Work Text:
The betrayal:
Peter knew better than this. He knew once he started to practice the dark arts it would change him as Eli told him it would.
But he couldn’t stop the feeling of being powerful every time he used dark magic, the joy he felt inflicting pain onto others who were willing enough to be his test subject. The only reason why he got test subjects was that they thought it would allow them to become a death eater.
Peter understands why Eli and Sirius were so wary of this dark art due to its power and greed. He knew he wouldn’t get any help from his friends so he turned to the next best thing. Regulus Black.
Peter owled Regulus during the summer to see if he could help Peter with the magic and to get into Voldemort's inner circle.
Peter told Regulus to meet him in a muggle pub in Wales so no one would see them talking as it would confuse the order and the Marauders themselves.
Peter was sipping on some whiskey when Regulus Black came over to his table.
“So Pettigrew, tell me why you want my help with what you are doing? I thought you were happy being Dumbledore’s little lap dog and a loyal friend to my siblings. So what happened?” Regulus asked, intrigued with Peter’s sudden change of sides.
“I was never happy being Dumbledore’s little lap dog and any way that place is already filled by Eli. I don’t think the Marauders ever thought of me as their friend, just someone to use when they needed something to be done. Would you like to know why all of this happened? Why do I want to change sides?” Peter replied.
Regulus was stunned. This wasn’t the Peter Pettigrew that was best friends with his siblings. It wasn’t the Peter who stuck up for his siblings or for others. “Please do tell” was all that Regulus said.
Peter smiled knowing that this was the changing point for him “Well it all started when Alexis came out really. She inspired me into practising the dark art, she was actually teaching me it before Eli came back into power. This all happened because of Eli you know. If it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be doing what I am doing now and my merlin does it feel good to have this power inside of me and it’s growing every second. I believe changing sides to Voldemort would help me gain that power, even more, to help me harness the power and to keep it forever. Eli told me that this would happen one night after a party and I didn’t believe them but now I do and it feels amazing. So Regulus, would you help me to become a spy and help the death eater?”.
Regulus thought before answering, “Yes I will help you. I think we are done here so why don’t we go to Malfoy Manor and tell everyone the news”.
Peter nodded and got up and went outside. Regulus followed suit and noticed a power-hungry look in Peter’s eyes and knew that it was worth it agreeing with what he said.
~~~~
Peter and Regulus landed outside of Malfoy Manor and were greeted by the doors opening. “Looks like they were expecting us” Regulus commented before walking inside the Manor with Peter hot on his heels.
“My darling Regulus how are we and oh Peter Pettigrew, what on earth are you doing here?” Bellatrix greeted her cousin.
“Well Trixie I am fine and Pettigrew here wants to become a spy for us” Regulus hugged his cousin.
Bellatrix grinned like a maniac. “Brilliant, we need someone that my pitiful cousins trust and worships. Don’t try and argue Pettigrew, I have heard the way they talk about you and it is in high standards, always sticking up for you. Alexis adored you the most, she always wanted to keep you safe even when she was part of us death eaters she said not to harm you”.
Peter looked taken aback “Really, I thought the twins didn’t like me as much as the others. I mean Eli has shown some concern about me but Sirius just brushed off everything I worried about”.
“Actually that is not true. When I used to come over for Christmas, Sirius always used to stick up for you and care for you. Now it is the werewolf you need to feel wary of. When in Hogwarts he would always say things about you and make fun of what you did” Narcissa butted in.
Peter looked hurt “So Remus is the one who was spreading rumours about me at Hogwarts. That fucking little werewolf, why can’t you just get Greyback to finish him off or try and let him turn Remus into one of his members fully?” Peter asked.
“That is where you come into it, Peter. If you can try and get Eli and Sirius to hate Lupin and I know Eli has a distrust for Lupin at the moment so it will be a perfect time” Regulus replied.
Peter nodded and Bellatrix opened her mouth “So what you can do now is go home and pretend you are still on the side of the order and then when it is Christmas time we will owl you about something. Now off you go and don't get caught”.
“Thank you, I can't wait for this side to win the war,” Peter said before apparating away.
~~~~
Christmas 1978:
Peter was minding his own business when an owl came in and dropped a letter. He knew as soon as he picked it up who it was from.
“Dear Pettigrew,
Tonight I want you to come to Malfoy Manor so we can have a chat about a plan that will happen soon. Make up something for your friends and if we can get them to think you have been kidnapped that would be brilliant.
See you in a few hours,
R.A.B”
Peter hid the letter before packing a small bag and practising what he was going to say to the other Marauders. Once Peter knew what he was going to say it was showtime.
Peter walked out of his room and into the living room where nearly all the Marauders were, except Eli who he hadn’t heard from since their breakdown a few months ago.
“I’m sorry to leave unexpectedly but I have a conference meeting with Saint Mungo’s so I won’t be here for Christmas, yes I know it’s three days before Christmas but this is an urgent matter” Peter lied as he placed his bag on the floor.
James looked up and sadness spread across his face “But Wormy, Christmas wouldn’t be the same without you. Would you like to take some of your gifts with you so you feel close to us on Christmas or would you like anyone to come with you because I don’t mind, really I don’t” he mothered Peter.
Doubt crossed Peter’s mind for a split second as he thought he couldn’t do this to James but remembered what Narcissa said about Remus. “I know Christmas won’t be the same without me Prongs but this is what I do as a nurse. No, I don’t want to take some of my gifts with me because I don’t think I can and I would also like to open them with you all and Leo when they come back. You don’t need to come with me, no one does because what if Leo comes back and you are all gone, they will think that we don’t care about them anymore”.
James gave a sad nod “But only if you are sure about it. When do you think you will be back Wormy?” James asked, wanting to be prepared for when Peter came back.
Peter shrugged. “No idea Prongs but it may be closer to New Year. Anyway, I have to go otherwise they will think I don’t want to keep my job. I love you all and I will be safe. Bye,” Peter said.
As the Marauders began to say goodbye, Peter apparated to where he needed to be.
~~~~
Peter landed in Malfoy Manor with ease. “Wormtail my boy, I am so glad you can finally join us. I have been told you wanted to be a spy for me and I feel like you would be the perfect person to help you” a voice said to Peter.
Peter dropped to his knees in respect. “My Lord, it is so nice to finally meet you in person. I have heard so much about you and I love what you are doing, I feel the same way about those people” Peter responded.
“Excellent. Bellatrix was right in telling me you follow the same ideas that we death eaters follow. Come sit at the table we have a lot to talk about and maybe you can tell me why you have chosen to change sides” Voldemort said waving Peter over to the table.
Peter followed the order he was given and sat near Voldemort, his heart overwhelmed with joy and pleased with the fact he has finally done something he wanted to do for years.
“So Wormtail, why did you change sides?” Voldemort asked intrigued.
Peter thought for a split second before answering “I have always wanted to do it, I just need more proveth that my friends didn’t care for me as much and it is true. The only person who showed that they cared for me was James Potter but he is like a mini version of his mother anyways. As you all know Alexis has gone off the deep end and hasn’t spoken to anyone in months not even to the people she works with. Remus just keeps giving me dirty looks and makes me feel like I don't belong in the group and Evans and Sirius just don’t say anything to me anymore”.
“That sounds like something that friend group would do. And it is true my lord, my sister has gone off the deep end, she does not show it when she is teaching but when it is the weekend she barely comes out of her room. I was there when she got the letter from Evans saying something that caused her to be how she is now, I feel like if she goes on this for a little longer we can finally get my sister back into being a death eater” Regulus backed up Peter.
“Some useful information we have here, something we can use against Alexis in the coming months. Now Wormtail, you can stay here as we have something planned in the next few days and if you are here longer we can always make your friends fear that you have been taken. Does that sound like a plan?” Voldemort said after hearing everything.
“Yes my lord that does sound like a plan” Peter replied.
Voldemort nodded. “Good. Now enjoy your stay here at Malfoy Manor” and with that Voldemort vanished.
Mid-January was when the plan was finally put into action. Peter was excited about how this would be his first mission with the death eaters and he knew what would go down.
Bellatrix, Malfoy, Peter and two other death eaters were seated around the dining table with Voldemort at the top of the table.
“Now when we get to Diagon Alley, I want Knockturn Alley to have all of its lights on so it would attract the order members who are going that way. We know who is going to turn who and it’s Wormtail's friends and two Professors who Alexis Black is friends with. Malfoy and Pettigrew I want you two to be the first ones there, Malfoy you show yourself and Pettigrew you hide until you stun someone and come out like a knight in shining armour. Bellatrix, you will appear not long after Wormtail has stunned the person and take those two with you, okay” Voldemort ordered.
“Yes my lord,” the five of them said.
“Now off you go. Time is ticking” Voldemort said before vanishing.
The five nodded at each other before Peter and Malfoy got up and apparated to Diagon Alley.
Diagon Alley:
Malfoy and Peter landed and began to turn on all the lights in Knockturn Alley. They waited for a while before they heard a familiar northern accent.
“Rory I’m a Black, it is kinda in the job description to know about how Knockturn Alley runs”.
Peter hides as Malfoy says, “Well it looks like you two had finally decided to show up”.
Eli and Aurora pointed their wands at Malfoy. “What are you doing here Malfoy?” Eli demanded not to be pleased.
Malfoy laughed like it was an easy answer “Well Alexis I'd heard that you are missing a friend so I thought I would be so kind and help you look for them”.
“Bullshit, we all know that is bullshit Malfoy. You have taken Peter and I want him back to him unharmed do you hear me because if there is even a single hair out of place I am going to do what I did to you on New Years Day 1976 and you and I both know you didn’t like that and ever since then you have been scared of me, haven’t you Malfoy” Eli responded.
Malfoy gave a small chuckle “I’m not scared of you, yes I am wary of the power you hold for someone so young and the dark lord could use someone like you. I do not have Pettigrew because if I did, don't you think he would be here with us right now Alexis”.
That was when Aurora had enough. “First off don’t call them a name they are not. Second off what happened to the nice, kind boy who didn’t want to end up like his father. It got to about 7th year and then you started to preach all that bullshit Voldemort had been saying, you then got Eli involved when they were in their second year, trying to corrupt them, yes there was a period of time when Eli was different but jokes on you they are back for the better and you better watch out” she said full of rage.
“I can call them what I like, Sinistra. I am family after all” Malfoy replied.
Peter kept looking out to see if he could do anything. He didn’t hear what Eli had to say to Malfoy because he was too busy planning his next move.
He watched as Sinistra raised her wand to do something and he knew that this was his moment. He pulled out his wand and sent a spell to Aurora causing her to drop to the floor and heard Eli shout “Rory”.
He watched as Eli tried to move but was stopped by Malfoy. He saw Malfoy Curcio Eli and he grinned at the sight of his friend in pain on the ground.
To look like he was the hero, he sent a curse to Malfoy causing him to drop onto Eli, scaring the shit out of them. He ran over and began to speak softly to Eli.
The next thing Peter knew he was waking up in a hospital bed with all his friends concerned about him and he knew that all of this was fake crying and concern.
~~~~
April 1981
Peter had a plan. He knew that there was a traitor in the ranks, while he was the traitor for the Order, someone else was the traitor for the death eaters and he knew how it was. It was someone he made join. Someone that he forced to come back out last December but this person had been involved with the death eater since June 1980.
He told Voldemort and their own mother about how it was and the mother also made a plan that would happen not long after Peter’s plan fell into action.
The students at Hogwarts would be having a Hogsmeade trip that day so it was the perfect time to take the person.
Peter waited until his target was alone before he took them as it would be much easier and no students would be around to stop him or to tell anyone one or so he thought.
Peter approached his target from behind knowing how much they disliked people coming up from behind them. The pair struggled a bit and the person fought back but Peter was too strong for this person and he took within minutes of grabbing them.
Peter apparated him and his target to Malfoy Manor and placed them in the dungeons so they couldn’t get out.
Once leaving the target there for a few months, Peter came back to see that his old friend was back in charge and oh boy did they look fuming.
“Why are you doing all of this Peter? Why betray all of your friends for an evil life? We all love you so why turn? Why become a traitor?” his old friend asked.
Peter laughed “Because I knew that you lot didn’t care for me, I have been doing this since 1978 and it was so easy to trick you all. When I went missing in late 1978 to early 1979, I wasn’t missing, it was a plan to get you all there to see who would care. To see how long it would take you to notice I was missing and it took a few weeks before you noticed. Hell, you were on a bender so you didn’t know what the fuck was going on. Now anyway if you don’t mind I am going to the McKinnons to kill them so I can finally get the mark I so want. Goodbye”.
“Come back here you coward” his old friend shouted but he tried not to listen but they wouldn’t shut up so he had to go back.
“Eli dear, who would believe you. They all think you are a traitor. If you say you have seen me at the meeting then they will know that you have been too” Peter replied.
Eli then rabbitted on and on about how they didn’t care if anyone would believe them and then began to insult him. Peter walked away not caring about what Eli said just having his mindset on the McKinnon's.
A couple of days later, Peter walked back into Eli’s cell whistling a happy tune.
“What has gotten you so happy, Pettigrew?” Eli asked, a bit scared.
Peter stopped whistling and grinned “Well I have been able to shock your brother so badly because he saw the state we left the McKinnon's in. You know Remus thought Sirius went on a bender because he was gone for almost a full day” Peter replied.
“Ya bastard. How fecking dare ya do that. We ‘ave done nothing ta ya and we ‘ave tret ya like a brother and this is ‘ow ya repay us” Eli replied slipping back into the accent they are used to.
Peter sighed “Great that accent is back now. Know I understand why your mother tried to beat it out of you as a child because it is really fucking annoying” he replied fed up.
Eli looked wounded and had to switch their voice back to the southern one before they spoke: “How could you say something so vile Pete? I thought we were friends but here we are in Malfoy Manor where I have been for the past three months, knowing that my family are worried sick about me”.
Peter laughed “Oh Eli, your family ain’t worried about you. No one is. Who would want to worry about someone like you? You are a freak who everyone hates. Everyone wishes you were dead. No one is looking for you because you are not important. Did you know that Lily is living her best life with Prongs as she doesn't have you as a burden weighing her down? Face it you are nothing at all and I can’t wait to kill and I am allowed those honours” he replied.
Eli was too stunned. Here was someone they thought were their friend turns out to be someone who hates them and tried to make their boggart come true.
“Now we have some important business to go to,” Peter then said.
That night Peter brought Eli to the forest of Dean and Eli saw their mother for the first time in a while. Peter was given a cursed cut from Eli and he knew he would never get rid of it.
The best feeling Peter had all night was killing Gideon and Fabian Prewett. Watching them go down made him so happy he actually felt sorry for Eli to have to wake up knowing that it was their fault that the Prewett twins got killed.
To make sure Eli never said they knew that it was Peter who was a traitor, he cursed his name for whenever the subject of a traitor comes up but what he never thought about was cursing his last name or nickname.
~~~~
30th October 1981:
It’s the day before Halloween and the death eaters were preparing an attack on the Potters. As Peter was the secret keeper he knew where they were staying.
“Wormtail, I am assured that everyone thinks that Sirius is the secret keeper?” Bellatrix asked leaning forward in her seat.
Peter nodded “That is correct Bellatrix, I heard you convinced Sirius that Remus is the traitor as we can not use Eli as a scapegoat anymore” he replied.
Bellatrix grinned “I have convinced Sirius about Remus. You should have seen the murderous look on Sirius’s face when I said I have seen Remus at the meetings. You know he thinks it was Remus who took Alexis and not you”.
“Really? Oh, that is good. I have hated Remus John Lupin since the day I met him so to know that someone else who is considered his friend to hate him is brilliant. Now we can not convince Eli and the others to hate Remus as they worship him so that will be hard but at least we have Sirius which will be easier for us to frame Sirius in the death of James and Lily” Peter said.
Bellatrix was about to respond when Voldemort made an appearance. “My Lord,” the two said, getting out of their chairs and bowing.
“Bella, Wormtail you may sit now. So I heard you are ready to kill the people who you call friends Wormtail?” Voldemort said as he sat at the top of the table.
“That is correct My Lord. I have a question. How come Malfoy isn’t here? How come he is never at these meetings when we talk about this mission?” Peter asked.
Voldemort sighed “That is because Malfoy has made Alexis Black the godmother of his firstborn so I fear if we say anything of this kind he may go running to her as I think Mrs Malfoy still talks to Alexis Black”.
Bellatrix nodded. “That is correct My Lord. My sister still talks to Alexis and their children have met up on several occasions along with the Weasleys as well. I don’t know why my sister is doing this but here we go” Bellatrix said.
“Okay now enough talk of the Malfoys, let’s talk about the plan on how we will kill the Potters,” Voldemort said.
Peter and Bellatrix nodded. “So here is what I have planned. Tomorrow night you will fulfil the prophecy of killing Harry James Potter and become immortal. I will tell you where they will and when hopefully Eli is out of the house with their child, you can kill Harry. I have fed in Sirius’s head that Eli is like Bellatrix and the only way to keep Hermione safe is by giving her to a couple who can not have children and this means hopefully that Hermione will never set foot back into the wizarding world for good. After seeing their child be taken away from them and then seeing the murder of their godson, Eli will go insane and will either be placed in Azkaban and this will make people believe Eli is just like their family or it will destroy them so much they will not see any point of living in a world without their family that they will go through something that they have been trying to do for years” Peter replied evilly.
“Oh use their mental health against Alexis. That sounds good Wormtail. Now I want you to go to your mothers’ house and pretend to be the darling son you are and I will call you when I need you. Do you like the plan?” Voldemort said as he saw a new side to Peter.
“Yes My Lord that does sound good” Peter responded bowing his head.
“Brilliant now off you go” Voldemort waved his hand for Peter to leave.
Peter got up out of his chair and apparated from Malfoy Manor knowing what he is going to do will send shock waves throughout the wizarding world and no one will know of the betrayal he has just done.
Or will they?