Chapter 2
Wormtail
Two days before Remus’s chapter
There is a meeting, called by the Dark Lord, and I don’t want to go. But of course I must. When I arrive, Lucius, Mulciber, and Yaxley are already there, along with the Lestranges, that bitch Bellatrix never leaves the Dark Lord's side.
Barty, Evan and Regulus almost arrive late, but smoothly walk to their seats with an ease of being born-into-this air that they have. Snape isn’t here, but that isn’t a surprise. He’s been off moping ever since he heard the Dark Lords plan, which is ironic. They’re my best mates and you don’t see me sniffing and skiving off meetings do you?
The Dark Lord welcomes us, and starts to talk of his plan, the plan to murder James and Lily because my girlfriend, Sybil Trelawey had a vision of them bringing about the end of the reign of death eaters. And that idiot Snape overheard her and ran straight to the Dark Lord.
“We need someone who is close to them. Someone they will let into their home. And we have the perfect man.” Cold dark slits for eyes turn to me, malice glittering. I want to puke, or shit myself, or die. Any of those options could work. I don’t want to kill my best mate and his girl. I really really don’t. But how the fuck do you say no to the Dark Lord?
I meet up with Regulus after the meeting. Well, more like he’s walking away and I call after him until he turns to me. His eyes are filled with disgust, and I've seen the look on his face from his older brother countless times. Sometimes they’re like fire and ice, and other times they’re like opposite sides of a coin. I wonder if they even realize.
“Regulus, I need to talk to you.” He sneers, “Well I’m here.” He raises his eyebrows as if to say, talk. But Barty and Evan are there, so I sneer right back. “And have your shit eating friends rat me out? No thanks, you’re coming to mine.” I snatch his hand and apparate before anyone can react. Keep people on their toes and they'll learn to fear you, which at times is more useful than respect.
Having Regulus Black in my flat is jarring, for him and me. After a brief shouting match he stands awkwardly in the middle of the living room, after I offered him all my seating options-him having refused all of them. “So Pettigrew, what did you want to speak to me about that I needed to be dragged here?”
I can’t look him in the eye when I admit this, so I opt for the old map that stands on my mantel, looking ratty and ridiculous and plain, but to three other people and me, is worth more than any gold in the whole world.
“I don’t want to kill Lily and James and I need your help.”
Regulus clenches his jaw, and it's a tick I’ve seen in Sirius so many times it's almost painful. “You want me to help you directly disobey orders from the Dark Lord?”
I nod my head because, really, there's not a better way to say it. “I can't kill them, Regulus, you know I can’t. I need your help. I was thinking, I could kidnap them, apparate them to a private place, and then you could help me take them to Sirius. He’ll help me and then you can go back to being the Dark Lord's ass wiper.”
He hesitates, and I panic, feeling my throat start to close up. If he refuses and goes running to the Dark Lord I am dead, and James and Lilys only chance at a possible saving is gone. I haven’t spoken to either of them in three years, but I cannot let them die at the hands of him. Regulus is the only one I partially trust, because at times, I see a glimpse of Sirius in him, and anyone who is like Sirius has to be semi good.
“I’ll help you…” Regulus manages, “But don’t expect it ever again, and don’t think this is for you.” I know what it's for. James, for making sure Sirius had a place to go after the Blacks kicked him out. Regulus, even if he won’t say it, will be forever grateful to James Potter for taking care of his older brother. And for Sirius, for always trying to protect him, even though the little shit didn’t always deserve it.
That night, I dress up in plain black robes, and steel my courage. Gryffindors have courage. And I’m about to disobey Lord Voldemorts direct orders. Nothing can be more courageous than that.
I make it to their house. It's cute, with a little garden wall, and two floors, and a yard where we used to play drunken Quidditch. I knock on the door, and James opens it. “Peter!? Hey mate! Been a while, hasn’t it? Come in!” He gives me a massive bear hug and I almost cry. James. My best mate. I’ve missed him so much. He still smells like mahogany and his glasses are jammed too far up his face.
“What are you supposed to be dressed up as?”
“Huh?” Shit, it's Halloween.
“Can’t you guess? A wizard, mate.”
He laughs, even though it was a shitty joke. I wish we hadn’t let life pull us apart. I missed this.
Then Lily glides into the room and everything brightens. “Peter! So good to see you!” She kisses my cheek, and squeezes me tight. “I made split pea soup, want some?” “I could eat,” I smile, and nearly cry, because I’m about to ruin their lives.
Lily goes back into the kitchen and James turns to me, about to make a comment about how wonderful his girlfriend is, so I stupefy him, before I can lose my courage.
Regulus is waiting for me, in the park in Lily’s childhood neighborhood where we once all got high after she had come here crying after her sister's wedding. Me, Remus, Sirius, James, Lily, Mary, and Marlene, all high off our asses, shooting sparks of light into the sky, claiming we were making stars.
We thought we were as untouchable as the stars.
He looks miserable, especially when I hand him an unconscious James Potter. “I’m running back to grab Lily and then we can go,” I remind him. His gray eyes shine when he looks at me. “Peter, are we sure this is the best idea?” I frown. “You can’t back out now. Regulus, please, think of what Sirius would do-”
“-Shut up Pettigrew.”
Rolling my eyes, I make to apparate away, when I hear a quiet, “I’m sorry Jamie,” and then a sharp pain engulfs me, and I pass out.