The moonlight spread through the windows into the common room of the Gryffindor's Towers.
In a place where the moonlight could not reach, a small figure was shivering under the chair.
Peter Pettigrew was rubbing his hands, almost out of breath.
The thing he had always feared in the last twelve years has finally happened. His former friend, Sirius Black, escaped from Azkaban. He broke into Hogwarts, and there was just a wall separating them.
Peter knew that because he had sold James and Lily out to Voldemort, Black came to seek revenge and wanted to kill him.
He instinctively wanted to run away, but he did not know where to hide. He knew Black too well. Now that he knows that he was still alive, he will never stop.
Even if there were hundreds of Dementors here, even if Hogwarts was entirely turned upside down, Black will not give up. He wouldn't stop before catching him. This was Sirius Black, a true Gryffindor, a monster who never knew fear or cowardice.
Maybe, it would be the same as twelve years ago, and he would fake death.
This thought had just surfaced in Peter's mind but he rejected it rapidly.
This was not the Muggle's Street twelve years ago. This time he was not facing Black alone.
Here is Hogwarts. In the castle, there were Dumbledore, Snape, Lupin, McGonagall, Harry, James and Lily's son, and the young man named Evan Mason, each one of them was better, smarter, stronger and braver than him.
Even if he can fool Sirius Black, fooling all these people would be impossible!
"Where can I go if I escape again?"
If the surviving Death Eaters found out that he was alive, they would not let him go. After all, the Dark Lord's defeat came right after Peter gave him the tip.
Until now, Peter did not understand how the man who was so powerful that no one dared to even mention his name, could be defeated by a baby. He felt that he had clearly chosen the strong side. How did it all get to this point?
Everything seemed to return to the starting point, back to the time when he first entered school twenty years ago.
Peter, the little dwarf, still remembers the sorting ceremony that he entered at the school. He was thin and weak as tremblingly moved to the Sorting Hat. He wore it, and the big hat covered his eyes, he couldn't see the audience at all.
He was too scared. He was like this when he was a child. He did nothing at all. He was weak, not smart enough, and had no talent in magic. He was afraid he would be driven out by the hat. He was afraid to see his mother's disappointed eyes again.
"Difficult, very difficult!" The Sorting Hat began to speak in his ear. "You are not a brave child. You are not smart enough, you are not determined, and you are not willing to work hard. Although you are pureblood, it will be very difficult to live in Slytherin, and you don't have the qualities required by Ravenclaw and Gryffindor. Even mediocre, you are not willing to stay in the practical and ordinary Hufflepuff, let me think it over. Where should you go?"
"Yeah, where should I go?"
He lost his father when he was young. Although his family was poor, his mother did her best to buy all the magical tools for him. She had great expectations from him. She was telling him his father's story before going to bed every night.
Peter still remembered the story of his mother. In her story, his father was a heroic Gryffindor. Even if he was not the strongest, he was fearless, even in the face of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.
Peter could hear it from his mother's tone: She was proud of his father.
"Gryffindor, Gryffindor, Gryffindor. I want to go to Gryffindor. I want to have courage. I'm a brave man!" Peter shouted loudly at the Sorting Hat in his heart. I want to change my cowardice. I want to be a warrior like my father. I want to be admired. I cannot disappoint my mother!"
"Gryffindor?!" The Sorting Hat felt it was weird. "You say you want to go to Gryffindor. Well, this may not be the best choice, but I hope it could be in the future. On your path, find the courage that is buried deep in your heart."
"Gryffindor!"
Peter Pettigrew, above the chair smiled happily. It was the most glorious moment of his life. He seemed to hear again the moment the Sorting Hat shouted his choice to everyone with a loud voice. He'll finally be able to look at his mother's satisfied eyes.
But his grin soon settled down and the Sorting Hat was right. He didn't fit in Gryffindor. What he got in this school was only being mocked.
Everyone mocked him that he was not brave enough. Hogwarts's studies made him feel pressure. He found that there was nothing he was good at. The professors looked into his eyes and there was no other feeling besides disappointment. He was farther and farther from his mother's expectation.
He did not find courage in this school, and he found himself becoming more and more ordinary and inferior.
He could not go on like this anymore; he needed someone to help him.
Peter quickly discovered the goal. James Potter, Sirius Black, and Remus Lupin were the best three in his class. The three of them were always shining in their small group, maybe they needed one more member.
"Yes, I can play this role perfectly."
Fortunately for him, they accepted him. Peter Pettigrew felt hope and happiness because of this. He thought that even if he could not be as good as them, he would at least have a presence and make his mother proud of him!
For this presence and pride, Peter was willing to endure everything.
To outsiders, he was a member of this small group. He was a friend of James, Sirius and Lupin.
But only Peter Pettigrew knew that he was just a follower and nothing more.
James regarded him as an object to show off his Quidditch talent at any time, and he was just there to make Sirius seem braver and stronger. Even in comparison to Lupin, the werewolf, he always looked down on himself.
True, he never saw the three of them as friends. They were just companions at best, but more often, he was just a follower.
With these feelings of cowardice and humbleness, the latter faded eventually, as he was mostly afraid that this was also everyone's idea of him.
But Peter was contented with it for a while. He did not want to stand in the centre-stage and receive attention from everyone.
As long as he was in his humble position in the corner, it was enough for him.
He might not find his courage in this ancient school, but he relied on other ways to find the presence and honour he needed. Although not much, at least he will not let his mother feel disappointed.
He hoped to have just enough of them to go through his years of Hogwarts.
The seven-year Hogwarts career finally allowed Peter to understand that what he needed was not courage, but brute power.
If his father ever had that kind of power, he wouldn't have died like that and he and his mother's life would not be so bitter.
Brute power, this was what he had been pursuing.
After graduating, his three companions wanted to join the Order of the Phoenix to fight against Voldemort. Peter originally wanted to refuse because he knew the strength of both sides. But he did not dare. He had become accustomed to obey the orders of the other three.
He did not dare to say "No" to his companions. It also required strong courage. He had never had such a thing. Besides, he was also afraid to disappoint his mother. He knew that she wanted him to join the Order of the Phoenix.
His mother's expectations had always made Peter under pressure, but it was not until that moment, that he discovered that the pressure had become a heavy burden not allowing him breathe.
Peter Pettigrew remembered the time, when James, Sirius and Lupin were pleased that they defeated Voldemort's conspiracies again and again, it made him more and more afraid.
He could feel the anger of the Dark Lord, and he could feel his hatred for those four people. It was like a never-ending nightmare.
No longer can this go on, Peter couldn't see any benefit in fighting against Voldemort himself. Even if he risked his life to do these things, only James, Sirius, and Lupin would get the spotlight.
Not to mention Dumbledore was gradually aging, his power was declining; and Voldemort was in his prime, his power and strength were stronger than ever.
It was time to choose his camp. For a weak person, the most important thing was not to do anything dramatic, but to make a wise choice.
He could not stupidly die for Dumbledore, like his father, in obscurity. This stupid courage had no meaning other than leaving a heavy burden and grief for his wife and children.
He wanted to choose his own destiny. He wanted to gain brute strength.
The Dark Lord has promised him. As long as the magic world was unified, he would gain power, and status that he never imagined before.
Although the method was different, as long as he had these, his mother would certainly feel proud of him.
As for the jealousy and guilt of betraying his companions, Peter never felt that.
In his eyes, he was just a follower. And he would always be.
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He knew that if he was to be just a follower, he had to pick his master well.
Peter Pettigrew had a strange smile on his lips. If his companions were all killed by the Dark Lord, who could know that he had betrayed them?
His plan seemed fool proof. He began to sell the information about the Order of the Phoenix to gain the trust of the Dark Lord. Although Dumbledore doubted him, James, Sirius and Lupin testified for him, even though he was humblest member in their small group.
Peter Pettigrew knew too much about his three friends. They didn't believe him completely, but the pride and blind arrogance blinded their eyes. Even if they didn't trust him, they would still support him in the face of Dumbledore's inquiry.
As long as he was still a member of this small group, the three of them will unconditionally support him.
"Stupid Gryffindor. They're providing me with the perfect cover!"
After knowing that Dumbledore began to doubt him, Peter Pettigrew would no longer leaked information because he was not sure whether or not they were a trap by Dumbledore. He knew that he had to endure and wait for an opportunity that would allow the Dark Lord to fully trust him.
He still remembered that rainy night twelve years ago, when Sirius, James, and Lily found themselves in a pinch, and they asked him to be the Secret Keeper of James and Lily.
That was based on Sirius's recommendation. Voldemort would be sure to come after Black, but he shouldn't pay attention to such a weak, talentless one like Peter.
That was also what they have always thought of him, a humble, weak, stupid companion who had never dared to refute them. They considered him the most appropriate secret keeper.
They did not tell anyone about this matter. Even Lupin and Dumbledore didn't know it. It was just a secret between the four of them.
That night, Peter felt he both happy and sad!
He had always waited patiently for his chance, and now he's become Potter's secret keeper! When he determined that Harry was who Voldemort had been looking for was in the house, he could not wait to find the Dark Lord.
He bowed down and sold James and Lily out to the Dark Lord. As expected, he obtained the trust he had always dreamed of. The Dark Lord was also told the way into that place, the ancient relic he had found together with James, Black, and Lupin in the forbidden forest.
There was a strong dark power hidden in that relic. The Dark Lord must have been there during his school days.
It was said that there might be a strong source of strength for the Voldemort himself, certainly not all, but Peter was not greedy enough to want to be powerful black wizard like the Dark Lord.
As always, as long as he had his hidden spot in the backstage, he was satisfied. Before in Hogwarts, he relied on James, Sirius, and Lupin to get that position. Now, the Dark Lord, a far more powerful wizard, will help him find his place.
Peter Pettigrew thought so, but who could think that the Dark Lord would actually fail and lose against a new born baby?
For some time, he used to think that he was very close to success, and that he was able to see power and status before beckoning to him. However, this dream instantly shattered, and he had no alternative but to flee.
Peter Pettigrew had no choice. Apart from Sirius's unending wrath, he had to avoid the chase of other Death Eaters.
The method he chose was to fake his own death. When the curse of Sirius hit him, he used a spell to make the whole street explode, leaving only one finger and letting everyone think he was dead.
Sirius Black took his spot as the chief culprit of the whole incident. Like he imagined, the proud Sirius did not explain to others. He felt that he had killed James and Lily by recommending Peter as a secret keeper. He wanted to go to Azkaban.
He managed to escape and his mother lost her son but received a first-grade Sir Merlin Medal, although he should have received much more than this.
Peter Pettigrew had seen with his own eyes that his mother had buried this medal and his own finger at his father's tomb. On his tombstone was engraved: A brave and fearless soldier, a deserved Gryffindor, who gave his life against the dark forces of evil, making his parents proud.
Yeah, from his mother's point of view, he finally became someone like his father, and for such a foolish reason she should be satisfied with her life.
Peter Pettigrew closed his eyes in pain. From now on, he has to hide in the Weasley's house as a Rat. He knew he had to keep in touch with the magic world so that he could know the Dark Lord's movements whenever he returns.
In the previous year, he saw the Dark Lord again in Hogwarts.
The once powerful Black Wizard had become a weak shadow. To tell the truth, Peter had been very disappointed. He couldn't understand what was going on. If Voldemort was no longer strong enough to be scary, what was the significance of his own betrayal?
He did not immediately reveal himself. He decided to observe at Voldemort and see if he was as strong as before.
Pettigrew was thankful that he had done so. In the next two years, he witnessed Voldemort's failing twice.
After seeing Voldemort fail again and again, Peter Pettigrew was in fear. He did not understand why the Dark Lord had failed. He obviously was incredibly powerful. But against a child, he kept on failing
It seemed that the tide had really changed; perhaps he should change camps again!
Peter Pettigrew awakened from his memory; something was moving outside. He quietly stretched his head and gave it a look. The time had already arrived at 3 o'clock in the middle of the night. Outside was the house-elf, called Dobby, who was packing things.
Peter Pettigrew narrowed his eyes as he felt like they were in similar positions.
They were all so humble, so weak. The elf used to be the Malfoy's slave, but he was now the servant of the boy Evan Mason.
Perhaps he could, like Dobby, turn to Harry Potter and take refuge with this saviour who defeated Voldemort several times.
This was not impossible. The events of that year were only known to Sirius Black. As long as Sirius is dealt with, he would be able to reappear in front of the crowds as a hero.
The situation had completely changed. Since Voldemort had lost his power, his party members and the Death Eaters who had not been caught in Azkaban should not pose any trouble to him. It was time to return to the magic world...
The only trouble now was that of Sirius Black. As long as he was eliminated, nobody should know what happened.
Peter Pettigrew had a new strange smile on his lips. He thought about it. He could tell the others that he had endured the burden of humiliation for many years. He had guarded the only legacy of his former friend and protected Harry from the evil forces.
He could re-emerge as a sad hero. He was the greatest hero who defeated Voldemort. He could even apply to become the only guardian of Harry.
Even if Dumbledore and Lupin were sceptical, they had no valid reason to object.
This was really wonderful. Maybe the Ministry of Magic would consider re-awarding him with a Medal of Merlin. And then, he would be able to get back the power source hidden for him deep in the forest. Those honours, powers, he should get it all back.
Peter Pettigrew knew he needed a plan, a plan to get rid of Sirius Black completely.
First of all, in order to ensure the smooth implementation of the plan, he needed to disappear from the crowd.
He wanted to avoid the pursuit of Sirius Black and the cat named Crookshanks, and he could not explain why, but Peter could feel that the boy named Evan Mason seemed to doubt him. He had to be careful. After all, he was able to beat Voldemort despite his young age. As he knew, Evan did not rely on luck or Dumbledore's help as Harry did. The boy was totally on his own and he defeated Voldemort by his own strength and wisdom.
This was terrible. Peter was afraid that Evan already knew something. He should hide first.
Then he needed a wand.
Of course, those two things were not too difficult!
The hard part was that he wanted to know Sirius' position. If Sirius was found, someone in the castle would be willing to help him deal with him.
Pettigrew suddenly remembered that he had once made the Marauder's Map with James, Sirius, and Lupin. This map could help him. He remembered that the Marauder's Map was confiscated by Filch in their seventh grade.
If there was no mishap, it should still be there.