What if Wormtail Didn't Betray James and Lily Potter?
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Voice Acting & Narration: Steven Waters @bobablackfly602
Writing: Myself, @nicholasmartin6526, @khuz377 , @WatashiNoKuraiTenshi, and @PathofDragonsRadio
Peter Pettigrew stares at the man restrained to the chair, flailing in desperation with eyes full of tears and pleading words for mercy and help being muffled by a cloth. Peter knows Lyall Lupin. The man has never done any real harm to him. And yet, here he stands, his trembling fingers barely gripping his wand. Around him, a hundred eyes watch him through silver masks while Bellatrix Lestrange snickers and laughs at the man’s terror. Then, like a wraith gliding among tombstones, the pale figure of the Dark Lord himself emerges.
VOLDEMORT: Show me you are worthy of the Dark Mark. Show me that you can count yourself amongst my lieutenants. Show me that the man before you is not the father of a friend, but of a hated enemy. You are not to kill, but to maim. Be as Bellatrix and murder not the body, but his mind. Do it!
Peter raises his wand, tears rolling down his cheeks. Below, he feels his bladder loosen, much to Bellatrix’s wicked delight as she roars with laughter. Lyall shakes his head and continues to try and plead with the man whom his son once attended class with, whom his son once spoke of with affection during meals.
PETER PETTIGREW: C-Crucio!
The Torture curse strikes and Lyall writhes in his restraints. His head snaps back, screams of unimaginable pain tearing from the man’s throat.
Lyall’s eyes find Peter, still pleading, but his words are nothing more than unintelligible cries. Like his very humanity is being ripped away with each passing horrific moment. Moments become minutes. Minutes become hours. By now, Lyall’s throat is so torn by his screams that he can only groan and whimper like a beaten animal. By now, Peter’s stance has become like stone.
VOLDEMORT: Enough!
Peter Pettigrew slowly lowers his wand, the magic bombardment ending. His victim slumps in his chair, his breathing labored and his body limp. A heavy silence falls over the chamber before being broken by Voldemort’s hideous laughter.
VOLDEMORT: Well done, Wormtail. Look at your work. See your testament to our cause.
PETER PETTIGREW: Yes, my lord.
Bellatrix approaches Lyall and grabs him by the hair sndk stock so she can force his head back. There is no life in the man’s eyes. The person Peter Pettigrew has known almost as long as he knew Remus is gone. In his place is a drooling, moaning husk.
VOLDEMORT: Deliver him home. Let the fools see the consequences of denying me my destiny.
The Dark Lord’s red eyes turn to his newly-christened acolyte, grinning widely, as he stalks closer to him. Peter’s movements are slow, but stoic. No more trembling, no more tears. Nothing except for the slight twitch of his eye.
VOLDEMORT: There will be more to come, Wormtail. Return to the Order. Play your part. Bide your time. Your moment will arrive.
Peter didn’t sleep for days. How could he? He could still remember Lyall’s screams, the horrified cries of Hope Lupin when her husband was returned to her, Remus’ tears as he held his father to him, saying his name over and over in a desperate attempt to restore him. Peter meanwhile has to pretend to be just as shocked as the rest of them. When James and Lily Potter cry, he cries. When Sirius Black rages, he does too. But it’s an act. As the Dark Lord said, this is his part. Only now Peter didn’t know where his deception ends and where his heart begins.
Dumbledore arsenal transfer news summer then reveals a horrible truth: That Voldemort has targeted the Potters’ newborn son. They would need to go into hiding, somewhere the Dark Lord couldn’t find them. To ensure their safety, Dumbledore insists that they utilize the ancient Fidelius Charm, jared mccain to cloak themselves forever from their enemies and to be known only by one trusted Secret Keeper. Peter’s heart sinks when Sirius advocates for him to be named. He is unknowingly entrusting the man responsible for Lyall Lupin’s madness with the safety of James’ entire family.
Peter Pettigrew is a Death Eater. He is Voldemort’s spy. He is the hidden dagger poised to plunge into the heart of the Order of the Phoenix. But Peter Pettigrew is also a Marauder. He is a friend, a life-long companion. He is the man chosen to be Secret Keeper to the Potter family and protect them from harm.
The night after the Fidelius Charm is cast, Peter’s dreams are wracked with horrific nightmares. He no longer only hears Lyall's screams. He hears James shouting for Lily to run.
