected on his mother. She had waited so long to become a mother and grow in her wisdom and maturity yet Lily seemed to be as prepared to be a mother at only twenty years old.
"What if we had the kid at Hogwarts?"
Lily blinked. "Is this you trying to plan ahead after my rousing speech about taking things one step at a time?"
"This is the next step, Lily. You're due in seven weeks. Alice is due sooner and Frank suggested Saint Mungos but that's too public. What if we ask Dumbledore about having the kid at Hogwarts. Poppy knows her stuff and can help us, it's heavily protected and somewhere our kid can feel at home. School will be done for the summer and nobody will be there."
Lily considered it then smiled. "Hogwarts it is then."
The tender moment ended at the sound of a motor starting up and bike speeding away. Lily and James exchanged a look before realizing it was Sirius. "Where does he think he's going?"
Before he could say anything else, they spotted the bike soaring over their head and James grunting. "I'm going to bloody kill him..."
Later at the Ministry of Magic...
Mary crept to her office in the dark Ministry halls as most offices had closed for the evening. She only had trouble a couple times at some guarded department doors where the passwords luckily hadn't changed. She pulled the door shut with a quiet click before tip toeing to the records closet where she opened the cabinets with her wand and levitated the documents to skim them quickly. She gathered a handful ranging from members of the Black Family, the Delaneys, McKinnons and Pettigrew which was rather small.
It seemed like forever that Mary combed through the documents into the night, narrowing down the Guardian options to only a few that had the track record of being untrustworthy or unpredictable. She held one file in her hands, something not quiet right with her. This one seemed the best option and the prophecy fit everything described... cast out by their family, seeking approval of others, the most trusted yet untrustworthy all at once - Sirius Black. Mary recalled the look of betrayal on Marlene's face at the year end party. She remembered some fallout Sirius had with his friends in school and now he clearly had something going on between him and Remus.
Wanting to deny the possibility, she set the file down in front of her and glanced once more to the Prophecy on her notepad to focus on the final line, desperate for some other explanation. Her eyes fell a single word she hadn't paid mind to before - 'breath'. Cast out at first breath.
"A first breath? A newborn. So not a runaway." She looked back to the file before her, "So it can't be Sirius." She contemplated the meaning more then said, "A illegitimate child or an abandoned one?"
She thought of everyone's parentage and glanced to her files, flipping through some before landing back on Peter's. She instantly noticed his parent's wedding date took place after his birth.
"Step-father. Think someone could have lead with that?"
She turned to a page she hadn't considered reviewing before, always feeling so sure of the blood status of each individual, but now curiosity got the best of her. As she found the document, she was shocked to see, "Blood Status: Undocumented" listed under his blood type. There was only ever one reason a wizard would have this blood type listed beside their name and it was if the infant had been born 'a bastard' as they call it with no idea who the father was, usually because the man had rejected responsibility of their offspring.. casting them away.
Mary slumped back in her chair as memories of Peter flooded her mind. She recalled her school days when she noted how Peter seemed a bit different than the others and even asked Sirius once why they kept company with someone so different than the lot of them.
"Honestly I think James' pities him and Pete's always preying on his sympathies," she recounted his words then looked at the Prophecy written on her pad once more, "Preying on the Pity of those... he shall betray!
"It's Peter. The traitor is going to be Peter Pettigrew!" She looked over the prophecy again and it was as if it was finally making sense. "He just doesn't know yet." She looked over the final line, "Only he will Renew the son, Revive thy Master, and Resurrect the foe. All three will become one and from the shadows, a new life will begin. It doesn't predict when the Guardian will come. It's a spell the Guardian uses! It's a resurrection spell for... for... Voldemort. Which means no matter what we do... even if we defeat Voldemort... Peter will just bring him back somehow..." She ripped the paper from her notepad and clutched it. "We're... going to lose?"
Mary turned, knowing she had no time to spare. She had to alert Dumbledore. She had to warn Peter he had the prophecy all wrong and could still have a chance to change the outcome. But as she ripped the door open to the office and hurried out, she ran into the chest of someone who had just arrived by the doorway.
"Going somewhere, MacDonald," Severus Snape said.
"S-Snape? What are you-"
"I befriended one of the password guards a while ago. I asked them to alert me next time you visited your office. Tsk Tsk. Using up all your paid time off I see. What's it been. Three weeks since you attended a meeting or a day of work? Then again... maybe it's because you've been working... elsewhere."
Mary knew there was no talking her way out of it. She drew her wand quickly and muttered, "Flippendo!"
She sent Snape sailing and ran up the corridors only for a cranky Snape to spring up once regaining his breath and chase after her.
"You've just condemned yourself by running, MacDonald. I hope you realize that," Snape said as he aimed at her sealing the doors just as she reached them.
"How'd you know?" She asked as she turned to face him pressing her back to the sealed door. "Are you a legimience too? It would explain why I'm never able to get into your head."
"Not really, but I always knew someone was trying to pry in my personal thoughts. I never suspected the Hufflepuff," he said as he caught up with her. "My mother had the skill. If I ever wanted privacy in my own house or wanted to get away with anything, I had to learn rather young how to keep her out of my head."
"You're more powerful than you'll admit, Snape. It's one thing to block me out. But Voldemort? If he can't see into that greasy head of yours, then nobody can."
"I'll accept the complement and disregard the fact that you're trying to butter me up, out of sympathy for the fact that you're in the hands of Voldemort now."
"Am I?" She asked. "You're going to turn me over?"
"Why wouldn't I?"
Mary looked him in the eye and softly said, "For the same reason you won't let Voldemort into your mind."
"Which is?"
"I don't know. But you do. You know the reason you keep him out and it's not just because you're a private person. Your reason for being here isn't the same as everyone else's."
"Don't attempt to psychoanalyze me, MacDonald."
"Well somebody should," she finally snapped. "Because it can't be as simple as a vengeance against Potter and his friends."
"Wars have been fought over less."
"But that's not who you are, Snape. I don't have to look into your mind to see that."
"You don't care about me," he scoffed. "You'll just say what you have to in order to get out of this alive."
"Oh? Are you really going to kill me, Snape?"
Snape stared her down a long time. He knew her life was in his hands. His wand slowly lowered, but when he saw a gentle smirk lift on the corner of Mary's cheek, something in him snapped. She was playing his emotions, messing with his mind, manipulating him in order to save herself. He spotted something in her hand and instantly slashed his wand at her. She felt herself pinned to the large door, frozen in place. Snape snatched the yellow paper from her fingers and skimmed it.
"Well well... the Guardian prophecy. It seems Crabbe did omit some bits of it after all."
His sly grin faded as he realized if he let Mary go then she would run straight to Dumbledore and expose the Guardian and Snape couldn't allow that. She was one of the only people who possibly knew the identity of the traitor in Dumbledore's ranks. Finally Snape was so close to having one of Potter's friends under his thumb. He could destroy all those pathetic Marauders.
"No... why would I kill you and deprive Mulciber the chance to say goodbye to you," He flicked his wand "Stupify." Mary was blasted to the floor and Snape towered over her stunned body. "You should have taken my advice all those years ago, MacDonald... and minded your own business."
Meanwhile at 12 Grimmauld Place...
The bike skidded to a halt outside 12 Grimmauld place and Marlene clung tightly around Sirius' waist until they'd stopped. "You're mad," she whispered harshly.
"It's practically dark now. The Muggles didn't see a thing," Sirius shrugged and waited a moment before saying with a grin, "You can let go of me now unless you're enjoying yourself back there." Marlene ripped her hands off of him and scowled as she dismounted the bike.
"You ok, Wormtail?" Sirius asked the young man who gazed up at the large townhome with an odd expression.
"Your house just looks familiar..." Peter said before climbing out of the side car.
"Well probably because the whole street looks the same. Still, come on in," Sirius said as he climbed the steps.
"Do you have the key?" Marlene called.
"Blood lock," he replied. "My touch opens the door. Always enjoyed that knowledge that they could disown me but couldn't take the house keys away." Once in front of the door however, Sirius hesitated.
"Everything ok?" Marlene asked, looking between him and the door a few times.
"Just dawned on me that last time I left the house was through the bloody window, not the door."
Marlene wasn't sure what compelled her to do so, but she slipped her hand in to his and shared their first tender moment since the Potter wedding. She gave it a squeeze and said. "We're right here for you, Black. Whatever is on the other side, we're here."
Peter however, wasn't right there. He stood at the base of the steps and didn't notice his own scowl at the intertwined hands. Sirius rest his free hand on the doorknob and instantly it unlocked. The door to 12 Grimmauld place swung open to Sirius for the first time in years. He took one step inside and felt as though he was stripped of everything. Sirius felt that the house itself was exposing him for what he used to be, just a boy afraid of never amounting to anything and being scolded for having any semblance of a personality or opinion. Sirius didn't realized he'd frozen in his tracks in the foyer, listening as if waiting to hear his parents voices scold him for being out of the house so late. He jumped at the voice of Marlene beside him.
"Black? You ok?"
Sirius just grunted with a nod before relinquishing her hand and pushing on towards the study beside them. When he entered, he found books strewn about the floor as if a late-night study session had taken place there, but the books were gathering dust.
"What the hell?" He moved about the study and spotted his mother's jewelry box on the main desk in the center of the room. Ornate necklaces and brooches had been dismantled for some reason and left in bits upon the desk. A history book about significant wizards from Slytherin house sat beside the mess with a page ripped from where it remained open.
Sirius' eyes fell on the intricate tapestry that covered the wall with the Black family tree. He had a mixed feeling of pain and pride as he looked for the first time at the burn mark over his name. Beside it was Regulus' portrait. It struck Sirius how long it had been since he even saw his brother. It hadn't been since the Department of Mysteries ruse that he'd even spoken to him.
"No sign of him in the kitchen," Marlene said when she made her way into the study. "Doesn't look like anyone has been here for months..." she looked around the room "What the? What was he up to?"
She received no response from the question as Sirius fixed his eyes on the tapestry.
"Sirius?" She whispered and her eyes moved to Regulus portrait. Below it was his name in cursive across the banner along with the day of his birth but now some new writing appeared beside it... the day of his death. "Oh... Sirius, I'm sorry. Its enchanted isn't it? So it can't be wrong?"
All he said was, "When we were kids, there was a festival in Regent's Park. I'd been grounded already for being sorted into Gryffindor that year so I thought, "What the hell' and snuck out. Regulus followed me... he always was the stealthy one. We ended up spending the entire afternoon together at that festival. I think I was proud of him for breaking the rules for a change. He wanted a balloon animal so I got him one... a red balloon lion, as a joke. Mother and Father didn't think it was funny when we got home and they caught us trying to sneak back in. He got the worst of the thrashings... didn't matter that I confessed to sneaking out. They pounded the kid over that damn balloon. He stopped trusting me after that. I'd sneak out... he wouldn't follow. Then he was sorted into Slytherin and that's just the way things stayed. That festival was the last memory I have of us being real brothers."
"Sirius..." Marlene whispered to him and stepped closer only for him to finally face her.
"Did I do it?" He asked. "Did I make his options too severe? Did I leave him with any options at all? Nowhere to turn to but Voldemort..."
Just then they heard a shuffle upstairs and Sirius raced towards the steps, not noticing that Peter had frozen in place upon entry looking around the foyer anxiously as if the small space was something from his nightmares.
"Who's up there?" Sirius called as he skipped every other step to bound up to the second level, Marlene doing her best to keep up. "Who is it?!." But when Sirius reached the top of the stairs and peered into the master bedroom, he spotted Kreecher sitting by the dresser with a pair of Orion Black's trousers in his hands. He was sniffling and using the fabric to wipe away his tears.
"Who..." Marlene gasped for air as she caught up with Sirius. "Who is this?"
"The elf." Sirius grunted
"Mad Mad Master Sirius has returned to house of Black," The elf sniffled without raising his eyes.
"As you see, I'm his favorite," Sirius said sarcastically. He then raised his voice as if commanding the elf, "Kreecher. What's happened to Regulus? Speak up. What's going on here?"
Marlene nudged Sirius angrily for speaking to the elf in such a way and she stepped into the bedroom and towards Kreecher. She kneeled in front of him. "Hello. Kreecher was it? We found a note from Regulus."
"No," Kreecher shook his head and started talking to himself. "Kreecher's sure he left the note behind. Master Regulus said to leave the note inside it and run away."
"Inside what? Kreecher, when is the last time you saw Regulus."
Kreecher finally looked up as if noticing they were there for the first time. He looked at Sirius and said, "Master Sirius looking for him now? Too late. Too late! He's gone. He's not coming back. Kreecher waited until the tea got cold. He's gone."
"Gone where," Marlene asked. When the elf didn't answer she lowered her voice. "Kreecher... how long have you been alone."
"Since snow," Kreecher said.
Marlene's heart ached for Sirius as she recognized where this conversation would end, "And Regulus? The last time you saw him?"
"Since snow," he said again.
"So... he's not returned for months?"
"And months... and months..." He said sadly. "Time to pack things up and put it all away. New master of the house come to collect I see." He grumbled in Sirius direction.
Sirius being referenced as the new master of the house could mean only one outcome on the fate of his brother. The denial faded as he knew the date on the tapestry downstairs was no error. What he'd known for months had no more hope of being untrue as he knew now for a fact, Regulus was gone.
"This doesn't make sense," Marlene said. "Then who wrote the note?" When she turned and saw Sirius' face though he didn't reply. "This note, Kreecher," Marlene reached into her pocket. "It was left for Sirius with the Black family ring."
"Kreecher doesn't know this note. Master left his ring with me. It hasn't been returned yet," the elf said finally composing himself and returning to the drawers where he was packing the clothing into boxes.
"Returned?"
"The fancy one needed it. Kreecher didn't ask questions."
"The fancy one?"
"That's what he always called Lucious," Sirius finally spoke up to say. He thought through it and said "He knew that was my bike... he planted that note. He wrote it."
"It's a trap..." Sirius grunted and grabbed Marleen by the hand. "We've got to get out of here. Come on."
They descended the stairs and spotted Peter, staring at the black and white tiles of the entry foyer.
"Wormtail, snap out of it will you!?" Sirius barked, causing Peter to jump. "We've got to go, come on." As Sirius grabbed the door though, it refused to open.
"I thought you said it was blood locked," Marlene said.
"It is. It still won't open." Marlene gave it a try and drew her wand, "Alohamora." The lock didn't budge.
"Try the back door off the kitchen. I'll try the windows." They split up as Kreecher tip toed down the steps to watch them, Sirius rattling every window he could and trying to break it and Marlene attempting to unlock the doors. His eyes fell on Peter and the two of them stared at each other a long while, neither of them speaking or moving, but having a silence exchange as if trying to recall how one recognized the other.
"It's no good," Sirius called. "We're stuck in here."
"We can cast a patronus to send for someone," Marlene said out of breath as she rejoined them. "Someone can help us break out."
"No," Sirius shook his head. "We can't stay here when we know it's a trap. They've got a plan in the works. We have to get to Dumbledore, fast."
"We can still send a message to James to let him know where we are."
"It's late. James is probably at the Lestrange house by now," Peter said. "A patronus there could be heard by anyone."
"The floo!" Sirius pointed out. "We can use the floo to get to Dumbledore then go to Lestrange Estate from there." Sirius ran into the study and grabbed a handful from the mantle with Marlene and Peter following close behind. Peter took a handful as well and raised an eyebrow as he examined the soot in his palm. "What is it, Wormtail?" Sirius asked when he saw his face.
"Feels weird..."
"It's bloody ash, how is it supposed to feel?"
"It's just different," Peter shrugged. "That's all."
"Because it's been sitting and clotting for months," Sirius defended as he grew more and more irritated. "I swear you'll find any excuse to get out of magical travel. Just suck it up and let's go."
"W-what about the elf?" Peter said nodding back to Kreecher who was halfway peeking around the entryway. "He can apparate us anywhere?"
"Kreecher only obeys his master," the elf said.
"I'm your bloody master now!" Sirius barked at him.
"Sirius. Leave him alone," Marlene whispered.
He ignored Marlene's scolding gaze as he took her hand and dropped the powder, "Fine... Dumbledore's Office."
They both vanished in the green flame and Peter hesitated once more only for Kreecher to say, "You reminds me of Master Regulus. He was cautious too." Peter turned and looked at the elf who continued. "I recognize you. You're much older now."
"You... you remember me?" He looked around the house. "I don't understand what's going on. I swear I've never been here before, but something about the foyer was so familiar."
"Maybe that's because you never made it past the foyer," Kreecher grunted and shuffled back to his work as he spoke under his breath. "Begging scraping half-breeds trying to come to house of Black..."
Peter grew uneasy as he raced towards the floo and dropped the powder, vanishing from the Black home.
Meanwhile at the Lestrange Estate...
The night fell and the Aurors assembled with members of The Order at Lestrange Estate which was barely seen in the darkness of the moonless night. Madeye waited patiently once dismissing his Aurors to surround the building until all Order members were properly in place.
"The Lestrange Estate," Benjy Fenwick muttered at the sight of the place, "Never been inside but they say it hasn't been update at all since the Middle Ages."
"Probably why it looks like the licorice castle from Candyland," Frank Longbottom said with a grin which lifted the spirits of everyone.
"Lights just gone off upstairs," James whispered and continued to check his watched.
"Well done, Sherlock," Madeye quipped.
"Madeye, be nice," Frank grunted.
"I'm here to catch some Death Eaters, not babysit. You two should have stayed put at home like I said," he clapped back.
"You know we would never willingly sit out of a fight," Frank replied, "Especially when our families are threatened."
"Aye, and our little Death Eater friends probably know that about ya both too which means they could be expecting ya. Keep your whits about you." He noticed James looking once more at his watch. "You got some appointment to keep, Potter?"
"Sirius should be here by now. I don't know where he jetted off to earlier, but it's not like him to just not show up like this. Remus is supposed to be here too. I haven't heard from him all week."
"Marlene isn't here either," Angus McKinnon added from his seat in the grass.
"I thought you told her to stay with Lily?" Frank asked.
"And you think she'd listen?" Angus stood quietly "I better go check on Gideon and Marv. See if they know anything."
"Be careful. Keep to the shadows," Madeye said and Angus nodded as he crept away.
"Potter?" Frank whispered. "You tell Pettigrew not to come or something? Or did he stay to guard Lily?"
"None of the above, why?" James asked confused.
"Well... you just said Sirius and Remus were missing but didn't even mention Peter."
"Oh," James instantly felt small at the realization. "Well... he was with Sirius. I guess when I said Sirius wasn't here I meant both of them."
"Oh... that makes sense," Frank said but he alway was dreadful at hiding second hand embarrassment as James reflected over the slip up.
Meanwhile at Benjy Fenwick's...
Alice paced anxiously across the apartment and rubbed her belly nervously glancing down every now and then saying, "You know if you weren't still inside me I'd be busting through those Lestrange doors right now. I hope you appreciate that." As she said it, the baby shifted in her belly and it make her smile. "Can't wait to hug you tight little one. Just try to be nice to mummy when you come out."
A loud pounding sounded on the door and Alice snatched up her wand from the coffee table. She looked at the clock and noticed there was still a few minutes before the advance on Lestrange Estate, so surely it wasn't Frank returning from the mission. Alice took a breath and approached the door when she heard a familiar voice, "Alice? Alice it's me, Mary!"
"Mary?" Alice cast a transparency charm on the door which momentarily revealed the other side of it and she saw that Mary was alone on the doorstep. Her face looked panicked as if she was running from something. "I'm coming," she said and unlocked the door to allow her friend in. Her clothing was torn an her cheek cut from a slashing hex. "What on earth happened to you?"
"Snape," Mary sighed as she closed the door behind her. "He knows I'm a spy. He tried to kill me."
"He found you at Emmie's?" Alice asked but when Mary just lowered her head Alice sighed, "You snuck out..."
"I had to get to the Ministry. I didn't realized he had made friends there. He cornered me and attacked me. He knows my secret now. I came because I thought you or Frank could help me... being Aurors."
"Frank is with the others at Lestrange estate. I'll send for Dumbledore," she lifted her wand to cast a patronus only for Mary to snatch it away.
"No. No that won't do any good. They'll be here before he can make it."
"Here?"
"Snape... forced some things out of me."
"Oh Mary," Alice shook her head.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to," she said in an emotionless tone.
"No it's my fault," Alice said. "Dumbledore told us to find somewhere else to hide once he realized you knew our whereabouts. It was too risky with Mulciber's vow over you."
"We've got to warn Lily. They're after her too," Mary said taking Alice by the hand.
"You know I can't share where Lily is," Alice said.
"There isn't time, Alice. Let's go! Go now! They're coming!" Mary said flatly.
Alice just paused and examined her friend. She looked her in the eye and saw something there that only an Auror could spot... a hex. "Oh Mary..."
"Alice please!" Mary begged with tears welling in her eyes.
"Mary," Alice said in a calm tone. "Give me my wand back."
Mary clutched it tightly and whispered in a shaky tone as if the words had to be forced out, "I... c-can't do...that..."
"It's ok, Mary," Alice whispered. "I forgive you." She then watched as Mary turned her own wand against her. As she'd recognized by the tell in her eyes, Mary was under an imperious curse. Alice put a protective hand over her stomach.
"T-take me to, Lily." Mary begged but Alice saw a different plea in her eyes.
"You know I can't," Alice said.
Mary looked almost relieved at that but her flat words said, "Then get in the floo."
Alice did as she said, refusing to harm her friend and knowing any physical altercation could put the baby at risk. They both climbed into the fireplace and Mary dropped the floo powder as both of them vanished.
Meanwhile...
"Why do you have to talk to elves like that?" Marlene asked Sirius as the flames vanished around them in the floo.
"Can we not do this right now?" Sirius said brushing the soot off of his arms.
"Do what?"
"You scolding me like we're bloody married," Sirius grunted.
"As if that would ever-" But Marlene stopped t as they stepped out of the floo, she grabbed his arm and looked around. "Where the hell are we?"
"Not Dumbledore's office..." He answered and looked back at the empty fireplace. "Where the hell is Peter?" Sirius looked at the mantle. "There's no floo powder in here."
"And no windows," Marlene added as she scanned the empty room with no furnishings and a single door.
Sirius moved in front of her and tried the door. "Stay back." he pulled out his wand and said, "Bombarda." But the spell bounced off the door and rickashayed around the room, knocking over a potion bottle that sat in the middle of the meeting room table. A smoke began to emerge from it and Marlene took a whiff. "Sleeping smoke..."
"Damn it. It's a bloody trap." He tried to jerk the door open again and tried another spell but it continued to be worthless against the enchantment. He heard a thud and turned around to see Marlene on her knees. "No! Mar, you can't breath it in!" He ran over to her and kicked the bottle away, covering his nose with his arm and using his other to wrap her into his chest and hold her close.
"It's no use, Sirius..."
"Stay with me," he coughed as the room began to spin. Sirius heard a key turn in the lock of the door as the world went black.
Meanwhile, the flames vanished from around Peter and he took a single step out of the fireplace before freezing mid-step. "What the..." He was in a small study, somewhat lavish, with nothing more than the sound of a grandfather clock ticking away. He instantly recognized the picture above the fireplace to be Lucious and Narcissa's wedding portrait and he let out a large gulp as he realized he was at Malfoy Manor.
Peter wasted no time and searched the mantle for more powder, but none was in sight. He crept about the room, trying the windows and doors with his wand only to find them locked as well. Suddenly he heard his name.
"Peeeeeeeeter..."
"H-hello?" Peter wandered around the room and heard a dark whisper. The air was heavy as if it had a dark hold over it and the feeling of the room was uneasy. Finally, Peter noticed a small notebook on the desk. It was black and simple, but there was something mysterious about it. As he neared, it seemed to call to him. Upon opening the notebook, he found it filled with blank pages. Peter just fumbled for his wand, knowing it likely held a secret message, but when the wand was lifted to reveal the writing, Peter saw a line of ink that wasn't there before.
It read, "Hello Peter..."
"H-hello?" He replied aloud.
The drawer of the desk suddenly flew open, inside a simple quill and some ink. The initial message on the pages vanished and Peter cried, "No! Don't go!" He grabbed the ink and quil then swiftly wrote, "Hello. Who are you?" The words vanished and Peter's shoulders slunk in defeat only to rise again when he saw the words appear.
"Ask me who I was..."
"Ok," Peter mumbled then wrote, "Who were you..."
"A weak vessel... like you who knew I was capable of more." The words appeared.
"Are..." Peter started then scratched out and wrote, "Were you a wizard?"
"I still am..." it replied.
Peter raised an eyebrow and pondered how something could be both past and present. Before he could think of a new question, the book wrote, "Would you like to meet me?"
"Yes!" Peter got exited and lifted the book in his hands, but what started as a small antique in his hand quickly became a portal into what felt like another dimension. The room was the same, only he felt a grey haze over it. It felt frozen in time and Peter imagined this must be the way Ghosts view the world... from the outside looking in.
"Hello Peter," a young voice called. Standing across the room, dressed in an old Hogwarts Uniform, was a pale young man with dark hair. "It is was Peter, wasn't it?"
"Y-yes," he stuttered.
"I'm Tom. That journal in your hands, belonged to me."
"Oh!" Peter tossed it on the desk. "I-I wasn't going to read it, really. I just wanted to see who it belonged to or maybe if it said where my friends were."
"Ah, yes. Your friends. I assume you mean Potter? Lupin? Black?"
"Y-yes..."
"Ironically, my boy, I also had collegues with the same names. I'm afraid my friends turned out to be traitors though."
"Really?"
"Yes. Which is why I'm here to warn you, Peter. There is still a chance to save your friends from their fate. They think by denying the future, that they're preserving what's good in the world when really they are just continuing in a massive delusion. There is no right. There is no wrong. There is only power and those who can and cannot wield it. I'm counting on you, to show them that."
"Why me?"
"Because you're special Peter. You're the Guardian."
"You don't know that..."
"I do. I've seen and heard and paid attention. You told one of my friends about Tabitha Delaney's family legacy and it saved her life, even though she doesn't realize it. You told my friend, Mr. Crabbe about the Guardian."
"Is this a test? For me?" Peter looked around the room as if expected to see a hidden camera somewhere.
"No, Peter. This is just a chat between two young men... who were cast out at first breath."
"The Prophecy..." Peter whispers. "You've heard the Guardian Prophecy?"
"Oh yes... I've read it. Our good friend Mr. Snape found it today. Of course, he thinks the prophecy speaks of a Pureblood. But it doesn't... does it, Peter?"
"I'm... I'm not a traitor."
"Neither am I, Peter. And yet you and I have been fortold by prophecies to be evil. What I think, is that one Seer's opinion, does not a villain make."
"A villain?" Peter's eyes widened and he backed away. "Y-your... Your Lord..."
"Don't be afraid to say it, Peter. There is power in it."
"Voldemort..."
He inhaled the name, "Doesn't that sound so sweet. Don't the very consinents of the name show you that I'm more than just who you see before you? I thought I'd appear to you like this, since my human form is starting to... take on the burden of some of the darker spells I've cast. I didn't want to startle you. But it's true... I was a Hogwarts student like you. I had friends as you do and bullies. I wanted to be more than just an orphaned boy who's birth father wouldn't even acknowledge him. I understand from Crabbe that your situation is somewhat similar to mine. Of course, you were fortunate to not end up in an orphanage."
"I wish I'd been in an orphanage," Peter snapped and gasped when Tom's spirit rushed towards him as if attracted by the momentary anger.
"But you made something of yourself, Peter, or you were starting to before those other Boys got in the way."
"N-no... no they helped me!" He grew scared.
"Potters do not help anyone but themselves, Peter. The sooner you'll realize that the less grief you'll go through. All you are to James Potter is a shadow. Always have been. Always will be. But as the Guardian, you'll be more. You could join us, Peter and be their savior."
"Their savior?"
"Yes! They think they are being valiant for the safety of a couple snotty brats who probably will grow up only to resent them anyhow. And at what cost? Their life!?"
"No!" Peter shook his head, "You can't kill them. You wouldn't!"
"I don't want to, Peter." Tom rest a ghostly hand on his shoulder. "I really don't. But I'm not the Guardian. You are. It's time to decide what that title means. The more Voldemort is resisted, the more drastic measures he takes and the more inhuman he becomes. Someone with a split soul cannot show mercy for your friends. You can save me. Save Voldemort and by saving me, you save everyone. Encourage them to join the Dark Lord and they'll be joining the man you see before you. Do I look scary?"
"N-no..."
"No," he whispers in a sickly happy voice. "I'm not scary, Peter. Now's the time for them to join Tom Riddle in his efforts to strengthen our race. Otherwise... I fear the Voldemort they'll be forced to fight."
Peter suddenly recalled Kip's words earlier as he said Dumbledore and Mr. Potter often spoke about a 'Riddle' with often. "You're the one Mr. Potter warned James about. Y-you... I mean Voldemort... he's got my friends doesn't he? If they resist him, he'll just kill them. You have to promise me they'll go free no matter what they say or do. If I can just get them home, maybe I can talk to them. I can show them the right path."
"I'll try, Peter. I will. But you must promise me something in return."
"Anything... anything to save them."
"Think of that boy you used to be and ask yourself if you had the chance to save him now... would you? Would you pull him from that hell hole. Or would you go back even further to the boy you were before your parents died, stop that filthy drunk muggle from running them down, save your step-father. Who would you be now?"
"I... don't know..."
"Would you like to see?"
Peter's eyes widened. "You can do that?"
"Close your eyes..."
Peter hesitated but did as he was told. He was engulfed in another vision, this one was much warmer and more cheerful. He saw himself, free of his nervous tremors, walking confidently up the King's Cross platform with pursers behind him carrying luggage with his step-father and mother walking confidently beside him as the crowd pointed to the the most well-known family of Wizarding society. He saw himself playing quidditch with James, unafraid to fly, on a double date with Sirius and Marlene, his arm around a stunning Ravenclaw witch. He watched him holding the house cup over his head as the Gryffindor's cheered. Professors applauded as Peter finished his wand demonstrations. He seemed popluar amongst all houses as he strut through the halls. He watched his graduation, cheering on his best mates as they graduated then proudly hosting the End of Year party at his parent's mansion where Frank and Alice announced their engagement. Everything was as it should have been if it hadn't been for that horrible accident that stripped him of everything.
When the vision was done, it was just Peter and Tom again. "I was confident... and Brave. I was everything a Gryffindor is supposed to be, plus poplar and smart and cunning. My parents got everything they wanted in society, people knew our name-"
"They still can know your name, Peter!" Tom shouted. "You were left behind in the shadows for too long. Now you see the man you can be, the one the boy didn't get to be. But your friends, Peter... I fear for them. They're going down a path they can't come back from. If you do not save them, I fear they may be the ones left behind."
"Let me talk to them. I can tell them of your power! I can show them all the things you can give them!"
"I'm afraid it's too late."
"It's not too late," he said frantically. "You said yourself, I can save them. Give me a chance! Just get them home safely. I want them to see me like you just showed me. I want them to see that I'm the leader. I can be brave and do great things. I want them to see that I'm not just a weak boy. Maybe then they'll follow me. I'll be out of the shadows and they can follow me into the light, into your light! Just bring them home safely..."
"Alright... I'll see what I can do."
Tom gave him a vicious smile when suddenly, Peter was back in the room as it was. The book slammed shut on the desk and he backed away from it. Tom Riddle was nowhere to be found and the doors to the study clicked open. Peter picked up his wand from the desk and ran from the room, thinking of all the wonderful, albeit fake, memories that Tom Riddle revealed. If it weren't for a drunk muggle, his parents would have lived and all of that would have happened. Surely, this was a sign that Tom Riddle... that Voldemort's universe, wasn't as bad as it seemed.
Yet even as Peter sneaks out of Malfoy Manor and reflected on the vision, he was too self-focused on himself to realize some people were missing from each of those moments. There was no Lily, no Remus, not even Snape. There were no Muggle-Born, Half-Bloods, werewolves or anything else that strayed from the Pureblood path. For even in the most fabricated realities, Voldemort could never create a Universe were tainted blood belonged.
A/N: BIG chapter, I know but we are at the main climax. To be continued...