"Come now, Harry! Surely you've heard enough of the Marauders to know we all had our roles. Remus was the academic brains, Sirius the brawn, James the heart, and I… I was the eyes. Any information or item we needed, it was my job to procure. Any place Sirius could escape from I can assure you I could as well."
"They told me you were in a cell that supressed your animagus form."
"And I was. Can I tell you a little secret? The DMLE might have great warders but horrible locksmiths. A ten-year-old Muggle with a paperclip could have unlocked that cell. I simply dropped one of the long-term prisoners into my cell so it was occupied. Once out of my cell I could change to my animagus form. The Dementors and the few Aurors on the island were no real challenge to avoid on my escape. But in my short stay I learnt that my old friend wasn't the first to escape. The others told me of Barty's replacement by his father. So once I escaped it was child's play to find him." The man smiled. "In a very real way, Harry, you are responsible for today. Without you saving me to go to Azkaban I would have never learnt of Barty's escape and been able to help the Master. So thank you!"
The man laughed. This was a very different Wormtail then the cringing, scared man in the Shrieking Shack. This man fit the few stories Remus had told of the cunning and brave Gryffindor boy that joined in the Marauders' adventures. Peter seemed to follow Harry's thoughts.
"A bit different then I was a year ago, no?" The traitor laughed. "Twelve years of living almost continuously as a rat took their toll. I was depressed with losing James and Lily for no reason with the Master's defeat. So I ate and slept for more than a decade. That kind of thing takes a toll on your brain, Harry."
"Don't you say their names, traitor," Harry growled. The Beast was just under the surface now.
Wormtail stepped up to look Harry in the eye. Harry could see a burning hate and fanaticism there now. "I loved James as my brother. Lily was the big sister that would help anyone. She was an example of all that a Mudblood could be if they shed that base world off. But you… you were a threat to the Master. He needed you dead. I could have done it- saved poor James and Lily with just a few drops of poison in your juice. But the Master insisted it had to be by his hand; that you were some kind of equal to him. So it was because of you that I had to betray my brother and sister."
Harry was shocked that Pettigrew would try to blame him for the older wizard's betrayal of his friends.
"You betrayed them long before you helped kill them!" Harry growled back. "They fought against everything your Master believed in. They thought you supported them. They trusted you and you took that trust and betrayed it every day since you took his mark on your arm."
Pettigrew looked murderous now. However his response was stopped by the return of Barty Crouch. The Death Eater was followed by three other people. The first was a much older man also wearing Death Eater robes with the hood thrown back. Next, was a middle-aged witch wearing a simple grey robe. Following her was a boy Harry's age that he recognized. It was Theodore Nott.
"Potter," his Slytherin classmate sneered. "I always said you should be chained up. Now look at you." Harry held his tongue. He was more interested in ripping out Wormtail's throat then dealing with this little pimple on Hogwarts's arse.
"Soon, Potter," Nott tried to taunt in his most threatening voice. "Soon my family shall be exalted above all others! The Dark Lord has promised this to my father. You and Malfoy will be dust at my feet."
A sharp cuff to the head silenced the boy. "Hold your tongue, boy," the old wizard demanded. If you are to serve the Master, keep silent and know your place."
"Yes, father."
The man turned to Harry. "Mr Potter, Alvin Nott at your service. A long time ago I was friends and a business associate with your grandfather. You favour him as did your father. It is too bad you ended up on the losing side but it is the fate of the Wizarding World that is at stake."
"Come to me now, my oldest servant," Voldemort called in his hissing voice from his place in the centre circle. The small figure remained kneeling in the same position even as he spoke.
"Yes, Master," the eldest Nott answered instantly. He turned to comply - Harry completely forgotten. The wizard motioned to his wife and son to follow.
"Alvin Nott, you shall stand at the top of the circle." Nott moved to the smaller circle facing the small figure.
"Persephone Nott, you shall take the circle to my left hand." The witch looked nervous but instantly complied.
"Theodore Nott, you shall take the circle to my right hand." Theo strutted forward full of confidence.
"Thank you my servants. Indeed the Nott family will stand unparalleled in the ranks of my Death Eaters for all time for their commitment to the cause. Now we shall begin."
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